Keep it or Sell it?
10-15-12, 09:27 AM
#1
Keep it or Sell it?
Hey all,
So kind of stealing my post from another thread but I need help. Basically, should I keep it or sell it?
Amidst current repair problems - the curtain of prices has been revealed along with other pending repairs. Below are the details.
-About the car: 2nd owner of the car. Purchased it with 55k miles for around $23k. Car is a 2006 IS250 AWD with the luxury package - see my garage for full list of items added. Currently has 79k miles on it. and has a slightly crack side view mirror and rock chips all over the front bumper and a few on the hood. otherwise a clean car.
-Current issues: I need tires ($600); Rear Struts ($800); and the wiring harness that will fix the SRS Airbag Code ($2400) - all prices include my mechanic doing the labor. All in all my repairs amount to about $3800 that I don't have in the first place.
-Airbag issue: The light came on randomly one day on Sept 24. Had my code cleared and no problems since then. But yesterday the light came on again and has been off/on for the last day. My private mechanic said he can get the part for $1800 and the labor is $600.
-Current Findings: I still owe 14,7k on the car for the next 4 years and in average condition (without the airbag light, without needing tires, and without needing rear struts) is worth a trade in value of 14,7k-15,5k as per KKB, Black Book, and NDA or NADA. So I am assuming I will be taking a rather large loss if I trade it in. I was thinking of having the code cleared by my mechanic and driving right to a dealer to trade it but I am lost.
-Thoughts: I want an AWD car but due to being laid off of my main job 1.5 years ago and having to take a much worse paying full time job, I am barely making ends meet so price and money are my enemies to say the least. I also have put in a good deal of wrench time as well as time on the interior mods which I would have to convert back to stock and remove all the items I have in there.
So do I keep it and bite the bullet of $3800 that I don't have or trade it and take a large loss but get into another car that I don't have to worry about airbag issues and potential carbon build up issues.
Thanks all.
What should I do? I haven't had this problem so I am unsure of the choice.
So kind of stealing my post from another thread but I need help. Basically, should I keep it or sell it?
Amidst current repair problems - the curtain of prices has been revealed along with other pending repairs. Below are the details.
-About the car: 2nd owner of the car. Purchased it with 55k miles for around $23k. Car is a 2006 IS250 AWD with the luxury package - see my garage for full list of items added. Currently has 79k miles on it. and has a slightly crack side view mirror and rock chips all over the front bumper and a few on the hood. otherwise a clean car.
-Current issues: I need tires ($600); Rear Struts ($800); and the wiring harness that will fix the SRS Airbag Code ($2400) - all prices include my mechanic doing the labor. All in all my repairs amount to about $3800 that I don't have in the first place.
-Airbag issue: The light came on randomly one day on Sept 24. Had my code cleared and no problems since then. But yesterday the light came on again and has been off/on for the last day. My private mechanic said he can get the part for $1800 and the labor is $600.
-Current Findings: I still owe 14,7k on the car for the next 4 years and in average condition (without the airbag light, without needing tires, and without needing rear struts) is worth a trade in value of 14,7k-15,5k as per KKB, Black Book, and NDA or NADA. So I am assuming I will be taking a rather large loss if I trade it in. I was thinking of having the code cleared by my mechanic and driving right to a dealer to trade it but I am lost.
-Thoughts: I want an AWD car but due to being laid off of my main job 1.5 years ago and having to take a much worse paying full time job, I am barely making ends meet so price and money are my enemies to say the least. I also have put in a good deal of wrench time as well as time on the interior mods which I would have to convert back to stock and remove all the items I have in there.
So do I keep it and bite the bullet of $3800 that I don't have or trade it and take a large loss but get into another car that I don't have to worry about airbag issues and potential carbon build up issues.
Thanks all.
What should I do? I haven't had this problem so I am unsure of the choice.
10-15-12, 10:00 AM
#4
That sucks dude! If you can't afford the repairs, sell it; but that would leave you without transportation if you're not getting any money back from the sale ... the airbags does seem to be the biggest cost for repair; is it 100% that the failing part is found?
10-15-12, 10:31 AM
#6
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I would sell it. I've had a handful of problems with my 2006 IS250 AWD as well and I just recently ran into a big problem that will cost me over a grand. I'm currently living with it but if it gets worse, I'll prob end up selling my car too. IMO it's not worth the repairs.
I actually had the same airbag light problem and needed a new harness. It was actually a TSB and I printed it out and showed it to my Lexus Dealer. They fixed it free of charge for me. I feel like I got lucky, but you should ask and see how it turns out.
I actually had the same airbag light problem and needed a new harness. It was actually a TSB and I printed it out and showed it to my Lexus Dealer. They fixed it free of charge for me. I feel like I got lucky, but you should ask and see how it turns out.
