mrdoofa

WTF??

Hopefully you won't end up eating your words!!! I do really like both the 400 and the 430, both are fantastic cars. I'll be even happier after Friday when the cambelt and waterpump have been done though.

Oh dear, looks like I've started an LS400 vs LS430 debate!!!

I've got myself an LS400. After getting old Baz to lower the price a bit and he also put a new MOT on the car as well as recharging the air con which is now ice cold, I've bitten the bullet and gone for it!!! Absolutely everything works on the car except the electric aerial which doesn't bother me because I use a DAB tuner which uses an FM transmitter to the main unit. The steering wheel adjusts in all directions, bone dry boot and spare tyre well, climate control LCDs light up, new bonnet struts, heated seats work and everything else is fine. The engine oil is a lovely golden brown colour and the transmission a nice red which doesn't smell burnt, the gear changes are so smooth and barely noticeable. I've booked the car in with my mechanic for a new cambelt on Friday which is costing £360 all in including a new waterpump as a precaution. The car has just had 4 new tyres and new rear brake pads. I'm loving the car so far and think I prefer it to the LS430 which I had before, it seems that bit quieter and more refined to me, I also find the seats more comfortable. The car also has a PS1 in the glovebox and a DVD player under the passenger seat which are linked to screens in the front headrests. All in all a lovely car and I'm very pleased with it.

200k is nothing to one of these if looked after. Good service history is vital, check for cambelt changes. These can do 500k and still be good!!!

Just seen this on eBay, another lexuschap special!!! I just love the bit where it says: STILL HERE, STILL TRADING, STILL STANDING, LEXUSCHAP ZINDABAD!!! The words "Barge pole" spring to mind!!!

I found the owners manual online and it says in there you can have the dealer make it so it doesn't flash, I wonder if that's what's happened by another previous owner. The guy at work just said its always been like that as long as he's had the car and he just thought nothing of it as all the doors lock and unlock ok.

I just wondered, on the mk4 LS400 when you lock/unlock the doors using the remote are the indicators supposed to flash? Or is there some other confirmation that the doors are locked/unlocked? A guy at work might be selling his but to be honest it looks a bit rough. I just noticed that when you lock or unlock the car, all you get is the sound of the little motors activating which is very quiet so sometimes hard to tell if you've locked the car or not without trying the door handle.

Spotted this on autotrader, what do you think for a grand? http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201605244252934?sort=atcustom&model=ls_400&make=lexus&postcode=ls211dg&searchcontext=default&page=2&search-target=usedcars&onesearchad=new%2Cnearlynew%2Cused&radius=1500&logcode=p

I really don't buy the "I don't use that so I don't know" excuse. When someone is interested in buying your car the least you can do is go and check something works before someone potentially wastes their time coming to view the car.

That's what I thought!! Seller got back to me saying as far as they are aware everything works. When you are selling a car for £3,000, is it really too much trouble to actually go and check so you can definitely say everything works?!? Drives me mad when you get vague answers like that especially as the car is about 50 miles away. I even gave them specific things to check!!!

I went to see old Bazs car today with an open mind and found the air conditioning doesn't work, he is going to find out if it just needs regassing. He also said he will put a fresh MOT on the car and fix any advisories it might get. Apart from that and the cambelt being due it seems very clean and tidy and drove perfectly from what I could tell, the fluid levels were all at the correct levels and crucially all the right colours!!! Also, the boot was bone dry!!! I have spotted another car of interest, it's a pre facelift LS430 but does look very tidy, here is the link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-LS430-Premium-Pack-/262448258496?hash=item3d1b229dc0:g:UwwAAOSwrnNXQL9X Its not too far from me, I've messaged the seller to see if everything works on the car. I'm still awaiting a reply. What do you think?? Does anybody know this car? What is the average price for a cambelt change on an LS400? It says £295 for an LS430 on the Lexus website but doesn't list the LS400.

I think I will go for a mk4 LS400, I just get the feeling they are a bit better made than the 430 and somehow less risky with less to go wrong. Is it right that the LS400 doesn't suffer the same radiator/gearbox problem which finished my LS430 I had? Old Baz is selling one at the moment, here is a link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEXUS-LS400-AMERTHYST-PEARL-MINT-CONDITION-FULL-LEXUS-SERVICE-HISTORY-LATE1999-/381639417994?hash=item58db7b608a:g:SOIAAOSwXSJXOvcG Any thoughts? I actually bought the LS430 from him but don't think he could've known about the gearbox about to fail as its already been said there is no test you can do to check it but the rest of the car was great, a few minor niggles here and there but overall a good example.

