RIP Lexus LS430 - you will be ever missed

[halpulaar]

I am about to sell get rid of my LS430 this week unless a miracle occurs. I thought I would put a note on here to get some inspiration and share my sorrows. You never know. I researched the best car on earth and decided it will be the LS430 for me. I researched a lot and fell in love with a black version as I disliked the grey colour. So much I did not do a proper check and was not patient to get the best one.

So I bought this LS430 back in May 2022 and loved every bit of it. Unfortunately, the previous owners did not look after it well and little did I know about it. Today, I realise the exhaust is not original, the tank is leaking according to Lexus, the suspension is faulty and need replacement. Lexus would not repair it and the independant Lexus garage is quoting £6000+ when I only bought it for £3600. I repainted it, got brand new Michelin tyres 3 months ago (worth £650) and was about to get the A/C fixed. Part of me is now saying no more. I bought a used Rx400h in the meantime and think it would be better to sell at "we buy any car" where it is quoted £1000.

 

What you guys think? should I sell them as quick as possible or do you know other avenues to get more value from the car?

Lexus LS430 on Autotrader ad in 2022.pdf

[Spock66]

12 minutes ago, halpulaar said:

What you guys think? should I sell them as quick as possible or do you know other avenues to get more value from the car?

If you can do some of the work yourself may be viable, otherwise I would agree selling is probably the best option.

[Malc1]

Very sad …….You could tell us the regn. as a starter for checking the MOT history etc ……. Current mileage ? 

….. has she air suspension ? any history like radiator changed, cam belt & waterpump done ? 

any points of note specifically ?

thanks

Malc

[steve2006]

Just the single tailpipe is the giveaway something is amiss with the exhaust, unfortunately being mild steel they do rot and with replacements only available from Lexus bodge ups will happen.

The air suspension can be converted to springs for around £1500.00 for the kit.

Under slung fuel tanks exposed to the elements were another retrograde step compared to the LS400 boot mounted position along with the stainless steel exhaust.

I assume from the sales ad you’ve had it over six months so no dealer come back?

[Malc1]

being black is quite possibly unique and a rare selling point methinks 

Malc

[PCM]

15 hours ago, halpulaar said:

... in the meantime and think it would be better to sell at "we buy any car" where it is quoted £1000.

 

What you guys think? should I sell them as quick as possible or do you know other avenues to get more value from the car?

Lexus LS430 on Autotrader ad in 2022.pdf 293.28 kB · 13 downloads

If you do, be prepared to knock off another £400 or so?

If 'they' spot ANY rust, they will reduce the price further ( I suggest, based on my experience ) and you will be looking at a scrap value.

Maybe, with full disclosure, sell it to an able DIYer?

PS. Would the dealer buy it back? 

Edited April 13, 2023 by PCM
Addition

[halpulaar]

14 hours ago, Malc1 said:

Very sad …….You could tell us the regn. as a starter for checking the MOT history etc ……. Current mileage ? 

….. has she air suspension ? any history like radiator changed, cam belt & waterpump done ? 

any points of note specifically ?

thanks

Malc

Reg number is BX52RUC. It has air suspension and cam belt was done at 74k. Lexus told me no need to redo for another 100k. Mileage is 126k. Thanks 

[PCM]

... and yet the MOT history looks very sound?

[Malc1]

on the face of it she looks like a relatively " simple " project for someone to get back to and enjoy a lovely car

AND looks like it's possibly available for just £600 scrap value too  .  WBAC £1k less £400 for usual imperfections .....  and " weigh in " as scrap possibly around the £400 mark too 

Seems a pity to see another Ls430 go to Lexus Heaven

Malc

[halpulaar]

5 hours ago, Malc1 said:

on the face of it she looks like a relatively " simple " project for someone to get back to and enjoy a lovely car

AND looks like it's possibly available for just £600 scrap value too  .  WBAC £1k less £400 for usual imperfections .....  and " weigh in " as scrap possibly around the £400 mark too 

Seems a pity to see another Ls430 go to Lexus Heaven

Malc

To be honest, it hurts me to let go at this scrap price. I'd rather work with someone to save it. I might take it to a local garagist non Lexus specialist and get their views on the simple job. Night just forget the tank

[Malc1]

3 minutes ago, halpulaar said:

Night just forget the tank

peeeeeing out £££££ won't be a good idea, nor MOT'able either !  assuming you're referring to the petrol tank rather than the car as a whole !

Malc

[halpulaar]

13 minutes ago, Malc1 said:

peeeeeing out £££££ won't be a good idea, nor MOT'able either !  assuming you're referring to the petrol tank rather than the car as a whole !

