MJB18

One thing I've learned from having an LS400, LS430, and now an LS460 is that they won't go up even the slightest incline if there's snow or ice on the road. Now I always carry a pair of snow socks in the winter, they've got me out of many a tricky situation where otherwise I would have had to leave the car and walk home. https://autosockdirect.co.uk/

You're right Paul - that is interesting. I wish I'd seen that a couple of weeks ago!

I've just had the front lower control arms replace on my 2006 LS460 at 100K miles ( I believe these are the same arms on the LS600). It took quite a bit of research to find the correct part numbers, but this is what I found. Mine are these https://lexuspartsdirect.co.uk/product/lexus-ls-phase-4-o-s-f-lower-rearward-suspension-arm/ https://lexuspartsdirect.co.uk/product/lexus-ls-phase-4-n-s-f-lower-rearward-suspension-arm/ After 2010 they are these; https://lexuspartsdirect.co.uk/product/lexus-ls-phase-4-n-s-front-lower-arm-no-1/ https://lexuspartsdirect.co.uk/product/lexus-ls-phase-4-o-s-front-lower-arm-no-1/ So yes, the design was revised. I couldn't tell you if they're an improvement though!

It's been a while since I did this stuff - but I think 150 Watts at 220 Volts is less than 1 Amp. It'll depend on the efficiency of the 12 VDC to 220 VAC converter, but even if its only 25% efficient it will only pull 4 amps on the DC side. But like I said - it's been a while so I might be talking b***cks!

Hi Dan- It's a 1UR-FSE. The 1UR-FE was only for the middle east

I had one in my LS460. It worked really well (but eventually I gave in to temptation and replaced it with a Grom) While I had it I made this little video showing what it does: (somehow the video got split into two parts) If I can remember where I put it when I took it out I might put it up for sale

I see your problem. How about something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Huawei-Travel-Portable-Hotspot-Super-fast/dp/B00PICUNRA?th=1 It's not quite what you need - but according to the Q and A, it can be fiddled! Question: Hi.. Does it start automatically when car starts?? Or does it have to be started manually every time the car starts?? Thanks. Answer: No, but it can! If you carefully jam the button down (I put a bit of a cut drinking straw into the small gap around the edge to make it stiff enough to stay down) then the unit will auto power on as soon as the ignition is switched on. You can even hide it away in the boot and it 'just works'!… see more By Daniel on 20 October 2016 I put a small Lego brick on the on button and sellotaped it down so it was permanently pushing the button. Now comes on automatically with the ignition By Stuart G on 27 October 2019

This is probably no help at all, but when I originally installed my Grom I was using a xiaomi phone and found the hotspot to be extremely flaky (especially with macrodroid). Ever since changing to a Samsung phone it's been problem free. Could be that American hardware and Chinese phones just don't mix

As an Android user, I can't comment on car play. I understand it should do, android auto certainly works. Either way, I can certainly recommend the vline - it completely transforms the entertainment system. It's basically an android computer, so will run almost any android app. Which means that even without car play or android auto you can use your phone as a wireless hotspot and have google maps, internet radio, etc on the satnav screen. Also, you can stick a memory card in there and have your entire mp3 collection at hand. I use the Agama launcher from the google play store (recommended by Herbie elsewhere on the forum), as in the pic below. Installation is quite straightforward. Removing the centre console isn't anywhere near as scary as it first looks, follow any of the youtube videos and it'll take barely half an hour. You will need a phillips screwdriver and a 10mm box spanner though. The hardest bit is trying to find somewhere to put the vline itself. Mine is still floating around, unmounted, in the glove box a year later (had to remove the shelf though)

As Colin said, it's the fuel delivery pipes. If you lived in North America you would have had them changed for free under a recall. https://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/ethanol-leads-to-recall-of-some-lexus-models/

Mine shows this for a couple of seconds when starting and then reverts to this as normal

I daren't use one - for fear that it would defeat the system that prevents me from locking the key in my car!

Well done, that's very impressive Howard!

And using the business name "Honest Trade Dudley" !!!!!!

