Clive_W

I've had my GS300 for 4 years and 8 months, covered around 100,000 miles around 60,000 on LPG. Now with 200,000 miles on the clock beginning to get a few expensive problems and have just got a GS300 Mk 2. Loved the first one, a real pleasure to drive and loving the second one just as much. I'm in the process of swapping the LPG and various other nearly new high value spares over to the new one. Interesting to see how some things on the new one have improved, whilst others have been cheapened. I really love these cars!

Hello, I had a near similar problem earlier this year. I was driving quite normally when about 60 miles from home nearly all of the warning lights came on like the fourth of July. I suspected the alternator drive belt, but this was intact. I drove back home OK and the problem was diagnosed as an alternator failure. I had a replacement fitted and the problem was cured. You may be interested to know that the alternator on a Toyota Corolla (at least the one I looked at a 2000 model) is the same as the GS300.

If you are considering buying second hand spares using a web based search engine be very careful to scrutinise the terms and conditions of the SUPPLIER (not just the search engine owner) before doing so. Up to a the beginning of July 2008, I had nothing but good experiences with these national spares locating services, they were fast and efficient and the spares were of good quality. This was until I wanted some rear suspension spares. Because I was in a hurry, I ordered from the first company who responded. They told me that they would deliver on Monday or Tuesday the following week, so I booked my car in for Wednesday. Nothing arrived until Wednesday, when only a part of my order arrived. Every part was filthy dirty (they didn't appear to have heard of water pressure jet guns or degreasing agents) and half the parts looked as if they had been hacked off the vehicle rendering them useless, damaged threads, split rubber boots or just worn out. To cut a long story short, the company involved then sent another consignment of totally useless spares. Sending them photos and speaking to them over the phone, they appeared totally ignorant of the quality needed and then compounded it by resorting to making rude personal comments. The owner of the spares location web site tried to help but in the end I sent the entire consignment back. They hit me with heavy restocking charges, which I now intend to fight through my credit card company. This is a general warning as probably legislation surrounding such services is probably weak, but avoid FOREIGN CAR SPARES LTD, BIRMINGHAM B8 3AY

I've been running a GS300 for the last 4 years or so on LPG, with a OMVL Dream system fitted, for almost 60,000 miles. The acceleration is down a bit on petrol, but if you feel like beating somebody off at the lights, you can always flip it over to petrol quickly and then back again. It does the engine good to do this occasionally as I believe that petrol has a better lubrication property than LPG. Be very careful that you do not get a radiator leak as that will prevent the evaporator working correctly and that can cause a head gasket to blow, an expensive job. I've got a 70 litre tank that fits in the space previously occupied by the spare wheel. A larger capacity tank would be advisable if you do a lot of miles I've been pleased with my conversion and am in the process of switching it over to my new(er) model. If anybody out there has an electrical wiring diagram for the Dream OMVL, I'd appreciate a copy.

I bought a new radiator last year from Estima Club. (01268) 512512. Cambria Close, Canvey Island. SS8 0JX, it was £150. The guy to speak to is Jim. Best of luck.

After nearly a month of being messed about by a local garage (not a Lexus dealer I hasten to add, who do not like working on LPG conversions) I am contemplating replacing my cylinder head gasket myself. Has anyone else done this and can they offer any advice?

I've been running on LPG for a couple of years now and have just experienced overheating and loss of water attributed to a head gasket failure. Has anyone any experience of this? Is it normally just that or is there likely to be damage to the head, for example distorted or cracked.

I've just had mine done, with a lot of other work, wasn't cheap. Is it normal practice to change the tensioner as well as this jacked the price up considerably.