maneesh

Sounds like you might benefit from cheap parts, use www.lexus-parts.com Yes, they are in Dallas, Texas, but they are biggest online Lexus parts in US and the exchange rate currently offers very good deals. I just ordered some front control arms and saved 60% off the UK price, even after shipping costs. Good Luck!

Dude, What kind of service history does the car have? Stamps in a book does necessarily mean it has been well looked after. Any owner can get the service done and get a stamp put in the book. However, it's the actual invoices which show if the dealer has recommended any work at service time which many owners neglect the recommended work, and they still get the stamp. Caveat Emptor - Buyer Beware! Ideally, take someone along who knows a lot about these cars, or failing that get it inspected by AA/RAC before you part with your cash! If you ever need parts, I'd try www.lexus-parts.com. I just ordered parts from them at 40% of the price I would pay in this country!

See link for recent sale in auction of a 146k H plated 400 for 1,975. Hope that gives you an idea of realistic pricing. http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/index.htm?news_id=1282

My car has always had a jolt when moving into D, hot or cold. Like you, I took it to Lexus and they checked out the transmission and said nothing wrong. I avoid the jolt by moving from P to R, waiting just one second, and then moving to D. No jolt then. Lexus UK make the claim that they have never had to replace an automatic gearbox on any LS400 since they started importing them in 1989. Is that really true? The older models always idle higher for longer than the newer models.

What is the condition of your front tyres? Have they worn evenly? What kind of roads does it wander on? All, or just particular surfaces? How bouncy is the car? Is it from the front or the rear mainly? If front, check your upper control arms. Replacing those can make a big difference to keeping the front from bobbing up and down. If it's the rear, does the car skip like a kangaroo when going round a bend and you hit a bump in the road? If so, might be the bushes in the rear axle carriers. Best take it for a suspension check up before you spend money on new shocks. The shocks on the original cars do seem to last a very long time. If you do have to buy new shocks, still with original Lexus ones. Also, you may benefit from a full geometry check on all wheels if one hasn't been done for a while. There is always some slack in the steering column. These cars are designed with little feel around the dead centre position.

That's sad news dude. You don't say where you are, but two garages I know of that can repair Lexi very cheaply are: 1. Powerhouse Garage in Camberley, Surrey 25+VAT labour/per hour 2. Westfield Motors in Rayleigh, Essex, 32+VAT labour/per hour I've heard good things about both, and I personally get mine done at Westfield. The guys there take you round the ramp and show you everything that REALLY needs doing. The Lexus dealers I have used when my car was under warranty generally picked out everything that might be wrong with the car even though that particular part would not need changing for another year or two. I'd make whoever gave you a bill for £3,000 justify every single penny. Most of that is labour I expect! Yes, join Gold just to get the parts cheap, you will save a lot.

Latest Lexus magazine arrived. Very glossy and polished, so that's why they charge you so much for a service, to pay for these useless magazines ;-) Noticed in there that LS430 has 278hp, website says the same too. However, wasn't last LS400 290hp? Have they really gone for a larger engine but less horsepower? What's the rationale behind that?

you poor sod indeed! Just to say I have zero NCB and the club insurance scheme was the cheapest by far. Mainstream policies were 3.5k to 5k. Club insurance on a 6000 mile a year policy was 2k. Big difference! I think that 3.5-4k for a selling price is high. Parkers reckons on average mileage of 10k a year, which already puts yours at 40k over the average mileage for a 1990. Sure you have spent loads more than others on it, but it's still a 14 year old car. Best to try and sell it via this website, since you might have a greater chance of finding enthusiasts who appreciate the money you have spent on it. I think the average person wouldn't pay much extra, but that's just my two pence... Good luck!

Check out this crazy ad on ebay. How can he reckon that a 12 year old LS400 with 175k and 7 owners drive like new? He also claims it cost £46k new, but I thought they were about 33k new back in 1992? He also claims he has sold 200 LS400s in 9 years yet doesn't seem to know much!!! Describes the colour as blue mink sort of metallic. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...&category=50175 Starting bid is way over book too!

I'm just curious. What were people considering to buy before they actually bought their LS400? Also, what was your car before you bought the LS400? I considered a Ford Scorpio 2.9 24v, and was driving a Ford Sierra 1.6L at the time. What a difference an extra 4 cylinders, 2.4 litres, 175hp makes!! Drove a 2 litre Mondeo hire car recently, and was very good for a Ford, but they've gone quite German with their firm ride. I prefer the pillowlike ride of a Lex!

