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Old 07-07-2020, 01:56 PM #1
doofenshmirtz doofenshmirtz is offline
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Smile 4th Gen Appreciation Post

Shout out to the 4th Gen, especially the v8, for being so danged reliable. Yes, there's issues here and there (cough.exhaust manifold tick.cough.), but I put in oil and end up draining the same amount out 6-8months later. Never replaced a single gasket on the engine and she's nearly 185k. Transmission was opened up at 180k to look for an issue, but EVERYTHING was still in full operation.

The only thing that has "broken" on my car that isn't really a normal wear item was my rear diff making a hum and the u-joints going a little loose.

By and large, most of the money I've put into my 4Runner has been for fun and to satisfy my itches to work with my hands.

On the other hand - and what made me appreciate the 4Runner even more - is that I recently purchased a project car. 2004 BMW 330Ci Convertible. I knew full well I was going to NEED to wrench on it, but holy cow. 3 discreet oil leaks right off the bat. New oil pan gasket, oil filter housing gasket, valve cover gasket, rebuild VANOS, replace DISA valve, new sensors almost everywhere, replace upper and lower intake boots, new fuel filter, new FCABs, new lower control arms, new engine mounts, new tie rods and boots, new sway bars fr&rr, heli-coiled stripped threads on the engine block for the oil pan, diagnose stuck convertible top, and LOTS of oil cleanup in the engine bay/block. The internals of the engine look great, but I've done like 3-4 years worth of repairs if it were on a 4Runner timescale. I've easily got 60+ hours in reconditioning the car, and less than 200miles driven. At least I expected to wrench on it...

All in all, though, I would never have been able to undertake a project car if it weren't for having the 4Runner to teach me how to wrench in the first place. Before the 4Runner in April 2016, I'd never even changed my own oil. This past weekend, I was drilling and tapping the block on a BMW, while the oil filter housing and alternator were sitting on a work table.

Thanks, 4Runner. and thanks to t4r.org for massive amounts of help. That's not even remotely a goodbye, I'm still here and still driving the 4Runner. She's never leaving me.
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Old 07-07-2020, 03:52 PM #2
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Gotta love 4runner reliability! I did need to get my 2004 v8’s transmission rebuilt at ~175k miles, but that was after towing a trailer for 10 years. Everything else has been routine maintenance or upgrades.

I have a relative who has been a car mechanic for over 35 years. He says Toyotas are the most reliable cars.

He says BMW, on the other hand, stands for “Big Money Waster”.
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Old 07-07-2020, 04:30 PM #3
doofenshmirtz doofenshmirtz is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ads2539 View Post
Gotta love 4runner reliability! I did need to get my 2004 v8’s transmission rebuilt at ~175k miles, but that was after towing a trailer for 10 years. Everything else has been routine maintenance or upgrades.

I have a relative who has been a car mechanic for over 35 years. He says Toyotas are the most reliable cars.

He says BMW, on the other hand, stands for “Big Money Waster”.
So far, that, and Buy More Wrenches have held true.

Everything is aluminum, so most torque specs need an inch/lb torque wrench. Plus all the e-torx and torx bits I had to buy, and a 14mm hex drive for the rear diff. Oh and I almost forgot that I finally had to buy in impact wrench. The lug bolts (bmw uses bolts) were rusted to the hub/wheel breaker bar and cheater did nothing... I actually need a bigger -or second- tool chest now. I can't fit the home repair stuff, plus automotive, plus specialty tools in my little 24" cart anymore

Oddly though, I've got less into the BMW repairs (plus new tools) than I do in the re-gear and rear wheel bearings job I had to pay a mechanic for. Paying for labor sucks. Heck, my headers, y-pipe, and catback on the 4Runner were more expensive than everything listed above that I've done on the bmw. Just glad I got a "good deal" on the car itself. It's hard to find an e46, 6-speed (not 5speed), 330Ci, and convertible. It's similar finding an 06+ v8 Sport 4WD with the locking diff.
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Old 07-07-2020, 11:38 PM #4
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My 4th gen v6 has 202k miles on it and has never needed anything other than preventative maintenance since I have owned it (5 years). The suspension is pretty saggy and sad, but it is being replaced in two weeks with a full OME setup. Love these trucks.
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Old 07-08-2020, 12:08 AM #5
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Toyota

Toyotas are very reliable if taking care of properly. My 3rd gen 96 4runner did need head gasket replacement at 300k and suspension work getting there but now it is rock solid. The 4th gen 08 needed hg at 270k but not much else over the 12 years we've owned it. Now my 08 bmw z4 has only needed the old changed, brakes done once, and a bushing replaced since I've owned it for over 12 years. The straight six motor is one of the best built motors period. I've not even replaced the clutch in the vehicle .

Last edited by Thebeastlives; 07-08-2020 at 12:30 AM.
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Old 07-08-2020, 03:11 AM #6
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Glad to see I'm not the only one with rear diff hum (albeit for different reasons)!
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