RobertE

Hello to all. I just picked up a 1999 LS400 in Mystic Gold with 134K on it. It runs great and is in really great shape body and interior wise. The power steering pump and hoses along with a new battery were just replaced a couple days before I bought it. I paid $1500.00 for the car as is.. I checked all the records thru Lexus and it was regularly serviced and has records thru 120k. BUT.... they didn't do the timing belt when they did the 90k service. It seems to run perfect, you cant even here it idling when standing next to it its so quiet. I searched through the forum and got a list of what I am going to do to get it in shape before I start to do any coilover or wheel upgrades. I ordered the Aisin Timing belt and water pump kit that comes with the tensioner and bearings etc. and also ordered thermostat, alternator, radiator hoses, drive belt, water temp sensor, engine oil & filter and Air Cleaner. I called a local Toyota dealer in Indio, CA and asked for a quote on just labor to install all of these items and was quoted $1K. Wanted to know if this seems like an okay quote or not.

I ordered Transmission Screen and a case of ATF Type IV to service the tranny, along with new motor & tranny mounts, spark plugs, cabin filter, wipers and hood struts all of which I will install myself . I ordered all the capacitors to upgrade the ECU. I also ordered a shop manual.

So my two questions are:

1) Is $1k a good price for labor to install all the items listed in the first paragraph that the Toyota dealer quoted me?

2). What else should I be checking to possibly replace or service.

Thanks to all I really appreciate any replies to help me out. I will try to get some pics up as soon as possible.

RugbyDad

1000 for all that? Great price quote. And from a dealer? Hmm, shut my mouth wide open.

dicer

Wow, even here the Lexus dealer is less expensive than places like firestone and other independents plus Lexus techs are just that, and have the best info special Lexus tools etc. I guess the Toyota dealer in the same boat. Yeah real good price. But then again your supplying the parts. With parts and loaner here its 1100 for a time belt job not including tax.

billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

how did you buy a 99 for 1500? is there something you are not telling us? photos please...

Kingsoup

Sounds like hardly anything wrong with the car? did a relative sell it to you that cheaply or something? we need pictures!

RobertE

Yes, actually really long time friends of the family. They kept the car fantastic except for not doing the timing belt. They are in their 70's and they ended up buying what they say is their last car a new 2014 or 15 LS600hL. I'm at our NorCal house right now and the cars down in SoCal at the Indio house so I cant get any pics until next week when I'm back down there. But I will definitely post some up then. I guess I will have the Toyota dealer down there do the work then if that sounds like a good price for labor to do all that. Thanks all for the feedback I really appreciate it.

Bob

Imolas4

Wow what a deal!!! Yeah, go ahead and do the timing belt service. Would be a shame if you have to junk a perfectly good car just because of a stupid bet.

Legender

Impressive deal...even if you have to do the maintenance on your dime. That is one of the best model years and you will thoroughly enjoy the ride...
We will just sit back and be envious of your deal.
Congrats.,.

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

$1k is generally a fair price for the dealership. a TB job there WITH parts is about $1300 so it makes sense considering a TB kit on amazon/ebay can be had for $300.

welcome to the club and a great price for the car! it helps to have that friend/family hook up!

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

Very good price for a great car. While the dealership price is good for the dealer I would shop around and ask some indie shops and see if you could save a couple of hundreds. I would also do the crankshaft seal while in there and check to make sure the cam seals are ok.

Imolas4

I agree that you can shop around for parts. My local lexus dealer wanted $75 for a cam seal (ONE!!!).

I just got my TB service done (TB, tensioners, seals, wp, serp belt etc) at a local shop. Labor was $425 , parts came around $250. I sourced the parts. There are plenty of deals to be had!

RobertE

Yeah I wish I knew of a reliable indie shop in Indio/Palm Springs area of SoCal. Or really I'm tempted to roll the dice and drive it back up the 850 miles to my NorCal house where I would take it to one of my best friends who has a great automotive shop up there. Just would hate to have the timing belt go on the drive home, wish there was a way to know how the belt is so I could chance it. It drives great and engine is really quiet but I'm sure it would be that way until the belt let go and then all hell would break loose under the hood lol

nttung1711

Man $1k5 for 99 ls400? Mine was $2k for 95 .

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

Just pull the cam cover off of the top of the engine and the TB will be exposed. It's easier to take the drivers side one off.