Considering a Purchase...

[NicB]

Hi folks,

Long time viewer, first time poster here! I have been wanting a 80 or 100 series Cruiser/LX for some time now, and think I have finally found a good one. It is a 2001, 100 series LX470, black with ~125,000 miles on it. It is completely optioned out, save for the locking rear differential (which I wanted, but have heard ATRAC is pretty good).

I have looked this vehicle over thoroughly (I'm a car guy and active on some Bimmer forums), and it appears very clean to me. The only issues I noticed were a stuck cassette in the CD changer and some vibration at around 60 mph (I believe is wheel balancing related, and I have asked the dealer to remedy before purchasing). The price we have negotiated is $12,800 inclusive of the repairs.

Questions:

1. Do you think this is a fair price for a mint LX470 that is loaded?

2. Is there any reason I should wait for a vehicle with the locking rear diff? My off-roading will consist of driving through muddy fields while hunting. I feel the ATRAC with 4Lo should suffice.

3. This vehicle has AHC, which seems to be working. Like many on here, I am a bit leery. If it is still working and I initiate proper maintenance (changing fluids), think I will be okay?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts, I look forward to being a part of the community!
NicB

 

[blatant]

Is this a dealer purchase, seemed like you alluded to that? Those miles seem rather nice. AHC seems like one more thing to mess with down the line. What is the main't history?

 

[SWUtah]

Has the timing belt and water pump been changed? If so it's a great deal if not have the dealer do it before you close the deal. Might cost you another $800-1000 on the price. Have them change the heater hose T's back of engine, new gas cap, radiator cap, over flow tank cap, etc. change all fluids in the driveline. I'm just adding these since it's part of baseline that you will need to do. Altrac is superior to rear locker.

 

[SWUtah]

Also how does the underside look? Some surface rust is OK but major rust is a problem

 

[NicB]

Is this a dealer purchase, seemed like you alluded to that? Those miles seem rather nice. AHC seems like one more thing to mess with down the line. What is the main't history?

Sorry, to clarify, yes, it is being sold by a used car dealer, not Lexus directly. It is a one owner vehicle, clean Carfax, 39 maintenance records, but no maintenance history unfortunately.

Has the timing belt and water pump been changed? If so it's a great deal if not have the dealer do it before you close the deal. Might cost you another $800-1000 on the price. Have them change the heater hose T's back of engine, new gas cap, radiator cap, over flow tank cap, etc. change all fluids in the driveline. I'm just adding these since it's part of baseline that you will need to do. Altrac is superior to rear locker.

Timing belt is the one thing that concerns me since I have no record of when or if it was replaced. Talk to me about the water pump though, is that a known failure point? The belts and hoses all looked good. I would probably do that work myself as opposed to having them do it and driving up the price of the deal.

 

[NicB]

Also how does the underside look? Some surface rust is OK but major rust is a problem

Underside looks good, no rust that I can see anywhere. It was a Texas car.

 

[NicB]

Would also add the transmission feels smooth, engine sounded good, drove fine, braked fine, all electronics were working, etc.

 

[blatant]

Get the vin and go to the lexus owners site and open up an owners account and put the vin in there, it will allow you to see any dealer serviced history, or should.

 

[NicB]

Get the vin and go to the lexus owners site and open up an owners account and put the vin in there, it will allow you to see any dealer serviced history, or should.

I was able to pull the service records from Lexus. Everything looks good except for the very last entry, which states:

"CUSTOMER STATES SUSPENSION IS BOUNCING. HAD ALL FOUR SHOCK REPLACED AT ANOTHER SHOP, BUT STILL BOU - CUSTOMER STATES SUSPENSION IS BOUNCING. HAD ALL FOUR SHOCK REPLACED AT ANOTHER SHOP, BUT STILL BOUNCING, CHECK - 123483 0 HAS WRONG SUSPENSION FLUID, NEW SHOCKS ARE NOW CONTAMINATED. NEEDS TO BE FLUSHED OUT AND SHOCKS NEED TO BE REPLACED."

The vehicle currently has 125,000 miles and it is still doing that. I thought it might be related to the way the AHC drove, since that was the first vehicle with AHC I tested. In hindsight, I should have known better. What would it cost to replace the shocks and fix the system or rip it out and go to a non-AHC suspension?

 

[duggy]

Altrac is superior to rear locker.

Eh.....wouldn't really agree on that.

 

[dustbowl]

https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/home.do log in here and run the VIN number to see a service history from the dealers.

