Thinking of buying a 2001 Landcruiser 100 Series

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DesertRogue

10 Year
Joined
Jul 24, 2015
Threads
7
Messages
37
Location
Dubai UAE
Hey Guys - Hope you are all well.

I am new to the forum - a Scots living in Dubai UAE .

I was thinking of buying a used 100 series Landcruiser 4.5 Petrol 6 cylinder - 166,000 KM, and a friend told me you guys are the best place to join and seek advice. I am hoping if I get the car I can eventually contribute something back.

I was hoping someone could tell me if this car is a good buy and if I can expect any major issues with it based on below, or if I fix the below issues I can expect a few years happy cruising.


The car went for a pre buy mechanical inspection ( basically up on a ramp for 20 mins and a quick road test)


The issues that were noted are

- Rear wheel bearings need replaced
- All brake pads need changed ( 2mm left only)
- Full service required ( diff's,transmission, transfer case, engine, oils, filters, spark plugs, major service)
- Both rear upper control arms need their bushes replaced ( suggested to replace the whole arm)
- 4 x shock absorbers front/rear
- Possibley springs while shocks getting changed
- Tie rod ends suspect
- Front and rear outputshaft seals of the transfer case leaking ( replace)
- Oil Pan sump primary and secondary - leaking , replace gaskets
- Rear Crackshaft seal leaking ( so it seems)
- Front crankshaft seal leaking ( needs replacing)

The car has a service history up to about 130,000 KM mixture of Dealer and other reputable workshops, the remaining 130-160,000 is sketchy - with some unknown workshop ( who didnt pick up on any of the issues above)


I can get most of the above sorted for $2,200

If I get all this done - can I expect any other major issues to happen? - most people have told me not to go for it due to having so many issues already, but then the more I read - this is normal for a car this old with this mileage in UAE heat.


I do not plan to offroad the vehicle - its more just used as a daily commute, and perhaps the odd weekend driving along dirt track roads

Any help / advice would be really helpful.

Kind Regards

Ryan
 
DesertRogue said:
Hey Guys - Hope you are all well.

I am new to the forum - a Scots living in Dubai UAE .

I was thinking of buying a used 100 series Landcruiser 4.5 Petrol 6 cylinder - 166,000 KM, and a friend told me you guys are the best place to join and seek advice. I am hoping if I get the car I can eventually contribute something back.

I was hoping someone could tell me if this car is a good buy and if I can expect any major issues with it based on below, or if I fix the below issues I can expect a few years happy cruising.


The car went for a pre buy mechanical inspection ( basically up on a ramp for 20 mins and a quick road test)


The issues that were noted are

- Rear wheel bearings need replaced
- All brake pads need changed ( 2mm left only)
- Full service required ( diff's,transmission, transfer case, engine, oils, filters, spark plugs, major service)
- Both rear upper control arms need their bushes replaced ( suggested to replace the whole arm)
- 4 x shock absorbers front/rear
- Possibley springs while shocks getting changed
- Tie rod ends suspect
- Front and rear outputshaft seals of the transfer case leaking ( replace)
- Oil Pan sump primary and secondary - leaking , replace gaskets
- Rear Crackshaft seal leaking ( so it seems)
- Front crankshaft seal leaking ( needs replacing)

The car has a service history up to about 130,000 KM mixture of Dealer and other reputable workshops, the remaining 130-160,000 is sketchy - with some unknown workshop ( who didnt pick up on any of the issues above)


I can get most of the above sorted for $2,200

If I get all this done - can I expect any other major issues to happen? - most people have told me not to go for it due to having so many issues already, but then the more I read - this is normal for a car this old with this mileage in UAE heat.


I do not plan to offroad the vehicle - its more just used as a daily commute, and perhaps the odd weekend driving along dirt track roads

Any help / advice would be really helpful.

Kind Regards

Ryan
Click to expand...
 
A couple quick thoughts. I can't offer any specific advice on a non US spec LC. However, that's a lot of suspension work and a lot of bad seals for the mileage. Is the heat and dust hard on those components there? If that's the 6 cyl engine used in the 80 series LC, you might try a post in the 80's forum about the engine. And of course no one can tell you if it's a good buy without knowing more about it and the price.
 
Thanks Sandroad , really appreciate your reply.
I am not sure why the price is not in my post, I typed it in, I must have typed over it by mistake

The car before getting fixed is $10,900 then another $3,500 to get everything sorted on it
The heat here is pretty intense,

an average summer day the temp is 51-56 degrees Celsius / 124 Fahrenheit

Yes this is the engine from the Series 80 I believe 1FZ-FE

I am mainly concerned if these things have any major transmission issues I can expect? or T-case failures

Cheers

Ryan
 
I have an 100 FZJ 100. The models are the same in Asia and middle east.
(See - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Land_Cruiser)

Mine is from 2007 and also with 4,5 petrol 6 cylinder inline engine, and I had it for 2 years now.
I had to replace more or less the same like you – but here in Vietnam I had to pay more for the car (50.000 USD)
Mine has now passed 250.000 Km and no problems with my manual transmission or T-case. Or anything else for that matter ;-)

It is by far the best car (and oldest) I ever had.
 
