Looking To Buy Ls430 - Need Advice!

[Lexus_2023]

I just returned after checking out a car and need advice whether to go ahead to purchase it or not due to MOT advisory notes.

Car details :  2002/52 plate with 110K.

Condition : looks good, need bit of wash and valet. drives smooth, didn't notice any unwanted noise. All buttons work as expected.

Service History :  2 Former keepers.  Service records shows Lexus service was done every 2/3 years(Very low annual usage - 3k miles). Second owner from 2014 to 2023 - Cambelt, Waterpump and other bits changed in 2015, Radiator changed in 2021 and annual service with JEM(9 service stamps). All 4 Michelin tyres look excellent.  Second owner usage - around 8k miles a year. 

Previous MOT : Vehicle passed MOT with no advisory notices.

Recent MOT passed with the following notes:

Advisory Notices

• Corrosion to inner sill area's & rear sub frame mounts
• Nearside rear anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Dealer mentioned that this was not an issue, just underseal will fix this problem. 

Please let me know your opinion and any valuable inputs would be much appreciated. thanks

[Malc1]

hey .  underseal doesn't fix a problem .  it covers it up .  if it's a problem .............. now then CV .  please tell us the registration of this beast

Thank you

Malc

[Bluemarlin]

You'll need to take a good look at it yourself but, as Malcolm says, underseal alone won't fix it.

It may just be surface rust, in which case you can clean it all off and then treat and underseal it, or it might be the start of something worse, and the reason for sale. Either way though, some corrosion is to be expected on a 20 year old car.

For the record, there's a place in Herts called CSK automative that does rust treatments. Whether you choose to pay for something like that depends on how much you pay for the car, how long you plan to  keep it, and how much you're prepared to do yourself.

[ambermarine]

The first advisory could be serious depending on how bad the corrosion is ,the mot inspection usually advise if the corrosion is detrimental to the integrity of the area described and if that is not the case it may be just surface rust,Malc is correct and the dealer is a not to be trusted officinado because the areas described will need remedial treatment, then undersealing. These models have a reputation for very expensive suspension renewal procedures especally on the front and if these have not been renewed at 110k miles expect them to require that being done in the next 50k .

[Malc1]

Regn is, I'm advised         JC 52 CAN  .............

Malc

[Lexus_2023]

@Malc1 Thanks for your reply, much appreciated. I couldn't send more than one direct message to you, could you send me your email id to forward car's history check, please?

@Bluemarlin thanks for your inputs, I am happy with the car's cost based on current market prices and I will be seeking  professional help to underseal the car(I am not a handy person!). I allocated some sinking fund as well to any unforeseen expenses. 

[Malc1]

............  and the MOT history looks remarkably " bright " and the mark of a well looked after car these past 20 years I'd suggest and all as evidenced by the quite brilliant service records and major works of cambelt, waterpump and radiator change too .......

now then, what's the price one wonders ?  🤩

Malc

[Lexus_2023]

@Malc1 Yes, all the MOTs passed with no advisory notices except the recent one. So you believe I should pull the trigger?   well looked after car for the past 10 years, even un used spare tyre is also Michelin cross climate..

[Malc1]

what's the price then .  if she's going to cost you £20k then probably not But if she's only £1500 then yes for sure 

Cars are NEVER an investment and should be used to best advantage, taking them out every day to enjoy ...... and then to pay the inevitable bills for sensible running costs ......... you're buying a V8 and petrol costs should never be a consideration, if they are then you simply can't afford to buy and enjoy her 

Dings and dents and running blemishes come with a 20+ year old car and parking her will often generate even more somewhere down the line .  supermarket trollies are the worst .. just don't worry too much about it ....  ENJOY her while you can 

BUT  how much £££££££   .............  hehehehehehe 

Malc

[Lexus_2023]

Close to £5K..

