Glad To Be Back - In A Mk4

[Nick V]

Hello LS People

After a few years of non-ownership, I yesterday picked up a 1998 (ignore the reg) Mk4, bought on eBay and picked up this week. It follows a Mk1 I had a few years ago.

Wow, it is a great car. It has 95K on clock, FSH, matching Pirellis and one owner previously. Very little to do although it has pretty much exactly the same issues as my MK1 had - bonnet struts and boot leaks. Both easy fixes.

I turned up yesterday and paid the seller the balance then drove 300 miles without any problems and loved every one of them. The steering has so much more feel than my Mk 1 but pretty much everything else is as I remember it in good way.

For eBay watchers this was the car:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331071389384?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2648#ht_152wt_1205

A good feel about the seller is generally followed by a good buy and this seems true again.

There is a little rust around the windscreen in a couple of places but nothing major. These cars seem remarkably durable - I have an interest in a car rustproofing business and I don't think we have never had one in.

All in all am glad to be back! Next stop will by an LPG conversion as this is a keeper.

Cheers

Nick

[The-Acre]

Welcome back to the real world!

Nice car, good price and low miles, that should do you for a good 10 years+

[ManicMark]

Welcome back & what an absolute bargain.

[PEPE]

Yes, a bargain indeed. Many congratulations and welcome back to the LS 400 fold.

[steve2006]

Looks good for the money, may I ask if you got any warranty from the seller as looking at previous feedback he is obviously a motor trader posing yet again on eBay as a private seller.

[Nick V]

Thanks for the welcome folks.

I knew the seller was trading a few cars but is was clearly a sideline. He was at work when I picked it up off his wife in Yorkshire and neither had made any pretence of being anything other than what they seemed. In truth I have no porblem with this and and would not expect a warranty and am still protected by the sale of goods act, in so much as they car had to be largely as descibed. No cash changed hands as the final payment on collection was by electronic transfer. Arthur Daley it was not.

Have had a burst of enthusiasm and ordered Cobra reversing sensors - I'd forgotten just how far back it goes!

ta

Nick

[jpjsavage]

Congratulations on your purchase. I thought about tat one myself as it wasn't too far from here. Glad it went to a good home. Enjoy!

[cruisermark]

Thanks for the welcome folks.

I knew the seller was trading a few cars but is was clearly a sideline. He was at work when I picked it up off his wife in Yorkshire and neither had made any pretence of being anything other than what they seemed. In truth I have no porblem with this and and would not expect a warranty and am still protected by the sale of goods act, in so much as they car had to be largely as descibed. No cash changed hands as the final payment on collection was by electronic transfer. Arthur Daley it was not.

Have had a burst of enthusiasm and ordered Cobra reversing sensors - I'd forgotten just how far back it goes!

ta

Nick

congratulations on your purchase

if you're going to install the parking sensors yourself then theres no need to remove the bumper - there is enough space behind the bumper to thread the wires through - remove rear light cluster and feed the wires into the boot - behind the boot hinge and under the scuff plates which just pop off - done it twice - HTH

[The-Acre]

Thanks for the welcome folks.

I knew the seller was trading a few cars but is was clearly a sideline. He was at work when I picked it up off his wife in Yorkshire and neither had made any pretence of being anything other than what they seemed. In truth I have no porblem with this and and would not expect a warranty and am still protected by the sale of goods act, in so much as they car had to be largely as descibed. No cash changed hands as the final payment on collection was by electronic transfer. Arthur Daley it was not.

Have had a burst of enthusiasm and ordered Cobra reversing sensors - I'd forgotten just how far back it goes!

ta

Nick

I've got after market parking sensors, and I have to say they're absolutely brilliant. Problem is, I forget that my estate car doesn't have them, another dent in the garage door!

[Lexmanic]

Nice motor Well done AND welcome back

[The-Acre]

I've only just noticed the chrome on the boot lid, I like that, anyone know where that came from?

[cruisermark]

could of been an optional extra - ive only seen it on one other car

[Lexmanic]

How about some piccies?

