scandy

Thanks for the info

Hi all, Hope someone has had this - I have a GS430 sport Mk2 and recently after refueling after a little while the check engine light comes on, had it checked and no codes. Disconnecting the battery for about a minute clears it and it's fine for sometimes a week or two or until you fill up again and then it can be a week before the light comes on again. Also replaced the petrol cap with an OEM part as I noticed when I take the petrol cap off the 'whoosh' sound is now gone but the new petrol cap did not restore the pressure as it used to be so no change. No idling issues, MPG still 30 odd on a long motorway run so not using any more fuel and starts perfectly. Suspect the EVAC system but can live with it as would cost more than the car is worth probably to get to the bottom of it. Anyone had this in case it's a simple fix? Thanks in advance.

Are the MK2 GS's affected by this or is it only from MK3 onwards? Not seen anything that they are or ever heard of this problem in them.

In case anyone is not aware E10 fuel is being introduced ('forced') on us next year and is an EU directive which we will be applying - this can seriously damage engines if they are not built to work with the increased Ethanol content of the fuel: https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/104126/e10-petrol-be-uk-standard-wont-work-1m-older-cars List of non compatible cars is in a link at the end of the article - for Lexus owners any car made before 1998 may not be compatible and these engines are affected: • IS250 2.5 litre V6 with engine 4GR-FSE made between August 2005 and September 2007, GS300 3.0 litre V6 with engine 3GR-FSE made between January 2005 and September 2007., LS460 4.6 litre V8 with engine 1UR-FSE made between August 2006 and September 2007 Surprised at the modern cars being in that list but good to know.

My GS430 Mk2 (2003) is up to 61k miles now and from what I have seen it could be an idea to consider a transmission fluid change, but there seems to be little information about it anywhere in terms of when to do it specifically for the GS430. Has anyone done this on their GS430 Mk2 and if so is it every 60k miles to do so? Thanks in advance.

Can't take a picture of mine as it's in for its annual service currently but sport is written in both of the back curved windows on either side of the car - nice looking car by the way - my 2001 sport was in the same colour.

As it's registered before July 2003 it will be a dealer created sport - the only difference I could find between the pre and post July 2003 cars was slightly sharper handling on the July 2003 car as I had a 2001 430 sport before that. As I mentioned externally they look identical even down to the sport written in the back side windows and on the front lip spoiler. Either way as I said I much prefer the trade off of better handling vs ride in comparison to the standard car.

Basically suspension height (20 mm lower) better handling, 18" alloy wheels and different front grill plus rear spoiler - the sport whether dealer modified or the July 2003 model should have much tighter handling and a harder ride than the GS430 SE. GS430 sport cars between 2001 - June 2003 do handle differently from the July 2003 ones (as owned both), the July 2003 ones have (in my opinion) slightly sharper handling but the 2001 onwards GS430 sport cars still handle much better than the standard car. The 2001 - July 2003 cars were dealer modified I believe and look externally identical to the post July 2003 cars, but Lexus officially launched the GS430 sport (and relaunched the GS300 sport with smaller lip spoiler) in July 2003 in the UK. Looking at the attached press release they added some additional interior features as well. Suggest you test drive one as the ride is much stiffer than the standard SE car and may not to be everyone's taste as unlike modern cars, there is no air suspension to tune (or go wrong!). Attached the official Lexus press release from July 2003 which might help. the-new-lexus-gs300-and-gs430-sport.pdf

I don't know if this might help? http://media.toyota.co.uk/2003/07/the-new-lexus-gs300-and-gs430-sport/ Had a 2001 430 sport and the 2003/4 one and the 2003 one definitely drove differently to the 2001 version as it felt tighter through corners. Sure the 2001 was lowered as well but can't remember. However as tigerfish says he has his on different springs so likely better than either of them! Should add, if you do find an 03/04 one the only 'official' GS430 sport colours were black, silver and canterbury blue.

