rharper83

Hi all!

Apologies for the massive delay in posting here, but I thought given that so many of you had taken the time to post and offer advice, I thought I'd better share an update. Sadly, the update is that the car is still sat at the garage, untouched! The garage owner hasn't had chance yet to look at it, seeing it as a 'project' to bring back to life, rather than actually getting it running again - which is partly true, but it's a project of love rather than one that 'needs' to be done. 

Having said that, as soon as anything does happen with it, I'll be sure to keep you all in the loop!

On the plus side, it's giving me more chance to get my driveway sorted out to park it on when it is sorted :)

Thanks,
Rich

On 5/9/2021 at 10:20 AM, Malc said:

best wishes with it all ...... an excellent and probably fairly low cost project tbh

Malc

Thanks Malc - hopefully! Definitely need something doing with the back corner, a new Battery, MOT, something doing with the exhaust, and quite probably 4 new tires. Fingers crossed that's it, or very little else.

On 5/9/2021 at 10:32 AM, Mikaelse said:

On my 1995 with coilsprings I had one spring snapped of and sagging a bit in 2015 ( corrosion caused in probabaly ) . Not expensive . 50£ each for the springs  and a few hours DIY to swap them both out. Put back same shock absorbers. Stil going strong. Needed to take out rear seat for access.
 

Thanks for the tip re: the rear seat. Will have to see what the situation is once it's on the ramp. Cheers!

Hi guys!

Thought I'd give you a quick update as it's been a few weeks...

The Lexus was low loaded to the local indie yesterday, for it's resuscitation operation 🙂 We were worried at first that the brakes might've been stuck, but pulling it onto the tow truck there was very little initial jarring when they were unseized (a small clunk, but nothing at all that caused concern). It does however look like there might be some issue with the rear passenger side spring or damper, as it's sat a little lower on that corner than the other side, but won't know the issue until it's on the ramp.

I'll keep this post updated as and when I know more - it's not high priority for the indie, more of a project that he can dip in and out of over the next few weeks. He was good friends with my Dad so although I'm paying him the going rate to sort it, he'll be looking after it too.

Thanks, Rich.

4 hours ago, Malc said:

I shouldn't worry too much about the cambelt ......  it's said to be a change at 10 yrs / 100k miles and I think the " snap " point has been said to be at 150k miles

just make sure when it is changed the waterpump is changed too and the pulleys are checked 

Malc

when I bought my earlier Mk2 at 13 years old and 8542 miles the cam belt had been changed at 3100 miles by the previous owner 😊

 

Great advice, thanks Malcolm! I'll see if I can find any paperwork that says it's been done or not (or ask the indie again in case he can remember!).

On 4/16/2021 at 11:24 AM, Mikaelse said:

Expect good things. The brakes on these are very good quality . I would be surprised if they will give you problems. BUT if they do bind . Do not drive it with binding brakes since you will overheat stuff quite fast.  

I would not expect the cam belt to develop a problem by standing still 3 years. Should be not  be much worse than using the car.
I would run low load and rpm until varm just to be safer first time .  

Fingers crossed for good news then! Hoping they haven't bound, but we will see when it gets towed in a couple of weeks! 

Regarding the cam belt - really? Would you not be concerned that it may have become a bit brittle/perished? I guess it's not having a static weight load on it like the tyres when they are sat.
 

On 4/16/2021 at 11:52 AM, Malc said:

she looks a very smart car ........... just as a well looked after Ls400 should be whatever the mileage 

well worth re-commissioning if she still appears the same in todays lockdown storage

Malc

Thanks Malc - she's definitely in decent condition! The only difference now is a layer of road film and dust, although that does get periodically washed off 🙂

On 4/16/2021 at 2:18 PM, royoftherovers said:

My view too. It is an extremely smart car that will only get extremely smarter.

In the medium term Richard, if it were me I would seek to ditch ( metaphorically speaking) the A1 and replace it with something of undoubted quality and class........your LS.

Do keep us all updated, please. 

It's really tempting, although I do like the go-kart handling of the A1 😉 The 70mpg isn't to be sniffed at either, compared to the 21/22 of the LS400! Having said that, maintenance costs on the Lexus look like they'd be lower... 

I will definitely keep updating this thread over the coming weeks with updates as soon as it's low loaded to the indie!

On 4/17/2021 at 9:10 AM, ambermarine said:

Very unusual centre armrest ,never seen one like that must have been bespoke fitted not sure of the comfort zone but useful.

I'm fairly sure that it was factory fitted - or whoever did it made a really good job of it as it looks integral....

On 4/17/2021 at 9:36 AM, Malc said:

hadn't noticed that before .......  and does it have a sat nav screen too ?  ...  is it a very very early Mk1V then ?  and not what I surmised ....  a Mk3

Malc

Yep, sat nav with the discs for it in a unit in the boot, I think... I'm not sure which model it is, but Phil suggests below that it could well be a Mark 4...

