Neil E

That sounds like a plan.👍 It's still a very fine chariot but Toyota/Lexus downgraded the SC430 from the earlier Soarer to 'GS' level. It gained the folding roof for the sunshine states but lost the LS level of comfort, trim and gadgets. The higher specified Soarers had auto-folding, ultrasonic mirrors.

It was a standard feature on the older Soarer but I don't think it was offered on the later UZZ40....unless there is a setting in Techstream. Yes if it's important, it's probably just a case of installing a control box/relay to auto-fold them on acc or ignition. I wonder if the LS or GS from the same year has a relay/control that could be added fairly easily?

Yes I've seen it before, it just doesn't look right to my eyes. I see the smiley face of a cartoon Beluga whale? Might be much better on a silver SC with the contrast of colour.

That does sound a bit extreme as you could probably do a really good job on it by simply removing the front seats. Follow the professional detailers example, use the right products and a circular drill brush to clean them thoroughly but don't get the carpets too wet and then use a wet vac to get them dry.

I think it's standard on the SEL, mine has it. I wondered if it was for an early mobile phone or perhaps a mini torch or spare batteries for the headsets but I think it's just somewhere to store something small/delicate so that it doesn't rattle. If I put a phone charger in the main dash outlet, I put the cigarette lighter in that foam piece. There are quite a few nice touches in the RX. It was several weeks before I realised the centre console and the rear seats could be adjusted back and fore.

If it does what you need it to do then I would suggest settling for that. The audio quality of the standard system is pretty good, better than most modern Lexus, it's just not very versatile or convenient by today's standards. The ML audio and nav system in the SC430 is one of the most tricky to work with. For the best options and least compromise, I would suggest the expensive Beat-Sonic interface and a new double din unit is the way to go. Not cheap or for the feint hearted if installing yourself.

Unusual to see one in white, is it a UK car or imported? I think there are some subtle differences in the wiring looms. There certainly is between the Europe and US cars but I would think it's just a case of getting the radio pin-outs for each model and matching the wires to the Grom connector. If Grom were as professional as Beat-Sonic they would know the answer and help you. The Grom unit appears to use the CD port, did it actually power up? Search for the pinouts of your head unit model number. It will probably be 86120-24_ _ _ . The early model Pioneer were 24400 or 24420 and I can see in the US they had 86120-24392 Metra list the same harness for the early and later model SC430 so it appears the Toyota 20 pin connector is the same.

It was once quite limited and indeed difficult even for professional car hifi installers but there are lots of options to upgrade the audio and nav now. Some simple and others require a fair amount of knowledge and skill. I would say adding tech from a much later Lex with Apple Carplay is just about impossible, I can't think of anything else that's compatible with the SC430's set up other than kit from a later SC430. It all depends on what you want and what's important to you in terms of convenience and quality. There are a few threads on here and some install examples on you tube. Search for Grom, Metra and Beat-Sonic, they are options for interfaces that open things up using the original audio components with or without swapping the head unit. (Pioneer works well with Beat-Sonic) Other owners with some tech know-how and fabricating skill have converted/adapted the nav unit to deliver Carplay and a whole lot more too. see here for the crazy end of the scale.

I've had the whole front end apart to fit the front bumper and even tried to re-design it using AutoCAD but I haven't found a way to make it pretty yet. I think it instantly looks better with the bonnet chrome painted to match the body colour as it makes the car look lower but the shape of the lower line of the grill is just 'all wrong' to my eyes.

From memory, I think the easiest way is to remove the whole grill section and then you can access the insert from the back. I think the grill is probably the worst piece of styling on the car. Mesh grills are available but they make it look a bit odd in my view. try here One or two guys in the US have used a spindle grill. I painted mine black with the intention of revisiting it but I haven't yet come up with a good design solution. This is perhaps the best solution but difficult to create in the flesh.

You're right Ant, I do need to use it more, it was previously clocking up 10-12k miles per annum but I have 2 other Lexus that are doing most of the hard yards at the moment. I do start it up frequently, the reasons for disconnecting the negative lead on the battery are mostly due to my constant messing around with modifications. 😊

The dealers do seem to be very good at adding a little extra value. I haven't used them very much but Guildford and Gatwick have been very impressive so far. I'm forever resetting seats, windows and audio after taking the battery off.🙂

I can't compete with the Pennies or the Derbyshire Dales but here's a top down snap in sunny West Sussex.

That's the reset procedure. If it's working then all you need to do is set the seats, mirror and steering wheel to the desired position then hold the memory button in and press the 1 or 2 button to set it. I think the ignition has to be on and the gear selector in P.

I've said it many times, deleting the rear box will make it loud. In my view deleting the centre resonators and retaining a large rear silencer is the better option for that V8 sound with fewer decibels to contend with in the cabin. You won't get the high end rasp like mine, that's mostly due to the headers that flow the exhaust gas more efficiently. @CactusI agree Barry, keeping it quiet retains the true character of the car. When I first added the headers, the car had resonators and a rear box. It was quicker with just a hint of a sporty note from the aftermarket exhaust. Later I had the exhaust builder remove the resonators but sleeve the straight pipes so that they could be put back in if it was too loud. When the job was done he looked at me and said 'listen to how good that sounds, you will never put them back on.' I wasn't convinced but he was right. They must still in the back of my garage.

My exhaust has developed in stages and now consists of PPE headers, 2 primary cats, third cat delete, Y merge pipe to straight pipes (resonators deleted) to large rear box and dual twin ovals. 307 bhp not too loud and no drone.🙂 Adsog - there's some exhaust content at 6 mins and 12 mins. The gurgle behind the dash is common, probably just a little air and normally nothing to worry about but yes check the radiator and the expansion tank condition carefully.

Adsog.....translates to 'how to ruin an SC430' or 'a darker shade of grey.' I think you saw the vid. The full build thread is lost in the ether for now of course but there is a mini version on here. 🙂 I had the silly (expensive) idea that the SC430 should have more of the qualities and character of the earlier world-beating grey import Soarer (I had 2 of those) and so set about giving it a darker personality.

I will try to get some pics of Adsog out in the sun in the next few days.

Yes quite right, there are a few threads on it over on cl and possibly here but not in the other obvious place as the site is down. One problem is that the window weather-strip can wear/fail. Try running your finger along the seal to see if it goes quiet at a certain point or tape it up to see if that has an effect before buying a new window rubber. I also remember reading that the noise can increase if the door mirror isn't quite seated correctly and I recall this happened with mine at one point when I had the door apart to upgrade the speakers.

Hi Ant Looking back at my depleted pic archive, there aren't many with the roof down or with scenery to match yours but here it is in the far North, South and West with at least a hint of sun.

Looks great and I'm quite jealous. That's just what the SC430 was made for, not slumbering in the garage....which is where mine is. 🙁 Good to see standards being maintained too with the chauffeur wearing a smart cap.

Very exciting, I don't think you will be disappointed but will be very interested to hear what you think of it.

GS460 same car, not quite as quick or fuel efficient but probably more fun with a much bigger boot.🙂 The car that does everything is the RX.

I don't think it supported MP3CD until the very last 2009/10 models. I have read that some 06 onwards units in the US can play MP3CD and other owners say they don't work. I didn't ever try one in the original CD player. I have an Alpine HU installed now so I can't quickly check.

It's fine for a phone call but streaming good music via blue-tooth in the SC430 would be a waste of a decent audio system.