chrisfs

With a Lex (and flsh) 80-90k is not "high milage".

The 430 does seem to be getting bad press reports on this forum !

Malc

It does, it seems to be the received wisdom. I'm not sure the evidence to support it is really there though. I'm on my second 430, perhaps I've just been lucky.

I had a 400 before that, so I don't need any convincing on how good they are too. Personally I consider the 430's as reliable as the 400's, and they are all lovely!

Chris

It is also my personal opinion that too much is made of the supposed risks around the air suspension. It gets raised every time anyone asks about the 430. I know there have been some unfortunate experiences, and they have my sympathy, but I'm not convinced they are that numerous.

There are, on the other hand, a large number of very satisfied 430 owners.

Chris

I'm not sure I've ever seen a LS430 that wasn't a Premium Pack one. Are there any?

Well, I have had a LS400 and a LS430 for a total of about 7 years, and they have been wonderful and great value. For reasons too complicated to explain, I began to get a hankering after a Jaguar XJ (old model)and at Easter bought myself a 56 plate 2.7 diesel, selling the LS430. Sorry guys!

BUT . . . I have seen the error of my ways and have bought myself another LS430, a 53 plate this time!!! (Still trying to sell the Jag, and will of course take a big hit IF I can find a buyer in these economic times . . .).

The Jag was lovely really. My two main concerns were I never quite got used to the slightly coarse sound of the diesel engine at start up (being not used to hearing my engine at all, of course) and the slightly rough ride at low speeds on our terrible local roads which is due I think to the 40mm profile tyres. In both cases, motorways were no issue at all. The main thing though was that I paid a LOT more for the Jag but couldn't quite see where I was getting value for the extra money. Other than the style factor, which is important to the wife (she is not very happy at the switch back) but not really something that worries me.

Now for an question that has popped up with the new Lex. Almost the only thing the Jag had over the LS in equiment was integrated Bluetooth, mine being an older 430. So I have had a Parrot i9200 installed in the new LS and it's a super bit of kit, both Bluetooth and now I can play my iPod too. But what a massive job it was to fit, the guy at Halfords was magnificent and wouldn't be beaten but it was a real challenge that ended up taking half the car apart. In the end he has done it, with only one problem - the phone mutes the most of the stereo but not the two front tweeters on the top by the windscreen. This means I have to turn off the radio manually if it is on, or else it keeps playing over the phone! And also means I don't get the use of the tweeters when using phone or iPod.

Does anyone know how to deal with this rather perplexing issue? I did try searching but didn't find an answer.

Thanks for any help.

Chris

I am on my third LS (a 400 and two 430's) and on all of them the windows have sounded reluctant. Especially the driver door windows which always appear to be really struggling. But they have never yet failed to get there in the end!

Maybe some judiciously applied oil would help, does anyone know?

Chris

Here you go: all the info you could want, straight from the horse's mouth!

And the answer to your question, is "yes".

Chris

http://www.lexusgb-press.co.uk/protected/index.html

Go to Product Information, then Archived Models

All fixed now. Steering wheel is level when driving in a straight line. Car collected, fixed, washed and returned by my Lexus dealer.

Glad they were able to sort it for you. Did they say what the problem was, and what did they do fix it?

I've been doing some long runs up and down a motorway over the last couple of weeks and i've noticed that my LS430 steering wheel has to be held slightly to the right to keep the car in a straight line. With the steering level the car goes to the left quite a bit.

I have the same experience with my 430. I have had it for 3 years now and have mentioned it a number of times: when being serviced, when paying to have the tracking and alignment checked, and have even been WIM'd (wheels in motion).

No one has ever been able to identify the source of the problem or cure it and it still does it. On a long motorway run I can tell I am having to exert some pressure to keep the wheel slightly pointing right in order to have the car go straight!

Reliability - oh yes! 80-100,000 miles? Just about run in . . .

Mileage - you will probably get something similar.

Servicing - you don't want to buy without a full Lexus service history. When you come to sell, what will your buyer be looking for? I go with Lexus every time and pay the extra for the benefit of having those Lexus stamps in the book. Mind you, recessions help. Big discounts available, even on routine services. You just have to ask.

