passman53

I've just measured mine which as far as I know is the original and it's 115mm X 74mm. Sorry to add to the confusion.

Hi Passman, Are the Kumho`s fitted to your car on a 55-series? Mine are 225-55-16 Kumho Ecstas, and I was thinking of replacing them early as I think the road noise has increased since fitting them. I was going to experiment with 60-series tyres to attempt a reduction in road noise trading off a little handling sharpness (Really needed in a LS!!) Mine are standard 60 series, to be honest the LS could never be said to handle but then they are so comfy. I don't think you can really get both, not in my price range anyway.

I've just looked under Lexus workshop posts and there is good article on there by iceman about his GS. Sounds as if it may be the same problem. Hope so as it isn't too expensive.

I have mentioned on a previous post that I had a set of 4 Kumho Ecsta KH11 tyres fitted recently. Since then I have done 3k miles and am very pleased with them. These tyres replaced Bridgestone and the reduction in road noise was noticeable as soon as I left the tyre fitters. The grip is very good- wet or dry, though I haven't noticed any difference in the ride quality. The tyres are the same size and speed rating as MR. JellyBean's and cost £70 each fitted and balanced from the local Kumho retailer and I would recommend them. On a different subject I am sorry to see you are still breaking the bits below the bumper, if it's any consolation I've just ruined one of mine.

I'm afraid I can't help much except to say i have dealt with Nip-parts a couple of times and had no problems at all.

I recently took mine in for service and asked for the lights to be checked as they were set too low. Advised that they had been adjusted to as high as was legal and now I don't really need main beam at all. As Pete(haylands) said they are brilliant for spotting signs and again I haven't been flashed as yet.

baxgtr Never heard of these niggles.... you have me worried now, what should I be looking for? Pete Pete, It's the first I've heard about niggles on a 430, so if you haven't found them yet I certainly wouldn't worry. On the original question, I bought a 98 Mk 4 last August, 123K with full history. It came with 12 months guarantee and after 5K miles I've spent £300 on new tyres (kuhmo-well worth consdering in my opinion), and £294 on a B service at Lexus Wolverhampton who I would certainly recommend. It's averaged 22.7 mpg(23.9 on the computer) but did 32mpg when I went to the Yorkshire Dales via Selby, cruised around 80 on the m-way then gentle driving whilst touring round, total 732 miles. I think that's good for 4.0litre V8. I paid £3,500 and consider it was a bargain, other than petrol I think it's quite cheap to run.

I've just tried mine. Sitting inside one press locked the car, WAITED until the security light on the dash started to flash then moved. My alarm sounded before I had time to get my hand to the door handle, so the movement sensor works. When testing you have to wait for the system to arm which is when the dahboard light starts to flash. If you don't then nothing happens even after you have opened the door. I also tried pressing the button twice and the indicators flashed five times and the locks clicked. Again waited for the security light to flash(30 seconds) then waved my arms about but nothing happened until I opened the door when the alarm went off. So it seems the extra push on the button turns off the sensor. I've had another look in my hand book and still can't see any reference to pushing the lock button twice. Just noticed in the book it tells you to open the windows before testing the alarm I'll try that later and let you know if it makes any difference.

I've just looked at my handbook and it makes no mention of pressing the button more than once. I'll try mine in the morning (complete with waving arms :winky: ),and let you know.

Replacement due at 63K miles/7years. Lexus dealer quoted me £460 (inc vat), sorry don't know how much independants charge.

I have replaced Bridgestone ER300 with Kumho Ecsta KH11 on my Mk 4. They certainly produce less noise and I am quite happy with the grip they provide. My previous car was sold to a neighbour and he had a set of Federal fitted, I cannot believe the difference in noise although he reports the road holding as excellent. The noise is (I assume) dependant on the tread pattern with the more traditional ribbed design being quieter than a block or Arrow pattern. The kumho cost me £70 each, fitted and balanced, from a local tyre company-I have 16" wheels so I assume 17" would be dearer. One thing the tyre fitter warned me of was that the grip would not be at its best until 3/400 miles had "bedded them in", I must say he was quite right. I've now done 2k with them and would certainly buy the same make again.

Hello cynical. Yes, you are quite right. One 53 reg (supposedly sold for £9,877), was actually back on the next day. Why don't they just put on a reserve and have done with it?

