Sir, I was a Federal OSHA Inspector from 1982 - 2002. I can tell you after viewing several of your videos that you maintain a degree of perfection, I've seldom seen! One could honestly eat off the floors of your shop. You always wear proper PPE and immediately clean up small spills. You also collect and label your waste fluids. I'll even bet you have a nice file for your MSDS records for working with chemicals. All I'm attempting to say is: Well, Done! I'm impressed!
Yeah I I have a curse: I notice stuff like that whenever I'm in/around a shop as a customer, or I'm just driving by and see the sea of vehicles they failed to repair/sell. I always think: "Well, if they don't care about their own property - what makes you think they'll care about my property?!"
This is the type of channel that deserves all the success it gets. The presenter comes across as a very knowledgeable but more importantly, caring person. I am so happy to see his new garage. You can tell he takes great pride in it. Best of luck to you.
I own one with 208k miles on it. Yes, they can be expensive to maintain, but they rarely break down. These are some of the best cars ever made period. Great review.
@@d1spoonky Yes. If you can afford new brakes, valve cover gaskets and plugs, ignition coils/ tune up. I've had mine for 4 years and bought it with 127k and have 172k miles. Best car I've ever owned or driven by far
@@MrTeddycozmik Thanks, the dealer sold it from under me LITERALLY the night before I was to buy it (NOT mad though, its business), but there are others I'm considering...Thanks!
My son wanted a higher end Lexus with all the bells and whistles. I informed him that all those extras mean headaches down the road, plus they take premium gas. He ended up with an ES350 - simpler but still has a nice interior. So far he’s been happy with it.
Exactly you don’t need modern cars full of electronic crap and huge tables in them. So called outdated cars just works better and have less headache. If you want expensive modern car go and lease it.
@@dyalanbrain001 Avalon is a camry, not hating on it, Camry is the best selling car in the world for good reason but typically when you go Lexus, you want the rwd based that is more of a lexus and less of a toyota.
We don't even have peasant fuel anymore across the pond. It doesn't hurt to use good fuel to have more power and a healthier engine. Unless it is a rather primitive design. 😊
@@kr9181 The price of comfort is more electronics. 🤷♂ You can have even reliable electronics Japanese so called luxury cars of the 90s are prove for that, especially the Toyota Crown.
My ‘08 460 has 190k miles, burns no oil, has no leaks, gets 27mpg real world at 75 mph. It’s honestly my favorite car I have ever owned, and yes I owned a LS430. Repairing the 460 is not a total nightmare, you can certainly do it yourself. When buying, yes, The car will reward you like a Lexus should. RWD non Air Ride, one owner with proper maintenance history is definitely recommended. But if you do find one that has been properly maintained, buy it, change oil every 5k miles, change brake fluid and coolant every two years. Will you need to keep an eye on the front end bushings? Yes, but the aftermarket parts are reasonable and the labor is easy.
Best & most accurate on point response!!!! I’m a true enthusiast & own every model from an LS460 with 370k original miles, and every other model from the previous generations! The 460 does require a bit more love than some of the others but as you said they are not such a killer to the pocket especially if you’re going with a more base model without the air suspension and can do most the labor work yourself. In the end of it all, unless you have a brand new car out the dealer with warranty and owe your life to it, you’re going to have to put in money in any other used car you decide to get. But if I’m going to spend money on repairs/maintenance, I’m at least going to do it to a vehicle/vehicles that I have had the best experiences with as far as quality, reliability, comfort and longevity overall! There’s a reason Toyota/Lexus holds the most value in the used car market…. ✊🏽
@@jayflip3756 Yessir. Btw did you say you have 370k miles on your LS460 sheeeeeesh. Would be interested to know what you've had to repair so far. I have 100k miles on mine (only had it for 2 years so far though) and I repaired the radiator and my air suspension and bushings are likely going to need replacing relatively soon. Surely, the LS burns oil at that mileage, holy cow 370k!
@@zaker600 Yeah man I actually got the car with 270k miles from the original owner and I can honestly say it looks, runs and drives like a brand new car! Yes the control arm bushings were replaced as expected, I did have to replace the starter and I am getting a random transmission slip type of symptom from 3rd to 4th gear but I am going to get it further investigated as it’s very intermittent. The car drives phenomenal most of the time until it gives that issue, I have no problem spending $700 on another transmission but I like to get to the bottom root of the issue so I know what to look for and how to possibly avoid it in the future. I honestly think it has something to do with the transmission thermostat which most people aren’t aware that these transmissions have. In my opinion if it was a mechanical issue with the transmission itself, it would slip 100% of the time and not once in a blue. Nonetheless the car does have higher miles and it is more than deserving of a transmission swap if need be. I average 24mpg overall and I don’t burn much oil at all, perhaps a quart total within the 5000 miles. I truly love this car and honestly as an enthusiast that I am, I really don’t see myself getting rid of it unless maybe one day I find someone as passionate as I am and has the same appreciation as I do with the car. But that’s in the far future ha ha!
@@jayflip3756 my transmission is doing the samething started about a month ago doesn't do it all thr time im at 195k miles it doesn't do it everyday if u find out the problem please let me know
@@highiii6605 The mechanic said it all looked good, and I’ve been happy with purchase overall. I still definitely recommend getting a pre purchase inspection if you have the time, you don’t want those control arms to fuck you.
This is no cap!!!! I luckily came across a 2008 Lexus LS 600HL back in 2019 with 85k on it. I bought it in VA and luckily the dealer had to replace these parts before it would pass inspection before they could sell it to me. No wonder the dealer was freaking out over how much the repairs were going to cost!!!!! I guess I lucked up on this one!
Great video as always AMD. It's so refreshing to see a real mechanic show you the truth about these models from hands on experience. You can really see the the dollar amounts add up when you see it all broken down like that - that aluminum knuckle alone is around $500 per side..
You are being kind describing that rotor groove. The pad was slicing the rotor off like a lathe. The mechanic that did that should go back to school. Thanks. You have an amazing shop. Congrats.
I had a swb 2008 LS460 with 19" wheels. Loved it!. It was rare non air suspension with reclining rear seats. I was able to swap out a lot of the parts myself. It was well behaved but I always feared the brake actuator failure. It was an automatic $3000 cost that only the dealer can repair. I ended up reluctantly selling it. 3 years later I heard from the owner and it has been problem free! 😭 I regret selling it & could have enjoyed a few more years of ownership. I ended up roughing it in a 2006 V6 Camry. The Camry has been extremely reliable and stress free it blends into the crowd . It's what I need in these "crazy times" !
Had a 2008LS460 with exact same issues..Did the strutsmasters conversion kit, replaced all the control arms, brakes etc..After a year (30k miles), the control arms had to be replaced again, i gave up and got rid of it. And it was burning oil as well and on top of it my brake actuator started to make clicking and popping noise (3k repair). Listen to the brother right here..Be careful with these!
Dear Presenter, you are fantastic and I enjoyed throughly with this video. Can tell that you are a very detailed professional and you earned much respects from most of the viewers. I had a same car , 2010 LS460 F Sport , rear wheel drive with air suspension. I am still the first owner of this car and odometer is 70K kilometer after 12 years of driving. I intend to keep it for another 10 years and I will take serious note of all these issues. I m very impressed of your presentation and your clarity of your good speaking and narration skill. I come from Singapore where the LS is situated. A small island country sits on equator . You take good care and would like to see you more often in Utube. Cheers.
Have an’08 LS 460 since new. 140K w/ the usual maintenance, still love it, recently replaced the stereo and amp. Every time I think about replacing the car w/ something else, I come back to the point….w/ what? That V8 & transmission is glorious…I just can’t bring myself to get rid of it.
Hey Car Care Nut, thank you very much for making a very informative video. I just replaced my front control arms to the cost of $2700 and my deductible was only $100. I bought an extended warranty to cover my expenses on my 2008 LS460. For those who are looking to buy this vehicle, buy the extended warranty, and listen to this guy... My warranty has paid for itself already. Keep up the good work 👏 🌷
My wife drove her 1998 LS400 for 19 years. Other than a mirror switch which broke,. after 18 years, just changed the oil and nothing else to fix. Replaced the LS 400 with a used low mileage 2014 LS460, and other than a rain sensor, replaced under warrantee, it has been 100% problem free. Regular oil and fluid changes, and it keeps on going without any problems what so over. I've had 6 different Lexus models, all problem free, other than routine wear, brake and tire replacements. What's not to love about Toyota/Lexus products? I'm now driving a 2020 RC350 F-sport. After 2 years, no problems. Southern California weather may help the longitivtiy, but does not change the almost complete lack of problems. So far, ultimately cheap to keep. Oh, my 1984 Supra's first brake job was at 96,000 miles. Talk about bullet proof, and I sold that vehicle in 1995 for a Lexus. Of course my opinion is, that these vehicles are very reliable, after their initial cost.
Most cars should last a long time in the southwest. In new england rust kills cars way before their time, and makes it a pain to work on. Wheel bearings are a pain, calipers and brake/fuel lines rust out from the road salt spray.
" just changed the oil and nothing else to fix" so tired of these delusional expressions. No car can last only on oil changes. You still have to replace, brakes, shocks, springs, belts and many other wear and tear parts as the mileage keeps growing. The question is: can you afford to maintain it?! Any car can last as long as you can afford to maintain it, which depends on your budget. So, reliability comes not from the car but from how reliable is your wallet.
