Ghosty

haven't posted anything in a few months work family issues house break in ( didn't steal much as wife walked in but stole 2 sets of keys causing a nightmare, if anyone knows how to program new keys please help i have tried the normal brake pedal dance and open door method even followed lexus manual and nothing. Programmed the remote locking but cannot program new key or even enter programming mode also has anyone tried the smart key makers they sell on ebay that you just plug in the ODB2 port. From what i have seen they got a hold of a lexus handheld tool and found a hack. Anyway blabbing on as normal, i think one of my last posts was asking about where to get a stainless exhaust for my 430. Got a few quotes wasn't happy with the price so tried ordering from america but the one trader want to rip me off for postage when he would sell the separate parts to make full system together for 100 less postage all added up to sending it in one package. Anyway finally took the advice and went to MIJ performance in wallsaw M6, went for a cat back system mid performance as i don't want to quiet or too loud. Have to say anyone with a GS,LS or SC 430 go to them and get a custom system made for 550 i now have an american muscle car that burbles and growls and then is almost silent on the motorway. Comes with the lifetime warranty and top class service, had 2 guys working together for 4 hours to make something that looks like it was made in the factory. I asked for a stock look with a hidden growl and thats exactly what they gave me. Anyone that is interested may put up a video of the exhaust idling ect. I know that sounds very childish but if the americans can spend hours on youtube so can we.

cool adverts i must say as a gs 430 man i prefer the american gs 400 adverts back in the day "something wicked this way comes introducing the worlds fasts automatic sedan"

i dont have the a spoiler was thinking about one but i found a lip spoiler on ebay for 26 quid bargain. was thinking about a suspension upgrade but i dont want to loose the ride quality. did the parking sensors 12 quid ebay again matching colour and factory tints.

do like the sportier look of your 430 my car follows the the classic look of an old mans car although i am 22 so get few looks. Got same with my 2 Jags. you looking to do any mods i was thinking about Supra callipers but cant find any info if the stock alloys will fit the calliper as everyone who has done it has big like 19 inch rims on with chrome and bling and all that jazz.

300 is no slouch but as i posted on here last week the shocked look of an BMW M3 driver as i was keeping up with him. Not many people on the road realise how much of a sleeper the 430 is especially those audi diesel drivers that think they own the road when the use the black stuff instead of good old jungle juice. i was watching wheeler dealers on discovery the other night when they were doing up an XK8 Jaguar sports car and the 430 is more powerful and faster than a GT cruiser.

cant beat it no replacement for displacement

If you could email some pics to j.l.lewis@btopenworld.com I live in Cheltenham so only about hour away if like photos we have got a deal if so when is best to collect I have tomorrow and Saturday off work

How much are you looking to get also what style are they the standard 17inch and will a 235 45 tyre definitely fit many thanks

Hay all I know I post alot sorry about that just though would ask I need new alloys but have new tyres already on my bad alloys. I have found a set of local alloys for a soarer which are 235 45 17 which is same size tyre just wondering how they compare to the 17 inch gs 430 alloy. and if they are a direct fit? They look like mk1 sport weeks kind of

ha already have a slightly harsh ride in my opinion she doesnt handle slow speed very well. Had 2 top mounts change both lower ball joints new anti roll bushes. when had springs off car when was doing the top mount checked everything over and springs good nick strut has some resistance but not to much or little. yet still sometimes really notice bumps in the steering wheel at slow speed o changed the steering rack bushes to poly bushes that help a bit. Its not massive but i notice it but when you hammer it in corners car goes like a dream no rough feeling or anything. so was putting it down that alloys need refurb as they started to corrode and it sometimes throws tyre pressures off. Seems owner before looked after everything but the alloys the amount of kerb damage they had plus had to replace 2 tyres due to holes in sidewall. Think the problem is this is the first Lexus i have owned so i have nothing to compare to as Jaguars famous grace space pace where you could hit a small child and not feel anything. so if anyone lifes around the gloucestershire area and doesn't mind a 22 year old having a go in their car (although we share the same car ) let me know. suspension is a lot better than it used to be when i first got her had a 450H at the lights kept reving off and trying to show off that his GS was 5 years younger than mine. i got annoyed and out pulled that little 3.5 and felt the car not liking me as i tilted into a corner i know that on paper they are almost identical but the grunt of that v8 beats a v6 any day. its like VTEC had 2 cars with VTEC and used to love it but i know now that there is no replacement for displacement you cant be torque no matter how high you can rev. sorry realise gone off topic here and made everything really long winded think is the fact i have been drinking pint size cups of coffee today

good to know once again thanks getting back so quick. its should i refurb what i have or get new alloys only problem had 4 new tyres on put on few months ago. like the look of the sport wheels although i will have to loose my gold caps

just out of interest i need to get my alloys refurbished then get new gold centres. Just wondering as seen set for around the same price how does the sport alloys compare in grip comfort compared to the stock 17inch alloys

forced to go to a stupidly hot island where they have cocktails on tap?? wish my wife would force me places

yeh my problem was the top mount simple order on US site to get all parts and fitted all sorted now i have the other side starting to knock very quietly so think will re torque top mount before replacing parts. also if anyone knows where to get the lube that comes with new poly bushes i used silicone and made more noise thinking about using pagid cer tec brake grease as pretty thick stuff. just the grease that comes with these bushes seems to be like gold dust. it is nice to be able to trust my suspension especial when the M3 next to you gives you a look to say how are you keeping up with me. Well V8 yeh thats right i have one to Mr BMW

i would say try american sites too, i used amazon and got front and rear anti roll bar bushes for 26 quid including delivery.

