alphacat

Yes the Lexus dealer will always find a way...... to make you pay.

I had an interesting experience with my Lexus Sat Nav today. 2005 Mk 2 (6) with an 2013 updated Lexus full European disc bought from Lexus Toyota online.Took my daughter (aged 9) for a trip around North Yorkshire. From near York plan was to go and climb Roseberry Topping near Great Ayton and then go on to Saltburn.. I put the sat nav on even though I thought I knew where I was going although I haven't been on those roads for years. I used to cycle all over them when I was young.First problem was it didn't know anything about Newton Under Roseberry so I put in Great Ayton.. It knew that then took me right past the turn off and I had to ignore it again.. Found the car park myself... Then on (After an hour and 20 minites climbing) to Saltburn selected the centre and set off.. I took me past the turn off I thought I should have used and left me 8 miles away in the middle of the Whitby Coast Road telling me I had reached my destination.!!!!

Didn't go to Saltburn we went to Sandsend instead.. Great fish and chips and an ok stay. Set of for home and enterd my memorised code. ... It tried to take me back to Guisbrough but eventually realised the way I was going.. I know this rout well and the annoying woman's voice was strangely silent look at the screen and it showed the car happily traveling across the North Yorkshire moors not even on a road!!! After about 10 miles it did seem to recover its senses bu when I got home it still showed me 3.5 miles away !!!

Now this is the first time I have used the sat nav with the roof down.. Its never been this bad before...

Completely useless.... In fact worse misleading and inconsistent.

However it didn't spoil the day. Not too much traffic, great driving roads through some of the best scenery in the UK and what a car to drive with the roof down on a sunny day. Brilliant. my daughter said its like flying.....

I thought plugs were every 50,000 miles Changed mine last year they have to be iridium cost between £6 and £8 each for the 430sc

I think NGK were the originals a set of 8 cost about £60 I and them fitted by a local mechanic and it cost me £108 in total including the plugs.

Chap runs his own business fully qualified motor engineer (no ham fisted apprentices on the job) he use to be an leading engineer on the Toyota WRC cars... In fact he has just completely rebuilt the old Carlos Saint World Rally Championship car a Toyota GT4.

he does all my servicing on both my Jag and the 430...

I have a Mk2 and mine is empty too... allen 'wrench' must be an American term in the UK we go for allen keys and wrenches are spanners.

Got to say the car looks really good.

One less good looking than yours is on sale on Pistonheads for........... wait for it............................................................................

£17950 and its a mark 1 2002.

So no upgraded suspension. No LED tail lights, No 6 speed box, No Bluetooth and no Optitron instrumentation.

etc etc.

Unbelievable...

However I think anything with the 200h engine is so underpowered they are dangerous.

Calling them F Sport is just a bad joke. Lexus has let itself down an all the new models. with underpowered engines.

600h now that's different.................. even 450h borderline acceptable...,

Looks like its being barbequed...??

I boot mine all the time and its a second car no point in taking up boot space or saving money.

Even if you can switch to petrol you still have to carry all the extra weight. Its a great car for exactly what I want just how it is.. could do with being a bit faster but ... that's nit picking..

I have noticed I can pass someone with the roof up and they don't seem to mind. But do it with the roof down while wearing sun glasses and they get really upset... Now why is that??

I think 15% is conservative I would put it nearer 20% . But your right, you cant argue with the science put less in and you get less out. Most people don't even get close to using the performance available in a car with nearly 300bhp.

No its still naff...

The main thing about LPG is how you drive the car... There is certainly an MPG difference and a BHP difference (its lower) but as you pay less for fuel and 'if' you don't use the performance of the car its good value if and only if you do enough miles per year to justify it.

Personally I don't.. I would have to wait over 4 years to get my money back for the conversion. I also use the power and like driving fast and I like overtaking. So reducing the BHP 15% also is a loss.. So it just not worth it.... for me..

What's the point of a gas conversation on a 430sc? Its economical as it is. 30mpg is enough for anyone. I would be more worried about mph..

As for finding somewhere to put gas tank !!! Put it in the space reserved for the rear seats !! That's it....

Saving money isn't cool.

This is the first auto box I have ever owned I am surprised how good it is I tried my sons BMW 335 with an auto box and hated it.. However your right about using it to down change that's the best bit..

