In the middle of my major timing belt service I finally figured out why I have a mystery coolant leak. The nipple for the overflow tank was completely broken on my radiator. I did not want to mess with plastic welding or some epoxy repair but rather fix it the right way. That would mean the upper radiator tank replacement with OEM tank and gasket if this was an older Lexus model. They do not sell the tank for the 3rd gen LS so you have to buy the radiator. I avoid aftermarket parts unless there is no other choice. A Denso radiator on Rockauto was around $120. OEM was over $300 at a discount dealer. Walk in full retail price on OEM radiator is over $400.

I went with OEM Toyota since they have a superior standard they hold suppliers to. Made in Japan OEM Denso is not the same as aftermarket Denso was my experience in the past. Well, the OEM part is made in China and while the cap is identical in design to the OEM Japan cap, they do not even bother to reproduce the Japan style label on the cap. Before I knew about the radiator problem, I ordered a cap just to replace my 20 year old cap as preventative maintenance. It's not worth my time to return this part, pay a restocking fee, and buy one that is identical from Rockauto. I got burned on this purchase.

Moderators, perhaps make a sticky thread of part numbers that have now gone to made in China.

If anyone read in the future DO NOT buy part number 16400-50231 from the dealer. It is a Chinese made Dendo radiator marked up like crazy.

OEM Japan Cap



Chinese made OEM radiator with generic looking label probably used for all makes/models Denso makes radiators for as OEM parts.

 

Get used to it this is happening more and more. New old stock Denso rads are often made in Thailand they are good quality the made in China ones feel and look super cheap. To be clear auto parts made in China can be excellent it comes down to price point.

 

And that's why I have a bin of parts for my L430 that I bought OE.......probably will never use half of it but it's nice to know I have all the rubber bits and hubs on hand.

 

We drive 20 year old cars, it doesn't make sense for them to keep manufacturing parts in a high cost facility in Japan for the ever dwindling number of cars still on the road, most of which are now on owner number 6 who isn't spending more than the bare minimum to keep the car running - and likely not paying a dealer for anything in parts or labor.

 

I have to disagree. My first Toyota was a 91 Celica that was $16K new. I purchased in 1996 and sold it in 2012. During my entire time of ownership, I never bought an OEM Chinese made part. I did a complete suspension restoration, engine mounts, cooling system, brakes, belts, hoses, etc….100% Made in Japan or USA parts always. That was for a very inexpensive car that no one spent serious money to repair after they dropped to below $5K cars yet the parts supply with OEM Japanese parts was there.

This move to Chinese made parts is a shift in company policy from finest quality to finest profit margins above all. I would be okay with it if they passed the savings to the customer. I am not okay with the Japanese part price for a Chinese part. If Rockauto has it for $125, maybe $200 just to get the Toyota cardboard box and the Toyota marking on the upper tank would be fair.

This makes me wonder how much parts content is made in China in new made in Japan high end Lexus models near and above $100K.

 

No different than any lower end Toyota model you will find a bunch of made in China parts, gone are the days where a Toyota/Lexus was a Japanese vehicle with all made in Japan parts.
Yep.

For these cars parts you buy are now mostly old stock, or if they are still being made they are legacy meaning still made in Japan. I recently bought a transmission filter for my Lexus (2000 ES300) it was made in Mexico so I bought an aftermarket one it was made in Thailand and looked much better quality.

Sad really.

 

Lexus made a choice to go for bling and gadgets over quality and reliability. Get out of an LS430 and get into an LS500 and you will see what I mean.
If you want to keep running your LS430 you soon will have no choice but to buy whatever is available, and much of that will be Chinese made.

 

agreed, as these cars get older and older, it will be IF you can get OEM parts for them