Paulus

Hello :) Looking for a good independent in S Wales/valleys/beacons area, the GS430 needs a service and the engine light has just come on Any recommendations? Thanks, Paul

OBDII was mandatory in EU from 2001 (and from 1996 in the US) Cheers, Paul

Nice one Don, glad your problem's fixed and could be useful info for someone else as you say Merry Christmas to you too :) Cheers, Paul

Nice idea but it seems unlikely Lexus are going to go down that route at the moment.

Thanks mate, it's certainly quite a faff :) I've done an update to the shopping list for ultraleds in the OP as I got some things wrong and missed some others. The Ultimate I 501/T10/194 1 x 1 Watt that I got for the sidelights are an excellent match for the OEM HIDs and much brighter than the original tungstens. Care is needed when fitting them though as they need to be shoved firmly home in the bulb holder or they can work loose and fall off inside the cowling (agghhhh!). I also blew a 10A mini-blade fuse (driver's footwell) and have had to temporarily swap the one from the fuel opener. :tsktsk: Particularly pleased with the results from the front dome light and rear courtesy lights, much more up to date looking and lumen output it at least as good as the tungstens. (With a grey or black interior the cool white LEDs may be a bit too chilly but in our sand/beige one it now feels less like sitting in a tub of clotted cream)

It would be a boring world if we all liked the same things. :)

We get a lot of frost here (fairly high up in the mid Wales mountains) - I just use 2 x1.5L bottles of water, one tepid (first) and one handwarm; start the car, apply the water, good to go in under a minute.

Hiya, Have been researching changing interior bulbs for cool white (xenon temp) LEDs having done this on our Bongo. I prefer the look, the output is better and you can leave them on for a long time without draining the battery noticably. I also want to replace the sidelights with something close in temp to the HIDs. Along the way I've found things are not as straighforward as they could be and there's a lot of confusing information around so I thought I'd post this in case it's useful for someone else. For exterior bulbs see this http://www.consumabulbs.com/files/nproduct...=33&md=4653 for UK references and cross check against this http://www.whatbulb.com/2001-Lexus-GS300GS430 which has US references but is more accurate and complete. But they're fairly easy compared to interior bulbs, I found a reference list on CL but it only gives US bulb types, here it is (thanks to rominl at CL, see his excellent FAQ for endless info about GS lighting): backup [reversing] light - m2 (in newer models it might need M6 instead) rear door bottom light - m4 rear passenger dome light - m4 front door bottom light - m4 front central dome light - m16 front map light - m17 side marker - m4 night time driving light - m4 (stock replacement) or m6 (brighter out of spec replacement) foot well light - #74 glove box - #74 ignition - #74 vanity mirror - m24 (a bit fatter in shape but should fit) trunk light - m4 rear license plate - m4 Judging by the owner's manual I would say the rear courtesy lights are the same fitment (type "F") as the front map lights but at a lower wattage. The above list is just the start though as it's all US references and a pain to sort out so here's a load of cross references that can be used to find the bulbs in the UK (most common refs in bold) M2 - 7440, 382, ba15s, p21w, 1156 M4 - 501, 194/168, 158, 2821, 12256, 2825, W5W, T10 M17 - BA9,BA9S,233, 1895, 57 also fit 756, 1815, 1889, 1891, 1893, 12929, 12814, P8701W M16 -DE3021, DE3022, DE3175, DE3425, 211-2, 212-2, 12844 Dome light (10mmx31mm), 269, (10W) M24 - DE3021, DE3022, DE3175, DE3425, 211-2, 212-2, 12844 , T8 (5W) #74 - T5, 17 18 37 70 73 79 85 86 2721, 286 Hope this is useful. If you want to do most of the interior, the side repeaters with amber-flashing white-looking and the sidelights with bright xenon colour you're looking at about £60 for quality items from ultraleds, inc.p&p. My order should have been something along the lines of: 501/194/T10 New Mini Light Tower 9 x WA HB Leds AMBER x2 (repeaters) The Ultimate I 501/T10/194 1 x 1 Watt Ultra Xenon White x5 (sidelights, reversing lights & boot) U286W (286) Dash Board Slim wedge bulb White x3 (footwells and glovebox) 269 2 x High Brightness Xenon White SMT's 11 - 16v (One Bulb) x1 (front dome) BA9 1W Wide Angled High Power Led Bulb Xenon White x2 (front map) 501/194/T10 New Mini Light Tower 9 Leds Xenon White x2 (rear courtesy) Not doing the vanity mirrors, SWMBO wouldn't thank me as the wamer light is more flattering ;-) Happy to stand corrected on all this by someone more in the know! Cheers, Paul

I believe you need one that talks the CAN protocol, not sure if the cheapies will do all the manufacturer specific codes or not.