[steve2006]

Are we talking a car dealer or private sale here as Statutory Consumer Rights provide protection for the dealer sale?
This will be the pre-facelift model so prone to a few known issues with rusting doors under the trim and delaminating windows going cloudy which were addressed on the later version.

 

[Malc1]

3 hours ago, Lexus_2023 said:

Close to £5K..

a good price for a good car that you're happy to pop 5 grand into and to get the enjoyment from .............  ENJOY  .........  £££ sitting in the bank doing nowt is no use to man nor beast .  just your inheritors someway down the line hopefully 

Better than a compelling holiday Q'ing at Heathrow for hours, passport control and some overseas covid risk bearing down with rip-off merchants fleecing you of you're well saved pennies

Ignore me, I'm a Travel Agent !

Best wishes and ENJOY

Malc

[ambermarine]

5 hours ago, ambermarine said:

The first advisory could be serious depending on how bad the corrosion is ,the mot inspection usually advise if the corrosion is detrimental to the integrity of the area described and if that is not the case it may be just surface rust,Malc is correct and the dealer is a not to be trusted officinado because the areas described will need remedial treatment, then undersealing. These models have a reputation for very expensive suspension renewal procedures especally on the front and if these have not been renewed at 110k miles expect them to require that being done in the next 50k .

Sorry about that the lead looked like a 460 from your monika forget the suspension issue but the corrosion is something to be concerned with.

[Lexus_2023]

Thank you all for your feedback and suggestion. I purchased the car and it is on my drive way now..  It will be going for full detailing tomorrow, I may have to spend some time with it and let you know the niggles and any other issues after few days. 

[Malc1]

lots of piccys is a good way to go  😃

Malc

[Lexus_2023]

@steve2006 Yep, it was from a dealership initially. However, we agreed to lower the price and purchased it as 'Sold as seen' now. 

@Malc1 thanks a lot. As you aware that I was looking for LS 460 initially with very high purchase price and changed my criteria after your advise. So I am happy with my decision and allocated some fund for rainy days as well. 

[Lexus_2023]

@ambermarine thanks, Sorry, I just read your message. Hopefully corrosion issue shouldn't become expensive one, we will know about that after few weeks🤞

[BigBoomer]

53 minutes ago, Lexus_2023 said:

Thank you all for your feedback and suggestion. I purchased the car and it is on my drive way now..  It will be going for full detailing tomorrow, I may have to spend some time with it and let you know the niggles and any other issues after few days. 

Congrats on your new LS430 😁 Hopefully it's just surface rust but I would get that anti-roll bar link replaced. They aren't too expensive and easy enough to replace.

[Lexus_2023]

@BigBoomer thanks..

[Bluemarlin]

17 hours ago, Lexus_2023 said:

@steve2006 Yep, it was from a dealership initially. However, we agreed to lower the price and purchased it as 'Sold as seen' now. 

@Malc1 thanks a lot. As you aware that I was looking for LS 460 initially with very high purchase price and changed my criteria after your advise. So I am happy with my decision and allocated some fund for rainy days as well. 

Just so as you know, "sold as seen" is meaningless if you bought from a dealer. Dealer's aren't allowed to do that, and are still subject to the normal consumer protections, regardless of what they write on the invoice. As such, you have the right to repair or reject in the first 30 days if the car is of unsatisfactory quality. 30 days to 6 months, and any fault is assumed to be present at time of sale, so the dealer's responsibility to fix.

[Lexus_2023]

@Bluemarlin thanks, interesting...

 @BigBoomer  During my conversation with a rust prevention and underseal specialist in Herts, I was informed that the items highlighted as advisories during my car's MOT can be addressed. I noticed that they are familiar with the problem as they provided me with a quote promptly after I mentioned car's model and year.  https://www.waxoyltreatment.co.uk/  asking about treating this issue and complete underseal :  £495 inc VAT.

Planning to have second opinion here : https://www.bowron-motorcare.co.uk/