Thanks for all the help and input so far. What is the best way to check the gearbox for any possible problems and also the radiator? I really like the LS430 and the extra gadgets but am a bit wary after my last experience with one, is it worth tracking down a facelift version? I also really like the LS400 too!!! I like that it is the original Lexus and don't mind the dated, I mean classic look. As titch says, quite a nice dilemma!!!

Hi, I may soon be looking for another Lexus. As you maybe aware I used to have a 2002 LS430 which suffered catastrophic gearbox failure. anyway, I am wondering what the general opinion is about the mk4 LS400 vs a facelift LS430. Are the facelift LS430s much better than none facelift ones, I'm talking about gearbox problems, heated and cooled seats which were rubbish on my last LS430, is the air suspension more reliable? Are the Steering wheel motors improved? You get the idea!!! Or is it a safer bet to buy a mk4 LS400? Here is a link to an LS430 which is only about 50 miles from me, what do you think? http://www.cheshiremotorcarsales.co.uk/used-LEXUS-LS-Dukinfield-Cheshire-807614

Hi guys, As you all probably know by now I had a very bad experience with an LS430. I am considering getting a mk4 LS400, I don't have a particular car in mind but just wondered what to check for on the 400. I know it doesn't have the air suspension worries. The LS430 gearbox failed and I believe it's because coolant had managed to get into the gearbox oil because of radiator corrosion, does the LS400 have the same problem? Any other tips and advice would be appreciated!!! I'm not going to rush into it, I'll be taking my time to make sure I get a good Lexus this time!!! Cheers guys.

As others have said a good thump on top of the dash can get it going again.

It's funny that since I got rid of my LS430 there is loads of advice about changing the rad as a preventative measure to protect the tranny but prior to me buying it I found nothing advising this lol!!!

I've had an LS430 which ended in disaster when the gearbox failed. Make sure you dip the transmission oil, it should be red and also make sure it doesn't smell burnt. I'd change the radiator as a precaution because the transmission fluid is also cooled by the radiator and if the radiator gets any corrosion it can allow engine coolant into the transmission fluid which can cause the gearbox to completely fail without warning. I think that's what happened to mine!!! Gear changes should be barely noticeable. The suspension is prone to problems mainly due to water ingress into the ride height sensors and is VERY expensive to fix, some owners replace the air suspension with standard coil over suspension because it's much cheaper than repairing the air suspension. The ride should be smooth with no creaks or knocks, put the switch to high, the car should raise by about an inch and the compressor should be quiet. Make sure both steering column motors work, again very expensive to fix. Subwoofers can be repaired with varying degrees of success, new ones cost £350 or more from Lexus. Door speakers can blow too so take a CD with you with lots of bass to check all speakers. Parking sensors are a common failure point. The double glazed side windows can become delaminated with age. Bonnet and boot support struts can be weak but are cheap and easy to replace. The heated and cooled seats often don't work very well. Check for correct red Toyota coolant. Full service history is vital and check for cam belt changes every 100k or 10 years. Check all electrics work and there's lots to check!!! Check AC works in both front and rear if premium pack fitted. Check no warning lights are lit on dash. Check sat nav as this can go wrong. Make sure toolbox is present and the locking wheelnut. All the other checks you would do on any used car. Personally after my experience with the LS430 I would be very nervous getting another, if I was going to get another Lexus I would find a nice mk4 LS400. I have no experience with LPG so can't comment on that. Lexus are great well engineered cars that do last well but they CAN go wrong and DO go wrong and can be horrendous money pits if you get a bad un. Tread carefully and you should be OK. Get it right and you have a bargain luxury saloon but get it wrong and it can be a whole world of hurt!!! Good luck!!!

Hi, I'm fairly certain that when the icon is green the AC is on. However, if the outside temperature is very cold (less than about 4c) the AC turns itself regardless to protect the compressor when the ambient temperature is very low. The other reason you might not be getting cold air is if the system needs regassing or there is some other fault. The best way to check is when the outside temperature is definitely warm enough to let the AC switch on is when you touch the AC icon to turn it off/on you should hear the compressor click on as the clutch engages inside it, you may also notice the engine idle speed increases slightly. Hope this helps!!

If I do get another Lexus it will almost certainly be a mk4 LS400. I don't think I would risk another 430. As you say the design flaws are now starting to show and most repairs are in the 4 figure area. I feel that if I would've sorted the gearbox the suspension would probably go wrong next!!! I feel the LS400 is more robust with the original Lexus over-engineering.

