39buss

Yes... that was me. Nice enough car but I didn't like the way the seller ( a farmer with a nice little set-up) described the car as FLSH, which it hasn't, DHP model but no proof as it could just be the wheels and the tyres were legal, true but only just... and bonnet struts needed..... and wiper blades....for a "penuth of tar". This is more than annoying when you travel that distance and find it needs £600 spending on it within the first month. Very dark green trim, a little drab for my liking but could have lived with it. Its now on ebay for the same price. I think its 2/3 weeks ago when I saw it. There's another in Bedlington which is nice enough but £2500 for an "R" reg?.and 30 miles further into Gods Country. One in Preston on Autotrader or ebay

Hi Rob, you're posts on the LS400 forum seem to have disappeared. Try a search for "benfur" on the LS 400 forum. He breaks LS's and is a well respected member.

Have you tried " benfur " on here. He breaks ls's and is a well respected member.

When I took the rad off my MK3 a few years ago the oil cooler located in the bottom of the rad spilled out horrible sludge. Maybe this is why LS 430's are having g/box problems now. Regular partial changes, as has been suggested, letting the old and new dilute with each other may well be the way to go, certainly the easiest.

After charging that much Lexus should tell you where the ecu is located, surely. I PM'ed you my number.

Hi Rob, you're in Durham so is Foxpond anything to do with the angling lakes at Blackfell on the Mill House roundabout. If its any help I have the LS430 manual on the computer and you're welcome to have a look at it so you can find where the ecu is. I'm in Washington, the posh end, Donwell. Jim

I was told the same BMW's that are sold in the UK with sealed for life g/boxes and no dipstick miraculously gain a dipstick when sold in the USA. I've heard of other makes ( Honda?) who suggest fluid (water,brake fluid, atf) change intervals but dont include it in the service schedule and leave the decision to the owner.

I can go along with all your points. It is a nice car and the history supports the mileage. If the tyres had 4mm then I wouldn't point this out. The way I see it is , it's a £3000 car as the tyres need doing in the 1st month,wiper blades and bonnet supports and only one key. I think about £2000 as it stands. It would be nice to get a S/H car which needs nowt spending on it. My present car (E46) i've had 5 months and spent £19 on it. Thats got to be a record, for me anyhow. Another big plus point it's on the door step 10 miles from home

Sorry dont know how to do a link never ever done one before. I mentioned the tyres and he said they were legal. The un-necessary spiel does put you off though!!

Had a quick look at this DHP (well, DHP wheels) LS400 today. It started life in the Notts area and finished in Worcester before ending up near Durham at this dealers on Autotrader. FSH up to about 3 yrs ago with cam belt change at main dealer but no stamps for last 3 years but very low mileage in this time. I think it was 10k in 4 yrs. Will need 5 tyres very shortly, thats 4-500quid to think about, Falkens on it at the moment, 1 key with 1 bladeless fob, 2 bonnet stays req, otherwise very nice. I'll have a test drive tomorrow. Very nice condition with dark green trim, not seen that in an LS before. Seats and carpets are in lovely nick and I think I could live with it, pity it wasn't biege. Question! there are 2 wires in the right side of the boot under the carpet which look like small digital aerial leads. Anyone know what these were for, some sort of after market electrical accessory? possibly

I came across this some time ago. svtservices@aol.com Sound & Vision Technical Services, Edinburgh. 0131 555 2126. Is it the same one?. From memory about £300 to service the head unit from an LS 430

S 848 AGU. Anyone on here having their Sunday scran at the Ramside Hotel in Durham today with this MK4 silver LS400. I didn't get close to it but it looked lowered.

This car didn't sell on its 1st listing so he's upped the price by £500. There'll be a queue outside his door the morrow morning !!

I did have a quick look at the S/H and its Lexus up to about 80K with a sticker in the engine bay confirming cam belt changed at 73k corresponding with a stamp in the book. There are Lexus receipts with 98k on them but not stamped in the book. Strange!. I would need more time to look and test drive. Advisory on MOT: Slight play front ball joint meaning expensive part from Lexus. PS. He said he bought it with no S/H but found all the paper work in the cubby hole under the front passenger seat.

