jeastham

Anyone breaking a series 3 LS400, or know of one that is in a yard for breaking ? Looking for the Power steering feed hose (from pump to rack), and a few other bits & bobs TIA Justin

Worked out exactly where the leak is coming from. It's leaking from the PAS feed hose to the rack. There's a bracket that bolts to the sump, and suspends the hose. Fluid is collecting there (the lowest point of the PAS circuit). It's running down the hose from the rack, so either the rack is leaking fluid down the hose, or it's the hose itself that is leaking. It can't be the pump, because the hose between the pump and the bracket that suspends the hose is clean. Lexus want £150.90 plus VAT for a replacement hose. I'd welcome any advice on seeking a cheaper source TIA Justin

Hi all, Reckon I have the exact same problem. I've just spent the afternoon (and £10 on sprayable Gunk) cleaning the pump, pipes, reservoir etc., to see if I can work out where the leak is coming from. It's leaking just in front of the driver's side (UK) front wheel, so can't be the steering rack. Problem is, if I remove the reservoir to get to the O-ring, then I'm no longer mobile to get a replacement O-ring. Anyone able to tell me what type of O-ring I need ? Not sure how you spec an O-ring, but I guess I need the inner & outer diameters. Thanks in advance for any help Justin

Owing to some pr1ck thinking his car is as wide as it is long, I now find myself in need of a driver's side wing mirror. The mirror-surround (or whatever the term is) is fine, and the internals seem to be fine, just the glass (and backing) that is all smashed up. Do Lexus (or whoever) sell the glass seperately, or is it a complete unit ? The car is a 96 series 3 (in that gun-metal kinda grey, if someone miraculously happens to have a spare) TIA Beard

Anyone know where to get a wiring kit or harness kit to connect an after-market stereo to the amplifier unit in a mk3 LS400 ? Tried AutoToys.com (where I've ordered up a fascia (dash kit), but they don't do the wiring for the mk3....only the mk2 TIA Justin

I gather the LS400 originally came with a CD of some sort. Is anyone able to furnish me with an ISO ? TIA Justin P.S - Simon, noticed your bid on an LS400 workshop CD, so I won't gazump you ;-)

Additional......... Where the feck are the spark plugs ? Also......is there a quick and easy way to immobilse the engine ? Car isn't insured at the mo. Justin

Got me LS400........a series 3 on gas (although the gas doesn't work, reckon it's the main fuse, or the ECU) Near mint condition........£1500 Yep.....you read right. 250k on the clock though.......but it's been looked after. Justin

Comes as no surprise, mk4 aside, little to choose between the LS400 and a non-cat 827 manual to 60. About 0.3 of a second, if memory serves. I'm hoping I can secure a series 2 or 3 LS400 in the next few months, but I won't be too put out if I'm resigned to the Vitesse. I might even go for a 3.2 Legend (another motor with the Honda V6) if one came my way for a decent price. Not fussed on the appearance of the later Legends, so that rules out the 3.5 V6. We'll see. Justin Rover SD1 EFi V8 5 speed. Rover 827 Vitesse auto (on gas) Jag XJS V12 HE Opel Monza GSE ....and the Mondeo oil burner.

A dig at Rover.......precisely. Unjustified in my opinion.....and whilst inferior to an LS400 (as bourne out by the price-tags when new)......not sneer-worthy in any way whatsoever. Somebody has one bad experiece of a particular car, and the whole marque is condemned. In most cases, it's down to the DPO (dumb previous owner) not doing what should be done. In the case of the 820......they did have their faults.....not least, leaking oil from between the head and block. But then that was a good thing, because it saved the subframe from corrosion. The V6 models were a much better prospect, and aside from the early ones being more prone to rot......were a good motor. Anything from a G-plate on was pretty rot resistant. I've given myself until October to source an LS400, by which time the MOT, tax and insurance all expire on the current daily hack (Mondeo diesel). If I've not aquired an LS400 by then, I'll be putting the 827 Vitesse back on the road, complete with replacement box, and LPG. Why did the box need replacing ? Because the DPO let the tranny oil run low, and knackerd the diif output bearings. I knew about the box before I bought the car, and for £150 was worth the punt. As it happened, I had a replacement auto-box, and after giving up a weekend, got the boxes swapped. I've always admired the LS400, and do consider it a step up from the 800. But if I can't have 8 cylinders, then the 6 in the 827 will be no bad thing. As for collecting my toys........I can manage just fine, thankyou :P Justin

Okay......so you owned an 800; but I bet it wasn't a V6 model ! I'll lay money on it being an 820 of some description, probably with the M series under the bonnet. >>P.S. Don't let my wife hear you criticise the car, she'll rip your head off. >>She will now have no other car, except the new LS430 we tried a few months ago. Wouldn't dream of criticising your car. Would you show me the same courtesy ??

<Sigh>........another group with elitist attitudes ! I can't abide dillied-up puny 4-pots......with every conceivable body-mod attached, but I don't go round openly condemning them. Have you actually owned a Rover ? And I'm not talking 2, 4 or 6 series. Fact : deerly departed Tony Pond took a near-standard 827 Vitesse around the Isle of Man at over 100mph average. FIRST production car to do so ! Don't believe me ? Duck along to Duke Video, and search for TT challenge. Rover SD1.........well before its time.....and forced the BTCC to change the rules because they were cleaning up ! Now a cult car, and fuel-injected V8 models are fetching money. And before you tell me that they rot like beggary.......you tell me what 70's car didn't; apart from a Scimitar ! Both the SD1 V8 and the 827 models had highly regarded engines.....a V8 that lived for over 40 years, and the Honda V6. The P6, and the P5 (perhaps the LS400 of its day)......all well received at the time as was the SD1 and 800 series. In short........don't condemn something you know little or nothing about. When I join the ranks of Lexus ownership, I won't develop a superiority complex, looking down my nose at lesser motorists in their inferior vehciles. I'm disappointed to learn that some here do.

In addition to my original question.......is anyone familiar with the "options" for the series 2 and 3 models ? Thanks

Miss Pritch.......as I live and breathe. A GS, eh ? Certainly a cut above that Japanese station wagon you almost killed us in on our way up to Worcester that time. It's a small world........

Evening one and all......... New to the Lexus scene, but have been hankering after an LS400 for a while. Looking at either a series 2 or series 3, and would appreciate any buying advice along the lines of what to check for. So far, I know that the exhaust systems are expensive and the LCD screen is prone to failure, and that is about it. Some questions off the top of my head....... Is it possible to fit an after-market radio unit into the series 2/3 ? (I've looked at pictures of the dash, and I can't see the stereo being removable) How common/rare are models with the DHP ? Keen to hear from any LS400 owners who have converted to LPG...especially if it was a DIY install. Also keen to hear from anyone who has an aftermarket exhaust fitted. After all, it is a V8, and that burble needs to be amplified ;-) Be curious to know if lowering springs are available, too. I've been a Rover 800 enthusiast for a few years, and have owned a couple of late mk1 827 Vitesse's. A much maligned car in my opinion.....an excellent Honda V6 that is almost bullet proof providing the cambelt/water pump is replaced when it should be. But to me, the LS400 is an obvious progression.....an extra 2 cylinders and a level up in terms of refinement. I welcome any advice and suggestions, apart from "buy a series IV".... .....I can't afford one, and to be honest, I prefer the look of the earlier models. TIA Justin