Savo

Oh and at the time I bought the car I was assured by Lexus uk that the car would be fine without the cooler for my caravans weight

I got a kenlowe cooler fitted 50000 miles ago and have been happily towing a1500kg caravan for the last 6 years. Cost me about £100 at the time plus about £60 fitting which included new oil and filters in the gearbox.

Quick update on this pretty old post :-). I've been regularly towing the caravan for six years now with no problems. I had an oil cooler fitted 50000 miles ago and have happily towed the caravan round England and all over Ireland with 2 dogs and a family of five.

Sorry for the late reply. I'm not sure what the brackets are for but everything is still working fine :-)

Thanks Jim, the brakes are fixed! I had pulled the cable behind the drum & it felt loose but it was stuck going through into the drum as you thought. Its moving freely now & is well greased.

Thanks again for your help!

OK thanks again, I went out and had another look. The cable is loose from the drum but was locked really tight going through the drum & looks like the pictures of yours. I have put grease in it to free it up but maybe new cables is the way to go. I will investigate further when im back from picking the kids up from school.

Thanks, I just had a read of your post and will go back out and have another look at the car but I think my problem is different. Here is a pic of the bracket that is missing / rusted off.

£

I'm at a loss as to what to do next, nearly £500 for the parts and then fitting :eerrrmm: Does anyone know what the missing bracket does? I'd hate to replace the backing plate just to find out all I needed was a new cable.

Well I think I need a new backing plate on both sides, there is supposed to be a small bracket at the bottom which has broken off. I spoke to my local dealer & they are £220 + VAT EACH. Has anyone any idea how else this can be fixed or where else I can try for the parts?

Thanks

Hi I am stuck with trying to fix the parking brake on my 98 GS300. The park brake pedal falls most of the way down to the floor & the car needs rocked back & forth to release the brakes after. Yesterday I had the car up on stands & replaced the rear shoes & adjusted them correctly (I think). The brake cable is still really loose even after being adjusted as much as possible at the pedal. I removed the centre console and there is no way from above of adjusting the cable where the two separate cables join. I removed the heat shield from the exhaust and can see a pivot in the transmission tunnel where the 3 cables meet but can't see any adjustment. I spent about 12 hours on this yesterday and am totally stuck. I had my rear disks replaced about 5 years ago and the mechanic said something about metal brackets rusting off in the rear hubs but I can't find any reference to them or how to go about replacing them. Please help!!

Thanks

Andrew

You've failed to mention that you have visited the depot in Bangor and spoken to Andrew about this system. He quoted you the £600

local dealer in Bangor who had already quoted me £600

I did mention that I had been at my local dealer. The facts are that I phoned your sales line and was quoted £600 for the full system without any mention of a discount or visiting other dealers etc, so I would take it then that that is the normal price. I would bet that if any member of the public phoned you now you would quote them £600.

The text messages offering discounts go out from Head Office and had I known that Andrew had already given what he considered to be the best price

So the discount is basically nothing, you are texting people to come in and chat with the dealer for a price on an exhaust. It is normal to negotiate a price when booking a car in for work.

You tell me that your exhausts are the best but Powerflow disagree

Hi Andrew

With ref to your question Powerflow Exhausts have been in business for over 12 years how long have Longlife been in Bangor

We do have two types of silencers i.e. pure stainless or a hybrid which a mixture of other metals and we have rolled edges and non rolled edges

I believe Longlife only have non rolled welded silencers, with ref to performance and sound this comes down to sizes of silencers and bore sizes that are used

By both companies

This will have to be your choice

Tony

Powerflow Exhausts (UK) Ltd

Powerflow have been straight forward with me so I feel that my business will go to them. I must say that I found the local Longlife dealer in Bangor very helpful and I have had no problem with him at all. My only annoyance from the start has been that you did not until now admit that YOUR HEAD OFFICE sent out a text message promising a discount which LED to nothing.

Andrew

Hi I have spent the last few months trying to decide on a replacement exhaust for my 98 GS300 as the centre section has broken and both rear silencers are looking well passed their best. I filled in a an online request for a quote on the Longlife website and a week or so later received a text message saying "phone us now, we have an offer you can't refuse". The number turned out to be my local Longlife dealer & he said that the text was a common thing that the company did & just to bring the car round some time for an estimate. I took the car to my local Powerflow dealer who quoted me £600 for the cat back system. Then I visited the Longlife dealer who said he would match the £600. Then I phoned Longlife sales number from their website, I didn't mention any other contact or other quotes given & was quoted £600. So where is the great offer? I then contacted them on Facebook as follows---

filled in an on-line form asking the price for an exhaust for my GS300 a couple of months back. Got a text message telling me you had an offer that I would be delighted with & to contact my local dealer in Bangor who had already quoted me £600. He said the price was still £600 & that you had sent out loads of these texts. Phoned your head office today & was quoted £600. WHY DID YOU SEND ME A TEXT FOR AN OFFER THAT DIDN'T EXIST??? Sounds like a bit of a con TBH.

Like · · Friday at 01:03 · Privacy:

Longlife Stainless Steel Exhausts Hi Andrew. Something seems to have gone wrong here. I'll look into this and get back to you. Regards - Jason

Friday at 09:49 · Like

Andrew Savage Well waited all day & you never got back to me.

Friday at 16:39 · Like

Longlife Stainless Steel Exhausts Sorry i've not been able to speak to Andrew today in the Bangor depot. I'll get back to you as soon as I have information for you.

Friday at 17:01 · Like

Longlife Stainless Steel Exhausts Hi. Just spoken to Andrew - will be able to get it down to £575 for you although that will be the best he can do. I understand Powerflow have quoted £600 which Andrew matched - out system will be of a higher quality so you're winning both ways there. Kind Regards - Jason

about an hour ago · Like

Andrew Savage So to confirm then you quoted me £600 over the phone with no mention of Powerflow and then sent me a text stating that you had a great offer that turned out to be 4.17% discount after complaining?

