Stupot

Yes... and they are, very awesome. Don't worry about bonnet struts... I bought these... they may be cheap, but still working great a year later... you just have to hacksaw the old ball nut out of the old pair... (that will make sense to you when you try fitting them) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-Bonnet-Hood-Gas-Liftgate-Struts-Support-For-Lexus-LS400-Sedan-1998-2000-/153422153381?hash=item23b8ac46a5

That's a good outcome for you both. Not for long I suspect

Good news that the history and car are all checking out. If your local chap wants to buy your current LS430 at a price you are both happy with, then I would go that route. I've been quoted a trade in price over the phone by a few dealers on previous cars and when I've turned up, they have ALWAYS kicked the tyres and then offered less than agreed over the phone. The size of the reduction in the trade in is usually commensurate to the distance I have travelled to see the dealers car! All the best with your purchase, let us know how it goes.

Glad you were already aware. It's a fine looking example, enjoy.

The Stellar Car company used to be Moses Gate Car Sales. They had a Lex I liked the look of but after I read this online (link below), I was put off even going to look at the car. They seem to have a very bad rep... I have no connection and of course, these bad reviews may just be fake from their competition.... but as RoyofRovers says, proceed with caution. https://www.cardealerreviews.co.uk/dealership/moses-gate-car-sales-bolton-lancashire-england

And I'm not asking because I want the car.

Have you already done the deal and paid a deposit?

Storage for 'First Aid Kit'... or whatever you want to put in there.

My LS400 failed it's MOT on one each of these a month ago. 1 x Rear Upper Control arm (nearside) and 1 Rear Hub Assembly (offside). My Independent garage got a 'discount' from local Lex dealership, but the parts still came to £767.40 inc VAT (including a new wheel bearing). With fitting, came to £1035 😩 The rear hub assembly is a single unit with the bushes and the wheel bearing could not be separated from the hub, so a new one of those was needed! I was hoping to just get new bushes pressed in for the failed ones, but they said as the other bushes were nearly shot, it did not make sense. You might get these parts cheaper from Lexus Spares direct (Swindon), or from Japan (Amayama) or USA (Rockauto) but either way, it's not going to be cheap!

The exhaust blow might be part of your EML problems... getting codes read may help. I got my ECU capacitors changed by a local electrical engineer... he knew his stuff. I supplied the capacitors. I think he operates a post and return service, his website says diesel, but he was happy to fix my LS ECU, might be worth contacting him as probably quicker and cheaper than LS Cowboy... https://www.dieselecurepairs.co.uk/

Good that your replacement ECU mostly works. Only a thought, but maybe the capacitors in your replacement ECU need replacing?

What issues are you experiencing?

I've been buying car and leisure batteries from these chaps for a few years now, they always seem to have the best prices around that I can find. I just bought and fitted one for my LS400. https://www.batterymegastore.co.uk/catalog/product/view/id/1664/s/hankook-mf57029/ I've put a Hankook in our Honda CRV as well, performing great after 3 years. Also had a conversation with an auto electrician who rated the Hankooks very highly.

I saw this car online on the BCA (British car Auction) website a couple or so months ago. It caught my attention due to the full Lex history and low miles, and had it not been at their Kinross site which is 500 miles and an 8 hour drive away, I'd have been interested. Now to the current seller in Dundee, obviously a dealer from the spiel in the ad, the pro photos and the garage background. They probably picked this car up from BCA for relative peanuts. That they are trying to pretend to be a private seller makes me suspicious that they are trying to sell this without a dealer warranty and consumer protection. If that's the case, I'd walk away and avoid this one.

You want the bargain so badly, you are willing to pay a deposit via paypal to secure it...sight unseen.

Completely agree with all of that

Scam confirmed... here is the same car for sale with a private seller on Autotrader for £10,500. I imagine this seller has no idea about his photos having been used in the ebay scam ad. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201902225206879?sort=distance&radius=1500&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&advertising-location=at_cars&make=LEXUS&model=RX 400H&postcode=pl219da&page=1 and the ebay ad https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-RX-400h-3-3-Executive/123681593167

Glad you are enjoying your LS400.... as to the steering wheel shake.... unfortunately, if you do some searching on this forum, you will find that it's a common problem on the LS400 at a certain age/miles. Mine does the same between 60-70mph... but it does not always do it... some days it's barely noticeable, other days steering shake and vibration means I can hear stuff rattling in the glove box! I've had new tyres balance etc and it has not cured it, in-fact it made it slightly worse. I did not have this problem when I bought the car at 85k miles to when I sold it at 120k miles ... but I now have the same car back at 160k miles and the shake is there! The thing is, that it could be various components causing the shake from tyres, warped brake discs, drive train or worn suspension components... or a subtle combination of them all. If you have a nice LS400 that you plan to keep long term, then it will be worth spending money to slowly find the cause and eliminate the problem.

It's a classified ad with a price of £4,885 for a 2009 RX400h with only 58,000 miles... a dealer would be asking between £10-12k for this car.

Here is a very good example of what I can only assume is a scam ad on ebay... this car is thousands of pounds less than it should be https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-RX-400h-3-3-Executive/123681593167?hash=item1ccbff574f:g:KSkAAOSwL-9cgl3G

Easy peesy. From memory, so may not be totally gospel... open boot, there are a couple of blanking plates either side of the lens that you prise off to reveal two screws, undo these and the lens can be eased off being careful with the lugs that will pop out as you pull the lens away. The bulb housing twists a half turn or so (if I remember correctly) to undo and pull it out from the lens. Pull out the bulb, and push in the new one and re-assemble.

Here you go, I just put one in my 98 LS400 a couple of months ago. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-Autolamps-380W-W21-5W-Capless-Brake-Stop-Tail-Light-Bulb-58012v-21-5w/401296226963?epid=1863796315&hash=item5d6f1e7a93:g:COUAAOSwzgBY1BHz

That makes sense, as for me, it doesn't look quite up to Lexus standard in terms of fit and finish...I'm not convinced it improves the look.

I've not seen this amount of extra walnut on any other LS400's that I've seen. Maybe an import? Or a one off customer specification? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-Lexus-LS400-a-restoration-project/323724771304?hash=item4b5f7fffe8:g:m6YAAOSwwRBcfqbJ

Great to hear you have decided to stick with your LS400 and spend some dosh on improvements. I know from your recent posts you were on the verge of giving it up and changing your car. I hope the new suspension parts deliver that smoother ride, let us know how you get on. As you say, the LS pretty much deserves a 'what ever it takes' attitude to keeping it going.