cruisermark

very nice car - always fond of that colour good job on the alloys aswell I used that exchange service on that popular site to get mine done about a year ago

mint car plenty of description Best photos ive seen http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-LEXUS-LS430-AUTO-ADDED-PREMIUM-PACK-SPORT-PACK-REAR-CAMERA-SAT-FRIDGE-/280836087637?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4163229f55

I would say that is the prettiest since its well hidden away and no holes in the panel either.

Ive had them on my mark 4 for a year now - couldnt get avon at the time - cost abour £128 each - i drive like a grandad rarely revving over 2.5k so cant tell you much abour grip/wheel spins etc but been happy with them and didnt notice any increased road noise which is important on the LS

just make sure your doing it right switch on cruise - button on the end fo the stalk get to desired speed hold stalk down whilst holding stalk down release pressure on gas pedal then immediatley relaease the stalk hth

hi will just to clarify the problem we are talking about here : That the car dash lights/screen go off while the engine keeps running - the power steering may be lost aswell but i cannot confirm that becuase i did not notice - this has happened about 6 times to me in a year and mainly on a long run. To get the lights back i have just wiggled the key in the ignition and the lights have returned. Today i replaced my ignition switch in the hope of rectifying the problem. I have a feeling your talking about cutting out where the engine stalls as you slow down after a long run - this problem only effects the Mark 3 and is resolved by cleaning out the throttle body hope this helps clear things up

Just an update the igintion switch has gone in - everything working as it should - only time will tell wether the fault has been cured - i did notice that on the old switch the back is a bit loose - inside the switch there are 2 copper discs which rotate when the key is turned to make and break various contacts - i think the loose back had caused the switch contacts to break the electrical connection so i have good feeling that fault has been fixed - but like i said only time will tell - i will post back if the fault re-occurs

sounds like a well mantained car - how does the ride compare to the mark 3 you used to have? looking forward to the pics

Hi if you look further down there is an R reg one with alot less miles FSH for 1595

Hi no there is no reason to be scared - the engine and gearbox are virtually bombproof - just make sure it has had regular services and the cambelt has been changed on time - although the Mark 2 is a non-interference engine. On the Mark 2 things to look out for are: Failing climate control LCDs - fixes are available Failing dash needles - again fixes are available - Check the suspension properly - the LS is a heavy car and the suspension especially bushes can go Check the exhaust is in good order Check wiring loom around the boot hinge area - sometimes the loom rubs on the body stripping the insualtion off the wires and causing short circuits which results in electrics problems The power steering reservoir is prone to leaking fluid - this causes power steering fluid to drip onto the alternator causing that to fail aswell . The fix for the power steering leak is a small cheap O Ring which is fitted to the base of the reservoir hope this helps

hi i agree with the above statement We also have to remember that when the LS400 was made, the manufacturers were trying to make their name in build quality and reliability - fast forward ten or so years and we are diven by strict budgets and targets and that has to have somewhat negative effect on build quality which results in issues like the one mentioned in the topic

hi have a look on you tube , type "Lexus LS400 Steering" in the search and view videos 1 and 3 hope this helps

hi yes ive noticed that aswell It appears The LS is typical young lads car and there is so much modding going on - mind you some of the cars do look good - makes us look so boring in comparison

Glad you got it sorted after so much hassle trying to pinpoint the problem

Maybe we should have a gallery section like other sites

Thanks for your replies guys There is no reason for the change really - been driving LSs for a while and just fancied a change and was looking at 02/03 plate GSs - but i havent made a concrete decision yet I do mainly town driving so if there is a marginal difference in the fuel economy then thats a plus otherwise not really bothered. From the reponses i gather there is not alot to loose bar maybe the ride might not that smooth or quite. I quite like the look of the sport GSs with bodykit. steve how harsher is the ride and how noisier is the cabin in comparison?