This is why you need a Toyota Master Diagnostic Technician working on your car! Great videos AMD awesome work, thank you for all your videos and knowledge. GB
I had a 1996 LS400. No air suspension. The quietest ride with a nakamichi sound system. The only repairs I had to do were the front suspension. The engine was a very quiet V8.
We have two Lexus cars. A 1993 LS400 we bought for $4000.00 three years ago in California, a one owner, always garaged, good maintenance records. Under 80K miles! Still have it, the only problems are with the 'bells and whistles" some of which I don't bother to fix as they don't present any real problems to me. I also bought a 2007 LS460L, less than 70K, one owner, clean carfax, always garaged in Florida, it is in pristine shape overall. I paid 28K for it. Have had problems already with sensor lights coming on, had some brake parts replaced, the interior is the one that turns to "putty" over time and unfortunately the owner never took it to Lexus for the no cost redo of the interior parts so there's that. At the moment I have to say I am already having buyers remorse as it isn't any "better" than my 93 LS 400 in most ways. I think I will sell it as soon as possible and keep the 93 and fix whatever may come with it, it will be a lot less expensive in the long run. Buyer the LS460L was an impulse buy, I should have done more research.
Thank you! I've been considering a 460 and just came across your video, a great reality check for me! Will definitely be taking a closer look now before hitting the buy now button!
As an LS lover I have to disagree. The blue book value of a vehicle and the value to a person are very different. Say you spend $10K for the vehicle and another $6k in repairs there is not a vehicle that exist that will give you that level of driver experience for 16K(except maybe another used LS). So while some see a headache I see an incredible value.
I spent 14k for mine and now I'm looking into replacing the control arms 😅 Was quoted 5k at the dealership. Hard pill to swallow but I can only imagine how better the car will feel!
If you listen again at 16:90, he is telling you that you may feel you got a bargain, but things begin to become brittle and you may end up with one expense after another that by the time you realize, you will become like one of my employees that spent $14k on a used car he bought 2 years ago for $15k. Set the emotions aside and look at it logically. If your emotional, you can drive a unreliable, unsafe car that looks good or take all that money like my employee would have spent on a nice reliable newer car.
Same. Mechanics in my area were ripping us off so bad I’ve actually committed myself to working on our own vehicles. Toyotas, BMW’s and Mercedes. Have saved thousands.
@@paperandmedals8316 I agree also not to descriminate against middle eastern people I lived in Los Angeles for 35+ years and they always Rip me off and charges more than dealership 🤣🤣🤣 Armenian Russian 🤣 I really wish more mechanics are more honest and trained and cool temperated like you 🥂
@@ALBreezyx68 I’m in Phoenix. My brother has a mechanic garage in NYC. I tell him the prices out here and Phoenix and they’re double that of NYC prices. How’s that even possible?
@@paperandmedals8316Arizona is like a 3rd world state vs NYC. Most millionaires par square male lives there … mostly they all have modern cars and their used cars often shipped to car auction ending up in poor states brought by used car dealerships. There’s so much work for mechanics in your area and lower middle class people in your are can’t afford new vehicles therefore abundant of used cars giving mechanics luxury to charge high rate on labor.
Great analysis of the issues, A warning to anyone who wants to buy a high end model Lexus BMW, AUDI MERCEDES etc, You are buying trying to enjoy the look and feel of luxury you simply can't afford, If you have the $ go ahead and get a newer one , but for most it's just a guaranteed nightmare every time you go to the shop,
I had a 08 GS460 for about 5 years and loved that car! Same engine/trans as this but none of the suspension issues. Put over 100k on that car and was still running great at 230k when I traded it in
Have the gs460 currently with 153k. I don’t think the prior owner took much care of it when I got it at 118k. But it’s good now! Solid. Wish the GS interior was a little bigger, but very stylish car overall.
I have a 2012 LS460L and I baby it. I only drive it 5000 miles/year. I service it myself. Changed my own spark plugs and saved $. The stealership wanted $400! I also change my own oil. I put synthetic Mobil 1 in it always. Thanks to your video I now know to check that lower arm on my driver's side front suspension. The driver's side front tire was worn out on the inside prematurely, and of course, the tire shop was happy to sell me a new set of tires. I need to get that addressed immediately. I think I'll have my independent Toyota/Lexus mechanic inspect both sides too. Thank you for this video. I think it will save me lots of cash in the long run.
I was considering buying one of these LS460 with 100k miles but you convinced me to steer clear of them, decided to go with an ES350 instead. Its not quite as advanced or luxurious but I would still drive it across country. It's a very nice car and super reliable.
I have one and it's been super reliable. Yeah the tech isn't good. But you could get a sony headunit from Crutchfield and replace the head unit to a modern Bluetooth android auto/apple carplay one.
@@MiguelRPD Why do that? Just go with the Grom Audio V-line 2. It runs Android Auto/Apple CarPlay through the stock head unit and retains all factory functionality. I run it in my ‘08 LS and it works brilliantly.
@@CarsofGlasgow I mean yeah if I can find a GS350 with AWD I would go with one of those but they tend to be harder to find. I need either FWD or AWD because I live in mountainous terrain with bad weather (currently driving a RWD car).
Japanese and german car makers seems like they avoid any service procedure that requires a press . I guess it's to keep the requirements for a service shop down? It seems silly to me. On the LS460 knuckle ball joint, control arm bushings and even the wheel bearing hub are individually serviceable with a proper shop press. A suspension specialist shop in my area does a good business replacing "non serviceable" parts like this on high end luxury cars. The whole point of going to a non dealer service provider I thought was to get around the service constraints imposed by the manufactures.
Thank you Sir, I was considering buying a 2010 or 2011 LS460 BUT after watching your video & another, I'll keep maintaining my '03 ES300. The comments about the air shocks & that knuckle was the final straw. Thanks again for all the info & details, continued success & Blessings!!!
My 2007 LS 460 burned so much oil , had suspension problems, and replacing the starter was a big expensive job. Even replacing a headlight required taking of a tire. Great nice car but it is expensive to maintain . Traded it in a while ago. My ES is more affordable to maintain not to mention not a premium only fuel V8. Had to cancel appointment but I can’t wait for you to see my 2000 ES 300 with over 200k. It has HID factory Installed lights which was very surprising to me. Thanks I really enjoy these videos !
I have the same car same issues minus I don’t think I’m burning a lot of oil. Thinking about selling it. The front needs to be done I did the two rear air suspensions and starter on it so far
@@RahzAlGhul Hi. I don't know if you come back to check your old posts, but I have a thought for you (and others in a similar position). I can see you might be tired of putting a lot of money into your car, so you figure maybe get something else. But! If one buys another used vehicle, as someone else above said, all, or most, will need some repairs to 'bring them up to snuff'. At that point (with a different car), 2 things: *a)* What's the general prognosis for that type of vehicle, regarding what might typically go wrong with it in the future? (As in, in a few thousand more kilometres, what else do those owners typically have to fix?), and *b)* How would you feel about having / driving / enjoying _that_ car? I'm assuming an 'alternative' car wouldn't be as nice as these Lexuses (Lexi? hehe) seem to be. So, driving something 'lesser' might not give you the fun and enjoyment? I'm thinking about this because let's say you put another $3000...$5000...whatever into your nice Lexus. Then from that point what's the prediction for future 'known issues'? Are they then good for the next 5....6....7 years without expected breakdowns? Because if so then you might actually feel better about keeping your Lexus. You will have spent the necessary dough to make / keep it good, and you won't have to worry about a different car's future 'unknowns'. Just a thought. I guess the answer is different for everyone. But I know I'd rather 'invest' in a generally great, well made car with all the luxuries a Lexus has than drive a lesser car.🙂
@@be5952 thanks yeh that’s exactly what I’m doing. Doing the install on Thursday. Everything new up front. Air suspension, control arms, and knuckles and tie bars
Have 98 ls400 104,000 miles. Performed regular maintenance: timing belt, water and power steering pump, brakes, battery, new tires ect. Best car ever owned. Fast, smooth, quiet and luxurious. And no car payments. 😋
I bought a 2006 LS 430 with 155,000 on it. I had to replace the entire suspension like you see here. Saved a ton of money doing it myself, and learned a lot.
Did you convert it away from air suspension because it typically doesn't cost that much when you get a conversion kit instead of reinstalling air suspension
I have an '18 GLE350 and your comment about checking the rear main for leaks is helpful because I want to catch these problems (or potential problems) at their smallest before they become so unbelievably costly. Man, I'm so glad I subbed your channel; already a real favorite.
Friend if you find your rear/front main seals have a leak it's already bound to be costly, esp if you have it done. If you do it yourself, many times you can change those seals with the engine still in the car and possibly, even without removing the crankshaft.
I had one 2008 ls460L. That car drove like a dream. But its the same old suspension issue. I wanted to change the air suspension but I was advised against it. 3 months later after patching and toying. I flipped it. But the car is a dream.
i bought a used LS, looks like previous owner didn't spend a penny on the maintenance. found a bollywood cd in the cd changer when cleaning it, when seeing the title the previous owner's name on it speaks for itself
I'm surprised those brake pads could be incorrectly installed and result in wear to the rotor hub. Thats seems to be contrary to lots of Toyota mistake-proofing designs (poke-a-yoke). Thinking back to pad replacements I've done on Camry's, Tercels and Subarus it would seem impossible to incorrectly mount the pads. Either the caliper design is flawed, or some knucklehead found a way. 🤕 Thanks for the fair warning on Lexus air suspensions. This type of video is invaluable.