 

[nahtnoj]

I was able to pull the service records from Lexus. Everything looks good except for the very last entry, which states:

"CUSTOMER STATES SUSPENSION IS BOUNCING. HAD ALL FOUR SHOCK REPLACED AT ANOTHER SHOP, BUT STILL BOU - CUSTOMER STATES SUSPENSION IS BOUNCING. HAD ALL FOUR SHOCK REPLACED AT ANOTHER SHOP, BUT STILL BOUNCING, CHECK - 123483 0 HAS WRONG SUSPENSION FLUID, NEW SHOCKS ARE NOW CONTAMINATED. NEEDS TO BE FLUSHED OUT AND SHOCKS NEED TO BE REPLACED."

The vehicle currently has 125,000 miles and it is still doing that. I thought it might be related to the way the AHC drove, since that was the first vehicle with AHC I tested. In hindsight, I should have known better. What would it cost to replace the shocks and fix the system or rip it out and go to a non-AHC suspension?

Ouch. AHC is a durable and wonderful system when working properly. But, this will be thousands to remedy. I'd walk.

 

[SWUtah]

I was able to pull the service records from Lexus. Everything looks good except for the very last entry, which states:

"CUSTOMER STATES SUSPENSION IS BOUNCING. HAD ALL FOUR SHOCK REPLACED AT ANOTHER SHOP, BUT STILL BOU - CUSTOMER STATES SUSPENSION IS BOUNCING. HAD ALL FOUR SHOCK REPLACED AT ANOTHER SHOP, BUT STILL BOUNCING, CHECK - 123483 0 HAS WRONG SUSPENSION FLUID, NEW SHOCKS ARE NOW CONTAMINATED. NEEDS TO BE FLUSHED OUT AND SHOCKS NEED TO BE REPLACED."

The vehicle currently has 125,000 miles and it is still doing that. I thought it might be related to the way the AHC drove, since that was the first vehicle with AHC I tested. In hindsight, I should have known better. What would it cost to replace the shocks and fix the system or rip it out and go to a non-AHC suspension?

Not a big deal I had mine taken out by Slee Off-road in Golden Colorado they installed a OME suspension 2" lift with the Slee differential drop. Now my 120k rig has a new superior suspension that won't break or cost $$$ to maintain like the AHC. Call Slee or go to his sight to see the cost of the OME labor $$$ is about the same as the system. Cost about $2500 for OME installed and the timing belt and water pump service about $800-1000. So worse case $3500. So all in $16,400 still a great deal with the vehicle you end up with.

 

[TXLX100]

Ouch. AHC is a durable and wonderful system when working properly. But, this will be thousands to remedy. I'd walk.

Someone probably put water in the reservoir. I had a customer vehicle like that when I worked at Lexus. We replaced everything but the lines, flushed numerous times and still didn't feel right. Any amount of water kills the accumulators.

I'd say it makes the truck worth about $2k less IF you are okay with removing the system for a conventional setup. If you want AHC, might be best to find a different vehicle..... If it drives well, might be worth it.

 

[NicB]

Reading through the replies and looking over the Slee suspension kit install instructions, I'd be tempted to buy this truck if I could get a discount on it. The issue is I won't be able to do the work myself for a while, and I want to use the truck to tow a car before then.

If the AHC is bad/bouncing, does it make towing a trailered vehicle unsafe or is it just more of an annoyance? Anyone know a good LC shope in Houston, TX?

Thanks all, this forum is great!
NicB

 

[SWUtah]

512-420-0012 LCS Landcruiser specialist here in Austin ask for Edwin Kincade. He specializes in Landcruisers. He can answer and advise, might know someone in Houston.

 

[RND1]

Many of us have been in your position looking for an 80 or 100 series for a long time, I know I was. The best advice I can give you is to be patient and buy the best one you can find in your price range. This sounds like a solid choice, but I would get an estimate from Lexus on the AHC repair, and have the dealer drop the price to cover it. Sounds like the rest of the LX is very nice and one owner to boot?

These are great trucks, but those of us who buy them used often forget that they were $65K trucks when new. While the trucks depreciate, parts and maintenance costs do not!

 

[NicB]

I walked from the deal. I told him if he lowers his price I may consider, but I doubt that will happen. The search continues...

 

[SWUtah]

It takes time you will find the one.

 

[PADDO]

I walked from the deal. I told him if he lowers his price I may consider, but I doubt that will happen. The search continues...

You probably saved yourself a lot of heartache wrt to the AHC contamination. Depending on what was added to the AHC reservoir the complete fix could have involved replacing 4x globe accumulators, repair/rebuild 4x damper control valves assy, 4x shock actuators, various seals and orings in the pump and probably more. Many thousands $. I reckon AHC is a fantastic system but that vehicle would be a prime candidate for an AHC delete and replace with conventional. I wonder when/if we will see the eventual new owner pop up here with a "my AHC ride sux" first post.