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Everything posted by ambermarine
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It depends on usage I have a limited driving requirement these days and only ever got into this Marque because I was doing a lot of Motorway stuff back in the 90s 500 mile round trip every weekend to my yacht in Scotland for six years. I bought the Mark 4 knowing I would only be doing 6k a year tops as the yachting became history but I had fallen in love with these cars and I could'nt see anything that surpassed them ,I only use it lightly now but I have put more miles on it as the first two owners did in 13 years so it is getting used as a runabout with a couple of motorway splurges to Devon when we can. I think use is down to the individual and I go out on my bike for errands as nipping here and there is not good for the engine. Where you park and areas you would not leave the car unattended need careful consideration but generally these are highly respected motors and turn heads of knowledgeable folk. But the ultimate pleasure of owning them is the sheer pleasure they give when being driven the rest is just a bonus.
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The reset can only be done with the ECU software and that is through The dealer ship be careful of using any other software programmes or systems such as snap- on as they have been known to corrupt the initial factory programming and mess up the engine running correctly. With regard to normal operation the engine and gearbox Ecu's will learn the new driving modes and change them as the driver or driving changes ,not overnight it is subtle but it does happen.
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The learning capability as been a feature of the LS400 from day one I was shown this feature and actually practised it by my tech at Lexus back in 96. This is why the thrashing on the motorway or in sports mode improves performance the ect power is basically there to prevent the gearbox changing up when accelerating and overtaking manoeuvre's are taking place causing a drop in forward speed which could be fatal. The snow mode does the opposite so as to prevent wheel spin .
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Honest John
ambermarine replied to RgrWynne's topic in LS 400 / Lexus LS 430 / Lexus LS 460 / Lexus 600h / Lexus 500h Club
The timing belt on my mark 4 was changed when I bought it because although the car had only done 19k the car was 13 years old the belt had not been changed so under the 10 year criteria it was 3 years over due. There is a notion that rubber perishes and so the belt maybe suspect but the tech at Lexus who did the job said it was virtually brand new when removed with no obvious deterioration . The make up of the belt is very strong woven interlaced textile cord which gives the belt its tensile strength and the rubber is impregnated and moulded very similar to the production process of tyres . Personally I would not risk over running replacement directives but these belts are made to last beyond the specific time span for the manufacturers peace of mind. -
Honest John
ambermarine replied to RgrWynne's topic in LS 400 / Lexus LS 430 / Lexus LS 460 / Lexus 600h / Lexus 500h Club
Get yourself a good indie and a used 100K gearbox and that replacement fitted should come in at less than £1500. -
Honest John
ambermarine replied to RgrWynne's topic in LS 400 / Lexus LS 430 / Lexus LS 460 / Lexus 600h / Lexus 500h Club
Lets put this initial question in some kind of definable order of answer . My LS400 mark 1 cost me £19500 when it was 6 years old with 50k on the clock with full serviced history the original purchase price was 33k,I ran it for 14 years and put £2k in it . That was a very reasonable return on capital bearing in mind the car cost was also written down through tax in my business for eight years to zero depreciation. Then came along my present Mark 4 Bought for just shy of £4k with 19k on the clock,full service history and in mint condition the input since by me is approx £1k and the mileage is now 44k the car is now 22 years old and still in mint condition . I have nothing more to say other than the Ls400 is the answer to all the original questions if you find a good un. -
Lexus ls400
ambermarine replied to messi's topic in LS 400 / Lexus LS 430 / Lexus LS 460 / Lexus 600h / Lexus 500h Club
The mileage is at the top end I agree about the steering wheel but that could be changed back to original spec from a donor car. Depending on what suspension parts need doing its not a bad price. -
Very interesting video with reference to the shared features of the LS 400 and concept design ,the most striking is the use of wood and switches virtually from the same mold and I imagine a lot of the electronic modules are very similar with tweaks to pc boards. As Toyota were producing this car for a strictly home market the culture difference creeps in but from a snob appeal point of view the culture of the Americans was viewed by the Japanese as common and brash but they knew how to appeal to it in their marketing.
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Did the front pads, I bought last year genuine Lexus (toyota) off a guy who had bought them and not fitted for half normal price on ebay. The last time I fitted the front was 2015 just after I bought the car so there were 20k on them,They were 60% worn and there was probably another 15k in them but there is no need to take them to the wear alarm( which costs £45 if it wears through) as they get a lot of crap build up in the caliper and the pistons are more vulnerable to corrosion as they extend out of the pots. Took a bit of getting out on the drivers side through the build up of brake dust in the pins but no corrosion at all . But as always one job creates another as I chipped the now hardening paint on the edge of the wheel centre when removing the insert ,now my pristine wheels have a blemish to be fair there are no other faults or corrosion since I had them done three years ago. I will just live with the mark as a now departed friend once said ," You won't notice whilst running away from it".
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Looks to me like you have the wrong attitude for this club and owning a Lexus Ls 400 is not a given for being a contributor to this forum . As a lesson in manners and respect advised by a couple of members who have been contributing solid viable information for many years seems to be going over your head perhaps a different venue for your aggressive style is awaiting ,please head off there as we do not care for your input.
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Howard To go back to the soldering method have you considered the combined heat shink / solder tube .I have seen these used and they are very effective . Simply place both wires in the tube then heatgun the tube the solder melts and the tube shrinks creating a sterile joint if you use the correct narrow nozzle on the heat gun you will be able to precisely connect each wire without affecting others if you shield each wire.