He's literally showing you what to ask your mechanic about if you buy one. He's taking out all the mystery of not knowing. Thx. Now i can get one and tell my mechanic to check this this that and this! lol
AMD, A picture is worth a thousand words so a 21 minute video like this must be worth a million. I was reminded that a thorough PRE - purchase inspection is compulsory in the used car market and a car that is MORE expensive to buy is a car that will very likely be MORE expensive to maintain. 😁
Also a lot of people who buy those higher end performance cars run them into the ground don’t maintain them. A vehicle inspection is an absolute must if buying a high-end model
@@SteveB88 I would say a detailed inspection from a qualified mechanic is mandatory for a used Yaris and becomes more mandatory with the additional complexity of more expensive models. I have walked away from a couple of potential used car purchases that failed to meet the required standard. The money it cost was well worth it. Like all my car lessons, I learned this the hard way 😂
@@rightlanehog3151 Totally agree. And, I will add, if your inspection turns up _however-many-$_ worth of repairs, you might still decide you like the car enough to buy it, fix it and enjoy it anyway! And this especially if it seems okay other than whatever has worn out and just hasn't been replaced. To me, there seem to be two types of _need-a-lot-of-repairs_ used cars: *1)* Those that are driven by generally careful drivers who'd just rather buy a new(er) car when theirs has too many parts wear out, and *2)* Cars that are beat to crap by someone who abused or didn't care about them. This second kind might need the same list of repairs right now as a similar one from criterion #1. *_But_* due to how it was treated one might expect a ton of extra troubles down the road.
I ain't going to be surprised if this vehicle with high mileage had over 4 owners which couple of them just driven the car rough for couple years and just trade out if it.
When I saw this I had to go look on my list - my list I compiled listening to you during another of your videos on good vs. not so good Toyota & Lexus car models - and yep you've spoken about these LS's before I even made 2 notes on that one!! Good Toyota list: Camry: 2015-2017 Camry: 2004-2006 V6 Camry: 2000-2001 was a workhorse Corolla: 2005-2008 1.8L Bad Toyota list Corolla 98-2002 worst ever, bad rust Camry 2002-2004 unless hasn’t been overheated V6 is ok - 2A2-FE Rav 4: 2006-2008 Camry: 2007-2009 oil burners/rings Matrix & Corolla 09-2013 - ONLY 1.8 or don’t do it Good Lexus List: ES350 RX350 but 2010 up IS - good but not as good for tall people GS350 - a little more in maintenance GX/LX - both good LS430 is the legend 2005 up ES 300,330 - all except 2002-2006. 2nd best after LS430 - Like 2004-2006 Camry XLE V6 very good 4.7 V8 is great engine Lexus Bad List IS250 in all years disaster had DI only and carboned up 4GR-FSE 2.5 w/D4 system avoid at all costs GS250 - D4S is ok - has DI and port injection- no carbon S250 LS460 - 2007 to 2011 LS460 - nickel and dime you, bad brakes, prem fuel, etc. etc
I always say that the first and and second gen Lexus cars were built to the tagline relentless pursuit of perfection....the third gen was starting to show some cost cutting, still nice cars but.....not as bullet proof as the earlier models
There is a revised part for the front lower rear control arms. I am strongly hoping for more detailed LS460/600 content like this. I love mine and here in germany they only came with "all bells and whistles". None were sold without softclose or the air suspension. The sales numbers here were really low (like 70 over ALL twelve LS F4 model years) so it is not easy to find someone that really knows this car inside and out. I would love to see a transmission fluid change on your channel, since this is the next thing that needs to be done on mine.
Honestly if you want comfy and Toyota simplicity/reliability then go for an Avalon. They're spacious, quiet and have that old school comfy straight line effortless highway ride perfect for vast North American roads plus the V6 motor moves that car without issue. No fancy tech, just practical features that work.
When I compare the suspension cost of a Lexus vs the Mercedes the Lexus is more for sure. I have an LX470 and the brake parts were north of 600 for original parts. My biggest complaint with the Lexus is the parts availability. The Mercedes is more of a world brand so the parts can be found easily. Great videos by the way.
I made A LOT of money fixing these cars. The LS460 got better in 2011 with much more robust control arms. Its far cheaper to completely replace the air struts with standard spring struts. Air ride was much plusher in the LS430. Water pumps and engine valley coolant plate leaks are also a known weak point of the UR family of engines. Not uncommon to see radiator failures as well.
I had a 2002 LS 430. Started to have front-end suspension issues at 75,000 miles. Apparently that's a common problem with the LS platforms because they have so much weight on the front end that those components wear out quickly. I went to polyurethane bushings, but the car was never the same afterwards. Beautiful car otherwise.
You don't want to go with poly bushings on these cars. It's going to be a huge downgrade in the ride quality. & yes lower ball joints on these things love to get burned up. One of the few things they didn't overkill overbuild.
PO of my 2004 430 went to the Lex dealer time after time for "loose" front suspension. They threw LCA bushes, ball joints, struts, alignment after alignment at it. Did not fix it. After I bought it (100K mi) I can verify at highway speeds any bump would send it all over the place. Spent some time researching on the Lexus forums then DIY replaced 4 steering rack bushings (parts cost about $120) it now rides like a dream. Check your steering rack bushings, they are a weak spot on the otherwise bulletproof LS430.
Very nice video again!!! One information in this video that is not very correct is that you do not have to replace the whole spindle because of a bad ball joint. I know because i uave replaced mine and my friend's. Lexus sells the ball joint for $98 and you can get a 3rd party for $45. The ball joint attaches to the spindle with 3 screws
Wow you went over this front to back and didn't miss a thing! Who worked on this before? He wasn't a good mechanic and I hope the owner shows him the rotor because as you said "very Dangerous " and he must be shown the mistake he made! There are not many honest. Good mechanics left out there and in Australia I have had trouble with servicing from Toyota but that another bad story! There blessed to have there car looked at by yourself as you would be overwhelmed here if you were to work over here. May you be blessed as I know you are. Aussie chris 🇦🇺 ♥️
I currently have a 2004 LS 430 as my daily driver. It has no leaks or issues of any kind. I've driven it for about 8 years now. I had cross shopped it with a 2007 LS 460 and I preferred the ride of the 430 by far. I sometimes look at a late model LS460 for an upgrade, but I am also considering an ES300H instead. I don't want headaches as I get older and the allure of driving the flagship has worn off. At this rate though, I don't see parting with the LS430 anytime soon. Maybe drive it a couple of more years? I have a feeling I'm really going to miss it once I move on.
I wish you were in Los Angeles CA, I would love to just shake your hands for an honest professional work you do, am proud of your work and you videos are very educational for all of us lexus owners. keep up the good work and God bless you and your team.
I have a 2010 LS460 that started burning oil not long after I bought it. Turns out it was one of the valve stem seals going. I did notice some blue smoke on startup and it used about a quart per 700 miles. Luckily, I got the car with an extended warranty which covered reconditioning the cylinder heads (and everything else that goes with doing that) and some other suspension parts (like control arms) that were found to be going out. There were also two summers where the dash had to be taken apart to replace AC actuator motors.... again covered by warranty. The warranty covered more than the car is worth so far and I still have 24,000 miles left on it with a car that has 126,000 miles. I got lucky... I would never get a car like this without some sort or warranty.
@@Kauffman578 yep. For around $50K, I think the ES35” is a bargain. I currently drives a 2017 ES350, just hit 31K mikes this month. It is quiet, roomy and luxury enough, but sure ain’t fun to drive like to RWD LS.
I had a brake job come in once similar to that one. Customers complaint was that she would lose control of the vehicle when she’d brake. The brake pad shim had cut all the way through the brake rotor hat. The rotor was on two pieces rendering the brake at that wheel useless. She said that her neighbor or someone replaced the brakes a week prior to that. It doesn’t take long to happen! It was an interesting test drive!!
I owned 2016 LS460 swb without air suspension and I got rid of it after it has almost 100k miles. It's a different class and please don't compare it with the low end ES350 if you can't afforf it.
Excellent video. I’ve been considering getting a newer year LS. I can definitely attest to the repair cost of owning a Lexus. But, once it’s done, I’m very confident in the reliability. You get what you pay for.
Rule of thumb avoid buying used cars with air suspension, and magnetic ride shocks as well (i.e. Corvettes), even if you inspect it and there's no problem with the shocks trust me its only a matter of time before they fail and its a pretty penny to replace
And this is why I do my own repairs. I save money and know it was done right. Shops just wanna get it in an out and quickly as possible with no inspection
And you're one of those people that make people like me cry---we who aren't smart enough nor technically inclined enough to *_do_* our own repairs! (Just kidding. Good for you!👍) # Extreme_envy
I bought a 2007 LS 460 a few years ago with 100k on the clock. Had it professionally inspected before purchase and only paid 12k. I feel very lucky that I got two years of fun driving out of it and only had to pay for one $2000 brake job. BTW, it burned about a quart of oil every 700 miles when I got it. Changed oil to Mobil 1 and went on some long road trips (adding oil as needed). After 5000 miles, the oil burning stopped. Guess the rings were fouled when I got it.
I've always used Mobile 1... Some say it's just hyped advertising... I don't know the truth, but I have never had issues with any vehicle or yard equipment
@@IYG-x7cI got quoted $1200 for a Toyota. Luckily, my father spoils me and provides my car with great maintenance. But did call and get quotes to see if it was worth his time.
