UK LC 200 is it still worth repairing? Advice please

[Raj]

Dear All,
My intro- M from UK. In April purchased a 2014 LC200 4.5V8 with 50000 miles on clock. Its been a long time dream to get red LC200 and spend few weeks every year overlanding. For many years was thinking LC200/Discovery/RR and I couldnt convince mylsef to buy the other two in 4 years and finally got my dream car red LC 200. Then Joined LCowners forum UK and this is first time I am active in any forum. I can say I am addicted to it. When I had issue with my LC, one of the members in discussion suggested to check with this forum as there are many LC 200s here.

Current issue

Got my car on 17April21. Its a diesel 4.5V8 with AHC suspension system. In UK market we dont have KDSS. After driving about 1000 miles on good roads, I got '4 wheel AHC system check' warning light. Front end came to its lowest position but not scraping wheels. Rear part looked fine. Took to a garage near by and he told all suspension is rusted, hydraulic fluid leaked so change suspension system. I was bit doubtful about it and took it to Toyota dealer. Dealer called me the next day and explained me that the suspension fluid pipe burst due to rust. All the small pipes that run from front to back, like break pipes, fuel pipes are also corroded badly and to do repair body has to be lifted from frame and all things to be fitted. It might cost about 15000£ to start with and can go up as the work progresses. I was told, even after all these repairs there is no guarantee that the car will be good enough or reliable. In a way I got the message its not safe to drive even after all those repairs and its gone case. The engine starts with one click, sounds good, all other systems work good.
Below is link for video of underside.



Please advice if its really that bad to repair.
Is this amount of rust common among Land Cruisers, will they die so soon.
Has anyone has such a bad LC200 and is it even repairable.
Is AHC the main issue or the rust for LC200s?
If I replace AHC with conventional suspension kit, will it resolve the issue

Thank you any advice welcome.

 

[hickuptruck]

Hey, for 15k gbp, the shop just doesn't want to do the job. You can source all the lines for far cheaper off Partsouq or Amayama.

Alternatively, you can AHC delete compeletely. It used to be you'd have to drive around with the warning light but Turbo8 on this forum figured how to delete. I've seen UK 200s with AHC deleted. If you want theres a shop in Southampton that I know that did a AHC deleted 200 series.

Not the end of the world. 1500 gbp in parts and some labour, and you're back on the road. I don't think you'd fail MOT if you had dummy warning light on.

Here is the thread: Disabling the AHC and AVS systems, no warning lights. - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/disabling-the-ahc-and-avs-systems-no-warning-lights.1164357/

Its your choice of AHC delete or if you want to redo your AHC system. AHC rides heavenly whereas the traditional suspension will be rougher.

Cheers and hope your 200 brings many years of enjoyment to come!

 

[Raj]

Hickuptruck,

Thank you very much for the details. Will start talking to the dealer from tomorrow and will decide on which way to go and get back to you. Its very helpful
Thank you

 

[grinchy]

Did you say that other hardlines are also rusting through? Or just ahc hardlines?

 

[Raj]

Hi Grinchy,

The Toyota dealer said all the pipes (break pipes, suspension fluid pipes and fuel pipes) to be replaced. I have no idea how a rusty pipe looks. This is the first time I am even looking at underside of a car.

 

[Raj]

This Red LC200 was the cheapest LC at 44K£. But in general sense it was not cheap as a discovery HSE 2015 with less than 50K miles are available at less than 30K£ and Range Rovers from 2016 with less than 60K miles are available for less than 40K. I didnt want discos or RRs so went for LC200

 

[99toylc]

This looks like truck that was frequently driven in Ocean salt water and never rinsed off... never seen this much rust on the lines even on my Chicagoland driven 21 year old Land Cruiser

 

[Raj]

99toylc,

Thank you. Even my UK members with other land cruisers felt similar. I get a doubt Land Cruiser 200 the best of Toyota built to last for 25 years on toughest conditions and all that... Why are these cars getting so worse in such a short time (didnt even complete 7 years). Is it Toyota Quality Issue?

 

[99toylc]

I think it is the previous owner use issue...

 

[hickuptruck]

If thats a 50k mile 200 series with that much corrosion, thats definitely a mariners Land Cruiser. It definitely lived by the seaside coast where the ocean water splashes on the ground during heavy weather, hence 365 days a year of exposure to salt.

Sure the US people see cars that have lived by the coast but UK coast cars are a different story with the amount of rainfall and heavy weather they get near cliffside places. You still have a lot of life in the Land Cruiser. But hey, since you're in the UK, you've got less than 10 LC200s for sale at any given time.

