New to me....2003 LS 430 Midnight Pine Pearl
07-30-24, 04:08 PM
#1
New to me....2003 LS 430 Midnight Pine Pearl
My father in-law passed away in December and I have an opportunity to grab his mint condition 03 LS 430 with 121K from the estate that has been in a garage now for the past 4 years. In 2020 he had the entire center console replaced, 4 new tires and new brakes all around. We sent the car out after he passed to have an inspection done and the battery replaced. It does however need the Timing Belt replaced. This would be a 2nd car for me as I drive a 2017 Yukon Denali. Any thought on the grab or the timing belt replacement?
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Amcochrane (07-30-24)
07-31-24, 01:24 AM
#2
My father in-law passed away in December and I have an opportunity to grab his mint condition 03 LS 430 with 121K from the estate that has been in a garage now for the past 4 years. In 2020 he had the entire center console replaced, 4 new tires and new brakes all around. We sent the car out after he passed to have an inspection done and the battery replaced. It does however need the Timing Belt replaced. This would be a 2nd car for me as I drive a 2017 Yukon Denali. Any thought on the grab or the timing belt replacement?
Reasons for my advice: 1. Buying a car from a known entity who kept good care of the car and stored it in a garage is every used car buyers dream. 2. 121K miles is not at all a concern for an LS 430, especially one that has been decently maintained. 3. Since it's from your father in-laws estate I would imagine you can acquire it for a very good price. 4. A timing belt service will likely be over $1200 if you have someone else do it, or about $350 in parts if you do it yourself, but then you're good for another 90k miles. If this is your second car, that could be 10 or 15 years. Small investment to own and drive one of the best cars Lexus ever made.
07-31-24, 05:58 AM
#3
I say, what are you waiting for? The timing belt service (which includes the timing belt, tensioner, pulleys, and water pump) should have been done at 90k miles. It sounds like your father in-law was very astute about maintenance on the car considering the new tires, brakes and console. Are you sure the timing belt service hasn't been done already? Ask the dealer to check the previous service records, or if he had it serviced elsewhere, ask them to look for a record. Even if it hasn't, being 30k miles overdue isn't an immediate concern. Last year I did the timing belt service on an LS 430 that was over 100k miles overdue and the belt was still ok, not great, but ok.
Reasons for my advice: 1. Buying a car from a known entity who kept good care of the car and stored it in a garage is every used car buyers dream. 2. 121K miles is not at all a concern for an LS 430, especially one that has been decently maintained. 3. Since it's from your father in-laws estate I would imagine you can acquire it for a very good price. 4. A timing belt service will likely be over $1200 if you have someone else do it, or about $350 in parts if you do it yourself, but then you're good for another 90k miles. If this is your second car, that could be 10 or 15 years. Small investment to own and drive one of the best cars Lexus ever made.
Reasons for my advice: 1. Buying a car from a known entity who kept good care of the car and stored it in a garage is every used car buyers dream. 2. 121K miles is not at all a concern for an LS 430, especially one that has been decently maintained. 3. Since it's from your father in-laws estate I would imagine you can acquire it for a very good price. 4. A timing belt service will likely be over $1200 if you have someone else do it, or about $350 in parts if you do it yourself, but then you're good for another 90k miles. If this is your second car, that could be 10 or 15 years. Small investment to own and drive one of the best cars Lexus ever made.
07-31-24, 06:03 AM
#4
07-31-24, 06:22 AM
#5
Instructor
An 03 LS with 121K miles for $1500? Why are you hesitating?
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DrVlikhell (07-31-24)
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