Need your opinions - 2017 GX with 100k miles on chassis, BUT ENGINE replaced with 90k mile engine...🫨 (1 Viewer)

[Chicago6MT]

Alright,

I've owned a LX470 but gave it to my mother when her Rx300's engine exploded. I've been looking at Gx470's, 460's, and Sequoias for a little over a year now. I live in Chicago, so finding a nice local example without rust is problematic. I found a 2017 GX with 100k miles and was looking at the CarFax and noticed that the engine was just replaced. I know about the valley plate issues and timing cover, but bombed out second gen v8 was not on my bingo card, especially since the car had been serviced at a Lexus dealer it's entire service history. Odd, right? But a rust free 2017 with 100k on the chassis and a 90k-mile engine. They are only offering 90 days and 3000 miles for a warranty on the engine, but I can get an extended warranty. Thoughts, opinions, warnings welcome....

 

[rherrco]

Alright,

I've owned a LX470 but gave it to my mother when her Rx300's engine exploded. I've been looking at Gx470's, 460's, and Sequoias for a little over a year now. I live in Chicago, so finding a nice local example without rust is problematic. I found a 2017 GX with 100k miles and was looking at the CarFax and noticed that the engine was just replaced. I know about the valley plate issues and timing cover, but bombed out second gen v8 was not on my bingo card, especially since the car had been serviced at a Lexus dealer it's entire service history. Odd, right? But a rust free 2017 with 100k on the chassis and a new engine sounds mighty tempting. They are only offering 90 days and 3000 miles for a warranty on the engine, but I can get an extended warranty. Thoughts, opinions, warnings welcome....

View attachment 3804659

What is a “new” engine? Who is offering the extended warranty?

 

[Chicago6MT]

What is a “new” engine? Who is offering the extended warranty?

Updated with more details, not new, actually has 90k miles on it. Salesperson misstated. Had to talk to the sales manager. Not as tempting...

 

[Rednexus]

Who replaced the engine? Dealer or someone else? Engine replacements on these are pretty rare - usually they only fail due to abuse (i.e., hydrolocking during a stream crossing). It's also highly unusual for someone to spend what must have been $10K plus on a new engine, only to go and then sell the car. Either it was a "mechanic's special" where someone picked it up with a bad motor to flip, or the engine replacement didn't fix some other problem.

One recommendation I might have is to look for a GX down here in the St. Louis area. There seem to be quite a few nice ones in the $15-40K range. A buddy of mine picked up a cherry 2020 in Springfield, MO for around $35K I think, with only 60K miles on the clock. They'll be less rusty than Chicago for sure, and it's a short plane ride or Amtrak ride to get here.

EDIT: Here are a few:

https://www.carvana.com/vehicle/lt/3409982?store=Carvstl&utm_source=google&utm_medium=vla&utm_campaign=20420295754&utm_content=&utm_target=&utm_creative=&utm_device=c&utm_adposition=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAyc67BhDSARIsAM95QzsrzxLEed_5_ZiBEwGZv9BwCagLhuS4zS80a96KhjazZxcXuUxvtrcaAur2EALw_wcB

Used Cars for Sale Near Me - CarGurus

Search pre-owned Used Cars for Sale Near Me listings to find the best local deals. We analyze millions of used cars daily.

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Lexus GX

Save $10,683 on a used Lexus GX near you. Search over 5,100 listings to find the best Saint Louis, MO deals. We analyze millions of used cars daily.

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[Chicago6MT]

Who replaced the engine? Dealer or someone else? Engine replacements on these are pretty rare - usually they only fail due to abuse (i.e., hydrolocking during a stream crossing). It's also highly unusual for someone to spend what must have been $10K plus on a new engine, only to go and then sell the car. Either it was a "mechanic's special" where someone picked it up with a bad motor to flip, or the engine replacement didn't fix some other problem.

One recommendation I might have is to look for a GX down here in the St. Louis area. There seem to be quite a few nice ones in the $15-40K range. A buddy of mine picked up a cherry 2020 in Springfield, MO for around $35K I think, with only 60K miles on the clock. They'll be less rusty than Chicago for sure, and it's a short plane ride or Amtrak ride to get here.

EDIT: Here are a few:

https://www.carvana.com/vehicle/lt/3409982?store=Carvstl&utm_source=google&utm_medium=vla&utm_campaign=20420295754&utm_content=&utm_target=&utm_creative=&utm_device=c&utm_adposition=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAyc67BhDSARIsAM95QzsrzxLEed_5_ZiBEwGZv9BwCagLhuS4zS80a96KhjazZxcXuUxvtrcaAur2EALw_wcB

Used Cars for Sale Near Me - CarGurus

Search pre-owned Used Cars for Sale Near Me listings to find the best local deals. We analyze millions of used cars daily.

www.cargurus.com

Lexus GX

Save $10,683 on a used Lexus GX near you. Search over 5,100 listings to find the best Saint Louis, MO deals. We analyze millions of used cars daily.

www.cargurus.com

Lexus dealer replaced the engine. Same dealer that had been servicing the vehicle, and it's clean as hell. No signs of abuse. I agree, very unusual for engine replacement on these. One thought I had was that since it was just replaced this month (December), there may be no issues with the normal wear items like valley plate and timing cover. - hopefully already addressed.