Congratulations on the purchase of the GS430, yes that's correct - each time you refuel it resets this counter and then bases this on fuel consumption since you put fuel in. So if you put some fuel in and then went straight onto say a dual carriageway or motorway, then that would explain that figure. Agree with all the other comments regarding the fuel consumption for the GS430, also I think even at independents you would have found the LS400 more expensive to service most probably. Having had an LS400 back in the day both lovely cars for different reasons. Enjoy your GS.

Have had both and currently have the GS430 Mk 2 sport, standard GS430 is a bit softer ride wise but is more likely to wallow slightly round corners but not much in it to be honest ride quality wise as Tiger Fish says. Sport is the pick IMO as it is just as comfortable on motorways as it is on twisty country roads, handles much better than the standard GS430.

Make sure none of the brake calipers are sticking, just had mine replaced on the drivers rear as it kept sticking - to be fair it's an 11 year old car now so worth checking before buying.

GS430 sports are getting quite rare now ( 126 in 2013 according to how many left website), however as Colin says they are an old car with a big engine so for a lot of people they could be trouble - even though ironically if they have been looked after and properly serviced, they make a great buy. Saw one on Autotrader 4 or 5 months ago that had done 215k miles and was up for £1,500 - silver with black leather and was the 2001 dealer one not the 2003 model from the factory - interior had worn very well too.

Interestingly just had mine done for an O2 sensor at 49k miles, seems to be between 46k and 66k the sensor goes? Still as I said in the earlier post compared to other cars you can't really complain after 10 years!

Hope this is ok to post a link but this is the official press release if I remember copied here from July 2003: http://www.carpages.co.uk/lexus/lexus_the_new_gs300_sport_and_gs430_sport_part_1_04_07_03.asp

I've had a 430 sport since 2005 and follow the service schedule with a Lexus dealer, only two problems I've had with it are the electric door mirror failing on the driver's side and on the cosmetic front the driver's seat piping on the bottom of the seat splitting in two. But considering how complex the car is that's really good - for comparison, a friend of mine bought a 2004 Audi A6 V8 in 2006 and it spends more time in the garage then it does on the road. I call it the bionic car as he could have bought a new one for what he's had to spend on it!

Didn't Lexus when they brought out the official GS430 sport in July 2003 change the 300 sport to have a lip spoiler? I have the 430 sport with the full spoiler but I have seen official 300 sports for sale at Lexus dealers in the past (03/04 reg) with the lip spoiler on the 300. I was curious about this and picked up the official brochure from the time and that confirms the 300 did have a lip boot spoiler and the 430 had the full size one from July 2003. Not sure why they did that.

Are you sure you have selected the correct Generation of Sat Nav system? They do support all the DVD GS satnav editions as I updated my satnav for the GS430 Mk2 sport a few months ago, if there's a disc for that there will be one for yours. It's important as well to read both parts of the code off the DVD which in the Mk3's is easier to get at, as the DVD is in the dash rather than the boot. Failing that there is a contact page on the site and I'm sure they'll be able to help you as it's email based correspondence I think.

I've had an LS400 Mk4 in the past but not an LS430 - I have read some nasty tales on here about the air suspension going wrong along with air conditioning in the rear regards the LS430. Of course I'm sure LS430 owners could correct me here but it put me off an LS430 for a secondary car a while ago. The GS430 Mk2 is quite 'simple' in comparison to the LS430 in that sense, but at the end of the day if you can look at both cars I would ask the question why are you looking at these cars? Is it magic carpet ride in a straight line? If so the LS430 is streets ahead of the GS430 but if you want something that isn't quite so imposing with no air suspension, the GS430 fits the bill. I've had a GS430 sport for the last 5 years having had a GS430 ordinary car before that and I'm very happy with it - yes the ride can be a bit unsettling over uneven surfaces but then it is supposed to be sport! The payback is in better handling due to the revised suspension - the standard GS430 is ok but not a patch on the sport model. With the LS400 I loved the car but going round a tight corner was always a bit of a chore due to the wallow nature of the car - great ride in a straight line though which the GS430 could never hope to match. At the end of the day it is personal preference but I think if maintenance is your worry then the GS430 may be a better choice due to lower servicing costs and less things to go wrong. However if that is not a concern then it becomes more difficult, both cars have similar economy but the LS has a larger fuel tank. Either way they are both great cars.

