Malc

I've used the NFU for a few years now, LS400 and a classic and one other .......... the premiums seem OK to me. Malc

Hi, the display fault is rather common I'm afraid. Vince, on here, does an economic repair but unfortunately he is near Farnborough in Hampshire ! I can give you his email addy / phone number if u wanted. Malc

my pipe split 4 or 5 years ago, cost a fortune to replace so my friendly good friend toyota/lexus mate blanked it of, bolted it back on and not had a problem since runs like a dream ,, Hi, do you mean that he just made up a new pipe and reconfigured the shape so that it fitted a lot easier ? Malc

It might be that the Dealer would welcome the exposure here to confirm it's actions in all of this and to ensure that we at LOC are happy with it's actions. Simply, if the Dealer has nothing to fear then why wouldn't it wish to be named ! If the Dealer has failed then it can defend itself in this Forum. Either way, I can see little justification for the Dealer's name to be withheld. Malc

I think that maybe you need some profesional help here with dealing with the Lexus Dealer who doesn't seem to take on board the deficiencies of his Dealership in sorting ( and maybe initially causing ) this problem that you find yourself in. I would refer it all to the MD / CEO of that Dealership right now ......... can you tell us which Dealer it is ? Maybe a Member on here would have some clout to help you out ( possibly ). Or some experience of being dumped upon by a Lexus Dealer and how to get over it all, successfully. Malc

How ru getting on with it all ? Malc

I use the NFU for my 3 cars and windscreen cover is £25 for replacement ! Malc

As Steve says, get it away for a second opinion if you can. It doesn't add up unless the mechanic selected reverse at 40 mph or something.. The car is less then 10 years old ............ not fit for purpose comes to mind ! I would go see the guys at Lexus HQ in the UK about this straight away and tell then that this really isn't on and that LOC Members in the UK and worldwide now know of this serious deficiency. The car, whislt out of the usual warranty is nonetheless amazingly and debiltatingly defective. I am, quite shocked, that the Main Lexus Dealer hasn't offered to deal with Lexus at the Centre for you to take this worry from your mind. I think that if you play your cards right then they just might see the error of their ways and sort the problem for you, GRATIS. Do let us know if this helps at all ! Malc

I would take it / ask another Lexus main dealer for a simple diagnosis .............. this sounds too incredible to be true that the gearbox has just " died ". Quite simply, they don't ! Ask an automatic gearbox rebuild specialist too. Has any member ever known this to happen ? Malc

Hi, glad you've bought a LS400. Just simply wonderful cars. I've had two now and been driving them for 8 years. Issues depend on mileage and maintenace, pity you didn't tell us the mileage on your's !!! You're never going to have too many problems; problems aren't the norm by any stretch of the imagination. Cambelts do need changing; maybe at 100k miles. And on the early cars are " non-interference " i.e if they snap, won't bugger the engine. Don't know what engine urs might be tho'. Any good oil should do, after all, these are well tried and tested 4 ltr lumps that are just about indestructible. The clunking can't be anything too serious if it wasn't mentioned on the last MOT Advisory ! Benfur, on here, they say is a supplier of good 2ndhand parts .... in north Kent they say. Drive it steadily and the mpg will be ok 'ish ! I love these cars, just so much comfort and general reliabilty and for a car that costs just about zilch 2ndhand and might cost the best part of £80k new today, well, wot a bargain ! Happy driving. Malc

Hiya again. I would get a copy of the recent MOT Advisory, either from the owner or the garage if they will let u c it ! AND , essentially, when was the cambelt changed ? Malc

WOT !!!! don't be. The LS400 is bullet proof and will probably cost you far less to run ( apart from petrol ) than almost any other " big " car today. The earlier cars ( up to 1994 I think ) have non-interference cambelts ..... so's if it was to snap then it wouldn't bugger the engine. You never see one on the back of a breakdown truck either. Just go for the best and lowest mileage available. I doubt you will have a better or more enjoyable driving experience EVER............. Well, that's if you like the shape of course ! Just enjoy. Good GOD, I've just read that link to ! On that basis you wouldn't ever buy any car at all. Believe me, the earlier LS400 with a simply lowish mileage will ( hopefully ) be absolutely bullet proof provided you do some simple homework on the one you eventually buy. Mine was so good and low miles when I bought it from a 2nd hand car sales in Windsor, with 8542 miles, that I didn't even test drive it before I took it home and had paid for it. The car was impeccable ( apart from knackered original tyres ) and hasn't caused me a moments grief in approaching 3 years of trouible free motoring. But it was my second LS400, and I was a car dealer too and just knew the car was a good'un ! Malc

