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Potential Gs300 Sport Purchaser!


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I have alreayd posted about possibly getting a '98 LS400. I have now been offered a 300 sport with starship mileage but plenty of work done DIY by the owner. Car needs a screen for MOT and is the right money. How much am I looking for a windscreen, who should I trust to do it and how much should an average service cost at the Main Dealer for it and how much do main dealers charge for MOT's?

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The windscreen is bonded and needs to be left to set for a few hours. Failure to do this will produce wind noise. You need to take it to somebody that knows what they are doing but it doesn't have to be a main dealer. My local Lexus dealer just sends them to a specialist anyway.

MOTs are fixed price. A main dealer cannot charge more than the price fixed by the government.

Service costs are around £150 for minor and £250-350 for major depending what needs doing. Only when plugs or cambelt need replacing do the service cost go very high.

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Hi,

As to the windscreen,if its replaced on your insurance as a claim(it wont effect your no claims) its £50 to £60 as thats what the excess will be,but you need to be fully comp for it to be covered.

If your looking at paying for a replacement out of your own pocket from say Autoglass/RAC windscreens etc etc so they source and fit a new screen your looking at around £700 to £1000 :o so a friend of mine told me who works for a mobile windscreen firm ;)

I think the price of a MOT is about £45

Again Good Luck with what ever model you decide to buy.

Chips..

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If your looking at paying for a replacement out of your own pocket from say Autoglass/RAC windscreens etc etc so they source and fit a new screen your looking at around £700 to £1000 :o so a friend of mine told me who works for a mobile windscreen firm ;)

That price sounds scary :crybaby:

My XM screen was rated as 'the worst ones that we had to do' because they are also bonded and I recall paying no more than a couple of hundred cash for it about 3 years ago. I can't imagine them costing a lot more than that now.

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It don't half, I don't have windscreen cover on my insurance so if I purchased I would be paying out of my own back pocket. This is putting me off though....no wonder the car is cheap!

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More news on my potential purchase. Guy selling sounds very genuine. Car has no MOT, needs a new screen as previously mentioned and a good service. Not been used since January so one of the brake calipers seized and has now been freed off by the owner. Is this likely to be a permanent fix or would I be looking at a new caliper. Also the speedo back lighting sometimes flickers though this is supposed to be very rarely and doesnt last long (again is this something I could live with...or will it be annoying and an expensive fix). This car has starship mileage and I would be taking it on a 2500 mile round trip to Denmark in two and a half weeks time, how sensible a purchase does this car sound? Or should I be spending a lot more on something more sensible in mileage (some of the best cars I've vee rhad have had 200+k on them, and one of the was a Rover 800.....don't laugh!...it should have been in a museum it was such a credit to the Rover brand!)

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At least someone has had the sense to add a type of antifreeze instead of just plain water. I wouldn't let that put me off but then most of my cars come via eBay after a few beers so who am i to say.

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Hi,

I agree with what randyreindeer is saying about the coolant,any antifreeze is better than water.

I take it the car is a mk1 GS?

Id be a unsure about taking a car thats been stood up for six or months and i dont know any/all its faults on a long trip in this Country,let alone in another Country :unsure:

Most of the posts ive read on LOC about seized brake calipers has nearly always ended up with them having to be replaced ;)

As to the flickering dash,are you talking of the needles flickering?

The back lighting is just bulbs,if its the backlighting (bulbs) id say thats down to a low/flat Battery or bad earth on worst still the alternator is on its way out.

The cheapest fix for the flickering needles is another dash from the breakers yard.

Myself i wouldnt be to worried about high mileage as you know what your buying and the cars are cheap as chips to buy.As long as you do your homework on what to look for on the model,its a case of buy it as you see it.

Id ask the guy to take the car for a MOT,it would be worth you even paying for the MOT or see if he will go halfs on the MOT price.That way you will know what your buying.If it does pass get the advice note with the MOT,that way if theres any advize on anything for the future you again know where you stand ;)

It would also be worth checking the colour of the autobox oil,it should be red in colour :)

The car could be a real bargin as long as your sharp :winky:

Chips..

