Ready to start looking- any advice
#31
Interesting, LS430FL. The Lexus master techs were warning me to stay away from the 460 due to control arms and the $6K air suspension replacement costs. They kept talking up the LS 430's superior reliability, yet they never mentioned the 430's own $6K air suspension bill, lol. Thanks for sharing.
(For the record, I love both the 430 and 460, for different reasons. Not starting a "which one is better" debate.)
(For the record, I love both the 430 and 460, for different reasons. Not starting a "which one is better" debate.)
#32
Racer
I think it goes for any car with air suspension. As time goes on and miles rack up eventually like regular shocks the air suspension will need replacing its just a matter of time. I think people make a big deal about air suspension because of the cost of replacement over regular coil overs. It seems they last longer than air shocks as well.
#34
Lexus Test Driver
Air shocks/struts are part of the air suspension; same same. And I believe he meant that coil suspension lasts longer, though that isn't necessarily true: it doesn't necessarily last any longer, but the negative impact of a part going bad is minimal compared to an air strut and can be ignored for quite some time, whereas a failure in an air strut (bag in particular) will require immediate attention.
When they go and with how many miles seems to have little rhyme or reason. FR on mine was replaced under warranty at ~35K, FL with a used OEM strut w/ 58K @ 103K, and both rears are still OEM with ~113K on it now.
When they go and with how many miles seems to have little rhyme or reason. FR on mine was replaced under warranty at ~35K, FL with a used OEM strut w/ 58K @ 103K, and both rears are still OEM with ~113K on it now.
#35
Pit Crew
Thread Starter
I have a LS 430 UL now with air suspension which I find the ride quite nice and would like the. 460 to equal it. Do you,think I need the air suspension for this.
So far not tooo many have mentioned must have options.
So far not tooo many have mentioned must have options.
#36
Lexus Fanatic
It all depends on whether the dealer does it or an independent does it in terms of cost.
If you want the LS460 to ride like your LS430 with air suspension you need the air suspension, and probably the LWB.
#38
Sorry for the confusion Fatherto1, I mean to use air shocks as part of air suspension as compared to regular coil shocks, I should have been more clear.
Having had a LS430 with air suspension, then a LS430 without air suspension and then a 460L without air suspension I would agree that the 430 with air suspension did ride better than the 430 without and the 460L without. But I considered the cost and decided against it. A good set of tires also goes a long way and while not quite as soft, it is close enough for me personally. If I were buying a 430 again and even some older 460's and they had air suspension I would just plan ahead for eventually having to make that repair. In my opinion as a buyer the older the car and more miles the sooner I would plan for it but like others have said they can fail at any time. I remember the drivers side front failed and I complained of a constant noise and if I remember correctly Lexus had told me it was the compressor constantly filling the air shock because it was leaking? It was several years ago but I remember from my description to them they knew it was an air shock gone bad.
I think we are lucky that Lexus offers both with and without air suspension. It is my understanding talking with the service guy at my local Mercedes dealer that some of the higher end Mercedes including my CLS550 which I guess is middle of the road are only offered with air suspension and it is equally as troublesome.
Having had a LS430 with air suspension, then a LS430 without air suspension and then a 460L without air suspension I would agree that the 430 with air suspension did ride better than the 430 without and the 460L without. But I considered the cost and decided against it. A good set of tires also goes a long way and while not quite as soft, it is close enough for me personally. If I were buying a 430 again and even some older 460's and they had air suspension I would just plan ahead for eventually having to make that repair. In my opinion as a buyer the older the car and more miles the sooner I would plan for it but like others have said they can fail at any time. I remember the drivers side front failed and I complained of a constant noise and if I remember correctly Lexus had told me it was the compressor constantly filling the air shock because it was leaking? It was several years ago but I remember from my description to them they knew it was an air shock gone bad.
I think we are lucky that Lexus offers both with and without air suspension. It is my understanding talking with the service guy at my local Mercedes dealer that some of the higher end Mercedes including my CLS550 which I guess is middle of the road are only offered with air suspension and it is equally as troublesome.
#40
Thats a good question and a little out of my league. The 430 that had air suspension wasn't that advanced to have all those settings. It has normal and high setting. I am sure that road conditions will have an effect just like normal coil suspension. I have a second home up north and drive my LS up there each year for a little over a month and the size of those potholes are crazy. Every time I go over a large bump or pot hole my heart hurts "my poor car". I give the snow regions a lot of credit. Here in FL roads are pretty smooth for the most part we are lucky. Not sure to what degree that will have an effect on suspension but I am sure it has some influence on longevity. However, as others have noted some air shocks going bad at 35K miles I am not sure what would explain that. I would expect them to last a lot longer than that. I have family in Palm Desert California and I bought one of their Lexus vehicles off lease. Some rubber parts were drier when compared to my FL cars and required replacing earlier than I had done on other RX vehicles but I am not sure if that would apply to air shocks as that car didn't have air suspension more regarding bushings,etc. Maybe someone will 460 air suspension over a several year long period of time will have something more to add.
#41
Lexus Fanatic
The difference the air suspension makes can't be described in terms of "riding softer". The car doesn't really ride softer on the air suspension than on the coil suspension.
Whats different is the refinement of the ride, rebound from road impacts, and the feel and sound of the suspension when it's working. The air suspension has no suspension sound, no hiss from gas rebounding shocks, and the car feels more disconnected from the road and the wheels, sound and NVH don't come up through the air suspension the way they do in the coil suspension, and when you hit a bump the body stays more level with the air suspension and there isn't any rebound from the suspension like there is in the coil suspension.