On 4/17/2021 at 10:02 AM, ambermarine said:

The Mark 4s were registered at R but as you say very early production the satnav was fitted to all mark 4s in the UK but it was a expensive option elsewhere. The wheels are certain Mark 4 as is the body line.

Apologies all for the slow replies over the weekend... lots of DIY in progress, so haven't been near a laptop much! Not sure if I'd posted above, but it's due to be low loaded to the local indie in a couple of weeks time, so I will have more updates to share then. I'll share thoughts, updates, and photos in this thread 🙂 Thanks all for your interest and advice - it's super helpful, and really appreciated.

As promised, here are a couple of pics that I've managed to dig out that my Dad took when it was running, and a couple that I took - one a while ago (the decent one!), and one recently that's a bit poorer quality. 

I spoke to the indie last night too (after picking up my A1 - that was an expensive day, 2 new front springs and a major service, with new rear discs and pads needed in the next 3-4k miles, along with the outer skin of the backbox starting to corrode so that'll need replacing in a year or so!). Anyway, I digress, he'd be more than happy to take a look and see what needs to be done to get it all roadworthy and running again. He agreed that a new belt would be an idea, although he'd check the state of it first. His only concern was that the calipers may need checking as they might've seized due to it being sat so long - but he won't know until he looks. We're getting it low loaded to him in a couple of weeks when he's got a bit of time to take a decent look at it. I will keep you guys updated 🙂

12 hours ago, DAN@ADRIAN FLUX said:

Hi.

Hopefully we could help out with a competitive insurance quotation.

Regards,

Dan.

Thanks Dan. When it's running again I'll give you guys a call 🙂

7 minutes ago, Howplum said:

It doesn't sound like you need convincing, but.............

The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection

 

The Lexus slogan, "The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection", came about after the US image consulting firm visited Lexus designers in Japan and noted their obsessive attention to detail.

 

Sounds very apt! 😉 

3 minutes ago, ambermarine said:

This subject is close to the heart of anyone who as owned one of these cars and I have owned two for a total of twenty four years they are already a part of the motoring industry in the name of game changers and to own one is a  honour that more and more people seek, so you hang on to it not just for your Dad but for you and be grateful he saw the future of these fabulous cars.

Such a lovely post, thank you! I'm glad I posted here asking for advice, as I think you've all convinced me that, if for no other reason than sentimental ones, I should get the car sorted and keep it (at the very least in the short term!).

1 minute ago, cruisermark said:

would love to see some pictures

They'll be coming soon 😄

36 minutes ago, Howplum said:

As far as insurance is concerned, don't give up yet. It is old enough to be considered a "classic" by some insurers who will offer a limited mileage policy for a reasonable premium, depending on your estimated mileage and other factors.  I have just transferred from Adrian Flux to Classicline, but in both cases the premium was under £200.

One of the advantages of a specialist policy is that they are "net rated", which means there is no No Claim Discount (NCD) to worry about, although obviously your driving history will be reflected in the initial premium. It also means your NCD is retained for your everyday car.

Think carefully about the mileage limit you choose though, once you get behind the wheel you might be tempted to do more than you thought!

Oh that's a really good thought - thanks! Hadn't thought of the "classic" route at all. Will definitely check out Adrian Flux and Classicline, cheers!

Totally agree about the mileage limit. I think at the very least 2-3k miles/year would be the bottom range, as you're right; it's such a lovely car to drive so would definitely be tempted to do more, even with the 20-25mpg that it gets!

18 hours ago, DaKa said:

Nice to read this post Rich and to see that you are doing the right thing by your Dad - checking with the forum is the best way.

A pristine LS400 just sold for £19,000 on The Market 

https://themarket.co.uk/listings/lexus/ls400/835b2fb1-e81f-43ee-a3e4-573bbd50fbfd

Don't get too excited, but I do regret giving my LS400 to my older brother 15 years ago as then I valued it at only £700. It was a P reg with circa 100,000 on the clock. They are getting very 'collectable' especially in Northern Europe (Denmark etc.).

There may be a metal tag/plate under the bonnet at the front where, if the timing belt was done by Lexus, it may state the mileage when changed, otherwise find the receipt in the paperwork as someone buying would otherwise assume it needs doing (and likely the water pump too).

The belt is suggested changing every circa 70,000 miles after the first change at 60,000 but a lot will depend on usage, time elapsed and the conditions of storage. Circa 170k mileage, you will be ok to start if on your 3rd belt?

Exhaust fix is more of an issue to get it done cost effective, but there are some import options from Rock autos and a couple of places in UK that will repair and you will find a thread for that on this site

Best of luck.

Thanks Damien - and definitely hoping to do the right thing by him. He was a member here in fact, I think his username was Jim Pike (that wasn't his actual name - long story!)

£19k! That's insane. If it was worth £3-4k in roadworthy condition that'd be a damn sight more than it is now 🙂 I know how you feel about the regret - my dad had a P100 pickup too that he used for work, and we let that go for what he paid for it, but in decent condition they are fetching upwards of £5k - plus it would've been useful for me to use to get my garden and drive done! Family peer pressure though, that's why I'm pushing back on the Lexus!