Malc

Dilemma. Yes I meant I want to not repair the petrol tank 

[halpulaar]

21 hours ago, halpulaar said:

Dilemma. Yes I meant I want to not repair the petrol tank 

as a quick update, I'll source used parts and deliver to the Lexus specialist for repair. Will search on here the best websites or locations in the UK. Thanks for all your great comments. That will save one Lexus from scrap hopefully...

[Malc1]

we carefully buy from:  Amayama, Rockauto     and, in the UK ,  LexusPartsDirect  ....... often avoiding much of the Blueprint offerings too 

There's other sources too of course 

Good luck and keep us posted

Malc

[halpulaar]

22 hours ago, Malc1 said:

we carefully buy from:  Amayama, Rockauto     and, in the UK ,  LexusPartsDirect  ....... often avoiding much of the Blueprint offerings too ...

Malc

Hi Malc

What do you mean by blueprint offering please?

Still browsing on eBay. Will look at LPD as well.

[Malc1]

BluePrint ......  I bought a front expensive arm a few £oo's  long way back and it only lasted some 43k ? miles or so ............  all my further replacements have been genuine Lexus / Toyota and imported from Amayama ......  and saving huge amounts of £££ too, over UK Lexus prices ( of course ) 

Don't know about BluePrint filters and other bits and bobs though tbh  .  many people use BluePrint I know  . just saying from my own personal experiences over the years

I've had my Ls400 since mid 2011 and done 122k of the present 245k miles and replaced much of the expensive bits and bobs over the years  😆  .  and she cost me, if I remember correctly, £1400 from a Member here,  back in those halcyon days !  😇

Good luck

4 hours ago, halpulaar said:

What do you mean by blueprint offering please?

Malc

[ColinBarber]

The quality of Blue Print parts ultimately depends on who the OEM is as they don’t manufacture many of the parts themselves. Many parts are made by the same OEM as the vehicle manufacturer used - either the same quality or a budget version. 

[Malc1]

3 hours ago, ColinBarber said:

either the same quality or a budget version. 

and you might not find out till way down the line when you get a premature failure ......  some might say at 43k miles that's not premature BUT the original had lasted some 140k miles and I'm anticipating the replacement to the BluePrint one will also last 140k miles too ...... being Toyota branded from Amayama  😇

Fingers xd 

Malc

[halpulaar]

7 hours ago, Malc1 said:

and you might not find out till way down the line when you get a premature failure ......  some might say at 43k miles that's not premature BUT the original had lasted some 140k miles and I'm anticipating the replacement to the BluePrint one will also last 140k miles too ...... being Toyota branded from Amayama  😇

Fingers xd 

Malc

Agreed Malc. And that's also a dilemma even when you buy used kits like I am doing. I expect to fork out additional costs later and this choice is just buying me time and spreading the costs over a hopefully longer time.

[halpulaar]

A few updates - 

Bought a used petrol tank and fixed- apparently not leaking anymore
Bought a used air leg and pump as well. Sounds like it does not solve the issue. Pump does not function as expected. Might return to the sender.

Very gutted, I decided to convert to coilover and bought this item. - what do you think?

[Howplum]

It would be interesting to hear your observations on the ride quality after the coilover suspension is fitted. I notice there are no instructions, so setting it up correctly could be fun! It is much cheaper than well known makes though, and a way of solving the suspension issue at a reasonable cost.

[halpulaar]

Right. Car is back home after two months of adventure in the garage. I have replaced the air suspension with cheap coilovers. Car does drive nicely but definitely not as nice as before.

Internally I feel I lost one key aspect of what I like in the ls430. So I don't feel I'm driving the car I want to own. 

Put up for sale. Will keep in the meantime rather than sell cheap.

Thanks to all as your comments convinced me to fix rather than sell cheap. Still a lot of good things in it compared to other cars including modern ones.

[Howplum]

It's interesting what you say about the cheap coilovers. I have never ridden in a car with air suspension, but can say that my LS400 does not seem to have the magic carpet ride I was led  to expect, even though the mileage is only 86,000. This is why I'm hoping to refresh the suspension system and coilovers are on the options list. I'm therefore wondering how the ride might compare between coilovers and standard suspension. Does anyone have any experience of this?

[m4rkw]

I swapped to coilovers on a BMW once and immediately regretted it, went back and asked them to put the original worn shocks with over 100k back on.

[m4rkw]

OP's car is probably worth more in parts than together, just a thought.