AdiH

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Firstly, hello everyone. I just signed up today...

During March/April I am looking to purchase a used Lexus LS430. My budget is around the £12K mark. Thus, i'm probably looking at a high-mileage 2001/2002 model. I've been doing a fair bit of research and this appears to be the ideal second car for me. It will be used for going to work and ferrying friends/family around in comfort. My requirements for a second car were: supreme comfort, near-silent at motorway speeds, easy to drive, a refined ride, a decent set of toys/gadgets in the car (satnav and a decent sound system is a requirement), ability to soak up high miles, a decent amount of storage space and excellent reliability. The LS430 appears to tick all of those boxes. I will be doing around 12-15K miles per year.

Anyway, I need some advice on what to look for in cars of this age when I start viewing a few and test driving them over the next few weeks. What are the mileage points at which major work is required? How costly is this work? What about the Premium Pack - is this worth seeking out? Finally, I expect to keep the car for around 5 years and need to ensure that a 2001/2002 LS430 won't be a moneypit during that time.

I have another car but that is fairly impractical so the LS430 will become the practical car and my other car will be used for weekends and track days. I have also considered a used GS300 or RX300. Is the LS430 the last word in luxury and refinement and a major step up from those models?

Firstly, hello everyone. I just signed up today...

During March/April I am looking to purchase a used Lexus LS430. My budget is around the £12K mark. Thus, i'm probably looking at a high-mileage 2001/2002 model. I've been doing a fair bit of research and this appears to be the ideal second car for me. It will be used for going to work and ferrying friends/family around in comfort. My requirements for a second car were: supreme comfort, near-silent at motorway speeds, easy to drive, a refined ride, a decent set of toys/gadgets in the car (satnav and a decent sound system is a requirement), ability to soak up high miles, a decent amount of storage space and excellent reliability. The LS430 appears to tick all of those boxes. I will be doing around 12-15K miles per year.

Anyway, I need some advice on what to look for in cars of this age when I start viewing a few and test driving them over the next few weeks. What are the mileage points at which major work is required? How costly is this work? What about the Premium Pack - is this worth seeking out? Finally, I expect to keep the car for around 5 years and need to ensure that a 2001/2002 LS430 won't be a moneypit during that time.

I have another car but that is fairly impractical so the LS430 will become the practical car and my other car will be used for weekends and track days. I have also considered a used GS300 or RX300. Is the LS430 the last word in luxury and refinement and a major step up from those models?

Does anyone know where I can buy the centre trims (wheel nut cover) for the wheels of an LS430, I only need one that has come off/been nicked!

Thanks

I recently sold my LS400 Mk 3 (on Ebay) and looking to upgrade. I had a look at a LS430 6 spd in Croydon today £24k 53 plate with 45k miles. Alutian Grey with Beige lthr, awaiting preparation. Lexus were going to replace the alloys (with new ones!) repair all the scuff marks etc. The salesman said that the facelift 430 was more of a drivers car and that the early 430's were rather too floaty to drive that was the main reason the model was changed so quickly. I know he was trying to sell the car to me, but I said I would give it some thought. He phoned me within 30 mins to say the car had been sold.

My question is this, are the later spec 430's in demand and holding a reasonable price, despite the introduction of the new model? Plus has anyone seen a later spec 430 for under £20K?

I recently sold my LS400 Mk 3 (on Ebay) and looking to upgrade. I had a look at a LS430 6 spd in Croydon today £24k 53 plate with 45k miles. Alutian Grey with Beige lthr, awaiting preparation. Lexus were going to replace the alloys (with new ones!) repair all the scuff marks etc. The salesman said that the facelift 430 was more of a drivers car and that the early 430's were rather too floaty to drive that was the main reason the model was changed so quickly. I know he was trying to sell the car to me, but I said I would give it some thought. He phoned me within 30 mins to say the car had been sold.

My question is this, are the later spec 430's in demand and holding a reasonable price, despite the introduction of the new model? Plus has anyone seen a later spec 430 for under £20K?

I also have a 03 430 and agree with your thoughts but don't let the Lexus sales people try and push you. There are loads of them out there, and I picked mine up from a non-dealer with the premier pack and all extras for £19K last July. It did have 71K on the clock but was fully serviced including the expensive can belt change completed early. The wheels were a little scabby but I took it to the local Lexus dealer and they agreed to change them FOC because the white rust should not be on a car of that age.

Check out the Lexus web site and Autotrader site you will find one for less than £20K with the premium pack, and then take out an independant warranty package for around £550 per year.

Good hunting.

Adi

After a little frustration I told my son to sit on the boot and managed, with a little force, to turn the key in the boot to get it to spring open (once my son had been removed). As thought, my rugby muppet mate had slammed the boot lid with a web handle of a carry bag across the catch system. It was closed but the soft door was trying to get it the last few millimeters to be tight.

Moral of the story is, ensure nothing is causing an obstruction across the lock mechanism when closing the boot lid!!!!!

Hi,

Im not 100% sure because ive only owned the mk1 LS.

It might be worth checking the disable the boot release function thats inside the car.On the mk1 you put the key in and turned it to allow the boot to be opened with the remote and with the boot release function.On the right hand side of the steering wheel inside the car.

Thanks for that but I have tried all the options mentioned in the hand book including the internal valet lock system, master key in the boot, boot release on master key fob and push button open on boot for keyless entry. None of these work and it now requires someone with the knowledge to open this using a workshop method not mentioned in the hand book!

Can anyone help me on getting the boot lid open. Someone went to my car and into the boot when I went out later the lid will not open no matter what method I have tried (key fob, internal release or manual key). I suspect that the muppet has got a bag strap trapped in the internal catch!

Does anyone know another method of manually opening the boot on a LS430?

Thanks

Compare the whole unit's part number with this one on eBay.

Another option might be this one, if not plug-compatible you may still be able to swap the laser mechs between them, if not you can just sell the whole system on again.

Thanks, I am on to it and looking at booth options. :D

Anyone know of an electrical dealer who can replace the laser of my Sat Nav unit on a LS430. Lexus refuse to supply the unit and want to rip me off to the tune of £1700 + VAT for the reader box!

Cheers :tsktsk: