What to buy

[Matthew1955]

Thank you guys,they do both look very neat.Was it difficult to connect the new units to the factory wiring system and did the fitting instructions explain the connecting up of the wiring properly or was it a bit hit and miss,cheers

 

[Matthew1955]

I am currently considering a 2004/90K LC4 that has a complete service history,serviced at 10K/yearly and all by the same service centre but this is not a Toyota garage, do you think this should be a concern especially for the first few services?

 

[Bhutan]

Thank you guys,they do both look very neat.Was it difficult to connect the new units to the factory wiring system and did the fitting instructions explain the connecting up of the wiring properly or was it a bit hit and miss,cheers

The reason I went with a Kenwood unit is because it had 99% of everything I wanted on it for the budget, and because my LC4 already had a Kenwood wiring loom installed by a previous owner. Sorry I can't honestly answer the question for you. It was rather like a small mass of spaghetti though fitting the new radio even with the almost correct loom. Most double dins I looked at had their own intermediate loom, so I'd take a guess you'd have to buy one, at extra cost of course!

 

[Bhutan]

I am currently considering a 2004/90K LC4 that has a complete service history,serviced at 10K/yearly and all by the same service centre but this is not a Toyota garage, do you think this should be a concern especially for the first few services?

I'd go visit a local Toyota dealer with the registration number before buying, and see which factory recalls their service department can find that haven't been done to the vehicle, the injector seals in particular!

Regarding the past service history, it's virtually impossible to answer your doubts without knowing who did the service work. Was it a specialist 4x4 Landcruiser shop, an old boy with years and years of in-depth knowledge, or a corner garage? Bear in mind, often at a factory dealership, the junior mechanics do the basic servicing, and the more experienced guys do the tear downs.

How much work did the past service provider do to the vehicle, just regular servicing and standard consumables for the age/mileage of the vehicle, or much more? And, did they use genuine Toyota parts or not...?

 

[Matthew1955]

I'd go visit a local Toyota dealer with the registration number before buying, and see which factory recalls their service department can find that haven't been done to the vehicle, the injector seals in particular!

Regarding the past service history, it's virtually impossible to answer your doubts without knowing who did the service work. Was it a specialist 4x4 Landcruiser shop, an old boy with years and years of in-depth knowledge, or a corner garage? Bear in mind, often at a factory dealership, the junior mechanics do the basic servicing, and the more experienced guys do the tear downs.

How much work did the past service provider do to the vehicle, just regular servicing and standard consumables for the age/mileage of the vehicle, or much more? And, did they use genuine Toyota parts or not...?

Thanks Bhutan,the garage appears to be mainly an MOT centre so not to sure what to make of that. 20min later just spoken with the garage owner who was really helpfull,it hasnt had the injector seals changed but has had cam belt and gearbox oil change so doesnt sound to bad.

 

[Bhutan]

Thanks Bhutan,the garage appears to be mainly an MOT centre so not to sure what to make of that. 20min later just spoken with the garage owner who was really helpfull,it hasnt had the injector seals changed but has had cam belt and gearbox oil change so doesnt sound to bad.

Do not, I appeal to you, do not underestimate the importance of having those injector seals replaced asap IF the vehicle is subject to the injector seal recall and it hasn't been done. You could well be up for a complete new engine when those seals finally give out. There are plenty of threads on here and pradopoint that will leave you with nightmares if you finally do your research after the engine has ceased, and you didn't get the seals done knowing you really should have.

Think another 50% on top of the purchase price you are currently negotiating!

By the way, there are different horsepower LC3, LC4 and LC5s, 161, 164, 173 and 201 bhp. I have the 173, it does fine here in Bhutan where the max speed limit is 50 kph!

 

[Matthew1955]

Do not, I appeal to you, do not underestimate the importance of having those injector seals replaced asap IF the vehicle is subject to the injector seal recall and it hasn't been done. You could well be up for a complete new engine when those seals finally give out. There are plenty of threads on here and pradopoint that will leave you with nightmares if you finally do your research after the engine has ceased, and you didn't get the seals done knowing you really should have.

Think another 50% on top of the purchase price you are currently negotiating!

By the way, there are different horsepower LC3, LC4 and LC5s, 161, 164, 173 and 201 bhp. I have the 173, it does fine here in Bhutan where the max speed limit is 50 kph!

