Nice Nige NZ

Hi everyone, I wanted to share an amazing experience I had the other day in my Lexus Driving along at about 50mph, coming down a dip and then up a hill, another driver was on the left hand side in a driveway and looked like he was going to pull out as he hadn't seen me. I braked hard to slow down, and suddenly the brakes seemed to work harder than I had actually pushed the pedal and then a whirring noise started and the seat belts tightened and pulled me into my seat and I stopped well before the car in the driveway. As soon as I stopped the seat belts loosened. I was stunned! In 5 years of LS ownership this had never happened to me before, and although the car is nearing 9 years old, it all worked like clockwork! I didn't know it had this capability. I am constantly discovering new things about my beautiful Lexus. It's the most amazing car In the world, we'll ahead of its time, and I'll never part with her. My car looks after me and I look after her. In all my life (and that's a long time now!) I have never had such an attachment to a car. People who don't own one just don't get it, but those who do, do! I was wondering if anyone else here has had the same experience? Nige

Hi everyone, I wanted to share an amazing experience I had the other day in my Lexus Driving along at about 50mph, coming down a dip and then up a hill, another driver was on the left hand side in a driveway and looked like he was going to pull out as he hadn't seen me. I braked hard to slow down, and suddenly the brakes seemed to work harder than I had actually pushed the pedal and then a whirring noise started and the seat belts tightened and pulled me into my seat and I stopped well before the car in the driveway. As soon as I stopped the seat belts loosened. I was stunned! In 5 years of LS ownership this had never happened to me before, and although the car is nearing 9 years old, it all worked like clockwork! I didn't know it had this capability. I am constantly discovering new things about my beautiful Lexus. It's the most amazing car In the world, we'll ahead of its time, and I'll never part with her. My car looks after me and I look after her. In all my life (and that's a long time now!) I have never had such an attachment to a car. People who don't own one just don't get it, but those who do, do! I was wondering if anyone else here has had the same experience? Nige

Hi Chris, Time to take stock, and have a holiday to put things in perspective. Come to sunny NZ, and if you do you can borrow my LS430 to drive around and explore the country. You'll feel right at home as mine's the same colour as yours. Now there's an offer you can't refuse! Nigel

And yes it's just the one door, the others are all good. I'll be keeping her perfect for as long as I can. There is something incredibly satisfying driving what I regard as probably the best car in the world, for this price bracket (and some well above), knowing that everything is in excellent working order, no rust anywhere, no paint scratches or dents and perfect wheels! You can just revel in it and smile to yourself, looking at other car drivers just using cars to get from A to B. For me, the journey is everything. Only Lexus owners get it, I think! Nige

I should have said that the rust was caused by accident damage to the outside of the door. The previous owner's repairer hadn't done a good job. It probably wasn't visible at the time, but a weakness or crack allowed water to get in and do the damage. I had to get it sorted! Nige

I know how you all love your cars, just like me, so I thought you would be interested to see the pictures of the process to eradicate the rust on my front passenger door, and the finished product. I had the LS polished and protected too. The water just beads and runs off now (whenever I take her out in the rain, which is rarely if possible!) Nige Apologies, couldn't get the order perfect, but you get the idea!

I posted my views incorrectly in amongst Bren's comments! Apologies Yes, my original LS430 in 2006 was always being mistaken for the big Merc S class (I had one for 3 years, and it was fab actually). The looks of the LS430 have improved with age and it still has great presence on the road. I still glance at mine as I walk away and think, you're wonderful and I love it every time I get in go for a drive. Its a car with personality and a soul. Now I have connected my iPhone, the sound system is so amazing I hear instruments and sounds in my favourite tunes I never heard before! Nige

