GS450h MK1 - common issues?

[georg33]

Hi all,

I consider buying a 2007-2008 GS450h and looking below 80K miles.. What are the main things to look out for? 

Are there known issues with these models?

And realising it's an older car, is it still a relevant purchase today? are parts still available?

Thanks in advance!

[b4u2]

Hybrid Battery 

[Steven Lockey]

14 hours ago, georg33 said:

Hi all,

I consider buying a 2007-2008 GS450h and looking below 80K miles.. What are the main things to look out for? 

Are there known issues with these models?

And realising it's an older car, is it still a relevant purchase today? are parts still available?

Thanks in advance!

3 main issues:
Traction Battery - 700 repair or 2000 replacement
Shocks - 2k repair. 
Exhaust - Tends to rust and needs replacing. Can get a stainless steel replacement for £600. Don't go OEM, they only sell it with Cats included which takes it to over £2k.

Parts haven't been a problem at all, for all but the shocks I went non-oem anyway. 
I'd keep these in mind when budgeting but honestly 80k miles isn't a lot for this car, if it has been well serviced, you could do another 70k on it before these problems happen.
Depends on too many factors like how it was driven, how rough the roads it was on were, how it was stored e.t.c. 

[serbarry]

In December 2021 I bought a 2008 GS450H with 188,000 kms. The seller told me that the previous owner (the one he had bought the car from 7 months earlier) had replaced the shocks absorbers but he hadn't seen any receipts to prove it. Anyway so far so good, the car has shown no issues so far. It will have the major service in March. I hope that there's no need for unexpected works apart from the service. Fingers crossed.

[georg33]

Thanks all, that's really useful. 

I know they are quite reliable cars but the hybrid system and active suspension adds complexity.. As long as there are parts available, I think it's reasonable for a luxury car anyway. 

2 more questions, are OEM shocks still reasonably priced? what is the non-OEM option?

And I have an issue with the boot space, where could I find a roofbox for it please??

 

PS. @serbarry I hope it goes well, how is the car running at >188K? were there lots of major repairs to get it to this mileage ? 

[serbarry]

The car runs very well, really smooth. I am only a bit disappointed by the fuel consumption but maybe I still have to learn how to get the best of it. I have no clue about any major repairs as the seller only knew about the shocks absorbers and the HV Battery should be the original one. I don't even know when the 12V Battery was replaced. The car doesn't have a Lexus FSH as the last 3-4 services were done by an independent garage. This is also the reason why I have booked it for the major service with replacement of the spark plugs as I don't think they were replaced at 180,000 kms service. Probably I took some risks in buying it without investigating deeply but after 14 months it seems that I have been lucky. If you need a large boot maybe this model is not suitable unless you are happy to drive always with a roof box fitted.

[hazelnut]

On 2/3/2023 at 11:31 AM, Steven Lockey said:

3 main issues:
Traction battery - 700 repair or 2000 replacement
Shocks - 2k repair. 
Exhaust - Tends to rust and needs replacing. Can get a stainless steel replacement for £600. Don't go OEM, they only sell it with Cats included which takes it to over £2k.

Parts haven't been a problem at all, for all but the shocks I went non-oem anyway. 
I'd keep these in mind when budgeting but honestly 80k miles isn't a lot for this car, if it has been well serviced, you could do another 70k on it before these problems happen.
Depends on too many factors like how it was driven, how rough the roads it was on were, how it was stored e.t.c. 

I've got my centre exhaust on the garage floor. Its a 2009 GS450h. Can you tell me where i can get a £600 stainless exhaust from? I have a TiG welder but almost no skill, aside from an evening class I did in December. 

[royoftherovers]

1 hour ago, hazelnut said:

I've got my centre exhaust on the garage floor. Its a 2009 GS450h. Can you tell me where i can get a £600 stainless exhaust from? I have a TiG welder but almost no skill, aside from an evening class I did in December. 

Try Tony Banks of Leeds.  https://www.tonybanks.co.uk/

[hazelnut]

2 hours ago, royoftherovers said:

Try Tony Banks of Leeds.  https://www.tonybanks.co.uk/

That's a 3.5 hour drive for me...

 

[Steven Lockey]

4 hours ago, hazelnut said:

I've got my centre exhaust on the garage floor. Its a 2009 GS450h. Can you tell me where i can get a £600 stainless exhaust from? I have a TiG welder but almost no skill, aside from an evening class I did in December. 

I just took it to the local exhaust specialist. Really not a problem for any of them to replace the exhaust.
Its just a few pipes, a resonator and two silencers after all. 

Its generally only the exhaust specialists who have the welding equipment on hand.

[normski2]

On 2/5/2023 at 11:54 PM, Steven Lockey said:

I just took it to the local exhaust specialist. Really not a problem for any of them to replace the exhaust.
Its just a few pipes, a resonator and two silencers after all. 

Its generally only the exhaust specialists who have the welding equipment on hand.

May I ask where in Dorset that was? It’s always good to have a exhaust specialist up your sleeve …. so to speak 🙂

[Steven Lockey]

3 hours ago, normski2 said:

May I ask where in Dorset that was? It’s always good to have a exhaust specialist up your sleeve …. so to speak 🙂

Sure. Mike Stokes in Bournemouth. Hes not the cheapest but does good work with lifetime warranty.

[normski2]

Excellent, thanks for the tip. 

Only 10 miles away 👍