Chris

On my LS 430 it's by turning the ring on the lights stalk. First click is side lights, second click is main beam and third click is auto lights.

Don't know if it's the same for you, but worth a try.

Chris

You don't get much (anything?) for £70 on a Lexus.

You certainly wouldn't get a set of mats. If you pushed them hard, you might get the two for the front!

I love my car too, and the 400 I had before. I love that nothing ever goes wrong. But any car will experience wear of course, and what I don't like so much is how expensive anything is if it does need replacing or fixing.

Latest example: my 430 was in for a service this week, and I mentioned that the floor mat in the driver position was loose. It clips via a little plastic thing into an eyelet on the main carpet and the eyelet had come out. The only fix, according to Lexus, is a complete replacement of the carpet throughout the car. Total cost, including VAT, well over £1,000! I decided to live with the loose mat . . .

To be fair it's not really a complaint, because I do accept it goes to a large extent with the durability/quality angle. Actually I thought it was very funny (I burst out laughing in my office when they gave me the quote) and I just thought I would share it with you all.

Chris

That's for the US models, isn't it? Are the specs exactly the same?

All on the Lexus site. Here you go:

http://www.lexus.co.uk/used-cars/specifica...=tcm:585-646421

Chris

The solution was to bleed the TRAC accumulator.

Hi Steve

What is a TRAC accumulator, and how do you bleed it?

Found my wheels spinning in mud trying to exit a car park after the Twickenham rugby on Sunday, and noticed the traction light was on (not blinking). Does that mean it was not operational then?

Chris

Next mission after photobucket - how to reply to an email without copying the entire original thread - especially when it contains a number of file-heavy images !

:D

Still, car looks very nice!

Chris

Thanks for that reassuring anecdote* , Mark!

Chris

* I shall blame you now when my pump packs up about 2,000 miles from now . . .

The timing belt is coming up due on my 2000 LS430, along with the larger of the two types of service (B, I think).

When I was setting it up I discussed it with the Lexus main dealer service department, and I raised the subject of doing the other work while they had all the bits off. I was all set to have it done.

The dealer said it wasn't necessary and recommended it not be done! This was before we got to discuss the price, so it wasn't a case of me trying to get more for a price already set.

On that basis, I decided to have just the belt changed andnot the water pump etc. (Obviously they will inspect those things while in there).

Chris

My tyres are the standard ones for that age and model, which I think are 225/55 R17 (I can check that this evening). Every time they need replacing I scour the websites for new ideas, but always end up going back to Dunlop SP270's.

I'm not too sure, is that size low profile?

Chris

Hi andynorman, glad you are enjoying your new Lex.

I previously had a 1999 DHP 400 and now have one of the early 430s. I like it very much, but I have to agree with you about the ride. Indeed, spookily, "jiggly" was my word for it too. It's the one thing I miss from the 400; that didn't ride out things like speed bumps too well, although I think the suspension bushes were worn, but on the road it just seemed to travel, well, flat! It was so smooth, and the 430 isn't, in the same way.

It's still great, really, just not as great, it seems to me. Anyone else agree?

Chris

Had Glad you got sorted out quickly and minimised the knock on effect in the road works, doesn't take much to cause massive tailbacks.

M25? There in 7 minutes, car on to trailer, and away?

I'd say the tailback was about to the Reigate junction . . .

hi chris , its a current thread in the brakes and suspension section, have a look. Sorry dont know how to link it.

steve

Blimey I didn't even know there was a brakes and suspension section! Never noticed those subforums before. Thanks, Steve.

Bit worrying all that, and the poster there clearly has a real problem. But there is so much positive posting about the 430's, I suspect it was for a limited period and most have no issues.

Chris

Like another member im not liking the recent posts about 430 ride sensors.

I keep seeing references like this, but I've never seen the posts explaining what the issue is? Can anyone enlighten me what the problem is please, or point me to the earlier threads?

Tried a search, but came up with nothing.

Thanks

Chris

Mine is poor too. I travel the M4 every week and regularly lose decent quality reception of, say, Radio 5 Live all the time.

I seem to recall someone writing on here that the aerial is close to the windscreen edge and can be damaged when the windscreen is replaced. Seems like mine got worse when the screen was replaced, but in all honesty I could just be imagining that.