TRVLNTZ - My LX470 Build

[unleashd]

Hello folks
My first post here on this forum. WTNI - What To Name It?

I've recently started searching for a 100 series to build out as an overlander. Found a 2001 LX470 in reasonably good shape with 190K miles. Visually it checked out fine on the outside. All functions are good. TB replaced by dealership, but seller does not remember mileage. But, on the undercarriage, I found this rust. I knocked on these parts with a small hammer and the sound was normal steel. The worst impact of the rust was that the tail pipe behind the muffler has broken off. Seller has owned this rig since 2004 when he bought it with 50K miles. The price is pretty attractive. Should I be worried and walk away?

FWIW, I DIY most everything on my cars and trucks, except for engines and transmissions But, I have always stayed away from serious rust repair.

Appreciate your responses.

 

[LXstalker]

If timing belt was done at the dealership, enter the VIN at Welcome to Toyota Owners - https://www.toyota.com/owners/home

 

[halbeezy]

LOL, that is nothing. I know a lot of us on here are allergic to rust. And I get it, rusty vehicles are much harder to work on, PIIB to build out, etc. That being said, that would be considered an 8/10 if it's a northern rust belt truck.

 

[planomateo]

If timing belt was done at the dealership, enter the VIN at Welcome to Toyota Owners - https://www.toyota.com/owners/home

And check Lexus Owners - Lexus Drivers - https://drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/

 

[unleashd]

If timing belt was done at the dealership, enter the VIN at Welcome to Toyota Owners - https://www.toyota.com/owners/home

Seller says that TB was replaced and there is a sticker indicating it. I will check it again when I go back to meet him. I pulled up the history, but there is no verbiage for TB having been replaced.

LOL, that is nothing. I know a lot of us on here are allergic to rust. And I get it, rusty vehicles are much harder to work on, PIIB to build out, etc. That being said, that would be considered an 8/10 if it's a northern rust belt truck.

I feel the same about the mostly surface rust which I was expecting to see in a 20 year old vehicle. Both previous owners have lived in Northern VA within 20 miles of me. I am saying this based on the service records that have all come from the same dealership (first & 2nd purchase) that is down the street from me.

 

[unleashd]

And check Lexus Owners - Lexus Drivers - https://drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/

This is where I found the service records from 2001 - 2016. The trail ends there. Seller says he did not keep paper records after that.

 

[halbeezy]

Hello folks
My first post here on this forum.

I've recently started searching for a 100 series to build out as an overlander. Found a 2001 LX470 in reasonably good shape with 190K miles. Visually it checked out fine on the outside. All functions are good. TB replaced by dealership, but seller does not remember mileage. But, on the undercarriage, I found this rust. I knocked on these parts with a small hammer and the sound was normal steel. The worst impact of the rust was that the tail pipe behind the muffler has broken off. Seller has owned this rig since 2004 when he bought it with 50K miles. The price is pretty attractive. Should I be worried and walk away?

FWIW, I DIY most everything on my cars and trucks, except for engines and transmissions But, I have always stayed away from serious rust repair.

Appreciate your responses.

This is a no-brainer for me. that rust doesn't scare me in the east. That is easily fixed by a nice coating of FF or even a rust converter. I would buy that in a second if the price was right and nothing major needed to be done.

 

[planomateo]

There is a trick with carfax maintenance app too where you can plug in vin as your vehicle and it will share records.

 

[halbeezy]

I would corroseal, let it cure than do a nice thick app of fluid film. That;'s exactly what I'm going to do in the next two weeks

 

[D21FJ60]

How much are they asking?
You aren't too far from me- my truck is worse underneath but we have a few very good LC shops in the area, plus I see ads for rust remediation and treatment from other companies as well. It comes down to prep and how much $ you want to spend really.

 

[suprarx7nut]

For a rust belt/east coast truck, that's not terrible. If you are willing to buy from the west side of the country where we associate rust with the Titanic more than a road-going car that people drive, that would be considered unusually rusty.

 

[unleashd]

For a rust belt/east coast truck, that's not terrible. If you are willing to buy from the west side of the country where we associate rust with the Titanic more than a road-going car that people drive, that would be considered unusually rusty.