Will check for the metal tag as I don't recall seeing one, and see if the local indie that always looked after it can remember too. If it was done not long before being 'stored', is it likely to be ok to start, without too much of a risk of shredding it?
 

15 hours ago, Howplum said:

Whether you keep it or not I would definitely recommend getting it through the MoT before making any decision about its future. Hopefully the garage you mentioned can give you an idea of the cost involved. If there any advisories, or whatever they are called nowadays, they can be dealt with later, either by you or a new owner.

It would be a good idea to check that all the electrical items and instrument displays work.

There are several links under the Buying Guide to give you some idea of the most common issues.

I would also recommend keeping it if you can, but I might be biased!

Mine was bought as a project, and despite the various issues, it's the best car I've owned since I started driving in 1964.

Totally agree with the MOT, thank you! I think even if I have to spend £1k or so on it, it'll still be worthwhile doing. Thanks for the buyers guide link too, will keep me busy going through that 🙂

I'm partially tempted to keep it as a project/toy (apologies if I offend anyone calling it a toy!) - I've got the drivespace at my house, and it would be a nice second car. I'm 37, so even with 18 years no claims (which sadly I can't put on a second policy!), the insurance is still 3x the price of my Audi - so that's the sticking point at the moment. 

10 hours ago, runsgrateasanut said:

You mention you think the Car passed its last three MOT's with no advisories.  You can always check this, just in case there was something likely to be expensive.  Any potential buyer will do likewise.

https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

 

That's where I checked yesterday to get the mileage, and also how I knew about the MOT history - but thank you for the link too, it's appreciated. I also checked last night, and it is currently 168k - so I was correct in saying it was 166 + a few k 🙂

10 minutes ago, Malc said:

seems a brilliant thought ........  if anyone knows best about your car then the guys there should .....  provided they are the same engineers still .......... thinking they will relish the thought to have the car back for re-commissioning ..........  could be relatively simple and inexpensive ........ might just be a new battery and a couple of hours labour to check stuff over .......  the service records should reveal lots about the car too ....  especially checking when the cambelt was last changed etc

Malc

Hopefully they will 🙂 It's the same guy that's still there, so fingers crossed! Will chat to him later on, and see what his thoughts are too. Cheers!

Awesome, thank you so much guys!

Will get some pics over the next day or so (will be too dark tonight when I go down to it!), but will take a selection and post them here.

Yeah, it's been SORN since Jan 2018, sat on my parent's drive (hardstanding, so little to no water ingress from below, hopefully). It's been cleaned periodically, but hasn't since the back end of last year (lockdown!).

It was a daily driver until the end of 2017, so it's been well used (well, obviously not given the mileage, but it was driven daily). I gave it a good run up and down the dual carriageway (about 30 miles) just before it was parked up.

Definitely a great plan of action from you Pete - will see if I can get it on a lowloader to a nearby garage (they serviced it and looked after it when it was in use, and the owner was a good friend of my Dad's (in fact, my A1 is in there now with a broken front spring - potholes!), so will chat to him later about it when I collect my car.

Some great food for thought from you guys here, I really appreciate it. As promised, I'll come back with some pics in the next day or two 🙂

Really good question! I'm honestly not sure off the top of my head, but can check when I go down to it this evening, and post back on here. Last MOT in March 2017 was 166k, so it will be a couple of k more than that at the most. 

Should add that it passed the MOTs from 2014-2017 with no issues as far as I'm aware, and was pretty well looked after by my Dad whilst he had it. Which is also partly why I feel a little guilty for letting it just stand.

Thanks for the reply Len!

Yep, the link worked - may well be worth spending a bit on it then to get it in roadworthy condition again. I know that when I last drove it, it was a phenomenal car - so much raw power, but such a smooth ride too.

That's kind of why I've asked here - I don't want to see it going to scrap either, but it's at what point do I draw the line. I'd rather it was either roadworthy and used, or went to someone who appreciates it for what it is, rather than just being seen as a quick £100!

Hi guys,

Hope someone can offer some advice :)

My father passed away in 2018, leaving behind his beloved LS400. It's been sat since then, so I know if it's started then there's a good chance that the drive belt will simply perish, so I'm not going to do that.

It's an R reg, 1998 I think, so wondered if you could give me some idea of it's value. A few 'unsavoury' types have knocked on the door offering £50 or £100 to buy it (for scrap value, I assume!). Any ideas what it would be worth? Or is it worth my time getting it on a low loader to the nearest garage and getting it all up and running again? The bodywork is in decent condition, and I know the engine was running fine before it was left to sit.

I know it'll need new tyres (as they've been sat for almost 3 years!), and from memory possibly something done with the exhaust - I seem to recall my Dad mentioning an exhaust bandage would be needed at the very least, along with a new Battery, and now a new timing belt.

Cheers,
Rich