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Hi there, Last summer, just after I bought my LS, I discovered that one of the exhaust pipes didn't blow as strong as the other. The difference was quite significant. At first I panicked a bit, but a quick inspection led me to discover a leak in the right back box, precisely its bottom wall, centrally located around half way length-wise. It was big enough. The corrosion was pretty bad, so I decided to get a new one. I wanted the best solution, and thought that I should get it from Lexus, (a ton of money) or if from any other shop, it should be as close as possible to the original. The search was long an painful, and I was giving up when found a small (home business) manufacturer in Poland. They are making all kinds of custom-made muffler replacements. I pre-ordered and in less than two weeks I had both of my boxes delivered - brand spanking new as shown on the picture. I also had a chat about my problem with the engineer from that company, who said that LS430 back box has a built-in design flaw, and that's why they all corrode and screw you up always in the same way. Not waiting any longer I grabbed an angle grinder and the results you see on the pictures. As it turns out, the mid-section wall has a flap on a metal spring. This spring gets exposed to pretty corrosive environment (water, and temperature), and you don't have to wait very long (I wonder how long) before it's so corroded that the flap cannot open any more. This leads ( you can guess) to excessive exhaust gass back-pressure build up, which is not very nice for the engine nor it is good for the performance. My flap was quite badly stuck closed, which also leads to excess water accumulation in the compartment before the flat, which in turns causes the bottom of the box corrode all the way through. On the finishing note, I am happy the new boxes do not have that annoying flap, the car runs nice and quiet, so far no problems. What I discovered in this case is to me an example of typical blind over-engineering, without thinking through about materials, the environment they are working in and the consequences. Had I gotten my brand new boxes from Lexus (for an astronomical price) , I would have had the same problem back in a few years soon.... Regards

Hi been a member on here for a while thought I'd start a build on here. I have previously had 2 others before this one. Will upload all the pictures I have from the build. This is what it looked like when I first got it

In my opinion now after i have a car with so many toys but without the RSR , i would choose any of them , depending on the price , mileage , condition . My LWB still has heated and cooled seats with a bit of recline in them , rear dvd screen but that is played from the front DVD and all the climate and audio controls from the armrest in the back + blinds . It depends if you would really have someone to use them , for example kids , but other than that they will not be used much . Also in case someone use them you always need to remember and check that they have not left the heating or the cooling of the seat on , very different temperatures . You either check them every time , either disable them from the front console every time someone has been in . It will be nice to show it off to friends every time but depending on your personality you might also be annoyed as they might leave a bit of mess every time when they do it . Go , have a look at both , drive them if possible and chose after , don't set your mind on just one and miss the other .

neither. Its a machine, Its an it. Its name is Lexus GS 250 or its number plate at a push. Bah humbug

Just out of curiosity, has anyone seen this car, currently up for sale at VW in Blackburn. It's original reg is SV58 ODY but also had B12ENH, L10DJL and J11SFF.

Looks like someone is selling a set of aftermarket back boxes on fleabay. By reading the ad looks like they’re not an enthusiast. The boxes look a lot like the RR racing ones. Can’t get the link to copy for some reason but if you search “custom ISF back boxes” they are there.£200 in fleet, Hampshire. Photos of another potentially unknown ISF on the ad for you too Big Rat!

I bit the bullet and had 4 Michelin Cross Climates fitted yesterday. They have only just become available in the NX size and from what I read they are highly recommended, some say the best tyre for all the year round. Although most people refer to them as a 'all season tyre', Michelin say they are a summer tyre with winter capability. The cost was £630 fitted. They are rated 'B' for fuel efficiency, 'B' for wet grip and 69 for noise emissIon. Too early to say too much now, I will report back how I find them in a few weeks, but first indications are good. I certainly feel more confident in wet or icy conditions.

I thought soft close doors were a total gimmick until I got my LS. Now I am lost without them. Literally, as I set off to walk away from friends' cars having given the door a gentle push, and discovering it is nowhere near closed.

@jaydeeuk1 I’ve just had a thought, on the Premier you can adjust the HUD to show a rev counter. Don’t know if you’ve tried that or not. I know it’s not the same as a rev counter on the dash, but at least it is a rev counter. Hope this helps.