Interesting - when I used to tell my German pals I had a Leuxs they said AH a Mercedes clone. You check them out especially from the back :) The comparisons all stop when you consider the engineering, manufacturing quality, luxuary and ride. People who fix cars regularly tell me that if I had an equivalent BM'er or Merc it would have had two engines, a new gear box and back axel by now. I don't believe any of us buy the LS for its looks. Yes, my original LS430 in 2006 was always being mistaken for the big Merc S class (I had one for 3 years, and it was fab actually). The looks of the LS430 have improved with age and it still has great presence on the road. I still glance at mine as I walk away and think, you're wonderful and I love it every time I get in go for a drive. Its a car with personality and a soul. Now I have connected my iPhone, the sound system is so amazing I hear instruments and sounds in my favourite tunes I never heard before! Nige Bren Interesting - when I used to tell my German pals I had a Leuxs they said AH a Mercedes clone. You check them out especially from the back :) The comparisons all stop when you consider the engineering, manufacturing quality, luxuary and ride. People who fix cars regularly tell me that if I had an equivalent BM'er or Merc it would have had two engines, a new gear box and back axel by now. I don't believe any of us buy the LS for its looks. Bren

They've mixed up the photos. That's the back seat of a Jaguar! Nice car though and lovely prep of the engine bay. I'm going to get my engine bay looking like that too! Haven't seen the colour before either! Nige

More bad news! the rust had penetrated further than it looked to the eye. The door had to come off to get at it! She's not back in my hands until next Friday..... Its amazing how much you miss your baby when she's not at home. http://www.precisionautowerk.co.nz/home.htm I am in good hands, the best body shop in NZ. They deal with all the top end cars. had my Maserati in their twice and the job was perfect. Follow the link and have a look at their website. Enjoy the pics, more next week! Nige

More photo's posted below. Nige

Hi Mike, Yes, imagine when I spotted it, I wanted to tell someone who would be sympathetic and know what it means to the soul! So, a Lexus help line would have been perfect, not technical, but more like the samaritans! Nige

Yes, a bit of a disaster. see next photos! I thought of a new door, and that might be the longer term solution, if I can find one! but at least I have caught the problem before it gets worse, and it is garaged and won't go out in the rain, if I can hep it! Nige

lexus LS430 Maserati Quattroporte E type v12 convertible Austin Healey 3000 mk3 Bugatti Veyron Porsche Cayenne turbo s Aston Martin DBS Ferrari California (new) Mercedes S500 (1995) Ferrari Dino 246GT (my dream car when I was a teenager!) Then I would be very happy!

Hiya! I know how much you like pictures in this forum! I am lovingly updating and keeping my LS430 in the best condition it can be! Imagine my dismay when I noticed the line of rust at the bottom of the passenger front door! The result of a bodged repair in the past. Once we took the door panel off on the outside you can see the inner skin wasn't sorted properly and they had put mastic to stick the panel back. The rust came through to the inside of the door eventually obviously! Its now being lovingly repaired properly, at vast expense! I'll post some pictures through the process? Its then being cut and polished and protected, should look beautiful sometime next week! Nigel

Thanks Mike. You're right, the dealer confirmed it and it will be replaced, and it is expensive! Trouble is it'll take a while as the part needs to come from Japan! Nige

Confirmed by the dealer! It's the left rear bearing, but it is expensive! Just shows the value of this forum, the responses gave me a great deal of comfort that it wasn't something terminal! Btw, these Lexus LS spare parts aren't stocked in NZ as they aren't enough of them, so it's ordered from Japan, and takes two to three weeks to arrive.!! Yours very gratefully Nige Hi Bren, A quick update. Tried what you said about steering to the left and the right, and you were spot on! Turning left the noise reduced significantly! And turning to the right it came back! It's in the dealer tomorrow, and I'll update you on their findings and the solution. Thank you Nige Hi Bren, A quick update. Tried what you said about steering to the left and the right, and you were spot on! Turning left the noise reduced significantly! And turning to the right it came back! It's in the dealer tomorrow, and I'll update you on their findings and the solution. Thank you Nige Good news about the diagnosis Nige - it is not an expensive fix - I have only ever had the one go. Cheers Bren

Hi Malc, You would be very welcome! Any Forum member who loves a Lexus who came to NZ would be picked up in my Lexus and shown the sights! Nige