Malc

Hi, there was a posting in here earlier this year by the guy who thought he owns the very first LS400 into the UK. I think he was maybe trying to sell it ! Malc Just noticed that specific car is for sale on www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk Malc

Hi guys, I leave the servicing to my local guy, who looks after my lexus and another car of mine. £30 an hour and parts at his cost price . no added VAT ( his t/o is low ). He uses good motor factor stuff for both cars and pads are not the cheapest but damn good and when it needs new discs I'm sure they won't be too expensive either. Oct 2009 Front pads £45.30 a pair and Rear pads £26.13 a pair + 2 hrs labour £60. Wouldn't the caliper just need easing off a little ?

Thanks Richard, will let you know how it goes. Mike From what I remember, removing a front wheel hub on almost any car requires a specialist "puller" tool. Otherwise it's just about impossible usually. Malc

Hi, there was a posting in here earlier this year by the guy who thought he owns the very first LS400 into the UK. I think he was maybe trying to sell it ! Malc

Errrrr...... No similarities there whatsoever.......they almost look like the same car! Well, I suppose the headlight shapes distinguish the Lexus as a far sleeker model ............... and I will always prefer the more distinguished overall body and bonnet shape of the earlier Lexus LS400 ......... that's why I spent an age tracking down the one I have now ! Just personal preference .......... and I would rather the minimalist maintenance bills on the Lexus to some of the horror stories I hear with the big Mercs. Malc

Wouldn't any small Motor Factor shop / unit sell you a 1.ltr pack ? Or go to any small auto workshop and ask them to top it up for you and drop the guy a fiver ! Malc

Maybe the opportunity could be taken to now " name and shame " some of these businesses that we think rip us off !!! Maybe another section in the LOC Forums ? Malc

Wow, 4,000 miles eh ! Let me have some of that. I'm lucky if I get @400 / 420 on a tankfull unless it's always on a good long steady run when the petrol consumption is rather kinder. Malc

What I would keep an eye on tho' is the PAS unit and any leaking of the fluid. On your model ( my earlier car was a 1992 ) the PAS is directly above the alternator and when the PAS leaks ( as they always eventually do, until the seals are re-done ) the alternator might be " knocked out ". And that's expensive. Have you any history on the car ? Malc

Think it's good advice to wait for an MOT before you start to get worried about these things ! I'm thinking that if you don't do a huge mileage every year then you will get plenty of pre-warning with an MOT Advisory .......... then some more time to save up for the jobs to be done ! Metal and wet weather ...... things go a rusty colour .... lots of difference betwen that and penetrating rust methinks ! I don't think the LS400 is prone to debilitating rust ..... no one's mentioned it before on here to my knowledge although I have been reading of doors having to be replaced under the 12 year warranty on the LS430's due to rust penetration ........ but NOT on the LS400 so far. Just de-stress a little and enjoy ! Malc

Hi, I asked the same Q a few weeks ago about my '94 LS400 and I was told it was @ £46k new !!!! Wot a lot of depreciation and a really good buy secondhand. This is my second LS400 in 8 years and I've had this one since Dec 2007; paid £3700 with 8542 miles and now done 31260 miles. Wonderful motoring, wouldn't change it for any other model. Malc

There's mountains of info under various threads about repairing the flange issue ..... and inexpensively I think too. Malc

Hi, having owned and driven LS 400's now for 8 years I would think that the " key " issue is a tiny problem to live with if the car is really good and otherwise what you want. The ECU costs are dopey and probably bear little relation to the cars value I would guess. The driving experience should be superb and the maintenance costs minimal for this car if the usual stuff has been done at the correct mileages by previous owners. You don't say mileage or price or maintenance schedules done ! I assume that all is fine apart from the keys; and that you just might be able to live with it if that's the only real issue ............. it's not really a problem ! is it ? Happy driving ...... if only the fuel costs were less damaging eh ! Malc

This sounds a little like the troubles so common with the '93 and '94 LS400s ! The dash lights sometimes failed and it might be worth your while contacting Chris Vince ( on here but I can give you his email addy ) who has a "fix " solution for those models. Maybe worth a try ! Malc

Because I find it much nicer to drive and I do that every day, rather than dealing with the occasional problem like I've listed above. :D KEITH. I ( secretly ) quite agree with your thoughts guys ........... a 2CV is an interesting example ..................... maybe I would rather like a Citroen DS21 Pallas convertible .......... think the last one fetched @£140k at auction the other week ! If only I could justifiably afford one of those too eh ! The wife would kill me if I spent that sort of money on yet another car. I guess I just like supreme reliability and knowing that the beast ( LS400 ) won't ever let me down ! And I'm so used to driving one .................. and I hate spending money on car repairs too. M Malc

Blimey, why would you want a car with all those gizmos to go wrong and cost the earth to fix ! I know my 1994 LS is dated and doesn't have mirrors that automatically fold in, nor sensors on the suspension height ( why does it have them ? ) to corrode and cost £1500, nor does it have the new fandangled sensor on the front at the radiator ( that helps you stop in case of emergency but which doesn't actually stop you at all ! ) and costs £3500 when it malfunctions ... the size of a mobile phone I'm told .................. am I glad I don't have those gizmos to repair. And I'm told the cost of replacing a headlight bulb is @ £500 with labour too ! Why would you want a LS430 that was at your own expense to repair ? When one can get a really good LS400 for no money at all and very little repair bills for years and years. Am I just old fashioned ( rhetorical Q ). Best wishes with it anyway. Malc Malc

Now on my second LS400 and eight years of driving them .... the first one was a 1991 and at 150 /160 k miles I needed the alternator and the front wishbones done ..... quite expensive. When I gave it away at 189k it needed the exhaust flanges sorted and a frayed drivers seat belt changed. Thats it, absolutely nothing else apart from tyres and brake pads and the rare cambelt change every 100k miles. Oh, and a rear lightbulb at 130k too. My " new " LS400 a 1994 and now with 31k miles, well, I had new tyres and pads and an oil change last year with another due this summer. That's it; and I wouldn't expect anything more costly than these items for another 120k miles ! I bet Beemers cost more !! Do they ? Malc

Then at the other end of the spectrum ...................... the boot takes a folded wheelchair with ease ............... not many cars boots can achieve that these days ............ so it's good to accommodate aged parents stuff too !! And the supreme comfort and the exhilaration for them when it pops into PWR mode. And the hatchback we have too with folding down rear seats etc AND great fuel economy makes for that " normal " useage ................... yuk ......... much prefer my Lexus LS400. Malc

I had heard that a headlight bulb change in the LS430 costs @ £500 coz of the enormous labour time having to be spent on the job ! Anyone any other thoughts on this ? Malc

Don't know the answer but I bet you bought your car for next to nothing moneywise ! And isn't it just about the best car one can ever drive ! Malc

I wouuldn't think you need to pay anywhere nesr that money for an 01 plate car ! They should be as cheap as chips notwithstanding the cost new. Take care with too many gizmos and their malfunctioning on newer models ........... are they really worth the trouble ? I understand that, for example, a headlight bulb change on the 430 costs an arm and a leg too ........... just enquire, you might have a shock ! Happy hunting .......... my '94 LS400 should last me for donkeys years I reckon ( and hope ). Bugger the cost of fuel ........... aaaaaggggghhhhhhhh Malc

Do you them each side of the numberplate then ?

If you want a great car and few bills and supreme comfort and comparative economy then why not go for a cash saving older LS400 with a very low mileage ....... they are about at just about " no money " . and will give you the oomph and space and comfort that's second to none. It will last you for ever ( if you wanted ) ........... my 94 LS 400 ( my second LS in 8 years mind you ) does an average 22/23 mpg but on a good run at 70 - 80mph it does return 30.4 mpg ! Handling in ice and snow, well, it's a two tonne rear wheel drive auto and a bit of a monster for that but, like you say, as quick and as fast as you would want any family car to be from a satnding start. And you can throw it through the bends and corners too ............. but I wouldn't ! Make your mind up, save a shed load of money and buy the best of the oldies that's around. You won't regret it. Malc

Amazing ! the build quality of the LS400 was just superb. Can't imagine any other car not needing the aircon topped up at such long and useage intervals. Guess you'll be keeping it forever then now, especially as I read on here that Lexus recommend a cambelt change every 100k miles ! Malc

Hi, is this the first time it's been topped up then and what age and mileage is your LS400 ? Just like to know if it's age or mileage or non-use related I guess ! Any ideas ? Malc