Hi everyone, I'm a new member here, was am lurker for a few months on this board and finally made a decision to join. I am actually looking for an 04-05 rx330 and was wondering what I should look for when buying one. I was wondering what usually goes bad with these trucks(common probs. and recalls or small annoying problems). Basically, is a warranty necessary for these trucks? I'd like to get a CPO but they tend to be $2k more than non CPOs.

I am looking to spend around $24,000 to $27,000 for one with around 40k miles. I'd like a black on black but they seem to be very hard to find. Also, a performance package would be nice but throughout my area, there is not ONE available. I figured I'd settle for one with the 18" wheels, leather, and prem. audio. Also, would like navi, but am also having trouble finding one. Was the Navi fairly rare as well?

Also, my understanding is, there is the premium package which comes with leather, prem audio, and 18" wheels. And the ones with the 17" wheels do not have prem. package and audio?

If you have any opinions, please let me know.

Thanks,
Jay

 

CPO's your best bet, if you are looking for an 04. Most of these are ending their 48 months warranty. Get one and purchase the extended warranty, if not getting a CPO.

 

mine is a year past warranty and 17,000mi past warranty. i haven't had any issues at all since my warranty expired, but i am a pretty diligent owner and took care of all the little TSBs and nuisances that bothered me before the warranty was up. i have one of the first batch RX330's from japan and honestly nothing was that drastic in terms of TSBs, just little things. some people had diff experiences though.

it depends on your region, but in CA all the RX's came with 18's, and perf pkg was really hard to get. but with Perf you couldn't get the wood steering wheel. you get the AFS lights, suspension, all leather steering wheel and graphite polished 18's. that was about it.

nav is also a regional thing i think. a lot of the CA ones had nav, but nav WITH ML was harder to find. mine was considered a "loaded" build with nav/ML and rear DVD.

good luck and welcome to the Club

 

One TSB that I let pass is the oil cooler replacement on the transmission line. This symptom has to do with a clunk-thud on 30 mph on deceleration and at 55 mph while coasting. So now I am trying to buy the replacement part and do it myself. Seems straighforward. It invloves replacing the cooler with the revised part, and of course some replacement of the ATF fluid.

 

CPO is the way to go. That way you know it's been looked over well(hopefully). If you don't, I would recommend you take it to a dealer and have it looked over by Lexus technician. It wouldn't hurt to have the front valve cover pulled to check condition of motor. Maybe it's just me but I don't like surprises down the road. Good Luck!

 

90,300 miles on our 2004 RX330 and the only complaint I have is the front brake rotors .... seems like about every 25K, I am having to get them replaced (or turned)....I am going to try one of the site sponsors, bsibrakes, and get cryogenic rotors next time.

 

Has anybody else experienced the frequent brake pad-rotor issue @ 25K?

 

if you can afford it i say find a cpo rx350. while the rx has many issues a lot of them are either better or fixed in the rx350 though not all

 

I'm also looking at a used 2005 for around the same price point. I'm leaning away from CPO just because of the cost difference. A 2005 will still have < 1 year warranty + it also has a power train warranty up to 72 months. I'd save the 2k if the vehicle is in good shape. I doubt you would spend that much in repairs over the 3 years. I had a CPO BMW 540i and I didn't spend 2k in three years for maintenance.

 

One owner, private seller would be the best option.

 

I would agree that a one owner, private sale would be the least expensive. these vehicles have a good reputation for reliability so warranty coverage is less important to me.
I purchased an original owner AWD '04 RX w/25k miles, premium pkg, Nav, tow pkg for $28,500 last June. It is still under warranty until May. No problems. Great vehicle.

Good Luck

 

You landed on a jackpot. Fully loaded for the amount of money and only 25K! Great deal. No taxes right?