I've just gone on the strength of 1 but in the past it's been brand loyalty to Vredestein (which was actually started on recommendation from a mate who works in the trade) Had Contis, Michelins, etc. but Vredestein beat them all on my 200sx

Many thanks for the offer kam :) After extensive googling it looks like the Falken 452s from camskill are the best bet, I can get them fitted 5 miles away for £15 ea which isn't a great price but at least saves a drive and keeps business local, total cost 171.70 for a pair Thanks again all, LOC forum kicks butt B)

Thanks guys, good to know the higher load rating isn't needed Have been looking at sourcing online but according to mytyres my nearest fitting station is 25 miles away and charges £17.62/tyre!

Folks, Need new rears on my GS430 (235/45/17). I'm guessing 97 load rating? (I'm guessing because I've yet to source a full owner's guide, only got the brief one) Clearly a Y or better speed rating. The load rating seems to make a big difference to the price. Currently most attractive option for that spec is Michelin Pilots at £155 a corner all in. Can get Dunlop Sport Max or Conti SportContact3 for slightly less. Ideally I'd like Vredestein Ultracs but can't source them locally or find them with an increased load rating online. Have got cheap ditchfinders on the front but not too worried about them at the moment; based on 2 days' experience I reckon oversteer from the rear losing grip is going to be more of a concern than understeer from the front scrubbing out, especially in winter conditions. Appreciate views. :) Cheers, Paul

I know for a fact that Toyota have got serious concerns about the future of the brand, which isn't surprising really given that the whole car industry is falling over itself to move very rapidly towards small frugal cars and the fact that the US mfrs woke up to this so late is why they're looking for $bns in handouts. Still, there's a good eco argument for buying a 2nd hand car as well engineered as a Lexus and looking after it properly. As a side point I'm not sure how viable the single-franchised-dealership model of distribution is either, IMO the whole thing will get a lot leaner and look very different in a few years time.

Hi Glenn I bought my GS430 yesterday (6th) as well. (4,500 w/out nav/lev but in great nick with a very good history.) Lexus did the belt on mine at 68,000 (now on 75ish) so that backs up what Mark said really. I started off on my way home slightly hesitantly but after 220miles and a blast on my home roads at the end I'm now officially converted, amazing car for the money. Cheers, Paul

Clarkson's always been consistently anti-Japanese cars, largely on aesthetic/styling grounds. He was very rude about the new GS for just being a German-wannabe. In some ways he has a point, companies like Toyota do things so rationally and functionally that they don't really understand all this thing about "spirit" and "passion" that is encompassed in brands like Alfa (or rather, they feel passionate and spiritual about quality), comes down to a fundamental difference in national psyche I suppose. That's how you end up with technically incredible cars like the mk1 ls430 with amazing drag coefficient and built like something CNC machined from billet steel that look as ugly as sin (no offence). What's interesting is to try to understand how Lexus has been so successful in the US, where the market completely gets where they're coming from and reviews them very highly, mods the hell out of them, etc. vs. singularly failing to build any kind of image in the European market. Personally a car is more about function than form so the Lexus approach has always appealed; I've been much happier with a 200sx that never went wrong than I would have been with a 944 whereas the lads on Top Gear think "Nissan" is an instant turn off. Conversely they love Alfas whereas I test drove a 156 when they'd just come out and the demonstrator had bits of interior trim falling off all over the place after 3000miles and I thought "what a piece of cr4p" and went with the IS200 instead. We recently compared a 530i sport with a LS400 mkIV and the beemer seemed completely flimsy and insubstatial in comparison. Love beemers to drive but IME they can be pretty ropey on reliability, especially the electrics, and the image is still very poor. As for Mercs, don't get me started, can't stand them, horribly aspirational image and totally overrated engineering since about 1985. So I guess what I'm saying is that what makes Clarkson dislike Lexus but drive a Merc (image vs substance) has the complete opposite effect on me. Agree Top Gear is more about entertainment than cars, getting a bit formulaic and predictable now though. 5th Gear is a much better motoring programme (even Vroom Vroom is) but not as watchable. Sorry, bit of a ramble there but I've been pondering all this stuff recently :)

