Back on the hunt !

[Paulpen]

Having nearly finished the house renovation and sold the trusty Landcruiser work horse it time to get back in something a bit more modern that can be used for a small daily commute and to tow the track car around the country !

Its either an E53 or a Hilux and the second option although being more pratical certainly wont be as sporty or comfortable !

Having owned a 4.8IS before im not sure I could go back there in all honesty after doing the valve stem seals, the air suspension ecu and then having a gearbox issue all in a year of ownership !

That left me with the 4.6 option although that seems to be just as much of a headache from reading on them again the air suspension and timing chain issues and just not as modern looking.

And that was where I was stuck until I learnt about the Le Mans edition. The looks of the 4.8 but better mpg and more reliable (correct me if im wrong) ?

Or maybe a 4.4 with the bodykit and wheels of the IS models (im a sucker for the extra bodykit bits)  :-[

Have I missed anything so far and what would you be going for in my situation ?

[Osprey]

I just left my E53 Le Mans go  and now the owner of a F25 X3. Only had it a week but I have to say the E53 was one of the best cars I have ever had - and I've had a few!!
P'ex into Sytner so should be in an auction house soon.....if I could go there and bid I would but wouldn't know where to hide it from her  )

[graemeX5]

Hi

There are some nice E53 out there but take a bit of hunting down.

Again the Le Mans edition is good as it has a lot of nice bits on it with a Diesel engine and no air suspension makes a good buy.

Graeme

[Paulpen]

Le Mans is no air at all then ?

I wasnt sure if it might be rear only but not alot of info out there on them tbh

[AW8]

If considering a 3.0d Lemans do bear in mind all ones I have seen are in higher tax band. I think most were registered after 23/3/06 VED rate hike.

Not convinced the 3.0d Lemans is absent of air to rear. My understanding is that all UK E53 (Non iS) models were coils to front and self leveling air to rear unless optioned wth twin axle adjustable air........graemex5 please clarify.

I note you had a Landcruiser, more agricultural, slower etc...A misconception that nothing breaks or ever needs changing/replacing on them but good durable vehicles if well maintained..... J90 Prado (JDM import) can be a good value buy albeit tidy ones getting harder to find. J120 Prado (Land Cruiser Colorado) plus used Amazon used prices getting a bit silly IMO.

[X5Sport]

I thought it was the ‘Sport’ versions (those with 19” wheels from the factory) or better had rear air and the base model (17” wheels) were springs all around unless a tow bar was specced?

[Paulpen]

Yea I had an import J90 so very reliable but as you say they do still need work to keep them up together !

120 was the logical step although some are already hitting rust problems and thats something I want to get away from not chase on something twice the price !. I found the same with all the 100 series over here - put my hand through all of them and they are pushing the £10k+ point so for that money I want solid !

I did also fancy a Hilux but not eaxctly the smallest of vehicles and to get the spec and looks you need to spend good money again !

On the E53 side of things I love the facelifts with the bodykits so puts me in the 4.8 or Le Mans ones. Having had a 4.8 id rather avoid the N62 and ZF6HP with twin axle air in all honesty. But on the flip side its euro 4 compliant I believe whereas the diesel is not so it faces the T charge and a higher tax bracket !

That leaves the 4.6 which also seems to be euro 4 and charge free although has the slightly older looks (but has a simpler air setup and simpler engine for the home mechanic).

Correct me if im wrong anywhere as im not an owner !

[X5Sport]

E53 4.6 only holds EU 3 type approval, not EU4.  EU4 approvals started in January 2005.

[Greydog]

I wouldn't say the 4.6 is simpler than the 4.8 (I know its very different in the valve train) but if your that far into fixing one then the pain will be about the same as will the cost.
Having gone through the pain of mending or replacing the bits that seem to break on the 4.6 the engineering principle is good the execution the quality of many components is poor. If you find a good 4.6 budget for some mods/upgrades and you will have a fine car, 1st fit an engine  pre-oiling system essential in my opinion to make sure there is lubrication and pressure at the chain tensioner and guides at cold start. Diffs and transfer box, make sure the oils are changed also make sure the gearbox has been serviced to ZF's schedule.
Then re-bush the suspension and enjoy, mine has now covered 120k (73k when brought) it tows a horse trailer in the summer months and is off road (shooting) in the winter. It is used every day in a mix of A/B road and Motorway driving and since owning it including towing 17.8mpg average which I think is pretty good (having owned a few V8's). The "T" charge I avoid by just not going into London by car.

In summary for me the 4.6 has a tough and durable interior that wears well, mechanically can be fragile if it's not maintained but not any more than many other 14 year old cars. The others though won't go like a stabbed rat when you give the loud pedal a prod and hold the road like a lot of hot hatches.
Which is why I still have it.

[AW8]

Paulpen,

Interesting to read your LC experience & comments.

Another consideration for E53 facelift cars would be sports exclusive models which also have arch kit and 20" rims.  Both the Lemans & Sport Exclusive models were shipped from late 2005 so finding an acceptable one that isn't in higher tax band will likely require a long wait & thus require an inbetweener  &/or use of another vehicle.

To clarify the higher VED tax bracket applies to every E53 registered in UK on or after  23/3/06......That means  3.0i , 3.0d (regardless of gearbox), & all V8 models.

[Horizon]

I wouldn't dismiss 06 E53's altogether due to higher VED.
It amounts to around £5 a week. I reckon there are some tidy cars that are dismissed solely on the extra VED.
Compared with Petrol. V s Diesel £5 is nothing
My neighbour dismissed a lemans special whatever because of the higher VED, he got an A4 instead

[AW8]

Fair point Horizon. The decision as to whether to buy or avoid a higher VED rate car obviously down to the individual.

My personal concern buying a higher VED rated example would be potential future resale difficulties as many buying a Sub £10k car, (sensibly or otherwise) , will not want to pay that much VED...(as highlighted).

[Paulpen]

I thought 4.6 was pre euro 4 too but then chucked a few reg numbers into the T charge website and seems they are ok :/

The idea of a V8 on paper in all honesty shouldnt be an option with the added reliability and mpg compared to the diesels but it never seems to totally go away.

I wouldnt say the VED is a killer much like colour etc to a degree as its all comes to a compromise !

Until now ive never heard of these sport exclusive models so thats something else to do some looking at - I assume they are like the LM but not in blue ?

[X5Sport]

[quote="Paulpen"]
I thought 4.6 was pre euro 4 too but then chucked a few reg numbers into the T charge website and seems they are ok :/
[/quote]

The T charge system doesn’t seem to make any sense and there are a number of vehicles showing as OK.  All that has been suggested is that these ‘oddities’ such as the 4.6 meet EU4 even though they are approved at EU3.

Either that or TFL have cocked it up again 

[Paulpen]

Not me doing it wrong then !

Im sure they will chage the rules again at some point so I take it all with a pinch of salt tbh