My new to me 2008 GX470

[Jay Kay]

I'm on mobile so it's hard for me to figure out how to post photos but I'll put them up if anyone is interested.

Found a pristine 1-owner California GX470 with 143k miles and all maintenance records (including timing belt at 90k/2014) and the nicest underbody I've ever seen on a Toyota; the only rust I can see is on the exhaust. Paid $14k+ taxes and fees, and according to the Lexus dealer, the battery and rear brakes will need to be replaced soon, the engine cover is missing 9 clips, and it needs a new cabin filter. The used car dealer whose lot I found it on agreed to replace the radiator. It's a little higher mileage than I wanted and about $1500 more than what I've seen them go for around here, but I couldn't risk someone else picking it up before they dropped the price!

Thought I'd missed out on an almost-as-nice V8 4Runner last night bc they refused to let me take it to a Toyota dealer to get it checked out. Now I'm glad they never called me back! Totally sketched out by that dealer now, they dropped it $1k today after telling me I couldn't take it to be inspected bc they had 2 appts on it.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Yeah post photos. 2008 is a nice year

 

[Jay Kay]

Yeah post photos. 2008 is a nice year

Finally got her home! Mish mash of photos from the dealer lot and from my driveway.

2008 GX470

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Looks clean...ready for upgrades

 

[Jay Kay]

Looks clean...ready for upgrades

Thanks! I'm starting slowly, I've been in VWs since 2012 so I'm reading and researching before deciding where to go. I ordered a blank OEM key (it only came with 1) and I'm ordering LEDs today, that's about as far I've gotten!

 

[HomersCanyonero]

What's your purpose/goal with the GX470? This makes a difference in what you want to upgrade.

143k miles is nothing. This V8 engine on a 2007 Tundra lasted over 1M miles. Toyota bought the truck from the owner to inspect and put in a museum. So, 143k is not that many miles.

You can find YouTube videos on how to replace the cabin filter. You have to take out the glove box and pull out the filter cartridge. It's very easy. No tools required. Just watch YouTube!

Buy engine clips on Amazon and install yourself. It's easy.

I just replaced my radiator, but I was very particular about getting a new OEM Denso radiator, new upper/lower radiator hoses from Toyota, new Toyota thermostat, new Toyota cap, new Toyota red coolant. I did this because I wanted peace of mind when offroading far from civilization. When you repair certain big things like the radiator, you want to replace the easy stuff too like the upper/lower hoses, cap, thermostat, etc. In fact, I did a package deal where I replaced everything I've said plus the water pump, drive belt, tensioners, and timing belt, for a new cooling system. During this process, my mechanic showed me that the PO had replaced the water pump with an after market one and a bolt was broken. All fixed and I have peace of mind on my cooling plus a spare after-market water pump.

On the brakes, this is a perfect time to replace the rotors and the brake pads. In fact, resurfacing the rotors costs more than new rotors, so I hate resurfacing them. I'm a big fan of the Akebono ceramic brake pads and you can find them online for like $70/pair (no tax, free shipping). I'm not big on slotted or drilled rotors, so I just went with the solid Premium EBC rotors. They work great and I tested them on a big 10,000 ft mountain in the Easter Sierras by Ancient Bristlecone Pines National Forest. I burned them good on one day by accident. I didn't realize I was riding the brakes on the way down until I started smelling the brake smoke. Anyways, brakes and rotors are fine. Luckily, I was camping at 8k feet, so the brakes were able to take a rest and handle the rest of the 5k ft decline and then the rest of the decline to sea level in Los Angeles.

Since the transmission fluid is not a service item, make sure it was done or do it now. The original World Standard transmission fluid is only good up to 100k miles even though it says lifetime. If yours has not been changed, I would do this asap. I think 150k miles is the upper limit on this fluid, but that's just my guess. I read reports that the WS lifetime transmission fluid starts to deteriorate at 80k to 100k miles.

 

[DSRTRDR]

 

[I6turbo]

Congratulations. Looks like a good one. If you like it as much as I like mine, it'll be one of the favorite vehicles you ever own.

 

[Jay Kay]

Thanks, all, esp HomersCanyonero! Sorry, I never received a notification so I'm just seeing these responses.

@HomersCanyonero I found a trusted mechanic from this forum who's nearby (well, 1.5 hours) so I figured I'd take the GX over to him and get his recommendations, I'll be sure to bring your list with me. Appreciate all your tips!