FatherTo1

I found a red 2013 460 SWB F Sport two hours away, 77K miles, for $33K. Was going to look this weekend but it is no longer listed. The dealership was supposed to send me more photos today but haven't heard back from them. Can't believe it is possibly already sold despite being listed for 60+ days. I thought I had more time.

Just learning about the options in the 2013+ models. Looks like they all have a dial for ECO/Normal/Sport, but those with air suspension have more dial options. Does this mean the non-air suspension models only alter transmission logic and maybe a little of the electric steering? Just learned the F Sport has air suspension standard. I read that the 2013+ air suspension adjusts independently in relation to each individual corner (didn't it do this before for 2007-2012?). Any chance the air suspension is more reliable in the 2013+ models? I don't see too many posts about air suspension issues with 2013+ models, mostly it is pre-2013.

Was really hoping to test drive that F Sport to see if I would like the ride characteristics. 77K miles for a 2013 doesn't bother me because it averages to what I typically drive annually anyways. I do like all the extra standard leather on the door panels in 2013+ models. Would like to keep my next LS for a very long time and am thinking it is worth it to get a 2013 instead of a 2011 or 2012. I don't want to get a 2011 and then feel like it is too dated five years later. On a side note, recently did an extended test drive of a 2011 460L this past weekend, and I don't know if it was just the silver color making it more noticeable, but each time I closed the driver's door I could see the door sheet metal flex and ripple (supposedly a zero-accident car). Our 430's driver door doesn't do that (nor any of the doors). That didn't give me great confidence in the 2011's body integrity and structural rigidity, despite the car feeling sturdier and more solid on the road than our 2006 430.

Junglequac

That is an excellent question. My guess would be that it would not be that much different if at all. Just the nature of the beast that air shocks will go bad around 100,000 miles are so for the most part.

From looking at the parts dept of Lexus of South Atlanta, it appears there is not a different part number for the shocks 2007-current. That said, info could be inaccurate and they did redesign something like 5000 parts on the 2013 so...

Like most things, the quality of the roads will no doubt make a big impact (really, no pun intended) as for the longevity on them.

SW17LS

I would still plan on air suspension failure at some point. Not a lot of issues on 2013+ cars because they're still so new. Just something you budget for.

Correct, the 2013+ models have a revised adjustment system. Air suspension cars get a sport+ mode that firms up the suspension, as well as a comfort mode that softens it up. Non air cars have an eco and sport mode, but they just affect transmission gearing, etc.

No such flex as you describe in my car. Where are you seeing this "flex" when you close the doors?

FatherTo1

Thank you, Jungle/SW.

Steve, yes, the flex is on the door skin itself when I close the driver's door. I didn't think to test the other doors at the time but the driver's door definitely caught my attention. I am not a door slammer and if anything soemtimes have to re-open doors because I didn't close hard enough. It all began when I was testing the self-closing doors on the 2011 460L. Then I progressively closed the door a little more strongly until it didn't trigger the auto closers. That is when I noticed the flexing in the door skin.

SW17LS

I've never seen such a thing in my LS460 or any other LS460 I've looked at.

Junglequac

The thing is needing to replace shocks should be part of expected long term maintenance and when talking about a $70,000 plus vehicle, it is only to be expected that parts are not going to be cheap. That said, having conventional shocks does lessen long term ownership costs. All the same, many keep cars through roughly the warranty period or lease terms so a good number of folks will never confront the need of replacement.

It is the control arms going bad before 100,000 miles on some older 460's that is a tough pill to swallow considering just how expensive it is if done at the dealer. Granted, when retrofitted with the redesigned control arms, the expectation is of much greater longevity. That said, as seemingly all modern cars have some sort of achilles heel, better this than something that could cause catastrophic engine or transmission damage. Could only imagine what either a long or short block must cost on these.

I am just glad that there is a silent campaign or whatever the nomenclature is for it on the brake actuator as I did have to have mine replaced within 1000 miles of purchase. This would have been a $3000 plus repair and hopefully the redesigned one will not be so problematic. That said, I was shocked that it had been already replaced 10,000 miles prior, but the owner immediately had issues with the replacement and they (Hendrick Lexus of Charlotte) chalked it up to the pads/rotors.

Since replacement, it has been honestly perfect whereas upon purchase, they did act weird when coming to a stop. Especially when slowing down on a downhill offramp.
Replacement control arms are something I have budgeted for, but so far all is well. Literally knocked on wood as typing that last sentence.

FatherTo1

That is a relief. I would expect it on a Saturn with their plastic dent resistant doors in the past but not on the flagship LS (or any Lexus). This 2011 had it for sure and I had never noticed it on other 460L that I had test drove.

Wandl

I've seen a handful of 13+ LS460's close to the 100k mark but have not heard of a single instance of air suspension failures. Dismayed that they are using the part #, however glad the air suspension woes are far less than had this been a S-class forum.

dlbuckls10

The 13+ LS 460's other makes with air suspensions are still fairly new and many are still under warranty. Vehicles with air suspensions are prong to costly repair problems and its just a matter of time. Speaking from experience I know the 460 air suspension issues are minor and far less compared to MB, BMW, Jag. Audi because I have owned all of them.

Wandl

Purely personal opinion but I wouldn't be afraid of a LS460 with an air suspension as I do believe they do provide noticeable advantages and the cost of a potential replacement is relatively small compared to the competitors (a friend's MB was $30k for all 4!).

Question: does the air suspension require any maintenance other than periodic checks during the service intervals? For example the LX570 maintenance schedule replaces the AHC fluid every 30k miles...

comotiger

Without knowing specifics of your friend's car, why would anyone spend 30K for just that repair? You could buy a used MB with good air suspension for 30-40K.

Wandl

He spent it in chunks...I think 1 went out first, he fixed it...then 2 of them went out...fixed that then a year later the final one went out. So $30k wasn't in one shot, but over maybe 3-4 years.

CRowe14

He must have absolutely LOVED that car! Wow...

tx170754

I'm a long time Mercedes, Audi and BMW owner, to change all four air struts and compressor on a Mercedes with OEM ones is less than $10000, regardless if is one at the time or all of them at once. The are aftermarket ones with lifetime warranty for much less....