Neil E

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.

It's a good looking car in a rare colour. There are a few good tutorials on repairing the speaker surround. Some owners have found alternative drivers and even had success with 4 ohm oval Alpines, though the originals are 8 ohm and it's best to match them if possible.

If it's an original UK car then it should have headlamp washers and a genuine replacement bumper would have the cut outs.

I'm no expert but has it been repaired with an earlier front bumper? I think the later one has round fog lights.

A rear camera is a fairly easy install. A recording front cam can be fitted inside the windscreen. I don't always use it but I have one and a rear cam linked to the Alpine HU. You can link the power via the reversing light feed or via a manual switch. An aftermarket head unit requires an expensive adapter to integrate it with the ML amp and speakers but it's a relatively easy install now. For a few alternatives visit clublexus as a few owners have installed android units in the sat nav screen, there are a couple of examples on here too.

What's the problem with the audio system? The head units and the separate amps can go wrong eventually, the speakers can also deteriorate with age and abuse. If you can describe the symptoms we might be able to determine the likely fault.

As already said, just to confirm it. Here is the front screen demist button. I always leave it on 'auto' unless the screen mists up after the car has been sat after a trip in the cold and wet on a day like today. The screen usually clears very quickly and then I go back to 'auto' with the AC almost always on.

Yes March 2007. I do chuckle at some of the words the dealers use to try to make it sound extra special. 'Top of the range' but the same spec as every other one. It looks pretty good in the pics but it's difficult to see how that price tag could possibly be justified.

Looks nice but £23k .....😮

'Audio' 🙂

The front seat can probably just be unbolted and gently tilted back, remove covers, remove 4 bolts, wedge something soft underneath it and free the carpet. It doesn't need to be removed from the car or the wiring disconnected if you're careful. It would probably take me 15 mins to replace that carpet hook eye. Far too long for something so simple but not that much of a deal.

Yes saw that, a fair initial assessment and seems a pretty good channel. Does need a bit of work that one, doubt there's much profit in it once completely sorted. Following Ant's comment, there is very limited room in the back and the boot for luggage when the roof is down but with the roof on there's a fair amount of space, more than you would get in say a GS hybrid boot for example. Even with my rear seat 'delete' and the space-saver on board, it has been possible to do a 2 week Highland 2-base tour.

It doesn't necessarily need to be low mileage to be reliable as they are very strong but if you can find a good one that has been properly maintained, it should serve you well. The face-lift 6 speed model is worth having at the right price. Future classic? They aren't that rare yet but there does seem to be some additional recent interest in them.

It's a bit of a pain but it does unhook sufficient for access to the underside. Freeing it up from the footwell and or removing the front seat will help.

My 2006 doesn't have it. I think that's been added for a switch or just a cable access port for an aftermarket accessory. Perhaps to link a phone/ipod or manual aerial switch/rear cam feed, etc.

I've never had a problem with the emissions test with 2 cats but yes I'm sure the third cat does make a difference in that regard and only very slightly slows the exhaust gas flow. If it can be relied upon, my first dyno run suggests that's correct. With just the revised exhaust and third cat deleted it showed only a very slight power increase. It felt like it had a shade more mid-high range torque but nothing like the difference experienced with headers.

I say, keep the Y pipe, delete the third cat, delete the resonators and go for a 'similar to original design' sport back box.

I had an LS430 previously and I've driven a few LS600 and LS460. They are perfect for wafting up and down the motorways. Suspension arms and wheel bearings are the only concern on the beast. Oddly slightly louder than an LS430 3UZ but the LS600 is a lovely place to be. Yeah always up for a meet, the GS is almost a daily, the SC430 is the much abused toy.

Amazing.....yes, we are privileged to know what it's like to drive a GS460. If the right one appears at the right time, I shall probably move on to the LS600hL. Yes fair comment, I have been quiet on the GS460 because I've done almost nothing with it but drive it. 20k miles 3 services and one MOT later it's a pleasure and has been a real joy to own. It's been to most corners of the UK in a year for work and pleasure. My only serious complaint is the really poor throttle response but that was cured by fitting a controller and the thing now takes off with no delay and changes down as soon as asked. In the wet it's too responsive so I dial in a bit more lag. Despite having the other 2 cars, I drive this one a lot. If I'm being picky, it would benefit from a little more sound insulation/better seals around the doors and I do still sometimes miss the high quality audio system in the SC430. I did receive the headers and parts from PPE after a couple of months, eventually found one specialist in Cheshire willing to take on the header/exhaust project at around £4k but work and life got in the way at just the wrong time so prevented progress. I also have a bigger F sport rear sway bar to put on but most of my 'car play' has been on the SC lately and that has been very infrequent such is the pace of work. Below, a couple of pics of the Sprint-Booster install with the control switch tucked away in the drop-down coin tray. Simple but effective, on the most aggressive settings it does feel a bit too 'on-off' twitchy in the cold and wet but when road conditions are good, it's a very welcome improvement over the terrible lag.

The paint can peel a little on the roof over time. It's just a case of giving it to a body shop to clean up and repaint.

Classic signs of rear reluctor ring wear. Cleaning the iron filing type debris off the sensor may provide a temporary fix but the ring and often the cover shroud that it sits within needs to be replaced. Sometimes it's just one defective side, sometimes both need to be done. If the garage had to clean the sensor of debris then I suspect the reluctor ring itself is badly worn. It's easy to see with the sensor removed.

Hi Ant, Yes there are savings to be made by knowing the original part number/manufacturer and shopping around for genuine items. Sometimes Lexus are cheaper, sometimes I go to the dealer and pay slightly more to be sure I'm getting the genuine items. Occasionally aftermarket items are an improvement on the standard part too.

The pictures don't always represent the items accurately but those parts look just like the ones on my 2006. The rears are shared with other models too.

Yes deleting a key is a bit scary, 4 registered keys does seem to be the maximum. Using Toyota Techstream may be an easier option.