 

[Hiluxforever]

Might be fine, but i wouldn't even consider it. That's a red flag for me.

 

[jeremy j]

I probably wouldn’t consider it either but it’s hard to know for sure without the price. Did I miss that?

I never hear about these engines failing but I could see a valley plate issue causing an overheated engine that might need replacing. When mine went out, I saw the temp gauge climbing and pulled over but I could have easily not noticed until it was too late.

 

[r2m]

As I've said before, Toyota/Lexus are not perfect, but where the chances of getting a long running, hundreds of thousands of miles from a Toy/Lex are the "rule" and not the "exception". Where all other manufacturers (read: Chevy, Ford, etc.) are the inverse. You're lucky to get hundreds of thousands of miles, and far more likely to have to trade it in after just tripping six digits on the odometer.
Sad to say, that GX may have drawn the short straw.
But I still wouldn't discard it if the price is right and little/no rust.

 

[Hiluxforever]

As I've said before, Toyota/Lexus are not perfect, but the where the chances of getting a long running, hundreds of thousands of miles from a Toy/Lex are the "rule" and not the "exception". Where all other manufacturers (read: Chevy, Ford, etc.) are the inverse. You're lucky to get hundreds of thousands of miles, and far more likely to have to trade it in after just tripping six digits on the odometer.
Sad to say, that GX may have drawn the short straw.
But I still wouldn't discard it if the price is right and little/no rust.

Yeah I got a warranty transmission on my 98 tacoma. Bad shift fork from the factory. Would violently pop out of gear under load.

 

[Rednexus]

Lexus dealer replaced the engine. Same dealer that had been servicing the vehicle, and it's clean as hell. No signs of abuse. I agree, very unusual for engine replacement on these. One thought I had was that since it was just replaced this month (December), there may be no issues with the normal wear items like valley plate and timing cover. - hopefully already addressed.

I'd only consider it if the dealer had a credible reason for why the engine was replaced. The random failure rate on these is low enough it seems to be more likely an abuse issue (again, unless the dealer has a credible non-abuse explanation). If it was due to abuse (i.e., lack of maintenance....driving through 3.5 feet of water), the rest of the rig may be suspect.

 

[r2m]

Is your area prone to flooding? I've heard of dealers trying to sell flooded cars after a bad winter.

 

[Chicago6MT]

Price is $25, likely hoping for someone who is not scrutinizing the CarFax. Not nearly low enough considering the inventory that is out there and the potential issues that could arise. If it were like $18,500 I may consider rolling the dice with an added extended warranty. Was curious what others thought or had heard about engine failures and replacements. Such an oddity I wanted to bring it to the group.

https://www.lexusoftampabay.com/inventory/vehicledetails-jtjbm7fx7h5172242/

 

[MrTorgue]

Red flag, walk. There's enough out there for sale to get one without such a questionable issue.

 

[r2m]

Price is $25, likely hoping for someone who is not scrutinizing the CarFax. Not nearly low enough considering the inventory that is out there and the potential issues that could arise. If it were like $18,500 I may consider rolling the dice with an added extended warranty. Was curious what others thought or had heard about engine failures and replacements. Such an oddity I wanted to bring it to the group.

https://www.lexusoftampabay.com/inventory/vehicledetails-jtjbm7fx7h5172242/

The short answer to engine failures, these 4.6L are pretty bullet proof. Only issue is the valley coolant leak and radiators. And still those are not chronic issues over the entire field of GX's.

 

[Rednexus]

Red flag, walk. There's enough out there for sale to get one without such a questionable issue.

Agreed - if it is also coming from Tampa Bay you can easily add $1-2K to the cost in terms or getting it back to Chicago (whether it is shipped or you fly down and drive it home). Several of the ones in the STL area I posted are about the same price but don't have the baggage associated with a blown motor.

FYI - coming from Florida - after the series of recent hurricanes/storms - my money is on someone driving through water that was too deep and hydrolocking the engine. If that did happen, who knows how wet the rest of the GX got and how long it sat in 28" plus of water (which is the Prado 150 stock fording depth). Of course this is all presumption, but regardless a red flag unless the dealer provides information to the contrary.

 

[rherrco]

Agreed - if it is also coming from Tampa Bay you can easily add $1-2K to the cost in terms or getting it back to Chicago (whether it is shipped or you fly down and drive it home). Several of the ones in the STL area I posted are about the same price but don't have the baggage associated with a blown motor.

FYI - coming from Florida - after the series of recent hurricanes/storms - my money is on someone driving through water that was too deep and hydrolocking the engine. If that did happen, who knows how wet the rest of the GX got and how long it sat in 28" plus of water (which is the Prado 150 stock fording depth). Of course this is all presumption, but regardless a red flag unless the dealer provides information to the contrary.

Did I see that it is on its third radiator? What the story on that?

 

[Washingtontaco]

Take a long weekend, fly to Dallas, Phoneix, LA or Vegas and buy a clean used desert GX.

 

[MrTorgue]

Take a long weekend, fly to Dallas, Phoneix, LA or Vegas and buy a clean used desert GX.

100% this. And in Texas look as far away as you can from the coast and focus on west of I-35 where it's drier.

 

[jeremy j]

Take a long weekend, fly to Dallas, Phoneix, LA or Vegas and buy a clean used desert GX.

Yep. Not a hint of any rust on any truck/car I've ever bought down here.