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Thank you for your thoughts Malcom. The only reason for my using a Lexus main dealer is that they have been unfailingly reliable and I cannot afford to test various mechanics when I have even had bad experiences with VW and Porsche main dealers! But back then I discovered a wonderful mechanic who in fact even knew more than the main dealers. Unfortunately he refused to work on Lexus and has now sold his garage and retired.

Thank you for that unfortunately Lexus won't fit parts unless they source them. As mentioned elsewhere I am not mechanically inclined and only used to have one mechanic I trusted (he had worked wonders on my German cars) and he told me in advance that he would not work on a Lexus so the two possibilities were not possible!

My Ls400 (1998 model) needed a air conditioning condenser - I braced myself for the bill and then Lexus informed they had ordered the part but it was unavailable...

So here's what happened to the transmission on the LS400 : - the pwr light started flashing. - checked transmission fluid and it was fine. - the gears began to slip : I would need to rev it up to 3k rpm just to get it to move off. When cold reverse was totally unavailable. - took it to Lexus and they told me that they tried to get the parts but they were no longer available. - last Thursday I started it up, engaged drive and nothing happened. Tried again (until engine reached about 5k rpm), no movement, engine light came on. I am not a mechanically minded person so I can only tell you what I was told or experienced for myself. While in my ownership the car was always serviced/repaired by Lexus. Now I'm sadly finding that it will probably have to be scrapped.

It is of course nice to have a new (to me) car with all the new gadgets but having had the old fully serviced, new battery and new tyres last year and now not knowing what to do with the old one...

I'm temporarily having both a LS400 and LS430 in my drive but it is a sad occasion as the LS400 I was previously very happy with has a final transmission failure and the parts are no longer available. After 22 years and 228893 miles I can't complain. Anyway this has given me an opportunity to compare the two: - although from the outside they both appear to be about the same size (in fact the LS430 is, according to the specs, marginally larger on the outside), the LS400 seems larger on the inside, the seats seem bigger, and all around visibility is undoubtedly better. In fact visibility on the LS430 (out the back and pillars; I guess they put a reverse camera because they had to) is poor and it even lacks the open feel of the LS400. - the LS430 obviously has more gadgets and improvements. - it seems to me that the suspension is equally soft (I don't mean collapsed!) even though the LS430 only has 60000 miles and air suspension. - the LS430 seems noisier : tyres or roads? (I don't know) - engine response : the LS430 doesn't quite the low V8 growl of the LS400 and the power availability is just marginally slower to come than on the LS400. - the steering has more feeling but it requires more effort on the newer model whereas on the older one it is absolutely effortless and feels very much on rails. - seems one of the Mark Levinson speakers is on its way out on the LS430 whereas all the original speakers on the LS400 are just fine (but they're not ML). - the satnav: essentially the same except on the LS430 they have managed to hide the cancel function so well I could not find it without the manual! - absolutely love that the front seats are heated and cooled on the LS430. All that comes to mind, let me know if you have any questions.

Have just acquired an LS430 which came with Pirelli Zero ( 8 so practically brand new) and will be happy to report back on them. On my LS400 which I'm sadly having to part with (transmission failure at 228893 miles) I have run Vredestein Wintrac Extreme for years: they wear well, are quiet and the grip in the dry, wet and snow is very good. Once the Pirelli are gone will probably go back to Vredestein. By the way, the prices on Vredestein are good also.

My 1998 Ls400 has for years now (while in my ownership) been running very happily on the standard unleaded petrol. In the experience of Ls430 owners does the LS430 need the higher octane (premium) unleaded petrol? Thank you for your thoughts.

It's been at least three years since I had the timing belt done (at Lexus) and if memory serves it was more like £600. By the way congratulations to skyway for doing the job himself!

1998 Ls400 at +228000 mls have done two changes: 1st time, after purchase at 80000 mls and not knowing what went before (I suspect nothing) I did the timing belt, water pump and associated bits. Second time, after 60000 mls just the timing belt. This is not only a big massive job (time, effort and money) but one that, get it wrong, can cause a catastrophic failure so I never had any doubts: job was done on both occasions by a main Lexus dealer. It no doubt cost more but I never had a related problem and I didn't even think about it. My experience was that my Lexus dealer not only got it right but the one time they got it wrong in a minor way they fixed at their cost with no argument. I must also tell you that my independent mechanic who looked after all my German cars when I told him I was buying a Lexus told me that he was not touching that car! It is your car, your money and so your decision. Good luck and enjoy the wonderful LS400!

