simontaylor

EXACTLY why the LS is such a GREAT value car. I paid 3k for a 55k car which runs like new. I did not need a loan, so it owes me very little. It only has to last a year to break even with the depreciation of a brand new town car. Would I like to drive a town car for a year or a high performance luxury executive machine ???? And after that year, which car is suddenly lossing me less money. I've convinced myself that my next car will be another LS400, might even be an LS460 by the time this LS400 needs renewal.

I'm waiting on a price for filter to come from Sewell Lexus in USA, some other bits too, I'll need to get gasket sorted....thanks for the reminder.

cleverdick, and those that have done a transmission flush.... I have had the car for 4 months, it is at 125k miles and I am planning an ATF fluid change, with flush of the box. I'm just nervous about draining too much and getting an air lock. When you run the motor, how fast does the old old get pumped out at. 1litre in 5 seconds or does it take more like 30 seconds. Also, what did the old oil look like, currently my oil is red with a tint of sootyness in it, the box shifts ok, but not 100% smooth from 1-2 in Auto mode, but especially I get a big jump when N to D when cold (idling about 1200 rpm)? AND, my current level seems VERY high. There is about 5cm difference between Low marker and High marker on the dipstick and the oil level is another 2.5cm higher than the High mark, could this be problematic at all? Thanks for advice and comments in advance, YES, I will use Toyota Type T-IV oil.

Mine seems temremental sometimes, I'll check Park and the brake next time. Memmory also remember the door mirros and steering wheel position in my Mk III '95 car.

Graham, what details are you proposing to collect? VIN, colour, mileage, generation, town. Registration as a key may be little value as so many LS400s have got/had private plates. I tried to find some history on a car for sale, called the dealer where last servive was done and found out it was a defferent year car, because of change of plates.

I see littel point in flushing, but then again I don't understand what it's all about, dealers don't do it, so why should we when we know the engine will go on forever. I just change the oil and filter every 6k miles. I use the Toyota oil from the lexus stealer, just £12 for 5 litres, anough for a change. I do warm the motor first and let the old oil drain for at least 30 mins. I also raise the car from both sides to trsy and get as much of the old out. Last time it still looked quite golden, so I'm imagining it is doing a good job for my purring motor.

Firstly, well done, good luck and enjoy..... you will. Perhaps you will find that any "spare" keys you have will open the glove box and boot. One of the spares could be the master rather than another valet key. Chris, WHY "only" when the engine is off, eg: I drop the kids off, they get out, I have to switch the engine off just to open the boot, seems "silly". "shift lock overide" for those that don't know (and it took me a while to work it out" means you can take it out of park without putting your foot on the brake. The safety feature is that from park you are going through reverse and when cold the motor idle is high and the car could lurch back (into another car or run over a person loading the boot). so best to have your foot on the brake, rather than use this switch.

definately something that is down to personal taste, just like the colour of the car.

Is it worth swapping the left bulb with the right, and vice versa, just to prove if it is the car or if it is one of the bulbs?

Thanks for the advice and reassurance Dave. Watling wanted £258 just for the bar. I now have a supplier at £198 incl VAT, single electrics, ball and cover. see www.towequipe.co.uk , I doubt they will do a Group Buy, but, if you dont ask...... any one interested???

Thanks for the advice on type approval, safety is important. Being 95 I think I'm ok and I guess the bars are ok more than fine for light stuff. NO caravans for sure. I'm sort of hoping that the auto box will be fine on it's own. I just plan to tow garden trailer to the dump (1 mile away), Santa's float around town for the Round Table (5 miles crawling on idle in about 1 hour, 10x6 flatbed trailer with sound system and a fat bloke in a red suit) and maybe a motorbike trailer (small trailer, just an 80kg trials bike, for 20 miles). Auto box should be ok, as car will not be loaded with 5 people while towing either. NO caravans at all!!! Top gear knows what is best for them (sorry no offence to any one).

