Malc

I don't know about the door shutting and the drive issues but i do think that the dash lights are a very common problem with this age car. The panel lights need fixing and the cost is OK with a guy both in the States and in the UK able to do the repair. Mine in the Uk was done by Vince ( he's on here somewhere ) and cost me about £75 at his place and waited while he took it out of the car and sodered it up. Then it will last forever ! malc

So did you eventually buy the car ? I've been driving LS400s for 8 years now and the latest is a 94 M with just 30k miles now. Never driven a better car and wouldn't expect to ! Aren't they just simply a wonder to drive ( pity about the petrol consumption though ) and to maintain ............ but what maintenence eh ! costs are just so negligible. :D

All fixed and done in super quick time at Chris's place ................. nice chap to chat with too and the coffee is just what I needed after a 2 hr journey. Lights are bright now and instant ..... I guess like new. Thanks Chris Malc

Not too far down into Hampshire I would guess ... Jct 4A of the M3. And I understand he does all sorts of stuff too including the climate control and time clock screens. I didn't get that fixed on my 1991 LS400 as I didn't know of him before I bought my " new " 1994 LS400 two years ago now. By the way I have just bought a new battery with a 4 yr warranty for mine from an on-line company .. The Battery Shack ................ excellent service and price too. I paid £60 all inclusive but they have just ( the following week ) put the price up to £61.98. It's a 90 AH battery and out of the Hyundai / Kia battery factory I think where I would imagine they might be " original " equipment and we all know they give a 6 year warranty on their cars ! Only time will tell if it's a good one or not. Malc

Hi Guys ........ I have tracked him down and he is fixing my dash lights tomorrow. He is just off the M3 motorway and can be contacted on chrisvince@btopenworld.com Good luck Malc

Hi guys, I understand Chris Vince is the guy to fix this problem for me ! Anyone know how I can make contact with him by phone ? Thanks Malc

Hey guys, mine's possibly the lowest mileage August 94 LS400 bought in Dec 2007 at 8542 ( very genuine ) and now 7th. Sept 2009 covered just 25567 miles.

Hi, I am reliably informed that changing a headlamp bulb in this age car is quite challenging. Typical garage cost is @ £500 ( yes five hundred pounds ) per side and little of that is the bulb cost. And if the " motors " are defunct then the cost escalates to @ £750 per side. The older models without xenon bulbs are ( hopes ) less demanding.

hey, at 500k + miles it's value is just about zero .... whatever the car and it's looks and condition ....... especially as its approaching 10 years old.

Hi guys, I believe that the cambelt change is at 63k as you said but max interval is 10 years. The belts commonly last 100k miles if neglected and I did read somewhere that the failure of the belt is @150k miles ................. but don't ever let it get to that position please ! 3 hours is possibly the time spent with a Lexus dealer experienced in changing the belt BUT for anyone else it really is just about an all day job. Comparative costs are equivalent in that 3 hrs at a main dealer might cost you the same as an all day job with a " normal " priced garage. Getting the quote from a lexus dealer will require you to have a stiff whiskey and a comfy armchair to collapse into methinks.

Hi Malc, sounds like a really excellent car. I don't think the price you paid is excessive, particularly with the mileage. You are most fortunate to find such a rare car. Hen's teeth springs to mind! Kindest regards David I had planned the change for about a year, the time it took to find the best of the " old " LS400 models. Acquired it from a secondhand car dealer ( on-line ) in Windsor who sells Maybach, RR, Bentley, Mercs and the like. This old banger ( my Lexus ) was bought by him for the Private Plate ........... the car itself was, fortunately, superfluous and of little/zero value to him I think. So, yes, a bit like " hen's teeth " aren't I lucky ! Malc

Hi guys ........................... the LS400 beats most cars for running costs, not just the RR. The LS400 so rarely needs any replacement parts ! I drove a 1991 LS for 5 years and parted company when it reached 190k miles and due another cambelt change. Now have a 1994 LS400 that I bought the end of 2007 with 8542 miles and at £ 3700, expensive I know ! .............. a brand new 13.5 year old car that has now covered just 21k miles. An absolute dream to drive ( like the older one ) and unremitting comfort and power and in the knowledge that I'm going to have to be just ever so unlucky to have any problems with it for many years to come. Probably last me another 10 years I would reckon too.

Hi, I changed my 200k miles 1991 LS400 late in 2008 for a 1994 model with only 8,542 miles ( honest ). Wanted a brand new one of that shape and so pleased with it so far. Petrol consumption is the same in both ! A really good run from Kent to Birmingham at @ 80 mph gave me just about 30 mpg. Generally get about 23 mpg driving it in Overdrive mode. When " boy racers " think they can burn me up ( a 15 year old monster ) at the lights or wherever I just put it into PWR mode and. well, of course it just flys away and leaves them gasping ! BUT I do expect the consumption to be at 16 mpg or so then, but, hey, it's not for long. THE LEXUS LS400 must be the very best and most economic of the GREATEST cars on the road.