I love watching your videos, so thorough in explanation and background reasoning. Watching this, I'm glad that I have no desire to own something this complicated but I DO enjoy sharing in your easy-share expertise! Fun.
As an ls600 owner, the symphony of noise over a bump is an accurate description, mine at 94k miles. However, it's not the hardest diy to replace the bushings and lower ball joint on the awd models. I also suspect axle issues so I bought axles as well. Definitely adjust purchase offer accordingly when buying one, pay the right price, enjoyable cars for the money.
08, it's been great but I'm only at 96k as of today. Garage queen. But if your not a mechanic or serious diy guy I wouldn't recommend it unless you want to burn money on labor.
I think I heard him say he’s in Illinois. If so, that could have a lot to do with why the front suspension fails so savagely on these. The road salt there is wicked and definitely puts a big hurt on rubber bushings, but the other factors that kill suspensions are rough road surfaces and pot holes. Illinois roads are loaded with millions of potholes. And the washboard roads that cover most of the state have very few smooth spots. Lastly there’s extreme temperatures… Rubber doesn’t perform well when heavily stressed at Arctic temps so when you’re out there running your very heavy land yacht around on washboard roads at 10 degrees Fahrenheit, while covered in gritty road salt and you hit a seven inch deep pot hole at 70 mph, something is going to fail. Just sayin.
I was just looking at buying an 8 year old LS 460. I love the car and it is such a beautiful car but this gives me pause. Great video and thank you. I owned a couple of LS 400’s in the 90’s and loved them. Great cars! I traded them for Chevy and Ford SUV’s as my family was growing. Kids are out of college now and I am looking at easing into some luxury again. I am technical minded and you have provided me with excellent intel. I will look at the ES models as well. Have a great day!
In my country the person who did the Front RHS brakes would be forced to pay a fine after rectifying it to correct standard with original Parts. That was Frightening
Thank you for the warning... I was looking at a couple of Lexus LS 460's... but not any more... I could buy a vacation home on a lake for the money it's going to cost to maintain them.
TY Sir as always super information and explained open and honestly, wow that front disc groove was scary bad so i am glad you showed us that and the owner is replacing them. Keep Safe Keep Strong My Dear Friend 🦘🦘🦘🦘🚗🚗🚗🚗
I worked in the industry and I can tell you Toyota products are great. HOWEVER, everybody knows Toyotas and Lexus for that matter are well engineered and built cars. which leads people not NOT take care of them. Every car regardless of how good requires good maintenance. Cars I will stay away from if they are above 60k miles are Lexus ES, IS, LS, RX etc. Pretty much all Lexuses unless they have an extensive regular dealer history and Toyota Corollas, Camrys, Tacomas and Tundras with the exact same qualifiers. If somebody wants a Toyota I always tell them look at Avalons. Those are TYPICALLY well maintained with more mature owners that tend to take care of their cars.
Such a beautiful car!! I actually feel bad for the owner. Good move on eliminating air ride! I was gonna ask. See? Ppl just dont take car of cars when they buy new & u reap the harvest of it. I worked w/a woman who owned a sporty Corolla that I really liked. I kept reminding her to fill her tires w/air & change the oil but she wouldnt. This mad me aware that ppl dont take care of their cars, they jst drive them. I hope ur customer does whats best for him! 👍
Great to have someone who really knows these LS460 instead of the BS we get about the interior trim etc.The fuel injectors really worry me, question, is the 600Hl a different motor or just the 460 bored out to 5000 litres. I wish we had someone honest like you in Australia as I do love the 2009 to 2012 LS600hl we get in Australia fully loaded. Keep up the great work.
CR has been the holy grail for consumers for ages in choosing used cars. Its record shows the 460 from 07 to 09 were cars to avoid. There is an extensive recall program even to cover the dash, inside door card, suspension, etc. because Lexus realized these model years were duds. I always believe and insist never to buy cars of new model years, especially luxury models regardles of brands. Think of them as new born babies. Cutting teeth, toilet train, immuno-vaccines, the whole nine yards to get them all bug-free until the babies are three, maybe four-year-old.
My 2007 was basically bullet proof from 90k-210k that I drove it. Nothing but tires/brakes and an alternator that went after having oil leak onto it from a bad valve cover gasket that I didn’t catch. It was an ultra-luxury model that had everything (air suspension original till the end) except the recliner in back. As in all things YMMV
Hah, this reminds me a lot of my Audi and VW front suspension!! And not in a good way. As for brake sensors, I just usually cut them off and connect the wires...no use for them. Nice video, thanks. Surprising eye opener for a Lexus.
I had a LS460 and it was nightmare, I replaced the radiator, water pump, thermostat, cooling fan module, and finally it had a coolant leak under the intake manifold. It had been hot so many times due to the cooling system problems, I finally traded it in and got a 4Runner. The LS460 was fast and fun to drive but a nightmare to keep on the road. Mine had less than 140K miles and was a nightmare.
I was thinking of ordering an LS460 from Japan but from since you made that video of the good and the bad Lexus models o am glad I saw it before I bought this car . I really like it they are very nice but I don't think I Will but an LS 460
I've meet a couple of people locally that have had issues with these models. They are amazing and the technology is awesome. As with anything else it'll break down and cause issues. Hopefully the new LS500 is better as an all around vehicle. (:
Sir, I was a Federal OSHA Inspector from 1982 - 2002. I can tell you after viewing several of your videos that you maintain a degree of perfection, I've seldom seen! One could honestly eat off the floors of your shop. You always wear proper PPE and immediately clean up small spills. You also collect and label your waste fluids. I'll even bet you have a nice file for your MSDS records for working with chemicals. All I'm attempting to say is: Well, Done! I'm impressed!
Don't confuse a television studio with an automotive repair shop
MSDS has changed to just SDS.
Me too! Scotty too!
Yeah I I have a curse: I notice stuff like that whenever I'm in/around a shop as a customer, or I'm just driving by and see the sea of vehicles they failed to repair/sell. I always think: "Well, if they don't care about their own property - what makes you think they'll care about my property?!"
@@07wrxtr1 I agree.
This is the type of channel that deserves all the success it gets. The presenter comes across as a very knowledgeable but more importantly, caring person. I am so happy to see his new garage. You can tell he takes great pride in it. Best of luck to you.
Wow how did Toyota screw up so bad?
wish we had you in NJ.... Thanks for the video's, very informative.
I own one with 208k miles on it. Yes, they can be expensive to maintain, but they rarely break down. These are some of the best cars ever made period. Great review.
I love my ls460 L
I am about to purchase a 2008 LS 460L LITERALLY over the next few days with 158,000 miles on it, is it WORTH it?
@@d1spoonky Yes. If you can afford new brakes, valve cover gaskets and plugs, ignition coils/ tune up. I've had mine for 4 years and bought it with 127k and have 172k miles. Best car I've ever owned or driven by far
@@MrTeddycozmik Thanks, the dealer sold it from under me LITERALLY the night before I was to buy it (NOT mad though, its business), but there are others I'm considering...Thanks!
@@d1spoonkyknock $6k off the price for inevitable suspension work
My son wanted a higher end Lexus with all the bells and whistles. I informed him that all those extras mean headaches down the road, plus they take premium gas. He ended up with an ES350 - simpler but still has a nice interior. So far he’s been happy with it.
Exactly you don’t need modern cars full of electronic crap and huge tables in them. So called outdated cars just works better and have less headache. If you want expensive modern car go and lease it.
@@Motorsportsgeek have you even driven the es350? They are based on the Avalon btw.
@@dyalanbrain001 Avalon is a camry, not hating on it, Camry is the best selling car in the world for good reason but typically when you go Lexus, you want the rwd based that is more of a lexus and less of a toyota.
We don't even have peasant fuel anymore across the pond. It doesn't hurt to use good fuel to have more power and a healthier engine. Unless it is a rather primitive design. 😊
@@kr9181 The price of comfort is more electronics. 🤷♂ You can have even reliable electronics Japanese so called luxury cars of the 90s are prove for that, especially the Toyota Crown.
My ‘08 460 has 190k miles, burns no oil, has no leaks, gets 27mpg real world at 75 mph. It’s honestly my favorite car I have ever owned, and yes I owned a LS430. Repairing the 460 is not a total nightmare, you can certainly do it yourself. When buying, yes, The car will reward you like a Lexus should. RWD non Air Ride, one owner with proper maintenance history is definitely recommended. But if you do find one that has been properly maintained, buy it, change oil every 5k miles, change brake fluid and coolant every two years. Will you need to keep an eye on the front end bushings? Yes, but the aftermarket parts are reasonable and the labor is easy.
Best & most accurate on point response!!!! I’m a true enthusiast & own every model from an LS460 with 370k original miles, and every other model from the previous generations! The 460 does require a bit more love than some of the others but as you said they are not such a killer to the pocket especially if you’re going with a more base model without the air suspension and can do most the labor work yourself. In the end of it all, unless you have a brand new car out the dealer with warranty and owe your life to it, you’re going to have to put in money in any other used car you decide to get. But if I’m going to spend money on repairs/maintenance, I’m at least going to do it to a vehicle/vehicles that I have had the best experiences with as far as quality, reliability, comfort and longevity overall! There’s a reason Toyota/Lexus holds the most value in the used car market…. ✊🏽
@@jayflip3756 Yessir. Btw did you say you have 370k miles on your LS460 sheeeeeesh. Would be interested to know what you've had to repair so far. I have 100k miles on mine (only had it for 2 years so far though) and I repaired the radiator and my air suspension and bushings are likely going to need replacing relatively soon. Surely, the LS burns oil at that mileage, holy cow 370k!