Dunlop DZ8, I think I remember reading, in original sizes.

Thanks JellyBean, I phoned them but it is nowhere to be found. The very nice man did say that they are not very popular and offered me one at £1000 and the last customer paid £2500 including fitting electrics vat etc etc. A real steal, but I managed to decline. So, any one else interested in a Watling unit.

Does any one need/want a tow bar for their LS400? I would like to suggest a group buy. Watling Engineering can supply a unit for £220 +vat (£258.50). I can not find a MkIII towbar anywhere else. I need one, but if others do too, then I am happy to ask for a group discount. Their system is for a detachable bar, so you will not loose the original look of the rear end. The bumper does need to have a small piece cut out of it, but this is not visiable as it is under the car. Their price does not include electrics or a tow ball. Get these locally yourself or from www.towsure.com at a very good price too. Fit it yourself or go through a local fitter. I have the fitting instructions, see here, you might have to download the file to your local PC???: ftp://upload.ntlworld.com/WatlingLS400.pdf I will try to find a picture of the unit fitted. Any one??? Please reply by Friday 9th December (1 week) as that is when I will be ordering mine.

If you are into music, the the stereo in the LS400 is the one for you. Pretty unsphisticated to look at , but the quality and performance of it is OUTSTANDING I regulary have it at Full-Tilt just to remind myself of the power this car has on-tap.

jack the car up and spin the wheels by hand. This is a good way to see if the brakes are dragging. BUT I imagine with Traction Contriol, perhaps they only drag wh the engine is on, Oh well jack the car up when the engine is still running. Take care, good luck.

"women passengers? Huh"

" Didn't have much to spend"??!! £9K . LOL, I thought you had a Mk I or II LS400 before, You know how much change you would have got from £9K for something similair, or even how much better and newer, and all that surplus cash to maintain it too. A change is as good as anything. Thanks for warning us all, we are sticking to our LS400s.

Another ebay bargain ???? Just got a Toyota EPC CD "as used by dealers" but it asks for a LEXUS dealer password. Can any one share this with me? please? Simon.

Some LS drivers have reported a smoother gbox after changing the gb oil, but it will be £100 just for the oil, and many also say make sure you use genuine Toyota gb oil. see lexls tutorials, a MAGIC site for all LS diy enthusiasts. I'll be doing my cambelt at Christmas.

The thing that makes me really laugh is the annual MOT test. YES, we all have our cars checked annually for major mechanical defects and potentional defects that could become dangerous. I ask myself "how many road accidents are caused by mechanical failure"? and "How many accidents are caused by human error"? Surely it would be wise to test drivers once a year too. This would be a revenue earner for the government, employ lots of people as testers etc, reduce our insurance premiums (maybe offset by cost of annual test), save lives, reduce pressure on the A&E wards and long term health care for casualties and with less blockages from road accidents, increase taffic flow for us all. Its a no brainer !!!

The soarer has the same v8, yes? does it come with a manula option? I think I read an Aus site a while ago and they were racing a manual car.

It seems that the LS400 on 16" rims was designed to take the Dunlop DZ* tyres, reading other posts. What is the reccomended or best ride tyre for 17" rims, as www.black-circles.o.uk does not list Dunlop DZ*s for 17 inch?

my MkIII also has auto dimming mirrors, rear view as well as wing. All the other MkIV goodies sound good too.

Kansas, It is a "Drive Smart" I use, see www.drive-smart.co.uk The device is more to help me drive with extra care at and near accident black spots. Just by coincidence these places often have speed cameras inhabited at the same place. Any way, I often find that I miss some of the Drive Smart announcements when the stereo is on, so I was wondering if I could use the "ear" piece conector of the DS to mute the stereo. I'll need to find out of the DS can ground this pin when it has something to announce. There is also an RS232 port on it, so I'll ask on the DS forum for advice. Thanks all.