I have no desire to turn this into yet another Internet flame war. However, since the seller told us he wants to know what he needs to do in order to sell the car, here's the answer:
(1) If you haven't figured out yet from the ih8mud classifieds how it is done, go to
eBay and Autotrader, search for "LX470", and see how many and what photos the sellers post. The best ones post close-ups of every imperfection. Hiding obvious imperfections makes the buyer think "What else is he hiding?". I've seen classifieds on ih8mud where sellers described every scratch and stain, and the reasons the sellers decided not to fix them.
(2) I didn't say the AHC doesn't work, I said it is "shot". This is a typical condition well known to LX470 owners, and discussed on ih8mud forums numerous times. Perhaps flushing the fluid and replacing the spheres will fix it. Or maybe it is the dreaded consequence of windshield washing fluid put by an oil change place employee in the AHC extension tank. Expected average repair cost in the area where I live: ~$3,500 (cheaper if you do the work yourself). So, either fix it or discount the car.
(3) Be knowledgeable of the Law, especially the Contract Law. It is said that there are laws on the books that contradict US Constitution, yet there isn't a single law or regulation in the US that contradict the Contract Law. If you are selling something, especially an expensive item, your documentation proving the ownership has to be squeaky clean, so that the Sales Agreement could be unambiguously executed.
(4) I could not possibly "completely check the car", as I'm not a certified mechanic, and didn't have access to tools and equipment to even figure out why the tire pressure warning indicator was lit. I did offer the seller to pay for the pre-purchase check by an independent mechanic before I flew out, but that offer was not accepted. This is a big red flag for buyers. This is an example of an offer a reputable seller shall not refuse.
I think the car is most likely sellable, but needs to be either fixed up to perfection or discounted. For those who want to build it up (which starts with ripping out AHC), it could be a good rust-free platform to work with - providing that a thorough mechanical check-up gives a clean bill of health to the rest of it. My goal is different, I just want a fresher, cleaner version of what I already have, at a reasonable price, including up-to-spec AHC, and this LX470 - regrettably - ain't it.