I think your idea about painting the reflectors is what I will go for. I do want rid of them. At the same time I have to have the roof done its got slight bubbling on one side as its aluminium its not getting worse (been the same for the 2 years I have had the car). But I think I will get it done. He may as well do the reflectors at the same time.

Afraid I don't like the stainless grill or the black one.. But I do feel guilty about how I have neglected my car..

Time I stopped taking it to the Rumanian car washers and di it myself!!

The suspension has been upgraded (apparently) but its still as soft as a boat, How ever it will be going on air ride at some point so I'm not to worried.

5 speed vs 6 speed ... Driven both and i don't think i would waste the money on upgrading to the 6 speed box, I find the 5 speed box to be more than smooth enough. And if i want slightly sportier down changes i just pop it into sport mode (Not that i do any sporty driving haha)

De-tangoed ... yeah ... kinda ... The indicators in the headlight clusters are being changed for clear bulbs, but the front fogs are staying yellow (just a look i kinda like). the front and rear bumper reflectors will be going, so will the front numberplate mounts. And the rear bumper will be a US version with no fog lights and smaller plate recess.

.... Its just going to take time to get there :)

Sounds like a good plan. but I think your wrong about the gearbox it makes a big difference. Lexus didn't change it for nothing.

When you say the reflectors will be going are you going to paint them over or replace them with clear ones. I looked for the price of that and they are available in the US but the price was unbelievable.!!! I mean really unbelievable. $400 dollars 'a pair' I think it was.

Suspension should be important.... Unless its been upgraded and swap the 5 speed box for the 6 . The 6 is probably one of the best gearboxes a car could have...

Oh and its got to be de tangoed.. that's a must.

I just love cars fix themselves... you have hand it to Lexus !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ianc66

I understand your thinking as problems like that make you nervous about future ownership. Alphacat mentioned that quality cars are costly to fix but to my mind quality means robust, reliable and longevity otherwise you may as well go and buy something cheaper. I hope I have bought what I think is a quality car at a bargain price given what they cost in the first place and after fixing quite a few minor problems I hope I can settle down with it now but if costly issues like you have had arise then I will be thinking the same way. I do like so many things about the SC the refinement is like no other car I have ever owned, the stereo is one of the best, the wood finishes, quality of the leather, pearlescent paint finish etc etc so I really hope it remains reliable from now on. So good luck with your sale and I hope you find your classic car but I think an old classic will be like chalk and cheese.

Neilj

I agree...If you buy a second hand car its still second hand and may be good and may be bad but usually the more you pay and the better the car the less problems you will have... will say one day I do believe the 430SC will be a real old classic car its has all the signs..

Alphacat

Good luck with changing the bulbs from the engine bay I believe it can be done but I ended up taking the front bumper off and getting it resprayed at the same time.

Some bulbs are very cheap and I wondered whether to buy them but I went for osrams at about 35 pounds each as I didn't want to risk any further problems and having to remove the bumper again so hope you get things fixed.

Neilj

I wont be doing it but I will buy the lamps.. a good grade 'pair' can

Alphacat

Good luck with changing the bulbs from the engine bay I believe it can be done but I ended up taking the front bumper off and getting it resprayed at the same time.

Some bulbs are very cheap and I wondered whether to buy them but I went for osrams at about 35 pounds each as I didn't want to risk any further problems and having to remove the bumper again so hope you get things fixed.

Neilj

I wont be doing it myself and I understand taking the bumper off is probably just as easy. I dont think £35 each is expensive when you see what Lexus charge. I have heard charges of £75 each at a Lexus dealer just for the parts.

I have just had this problem on my 430sc. As I parked behind another car I noticed one light was out.. Switched it on and off but no luck.. Went to work for 8 hours came back to the car and its all working again.!! I have checked the price of the lamps and they are not that expensive so I wont be getting Lexus to fit it if I choose or have to replace it..

Hi guys,

I thought I'd give you an update.

The guys from Lexus Chester have managed to finally found out the culprit.

It's an ecu buried deep in the dash that covers the boot release, fuel release cap, the steering wheel and also the lights that flash to signify the car is locked and unlocked.

