Newbie seeking advice on purchase of 99 LX

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

scottes

scottes

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Apr 20, 2007
Threads
3
Messages
17
Hi all-

Right off the bat I would like to thank everyone that contributes to this forum. I have been familiar with it since my family member turned me onto it a few years ago...however, with only a original owner of a 94 4runner (and dreaming of a 100 series LC/LX) I have only really been a spectator.

Well its time to put the outgrown 94 4runner to rest and get into a 100 series. That being said it has been very nerve wracking trying to find the right one!? I have 14k to spend and I THINK I have found a diamond in the rough...however, this is where I am asking for some particular direction from your experience:

I have found a 3rd owner of a 99 LX470. It has 79,054 miles. It is in GREAT shape and has never seen dirt as far as I could tell from a day with it. Runs fantastic. If I did not know the year it seems like an 07 at the latest as far as wear. All of the stickers w/VIN are on all doors. Clean car fax. been driven only about 10k over the last 10 years. I will post as many pictures as I can to help. The owner is holding the car for me as my financing clears. Timing belt not done because...well...not supposed to yet I suppose. My question is do I have any concern that there is so LITTLE miles on a 15 year old car and if so...what would they be? I am willing to accept punishment if this is as stupid of a question as I think it is :)

I am really excited to be a part of the LC/LX ownership...any advise is greatly appreciated.
photostream
 
You can view my shared photo stream on the web:

LX 470
 
Sometimes you find clean trucks and you have to buy them! Technically, the timing belt should have been replaced due to time already (somewhere between 72 and 96 months, I can't remember). Normally if the car looks good and is clean, the owner took care of the maintenance if they had someone experienced working on it.

My only concern would be if it's had all the common stuff break on it yet. I'd rather have a 100k mile truck that's had the TB/WP done, CV boots, starter (not sure if that was an issue on '99), ignition, throttle body / throttle position sensor, etc. But that's just my opinion and means nothing. I lucked out and got my '98 just after all of that had been done by the previous owner and still got a good price.
 
TXLX100 said:
Sometimes you find clean trucks and you have to buy them! Technically, the timing belt should have been replaced due to time already (somewhere between 72 and 96 months, I can't remember). Normally if the car looks good and is clean, the owner took care of the maintenance if they had someone experienced working on it.

My only concern would be if it's had all the common stuff break on it yet. I'd rather have a 100k mile truck that's had the TB/WP done, CV boots, starter (not sure if that was an issue on '99), ignition, throttle body / throttle position sensor, etc. But that's just my opinion and means nothing. I lucked out and got my '98 just after all of that had been done by the previous owner and still got a good price.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the input...It was garaged and it looked like a car that had never had the engine detailed but simply never had a leak, etc. All of the hoses, etc still looked and felt pliable, and underneath the CV boots? all looked clean and no tears...it looked garaged. He had the service done at the local dealer...and to be honest I didnt even think to ask him about the TB service because of the miles.

Is there a thread that outlines the "common" stuff that may break that I should think of replacing? it will be my family DD and I will slowly do mods as I can afford to do so...THX!
 
A lot of the common issues aren't necessarily preventative maintenance, you just address them as they happen, IMO. The only things I can think of that might leave you stranded and definitely will wear out eventually are the Heater T's and the engine cooling thermostat. Might as well do both of them at the same time.

There is some good information in the Sticky section as well as the SLEE buyers guide. I'm sure there are several threads about maintenance on here as well.
 
dustbowl said:
https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/home.do

join this and run your service history from your vin number
Click to expand...
This was awesome! Thanks...every service scheduled maintenence was done...except for the TB because it was only 2005 with 69k before it was driven 800 miles a year until now...

It did show a "SFI.MFI" for dealer service code...not sure what that is? Thanks again for the link
 
Thanks again for all of your replies to my post...really appreciated!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom