Haylands

Hi Personally I wouldn't entertain anything other than the tyres that Lexus intended, with 250+bhp and rear wheel drive you will spin any tyre you fit, the coefficient of friction between rubber and tarmac will not change much unless you go for a race tyre with sticky tread.... Pete

At least he doesn't get prosecuted like that poor bloke Bill Stickers.......................

Graham Thanks for the kind words I intend to enjoy every minute of it.... might get a bit sick of the exhaust noise though.... then again probably won't..... Pete

Yes sir, you have gone a bit bonkers. :P It sounds like great fun though. Are you going on the shuttle or the ferry? You need to find out the height of the vehicle you're bringing back because there are limits on ferries and Eurotunnel. That will affect the cost. Then you may find that some crossings are more expensive when it's a one way trip which of course it will be. Are you driving down to get it in one vehicle with the driving shared and then the other person brings the original vehicle back? If that's the case, and as you're heading down the West side of France, think about booking through Speed Ferries as they go to boulogne and are cheap. Only downside is they are not a roll on/roll off ferry and you may find it takes a few more minutes to disembark than you would like. I think continental travel is brilliant, you will not regret making this road trip I'm sure. Just plan what you can mate. Nev Nev We are flying down to Faro then driving back, calais - dover ferry already booked with priority boading and club lounge.... booked through airmiles so cost £0 Flight from Doncaster - Faro direct flight with extra legroom seat, two bags and food..... total cost £77 pays to travel off season.... Thanks for the advice Pete

Hi all Thanks for the comments............... about 50/50 Think I'm a bit mad but it seems like a laugh, spoke to the guy today and he was in shorts and the sun was blazing so will look forward to that... My brothers comming with me, I think we will head east along Spains south coast then turn north..... keep in the sunshine as much as possible.... 1800miles at 25mpg = 72 gallons of diesel.... so somewhere between 250-350 GBP depending on price of diesel in Europe... Anyone know if these will run on vegetable oil.... thought I might try a 50/50 mix to keep the cost down and the oil thin.... Will miss the LS430 though, my better half has instructions to talk to it and stroke it gently so it won't miss me too much :-) Pete

Chris Got the same problems with mine, apparently it is caused through lack of use, the pistons have oil in them to lubricate and when not used the rubbers get dry and the gas escapes Anyway found these people and will send mine when I get around to it, this is a copy of the email I recieved from them.... a lot cheaper than Lexus Dear Peter Thank you for your enquiry. Some struts can be re-gassed depending on their condition so a visual inspection by us must be made in order to assess your struts, which is free of charge. If you try a re-gas and it is not successful within the warranty period we will discount the cost of the re-gas from new gas struts purchased from SGS Engineering. A re-gas is £49.94 delivered for the pair (£17.50 per strut plus £7.50 carriage and VAT) and struts are usually turned around within three working days. Payment can be made via credit/debit card and you will be contacted for payment once your struts have been tested and are ready for dispatch. If you require a re-gas please send your struts to: SGS Engineering Unit 2, Coburn Place Newland Street Derby DE11JT. If you have any questions or would like to place an order, please don’t hesitate to call. Kind Regards Andy Wyatt. SGS Engineering (UK) Ltd Unit 2, Coburn Place Newland Street Derby DE1 1JT Telephone: 0845 880 12 55 Fax: 01332 366232 Email: andy@sgs-engineering.com Web Address: www.sgs-engineering.com

Bought it to add to the ..... I've got more cc's than you game..... 6200 + 4300 (LS430) = 10,500 cc's 16 cylinders.. the guy I play it with just has a measily 3800cc's and 8 cylinders... Pete

Bought this on ebay, flying down Thursday to pick it up, going to drive all the way back and cross Calais to Dover... about 1800miles http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...N:IT&ih=008 Am I going mad or does it seem like a laugh to you??? Comments and tips for a cross Europe road trip welcome Pete

Chris Great to hear you like it... but then again whats not to like... I used the sports mode on motorways when I first got mine, as passengers were getting a bit queezy with it on soft.... now I come to think about it no one has complained and I haven't had sports selected since I got the 270's on it so maybe that is another reason to get them.... I tried to load some pics as well but to no avail..... Might try again soon..... Anyway I'm away for a few days now on a road trip back from Faro to Hull in this.............. ebay... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...N:IT&ih=008 Always wanted one with that engine and I just could'nt resist.... Pete

Hi, Have a look at recent threads about tyres.... there are a few.... Just used my brand new spare, car is nearly 7 years old and the tyre looks and feels new, I think they are fine when kept in the boot and away from sunlight which will decay the rubber and harden it. Personally having had cheap tyres on the car when I bought it I would always use the recommended Dunlop’s, yes I can hear road noise still but these cars are the quietest around so all you can hear is tyre noise it’s just that with the Dunlop’s it is a lot less than with other cheap tyres. If you do a Google image search on the Dunlop D8 (LS400) or the Dunlop sport 270 (LS430) you will see that the tread blocks are very small and that the blocks around the edge of the tyre are of different sizes, this disturbs airflow over the tyre and stops drumming, the small tread blocks are also broken up by more grooves and this reduces noise, apparently the directional tyres with the large V grooves in them are the noisiest... so have a good look at the tyres before you buy them, you want them to look more like the D8's. They is also a difference in the sidewall construction and the rubber compound.... Basically.... pay your money and take your choice, Lexus recommend Dunlop because they worked with Dunlop to create the quietest car in the world and they know more than me so I'll go along with them, Good luck, let us know what you choose and let us know what they are like Isn't it great that all we have to worry about is tyre noise, when I ran a Merce**s S class tyre noise was the last thing on my mind all I worried about was if it would still work tomorrow..... mostly it didn't.... well mostly some button or other had forgotten what it was supposed to do and that was on a newer car than my LS430. The buttons on the LS have a much better memory as all of mine can still remember their jobs Pete

Hi Just emailed the guy and he replied in 5 mins... the damaged side is from a different Lexus that he hasn't got now... the one on sale just has the front damage and the rear bumper. You can see in one of the pictures that the airbags are OK.... how hard do you have to crash to set them off????? Pete

Hi The "put new tyres on the back" advise is based on the fact that if the tyres with the most grip, i.e. the new ones go on the back then the car will, at the limit of roadholding, start to understeer instead of oversteer. Understeer is easier for the average person to handle as just backing off will usually correct the skid.... But most of our cars have traction control along with lots of other clever bits of electronics to stop us crashing so I don't suppose it really matters. I've just put the two new ones on the front as it was these two tyres that were being changed. I'm still here, haven't crashed.... yet, and am happy with it. Dare say someone has another idea on this but hey, wouldn't life be boring if we all agreed!!!!!!!!!!!! Pete

Hi Apparently the Jap give a softer ride... this is pure hearsay i have no personal knoledge... what I was told when the garage ordered mine were that they only list one tyre of this type/size and it was the Made in Japan ones not others... there may be a presumtion going on here because I heard this info on only get Jap ones when the tyre in question was the Dunlop D8's as fitted to the LS400 so maybe they don't actually do a German sport 270!!! Anyway done a good few miles with them now and they are good BTW Blackcircles does not cover the whole country even if they say they do, when I enquired with them they just stated they couldn't do it.... no reason given, I guess they don't have a place up here in the back of beyond...... Pete

Hi The 5 or 6 in the number is the heat rating of the plug.... varies for different countries but shouldn't make that much difference. My brother fitted the iridium ones to his 400 a while back and is happy with them.... Good luck Pete

Hi Having just thrown away two virtually new tyres and spent £130 each on two Dunlops I feel able to offer some advice... My car, the 430 was the quietist car in the world when new, Lexus spent many thousands to create this and did it with the help of Dunlop The 400 is also a very quiet car, the cheap tyres I had, Maxxis, are good tyres I have had them on other cars and found them to offer good grip and decent life, I imagine they are similar to the Kumho's, the price is similar... All I will say is that the £260 was well worth it for the reduction in road noise, especially at low to moderate speeds, the car is now whisper quiet and all you can hear is the leather creak, under my not inconsiderable weight, on corners. I suppose it depends on your wants... I have the radio very low or off and just like the serenity, if on the other hand you have the radio up loud or are not fussed by the noise then go with the cheaper ones. I will say the Dunlops are more supple over pot holes, the turn in is also crisper, but then I suppose they should be at twice the price.... One last thing is that tyre shops never offer advice on quiet tyres, the one I used thought I was mad to chuck out two nearly new tyres just for noise, well for my money it was worth it I cannot say enough how much difference it made. Good luck with the decision.... Pete

Hi My wife just bought a new baby Lexus..... well alright its a Toyota Yaris SR. The dealer was trying to sell us a paint guard system that "lasts for years" If this is done at the dealers then surely it must be available for DIY application Anyone know what its called and if it does what it says on the tin!!!! Pete

Chris Having driven both I would say there is no noticable difference between the magic carpet ride of either, if on the right Dunlop tyres of course, the one thing you do notice is that you sit higher in a 430 than in a 400. if you want to try one and are up here sometime let me know..... Pete

Hi all Apparently this is the way to programme a new key although it won't do the smart key bit... Tried this on a USA spec key bought off ebay but they are obviously different to ours... Thought I'd add this below as it may help someone... LEXUS KEY PROGRAMMING First two methods are for programming the transponder chip in new keys and the immobilizer allowing the new keys to start the car. Process works with all keys - remotes, valet, non-remotes Method 1: Requires one working LEXUS Master Key. 1. Enter the car with the existing master key and close all doors. Simultaneously depress and release both the brake and the accelerator pedals. 2. Within 5 seconds, insert the existing master key into the ignition. DO NOT TURN THE KEY. 3. Within 15 seconds of inserting the ignition key, depress and release the accelerator pedal 5 times. 4. Within 20 seconds, depress and release the brake pedal 6 times and then remove the existing master key key from the ignition. 5 Within 10 seconds, insert the new key into the ignition. 6. Depress and release the accelerator pedal one time. The security light should now begin flashing to indicate that the computer is reading the new key and programming the system. 7. Leave the new key in the ignition for 80 seconds. When the security light stops flashing the new key is registered, Remove new key and depress and release brake pedal 1 time. The programming process should be complete. 8. Test the new key. Place the key into the ignition and verify that the car will start. 9. If this is a new remote master key, test the remote functions on the new key. Method 2: Requires one working LEXUS Master Key. 1. Make sure all doors and windows are closed. 2. Insert Master key into the ignition cylinder. 3. Cycle the ignition cylinder from On to OFF five times. 4. Open and close the driver side door 6 times. 5. Remove the Master Key and insert the new duplicates key. 6. TURN THE IGNITION CYLINDER ON. 7. The new key will be registered after 60 seconds. The THEFT light on the dashboard will go out, indicating that programming has been completed. LEXUS REMOTE PROGRAMMING Method 1: 1. Sit in the driver's seat and lock all the doors. 2. Unlock and open the driver's door. 3. Insert the key into the ignition and remove it (don't turn it...just remove it). 4. Using the MANUAL lock switch on the driver's door, lock and unlock the door 5 times. 5. Close the door. 6. Open the door. 7. Lock and unlock the driver's door 5 times (I'm almost certain you use the MANUAL lock switch again, but if this sequence fails to work, try again with the power switch). Insert the key into the ignition and turn it to the "ON" position. Remove the key. 8. The driver's door will now lock and unlock itself one time. 9. Press and hold the "LOCK" button on the key fob for at least 1 second. 10. Close the driver's door. 11. Open the driver's door. 12. Press and hold the "LOCK" button on the key fob for at least one second. 13. Close the driver's door. 14. Press and hold the "LOCK" button on the key fob. The door will lock. 15. Press and hold the "LOCK" button on the key fob again. The door will unlock. Method 2: 1. Driver door open and unlocked. Key out of the ignition 2. Insert the key and remove 2 times in 5 sec. 3. Close and open driver door 2 times in 40 sec. 4. Insert the key and remove it again from ignition. 5. Close and open driver door 2 times in 40 sec. 6. Insert the key in ignition, 7. Close the door, 8. Turn to on and back to lock in 1 second intervals. 1 time for add, 2 times for rewrite, 3 for confirmation 5 for prohibition. (yes, there is no “4”) 9. Remove the key 10. Power lock will cycle to confirm 11. For add or rewrite mode within 40 sec of the confirmation, A. press “lock” and “unlock” buttons of the FOB at the same time between 1 and 1.5 seconds. B. within 3 sec press “Lock” button for more than 1 sec and release. C. If it’s correct, the power door lock will cycle once. If it’s wrong the door lock will cycle twice. You should be all set.

Glenn, If you carefully prise it out you will see the key hole for using a key if your battery goes flat and the smart key won't work, it has a prong of plastic on the back that grips into the key hole, be carefull with it as the plastic is quite soft, managed to get mine out with long fingernails.....mine was silver on my dark blue car so I took it off and painted it with a touch up to match the car.... looks much better now.... So yes I did manage to improve on perfection......... Enjoy the car Pete

Chris Having recently bought a very similar car here is my two penny worth..... DEFINATLY get the tyres changed.... you want Dunlop sport 270's all round..... actually my typing is not very quick and I've loads to say so ring me on 07971 161885 and I'll talk you through it..... Pete

Thanks for the info.... Back to the main stealer then..... Cheers Pete

Dunlop Sport 270 in 255/55/17 W speed rated (up to 168mph) Made in Japan. £130 all in fitted and balanced including old tyre disposal Pete

Hi If you need new pads try here.... could get massaging seats as well to keep the misses happy !?!?!?!!? they ship worldwide http://www.heatedseatkits.com/heatedseatkits/index.html Pete

Geoff Hi and welcome, I'm 6"6 as well and it is amazing how much space there is in these cars, my brother has a LS400 and I've got a LS430 and both of them are plenty big enough... hope to meet you some day as I'm sure we will see eye to eye..!!!! Anyway a much better car than any BMW and far more exclusive... Pete

Hi When I bought my LS430 a few months back from a non franchised dealer it had a pair of brand new front tyres of the Maxis make, these were very cheap looking and on checking with a tyre company were found to be the cheapest tyres you can get for it. The dealer said he had also changed the front discs and pads as he could "hear" the brakes as you came to a halt, not screeching or anything just a thrumming noise... Well the noise has been there every since, it sounded like a landrover on mud pattern crossplies, I suppose this was because the rest of the car is so quiet that this is all you could hear.. Well after reading on here about the Dunlop D8's that were fitted to the LS400 and a bit of googling, it transpires the car was originally fitted with Dunlop Sport 270 in 255/55/w17, and if I'd just thought to open the boot, there was a brand new never been used tyre... So I ordered a Made in Japan Sport 270 from my local tyre dealer and it turned up a couple of days ago, it is identical to the original spare and when fitted has transformed the car, it is now even quieter, feels more supple over pot holes and the turn in is crisper, the tyre noise has gone totally... The two rear tyres are Vredestein and have plenty of tread left, I can't hear any noise from them so will change them when they wear out So if you have Maxis on your car or are offered some next time you need tyres please don't buy them they are VERY noisy.... It hurt a bit to throw away two tyres with loads of tread but it was worth it for the magic carpet type ride and at least it got me a new set of discs and pads!!! Pete