45 minutes ago · Like

Longlife Stainless Steel Exhausts As I understand it you'd been into the depot and Andrew there said he'd match the price for Powerflow at £600. I think he also mentioned doing just the rear boxes for £400? The work involved is substantial in building the system for your car - to be honest if you'd come to my depot it would have been more like £700 so £575 seems like a great price to me.

10 minutes ago · Like

Andrew Savage No. I did not mention on the phone anything at all about Powerflow or my local dealer & was quoted £500 + VAT fitted. To be honest I think we should end this now as I'm starting to find the whole thing most unpleasant.

Facebook link

This has put me totally off Longlife. Are they telling me the truth about being better quality than Powerflow? I line in Northern Ireland so my choice is fairly limited. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Andrew

I think This is the link I used, I had to program the key and the remote.

Andrew

I have a 99 LS 400, the only key I have for this is the 3 button master, all keys have a transponder fitted, i tried to buy a new key in Australia 7000 km away. i was told the only way they could make the transponder work on a new key was if they had the car as well as the master key. the Car is in New Guinea and there is no Lexus dealer. [the Toyota dealer asked' what is a Lexus'] can anyone help? Is there any way the transponder in new keys can be programmed without the car?

Cheers

Lobes

I bought a secondhand key and a new blank key off eBay. I got the new key cut and put the transponder from the secondhand key in it. Then I programed the key to work in my car (this is done inside the car), got all the info from google.

Andrew

I have looked on eBay with no joy, only lists 91-97. I have emailed SuperPro Polyurethane Bushings to see if they make any for the Mk2...

I left my 98 GS300 in for a service yesterday and it has come back with a shopping list, I require all new bushes in the front (upper & lower), a new 02 sensor/Bank1/sensor1 and the catalytic converter is leaking and needs replaced. I have been looking for bushes on the net for some time now with no luck and would be extremely grateful of any advice from fellow owners. I love the car but so far the only prices I have come up with have been well over the £1000 mark for the parts alone which is a lot to spent on a 10 year old car.

Thanks

Andrew

I got a bit of bad news form my local garage today. My car needs new front discs and rear hub bushes. The bushes are not available on their own and come complete in new hubs (garage has quoted me £390 EACH + fitting). Has anyone any ideas on where would supply the bushes? I have spent loads on the car and and just cannot justify another £1000+ Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Andrew

I have also mentioned this on another thread

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/ind...=47863&st=0

Same here.

Andrew

New sensor ordered, getting fitted next week by a local Toyota specialist. I think I'll get the timing belt done at the same time as there is no mention of it being replaced in the service book. On a more positive note the car feels much better since the ball joint has been replaced, less vibrating under braking etc, I'm going to get the 4 wheel alignment done on Monday so the car should back to full health by the end of the week :)

Andrew

Hi, I made a big mistake and got a friendly mechanic neighbour to replace a lower ball joint. Now I have three warning lights on the dash ABS, VSC, and another. The neighbour says to bring the car back round in the morning and he'll have another look at it. I'm worried he will make it worse (he is a bit fond of his hammer). I think I should bite the bullet and book the car into a decent garage tomorrow and have it looked at, if the ABS sensor has been damaged has anyone any idea of prices for replacement? Is my local Lexus dealer the only option for the parts? I'm really angry with myself for being so stupid and trying to cut costs.

Andrew

I asked asked the same question about my 98 GS300 and got this reply......

Dear Mr Savage.

Thank you for your email to Lexus GB Ltd.

Yes, Mr Savage your vehicle should be fine. When the tow bar is fitted,
your vehicle will be capable of towing a maximum load of 1,500 kg. There is
also an additional upgrade kit that will allow you to tow a greater load if
needed which would allow a maximum tow load of 2000 kg.

I hope this is of some help to you and if I can be of any further
assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind Regards

Tyronne Springer 
Lexus Customer Account Manager
0845 278 8888

I also had the Kenlowe oil cooler fitted and have towed a lot over the summer with no problems.

Andrew

Hi I bought one last week from here

http://www.kenlowe.com/oil-coolers/automatic/index.html

Helpful on the phone and quick delivery, I haven't fitted it yet though...

Andrew

Thanks :D .

I emailed Lexus and have and got got some great news...

Dear Mr Savage.

Thank you for your email to Lexus GB Ltd.

Yes, Mr Savage your vehicle should be fine. When the tow bar is fitted,

your vehicle will be capable of towing a maximum load of 1,500 kg. There is

also an additional upgrade kit that will allow you to tow a greater load if

needed which would allow a maximum tow load of 2000 kg.

I hope this is of some help to you and if I can be of any further

assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind Regards

Tyronne Springer

Lexus Customer Account Manager

0845 278 8888

My caravan fully loaded is below 1500 so all is well, I'll still get the cooler fitted though just to be sure :) .

Now I can get back to enjoying my new car.

Andrew

Here are some pics of the car...

I can't see why the car should need a new radiator, I have towed with loads of other cars and never had any problems. The only thing that worries me is this is my first auto which is why I ordered the oil cooler. I'll probably worry now every time I head off for the weekend in the caravan :duh:

Hi, I have just bought a 1998 GS300 and I love it :D . I am intending to use the car to tow my caravan in the summer. The car is booked in to have a Brink detachable towbar fitted and I have ordered a Kenlowe oil cooler. Am I right in thinking the car should be o.k. with the oil cooler fitted? I have been told that the car might need a bigger radiator, the radiator in the car is already huge and has 2 fans... is this the normal radiator?

Sorry for asking questions already. I will post up some pictures later

Andrew