[Ruud]

The chrome is most likely an aftermarket addition.

[Nick V]

Hi All

Thanks for all the welcome messages.

Drove home from North East this afternoon - fantastic. Clear roads and av. speed of 70MPH at 29.9MPG which I can live with for now given how fresh I felt after 250 miles.

Great news re parking sensors not need bumper removal thanks - saves me lots of time and forensic re-examining of Wheeler Dealer LS 400 show when they remove the rear bumper to paint it.

Small discovery yesterday. After going to Halfords to get wipers and seeing they only listed the passenger side, I then discovered Newcastle Lexus needed 24 hours I didn't have to get replacement blades (wipers on car were complete but not effective enough for heavy rain). I then returned to Halfords to buy any 22" blade to try and fit in the exist arms only to spot a second set of flip cards behind the larger (Halfords) deck - these for Valeo blades. numbers. In this deck both Lexus LS 400 blades are listed and were in stock - 10 minutes later they were installed on the car and work well.

Will take pics of chrome strip and post - didn't realise it was rare. Car started life for its first year on the Isle of Man if this means anything re its options.

Cheers

NIck

[Malc]

Always found it best to buy Lexus OEM replacement wiper rubbers............. £19 or so at the last count, more expensive cost wise than Halfords etc.in the short term BUT they don't squeak or rub and they have longevity too ........... . about 3 years a pair.

Malc

[Nick V]

Yes agree re OEM generally best bet. Hobsons choice on the day!

Have attached a couple of close ups of the chrome boot strip.

Noticed today that it has heated rear seats as well as front ones - must have an alternator like a jumbo!

Cheers

Nick

[The-Acre]

I like that, anyone know where it comes from?

[cruisermark]

found only one company selling it

http://www.jzsinternational.com/servlet/the-902/1995-1996-1997-1998/Detail

[harrylime]

Nice looking car that Nick, very classy colour. I looked at online myself, but went to Manchester to view a burgundy one, and bought that. That chrome trim is a nice touch. I think enough thought and development went into the LS that it does not need messing about with or blinging up too much. However, I've looked at the back of my car and that trim would give it a lift, I think, especially when I fit new chrome badges to replace my scruffy gold ones. That is if I can source new chrome badges. I'm thinking of taking mine off and having them chrome plated, if it's technically possible. Depends what they are made of, I guess.

[Bluesman]

found only one company selling it

http://www.jzsinternational.com/servlet/the-902/1995-1996-1997-1998/Detail

Dont forget this will attract Import Duty.

[Nick V]

I am sure someone must do the badges but as you say they are probably good enough quality to be chromed.

Funnily enough I also like the burgundy colour (post a pic?) and indeed had in line of sight a really good one, with great

provenance, low miles and nice colour combination, at a dealer when I bid on the one I now own. It is a small enough world for yours to be X719 AEN / R4 WAL (I had done an Experian check on it). Had I not won the one I bid on, it was next in line to look at (I was slightly surprised to win). If it is yours then it looked a great car on paper and I hope it delivers for you.

The other car I so nearly bought was a 2000 Audi A8 4.2 Tiptronic which made a fantastic sound, went like a rocket but I suspect would have emptied my wallet in repair bills at an enormous rate. Even the specialist who looks after my brilliant late 1990's Audi Cabriolet said "It's no Lexus!".

Cheers

Nick

Cheers

Nick

[Cotswold Pete]

The LS looks great, and may it see you forget ever considering an A8.

They are one of the best looking liabilities I have ever considered buying, then a mate of mine told me how poor he was (well how poor his company coffers were as a result of having one).

Personally not so sure about the chrome strip, always worry about water hiding behind such things. Mind you the underlying paintwork on Lexus is never less than top notch

[Nick V]

Hi All

Quick question for the Mk4 crew - what do the outer two white lamps in the spoiler do? Mine don't come on with anything.

Thanks

Nick

[cruisermark]

hi

they do nothing in UK or USA - but maybe used as daylight running lights in Canada