Many years ago, when I had my LS400, I bought one of these. It connects in line with the aerial lead, rather than transmitting over FM. There's DIP switches to select which frequency it feeds into the radio. Apparently it switches off when it doesn't detect anything on its audio input, so becomes transparent as far as the normal radio signal in concerned. I'd forgotten I had it until I read this post. I didn't get around to fitting it so it's never been used, and I don't even know if it works. I don't know where you are in Bucks, but you're welcome to it if you want!

I've just found some more info on this, apparently it's because of "aluminum" fuel pipes https://www.goodcarbadcar.net/lexus-forced-to-recall-gs-is-and-ls-for/

I agree with most of the previous comments. Reliability wise :- I had a '98 LS400, bought it high mileage and battered, kept it for four years, hardly ever serviced, and it never never went wrong. Had an '04 LS430, which I bought from a Lexus dealer, full service history, and had all sorts of trouble. It never let me down, just niggly things. The steering wheel motors failed, the reversing camera failed, the air con leaked, O2 sensors failed, and so on. My '06 LS460, at 15 years old and 80K miles, looks and drives like a new car, and everything still works. I'm aware it'll need some suspension work in the next 20K miles or so. But spending a couple of thousand on it to get another 100K miles isn't a big deal - at that age many other manufacturer's cars will be scrapped. Comfort wise :- The 400 had the softest ride. The 430 was a little firmer (but more reassuring to drive), with a little more road noise. The 460 is my favourite. The suspension has comfort/normal/sport settings so you can choose whatever suits, and it's definitely the quieter of the three. Plus you'll be getting a newer car, with all the modern "driver assist" features.

I wonder if it's something to do with this - Apparently in 2009 Lexus did a recall to replace the fuel pipes in the affected models due to the effects of ethanol - but only in the US https://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/ethanol-leads-to-recall-of-some-lexus-models/

My '06 LS460 also has the video inputs in the armrest - I think they were replaced by the AUX input in 2008. I had a play with mine earlier, using a 3.5mm to red & white RCA plug adapter plugged into the headphone socket on my phone, and then playing an mp3. I thought that just selecting "Video" as the source on the rear controls would then just play the audio from the phone. Wrong! Nothing happened at all. Just had a thought though - maybe it only comes out of the headphones? Anyway, I use a bluetooth adapter now, because even if you did get the video input to work I think you'd have to sit in the back seat to control it!

When I had my LS430 I just used one of those cassette to 3.5mm jack adapters, plugged into one of these .... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bluetooth-Transmitter-Receiver-Simultaneously-Reduction-1/dp/B08SK3XTSH ... tucked away in the little drawer under the CD player. Really cheap and worked quite well. In my LS460 I've installed the Vaistech unit - https://www.vaistech.com/product/sl3b-l/ - which isn't cheap. Apparently it's also good for all of the 430s, but I don't think you'll get the track info etc displayed on the nav screen.

I agree , brake hold IS very useful. But I'll admit I was pretty nervous the first time I used it in a traffic queue - can I really take my foot off the brake when I'm two feet behind the car in front !

Of course not - there are ninety seven pages of the manual dedicated to the parking system! I flicked through then tried reading it properly, gave up around page 5! Though I seem to remember that in the automatic mode only the steering is automatic, you'll need to work the brake. I think that's correct - but best not to have your eyes closed anyway!

Mostly. It'll play, stop, track up/down. Also, I use "Open radio" to listen to streamed radio stations, and the track up/down buttons will move through your favourited stations. But if you're playing mp3 albums from your 'phone you can change track but won't be able to change albums, which I believe you can do on later systems e.g. android auto.

oops - I meant SL3b-L , not SLsb-L (and 3 and s aren't even near each other on the keyboard)

I've just joined the forum - just so that I can say I've found the Vaistech SLsb-L works superbly in my '06 LS460. As with your car, it has no aux or USB inputs, so bluetooth was the only option. Playing mp3s and streaming internet radio from my phone sounds excellent to my old ears, plus the info is shown on the CD screen too. I'm using an Android phone, but I believe that with an iPhone you'll get more info on the screen (the track running time for example), but I can't verify this.