Tulpen

That's great advice about the use of Techstream - I've never changed the L/100km because I live on the Continent. I don't know if the car came with an Owners Manual but, if it did, there are a few pages in there all about preferences which can be set via a Techstream. You'd be amazed just how many there are. As for the Self Parking; I tried it a couple of times, then decided that parking the car myself would cause me less grey hairs.

That's the first time I've heard anyone say that aftermarket parts are better than OEM in an LS. Normally it's the other way round. I don't live in the UK but I've heard other members say good things about Japex. It might be an idea to ask them to check the oil cooler connections on the water radiator. They are liable to corrode and age is definitely a factor. I had my radiator changed at 13 years/100,000 miles - the mechanic said there was corrosion evident.

Hi Alex, welcome to LS ownership. It sounds as if you could have control arm problems, a visit to a dealer or good independent might be an idea. I've not heard of any prop-shaft woes. How many miles has your car done and has the radiator been changed as a precaution? (You'll find info on that in the forum,) For L/100km conversion, I use rough numbers: 9L/100km = 30mpg: 10L = 28mpg: 11L = 26mpg: 12L =24mpg etc. If you're worried about mpg, an LS is not the car to drive. 🙂 Also, it's your car and you can do what you want with it, but......the LS was designed to be a fast, luxurious, nearly silent, limousine; why would you want to make it noisier?

I've mentioned this before. My battery went duff and my local Lexus dealer fitted a new one. Six months later, after sitting idle for about 10 days, the battery went flat again. The dealer replaced the battery, free, but a few months later the same thing happened after the car had an idle period. Once again, the dealer gave me a free replacement but, this time, they took the car in for an in-depth check of the electrics. When new, the car had been the garage demonstrator and the insurance company had insisted that a 'Track and Trace' theft system was fitted. The system came with 2 years free subscription. After the 2 years, the garage didn't bother to continue the payment, but the system was still there and using battery power. If the car sat idle for more than a week, the tracker drained the battery. The dealer disconnected the tracker power but couldn't remove the hardware because it was fitted in a 'very difficult to remove' position (makes sense doesn't it?) I've had no problems since.

I decided, instead, to finish 'War and Peace'.......it had less pages than my 460 manual, and was easier to understand. On the subject of 'Amazing'........ Over here, on t'Continent', dealers offer a thing called a 'Summer Check'. This is because people take their cars on holiday and can cover a lot of kms. We are coming across to Scotland for 3 weeks in a month's time so decided to have the check. It is like an MOT but without stuff like Emissions Check etc. You won't be surprised to hear that my 15 year old, 210,000kms, 460 passed with flying colours - and there were no advisories. 😀

You'd think that, after 25 years of LS ownership (400/15years and 460/10years) and driving 200,000miles, I'd be pretty 'au fait' with these machines. However........... Today, I was giving the leather in my 460 its six-monthly clean and balm. The front headrests are extended a few inches to suit my good lady and myself. I had covered most of the front seats with the balm then motored the seats to their full forward positions so that I could get to some of the awkward spots. I noticed that the head rests had retracted ??? It turns out that the headrests retract automatically in the last half inch of forward seat travel. And, when the seats are motored backwards, the headrests return to their pre-set position. Why have I not noticed that before? I thought I was pretty clever when I discovered the under-seat tray in the 400 - after only 2 years. This, however, took me by surprise. Please tell me I'm not the only one to have just found this out. For the umpteenth time in the last 25 years I'm thinking......these cars are amazing. 😀

Thanks for that, Jon. Unfortunately my system has a 5-disc set covering all of Europe, Turkey, Israel and parts of N Africa. It was OEM. Each disc has basic details of the whole area plus incredibly detailed info on a selected area. I use, mainly, the NW Europe disc which gives great detail of the UK, Germany, Benelux, N France, and Denmark. But I do travel to S France, Spain and Italy. One of the advantages of living on the Continent is just being able to jump in your car and go...... I really don't want to have to get a TomTom or Garmin; I like my LS to be completely original.

The last update I got for my 460 was dated 2017. Lexus told me that they are only obliged, by EU law, to supply updates up to 10 years after manufacture. There are other sources for the discs, but I haven't found one that can supply what I want.

I used the Turtle Wax HEADLIGHT LENS RESTORER on my 460 with excellent results. Just read the instructions, carefully, and don't try to rush it.

I don't know much about the 430 but, on my 460, I can get those symptoms if I select the suspension to 'HEIGHT HIGH' and 'SPORT'. It takes a few seconds for the compressor to kick in which could be the reason you get a few metres of normal driving. This wouldn't show up on your meter as a fault, because it isn't.......it is a normal function of the car. Now, if this is happening because you haven't selected anything, you do have a problem. There is an old engineering saying: If things don't go back to normal after you've done some work, then you and the work are the problem. It could be that there was an error made when the struts were changed. Best of luck.

I've been an LS owner since 1997. The first 15 years were with a 400 then I bought my 460. I won't hear a word said against the 400......it was, and is, a mighty machine.......but I wanted a more modern car. And it had to be an LS!

Why?

Have you asked Lexus what the price of a new one is?