WOT !!!! don't be. The LS400 is bullet proof and will probably cost you far less to run ( apart from petrol ) than almost any other " big " car today. The earlier cars ( up to 1994 I think ) have non-interference cambelts ..... so's if it was to snap then it wouldn't bugger the engine. You never see one on the back of a breakdown truck either. Just go for the best and lowest mileage available. I doubt you will have a better or more enjoyable driving experience EVER............. Well, that's if you like the shape of course ! Just enjoy. Malc

Well, that's my humble opinion, yes. I've heard tales of £500 a side to replace headlight bulbs on the 430 and the like coz it's an amazingly long and tortuous job with a Dealer at many squid an hour labour charge ! And sorry, I forgot to mention the cambelt changes ( some say at 60k or 65k but now I read Lexus suggest 100k miles ) .... very expensive, I think it books in at a min 4 hr job but takes a lot longer generally and at Main Dealer rates it surely is expensive; but there's always an alternative local guy who will do it less expensively for you. So best to check that the cambelt really has been changed appropriately to fall within your budget. Good hunting. Malc

Hiya, £1500 should get you something amazing ! I much prefer my older style 1994 LS400 which is probably " bullet proof ". Low mileage one's abound and should be good for '00'000's of miles ....... honest. And the ride is impeccable. You can reckon on expenses starting at about 150 / 160 k miles with alternator and suspension stuff ..... much later than most other cars in the life cycle, and bulbs, exhausts, brakes go on forever if you're lucky ! Bits and pieces like filters are economic too and provided you get the right year ( old like mine maybe ) the tyres aren't expensive either. And as I say, the ride is impeccable too. I have been driving the LS400 for some 8 years now; my earlier one was 1992 with 190k when we parted company and I bought my existing 1994 one in Dec 2007 with 8542 miles ( honest ). The dash lights needed fixing ( cost £75 from Vince on here ) and on the earlier one ( 1992 ) the clock lights wore out and I didn't get them fixed. Any problems you might ask ! NOPE with a resounding NON and I don't expect any for many, many miles to come. I'm sure you will enjoy your purchase ( hopes ). Just don't forget they are thirsty creatures but of much comfort and power, enough for the average mortal. Just take care buying newer models ..... headlight bulbs can cost the earth to replace together with thingys like electronic suspension stuff at £1500 to fix when they play-up ! But you would get satnav and whatever but maybe with only £1500 to spend you will get the very best of the golden oldies ! Enjoy. Malc

And the dash lights are a common problem until fixed permanently by " Vince " at about £75 .... at his place. I can give you his phone number / email addy if you wanted ! Malc

Hi, I had a thread followed on here about exhausts on the LS400 a while back. Nobody, absolutely nobody had ever seemed to need to replace a LS400 exhaust !!! The only problem that ever seemed to be mentioned was at the front end with the cats and the flanges and the solution seemed to possibly weld. I'm no mechanic BUT I do know that it's just incredible the longevity of this car's exhaust system. Any thoughts ? Malc

And a thread I read on here said that you usually need a much larger LPG tank than you would think, due to filling ( pressure ) problems and that it takes up the whole of the boot space generally. A big downside maybe ! Malc