I thought all mk2 GS430s are facelift models and therefore have the revised (larger) brake master cylinder but I guess it must be the problem one on Oct 99 - Oct 2000 models

Bit late to this one but in case it's handy... There are a couple of DIYs on this over at CL http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=116654 http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=301377 Sounds like it's a mid-level difficulty type job. Denso or NGK iridium plugs should be fine, or if you want something fancy get Torque Master (only from the mfr http://www.extremespark.com/)

Thanks Mike and Dave, that sounds slightly more encouraging. I guess the issue is whether, if the light did come on again, they can claim that it's a different code or do they still have to put it right even if it is? Incidentally, when did this model get the uprated brake master cylinder?

Wozza - getting the same permissions error others have reported on the thread, weird Mark - thanks, I'm inclined to agree having sat back and thought for a couple of hours, going to let this one pass by. Quite a tidy looking green/beige number with nav, lev and lpg in London on autotrader at the mo, will see if I can get a mate to look it over (if it's still available) before I trek up there for another lemon. Did try it at various speeds and steering seemed fairly decent, bit of a pull to the left but that seemed to be road camber, something my 200sx is also very sensitive to.

To ProLex: To be fair I think he was scrabbling for an answer rather than trying to be deliberately misleading. I guess it could be anyone of several hundred fault codes and we'll need the Lexus dealer to tell us the score. Thinking about the key issue the one I tried opened the boot so I guess that's a master. Hadn't seen the one of the FS section, sounds fair, looking for blue, black or green tho. To Wozza: Thanks, good advice. Can't see the pics of that one on here unfortunately, sounds like a good un but unfortunately silver is just a bit too up front for me these days. :)

Hiya We've just been to look at a 51 GS430, black/black, base spec, 76,000 at a Toyota dealer. Nice car, better looking in the metal than I expected, no cosmetic issues apart from one or two light scuffs and some fairly corroded alloys (nice 5 spoke 17s, standard I assume). Under the bonnet there was some very superficial corrosion around the strut mounts, same underneath around the silencers. Looks like a FSH with Lexus/Toyota, we'ree getting it confirmed via a VIN search at the neighbouring Lexus dealer. We've agreed new MOT, two front tyres, full valet. Forgot full alignment & tracking (doh) but will mention it Monday. Only slight doubts were no history other than service book i.e. no invoices, old MOTs, tax discs, etc. etc. HPI chcked though, two owners. Also, the engine warning light was on, which the dealer said he thought may be because the battery had run flat earlier in the week due to an interior light being left on and the ECU hasn't been reset since but he'd get it sorted. Also only two keys and I think there should be three? One had a full set of buttons but the other only had two, guess it's the valet key? On the road it was smooth, quiet, powerful, comfy, all the things a Lexus should be. Steering was weightier and with better feedback than I'd expected given all the "not a beemer/Merc" stuff I've read. All switches do what they're supposed to, the aircon got hot and cold, the seats got hot, the stereo got loud, etc. They're asking £5k, I think they just want it shifted. They seem to turnover a lot of cars at sensible money even though times are tight. Staff were friendly and unpushy but appeared not to know much about it. Frankly even in this climate I'm inclined to bite their arm off and drop a deposit on them on Monday provided the history checks out and the master key is one of the two they have. What say you oh knowledgable ones? :) Thanks, Paul

It all makes sense now! :D

I didn't like the idea of coating my interior with the stuff that released a whole can full so I just sprayed dettol multi-action cleaner into the air intake a few times. Comes in delicious apple or grapefruit aromas for under £3.

Hi Pete, Weird, I thought Super Steel was a Federal model and all the Vredesteins had "Trac" in their name ZR without a speed rating indicates a model specific tyre for a high performance car (effectively homologated but without the homologation code some marques have). With a speed rating then the Z is ignored (unless it's a Z rated tyre, 240kmh+). I've no idea why non-Z tyres sometimes include Z before R(adial), seems pointless, but I think you only find it on high-speed ratings (W+) so perhaps it's a tooling thing? Cheers, Paul