R 389 KUM Item No. 261595119800 on that auction. Anyone know this LS 400 its up for sale near me and its got a LOC sticker in the window. I could only have a quick look at it on Tuesday and 1st impressions were OK. He's doing a couple of jobs on it to make it ready for sale (why has he advertised it then!!!?). He's a one man dealer working from home. He uses space at a local garage.He bought it blind 2 yrs ago, had it transported to his and never used it. Service book stamps start at Bolton and then Oxford,Surrey etc. PS. It didn't have electric folding mirrors. I thought MK4's did.

Ah well I didn't make it to the auction so cant even help you on the auctioneers start bid price.

ambermarine LexIS200Sport. thanks for your caution but I'm only curious as to how much or how many bids there are on it. Auction started at 5.30pm today but I'm stuck at home waiting for the decorators quote. ( for the bedroom not the car)

Just in case I dont get to the auction tonight I've been to see it this morning and they dont have a reserve as yet as it's a new entry but they gave me the Cap Guide figures. £22,300 to £24,600. It has an SMA-Group assured mechanical report on the windscreen, 5 main dealer services, Lexus Stockport number plates if you want to check it out, 2 x Dunlop and 2 x Bridgestone tyres with plenty tread.

There are pics and description on www.sma-group.co.uk but generally you can see all paperwork in their office except log book with owners details (data protection etc) Spare Key,Sat Nav Disc X 3, 5 Main Agent Service stamps

There's an 08reg LS600H with 29,000 miles for sale at SMA-Group on Monday night at their Newcastle (Birtley) branch. I may go along to see how much it goes for.

Apologies for late update but ongoing TalkTalk problems. I think it may be time to change to BT Infinity....out of the pot into ....? I didn't go to Fridays auction as I decided against the 430, just too much to do whatever the selling price. I think its sold as its not on their web page anymore. We'll see if it turns up with a local trader (spares or repair). Thanks for all your input, always interesting and knowledgeable

I've been told any dash light that isn't supposed to be on is an MOT failure now. MOT due 17 Nov 2014

Thanks for the replies. It's round about what I was thinking. They're all the things I've spotted but as you say its what crops up during early usage. Recently high lighted on here is the g/box oil cooler leaking causing some problems ( problems??? total failure!!). This would have to be factored in and an external cooler fitted. Make that figure £2500

I've had look at it this morning and the usual stone chippings for this mileage to the front end but overall pretty good. 9 Lexus service stamps, Manchester x 4, and Newcastle x 5. I rang Newcastle and its NOT had a belt change, 10yrs or 100,000 mls he said. They didn't have anything in their notes about the radio not working, but immediately said "new tele motors" when I mentioned it. They traded it to a "specialist", I dont know any specialists up here and my initial thoughts are he's found the problems and had second thoughts. Cut his losses and let somebody else sort it.............."ME" maybe. I think £2000 max. including commission on the hammer price My thoughts on buying an LS430 are......£1500ish for an LPG conversion, £2000 in the back of the book to cover the cost of, if and when, the suspension packs up and it wont fit in my garage.

LEXUS LS 430 MH05AEJ It also had a private plate H11 LOK Does anyone know this car?. It has Lexus Manchester plates on it. It's in my local car auction tomorrow(Friday 25th). I had a quick look at it yesterday and will go to view the service history today. Good Points. Doesn't look molested at all. Very nice Blue body and very very nice clean biege trim. 100k with 9 stamps (not sure if its all Lexus, will find out later). Cold A/C. Very clean engine oil. Bad Points. Steering tele motors NOT working properly, only slight movement both ways. Air bag light on. AFS OFF light on, some thing to do with swiveling headlamps? but didn't see an on/off button. Would these two lights fail the MOT. No cam belt sticker under the bonnet. The S/N lights up with radio etc but I cant get any sound from it. Wheels very scabby and not much life left on the premium tyres fitted. I like the fact that its got premium tyres on at its age and mileage. Pity they're 18" as I have an excellent set of 17" alloys and tyres. I couldn't drive it but had it running and moved it to and fro a couple of yards all nice and quiet and smooth. Any thoughts on the air bag light, no sound from the audio and AFS OFF light. Tele motors £60-80 used. Cambelt, pump and idler £300-400. Wheels £50 each to refurb. If it goes for £3000 hammer price there's £346 commission on top. So......too many bad points or will a decent price make it worth while?? I'm off up to the auction now to see the S/H.