I knew we hadn't collected enough for a new car for you. Try www.nip-parts.co.uk for the bearing and brake parts. I have used them in the past (for brake pads) and was happy with the service, prices and the pads. They are listing what I think is the correct bearing at £41.90. I would have the pads replaced sooner rather than wait as you don't want to risk having to replace the sensor too- extra £50 at Lexus prices and I don't know any where else that supplies them. I believe its about 4 hours labour for the wheel bearing.

The only benefit of being as old as me is paying £342 fully comp on my LS400. :winky:

Hi I think you will have to wait ages for Steve to reply as I think he has sold his 400, he hasn't posted on here for months Pete I didn't think the collection we had for him would have been enough!

This happened on my mk 3 too. Does it start again without trouble and then run ok until another motorwar run? If so it,s odds on you need to clean the throttle body. Check on lexls site for how to do it. On mine the body was badly worn-very unusual and i had to replace it. Lexus will charge you around £600 for this!!!

so a guy with a little diesel doing 50K miles a year will pay less than a guy with luxury car he only uses at weekends? Yes, in my driving school car I pay just £35 pa and do about 30K miles, compared with around 8K miles in my Lexus. My maths may be wrong but I make it a total of 3,392,000gms pa in the Lexus and 5,664,000gms of emissions pa from my Hyundai Getz diesel. Doesn't seem fair does it? Mind you I know which I prefer to be in.

I haven't really noticed much difference in the ride quality and I can't comment on the noise as the Mk3 was fitted with really noisy tyres-Federal. To be fair the roadholding was very good though. When I got it, the new car was fitted with Bridgestone which I've replaced with--wait for it---Kumho KH11. These produced much less noise from the moment I left the tyre dealers. I was going to see how they performed over a few thousand miles and then put up a post on them.

Hello, I changed from a Mk 3 to a Mk4 (Not a dhp), last August and don't regret it. However the changes in themselves are not that much, it just feels a better package overall. Engine -----------variable valve timing and extra 20bhp plus extra 24lb ft of torque at slightly lower revs. Gearbox---------5 speed instead of 4 Together these make the car seem much faster and generally more responsive than a reduction of less than a second in the 0-60 time(Lexus figures compared), would suggest. Probably because of the engine and fifth gear I find the car is a bit more economical. I'm averaging 23mpg instead of 20mpg. Traction control has been useful once or twice during the icy weather. VSC has never yet operated but then I don't drive like a lunatic anyway. Additional side air bags which hopefully you won't need. HID lights are good but then I was happy with the 4500K xenon bulbs I put in my old car. Sat nav not an issue for you but I much prefer the layout of the audio and climate display, just a personal thing really. As I said not really that many changes but all of them add up to what I think is a better car. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Are you looking at a diesel just for the potential economy? If so on your commuting miles you may be looking at a saving of around £10 per week. However, I've just been looking at used car prices and most dealers are asking around £2-£3,000 more for a diesel over the same year petrol car. Surely this means you will not be saving anything till you've had the car for 4+years at least. I believe a diesel is only of economic benefit to a high mileage user, i.e. 20K plus a year. If thats the case then why buy a diesel and risk being less than satisfied?

I agree with Chris, I bought from Autogrilles on e-bay. Cost about £26 and arrived in 10 days. Very easy to fit. I sold the car to my neighbour so I've just popped over to have a close look at the grill. Still looks good 2 years after I fitted it.

Yes you're right. They are listed as uprated Xenon bulbs, genuine HID bulbs(D2R), as fitted to later models are around £60-£70 each, or , if you go to Lexus, £140+ vat per bulb. For the price I paid they were brilliant-no pun intended.

I fitted 4500k off e-bay which from memory were about £8 a pair, and was very pleased with the result. They gave a really white light without looking too blue. I think the higher the "k" the more blue they get.

Hello, Car looks nice, You do need the clear indicators and repeaters though. I have a set from when i sold my mk 3. I also have the JDM rear lights (see Lextasy.com if your not sure what I mean). Basically they have clear lens through the indicator and rear fog/reversing light. I fitted led red bulbs and it passed it's MOT. The one front lens has a slight scratch but was not noticeable when it was on the car, if I knew how to put up a picture i could show you. As long as you will use them, not just put them on e bay you can have them for the cost of the postage. I also think a Chrome grill kit carefully applied would look good. Let me know if you are interested.

I'd like to think I would take it as well as you seem to have done.