New Owner & Sat-nav Q.

[AnthonyR]

So, hi!!

We have just bought our first Lexus, a 2000 X LS430 from my father in law. He has had the car since 2002 and has just changed to a 2005 model, he was going to trade this one in but offered us first dibs at £5K :-) It's done 120k miles with full Lexus service history and an extended warrenty which runs out in May. He had it serviced, valeted and new tyres fitted for it's transfer. We had just told him he was going to be a grandfather for the first time so I think he did us a somewhat generous deal. We are extreemly grateful as after driving it for a few weeks we have fallen in love with it. We are only in our late 20's and couldn't have dreamt of owning such a luxurious car if we hadn't been given this opportunity. It should only see about 10k miles a year so petrol shouldn't be too much if an issue, we just need to be sensible!!

Appart from the usual bubbling of alloy paint, you would think the car is brand new as it's immaculate. It has the 'Premium pack' and cream interior.

Here's a pic-

What I wanted help with is the now surplus traffic-master sat nav gubbins. We now longer want to subscribe to the service as we don't really need the normal sat-nav! I seem to think the device in the picture below is the transmitter and ariel, but I'm paranoid this might actually be the original Lexus gubbins and wanted to check before I remove it. I also need to know how to get at it, it appears both wires (arrowed) join into a control box which is hidden behind the dash above the glove-box, is it easy enough to gain access?

I know I could just leave it but I hate to have clutter when it isn't needed, I even like to remove ALL stickers!!

Thanks for any help or advice,

Anthony

[BarneyTT]

Hi Anthony and welcome to the club.

Well I think it's safe to say you have a real bargain there, I'm really envious!

If you still have a warranty why not try and get the alloys replaced, if of course they are covered.

I'm sure it will give you many years of superb service, enjoy.

[steve-bedford]

I have left you a PM.

[AnthonyR]

Many thanks Steve, although nothing has come through yet.

I'll check again later and PM you if nothing has come through.

I think I will probably leave the device active, but just hide it all behind the dash...... if I can get into the dash! That way should anyone wish to enable it again it can simply be retrieved.

Barney, are the wheels likely to be covered under warrenty?

Cheers Anthony

[jsj24uk]

Hi Anthony

You got a real nice car there and a preety good price too. I've had my 2004 LS430 now for about 6 months and I love it to bits. I drove it yesterday from Cambridge to Hertford after spending all week in my Nissan Micra driving school car. I love how lazy the engine is. At 60mph it's just doing 1500 rpm. How lazy is that. I'm averaging about 22mpg at the moment. After the warrenty has run out in September I was thinking of having the oxygen sensors replaced and having it chipped. I hope that might make the mpg a little better.

Good luck with your new car.

[BarneyTT]

Barney, are the wheels likely to be covered under warrenty?

Cheers Anthony

They are a known problem so they could be covered, I believe others have had thiers replaced by Lexus but not certain, best bet would be to call and ask the question, if you don't ask you don't get!

[Haylands]

Anthony

Welcome to the forum and well done on the car, you will love it especially at that price probably about £3000 too cheap...

Just see if you can hide the traffic master

You may find the dealer will help with the wheels if not someone on eBay is doing reconditioned wheels for a reasonable price

Where in Lincs are you, I'm in Hull just over the water.

Pete

[AnthonyR]

Problem solved,

I have managed to free up enough slack cable so I can hide it in the lower glove box. I was lucky to be able to hide the cable 100%, down through the door trim so I didn't need to pull the dash appart.

Thanks for your input and a big thank you to Steve for ringing on a Sunday afternoon.

I am friendly with a powder-coater who will refurb all the wheels for £100, I just need to remove them inc. tyres and drop them off for a week. It's not a priority so I'll look at doing it later in the year.

Pete, I'm down the road, just a few mintues from Caenby Corner.

[Matrixabc]

Hi Anthony,

I have had my 430 for a few weeks now , and I am still getting used to it. I think I have just managed to get the seat in the right position, with thousands of positions to chose from...lol

I had a GS300 before, the 430 is a BIG car, I have managed to put a small dent in the front and the rear bumper, even with parking sensors, you have to get used to having the back end sticking out of parking spaces.

But I have to say it is the most solid, quiet well build car I have ever driven. I find it is quite a anonymous car, but that is one of the reasons I wanted one, I have had a BMW and An A6 and an A8, and the 430 is far superior inside real wood, real chrome etc

With regard to the traffic master, if it is not connected to your stanav then you should be able to remove the whole thing, I just bought a service manual on eBay for a few quid, it covers virtually everything.

happy motoring!

[boddamloon]

Welcome to the club fella

[AnthonyR]

It's funny that when you see them stood alone they don't appear that big. Parked next to my neighbours Hyundai Accent it looks mahuusive and completely dwarfs it.

Most nights last week I was trying to find excuses to simply go out and sit in it!! It took me 30mins to refit the drivers floor mat after a shampoo. 20secs to refit the mat, 29mins 40secs to sit, relax and have yet another poke about inside.

What is the general consensus on non standard wheel colours come the time I get round to having them re-coated? I was thinking of being daring and going for a darker grey or even a matt black, but certainly wanted to avoid the dreaded pimp-mobile look.

[Haylands]

It's funny that when you see them stood alone they don't appear that big. Parked next to my neighbours Hyundai Accent it looks mahuusive and completely dwarfs it.

Most nights last week I was trying to find excuses to simply go out and sit in it!! It took me 30mins to refit the drivers floor mat after a shampoo. 20secs to refit the mat, 29mins 40secs to sit, relax and have yet another poke about inside.

What is the general consensus on non standard wheel colours come the time I get round to having them re-coated? I was thinking of being daring and going for a darker grey or even a matt black, but certainly wanted to avoid the dreaded pimp-mobile look.

Anthony,

Totally up to you, I think yours looks nice with the silver wheels but gunmetal would be nice, Personally I think matt black would look like you had steel wheels and had lost your hubcaps!!!!!

Just my 2p

Pete

[AnthonyR]

Pete I hadn't though of that, good call!! I really like the look of the sporty Renaults and Honda's with the gunmetal wheels. I think I'll have a potter on photoshop to see what looks best.

[Haylands]

Hi

Yeah had a Voyager a few years ago and got some 18" rims in Gunmetal... looked nice

Pete

[Anuj]

welcome to the club mate. lovely car..

why not get the post 04 alloys.

18" and slightly darker. i can post a picture if u like