Everyone who comments on my MKIII remarks as to how quiet the engine sounds and, when I tell them its done 188k, they are gobsmacked. I agree mines also a 95 and exceptionally quiet 187300 on clock, mileage is not an issue as long as its got good history, most other makes of cars are well tired by these kind of mileages .Ls's are nicely run in lol steve Hi Have to say i totally agree with steve - mine is a 96 on P pLate with 86 K on the clock. I do mostly town driving with it i am amazed and the how quite the ride is - part of the reason is it i rarely have to rev it over 1500 RPM. In town on a straight road it will do 30 mph with an engine speed of 1000rpm which is extremely quite, smooth and economical on petrol aswell. Had it 3 years and never had any problems with it. Would love upgrade to an LS430 but i keep telling myself with more electrical gizmos theres more to go wrong??? but then again with prices dropping like they are the newer LS are becoming even more desireable - i know one day something will come along and i will like it too much to hold back! but for time being im happy with mine. miq Hi guys, The older LS at a low mileage is " rock solid " methinks and the prospect of electrical and other gizmos with a propensity to cause grief and cost mega bucks to put right really does turn me off ( ever ) upgrading from my last of the old model on an " M " plate. Reading of suspension sensors needing replacement at £1500 a set fills me with foreboding ...... why would one want them anyway !"!! It's just things like that which scare the pants off me when running a car on a private budget and not being ( someone else's ) company expensed. What's the life of an LS 400 do you reckon ??? :D :winky: Malc

Can this Benfur chap help at all ...... he's on here somewhere and is said to break LS's !!! and in Dartford area ?? Malc

I like it, bout time I gave mine a blow out. I think it's good for the car to stretch out now and again Even if it's just to blow away the cobwebs and produces a load of smokey carbon ( very ) briefly ............. did this on a sluggish volvo estate once and the BANG !!! shook me but blimey, did the car move a lot better afterwards. Malc Malc

Looked in my local ASDA earlier in the week and it's back to normal price .. sad ! Malc

am I not right in thinking the vvti of the mk4 should improve economy and performance? no idea about the offical figures..... but i get about 24-25mpg around town in my mk4, used to get nearer 16-18mp with my old mk1 (although my old mk1 really needed a service.... dunno if that made much difference) Hi guys, Autotrader-performance etc state; Fuel consumption (urban) 16.1 mpg Fuel consumption (extra urban) 30.4 mpg Fuel consumption (combined) 23 mpg for the UCF20 Just picking up on these earlier figures: they represent almost exactly what I used to get on my old 1992 LS400 to 189k miles and also what I get now on my 1994 LS400 with 32500 miles ! Motorway cruising at 70 is good ! Keeps my credit card a little happier. Malc

I fully agree with you that Lexus dealers are very considerate. I can compare with VW - the same dealer for full services from new and, no payment problems. When my Passat reached 10 years (of being cossetted in this fashion) it needed a new alternator - they had to cheek to ask me to pay the cost of the alternator (coming from VW) in advance. My last visit there. Lexus (Woodford, London) - went in because one of the sidelights went out. Had the usual welcome, complete with coffee, car was valeted (at no charge) and then they informed me that there was nothing wrong with the light (just dislodged, I guess). Charge: £0. The problem is their prices: Lexus advised me that that my brake pads were down to 10%. Cost to replace(just the pads): £400! Had it done, elsewhere, with oem or Lexus parts for £200. Yes, I know it's an easy job but I have neither the tools or expertise. On my 1994 LS ( maybe it's the age ) the red warning light came on when the discs were down to a healthy 10% + ( I guess ) left on them ! They seemed to have lots of meat left on them when they were changed too. Gave me plenty of time to sort out the replacement. Malc WOOPS sorry guys, I of course meant the pads ! Malc

I fully agree with you that Lexus dealers are very considerate. I can compare with VW - the same dealer for full services from new and, no payment problems. When my Passat reached 10 years (of being cossetted in this fashion) it needed a new alternator - they had to cheek to ask me to pay the cost of the alternator (coming from VW) in advance. My last visit there. Lexus (Woodford, London) - went in because one of the sidelights went out. Had the usual welcome, complete with coffee, car was valeted (at no charge) and then they informed me that there was nothing wrong with the light (just dislodged, I guess). Charge: £0. The problem is their prices: Lexus advised me that that my brake pads were down to 10%. Cost to replace(just the pads): £400! Had it done, elsewhere, with oem or Lexus parts for £200. Yes, I know it's an easy job but I have neither the tools or expertise. On my 1994 LS ( maybe it's the age ) the red warning light came on when the discs were down to a healthy 10% + ( I guess ) left on them ! They seemed to have lots of meat left on them when they were changed too. Gave me plenty of time to sort out the replacement. Malc