1997 Lexus ES300 questions.

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: krismoriah72
I think i can get it for $4500 and this is above KBB by about $900 but it looks to be a cream puff and i think if the sludge doesnt get me..will be a good car for the wife.

Originally Posted By: krismoriah72
Got it today for $2500.

$2500 is a great deal for a good condition ES300, you got it with much less than the amount when you started looking at it at $4500.

 

[Nick1994]

Just cause it's prone to sludge doesn't mean a lot. I have a 1997 Camry with a 2.2, a major known sludger. I bought it at 185k and changed the valve cover gasket. Really clean inside, I suspect quick lube changes it's whole life. The PO went to brake masters a lot. Of course now it runs Pennsoil Ultra

 

[krismoriah72]

Originally Posted By: hypervish
You got an amazing deal! Congrats!

Sign up on clublexus.com if you wish to, you will find plenty of information there.

Also, you don't need to go to the Lexus dealer to get service history. You can access it online at http://drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/home. Just create an account and enter your VIN, it will show any work done at a Lexus dealer.



Thank you for this, 6 pages of history. 1K, 5K, 15K, 30K, 45K, 60K service done at dealer. Timing belt shows as well as oil changes every 3-5K with wash and detail at every oil change.

Spark plugs? im guessing thats the 100K service? i will have to see what services are after 60K because all i see are oil changes after the 60K service.

 

[hypervish]

Originally Posted By: krismoriah72
Originally Posted By: hypervish
You got an amazing deal! Congrats!

Sign up on clublexus.com if you wish to, you will find plenty of information there.

Also, you don't need to go to the Lexus dealer to get service history. You can access it online at http://drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/home. Just create an account and enter your VIN, it will show any work done at a Lexus dealer.



Thank you for this, 6 pages of history. 1K, 5K, 15K, 30K, 45K, 60K service done at dealer. Timing belt shows as well as oil changes every 3-5K with wash and detail at every oil change.

Spark plugs? im guessing thats the 100K service? i will have to see what services are after 60K because all i see are oil changes after the 60K service.


I believe spark plugs are part of the 120k mile service.

 

[diver1972]

Originally Posted By: krismoriah72
...and was kind of upset that he had to put a battery in it today. (17 years on original battery)
Seriously?!

And I thought I did awesome to get 8 years out of the Sienna's original battery.

Originally Posted By: JC1
I think you got a great deal for $2500.
A steal indeed!

 

[diver1972]

Originally Posted By: krismoriah72
...I pulled out $2500 cash and asked him how many test drives he felt like doing after he gets off work each day. How many hours of his time will it take with people going through the car and wanting to see how fast it will go etc.

No negotiations, he accepted.
Well-played.

Originally Posted By: mclasser
Put up some pics when you get a chance.
+1

 

[krismoriah72]

Two days after i bought the car it was hit while parked. Someone backed into it and tore up the hood, bumper and headlight assembly. Im covered under uninsured motorist.

Car blue books for about 3300 estimate for repair was 3200.. they are fixing it.

I thought for sure it would be totaled but in the end im going to get a fresher paint job on the front, and had them color correct and buff all swirlmarks and blemishes while its in there.

Got a rental car for free for two weeks covered by uninsured motorists.

Deductible is $200.

Will post pictures after it comes out of the body shop.

 

[krismoriah72]

I pulled front and rear valve covers and no sludge. Only a dark tint overall. Had the notorious check engine light and trac off light. Scanned and found EGR sensor was bad.
No check engine or trac off light problem now.

Changed plugs, drained trans and differential..cleaned plenum and throttlebody. Changed fuel filter, oil, and air filter.

The plugs were the double prong front and back and I replaced with Denso platinums.

I bought a transmission filter, but may save it to see how dirty the drop and fill gets.

 

[jrustles]

Originally Posted By: diver1972
Originally Posted By: krismoriah72
...I pulled out $2500 cash and asked him how many test drives he felt like doing after he gets off work each day. How many hours of his time will it take with people going through the car and wanting to see how fast it will go etc.

No negotiations, he accepted.
Well-played.

Indeed!

Sucks it got hit so soon- why does that always seem to happen?!

Good about the lack of sludge... usually those Toyota baffles (5sfe/1mz) are pretty cruddy no matter what, and don't really indicate what lies beneath. Glad you found out for sure !

 

[KitaCam]

Originally Posted By: krismoriah72
I pulled front and rear valve covers and no sludge. Only a dark tint overall.


Typical of Toyo engine metal chemistry...mine is a golden color....

 

[FL-400S]

Dont quote me, but in 97 I don't think that is an interference engine (non VVTI). I know my 03 sienna with vvti is interference, and the timing belt is every 6yr or 90k. I had it done (2nd owner) at 85k about 10 years old.

I try to always run synthetic, never go more than about 4-5k miles. The trans has a drain plug (10mm hex I believe) and there is another plug for the torque converter or differential, at least on a sienna.

I think you got a great deal at 2500. Id like to get a 12-15 year old Lexus LS one day for well under 10k.

 

[hypervish]

Originally Posted By: FL-400S
Dont quote me, but in 97 I don't think that is an interference engine (non VVTI). I know my 03 sienna with vvti is interference, and the timing belt is every 6yr or 90k. I had it done (2nd owner) at 85k about 10 years old.

I try to always run synthetic, never go more than about 4-5k miles. The trans has a drain plug (10mm hex I believe) and there is another plug for the torque converter or differential, at least on a sienna.

I think you got a great deal at 2500. Id like to get a 12-15 year old Lexus LS one day for well under 10k.


Correct, the 97' ES300 is non-interference.

All 1MZ-FE without VVT-I are non-interference, those with VVT-I are interference.