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Car is a 1993 Sport. Owner seems very genuine and has the advisory from an MOT test that shows the windscreen and front brake caliper as failure points. He has freed caliper off and believes it seized due to sitting on the drive for so long. How much would a windscreen fixing kit be from the stealer if i was to get an independent to fit the screen? Ive still got to get quotes for the screen and a full service. I imagine fully synthetic 5/40 oil is what needs to be used?

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Hi,

These window fitting guys normally have the repair screen kits,thats if the screens repairable,as to the oil im not sure what it is for the N/A but i use 5w-40 fully synthetic oil for my car,But id say its the same type but you could more than likey get away with semi synthetic oil or even normal 5w-40..

Im sure someone else will correct me if im wrong about the oil :)

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Is there anywhere I can get the genuine air/oil/fuel filters, sump plug washer and spark plugs for this Lexus without using the main dealer? Or is the main dealer reasonably priced for them? (I'm using the old mans log on!)

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How many gears does the autobox have on a 1993 gs 300 sport have? Also what is the fuel tank capacity and where is the fuel filter if it needed changing?

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I'm on the old mans computer again. I will be off to pick it up in a couple of hours. Managed to get a quote from National windscreens for £180 fully fitted in the end. Will be getting a local Jaguar Specialist to fully service and MOT it (it will be the first time I have ever paid someone to service my vehicle!....I'm still worried about the brake caliper for the big trip the Thursday after next! :tsktsk:

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Hi,

£180 that was a really good price for the windscreen :)

Id take the car for a good run for at least a hour within the next few days that way you should have a idea about the brake caliper.

Chips..

How many gears does the autobox have on a 1993 gs 300 sport have? Also what is the fuel tank capacity and where is the fuel filter if it needed changing?

Hi,

4 speed Autobox.

Fuel filter i think is in the fuel tank :unsure:

Fuel tank on mine holds around 70 litres ish,cost me over 70 quid to fill the tank up today :crybaby:

Chips..

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The story so far! Picked it up a few hours ago. Car is lovely and really has real presence especially with those 10" rear alloys....the pearlescent bodywork looks great too. The only flies in the oinkment are the following:

There is a high pitched grinding noise similar to what you hear when the discs on a car that has been standing have rusted up....I thought this was what it was as the car has been standing a while but even a couple of miles from home after bringing it home 45 miles it still made the noise.

The cap is missing for the brake fluid reservoir....where can I get one of these from? If I go the main dealer route will I be talking big money.

I'm going to have the wheels off and stick some copper ease on them...what are the torque settings and sequence for the tightening of the wheel studs (GS300 Sport 18" 10" width rears)

On the MOT failure sheet from June the rear brake pads were mentioned as an advisory. I'd usually do this job myself but wont have the time before taking it on holiday next Thursday...how much will I be looking at for new rear pads and how long will they take to fit.

The spare is a 16" normal non sport wheel alloy....would this be OK in the event of a puncture.

My handbook that came in the Lexus wallet with the car seems to only be for the normal 300...theres no pictures of the sport in the book and no 18" sport alloy tyre pressures....does this sound right or is it me not reading the booklet right....the front of the book just says GS300 ownewrs manual...no mention of sport.

How much labour will I be looking at for a fuel filter change.

Thanks...Simon :blink:

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Hi mate, may be worth taking the car to Lexus Hanley I think it is if it's near you, it's in Stoke, Chris Shipley's place, TG Holdcroft is the dealership I think, they're rated highly, are an offical Lexus centre and have pretty much the best labour charges in the UK for any of the dealers....

As for the wheel, not sure if this will come out right but if you imagine you've got the five nuts I think it's this order

	 1

4 3

2 5

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Hi,

The grinding noise could be the caliper semi seized if its still making the noise after 45 miles.

It would be worth asking how much a new brake fluid reservoir cap is from the dealer,not everything is as expensive as you think ;)

Off the top of me head i cant remember the wheel torque figures,someone else might post that up :)

As to the price of the rear brake pads,again from memory i think i paid around £40ish quid.

Id give yourself a good hour for changing them,if the cars been stood then it would be worth spending a little time cleaning all the rust/***** off and around where the pads live and grease everything up,so everythings free and easy.The calipers are believe called floating ones and slide on metal bars would be worth rubbing down/cleaning rust off and grease up.

