Considering the GX470, cost of ownership, purchasing advice (1 Viewer)

[stevezero]

Look around at major cities that you can get a short nonstop flight to. Prices may be lower there, due to more of them available, and less market for the offroad suv's. Deals are out there, you may just have to search outside the local area. I drove about 150 miles each way for mine, and it had been on the market for just about two months. It was in great shape, all maint at lexus, and had timing belt, wp, tensioners, radiator/hoses, cv boots, and brakes all the way around done prior to trading it in... They came down over 5k on the price, because it was sitting there not being looked at or test driven. Did the entire deal over the phone, and was in and out of the dealer in under 90 mins, including a test drive, and their test drive of my car i was tradin in.

The GXs are usually in much better shape/better maintained than a 4r of similar age. The quality and layout of the interior were much better to me than a 4r too.

 

[NMBruce]

I live in SW Colorado, found mine in Beverly Hills. Also got luck that the guy was nice enough to hold it for me, had 3 others looking at it. Found a cheap flight PHX and a friend drove me to CA and purchased it.

 

[Sleepy]

And road trips are sweet when you return home in a new to you GX!

 

[co4wheel]

I looked at enough GX's that on paper and pictures looked good but face to truck, I would not buy. I was not about to start flying around the country to look at stuff that in the end I may not like

 

[Ninja Cruiser100]

I am looking at a 2008 GX 470 with a Mark Levinson DVD system and am trying to understand the problems associated with replacing it with a modern bluetooth unit? Thanks.

 

[Springs505]

I am looking at a 2008 GX 470 with a Mark Levinson DVD system and am trying to understand the problems associated with replacing it with a modern bluetooth unit? Thanks.

The problem is the integration of the climate control with the stereo. Additionally, there appears to be wiring harness issues that prevent swapping in the climate controls from a non-nav truck. Beyond that, you would have reduced power since the ML speakers are 8 ohms, as well.

 

[Ninja Cruiser100]

The problem is the integration of the climate control with the stereo. Additionally, there appears to be wiring harness issues that prevent swapping in the climate controls from a non-nav truck. Beyond that, you would have reduced power since the ML speakers are 8 ohms, as well.

Thank you. What I am trying to understand is the cost if the ML/Nav system fails. Are there nay aftermarket alternatives? Would I simply be stuck with a several thousand dollar Dealer repair?

Is there a workaround to put a better stereo head unit and amplifier?

 

[JLee]

Thank you. What I am trying to understand is the cost if the ML/Nav system fails. Are there nay aftermarket alternatives? Would I simply be stuck with a several thousand dollar Dealer repair?

Is there a workaround to put a better stereo head unit and amplifier?

There is no aftermarket workaround or alternative.

 

[Gx4sevend]

I've seen them used on eBay for $399.

There's a lot of talk, and I mean a lot, about how the ML sucks and if it breaks blah blah blah. Has anyone seen it happen? Any threads regarding it and a fix? Anything other than here say around the Internet?

 

[JLee]

I've seen them used on eBay for $399.

There's a lot of talk, and I mean a lot, about how the ML sucks and if it breaks blah blah blah. Has anyone seen it happen? Any threads regarding it and a fix? Anything other than here say around the Internet?

For what it's worth, I was perfectly happy with mine. I bought an 07 because the nav system was refreshed that year.

 

[Ninja Cruiser100]

I've seen them used on eBay for $399.

There's a lot of talk, and I mean a lot, about how the ML sucks and if it breaks blah blah blah. Has anyone seen it happen? Any threads regarding it and a fix? Anything other than here say around the Internet?

This was going to be my next line of questioning...who has actually had the ML unit fail? What was the solution?

 

[Gx4sevend]

That's what I'm asking for as well. Like I want to see a thread about it and what happened and how they fixed it.

No one has ever posted a link or anything. Just says that it sucks and if it fails you're screwed.

 

[co4wheel]

This was going to be my next line of questioning...who has actually had the ML unit fail? What was the solution?

When searching for my GX I was in a either a Land Cruiser or LX. The HVAC did not work because the stereo was broken. I went back to see it when it was repaired it had a new Stereo/Headunit/HVAC. Call Lexus and Toyota for a price or just look at it online. They are NOT cheap. My cassette deck got damaged when they did my dash. It was over a grand for the Radio/CD/Cassette. That is the cheap non hvac version.
As a result of driving that 100 series with the broken HVAC, I decided to avoid that combo unit and got the cheaper stereo with the non integrated nav/hvac.

 

[Sleepy]

Several with nav I drove had blown ML speakers. Expensive to replace because of 8 ohm issue. Did see some folks had a cheaper repair option. I went non nav simply because I don't like combo electronics or lack of upgradability in a long term investment.

 

[Ninja Cruiser100]

So are you suggesting that Nav be avoided all together? Or just the ML/ Nav? Can you find non NAV in all years or just certain ones?

 

[Ninja Cruiser100]

Don't know if makes a difference to you, does the later ML allow Siruis/XM?

I use my iPhone via bluetooth to listen to music, rarely use radio and never cd's. DVD is also useless to me.

 

[co4wheel]

So are you suggesting that Nav be avoided all together? Or just the ML/ Nav? Can you find non NAV in all years or just certain ones?

If I have the choice on a older vehicle I would choose non nav over nav integrated into the HVAC. It has nothing to do with the ML itself.

 

[kbahus]

That's what I'm asking for as well. Like I want to see a thread about it and what happened and how they fixed it.

No one has ever posted a link or anything. Just says that it sucks and if it fails you're screwed.

Here is a link with 1,140 threads relating to blown Mark Levinson equipment on Club Lexus alone: Google

The problem is not so much that the head unit may fail someday leaving your hvac useless, the problem is the entire system is proprietary to Lexus so no single part can be easily or cheaply replaced by better and more current aftermarket options. The speakers are complete garbage to start.

I have only seen Mark Levinson and Navigation together as a package, not one or the other. Has anyone here seen a GX with navigation and no Mark Levinson or visa versa?

 

[GXO]

I have ML with no navigation. 2003. I swapped it all though.

 

[Gx4sevend]

I'm talking about the head unit failing since everyone talks about how the navigation sucks and you can't replace it. Speakers I don't care about. I don't blast my stuff so it's just not a big deal. The only thing I as worried about was the screen but that would not keep me from buying my car.