To add to the other comments, if you spend a lot of time sitting in traffic the GS430 will consume a lot of fuel - likewise it will too if you have 'fun' often. On a long run on a flat road using cruise control I can get about 29mpg average in perfect conditions. Obviously if you drive around 60mph you will get better consumption readings. The MK 2 LS430 (up to 2006) and MK3 GS430 offer slightly better fuel consumption than the MK2 GS430 simply because they have a different automatic gearbox which has an extra gear. The engines as far as I know are unchanged from the MK2 GS430. Either way if you can afford the fuel bills it's a good used buy whether you go for MK3 or MK2.

I think the Wikipedia entry is not specific to the UK market - I think the only options on the last LS430 were for the pre-crash system and the adaptive cruise control. Reversing camera and sat nav were standard from when the model was launched - Bluetooth was added / tweaked later on but was certainly standard by the end of the model's run in 2006 - have a look on Parker's for the used review - certainly backed up by a 2006 model on sale in Autotrader. Looked into this myself as considered one a while back, but I decided I liked the sport too much!

I've had a 2003 430 sport since 2005 and also previously had the GS300's and the standard 430 for a time - not had any major problems with mine so sorry to hear about someone who has. The 430 has steering wheel audio controls but that's about it in terms of difference whereas I think the 300 has steering mounted gear change buttons to compensate. 430 just a nicer drive IMO and has the additional power if you need it. Oh and if you do look for a 430, avoid the early ones on X and Y as some of them do not have memory seats if I remember - also whether GS300 or 430, get it with Satnav and go for the post 2001 models as they had the later satnav system - all of them with Satnav give you a fuel computer into the bargain. (The later Satnav system has route preview and seems quicker in operation.)

How many miles since the last belt change? The car has done 60000 since new and has not had its cambelt changed yet. I have read on this forum that other people's cars have gone beyond 100k without the cambelt changed. I woudnt want to do that coz I am a but of a perfectionist. If you know anyone who does a good services on Lexus cars in Essex, please advise. As you're in South essex (not too far from the dartford crossing) why not try Lexus Tunbridge wells out? Great service there IMO I have found. Not too far to go as I think the nearest one in Essex is either Woodford or Ipswich which is probably just as far if not further to go?

Just been reading previous timing belt posts and I'm wondering if anyone with some experience of this can give me some advice? I've got a GS430 sport that's 7 years old this September coming but has only done 37k miles - when should I consider changing the timing belt on it, as I see from some posts people have had it done when the car has done 68k miles. Do I wait until it's service in 2013 to do it or do it beforehand as effectively it's now at the same period in time as the guy who did his at 68k. Obviously usage has a bigger impact, but I know from wheeler dealers on various other makes these belts do gradually rot away. Milage wise at max I'd only do around 6k miles a year in a 'bad' year - average can be 3-4k - I plan to keep the car for a few years yet as I don't like the shape of the Mk3 (though it's a nice car in its own right), and I don't like anything else in the range that Lexus do as their new design focus does nothing for me personally. Any opinions would be welcome. Many thanks in advance.

The trim you're looking for was known as suffolk I believe with Pembroke being black and Andorra the grey trim. Although this trim was available on most colours during the production run, it was standard on some colours whereas on others it was considered a bespoke trim and so is rarer. Typically you're more likely to find this colour on blue's (hamilton and canterbury) and red, greens and gold - similar to other makes of executive cars. The Mk2 always had sat nav as an option and was never offered as standard as far as I know, the DVD version I think came in around 2000(?) as at launch it was CD based back in 98. Satnav on the GS Mk2 also gives you a fuel computer so worth having. As for the trim surround perhaps someone else could comment on that? I think it might have changed around 2001 and if you're looking for a GS you do want the 'facelifted' one, as that doesn't suffer problems with the master brake cylinder as many people on the forum have commented on as it's upgraded. Hope that helps. (Actually if you want to see a GS MK2 with suffolk trim have a look at the post 'Fitted Hid kit to my Gs300' That has the suffolk trim and is (I think?) a rare white)