Nice!
@@zaker600 Yeah man I actually got the car with 270k miles from the original owner and I can honestly say it looks, runs and drives like a brand new car! Yes the control arm bushings were replaced as expected, I did have to replace the starter and I am getting a random transmission slip type of symptom from 3rd to 4th gear but I am going to get it further investigated as it’s very intermittent. The car drives phenomenal most of the time until it gives that issue, I have no problem spending $700 on another transmission but I like to get to the bottom root of the issue so I know what to look for and how to possibly avoid it in the future. I honestly think it has something to do with the transmission thermostat which most people aren’t aware that these transmissions have. In my opinion if it was a mechanical issue with the transmission itself, it would slip 100% of the time and not once in a blue. Nonetheless the car does have higher miles and it is more than deserving of a transmission swap if need be. I average 24mpg overall and I don’t burn much oil at all, perhaps a quart total within the 5000 miles. I truly love this car and honestly as an enthusiast that I am, I really don’t see myself getting rid of it unless maybe one day I find someone as passionate as I am and has the same appreciation as I do with the car. But that’s in the far future ha ha!
@@jayflip3756 my transmission is doing the samething started about a month ago doesn't do it all thr time im at 195k miles it doesn't do it everyday if u find out the problem please let me know
Bought a 2010 LS 460 two days ago without pre purchase inspection. Definitely going to have it checked out soon. Wish me luck 🫡
How was it?
I’m thinking of getting a LS 460 this weekend but now I’m nervous. How’d your inspection go
@@Sha-Ayo The mechanic said everything looked good and nothing needed attention.
@@highiii6605 The mechanic said it all looked good, and I’ve been happy with purchase overall. I still definitely recommend getting a pre purchase inspection if you have the time, you don’t want those control arms to fuck you.
I remember watching auto repair shows on TNN when I was growing up. This channel is better than any of them.
This is no cap!!!! I luckily came across a 2008 Lexus LS 600HL back in 2019 with 85k on it. I bought it in VA and luckily the dealer had to replace these parts before it would pass inspection before they could sell it to me. No wonder the dealer was freaking out over how much the repairs were going to cost!!!!! I guess I lucked up on this one!
Do you still have it? What's the maintence now like?
Great video as always AMD. It's so refreshing to see a real mechanic show you the truth about these models from hands on experience. You can really see the the dollar amounts add up when you see it all broken down like that - that aluminum knuckle alone is around $500 per side..
You are being kind describing that rotor groove. The pad was slicing the rotor off like a lathe. The mechanic that did that should go back to school. Thanks. You have an amazing shop. Congrats.
He’s such a good teacher . One of the best - I love this guy.
I love your honesty. I sense no bias in your message at all. Keep up the good work.
I had a swb 2008 LS460 with 19" wheels. Loved it!. It was rare non air suspension with reclining rear seats. I was able to swap out a lot of the parts myself. It was well behaved but I always feared the brake actuator failure. It was an automatic $3000 cost that only the dealer can repair.
I ended up reluctantly selling it. 3 years later I heard from the owner and it has been problem free! 😭 I regret selling it & could have enjoyed a few more years of ownership. I ended up roughing it in a 2006 V6 Camry. The Camry has been extremely reliable and stress free it blends into the crowd . It's what I need in these "crazy times" !
Wrong. A regular mechanic fixed mine. I got the part for $800 and charged me $500 to put it on and program it.
@@rockflock4698 b.s
@@JJ-rw2pj facts
Who told you only the dealer can repair it? Lemme guess, they did? 🤣
Had a 2008LS460 with exact same issues..Did the strutsmasters conversion kit, replaced all the control arms, brakes etc..After a year (30k miles), the control arms had to be replaced again, i gave up and got rid of it. And it was burning oil as well and on top of it my brake actuator started to make clicking and popping noise (3k repair). Listen to the brother right here..Be careful with these!
Dear Presenter, you are fantastic and I enjoyed throughly with this video. Can tell that you are a very detailed professional and you earned much respects from most of the viewers.
I had a same car , 2010 LS460 F Sport , rear wheel drive with air suspension. I am still the first owner of this car and odometer is 70K kilometer after 12 years of driving. I intend to keep it for another 10 years and I will take serious note of all these issues. I m very impressed of your presentation and your clarity of your good speaking and narration skill.
I come from Singapore where the LS is situated. A small island country sits on equator . You take good care and would like to see you more often in Utube. Cheers.
Have an’08 LS 460 since new. 140K w/ the usual maintenance, still love it, recently replaced the stereo and amp. Every time I think about replacing the car w/ something else, I come back to the point….w/ what? That V8 & transmission is glorious…I just can’t bring myself to get rid of it.
Hey Car Care Nut, thank you very much for making a very informative video. I just replaced my front control arms to the cost of $2700 and my deductible was only $100. I bought an extended warranty to cover my expenses on my 2008 LS460.
For those who are looking to buy this vehicle, buy the extended warranty, and listen to this guy... My warranty has paid for itself already.
Keep up the good work 👏 🌷
Have a similar year LS460. Just bought it at 125k miles. Where did you get your extended warranty from exactly,? Want to do that myself.
Thank you for this video. This convinced me to go with a base model LS 460. Still a beautiful car. I didn’t want the headache of the air suspension.
My wife drove her 1998 LS400 for 19 years. Other than a mirror switch which broke,. after 18 years, just changed the oil and nothing else to fix. Replaced the LS 400 with a used low mileage 2014 LS460, and other than a rain sensor, replaced under warrantee, it has been 100% problem free. Regular oil and fluid changes, and it keeps on going without any problems what so over. I've had 6 different Lexus models, all problem free, other than routine wear, brake and tire replacements. What's not to love about Toyota/Lexus products? I'm now driving a 2020 RC350 F-sport. After 2 years, no problems. Southern California weather may help the longitivtiy, but does not change the almost complete lack of problems. So far, ultimately cheap to keep. Oh, my 1984 Supra's first brake job was at 96,000 miles. Talk about bullet proof, and I sold that vehicle in 1995 for a Lexus. Of course my opinion is, that these vehicles are very reliable, after their initial cost.
Most cars should last a long time in the southwest. In new england rust kills cars way before their time, and makes it a pain to work on. Wheel bearings are a pain, calipers and brake/fuel lines rust out from the road salt spray.
" just changed the oil and nothing else to fix" so tired of these delusional expressions. No car can last only on oil changes. You still have to replace, brakes, shocks, springs, belts and many other wear and tear parts as the mileage keeps growing. The question is: can you afford to maintain it?! Any car can last as long as you can afford to maintain it, which depends on your budget. So, reliability comes not from the car but from how reliable is your wallet.
This is why you need a Toyota Master Diagnostic Technician working on your car!
Great videos AMD awesome work, thank you for all your videos and knowledge. GB
I had a 1996 LS400. No air suspension. The quietest ride with a nakamichi sound system. The only repairs I had to do were the front suspension. The engine was a very quiet V8.
Best LS made and the LS430 and love the GS too back then too!
ls 400 is great! I have a sc 430 and its so smooth and quiet
@@CarsofGlasgow 👍
We have two Lexus cars. A 1993 LS400 we bought for $4000.00 three years ago in California, a one owner, always garaged, good maintenance records. Under 80K miles! Still have it, the only problems are with the 'bells and whistles" some of which I don't bother to fix as they don't present any real problems to me. I also bought a 2007 LS460L, less than 70K, one owner, clean carfax, always garaged in Florida, it is in pristine shape overall. I paid 28K for it. Have had problems already with sensor lights coming on, had some brake parts replaced, the interior is the one that turns to "putty" over time and unfortunately the owner never took it to Lexus for the no cost redo of the interior parts so there's that. At the moment I have to say I am already having buyers remorse as it isn't any "better" than my 93 LS 400 in most ways. I think I will sell it as soon as possible and keep the 93 and fix whatever may come with it, it will be a lot less expensive in the long run. Buyer the LS460L was an impulse buy, I should have done more research.
@@claudiadickerman4218 yes, the ls460 can be more expensive to maintain.
Thank you! I've been considering a 460 and just came across your video, a great reality check for me! Will definitely be taking a closer look now before hitting the buy now button!
As an LS lover I have to disagree. The blue book value of a vehicle and the value to a person are very different. Say you spend $10K for the vehicle and another $6k in repairs there is not a vehicle that exist that will give you that level of driver experience for 16K(except maybe another used LS). So while some see a headache I see an incredible value.
I spent 14k for mine and now I'm looking into replacing the control arms 😅
Was quoted 5k at the dealership. Hard pill to swallow but I can only imagine how better the car will feel!
If you listen again at 16:90, he is telling you that you may feel you got a bargain, but things begin to become brittle and you may end up with one expense after another that by the time you realize, you will become like one of my employees that spent $14k on a used car he bought 2 years ago for $15k. Set the emotions aside and look at it logically.
If your emotional, you can drive a unreliable, unsafe car that looks good or take all that money like my employee would have spent on a nice reliable newer car.
@@cdmsvthow many miles?
@@abedawg94 144k
@@cdmsvtdon’t go to stealership
I wish I had a mechanic like you in my area. My area is full of mechanics like the one who did this brake job at the end of the video.
