Anyone got access to book times? Lexus HGF inside!

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

The Lexus GS300, especially in mk1 guise, is a very unremarkable, forgettable car. So much so that mine, after failing to impress the ebay tosser who bid on it sight unseen, spent over a month sitting in my mechanic's place collecting dust, in which time he didn't get round to checking it and I didn't bother enquiring about its fate. Today I was driving by the garage and popped in for a laugh. I was surprised to see it there with the bonnet open.

 

- Got any news on this?

- Yeah, mate. Head gasket gone I'm afraid.

- Aha...Big job, eh?

- Yeah.

- How much do you reckon it'd be?

- £700 plus a bit more to get the head skimmed.

 

Unusually, I was quite relieved to hear that. If he'd told me it had been something that could be fixed for £200 or something, I'd be tempted to get the bugger sorted hoping to find a buyer for it. And would have ended up losing every single penny. Whereas now I can get the local LPG engineer to transfer the autogas system onto my Granada for £600, and make arrangements for the rest of the hateful thing to return home to the Far East and transform itself into a WalMart own-brand fridge.

 

Thinking about it again, £700+ sounds quite salty for a head gasket. I don't want to be involved with it, and its fate has more or less been sealed, but, out of curiosity, just how much labour do you need to change a HG on one of them?

 

Of course, should anyone be interested in trying to fix it or break it to make a few quid in bits, you're welcome to take it away (from central Sheffield) for scrap money once the LPG has been removed (in 10 days or so). Here it is in all its glory* from 2-3 owners ago (it's barely done another 10k since). http://www4.amstock.co.uk/bawtry/i_fold ... CR_WEB.PDF

 

[27 edits later: grr, my grammar/spelling are appalling tonight.]

[Albert Ross]

Does this actually run and drive, or is it a no-no?

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

It runs and drives, but I reckon it'd boil itself up within 10 miles or so. Unless you filled the expansion tank with icecubes or something.

[Albert Ross]

I'll attempt to take a squint at the ICME manual in the morrow. However, "book" times don't take into account 18 years of neglect/abuse/hamfistedness/Kwikfit. Is it similar to any other Toyota engine?

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Liepedia says it should be the 2JZ.

 

I suspect the mechanic may have overquoted a bit, with a view to helping me make the right decision.

[skattrd]

According to autodata head off & gasket replacement is 6.8hrs

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Cheers for that. Suspicions confirmed then. Said garage normally charges about fifty quid an hour. Gasket set can't be much more than £100.

[Cavcraft]

If you get no ofers on here you might just as well lob some K-seal in, tow it down to the auctions and bang it through with a £250 reserve.

[Lankytim]

Seems a real pity to see it binned off lime this. I've always fancied those Lexus barges- the LPG kit makes it worth fixing surely? I'd deffo get a few quotes before condemning it anyway.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Seems a real pity to see it binned off lime this. I've always fancied those Lexus barges- the LPG kit makes it worth fixing surely? I'd deffo get a few quotes before condemning it anyway.

 

Thing is, I've never really liked it. I view that car as utterly pointless- a 'premium brand' model with Corolla instruments and plastic-looking grey leather seats. Horrible on fuel, too- you'd be lucky to see 20mpg when running on gas. Oh, and parts aren't too cheap either (a water pump was over £100 from Unipart- other factors wanted as much as £220). The autobox has a stupid overdrive button that seems to make no real difference in cruising rpm. Ride not as comfy as what you get in a Scorpio or E-Class.

 

Plus the front suspension will also need a bit of work in the near future (I think one of the arms may need replacing- just the part is £120).

 

The LPG system is a high-end Prins one, and it seems to work alright. That's why it'll get moved across to my Granada (which, handily, also has 6 cylinders). The rest of the car may indeed be worth driving to Bawtry Auctions and seeing what it can fetch. Although, as I said, any shitist would be welcome to take it for the price of scrap!

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

By the way, I've just realised that the MoT doesn't expire till April! If nobody here wants it, it'll go to the auctions for a laff.

(There's loads of tax on it, too, but I'll be cashing that in sharpish)

[Mr_Bo11ox]

sounds like nicking the LPG and weighing the rest is the best option IMO