Thanks again Bhutan.I spoke with both my local Toyota dealer and with Toyota head office and they / would could not shed any light on firstly if the particular car had had its seals change and were very evaisive about whether it was a recall or not,they could give more information if I was the owner but I explain that defeated the object but it fell on deaf ears.So it looks like I might have to just bite the bullet on whichever car I decide and immediately get it booked in for checking and changing.Currently I do not really see any other way to do it. As a buy the way does a 53 plate LC4 with 55K on the clock at £12K sound to much to you?

 

[silvercruiser]

Hi Mathew
I bought my Dec registered 54 plate which had 68k on the clock just under 2 years ago and i paid £10.5K Private. It had full toyota service history with all receipts and also a printout from toyota when it had the injector seals checked/changed. being the later model it came with the 5 speed auto and 164bhp. the 53 plate will have the earlier 4speed auto and 161bhp. its low mileage for its year and in my opinion slightly over priced. it depends what condition its in and what sort of warranty the seller is offering.

 

[Bhutan]

I bought my 173 bhp, April 2007, 5 speed automatic LC4 with 91,000 miles 12 months ago for £11.5k private. It had half Toyota history, half corner garage history. Clean, tidy, privacy glass (tinted rear windows,) upgraded leather and a couple of other extras.

The 2003 you are looking at sounds over priced to me too. Low mileage yes, but 12k and 4 speed auto, no.

When I bought mine, I called the servicing Toyota dealer and asked for a service recall report on the vehicle, their system was down, so I called a couple of others. Found all the info on the vehicle I needed, it just depends on who answers the phone I guess. Try Struan in Scotland, they were very helpful to me. I wouldn't give up on finding out before you buy.

Appreciate you are miles from nowhere, and that is restrictive when come to buying, you can always pay for a 3rd party vehicle check when you find one you really like. When you pull up a search on www.autotrader.com, they actually tell you on the list of vehicles page when a particular vehicle is priced low compared to others, e.g. this 2006, 62k miles for £12k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201707297834855?fuel-type=Diesel&price-from=12000&radius=1500&model=LAND CRUISER&sort=price-desc&make=TOYOTA&advertising-location=at_cars&price-to=13000&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&postcode=hg35jt&page=1

Interestingly, I was looking on autotrader last week for vehicles between £10-12k, there were 36 of them. Only 18 today, shows they are selling!

 

[Matthew1955]

Thank you both for your thoughts.The car I mentioned and another I was interested in are now both sold so as you have said Bhutan they are selling.Another has now come up with a low mileage and an almost perfect MOT history with only a couple of advisories thoughtout its life but its in Scotland so thats out for me,its this one here . http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201707026983895?model=LAND CRUISER&radius=1500&make=TOYOTA&postcode=sa340tj&aggregatedTrim=LC4&onesearchad=Used&advertising-location=at_cars&price-from=7500&price-to=14000&sort=sponsored&page=2 I did look at the one you put the link to Bhutan and it looks good but its the model with the crazy road tax so I have ruled it out.I am in no rush so just need to keep looking.

 

[Matthew1955]

Have either of you needed to have the injectors as well as the seals changed? The more I read the more it seems the original injectors are faulty and in most cases changed to Denso replacements.

 

[Bhutan]

Have either of you needed to have the injectors as well as the seals changed? The more I read the more it seems the original injectors are faulty and in most cases changed to Denso replacements.

Several owners ago, just the seals on mine were done at 42,000 miles

 

[Matthew1955]

I'm becoming a bit paranoid about these injectors.The car I am getting close to doing a deal on hase done 87K on,the dealer is happy to change the seals in the price but is also happy to change the four injectors and obviously the seals for £800 as he is already stripping them out anyway so for the extra money would you get them changed, to buy four seems to be about £1200

 

[silvercruiser]

Is it a Toyota Dealer? If not do you trust them to do a thorough job?

If you do trust them and funds allow, it would be peace of mind that its all done. If you can get to see it before hand give it a drive and listen to how it sounds from cold. it will probably sound like a bag of nails for the first mile (my LC does) and then it should sound as good as a D4D does after that.

 

[Graham]

I had my seals done at 250,00
Miles,

He, he, he,

Graham

 

[Matthew1955]

Is it a Toyota Dealer? If not do you trust them to do a thorough job?

If you do trust them and funds allow, it would be peace of mind that its all done. If you can get to see it before hand give it a drive and listen to how it sounds from cold. it will probably sound like a bag of nails for the first mile (my LC does) and then it should sound as good as a D4D does after that.

No its not a Toyota dealer but they seem pretty trustworthy,thinkI might fork out and get it done if I can dothe deal

 

[Matthew1955]

I had my seals done at 250,00
Miles,

He, he, he,

Graham

Lucky you,whch model and year is it?