I've been pumping money into this car since the moment I bought it, now it's broke down at the lexus dealer and the cheapest option they have is $14,600 to put a used engine in it with 80,000 miles on it.

I tried to save a few bucks and change my own spark plugs (after paying the dealer to fix water leaks, a water pump, pulley tensioner, all new control arms, and I'm sure stuff I've forgotten.

I didn't leave the plugs out or anything, but apparently something was in the cavity with the plug and fell in. It put dings in the piston and head, and apparently banged up the valves. The dealer says they can't repair it. A new engine is something like 20 grand plus labor, so they suggest a used one.

I hope yours lasts. Everything on this car is finicky and crazy expensive to fix. Good luck.

Anybody want a 2007 LS460L with a luxury package, new control arms, new brakes, new tires, new water pump, new headlights, new battery, new belt tensioner, new fluids, 96,000 miles and a bad engine?

 

sheesh, sorry to hear.. Best of luck to you though.

 

I PM'd you Im interested

 

I'm sorry to hear this, but I'm sure a good shop can do this in half the price.
Used engine and install can be done in under 5-7 grand. Depends where you get the motor from.

 

Sorry to hear that and good luck with the car.

 

I'd look into this option, too. If you're really done with the car, however, given all the work you've mentioned putting into the car, see how parting it out would compare with trying to sell the whole car with an engine needing replacement.

Finally, don't feel too badly about this. You've learned a valuable, if costly lesson, shared it here, and perhaps have saved others from making similar mistakes.

 

That is FAR too expensive for a used engine. But it will still be expensive.

 

For a person who has claimed to have rebuilt 10 engines I cannot understand a few things. Why cant you swap in a new used low millage engine. With those kind of skills it should be a cake walk. I have done an engine swap before and it was not the hardest thing in the world. I just recently helped a friend install a V8 and transmission on another car.
The other perplexing thing I don't understand from a person who has more skills then me is a lack of resourcing better options.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toyota-Lexus-ls-460-2009-Iur-fse-4-6-complete-engine-/271396630460?hash=item3f307fefbc&vxp=mtr

 

I'm still wondering how that skilled person did a rookie crap-in-the-plug-well mistake too. No compressed air or vacuum to clean the crud out before pulling the plugs? Sheesh.

 

WOW. 4k for an engine with 20k miles? Thats almost worth buying to just have around. Thats very low miles for the price. Wonder what LSs with blown motors are going for now adays.

 

I don't think it was crud. I bet it was a small bolt that fell in due to carelessness as it is usually the case. this can happen if you don't account for every bolt you remove. It's good to have a magnet tray to keep everything together. When I change spark plugs I'm very alert because one wrong move and you can cross thread the soft aluminum and then your done.

 

I have seen several low millage engines now and then at that kind of price.
With an almost 10 year run the salvage parts are going to be ridiculously cheap because they will be in abundance and because the car is reliable. It wouldn't surprise me if we see more of these engines swapped into an FRZ or BRZ.

 

Can you imagine the thread this guy would start if he was responsible for doing an engine swap on his LS460??

Did an engine swap on my LS460 and now it rains when I turn on my toaster oven. It's all Lexus's fault, please help.

 

I don't know the OP,I don't know his set of skills or the experience he carries but what I do know is some of the usual characters on my other car forum that have rebuilt the same engine multiple times because of their own incompetence. When asked questions from the group they would candidly tell the truth not knowing it was the wrong way to do something.
This kind of arrogance and half knowledge leads to a comical disaster but it's a lot more painful to read knowing someone is at a financial loss.

 

New engine aside, all the other repairs this Lexus has had is an absolute disgrace. As I've said before and will soon prove, the early Ls460's have proven to be the LEAST reliable LS's since the introduction of the LS. Fortunately, once the problems are addressed, typical Lexus reliability should ensue.