Certainly, anecdotally, these timing belts go on well beyond and, of course, everyone has to decide for themselves the level of risk....

I do agree with amber marine : my 1998 Ls400 has now covered 228616 miles but you need to bear in mind that although you can buy one if these cars cheaply maintenance is expensive : the timing belt, water pump, idler, etc. around £600-700 every 60000 miles, starter motor around £600. Sadly my transmission has now began to play up and Lexus quoted me £6000 (with a 50% discount as they have serviced my car for many years)! Obviously it will be cheaper if you are handy with a spanner. And the car itself is so wonderful you have to experience it to believe it.

Thank you for your reply.

Does anyone know how many keys a 2005 Ls430 comes with as standard and what they might be (standard key, valet key, key card)?

Have a look at its past MOTs

Here it is from Amazon

Have had a similar experience with my 98 Ls400 and the next battery I'm getting is a Bosch S4 series with specs exceeding the Toyota one and a 4 year warranty. It is supposed to be a direct fit. I replaced my Porsche battery with one of these Bosch S series and the improvement was amazing.

I have been using Vredstein winter tyres (currently Winter extreme with snow and mud markings) all year round for at least ten years : good road holding, relatively quiet and they are usually under £ 100 (between 80-96) delivered directly to your door or favorite garage or you can prepay for fitting and use one of their garages. I couldn't recommend these tyres enough. The only drawback for those traveling to Germany is that these tyres are restricted to a maximum speed of 130mph! P.S. Should you decide to try these be aware that they make the same tyre for SUVs which I haven't and I wouldn't buy.

I've only recently looked at a Japanese import - 2002 celsior with 51000. It didn't look as fresh as my 98 LS400 (and that's not saying much) and when I asked this established and expert Japanese import expert dealer when was the timing belt done he told me that the Japanese do it on mileage only, so 49000 to go (at this rate the car will be just under 40 years...) He assured me that, in all his years of dealing in these cars he had never had a problem! Could it be just his customers did?! Anyway I doubt I'll be looking at another Japanese import.

Not sure that it's original but I'm told by the seller that it doesn't need one as it hasn't reached 60000 miles and it's done on mileage and not time! I was pretty sure that the guy is wrong but wanted to check. Given the replies I've had here the best interpretation I can put on what I've been told is that he doesn't know. So if I decided to buy I guess I'd have 2 jobs to be done immediately : radiator to avoid transmission problems and the full timing belt, water pump, tensioner.. Then there's the air suspension....

Thank you everyone. I thought as much but someone (I shall not identify) was telling me that it was done on mileage only (at 60000 miles) and the car has only covered 50000 but is a 2001! so the original timing belt!

I have had a 1998 LS400 for over a decade and I am now on my third timing belt and second water pump and tensioner. I would be grateful if a Ls430 or Celsior owner could let me know what are the mileage/time intervals for changing the timing belt on that car.

You can imagine how I felt at age 49 (driving for over 30 years, maximum no claims) when I wanted to insure my 1st Porsche and the question was: have you driven one before? No? Then we can't insure you! 😭 Eventually I did find someone. So don't feel too bad!

No, I would not buy a cat D LS400 but I have been (for several years) /am driving one! How? My immaculate (for the age) 1998 was legally parked while waiting for a friend when a less than careful (putting mildly) driver in an X60 Volvo scraped the side of it starting from the rear side bumper to the rear door(before my eyes) resulting in £2000 damage according to the Lexus estimate. My insurance company coordinated with the other driver's insurance and informed me that the car had been written off. They didn't even ask me! The damage was entirely esthetic and it has passed every MOT since with no trouble. I fought the decision but in the end had to give in as neither insurance company was willing to budge. The other driver's insurance offered more (under £1800) and I was then able to buy it back for £600. My only other option was to sue the other driver at my own cost and with no support from my own insurance. My insurance company (the cheapest I could find, over 16 years NCB) it still charging me the same as before! My LS400 drives as well as before but doesn't look so good. As for insurance companies..........

I couldn't do without my car so I just had one wheel done at a time. It took a bit longer but it was done.