I currently have an LS400 and was just looking at the GS300 - has anybody owned and driven both - what are the differences - what will i miss from the LS400? thanks for your time guys

Hi Mike First point of call would be to check around the window seal to ensure its not kinked or something in there which is preventing the window from closing fully

mark - saw your comments on another posting, and seems like the Mk 4 has some of the problemsthe Mk3 had. I have been living with suspension noise for over 4 years, so would be nice to have silence again. Sat Nav and all that stuff is no bother, only got seriously lost once in 30 years of driving and that was in the days before mobile phones, let alone Sat Nav. It seems the Mk4 still has the cassette system, which is a plus for me. By the way, how do I know it has the DHP suspension. I have found one that says it has full service, just had new brakes and new cam belt, so will be calling the chap tomorrow, and maybe go see. Thanks for your comments, Cheers Non DHP Models have the 5 flat spokes around the edge alloys - the DHP sits marginally lower and has pepper pot alloys with wider tyres. Stiffer suspension means you fell the road bumps a bit more than normal LS - Goodluck

Hi Pete The Mark 4 is is the obvious upgrade choice - i made the same choice couple of years ago - initially due to the Mark 4 having electronic throttle control (which is more sensitive than the Mark 3) I did find the car very light and didnt feel as substantial as the Mark 3 - but over time you get used to this. Theres no reports on any issues on the traction control so you should be ok there and to be honest i dont think ive ever witnessed it working on my car. Obvious upgrades/advantages are VVTi better engine which is marginly better on fuel Xenon head lamps Touch screen controls - looks good in the car SAT NAV - never had the chance to use it but it does have its limitations Seats are softer and dont suffer from failed heated elements like the Mark 3 Things to look out for: Failing bonnet struts Water ingress in the boot - check the spare wheel well Make sure you have 2 master keys plus the grey vanity key and remotes work Failng Temp/Time LCD backlights - requires alot of dismantleing of the centre console to fix Make sure ride is smooth and no suspension noises If your going for the DHP model which has stiffer suspension then i think tyres are very expensive on that Full service history is a must but can be rare given the age of the car but make sure the cambelt has been changed as thats a big and expensive job - also if the gearbox oil has been changed then thats a plus becuase often its over looked. The cabin filter is often overlooked so check airflow in the cabin check all electrics work. Make sure no dash warning lights are on - often you will find brake pad lights on as the sensor has a broken link or the headlamp low warning light on - both of these are simple fixes I think you will find theres plenty of high milers out there with patchy history so it may take a bit of time and patience - i looked for 18 months before i found the perfect one as i wanted the wood steering. You are right about the LS430 - in my opinion the LS400 is more reliable and simpler to fix all the best

Hi will theres a tutorial here on how to change the air filter - have a look around the whole site - lots of useful information http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/maintenance/airfilter.html

From the top of my head as far as i can remember there is no difference apart from the Mark 4 seats are softer and the heat elements do no fail

Hi will the heated seats is a common failing part on the Mark 3 LS400 - its is very rarely found to be working - My Mark 3 had 73k on it and they were not working - I then bought another seat from a car which had done 50K and they had failed too - sadly there is no way round this fix unless you want to buy aftermarket heat filaments and have the seat re-upholstered

Hi Glad youre happy with your LS - is this your first? There is plenty of advice about LPG and suppliers etc - be sure to read it before converting it Theres a saying - "once a Lexus driver, always a lexus driver" - ive been one for over 5 years and enjoyed every bit of - these cars may use alot fuel but you save alot in depreciation,servicing and repair bills.

Hi I have been driving lexus for 5 years and it is the best car i have driven - i used to have 96 Mark 3 and now a 98 Mark 4 - the Mark 4 is the best of the lot , You get touch screen sat nav and controls, Xenon headlamps, VVTI engine and generally a better car overall than the Mark 3. The engines on the LS400 are generally bulletproof. Heres a list of general faults to look for: Failing bonnet struts No working front heated seats (mark 3 only) (generally they never work and theirs no easy solution) Water ingress in the boot - check the spare wheel well Make sure you have 2 master keys plus the grey vanity key Radio LCD digits and backlights tend to fail on Mark 3 Make sure ride is smooth and no suspension noises Full service history is a must but can be rare given the age of the car but make sure the cambelt has been changed. Fuel wise you should get 16 locally and around 30 on a run These car respond well to LPG conversion - some members have used profess gas - check out their website - their price is around £1200 I have never driven an LS430 but the opinions seem to be divided wether its a better car than the 400 - sure its got a few more toys such as newer sat nav, heated and cooled massage seats, Keyless go to name a few. I would say spend a bit of time on the forum and find out as much as you can then drive all 3 and make your mind up from there. All the best