10-15-12, 11:10 AM
#7
Seanis350 - either : 8214153A64; 8214153U60; or most likely 8214153U40.
nosuprise - yes it was verified and I saw the code which is the wiring harness code also mentioning the pass side knee bolster airbag circuit fault. and the only repair is the whole harness - legit repair.
mikellucci - I really took care of this car but apparently KBB reports Private party values as $19456 - Very Good; $19006 - Good; and $17406 - Fair ......i assume you would have an offer if I were to sell.
sleekbrian - Unfortunately I have done the navigation hack, added an ipod connector, ect which, to a dealer, voids every kind of being nice that you can imagine. So I didn't even try. Especially since I have asked a few dealers in the past about it and all responded that the minute I even splice a wire in for anything at all, it voids warranty and allows the dealer to say they won't pay for it at all. Though I myself have seen the TSB too.
I am very torn over this issue but safety is my number 1 concern. I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place honestly.
nosuprise - yes it was verified and I saw the code which is the wiring harness code also mentioning the pass side knee bolster airbag circuit fault. and the only repair is the whole harness - legit repair.
mikellucci - I really took care of this car but apparently KBB reports Private party values as $19456 - Very Good; $19006 - Good; and $17406 - Fair ......i assume you would have an offer if I were to sell.
sleekbrian - Unfortunately I have done the navigation hack, added an ipod connector, ect which, to a dealer, voids every kind of being nice that you can imagine. So I didn't even try. Especially since I have asked a few dealers in the past about it and all responded that the minute I even splice a wire in for anything at all, it voids warranty and allows the dealer to say they won't pay for it at all. Though I myself have seen the TSB too.
I am very torn over this issue but safety is my number 1 concern. I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place honestly.
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10-15-12, 11:38 AM
#9
sffd103 - I can do that. But when they pull things apart it is clear that they will see I've spliced into things because they will have to remove all of my stuff that is in there to replace the harness. Even if I remove it all I would be nervous about them charging me after the fact if and when they saw the electrical tape over the spliced areas they would charge me. Not to be funny, I am actually at the point where I can't afford even a $100 troubleshoot from the dealer lol. At least not until early next month since I paid all the bills already. Sadly this economy has not been friendly to my wallet.
Although it is a good shot I am nervous about the cost, any cost at that. Thank you for the support on the wiring splicing though. I know for a fact it isn't so I appreciate the vote of confidence.
Although it is a good shot I am nervous about the cost, any cost at that. Thank you for the support on the wiring splicing though. I know for a fact it isn't so I appreciate the vote of confidence.
10-15-12, 11:42 AM
#10
I would sell it. I've had a handful of problems with my 2006 IS250 AWD as well and I just recently ran into a big problem that will cost me over a grand. I'm currently living with it but if it gets worse, I'll prob end up selling my car too. IMO it's not worth the repairs.
I actually had the same airbag light problem and needed a new harness. It was actually a TSB and I printed it out and showed it to my Lexus Dealer. They fixed it free of charge for me. I feel like I got lucky, but you should ask and see how it turns out.
I actually had the same airbag light problem and needed a new harness. It was actually a TSB and I printed it out and showed it to my Lexus Dealer. They fixed it free of charge for me. I feel like I got lucky, but you should ask and see how it turns out.
10-15-12, 01:05 PM
#12
This may help you....
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...ution-tsb.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...ution-tsb.html
10-15-12, 01:19 PM
#13
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sffd103 - I can do that. But when they pull things apart it is clear that they will see I've spliced into things because they will have to remove all of my stuff that is in there to replace the harness. Even if I remove it all I would be nervous about them charging me after the fact if and when they saw the electrical tape over the spliced areas they would charge me. Not to be funny, I am actually at the point where I can't afford even a $100 troubleshoot from the dealer lol. At least not until early next month since I paid all the bills already. Sadly this economy has not been friendly to my wallet.
Although it is a good shot I am nervous about the cost, any cost at that. Thank you for the support on the wiring splicing though. I know for a fact it isn't so I appreciate the vote of confidence.
Although it is a good shot I am nervous about the cost, any cost at that. Thank you for the support on the wiring splicing though. I know for a fact it isn't so I appreciate the vote of confidence.
You should just bring it in if you are under your power train warranty. It should be free of charge to diagnose.
10-15-12, 02:21 PM
#14
OP -Since you are out of warranty contact Lexus Corporate. See if they will do the fix for you out of goodwill. Some member's here have kindly requested otherwise-warrantied service not far outside of warranty expiration and got repairs either for free or for 50/50 (split bill, you pay parts they pay labor or vice versa, etc) You got nothing to lose really, either they help you out or they don't.
