Joey97

Hello everyone !

I'm buying a 1997 ES300 with 70k for $5000. Car is in excellent condition. Original owner was a rich old lady and was always garaged. Carfax shows oil was changed every 3-4k miles, spark plugs, timing belt, tranny fluid, diff fluid, brake fluid, oxygen sensor, water pump, egr and a bunch more. Seems the dealer sold her everything . The only thing i see that needs to be done so far are the front brake pads (also pedal is kinda low), hood supports and its vibrating when in drive (dogbone?). Are there any sites to buy oem parts cheaper than the dealer ? Is there a listing of all the part numbers anywhere ? I already downloaded the service manual which is nice !

Thanks

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

no need for OEM parts, use www.rockauto.com

If you really want oem, use http://www.lexuspartsnow.com/

Congrats on the car, that's a wicked deal in the end, especially if all the work was done.

Timothyj

Great find. That is just getting broke in. Have fun. Take some pics. if you can.

Joey97

Thanks for the links. I didn't know all that work was done until i did a carfax on it and checked mylexus.com. Especially when i saw the timing belt and waterpump

Joey97

Thanks. I'm picking it up tomorrow afternoon. I will post pics. The car is actually for my 18 year old son, its his first car.
I will have to drive it for a while to make sure its ok lol

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

I would have to disagree. There is certainly a need for OEM parts, but it depends on the circumstance. It also depends on your budget. I personally prefer to stick with Toyota OEM parts, unless I know for a fact that I can get the same part cheaper without sacrificing quality.

Joey, congrats on the car, that is a real steal if it really was that well maintained.

imherenow

pictures pictures pictures!!..lol

PFB

The doggone mount that you refer to will not cause any vibrations, even if totally shot. I am not clear what you mean when you say that the car vibrates while in drive. If it vibrates while in drive but the car is stopped than it could be your engine mounts, but not the dogbone. If it vibrates while you drive, than its suspension, or tire related.

Either way, you will love this car. Enjoy it

Phil

Joey97

When the car is in drive and not moving im getting a vibration that can be felt on the steering wheel. If its not the dogbone, are the other mounts hard to replace ?

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

The only one that's hard to replace is the one near the firewall. It has a bracket that runs through the passenger axle. I hear that you have to remove the axle in order to remove and replace that mount.

Here is a way to remove it without taking the axle out. Keep in mind that the rear engine mount is not for a beginner.

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/10...procedure.html

LeX2K

100% agree. Of course there is a need for OE parts, that is what makes the car so good in the first place. Anytime you replace a part with a lesser quality unit, your car is not as good anymore. There are some aftermarket parts that are better than OEM, but not many.

Joey97

Wow that rear one looks tough to remove. Is there a how-to on replacing the other mounts ?

PFB

Before changing the mounts blindly, make sure that it is the mounts, and if so, which one is the cause of the vibration.

At that mileage, your mounts should really still be ok.

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

In an ideal world, yes.

But I'm not one to spend 80$/corner for rotors, when an equally good aftermarket will run me 25$/corner. Especially on a decade old car... Surely someone has to agree with me on this. At the end of the day it's a car- and if my trans was to explode tomorrow, I'm not out that much money or trying to peddle my used OEM parts on here or eBay to regain some of that overpriced loss... The only oem thing I get now, is the transmission filter and gasket. All else is aftermarket.

Joey97

Once I get the car home I will check the mounts (just thinking ahead).
What else should I look for if the mounts look ok ?