Hey, I bought my Lex because it's so quiet to drive. However, it's funny when you start hearing odd noises in the car, and then realise the noise is not coming from the car, but from stuff that you have inside the car. The other day the lock on my briefcase was rattling, and the briefcase was on the front passenger mat. Chucking the briefcase into the boot, brought back my serene environment. Anyone else got similar stories?

For those who are in London/SE who got their first snow shower today, how was it in your 400/430? I have a 92 (no traction control) with Michelin Pilot Primacy's on the back (pretty bad in the wet). I was surprised that as long as I was gentle on the gas (very little pressure - no more than 1,500 revs) and brakes, I was doing fine. For some reason, everyone on the A40 was doing a maximum of 20mph this evening, despite the tyres from the car in front clearing two "strands" of road to drive on with some grip! I think this could be the first time many are driving in snow too? Funnily enough, all the big 4x4s in London (X5s, Range Rovers etc.) were driving slower than I was ;-) This is the time that the lack of feel in the steering of LS400s works against owners, since you have no idea how much grip you have in the snow. M

Thanks dude. I have just ordered mine from a site on the web. http://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk Only 1.75 each including P&P. Worth checking out whatever batteries you need. Lexus charged me 12 quid last time they changed the battery! I'm in the wrong business!

Thanks dude. My empty space for the battery is smaller than your measurements suggest, in terms of diameter. I will have go to an electronics store and just try and match one up. I looked in my original owner's manual - nothing in there!

Afraid I'm limited to changing the wipers and checking the oil ;-) But the thing is you can't buy the bushings from Toyota or Lexus. You have to buy the whole rear axle carrier unit which contains the bushing. Anyway, the garage I use charges about 60% less than Lexus dealers do per hour, so cost of labour isn't a problem.

Hey guys, I have to replace the upper control arms in the front. Way too expensive in the UK even with Gold discount. Since the Pound:Dollar exchange rate is so high, I wanted to buy the arms from a US company. I have found rates as low as $300 dollars for each arm, which would work out around £170. Some questions: 1. Can anyone recommend a reliable US parts company? 2. Would any duty be applied by customs & Excise? Also, the bushings inside the rear axle carriers are weak. I've heard of a guy in the US who makes replacement bushings (Lexus only sell the complete unit, not the bushing itself). I might try those. I'll let you know if I manage to get them. Cheers, Maneesh

My 1992 model idles at 600rpm with brake depressed in D when warmed up, always has for the past 6 years.

Hey all, Does anyone have a clue what type of battery is used in the remote key for 92 LS400s? I assume once I know the part no. I can just get it from Tandy/Maplins. I would refer to the old one from the key but I misplaced it when I opened it up! Cheers.

Most folks don't expect LS drivers to drive hard, but if you know your own car's limits, and push the car harder than usual, then it can be quite a surprise for all the hot hatches that seem to rule most traffic lights.

You could opt for a Jaguar XJ8 3.2 V8 model. They are cheaper at new than German equivalents. Plus, you get the magic carpet ride and a cosy interior! Much improved reliability in last few years too.

Forgot to say, I paid around 130 for an A service at Westfield including fully synthetic oil and new air filter.

That's a fair price for the warranty, I'd probably go with it for a N reg car with near 100k miles. After the first year, if you didn't need it, then don't renew. 275 for an A service is way too much. Try Powerhouse garage in camberley, surrey or westfield motors in rayleigh, essex. I've been to westfield and can honestly say they treat you well and know what they are doing. £32+VAT for labour per hour, which helps, as labour is most of the cost of the service. Other people might be able to vouch for Powerhouse. Hope this helps.

I really notice vibration in the steering wheel from about 70ish mph. It starts creeping in from around 60 but really gets bad around 85mph. Recently had all wheels balanced, and still no improvement. I'm having new front discs put on in a few weeks anyway. Do you think that would help? 89-93 LS400s are notorious for warping the front discs, and mine are are a good few years old. I don't understand how worn brake discs can cause steering wheel vibration?? Thanks.

I have recently replaced Dunlop Sport Sp3000 with Pilot Primacys on the rear, and they don't seem to be any worse than the dunlops. Same noise level, but definitely less grippier even in dry. However, they are very, very hardwearing tyres. Michelin website illustrates that they are used on Audi A8s, other luxury cars.

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be anyone in the UK apart from greedy Lexus that can supply the rear hub bushes. I think it's really expensive with Lexus because you can't buy the bush only, you have to buy the whole hub unit. The cars may be nice, but the company are just making it difficult to run the cars when they get old.