Thanks a lot guys that really helped me a lot !!
Next step is finding a mechanic here who will actually do a good job and not disturb things when putting it all back together - causing more long term issues

Honestly I really appreciate taking the time for the advice guys
 
You will likely not have any other problems for a long time after sorting out all those issues. These are among the most reliable vehicles on the road. But if it were me, I'd be looking for a diesel. The gas mileage and longevity will more than pay for the increased cost. Most guys in the U.S. would gladly pay double to get a diesel for the reasons above...if they were available here. Just my $.02.
 
Do you trust the guy who did the pre-inspection? I don't recall ever seeing a 100 series with that many bad seals. Bushings go, and you'll have to replace rear UCA's as an assembly, but that's pretty low mileage for it. I know I haven't laid eyes on the rig, which is why I ask, but that list seems like a mechanic who needs to make a boat payment... (except for the brakes and shocks, which you should become proficient at changing).

edit: -> just saw 4.5 gasser. 105 series with solid axle? My comments above based on 4.7L V8 gas US variety.
 
Desert, please appreciate that it's going to be difficult to get an objective answer on a buy/no buy LC question on ih8mud.

IMO, At least 25% of the readers on this site would buy an LC almost site unseen so long as rust, 90k maintenance and no evidence of wrecks were in order. It's tough to question a local market decision on an LC. I'd be really curious about other options, but in the UAE, I'd probably still buy an LC, as the supply of vehicles is probably better than here in the states.
 
Thank You again guys - very useful information. To answer some of the points

- MR11 - thank you for that - good to know! its mainly the auto trans I am worried about failing, being that the service history is a little sketchy, I am not sure if the fluid was ever changed, and we know that there are some bad cases when its drained and fresh is put in - all the gunk holding it together dis lodges then its rebuild time ( I will make sure its not pressure flushed).
I would love a diesel but in the UAE they dont sell them for personal use , you can only purchase a diesel for export.

- re_guderian - Hmm to be honest no!, the inspection lasted 15 minutes, and since then the mechanic has not got back to me with an actual quote to carry out all the work, despite me chasing him ( 3 emails with no response) . I am ok with changing all the bushings etc, and happy to change most of it myself as I love working on cars. However in the UAE its just not feasible with the heat and as I do not have a workshop or garage its difficult to do it, as doing it in the street is illegal. To be fair on the oil leaks, it was hard to trace due to the oil just being oil/sand stains, and it could have just been the last mechanic changing the oil over the years not cleaning up.

- El Cid - unfortunatley I do not know if the 90K service was done , although I am assuming the 90K service is mainly the timing belt? In this case the engine uses a timing chain, so hopefully thats in decent condition although I do plan to change that when doing the crank shaft bearing seal and oil pump etc


Thank you guys - really helped alot, I think I answered my question and I think I will be going for it.

Cheers!
 
Hi Rogue- I worked in Abu Dhabi on MASDAR for a while. UAE is a neat place. There is a great LC salvage yard in the industrial area of Dubai which you might search out, he has every kind of LC including some with a winch, but he is hard to deal with. Knows what he has.
LC's are very much in demand over there as you are discovering, so aren't cheap. In Abu Dhabi I actually saw lots which were US spec which had been imported when they came off of lease here. I did find an non-USA 80 model with winch, refrigerator, sub tank, etc., etc.( "fully optioned", i.e. loaded) for around $15,000 asking price. All of the blank switches the we have on our panels were filled with some thing which worked. He finally gave up and more or less junked it for parts, took off and sold the winch, etc. It was nice.
Get cloth instead of leather for the heat.
My advice would be to go ahead and get it (if that's the one you want and it all checks out) but have somebody (friend? or from the office?) you trust who is an Arab and can deal with the shop which is going to do the work. Lots of expat Brits over there who speak Arabic maybe they could help?
Anyway, just my $.02.
Ned
 
I'd agree with a previous post, a lot to pay for that much work. I just picked up a 2000 LC that needs about $3k for new rack/pinion, p/s pump, axle seals, and more mileage. Sounds similar to what you're looking at but I paid a few thousand less. My engine and trans are good (thank god)....
 
Thanks Guys - Kevine I saw this post too late - I just bought the car lol

Ned thank you for the tips! - Masdar, good project!.
Do you happen to remember the name of the yard of which had all the LC parts? Would be a useful find!.

Guys Thank you so much for all your help I now purchased the car - and hopefully i didnt buy a lemon .

Although now having got it I have my reservations. Ie when going over a bump etc, I can feel the auto shifter moving slightly back and forth, so maybe the tranny isnt secure?.


There is some bearing noise / rough grining noise which I am hoping is just the bearings are done


Here are some pictures

LC1.webp


20150725_162127000_iOS.webp


20150725_162101000_iOS.webp


20150725_162115000_iOS.webp
 
Hi guys

Just to update - took the car to another garage for a second opinion , one who deals with 4x4's as their bread and butter with good reviews . Turns out that it is not as bad as I thought . After getting a steam clean and leaving the car over night then a 100 km run , we only need to change 4 shocks , t case rear seal and rear crank case seal , stabilizer link bushes , front sway bar bushes and front brake discs , plus a full major fluid and filter service . Other than that says the car is very clean with a good tranny and smooth engine !!! Yay



The only question I have is , when going over bumps you can feel the auto shifter moving back and forth as if the tranny is moving up and down as I go over the bumps . Any idea where to look or check ?




Cheers
 
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