I'll take some pics of my battery and its surroundings tomorrow and post them on here.

Let me cheer you guys up a bit......I've just filled my 460 with E5. Here, in Holland, it is 2.39 euros a litre. That is £2.02!!!!!

Nine years ago, when I replaced my 400 with a 460, I realised that servicing and component replacement on the newer machine would be more expensive than on the 400. The added complexity of the 460 was another factor I considered but decided that, for me, the 460 was the way to go. One of the differences in the 460 (and the 430) is that it has a conventional exhaust system (unlike the stainless steel system fitted on the 400, which is virtually bombproof - except for the odd flange which can rust badly.) Over the years, I've wondered how long my exhaust would last and was pleased to note that I hadn't read of any 430's with exhaust problems. With my car at 15 years old and 120,000 miles I was a happy bunny! Ever since I've had the car, after a 'full to the brim' refuel, the CRUISING RANGE display on the dash has indicated between 710 and 725kms. About 6 weeks ago, I noticed that number was dropping and eventually, after a refuel, it was reading 650kms. I suspected a sensor problem somewhere and determined to take it into the dealer at some point. Then I started to hear an exhaust 'burble'. Obviously, not in the car......the soundproofing is too good for that......but with a window open. I took it to the dealer, who told me that the front left silencer box was split. To fit a replacement would cost about £450. I have to admit that the price was a pleasant surprise; I'd checked on the internet and the prices were eye-watering. When they removed the split box, they found that the cause of the split was damage to the front of the box. I had, obviously, hit something while driving which had weakened the box. Eventually, the weakness led to the split. The only possible explanation I can think of is when I drove into the water-filled bomb crater (large pot hole) on a visit to Scotland, This was the same pot hole which destroyed one of my front wheel bearings. The servicing guys did a complete check on the rest of the exhaust and said there are no problems whatsoever. So I still don't know how long an LS460 exhaust will last under normal circumstances. The only preventative measure I can think of is to NOT visit Scotland.....but that could be awkward, as our families live there.😀 And the CRUISING RANGE reading is back to normal.

I was going to try acupuncture but I thought 'what's the point?'

The only problem I've had with mine is: a failed front wheel bearing, caused by hitting a large, rain filled, pothole on a visit to Scotland. I've changed the radiator as a precaution at 100,000 miles (you can find references to radiator/oil cooler problems on the Forum). Apart from that, just scheduled servicing. I haven't done any modifications because I think the essence of the LS is rapid, luxurious, almost silent transport..........coupled with incredible reliability.

Speaking as someone who was brought up in Stonehaven, it's nice to see the name 'Kincardineshire' being used. I've owned my 460 for, almost, 10 years now and have found it to be as reliable as the 400 I had before - and that was nearly bullet-proof. The best thing to do is to find one and have a test drive........you will be amazed. The LS is a very special experience.

According to my local Lexus dealer, there is no onus on the manufacturer to provide updates after the car is 10 years old. If you find anyone who can provide updates after that time, please let me know.

Do you mean the lever under the dash? The bonnet opening system is manual and the cable can jam.

I filled up here, in Holland, earlier in the week..........E5 was 2.05 euros/ltr!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Colin, I don't know about the 600 but, on my 460, there are a host of pre-sets which the dealer can do for you. There are about three pages of them in my handbook. Mind you, if you are in Shetland, you will have a bit of a journey to find a dealer..........

A policeman friend of mine reckons that Lane Keeping and Distance Keeping gizmos are dangerous in the wrong hands. It means that idiots think it is OK to text or watch a movie because 'the car will keep me out of trouble'. I prefer to be in control.

I owned a 400 for 15 years before changing to a 460, which I have now had for 9 years (80,000 miles). I haven't had any experience of the 430 or 600. I think we all agree that the 400 was/is a very special machine. If they were still making them, I'd look no further. However, that isn't the case and, like many people, I wanted to drive a more modern car. The 460 is an LS, make no mistake, but it isn't as 'whisper quiet' as the 400. I think my problem is that my car came with the, optional, 19" wheels. It is quiet, but not AS quiet as the 400. I don't have the rear seat goodies pack, therefore my boot is huge. I appreciate the extra electronics, although the self-parking system seems a bit gimmicky. I used it once in an empty car park but wouldn't trust it for real. Things like the 'Brake Hold' and automatic parking brake are great. The points you made about the hybrid battery and CVT system on the 600 would worry me, also. The air suspension can be problematic; but not if you are driving on good roads. I live in Holland and, with 120,000 miles on the clock, there are no signs of wear, at all, in the suspension. However, I have just returned from Xmas and New Year in the UK (and £650 worse off, thanks to the robbing gits and their PCR checks). Your roads are appalling and, if I was to come back there to live, I would probably get an LS which had been converted to coil-overs. The car has been, as was the 400, completely reliable and, virtually, trouble free. I have had the radiator replaced as a precaution but, apart from that, it has been regular servicing only. I get my car looked after by my local Lexus dealership. As I'm sure you know, Audi, Mercedes and BMW make lovely cars.......but have you looked at the latest reliability index? They are all in the bottom half of the table. Regardless of what you decide, if you get an another LS, you won't be disappointed.