I need some advice please. There's a Lexus IS250 SE for sale, going for R150000. The car was involved in an accident, but was repaired and had some mechanical parts replaced at a lexus dealership. I've made several calls to lexus dealerships and they say the motorplan on the car is still valid. What I want to know is, how do I know for sure that when I take it in for the next service I wont be told the motorplan is void?? What precautions can I take to ensure that I wont be left out in the cold concerning the warranty and motorplan? Please help..it seems like an awfully great deal!
-
Join the MyBroadband community
South Africa’s biggest forum. Discuss, discover, and connect with thousands of members.
-
Question of the Day: Which is the most hair-raising South African mountain pass you've driven?
2007 Lexus IS250?
- Thread starter lasborn
- Start date
Eish, I would say stay away unless you know the extent of the damage. If it was a simple fender bender then fine but if things got seriously bent out of shape I would not touch it with a ten foot barge pole.
I didnt see the car before it was fixed so cant know for sure the real extent of damge. Right now it looks pretty good, cant see any defects, and all looks in order. Its also not code 3, and the rest of the repairs were fixed at a lexus dealership.
From what I can see, the main impact was in front,the bonet has been reset (done by panel beater). The front exhaust and two front shocks were replaced and done by Lexus.
Go to the police station with the cars vin no and registration number. Ask them to check in what type of accident the car was involved in(They have codes to tell them if the accident was minor or major). A case would have been opened if the guy wanted to claim from his insurance.
Also get hold of someone in the insurance industry if you know someone by any chance. They should be able to pull up the claim on the vehicle.
Ok so I just called Lexus, they say the service plan is still valid but the warranty is void 
which means if anything goes wrong with the car I'm not covered. How difficult is it to source parts and how expensive would it be? Or should I just steer clear?
which means if anything goes wrong with the car I'm not covered. How difficult is it to source parts and how expensive would it be? Or should I just steer clear?Pornolio
Expert Member
OK well it seems you allready have your anwer... I am also a Lexus IS250 owner and I must say that price sounds to good to be true... Have the car checked out thoroughly... look at the manner the tyres are wearing, get a professional panelbeater / AA report on the car first.
The motorplan is bound to the car's VIN number so you can literally phone any Lexus dealership and they can check on their systems till when the motorplan is valid. Its highly recommended to extend the motorplan by an additional year if you can.
Lexus parts wise, I wouldnt worry to much... its an official South African import so the dealers have pretty much all the normal stuff in stock.
The IS250SE is an amazing car with all the gadgets you can imagine... Dunno hey... have the accident damage checked out PROPERLY... dont want to sit with unseen damages that bite you back later. But then again, the repairs could have been done properly or shoddy, all depends on where it was fixed.
The motorplan is bound to the car's VIN number so you can literally phone any Lexus dealership and they can check on their systems till when the motorplan is valid. Its highly recommended to extend the motorplan by an additional year if you can.
Lexus parts wise, I wouldnt worry to much... its an official South African import so the dealers have pretty much all the normal stuff in stock.
The IS250SE is an amazing car with all the gadgets you can imagine... Dunno hey... have the accident damage checked out PROPERLY... dont want to sit with unseen damages that bite you back later. But then again, the repairs could have been done properly or shoddy, all depends on where it was fixed.
Ok so I just called Lexus, they say the service plan is still valid but the warranty is void
Well Lexus is well known for their "satisfaction guaranteed" policy. However, they can't fix something which is not broken. The accident could well caused some unseen hairline crack, or some similar lurking problem, which could present a problem at a later stage. Assuming the accident was recent, and that the car is standing at a dealer, it probably would not have been driven much, and therefore looking at the usual tell-tale signs of bad wear would not be possible, anyway, they probably replaced the front tyres, as it was a front impact.
The guarantee being void also tells a story, the motor plan probably only covers services, and would not cover other types of mechanical failure. This tells me to stay away, even though it is such a good deal. On the other hand, if you are prepared to splash out cash to replace the motor, gearbox, or pay for major suspension repairs ( in a worst case scenario ), then by all means go for it.
Buying any second hand car is a gamble, even more so if it has been in a crash.
I second that. And I was also looking at the IS250 and R150k is way under the normal price...
(Unless its a reliable source like a friend you absolutely trust), stay away from ANY car advertised way under book value - "if its too good to be true - it usually is". I amost banged my head hard with a convertable M3 which went for R50k below book (that is, until BMW confirmed more than R150k chassis damage repairs)
KhoisanX
Expert Member
Three months later? Have you bought it?
Take it to an AA testing centre.
Take it to an AA testing centre.
Well, the seller is a friend of mine and still hasn't sold it. AA only does a roadworthy, multipoint check and then there's also their technical test. Which would you suggest? Thanks for your response.
not clued up about lexus specifically, but i know that BMW subjects the vehicle to a quality test every time someone takes over the vehicle whilst its under motorplan. id suggest you take it to lexus for them to have a look.
Dolby
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2005
- Messages
- 39,162
- Reaction score
- 6,146
A friend?
a) Why can't he tell you want happened, show you reciepts for parts replaced, photos etc?
b) He's having a hard time selling? Hmmm. Anyway - I wouldn't buy anything from a friend. If something happens with the car(short term), it will effect the friendship too.
a) Why can't he tell you want happened, show you reciepts for parts replaced, photos etc?
b) He's having a hard time selling? Hmmm. Anyway - I wouldn't buy anything from a friend. If something happens with the car(short term), it will effect the friendship too.
the graduate
Senior Member
yes and no...
he's most likely the guy who told you about the accident. You will gather from him if you should buy the car. Ask him outright if he thinks its a good idea if you buy the car.
Anony-mousse
Expert Member
don't buy, simple as that. if he's your friend why do you have to ask us? ask him, it's your 'friends' car that he couldn't sell for months now.... weird
Ok, just a bit of a clearification needed there...I used term "friend" very loosely...let's rather say he's an acquaintance I know through a friend. He actually hasn't actively been trying to sell the car publicly, as in, he hasn't been advertising it or anything like that. I just got the word through my friend that he wouldn't mind selling...and that's how my interest in the car came about.
Here's the latest, we took it to Lexus to get "checked out" and the report basically cited broken/loose covers and clips here and there. Think the more major things on the report were: the right front head light adjuster wasn't working, the side mirrors need to be re-adjusted (one keeps misbehaving), and wheel bearings. I also got one of the technicians to test drive the car and they said it feels good/normal
Having said this, the warranty is out, but it is still on service plan till next year.
What do you guys think?
Here's the latest, we took it to Lexus to get "checked out" and the report basically cited broken/loose covers and clips here and there. Think the more major things on the report were: the right front head light adjuster wasn't working, the side mirrors need to be re-adjusted (one keeps misbehaving), and wheel bearings. I also got one of the technicians to test drive the car and they said it feels good/normal
Having said this, the warranty is out, but it is still on service plan till next year.
What do you guys think?