Same. Mechanics in my area were ripping us off so bad I’ve actually committed myself to working on our own vehicles. Toyotas, BMW’s and Mercedes. Have saved thousands.
@@paperandmedals8316 I agree also not to descriminate against middle eastern people I lived in Los Angeles for 35+ years and they always Rip me off and charges more than dealership 🤣🤣🤣 Armenian Russian 🤣
I really wish more mechanics are more honest and trained and cool temperated like you 🥂
@@ALBreezyx68 I’m in Phoenix. My brother has a mechanic garage in NYC. I tell him the prices out here and Phoenix and they’re double that of NYC prices. How’s that even possible?
@@paperandmedals8316 supply and demand. More mechanics in NYC, if you find one too expensive, you’ll go to another one usually near by.
@@paperandmedals8316Arizona is like a 3rd world state vs NYC. Most millionaires par square male lives there … mostly they all have modern cars and their used cars often shipped to car auction ending up in poor states brought by used car dealerships. There’s so much work for mechanics in your area and lower middle class people in your are can’t afford new vehicles therefore abundant of used cars giving mechanics luxury to charge high rate on labor.
Great analysis of the issues, A warning to anyone who wants to buy a high end model Lexus BMW, AUDI MERCEDES etc, You are buying trying to enjoy the look and feel of luxury you simply can't afford, If you have the $ go ahead and get a newer one , but for most it's just a guaranteed nightmare every time you go to the shop,
I had a 08 GS460 for about 5 years and loved that car! Same engine/trans as this but none of the suspension issues. Put over 100k on that car and was still running great at 230k when I traded it in
That's a rare car. Less than 2000 made over four years. Better than the LS, for sure. Different suspension that lasts much longer.
I refuse to let go of my 3GS 300, but thinking of swapping for a 460
Crazy rare car!
Have the gs460 currently with 153k. I don’t think the prior owner took much care of it when I got it at 118k. But it’s good now! Solid.
Wish the GS interior was a little bigger, but very stylish car overall.
It was probably my favorite lexus out of the 4 I owned, so much power and looked amazing
I have a 2012 LS460L and I baby it. I only drive it 5000 miles/year. I service it myself. Changed my own spark plugs and saved $. The stealership wanted $400! I also change my own oil. I put synthetic Mobil 1 in it always. Thanks to your video I now know to check that lower arm on my driver's side front suspension. The driver's side front tire was worn out on the inside prematurely, and of course, the tire shop was happy to sell me a new set of tires. I need to get that addressed immediately. I think I'll have my independent Toyota/Lexus mechanic inspect both sides too. Thank you for this video. I think it will save me lots of cash in the long run.
I only disagree on the “putting money into” it part….$6k is a whole lot better than $60k for a new car in todays market.
Yeap!
I've been watching your videos for about a week and have really gained a ton of knowledge about certain Toyota models. Two thumbs up!
I was considering buying one of these LS460 with 100k miles but you convinced me to steer clear of them, decided to go with an ES350 instead. Its not quite as advanced or luxurious but I would still drive it across country. It's a very nice car and super reliable.
I have one and it's been super reliable. Yeah the tech isn't good. But you could get a sony headunit from Crutchfield and replace the head unit to a modern Bluetooth android auto/apple carplay one.
why not get the GS?
@@MiguelRPD Why do that? Just go with the Grom Audio V-line 2. It runs Android Auto/Apple CarPlay through the stock head unit and retains all factory functionality. I run it in my ‘08 LS and it works brilliantly.
@@normanfillmore3490 Oh I have the regular model. Not the ultra luxery version.
@@CarsofGlasgow I mean yeah if I can find a GS350 with AWD I would go with one of those but they tend to be harder to find. I need either FWD or AWD because I live in mountainous terrain with bad weather (currently driving a RWD car).
Very informative! Love your videos. Would never have thought there would be so many issues on an LS 460 - you have opened my eyes.
Japanese and german car makers seems like they avoid any service procedure that requires a press . I guess it's to keep the requirements for a service shop down? It seems silly to me. On the LS460 knuckle ball joint, control arm bushings and even the wheel bearing hub are individually serviceable with a proper shop press. A suspension specialist shop in my area does a good business replacing "non serviceable" parts like this on high end luxury cars. The whole point of going to a non dealer service provider I thought was to get around the service constraints imposed by the manufactures.
I would love to see more Toyota Tacoma issues and maintenance videos! Thank you for all you do!
This video is good but last minutes make it excellent. We need more technicians like AMD. Thank you.
Thank you Sir, I was considering buying a 2010 or 2011 LS460 BUT after watching your video & another, I'll keep maintaining my '03 ES300. The comments about the air shocks & that knuckle was the final straw.
Thanks again for all the info & details, continued success & Blessings!!!
just get one with air
My 2007 LS 460 burned so much oil , had suspension problems, and replacing the starter was a big expensive job. Even replacing a headlight required taking of a tire. Great nice car but it is expensive to maintain . Traded it in a while ago. My ES is more affordable to maintain not to mention not a premium only fuel V8. Had to cancel appointment but I can’t wait for you to see my 2000 ES 300 with over 200k. It has HID factory Installed lights which was very surprising to me. Thanks I really enjoy these videos !
I have the same car same issues minus I don’t think I’m burning a lot of oil. Thinking about selling it. The front needs to be done I did the two rear air suspensions and starter on it so far
That's right around with the HID (and clean lighting) craze started! Time is flying by!
@@RahzAlGhul Hi. I don't know if you come back to check your old posts, but I have a thought for you (and others in a similar position).
I can see you might be tired of putting a lot of money into your car, so you figure maybe get something else. But! If one buys another used vehicle, as someone else above said, all, or most, will need some repairs to 'bring them up to snuff'.
At that point (with a different car), 2 things:
*a)* What's the general prognosis for that type of vehicle, regarding what might typically go wrong with it in the future? (As in, in a few thousand more kilometres, what else do those owners typically have to fix?), and
*b)* How would you feel about having / driving / enjoying _that_ car? I'm assuming an 'alternative' car wouldn't be as nice as these Lexuses (Lexi? hehe) seem to be. So, driving something 'lesser' might not give you the fun and enjoyment?
I'm thinking about this because let's say you put another $3000...$5000...whatever into your nice Lexus. Then from that point what's the prediction for future 'known issues'? Are they then good for the next 5....6....7 years without expected breakdowns? Because if so then you might actually feel better about keeping your Lexus. You will have spent the necessary dough to make / keep it good, and you won't have to worry about a different car's future 'unknowns'.
Just a thought. I guess the answer is different for everyone. But I know I'd rather 'invest' in a generally great, well made car with all the luxuries a Lexus has than drive a lesser car.🙂
@@be5952 thanks yeh that’s exactly what I’m doing. Doing the install on Thursday. Everything new up front. Air suspension, control arms, and knuckles and tie bars
With the ES330 you have to partially remove the bumper and battery to replace the driver side headlight housing.
Have 98 ls400 104,000 miles. Performed regular maintenance: timing belt, water and power steering pump, brakes, battery, new tires ect. Best car ever owned. Fast, smooth, quiet and luxurious. And no car payments. 😋
I bought a 2006 LS 430 with 155,000 on it. I had to replace the entire suspension like you see here. Saved a ton of money doing it myself, and learned a lot.
Did you convert it away from air suspension because it typically doesn't cost that much when you get a conversion kit instead of reinstalling air suspension
@@bpaige12 lol why would you want to change it from air suspension the better setup.
@@johnguidetti5839 are you an idiot?
That brake job, unbelievable!
I have an '18 GLE350 and your comment about checking the rear main for leaks is helpful because I want to catch these problems (or potential problems) at their smallest before they become so unbelievably costly. Man, I'm so glad I subbed your channel; already a real favorite.
Friend if you find your rear/front main seals have a leak it's already bound to be costly, esp if you have it done. If you do it yourself, many times you can change those seals with the engine still in the car and possibly, even without removing the crankshaft.
Thanks!
I have stayed away from air suspension my entire life. I’m glad I’ve made that choice.
It's seems just so unnecessary.
I have an LS460 with air suspension and although its nice, springs are almost just as good without the headache lol.
@@zaker600 This is why I find air suspension so dumb. There's a reason the Land Cruiser doesn't have them.
I had one 2008 ls460L. That car drove like a dream. But its the same old suspension issue. I wanted to change the air suspension but I was advised against it. 3 months later after patching and toying. I flipped it. But the car is a dream.
My grandfather had an 07 LS460, no suspension issues and no air suspension but it did burn oil. It was well maintained too.
The owners manual even says the 460 burns roughly 1qt every 500 miles or so crazy!
Need more honest and smart mechanics like this guy great videos
My boss had 4 LS’s driving them each over 150,000 miles each
This one was abused and not cared for properly. Good thing the new owner found you!
i bought a used LS, looks like previous owner didn't spend a penny on the maintenance. found a bollywood cd in the cd changer when cleaning it, when seeing the title the previous owner's name on it speaks for itself
@@petervan7372 oh no....bollywood cd. 30k interval oil changes at jiffy lube for sho
@@golfmaniac007 You mean Bolly-Lube 😅
I like your reviews! You're the best. But you just killed this car sale. All UA-cam community will see review, no one will buy :)
I'm surprised those brake pads could be incorrectly installed and result in wear to the rotor hub. Thats seems to be contrary to lots of Toyota mistake-proofing designs (poke-a-yoke). Thinking back to pad replacements I've done on Camry's, Tercels and Subarus it would seem impossible to incorrectly mount the pads. Either the caliper design is flawed, or some knucklehead found a way. 🤕
Thanks for the fair warning on Lexus air suspensions. This type of video is invaluable.