Hope you have more luck than I did with mine. Changing the radiator is a good idea, I think that's what caused my gearbox to fail in the spectacular way it did allowing water into the gearbox. One minute I was driving a nice car, the next I was at the side of the road awaiting green flag rescue with no drive in any gears!!! The cost of repair or replacement was more than the car was worth.

I had the same attitude that when something goes wrong I'll cross that bridge when I come too it. Unfortunately I did come to it in a rather catastrophic way!!! There are many faults you can get on cars that you can either live with or repair later when you can afford it but the gearbox is quite an important part. One day I may get another Lexus but I am very wary now especially as the LS430 did have other problems I was slowly getting around to dealing with until the gearbox had other ideas. I'm quite happy with my mondeo at the moment, it might not have the same street cred but at least it has no faults and it is a Ghia X so still have a lot of toys on it. Ironically, Lexus are supposed to be the best engineered and reliable cars on the planet yet I have owned over 30 cars over the last 20 years and the only 2 that have left me stranded and calling the breakdown service are both the Lexus's I've owned!!! Just bad luck? Probably yeah, but you can see why I'm very wary now.

My gearbox suffered instant death 2 weeks ago, I suspect coolant got into the gearbox and killed it as there was no warning, I just lost drive in all gears on my way to work. It has now lead to the demise of the car as repairing or replacing the gearbox simply made no financial sense as it would've cost more than the car was worth and I don't have that kind of money to spare anyway. Even if I did, as much as I like cars I don't get attached to them and keep them going regardless of expense. Dip the transmission oil to check the colour and smell. My air suspension was actually OK but costs a bloody fortune if it does go wrong hence many opt to replace it with coil over suspension when it goes although some say this affects the ride quality. Steering column motors are a big expense if/when they fail, genuine subwoofers are expensive however I was going to try fixing mine with some silicone sealant as many have reported success using this method and you don't need to take the rear seat out to do it, just prise the speaker grille off. The heated and cooled seats were a waste of time in mine. If I do decide to buy another Lexus One day I will probably go for a good LS400 as there is far less to go wrong than the LS430. I did enjoy my time with the LS430 but I must admit it felt like I was driving a bit of a time bomb expecting something expensive to fail at any time which of course it did!!! I just didn't expect it to be the gearbox. Please don't laugh but I now have a Ford Mondeo Diesel and am actually enjoying stress free motoring because if it does go wrong I won't need to remortgage the house to fix it not to mention the huge fuel savings I'm making right now and the heated and ventilated seats actually do make you warm or cool. The heated windscreen is fantastic. I still really like Lexus but I'm quite wary of getting another one now.

I just want to thank everybody again for your help and input and just because this Lexus has turned out to be something of a disaster, it certainly hasn't put me off Lexus. One day when I've sorted myself and my finances out I would like another LS430, probably a face lift one or perhaps a mk4 LS400. This time though I'll be going in with my eyes wide open and really scrutinise everything about the car and follow everybody on here's advice to the letter and not get carried away and let my heart rule my head and it won't be from old Baz this time!!! Speaking of old Baz, he bought himself yet another LS400 not long ago after the cat c write off one he bought and guess what? He's now looking for another LS430 in light blue this time!!! To be perfectly honest this car isn't quite as good as old Baz made it out to be as he described it as having everything in full working order and only needing the alloys maybe refurbishing to make the car like new!!! I've mentioned niggles and faults in other threads such as blown subwoofer, heated and cooled seats hardly work, power fold mirrors don't work properly, rain sensing wipers don't work and some other minor niggles. I allowed myself to get carried away though and bought the car thinking I could repair or live with these issues and some people on here said not to buy it and it was a bit overpriced but as I said I allowed my heart to rule my head and am now paying the price such as life, next time I would prefer to get it from a dealer because then at least you get some protection from the sales of goods act should things go bad and also would like less miles on the clock. Hopefully the Mondeo will be ok and see me on for a bit, it's a Ghia X so still has a lot of toys and being diesel I will definitely feel the difference at the fuel pumps lol!!! Anyway, thanks again and hopefully I'll get another Lexus in the not too distant future. (Perhaps I should've kept the GS430 a bit longer as that car was just about perfect after I sorted the heater problem by topping up the coolant tank). I'm rambling on now lol but as I said the LS430 is here for spares or repair if anyone's interested. Cheers everybody!!!