I dont know how much for the fuel filter change,but if they know what there doing surely it wont be more than half a hour.

Hope thats of help.

Have you taken any pictures of the car yet,would be nice to see the new car ;)

Chips..

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The story so far! Picked it up a few hours ago. Car is lovely and really has real presence especially with those 10" rear alloys....the pearlescent bodywork looks great too. The only flies in the oinkment are the following:

There is a high pitched grinding noise similar to what you hear when the discs on a car that has been standing have rusted up....I thought this was what it was as the car has been standing a while but even a couple of miles from home after bringing it home 45 miles it still made the noise.

The cap is missing for the brake fluid reservoir....where can I get one of these from? If I go the main dealer route will I be talking big money.

I'm going to have the wheels off and stick some copper ease on them...what are the torque settings and sequence for the tightening of the wheel studs (GS300 Sport 18" 10" width rears)

On the MOT failure sheet from June the rear brake pads were mentioned as an advisory. I'd usually do this job myself but wont have the time before taking it on holiday next Thursday...how much will I be looking at for new rear pads and how long will they take to fit.

The spare is a 16" normal non sport wheel alloy....would this be OK in the event of a puncture.

My handbook that came in the Lexus wallet with the car seems to only be for the normal 300...theres no pictures of the sport in the book and no 18" sport alloy tyre pressures....does this sound right or is it me not reading the booklet right....the front of the book just says GS300 ownewrs manual...no mention of sport.

How much labour will I be looking at for a fuel filter change.

Thanks...Simon :blink:

my series 1 sport has same handbook. your spare is wrong tho.u cant put 1 16" on with 3 18", lethal quite aside from being illegal.Run car into kwikfit Nuneaton and see Dave(manager) 4 full brake check FOC.Dont usually need appt. but best fone 1st.

nb. The pressure 4 tyres given on drivers door closure is 4 a standard 300 with 16" wheels. 36 all round seems good.

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What can I replace the spare with? Do they do a spacesaver spare on the 18" wheel Lexus usually? If so agai where can I get one. Would a 16" really be dangerous as a spare? Bear in mind although the alloy is smaller the profile of the tyre is bigger.

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What can I replace the spare with? Do they do a spacesaver spare on the 18" wheel Lexus usually? If so agai where can I get one. Would a 16" really be dangerous as a spare? Bear in mind although the alloy is smaller the profile of the tyre is bigger.

Hi torque setting for your wheels is 103N/mm2 If I remember correctly.

I see no reason why you can't use a 16" standard alloy as a spare provided the rolling circumference of wheel and tyre is the same as your 18" wheels.

I did just this until I got a spare sport wheel, it's no different surely to having a 'space-saver' spare wheel.

Sounds like your car may have been upgraded by the previous owner to 'sport' spec.

If it is a 'proper' sport it will have sport decals on the rear quarter lights and have a similar decal on the right-hand side lower lip of the front bumper just by the foglight recess it will have a body colour grille with black mesh infil and it will ride lower than the standard car so if you have more than say 2" between top of tyre and wheelarch you may have a standard car with sport alloys fitted.

Hope this helps

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It seems looking at the receipts that the spare has had its tyre replaced at the same time the other tyres were replaced by National Tyres as I still have the receipt.....clearly they didn't consider it a concern. Its got a GS300 non-Sport alloy with a 225/55/16W Pirelli P6000. The other alloys are 245/40/18Z front and 275/35/18Z rears on Bridgestone Potenza's. Please tell me its safe! I dont want to be having to have to find a spare Sport alloys as well as the other bits I'm sorting. Car is spending next couple of days having the screen done. Then Thursday its off for a transmission flush and refill. Mondays it off for the service (all filters inc. fuel, diff oil, rear pads (I'm supplying the oil) all for £174 plus VAT at a Jag Specialist by me...sounds reasoanble to me...well as reasonable as servicing I could do myself gets!). After the serice full MOT which I have got my fingers crossed it passes.

I noticed today as the I took it to the windscreen place that the viscous fan was making a bit of a noise on start up and it was idling at around 13/1400 revs...been up since 4am so didn't have the inclination to investigate further. :tsktsk:

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