He's literally showing you what to ask your mechanic about if you buy one. He's taking out all the mystery of not knowing. Thx. Now i can get one and tell my mechanic to check this this that and this! lol
AMD, A picture is worth a thousand words so a 21 minute video like this must be worth a million. I was reminded that a thorough PRE - purchase inspection is compulsory in the used car market and a car that is MORE expensive to buy is a car that will very likely be MORE expensive to maintain. 😁
Also a lot of people who buy those higher end performance cars run them into the ground don’t maintain them. A vehicle inspection is an absolute must if buying a high-end model
@@SteveB88 I would say a detailed inspection from a qualified mechanic is mandatory for a used Yaris and becomes more mandatory with the additional complexity of more expensive models. I have walked away from a couple of potential used car purchases that failed to meet the required standard. The money it cost was well worth it. Like all my car lessons, I learned this the hard way 😂
@@rightlanehog3151 Totally agree. And, I will add, if your inspection turns up _however-many-$_ worth of repairs, you might still decide you like the car enough to buy it, fix it and enjoy it anyway! And this especially if it seems okay other than whatever has worn out and just hasn't been replaced.
To me, there seem to be two types of _need-a-lot-of-repairs_ used cars:
*1)* Those that are driven by generally careful drivers who'd just rather buy a new(er) car when theirs has too many parts wear out, and
*2)* Cars that are beat to crap by someone who abused or didn't care about them. This second kind might need the same list of repairs right now as a similar one from criterion #1. *_But_* due to how it was treated one might expect a ton of extra troubles down the road.
Like most cars without inherent design flaws - it comes down to how the owners treat them and how well maintained they are.
I ain't going to be surprised if this vehicle with high mileage had over 4 owners which couple of them just driven the car rough for couple years and just trade out if it.
Leased and no Maintenace when new. SAD!!
If they're leased you can pull up their maintenance record from Lexus
Glad to see someone will be here when Scotty retires. Scotty 2.0
When I saw this I had to go look on my list - my list I compiled listening to you during another of your videos on good vs. not so good Toyota & Lexus car models - and yep you've spoken about these LS's before I even made 2 notes on that one!!
Good Toyota list:
Camry: 2015-2017
Camry: 2004-2006 V6
Camry: 2000-2001 was a workhorse
Corolla: 2005-2008 1.8L
Bad Toyota list
Corolla 98-2002 worst ever, bad rust
Camry 2002-2004 unless hasn’t been overheated
V6 is ok - 2A2-FE
Rav 4: 2006-2008
Camry: 2007-2009 oil burners/rings
Matrix & Corolla 09-2013 - ONLY 1.8 or don’t do it
Good Lexus List:
ES350
RX350 but 2010 up
IS - good but not as good for tall people
GS350 - a little more in maintenance
GX/LX - both good
LS430 is the legend 2005 up
ES 300,330 - all except 2002-2006. 2nd best after LS430
- Like 2004-2006 Camry XLE V6 very good
4.7 V8 is great engine
Lexus Bad List
IS250 in all years disaster had DI only and carboned up
4GR-FSE 2.5 w/D4 system avoid at all costs
GS250 - D4S is ok - has DI and port injection- no carbon
S250
LS460 - 2007 to 2011
LS460 - nickel and dime you, bad brakes, prem fuel, etc. etc
2012 just before facelift?
Yep I have replaced my ls460 to gas struts suspension drives amazing!
I always say that the first and and second gen Lexus cars were built to the tagline relentless pursuit of perfection....the third gen was starting to show some cost cutting, still nice cars but.....not as bullet proof as the earlier models
I'm from France and I love watching this ! Thank you for all what you've done ! Love that video !
There is a revised part for the front lower rear control arms. I am strongly hoping for more detailed LS460/600 content like this. I love mine and here in germany they only came with "all bells and whistles". None were sold without softclose or the air suspension. The sales numbers here were really low (like 70 over ALL twelve LS F4 model years) so it is not easy to find someone that really knows this car inside and out. I would love to see a transmission fluid change on your channel, since this is the next thing that needs to be done on mine.
2010+ has the revised LCA right?
@@kinglumpy6145 I am not 100% sure but i think so. It has the problematic mounting point reinforced.
Honestly if you want comfy and Toyota simplicity/reliability then go for an Avalon. They're spacious, quiet and have that old school comfy straight line effortless highway ride perfect for vast North American roads plus the V6 motor moves that car without issue. No fancy tech, just practical features that work.
Its a nice care just wished it had a better looking design in some model years
When I compare the suspension cost of a Lexus vs the Mercedes the Lexus is more for sure. I have an LX470 and the brake parts were north of 600 for original parts. My biggest complaint with the Lexus is the parts availability. The Mercedes is more of a world brand so the parts can be found easily. Great videos by the way.
Thank you, finally someone who admits it!
I made A LOT of money fixing these cars. The LS460 got better in 2011 with much more robust control arms. Its far cheaper to completely replace the air struts with standard spring struts. Air ride was much plusher in the LS430. Water pumps and engine valley coolant plate leaks are also a known weak point of the UR family of engines. Not uncommon to see radiator failures as well.
Did they stress the water pumps, coolant valley leak and in the 2011+ years like they did with the suspension?
This comment should be pinned for those suckers still willing to buy this car
@@japanwatchconnectionits land cruiser, 😅
Lmao you saved me from buying that, I'm thinking of just getting a GS instead 😂@@torocars9227
@@japanwatchconnectionthey're pretty much junk unless you plan on spending $6k every few years
I had a 2002 LS 430. Started to have front-end suspension issues at 75,000 miles. Apparently that's a common problem with the LS platforms because they have so much weight on the front end that those components wear out quickly. I went to polyurethane bushings, but the car was never the same afterwards. Beautiful car otherwise.
Mine has 112,000 miles. Haven't encountered that issue. Are you sure it is an LS430?
@@Kauffman578 they might have the air suspension version, is yours air suspension?
@@angeljaimes9703 mine is the middle one, except air suspension.
You don't want to go with poly bushings on these cars. It's going to be a huge downgrade in the ride quality.
& yes lower ball joints on these things love to get burned up. One of the few things they didn't overkill overbuild.
PO of my 2004 430 went to the Lex dealer time after time for "loose" front suspension. They threw LCA bushes, ball joints, struts, alignment after alignment at it. Did not fix it. After I bought it (100K mi) I can verify at highway speeds any bump would send it all over the place. Spent some time researching on the Lexus forums then DIY replaced 4 steering rack bushings (parts cost about $120) it now rides like a dream. Check your steering rack bushings, they are a weak spot on the otherwise bulletproof LS430.
Very nice video again!!! One information in this video that is not very correct is that you do not have to replace the whole spindle because of a bad ball joint.
I know because i uave replaced mine and my friend's.
Lexus sells the ball joint for $98 and you can get a 3rd party for $45.
The ball joint attaches to the spindle with 3 screws
Wow you went over this front to back and didn't miss a thing! Who worked on this before? He wasn't a good mechanic and I hope the owner shows him the rotor because as you said "very Dangerous " and he must be shown the mistake he made! There are not many honest. Good mechanics left out there and in Australia I have had trouble with servicing from Toyota but that another bad story!
There blessed to have there car looked at by yourself as you would be overwhelmed here if you were to work over here.
May you be blessed as I know you are.
Aussie chris 🇦🇺 ♥️
Our dealer Servco bought all the Australian Toyota dealers from Hawaii
LS400 air suspension gave out on one wheel, $1,800 quote from dealer, took it to a mechanic and converted to struts for $1,800 on all 4 wheels.
I currently have a 2004 LS 430 as my daily driver. It has no leaks or issues of any kind. I've driven it for about 8 years now. I had cross shopped it with a 2007 LS 460 and I preferred the ride of the 430 by far. I sometimes look at a late model LS460 for an upgrade, but I am also considering an ES300H instead. I don't want headaches as I get older and the allure of driving the flagship has worn off. At this rate though, I don't see parting with the LS430 anytime soon. Maybe drive it a couple of more years? I have a feeling I'm really going to miss it once I move on.
I wish you were in Los Angeles CA, I would love to just shake your hands for an honest professional work you do, am proud of your work and you videos are very educational for all of us lexus owners. keep up the good work and God bless you and your team.
I have a 2010 LS460 that started burning oil not long after I bought it. Turns out it was one of the valve stem seals going. I did notice some blue smoke on startup and it used about a quart per 700 miles. Luckily, I got the car with an extended warranty which covered reconditioning the cylinder heads (and everything else that goes with doing that) and some other suspension parts (like control arms) that were found to be going out. There were also two summers where the dash had to be taken apart to replace AC actuator motors.... again covered by warranty. The warranty covered more than the car is worth so far and I still have 24,000 miles left on it with a car that has 126,000 miles. I got lucky... I would never get a car like this without some sort or warranty.
Did you get the warranty from the dealership or an independent?
What type of warranty and how much?
Thanks.
Hey . Where did you buy that warranty? Carmax ?
I can tell by watching your body language,that you really love those car lifts. Much better than jack and stands from your older vids. Love the shop.
You've changed my mind about the 460. I'm going to start researching a 430.