The quote is coming out at £860.00 incl VAT for the part and all the labour.

They did say they've never come across this fault before.

Hopefully it'll be fixed in the next few days and then it's going up for sale.

Thanks

That's right fix it and sell it someone wont have to pay out like you did. Very philanthropic.

Ian

Sorry to hear that, ouch that is one expensive fix and I am not surprised you are going to get rid afterwards. As for their comment they have never come across that one before hmmm I'll bet they all say that like landrover say they don't have many problems with their cars did his nose grow. Well like you if I get many further problems my membership to this forum and ownership will be short lived too. You buy a Lexus with the expectation that they are pretty trouble free but this forum seems to indicate otherwise. Really sorry that your car has been a disappointment what do you think you will get next.

Neilj

One thing anyone should know about a Lexus or any quality car is when it does go wrong its likely to cost.. mainly because there are so few around and of course dealers have bit of monopoly who keep other garages at arms length.

However I would take issue that these cars are unreliable. For a start a number of the issues are not with the cars but with add on's like trackers and residual wiring etc a problem that could hit any car but more expensive cars are likely to have these (or have had them.

also I don't think there is that many problems really as with age all cars get them and many on this board have cars over 10 years old.. In fact most seem to be Mk1s. I have had three problems in two years with mine.. Tyre pressure warnings, sorted by disconnection as I didn't want to travel to a dealer and have the transmitters replaced at a cost of £70 each plus fitting and another £85 for coding them. Battery drain (over 12 days without use) not really a problem if you are aware of it...I do give the Battery an extra top up before going on holiday and leaving it at the airport etc. On top of that I have 2 O2 sensors go at a cost of about £120 each to fit (not Lexus) but I have had two of them go on my Jag too and any car over 10 years old or so is likely to need one changed at some time. I don't think its that bad.. In fact compared to my jaguar x type which I have had nearly 10 years and is now 15 years old the Lexus is brilliant. The Jag has had a new reconditioned transfer box, 2 O2 sensors, a new propshaft three sets of brake discs (as well as the pads) and the sills have been welded !!! It still looks good though !! and my wife wants to keep it !! I know when I read the forums on the Jaguar I was horrified like you but it was even worse for my Mazda RX8 now that was bad so many issues on a car that realy shouldn't have been made at all. Nearly all down to design issues not build quality.

Having had a battery drain each time i go away or park the car up, once for two days and received a flat battery for my troubles i have now fitted a battery isolator onto the car.

Bazinga!! job done. no problem and only £5.99p from ebay!!! if you have a battery drain try this cheap fix first before you chase the problem around the car.

isolator.JPG

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Having had a battery drain each time i go away or park the car up, once for two days and received a flat battery for my troubles i have now fitted a battery isolator onto the car.

Bazinga!! job done. no problem and only £5.99p from ebay!!! if you have a battery drain try this cheap fix first before you chase the problem around the car.

isolator.JPG

Two days must be a record I expect it had a number of short runs before that? Mine lasts at least 10 - 12 days... Battery isolator looks a great idea better have to reset everything than come back and have to call out help.

Doesn't sound excessive to me. The cars is still worth around £4500 if it gets an MOT and so the work you mention would be worth doing. I cant see that work taking 80 hours it seems a very long time for cleaning up the underneath replacing brake components and doing some welding. Get a second opinion. But if you can sell it on without an MOT for half the price you paid I suppose you will be rid of the problem. Thing is without the MOT all you can sell it for is scrap unless you find someone in the know who thinks they can make money from it. Good Luck.

Maybe the best idea, keep the SC430, you wouldn't want to be selling it on the LOC forums without being a gold member would you? :)

What's a gold member and why would it make me want to sell?

If possible I would be tempted to try and keep both, ok its

£500 a year to keep the SC on the road, and yes deprecation, but you mentioned

that the Jag is worth very little so it sounds like you only really have

deprecation on one car.

Yes that's true... and I went out with my daughter today roof down and sun shining fed the ducks at the lake in Thornton le Dale had an ice cream looked in the classic car garage (there was an auction on and I never seen one car I would want instead of the 430SC) great day out. Just what the car is for...... MMMM and its taxed tell next year and I have just paid the insurance..... maybe next year ... I am going off the idea of selling it..