I had an LS400 with air suspension and an LS430 with air suspension, then many years went by and I got my 2015 LS460 with coils. While that was a great riding car and I enjoyed it very much, something was always missing from what I remembered my 430 and 400 to be like, and I chocked it up to the differences we've heard others talk about when it comes to the 460 vs the 430. However, now that I have my 2017 on air suspension I can definitively say that "thing" I was missing was the air suspension. The car truly feels like an LS, the LS that I remember now where the 2015 never quite did.
Having had this experience, I will never buy another car like this without air suspension.
Whats different is the refinement of the ride, rebound from road impacts, and the feel and sound of the suspension when it's working. The air suspension has no suspension sound, no hiss from gas rebounding shocks, and the car feels more disconnected from the road and the wheels, sound and NVH don't come up through the air suspension the way they do in the coil suspension, and when you hit a bump the body stays more level with the air suspension and there isn't any rebound from the suspension like there is in the coil suspension.
I had an LS400 with air suspension and an LS430 with air suspension, then many years went by and I got my 2015 LS460 with coils. While that was a great riding car and I enjoyed it very much, something was always missing from what I remembered my 430 and 400 to be like, and I chocked it up to the differences we've heard others talk about when it comes to the 460 vs the 430. However, now that I have my 2017 on air suspension I can definitively say that "thing" I was missing was the air suspension. The car truly feels like an LS, the LS that I remember now where the 2015 never quite did.
Having had this experience, I will never buy another car like this without air suspension.
#42
Racer
The difference the air suspension makes can't be described in terms of "riding softer". The car doesn't really ride softer on the air suspension than on the coil suspension.
Whats different is the refinement of the ride, rebound from road impacts, and the feel and sound of the suspension when it's working. The air suspension has no suspension sound, no hiss from gas rebounding shocks, and the car feels more disconnected from the road and the wheels, sound and NVH don't come up through the air suspension the way they do in the coil suspension, and when you hit a bump the body stays more level with the air suspension and there isn't any rebound from the suspension like there is in the coil suspension.
I had an LS400 with air suspension and an LS430 with air suspension, then many years went by and I got my 2015 LS460 with coils. While that was a great riding car and I enjoyed it very much, something was always missing from what I remembered my 430 and 400 to be like, and I chocked it up to the differences we've heard others talk about when it comes to the 460 vs the 430. However, now that I have my 2017 on air suspension I can definitively say that "thing" I was missing was the air suspension. The car truly feels like an LS, the LS that I remember now where the 2015 never quite did.
Having had this experience, I will never buy another car like this without air suspension.
Whats different is the refinement of the ride, rebound from road impacts, and the feel and sound of the suspension when it's working. The air suspension has no suspension sound, no hiss from gas rebounding shocks, and the car feels more disconnected from the road and the wheels, sound and NVH don't come up through the air suspension the way they do in the coil suspension, and when you hit a bump the body stays more level with the air suspension and there isn't any rebound from the suspension like there is in the coil suspension.
I had an LS400 with air suspension and an LS430 with air suspension, then many years went by and I got my 2015 LS460 with coils. While that was a great riding car and I enjoyed it very much, something was always missing from what I remembered my 430 and 400 to be like, and I chocked it up to the differences we've heard others talk about when it comes to the 460 vs the 430. However, now that I have my 2017 on air suspension I can definitively say that "thing" I was missing was the air suspension. The car truly feels like an LS, the LS that I remember now where the 2015 never quite did.
Having had this experience, I will never buy another car like this without air suspension.
Last edited by FatherTo1; 10-20-18 at 09:24 AM.
#43
Lexus Fanatic
I leave it in comfort most of the time, I put it in normal sometimes on the highway since it seems to settle the suspension down.
When it comes to the suspension, the benefits go far beyond just the drive settings. I think if you got one without the air suspension you'd ultimately be sorry you did.
When it comes to the suspension, the benefits go far beyond just the drive settings. I think if you got one without the air suspension you'd ultimately be sorry you did.
#44
I am finally ready to buy an LS460. I've been watching threads here and have some questions.
I know I only want 2 wheel drive . Is the price jump from 2011 or 2012 worth it to go to a 2013 or 2014?
I'm pretty sure I want to get the newer version.
Is the L a better way to go? I am in the car by myself 99% of the time so passengers are seldom in the car with me and if they are it's generally just one. No kids.
Anything I should be looking out for?
Any must have or desired options? So far I only have Mark Levinson as a must have. Any other option I should put on my list?
As always you guys have always been a ton of help.
I know I only want 2 wheel drive . Is the price jump from 2011 or 2012 worth it to go to a 2013 or 2014?
I'm pretty sure I want to get the newer version.
Is the L a better way to go? I am in the car by myself 99% of the time so passengers are seldom in the car with me and if they are it's generally just one. No kids.
Anything I should be looking out for?
Any must have or desired options? So far I only have Mark Levinson as a must have. Any other option I should put on my list?
As always you guys have always been a ton of help.
I probably drove each of these model years twice 2011, 2012, 2013 and after driving each one I knew that I really wanted a 2013 if I could find one with my criteria in my budget. It took me 5 months to find the perfect one for me, but the search and the wait was worth it! Good luck and let me know if I can answer any questions.
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