That’s what I drive and recommend. Do your homework on it though. They’re all getting long in tooth!
430 is king but still gonna be expensive to fix when shit goes wrong eventually.
I would recommend an 2020 ES350 instead. Looks like a 3/4 LS500 and not as complicated as the LS, meaning easier to fix.
@@jml9550 they do look similar.. I can't tell the difference at times.
@@Kauffman578 yep. For around $50K, I think the ES35” is a bargain. I currently drives a 2017 ES350, just hit 31K mikes this month. It is quiet, roomy and luxury enough, but sure ain’t fun to drive like to RWD LS.
I had a brake job come in once similar to that one. Customers complaint was that she would lose control of the vehicle when she’d brake. The brake pad shim had cut all the way through the brake rotor hat. The rotor was on two pieces rendering the brake at that wheel useless. She said that her neighbor or someone replaced the brakes a week prior to that. It doesn’t take long to happen!
It was an interesting test drive!!
I need to get myself a LS460.
I owned 2016 LS460 swb without air suspension and I got rid of it after it has almost 100k miles. It's a different class and please don't compare it with the low end ES350 if you can't afforf it.
Excellent video. I’ve been considering getting a newer year LS. I can definitely attest to the repair cost of owning a Lexus. But, once it’s done, I’m very confident in the reliability. You get what you pay for.
Way cheaper than bmw or Benz or Porsche
Best off with top trim Avalon
Rule of thumb avoid buying used cars with air suspension, and magnetic ride shocks as well (i.e. Corvettes), even if you inspect it and there's no problem with the shocks trust me its only a matter of time before they fail and its a pretty penny to replace
And this is why I do my own repairs. I save money and know it was done right. Shops just wanna get it in an out and quickly as possible with no inspection
And you're one of those people that make people like me cry---we who aren't smart enough nor technically inclined enough to *_do_* our own repairs! (Just kidding. Good for you!👍)
# Extreme_envy
I don’t own one of these cars, out of my league. Appreciate your attention to detail and how you approach repairs.
I bought a 2007 LS 460 a few years ago with 100k on the clock. Had it professionally inspected before purchase and only paid 12k. I feel very lucky that I got two years of fun driving out of it and only had to pay for one $2000 brake job. BTW, it burned about a quart of oil every 700 miles when I got it. Changed oil to Mobil 1 and went on some long road trips (adding oil as needed). After 5000 miles, the oil burning stopped. Guess the rings were fouled when I got it.
I've always used Mobile 1... Some say it's just hyped advertising...
I don't know the truth, but I have never had issues with any vehicle or yard equipment
@@roncaster2804 it’s not hyped
2000 for brakes on Lexus? I paid $1200 for all originals on Porsche (parts and labor with new wear sensors)
@@IYG-x7cI got quoted $1200 for a Toyota. Luckily, my father spoils me and provides my car with great maintenance. But did call and get quotes to see if it was worth his time.
I love watching your videos, so thorough in explanation and background reasoning. Watching this, I'm glad that I have no desire to own something this complicated but I DO enjoy sharing in your easy-share expertise! Fun.
Can learn a lot from these videos, thanks for the work that goes in to these videos!
I have no plans of considering buying a Lexus but found thus video to be eye-opening. Thanks.
As an ls600 owner, the symphony of noise over a bump is an accurate description, mine at 94k miles. However, it's not the hardest diy to replace the bushings and lower ball joint on the awd models. I also suspect axle issues so I bought axles as well. Definitely adjust purchase offer accordingly when buying one, pay the right price, enjoyable cars for the money.
What year is your car?
How is your 600 ownership
08, it's been great but I'm only at 96k as of today. Garage queen. But if your not a mechanic or serious diy guy I wouldn't recommend it unless you want to burn money on labor.
I think I heard him say he’s in Illinois. If so, that could have a lot to do with why the front suspension fails so savagely on these. The road salt there is wicked and definitely puts a big hurt on rubber bushings, but the other factors that kill suspensions are rough road surfaces and pot holes. Illinois roads are loaded with millions of potholes. And the washboard roads that cover most of the state have very few smooth spots. Lastly there’s extreme temperatures… Rubber doesn’t perform well when heavily stressed at Arctic temps so when you’re out there running your very heavy land yacht around on washboard roads at 10 degrees Fahrenheit, while covered in gritty road salt and you hit a seven inch deep pot hole at 70 mph, something is going to fail. Just sayin.
WOW, I can't believe an auto mechanic would do such poor workmanship on those front brakes, very scary, thanks for posting !
I was just looking at buying an 8 year old LS 460. I love the car and it is such a beautiful car but this gives me pause. Great video and thank you. I owned a couple of LS 400’s in the 90’s and loved them. Great cars! I traded them for Chevy and Ford SUV’s as my family was growing. Kids are out of college now and I am looking at easing into some luxury again. I am technical minded and you have provided me with excellent intel. I will look at the ES models as well. Have a great day!
In UK, the annual MOT (Roadworthiness) test would not allow this car to be on the road with all these worn parts.
In my country the person who did the Front RHS brakes would be forced to pay a fine after rectifying it to correct standard with original Parts. That was Frightening
My Envoy has load leveling air suspension. POS. ripped it all out and replaced with shocks n springs. rides great and never a problem since
I got a 2009 GS 350 rear wheel drive this thing does not burn a drop of oil runs like it's brand new with 135,000 mi on it.
Pick your lexus's wisely
your shop is nice and clean
These are worth maintaining. Whatever they spent is worth it for the quality of the ride, which isn’t S-Class level, but fairly close.
Thank you for the warning... I was looking at a couple of Lexus LS 460's... but not any more... I could buy a vacation home on a lake for the money it's going to cost to maintain them.
TY Sir as always super information and explained open and honestly, wow that front disc groove was scary bad so i am glad you showed us that and the owner is replacing them.
Keep Safe Keep Strong My Dear Friend 🦘🦘🦘🦘🚗🚗🚗🚗
I worked in the industry and I can tell you Toyota products are great. HOWEVER, everybody knows Toyotas and Lexus for that matter are well engineered and built cars. which leads people not NOT take care of them. Every car regardless of how good requires good maintenance. Cars I will stay away from if they are above 60k miles are Lexus ES, IS, LS, RX etc. Pretty much all Lexuses unless they have an extensive regular dealer history and Toyota Corollas, Camrys, Tacomas and Tundras with the exact same qualifiers. If somebody wants a Toyota I always tell them look at Avalons. Those are TYPICALLY well maintained with more mature owners that tend to take care of their cars.
Such a beautiful car!! I actually feel bad for the owner. Good move on eliminating air ride! I was gonna ask. See? Ppl just dont take car of cars when they buy new & u reap the harvest of it. I worked w/a woman who owned a sporty Corolla that I really liked. I kept reminding her to fill her tires w/air & change the oil but she wouldnt. This mad me aware that ppl dont take care of their cars, they jst drive them. I hope ur customer does whats best for him! 👍
Great to have someone who really knows these LS460 instead of the BS we get about the interior trim etc.The fuel injectors really worry me, question, is the 600Hl a different motor or just the 460 bored out to 5000 litres. I wish we had someone honest like you in Australia as I do love the 2009 to 2012 LS600hl we get in Australia fully loaded. Keep up the great work.
CR has been the holy grail for consumers for ages in choosing used cars. Its record shows the 460 from 07 to 09 were cars to avoid. There is an extensive recall program even to cover the dash, inside door card, suspension, etc. because Lexus realized these model years were duds. I always believe and insist never to buy cars of new model years, especially luxury models regardles of brands. Think of them as new born babies. Cutting teeth, toilet train, immuno-vaccines, the whole nine yards to get them all bug-free until the babies are three, maybe four-year-old.
2007-2010 actually. I’ll stick with my 06 LS 430.
Yes, I got 2013MY, it is great.
My 2007 was basically bullet proof from 90k-210k that I drove it. Nothing but tires/brakes and an alternator that went after having oil leak onto it from a bad valve cover gasket that I didn’t catch. It was an ultra-luxury model that had everything (air suspension original till the end) except the recliner in back. As in all things YMMV
Hah, this reminds me a lot of my Audi and VW front suspension!! And not in a good way. As for brake sensors, I just usually cut them off and connect the wires...no use for them. Nice video, thanks. Surprising eye opener for a Lexus.
I had a LS460 and it was nightmare, I replaced the radiator, water pump, thermostat, cooling fan module, and finally it had a coolant leak under the intake manifold. It had been hot so many times due to the cooling system problems, I finally traded it in and got a 4Runner. The LS460 was fast and fun to drive but a nightmare to keep on the road. Mine had less than 140K miles and was a nightmare.
That doesn't sound too bad for a 100K mile plus car.
@@zaker600 nah, that’s way too much for under 140K miles…it’s a Lexus/Toyota
@@ItsAxelFoley my LS600Hl has had zero problems after 150.000 miles.
@@epoxy1710 I’d say that’s pretty standard. I’m a 4Runner owner.
Where u the original owner?
I was thinking of ordering an LS460 from Japan but from since you made that video of the good and the bad Lexus models o am glad I saw it before I bought this car . I really like it they are very nice but I don't think I Will but an LS 460
I've meet a couple of people locally that have had issues with these models. They are amazing and the technology is awesome. As with anything else it'll break down and cause issues.
Hopefully the new LS500 is better as an all around vehicle. (:
Just a break job in my 2014 S550 was 3k. If you compared all those parts to a German car there is still no comparison