 

[grinchy]

I agree with others regarding removing ahc and moving on to a regular suspension. I prefer ahc, and it is typically economical to repair, but with imminent failure of multiple hardlines I think you should go with a typical shock and spring system.
As to the brake, fuel, and other hardlines, those are safety concerns and must be replaced to remain in service. Whether the body still needs to be removed at that point I don’t know, I guess a lot of it depends how much effort you can do yourself vs a shop and how bad it really is. Definitely you’ll want multiple bids and will hear several different approaches on how best to repair. I suggest a couple collision shops for estimates. The dealer will not be the correct place regarding cost.
You also need to consider how you will mange this already well along rust in the long term. It may be worth it to pay several thousand to have the rust ground off and the frames and body repainted. Otherwise you will be facing additional cost yet issues over time.
This isn’t a Toyota problem, previous owner was not responsible regarding rust prevention.

 

[Raj]

I got this truck only in April and did about 1500 miles. So I am checking with my seller to get this repaired. I agree on removing the rust. Once its inspected and all rust is taken off, I am planning to get it treated with dinitrol or dinitrol and second layer of Krown. There was tons of black mud and clay struck underneath so I got it cleaned underneath.

 

[Raj]

Also I dont do anything mechanical so I have to rely on garages 100% so will have to see how big the whole work will be.

 

[grinchy]

The video didn't load for me yesterday, it did today. It looks like the first failed AHC line is one that has rusted through on a few other trucks, this line is paralell to the rear crossmember. If so, it can be replaced without a body lift and the cost is not too bad. You'll find a couple threads on this issue.

Doesn't address the other rusty bits, but it may get you back on the road while you consider options.

 

[Raj]

Grinchy,
Thank you. Atlest if the car is safe to be on the road after repair, I can get it sorted out. As Toyota dealer said, if its not safe to be on the road even after repairs,, I will have to think. Will check other threads on this issue here.

 

[Raj]

Dear All, It's been a while. Just to update and say thanks for all the advice. Finally, the AHC was fixed by the dealer from whom I bought the car at their cost but took a while to get this done.
They didn't bleed the AHC system so it's a little bumpy but nothing major so I ll fix that later. For rust I got the car treated with Krown and will top up every year.
Now car seems to be fine.
Drove to few places and mild mud drive. Loving it

 

[swiftie]

Had the same issue recently with a LC200 which has been on Scottish Border roads all its life, caused by road salt. Mine isn't as bad as yours, looking at your video, but I had exactly the same corrosion on the rear ACH pipes where they passed over the rear axle just by the exhaust. Had to replace three runs of pipe from the reservoir/pump through to the rear control valve as it was impossible to either exactly see where the main leak was or undo the unions between the sections as they were corroded. In all it was a sub <£1k repair done by a local Toyota dealer. Looking at the corroded pipes once they had been removed from the vehicle the actual corrosion wasn't that bad on the main pipe runs with the main issue being the smaller reservoir pipe union which had corroded badly and was clearly leaking on the fitting.

Time will tell if I get any more pipes burst on the AHC but I'm reasonable confident that the rest of the pipework is okay. Don't panic; if you get any further issues the pipes and are available from Toyota and shouldn't be too costly.

It is a real pity that these UK vehicles were not better protected from corrosion from new. A simple wax type treatment before the corrosion set in would have been the work of a few moments on the annual service and would have saved a lot of grief.

 

[Raj]

HI Swiftie,
Thank you. Its a relief to know that its not a major issue and can be fixed at reasonable good price if it has to happen again. I took car to Jemca Toyota and they were not helpful. I tried two different locations from Jemca Toyota and both are same, not good with 200 series.
I have to look for other Toyota dealer.
There is only one thing that can kill a Landcruiser and its plenty in UK THE SALT on roads. There are very few 200s left in UK and I am planning to preserve this gem for as long as we are allowed to.

 

[swiftie]

No problem.. I think I'm right in saying only ~700 Lc200's were registered in the UK so quite a rare vehicle.

I know it's probably a bit far for you but Border Toyota on the A68 at St Boswell are quite experienced with 200's. There are quite a few up here and they have been very helpful. As with any dealer you have to apply a certain amount of interpretation and common sense to any issues and accept that their rrp on parts will be far higher than buying directly from a parts factor.

I have to say that I am still a bit concerned about the corrosion on my AHC and a bit of pro-active attention might be needed. Once we get out of this winter and all the salt a careful wash and inspection of the pipes and fittings might not be a bad idea. If I can replace any of the worst affected blocks and unions I might do that.

 

[Raj]

Swiftie,
Changing the union blocks is good idea if rusted. I got Krown rust prevention coating last year and will top up every year. As per their info, Krown will stop the rust and will form a protective coating and protect metal from corrosion. Only downside, there is only one Krown centre in UK in Birmingham.