Well as i have found out and have been searching you can get a lifetime stainless shell custom made up for between 350-700+. On ebay quotes around the 350 and long life exhaust uk the 700 but with them you can custom the sound and look you are after. I have had big cars in the past and would never pay for new oem exhaust. When the exhaust was going on my Jaguar i was quoted around the 1800 mark of main dealer. I am after increasing the noise of my V8 but i think you corrosion may be like mine just after the cat is particularly bad

ahh just had a look at the puma exhaust again and it comes from MIJ who you recommended i may have to look further in this i just want my GS to sound like my old Jaguar

Hi all looking for the help of the forum once again just clearing a few things up and asking a question. I am after a stainless steel exhaust was quoted 700quid from long life. I have seen a puma exhaust direct fit on ebay wondering if anybody has brought one of these or if they know anything about them. I am after a V8 burble and not to be heard from 2 miles away just to hear her growl when i push the loud pedal down. I was aware that the aristo, 300 and 430 share the same exhaust system from the cat back is this correct. Any information would be great and if anyone has a puma exhaust out there what is it like looking to buy one ASAP even thinking about driving to Birmingham tomorrow to go and have a look once again many thanks and just to say again what i posted earlier halfords and eurocarparts selling castrol magnetec fully syth for 17.25 or GTX for 11.25

just to let everyone know castrol is on a drive to sell off the old brands like GTX and Magnitec both halfords and eurocar parts seeing off 4L magnetic for 17.25 and eurocar parts 11.25 for GTX cracking offer have just changed my oil but may buy some to store

if it is the rear sensor then that should be easier to get the correct value as all it does is check exhaust emissions after the cat to check cat health

i did some research on a previous car i had again an american style car a 3.0V6 honda accord coupe. I was going to de cat her and fitting a simulator was the best way to go about it. I think if you can understand what you are doing it is a great idea. They are very easy to fit you will need an o2 sensor as well but it doesn't have to be in the exhaust just connected to the and left hanging. The main problem with these is getting your sensor to the correct value there is plenty of information on the american owners site and a guide of one being fitted to the US ES Leuxs/Toyota Camry.

my 2001 GS430 has them fitted as standard i was aware that all 430 had them as standard and they were option for the 300

they were going to increase but due to pressure they arent this is an article i was reading the other day plans to rais the maximum level of ethanol in petrol from 5% to 10% in 2013 have been put on hold by the department of transport. current ethanol levels will remain constant until at least 2015 - although even this later date has been disputed by the DFT. The DFT unveiled the news at a high-level stake-holds meeting in the presence of the AA, the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs, as well as representatives from the automobile manufacturing industry and the major oil companies. Although many industry experts stated that they fully expected the 10% level to be adopted in 2015, the DFT dismissed theses claims as a "myth". part of the reason for this U-turn has been because the DFT claims that the change could have a detrimental effect on more than 4 million car owners in the UK , whose vehicles would not be compatible with the higher ethanol levels in fuel. Much has been made of the fact that the ethanol can cause serious damage to the engine and the fuel systems of older vehicles, even at the approved 5% level, being incompatible with various glass-fibre fuel tanks and fuel tank sealant elements. The FBHVC is currently testing various additives to counteract any problems. Although the DFT is bound by the EU's Renewable Energy Directive to set a mandatory target of 10% biofuel use by 2020, it's currently exploring the concept of introducing a special protection grade of petrol with a maximum level of 5% ethanol.

Best thing for lexus link or a DAB hack is do search the US forums great info as there are alot more SC430 or soarers over there. I very rarely see a SC430. In regards to the cam belt I have a 01 GS430 so same engine i have 49K normally they are due at 90K-100K or 7 Years i think it is. I am in need of doing my belt and lexus quoted 450 including labour but was told by a mechanic friend all parts are trade so if you haggle should get them to 400. I would go for the SC430 i am not a massive lexus fan more a previous Jag owner but you never see an SC so it has that rare factor and toyota build quailty. It shares many same parts as the GS chassis Engine Brakes ect so this makes getting parts and information from the US cheaper and easier.

just to let all know knock knock F****** knock has gone changed drivers top mount now all is well no more knocking car feels more together. All i have to say is i never want to do that again. All was going good apart from upper control arm didnt want to pop its ball joint out, no problem just turned wheel and had enough room to remove the strut. The problem came compressing the spring, got the sprong compressed took mount off but getting it back on oooo fun. The spring although 11 years old snapped my first compressors hitting my hand in process, then went got some heavy duty ones couldnt compress to much because end of the bolt through the folks would hit the mount if i got where i needed. So had a friend who is a mechanic come round and he brought a massive compressor never seen something so big. Even with this it took us a long time to compress all the way so i was glad it wasnt me being me and we both struggled. I have changed springs on loads of cars before but never had this before. Think i may lower the car just for the fact i dont have to compress that spring again. Ordered my top mount off ebay for 56 quid it was101 from lexus then rubber boot and gasket coming to 40 from lexus.