kroebje

A powerful Jag will remind you of your bygone 750i in terms of abysmal mpg, I presume. Same as myself. The LS/GS/SC intake / exhaust system is severely clogged ex works.On this side of strapping a compressor onto the engine :shutit: I will in due time - eliminate the pre-cats - reduce the internal exhaust drag (but not too much!!) [custom or magnaflow], and add a >bit< more pipe music - get an easy-inhalation air filter I think these measures will add up to a power output increase of 5 to 8% over the present standard. I use Mobil1 oil 0W40 fully synth. It is very efficient in a cold engine, but it does not boost power.

Yes, I get the picture. I am very much in the same position. I've decided to keep my LS - and thus get myself a nice pastime. And a useful one at times. Not all hobbies fulfill that claim. There are bikes that easily cost what your Lex might get you.

Hi Mat - if you NEED the money from selling the car or if you can't afford to keep it, you'll have to sell no matter what. If you keep your LS thinking that it might be worth another 500 quid but find nobody to offer that much you'll just face the other side of the same problem. It's a pity to sell a car due to a squeeze. You just can't make it right. And I bet your qualms are not about the 500 quid, but about even having to sell. Here in Germany the car would get you around 4000 € - if it were an LHD. Life is about letting go, and lucky is the man who can. Good luck Mat!

First, upload your picture to one of the common pic hosters (e. g. www.imageshack.us). I. e. your pic must be on the net. Then get the pic's URL (right-click on the pic: Copy image address). Then write your post here, and click on the "sunset" icon above. A small input window opens. Paste the pic's URL into it. Click OK - et voilà. Click on the Preview button to check if the picture comes through. There must be a sticky note in the General section on how to post pics, right?

My first impulse is to answer YES, as Mk.4 is just a facelift of Mk.3. Forget Mk. 1 and 2 though, they are different. Compare here: klick; select model, year, specifiaction.

To simply remove the rear silencers will lead to a vulgar / tinny sound as you fail to add additional resonance body volume. An exhaust specialist recommended me not to take that road. Plus, before reaching the rear silencers the exhaust stream has passed through at least two cats and one muffler. So there is not much left to sound sexy anyway. A thorough baritone would probably involve work on the pre-silencers - and money of course. Don't do too much ripping though, because the exhaust system requires a certain (minimum) amount of backpressure. If that is not provided, engine power output will suffer. Good insulation of the end pipe from the body is essential. Otherwise the pipe vibration will carry over to the cabin. It'll drive you mad. Still: If you choose to replace the end silencers by a simple piece of fat pipe, please let us know about the result. Basically I have the same intention as you have. Cheers!

Hi Jeff. My car has Hankook V12evo tires on it. They are superb in sound insulation, but at the same time they are reading the blacktop surface like braille writing. Tell if they are sporty, I cannot, for the LS dinosaur is the wrong car for assessing G force. The V12evo wears down rather quickly (despite my leisurely driving), and they develop a nasty resting spot which causes the car to slightly rumble during the first few miles of a ride. As for your cheap / expensive argument I do not have sufficient experience. But I surley wouldn't buy any of those LingLangLong Chinese tires that hardly master the high speed test. And since longevity ranks high on my list I will consider Michelin next time. If they are on par with Nokian, Hankook, Semperit and other mid-price rubber in other criteria, I do not know, and neither do I care. Have a nice Sunday.

Well Jeff, this is a link to a (German) wheel dimension converter. Put in the original size, then the new one, and it figures out exactly - rolling circumfence; difference thereof - track / tread - chassis clearance - deviation of speedometer reading I am sure there are similar converters on the net that speak English. As for the rim - just browse for a tire configurator, such as this one (German again; go for Lexus - LS - F2; choose from 50 different 19" rims; or even more 18"s). If you stay within the prescribed offset you won't have to do any extra work on the body. Standard tire size for 19" rims is 245/40. I have 18" rims on my '98 LS, and I'd say that's way enough. It does impair ride comfort! Standard tire size for 18" rims is 245/45. 19" rims aren't so much more expensive than 18", it's rather the rubber that runs down your budget over the years. Click here for some pictures of my car with 18" TTS GrandStand rims (original suspension, no lowering). Good luck, good taste, and good sense.

Hello there - yes, this (click) leads to the German site where I am just describing how to solve the problem. Or rather: How to find where the water gets in in the first place. I just know where it finanlly surfaces, at the bottom of the tweeter. If that "wacko" fellow is still around, would you please describe in detail / or in other words where exactly the water got into your car? I tried with a garden hose for an hour in various places - and everything remained as dry as German Riesling. Thanks a ton for helping. kroebje

Offer: none (sorry). Question: how do you remove the knob from the stick?

Seems I can't make my mind up on whether putting 17" or 18" wheels on my LS400 Mk.IV (16" is standard). Apart from the extra monetary input 18" wheels demand it's the comfort (damping behaviour) the wider and lower 18" tires might cost. I fear that 18"s make for a considerably lumpier and bumpier ride [tire size: 245/45 18]. An LS is a cruiser, not a racer. I know it's a trade-off between some slight handling improvement and comfort; I am seeking a decent compromise. Are 18"s on an LS beyond that compromise? Any comments from own LS experience are welcome. Thanks!

Cracked springs are not uncommon, quite to the contrary. Many cars move around with one or more springs cracked, and (inexperienced) drivers do not realise it just like that. Sounds as though several items add up to one big deal?! 56k miles is nothing for an LS. It is only just run in. If I unlock my LS manually, the alarm goes off.

Hi - is the originator of this topic still with us? Or to anyone else who knows .................. Thanks pal - some fresh drops of water and some twilight flatter any car facing a lens

Yes, in fact I am thinking about that. After Eibach has cancelled the 'decent drop' springs (they just offer the 'obscene drop'; I don't want a low-rider), H+R is the only manufacturer left. Problems: - those H+R sport springs I want don't get a permission for German roads. I would lose registration, insurance .... everything - at the moment H+R is out of stock (as they've told me on the phone) Workaround: - I will get a set in the US of A (250$ + shipping + customs + tax) - I would somehow have to get a special registration for the springs ($$$$$, or rather €€€€€) Others: - Low on cashflow; I am not an apt DIY car buff. A new set of wheels will do right now, and then comes a long cup of tea .... Thanks, kroebje

Hello Rob, I've also been looking a long time for rims to replace the original ones. As it happens I've been offered the very same IS rims you have on your car. Looking good, solid. Blending well with the 'antique' LS line. Before, I tried the 17x6,5 rim of the Mk.1 RX, but it wouldn't go over the LS' front calipers. Question: What's the wheel offset of that rim you have now? Reason for asking: If the offset is 35mm I can choose from four different tire sizes, if it is over 35 there is only only size (225/55) [German red tape.] If I go for those rims you'll have a Teutonic lookalike car, same colour etc. B)

I confirm Denso Iridium SK20R11. Ordered them here a month ago: http://www.sparkplugssource.com/shop/default.aspx They ship with US Postal and you have an online tracking on where the parcel is right now. http://www.densosparkplugs.com/find_part.php NGK is also Lexus OEM provider: http://www.ngk.de/index.php?id=403&pd=...US&m=LS+400

Mine is a '98 with 70t mls on the clock. A guy here is about to hit 350t (miles, not km) with his Mk.1 (or was it 2?).