I am not averse to buying from the south/west. FWIW, my current Ford Esxcursion 7.3 came from FL. I flew down to ORL, inspected, bought and drove it home. But, I've had one bad experiences in the past with buying a vehicle sight unseen. And since we're still following some travel restrictions, I am not ready to fly out yet. Hence the local search that I can actually drive to and lay my eyes on.

 

[unleashd]

How much are they asking?
You aren't too far from me- my truck is worse underneath but we have a few very good LC shops in the area, plus I see ads for rust remediation and treatment from other companies as well. It comes down to prep and how much $ you want to spend really.

Seller wants ~10K. I was hoping to get it for ~7.5-8 and then spend the $$ to clean it up.

 

[D21FJ60]

If you have the cash in hand go offer, worst he can say is no. That is about what they are going for in this market.

 

[ramangain]

If you plan on doing the rust clean-up and future prevention yourself, consider grabbing quotes for the material necessary for the job. It shouldn't be much. This gives you "something" of substance on which to negotiate that is hard to argue against due to the quotes.

If the seller won't consider that for a counter-offer for his asking price, negotiations will probably be rough going forward.

 

[D21FJ60]

There is a company out of Farnham which says they will come to you and do prep and treatment for about $800. For me it was a bit more because they'd have to weld in new steel.

 

[unleashd]

If you plan on doing the rust clean-up and future prevention yourself, consider grabbing quotes for the material necessary for the job. It shouldn't be much. This gives you "something" of substance on which to negotiate that is hard to argue against due to the quotes.

If the seller won't consider that for a counter-offer for his asking price, negotiations will probably be rough going forward.

Yes. DIY is the plan. Most of what I saw was on removable plates and such. I can take them off, wire wheel them and treat appropriately. In a previous Jeep LJ build, I did use POR-15 and FF to treat and coat some small parts. So, I am somewhat familiar with the process.

 

[ramangain]

Excellent, so what's a good guesstimate of materials cost? If it is less than 5% of the asking price, it is probably a very reasonable part of a counter-offer

 

[unleashd]

Well, I made the an offer and the seller accepted for just a little more. Thanks to all of you all for some good advise. I will be picking it up this weekend.

Here are the details.

MY/Make/Model: 2001 Lexus LX450
Mileage: 190,600
Exterior condition - 7/10, few scratches, a little clear coat peeling, and a small dent in the front fender over the passenger side wheel.
Interior Condition - 7/10, needs a thorough carpet shampoo and some deep cleaning of the crevices.
Mechanical condition - all features are functional including AHC (this will be gone when I work on the suspension), Engine needs a good tune up as it feels just a bit sluggish. I might be wrong 'cos I am spoiled by the v8 diesel in my truck and the v12 in my BMW (Both are going on the sale block to make way for the LX), first order of business would be a new exhaust setup. I am leaning towards a Bosan(magnaflow) from rockauto to replace everything.
Rust - As you saw above, these areas need to be worked upon sooner than later.

Here are some pictures from the ad. I will take better pictures and update the thread later.

 

[rrc swb]

Well, I made the an offer and the seller accepted for just a little more. Thanks to all of you all for some good advise. I will be picking it up this weekend.

Here are the details.

MY/Make/Model: 2001 Lexus LX450
Mileage: 190,600
Exterior condition - 7/10, few scratches, a little clear coat peeling, and a small dent in the front fender over the passenger side wheel.
Interior Condition - 7/10, needs a thorough carpet shampoo and some deep cleaning of the crevices.
Mechanical condition - all features are functional including AHC (this will be gone when I work on the suspension), Engine needs a good tune up as it feels just a bit sluggish. I might be wrong 'cos I am spoiled by the v8 diesel in my truck and the v12 in my BMW (Both are going on the sale block to make way for the LX), first order of business would be a new exhaust setup. I am leaning towards a Bosan(magnaflow) from rockauto to replace everything.
Rust - As you saw above, these areas need to be worked upon sooner than later.

Here are some pictures from the ad. I will take better pictures and update the thread later.

Excellent dude!!!

Swing by any time so we can start spending some (your) money in additions.