It was time for more power as am sure everyone is aware these are underpowered. It was time for boost Started getting all the turbo parts together

Missing alot off pictures as these got deleted from my phone in error. Fill respray done Aero alloys fitted Rear roof spoiler fitted Bc racing coilovers fitted Headlights stripped and done black Wind deflectors Windows tinted

Too far for me, looks like this one's heading for the auction.....

Outstandingly informative post......thanks

you mean it gets to the ATM very regularly to empty your account Malc

Apparently this one is going to auction if not sold this week.... 🤔

I don't think the top of the range Dacia comes with my 'need'. I don't know how I could live without the rear blinds or ICE controls in the rear armrest! The problem I find with 'extras' is that once you have them you feel you'd be lost without them. It seems great to have all these things that you can adjust and play with but generally after you've set them to how you like they don't get touched again.

Worth remembering that although those quotes give an indication of the area, because Insurance companies check your credit score, they won't be entirely accurate as they won't be able to pull the details

Best string of 2018!

It won't warm up within a mile or two. And you'll get around 25mpg. But apart from that, I don't think you'd cause a huge problem - plenty of low mileage cars with no issues at all - including our IS - 15k over 4.5 years

500 PLN for the two incl delivery. That should be a bit more than 100 GBP, but it was in Poland, domestic delivery. I found they do ship to the UK and the EU https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Exhaust-Rear-Silencer-Muffler-LEXUS-LS-430-4-3-V8-32V-00-06r-PAIR-L-R-Black-/112440134007?hash=item1a2df44977

That's what I have exactly.

Very interesting, thanks! Can I ask how much you paid?

No, there's no 'fan belt' and no traditional alternator, it's charged directly from the traction battery.

But you have a fancy rear climate and 3 zone option too, makes me feel inadequate LOL

I've the same problem with my 2011 CT200h after those heavy raining days in Southern California and the good news is: I've it fixed ! Just a few easy steps. Open your hood, remove the fuse box cover, full out the Radio fuse ( check It, make sure It wasn't burned) spray the WD 40 into the fuse connection (you might need to reinsert and full it out couple of times to get rid of the burned spots) Turn on the car ignition ( press It twice) reinsert the Radio fuse into the connection and wait for the system to reboot and that's It ! You're good to go. Everything should go back to normal ! Meanwhile, the Lexus dealer asked me for thousand of dollars to replace the system !!! SCREW THEM ! OK, good luck and have fun folks.

@mrfunex And look at the internal engine problems that both the Mercedes has had C63 stretched head bolts and the M3 spinning crank shells......... Id be wrong to say either of these engines have had lots of major issues they haven't I've owned the M3 and had access use of a C63 would I buy a product again from either of these companies absolutely not as engines aside they both suffer from numerous other problems niggles...... I want reliability now and @FTBBCVoodoois absolutely right they are reliable all the 'F's have a reliability record the Germans could only dream of...... if they could be bothered that is 🐀

The reason Lexus state the car battery should be disconnected before charging is that doing it that way there is no risk of a reverse polarity connection to the car electronics. This can spell disaster to ECU's. The battery used is an AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery. This has no free liquid acid. All the acid is held in the glass mats between the plates, and as such the battery is less damaged by deep discharge. The charging voltage is higher than standard lead acid batteries. The battery states a maximum charge rate of 5 amps rather strange when it can and does get charged by the car charging system at 80 amps or more depending on it's state of charge hence the thick cables to the battery. This charge rate is typical of Toyota/Lexus hybrid charging systems on which I have done extensive testing. John

having driven 100 miles or so this morning, the car sat in the rain for a few hours before I went to drive home. the dashboard has lit up like a Christmas tree with four separate warnings that the stability control has failed. bottom left, something like ASF is flashing, bottom right the usual skidding car light is on, too centre is the warning triangle and lastly the display says the the system has failed. I forget exactly what it says, VCF maybe? its never done it before and plenty of switch off and on has made no difference. a quick test tells me the abs is working, but the traction control isn't as wheelspin was very easy in the rain. (naturally i was on a private road when I tested these). anyone near Dartford got a code reader, assuming this will tell us what has failed?