mikesands

oooo-er .... just bought a 2001 LS430 .... how would I know if there's a problem with the height sensors. When I adjust the ride height, I don't notice any difference, but maybe it's subtle? I bought the car as an approved lexus used car from Lexus teesside so I would imagine they are covered. Mike

Hi Mark, - my current car is a GS300 but being swapped next week for an LS430 from a Lexus dealer with 12 month Lexus warranty on it. Do you think I will need to wait until the warranty expires before getting the conversion done. Also does your point about losing an inch in the boot still apply if I put the 84l tank in place of the LS' spare wheel? Thanks Mike

Hi with regard to the flah lube kit the ls 400 does not need it. funny enough the gs300 does some converters insist on installing it though. Another thing is you cant empty the LPG tank as the gas pick up leaves about 8/10 litres in. This will assure others on here when they fill up they only get about 58ltrs in a 67 ltre tank. Put £10 of petrol in at the same time as you wont get the car started if you run out of petrol even when hot. Hi I put in £20 worth of petrol about every six months, On most systems the car petrol gauge works as normal (as with mine & the previous 2 cars ive had on lpg) If I was to need £10 worth of petrol every time I filled £25 worth of lpg I would have to tow a tanker behind me hmmmm..... does that mean that you can never actually use the last 8/10 litres .... definitely need the 84l tank then. Also sounds a really sensible idea to carry 5 litres of petrol on a can in the boot - just in case it's switched to petrol and you haven't realised. Mike

Thanks Mark - that sounds neat .... but doesn't the LPG tank come with some kind of gauge, or do you have to use the tripmeter as a proxy gauge I did some searching on the LPG forum, but it is so full of detailed stuff, that finding the simple stuff is tricky. Am I right in thinking that you ditch the LS's spare wheel and the guy fits an 84 litre tank in there. Is the fill cap then normally inside the boot (which would be OK). What happens in a motorway shunt? I guess it's all been thought of otherwise people would have been dying in fireballs in their droves. Are insurance premiums normally affected by the changeover to LPG. Thanks Mike

If you could have got 60 litres of LPG in you should get more than 200 miles out of it, thats only 15 MPG. I get about 180 miles out of a fill normally 48 litres booting it around London very stop start thats about 16 mpg, 250 to 300 miles on a run motorway speeds. I could get more if I really tried.I have 25 kw injectors fitted in mine which are good for 278bhp full gas maximum. If you have larger capacity injectors fitted maybe the mpg will sufer a little or if its been set up running richer on gas. A lot depends on the kit you have fitted & how well its set up, as to how efficent its going be. My system is one of the new generation plug & learn conversions with its own ecu that piggybacks off the lexus ecu & follows the same map as if running on petrol ( near as possable ) This can also be played around with using a lap top to make the lump run richer or leaner under different loads or speeds. If the systems have got that clever, can they link into the computer so that you get the normal display of range and current and average MPG etc ? Mike

Ive damaged the cloth covered trim panel at the top of the near side door post - where the belt housing is mounted. It's a 2001 GS300 with the pale grey interior - anyone know where I could get a replacement? Thanks Mike

Is there some kind of adaptor that can be wired into the GS300's stereo system (X reg) that converts it into on of these modern system that recognises your phone when you get in the car, and allows hands free operation through the car's stereo system? Thanks Mike

I've got a golf ball dent about 30mm below the window (rear near side door). A guy with a pokey thing has said that he can't get at the dent because of a strengthening girder in the door. He's a bit of a back street guy - anyone know anybody in the north of england who can roll it out from the inside? Thanks Mike

The other thing of interest, is your mention of the ' bumping, banging and crashing of the GS300 over rough roads'. Somehow I though the GS would be more friendly in this area - unless your talking about farm tracks. regards pete ← No I'm talking about ordinary urban roads - lumps and bumps, grates, changes in surface, all produce thumps and a jarring in the GS300. I understand it's supposed to be better in the latest version but mine is dreadful compared to my previous BMW 7 - which I thought was pretty bad compared to a big Jag saloon I had before that. As I say the IS200 seems better insulated from the jarring and thumping than the GS300 (Mk 2) By the way on Monday they lent me an RX300 and I was very impressed with the quietness of the ride in that - also the (relative) lack of roll for such a high car. Performance was very acceptable too although it was a bit noiser than the 300. It also seemed 'skittier' - in other words I seemed to be getting rocked about left to right and forward to back, but not in a lazy rolling kind of way like a big American car - does the RX have a shorter wheelbase than the 300? Mike

Every now and then my GS300 sounds like a deisel .... or perhaps it should be described as very tappety or maybe one cylinder going off. The garage claim that they couldn't replicate the problem although they did hear 'the injector bar cutting in'. Does this sound a sensible explanation? Usually if I stop the engine and restart it goes back to normal - very smooth and very quiet. Also one other question - I often get a juddering - it's not the brakes and it's not wheel balance - it almost always happens under load going up a hill. I feel it through the steering and the passenger seat judders quite markedly (again the garage claim not to be able to reproduce it) Thanks Mike

I have a 5 year old GS300 and twice now they have lent me a new IS200 as a courtesy car. I am always pleased to get back in the 300. Now I'm going to upset the IS lovers. I think it's as flat as a fart. I can't believe how little it has got until you get close to 6000rpm. The GS just takes off at any rev range. Also if you drive legal you will find that in top gear (6th) at 75-80 on the motorway, there is an annoying reverberation - I think it's from the drive shaft. It's easily cured by dropping down to 5th but of course it will push up the consumption. I too am disappointed by the bumping banging and crashing of the GS300 over rough roads - the IS is much better, but there is more general engine noise. I also much prefer the decor of the GS - the IS seems very brash in comparison. Mike

Funny you should say that Claudio but I've just got a MKII GS300 and find the FM reception very bad compared to my previous BMW 7. I am going to get the dealer to check it out, but very often it can lose stereo on very strong local stations and almost all the time I have to have the volume turned much higher than for the CD player. The aerial for my BMW was built into the rear screen demister and worked brilliantly Mike

My 5 year old GS300 seems to have an exhaust system that is in good nick (My BMW's was still OK after 9 years and 189k miles). They must last because they are stainless steel. BUT I have noticed that where this bolts on to the cylinder head it is very rusty. It's as if the actual flanges are made of ordinary steel. It's making me nervous as the top end of the exhaust looks an expensive bit of kit. Has anyone else had to replace this item? Mike

Thanks Andy - I guess I was hoping someone would say that. I have tried some Autoglym paint restorer on a 3 year old Corsa and it seems to be Ok at removing swirls. I think I'll have to go this route, as I don't know of any handwash facilities in county Durham. My 730i was a brilliant car for someone even though it had 189k miles on - and as you say worth nowt. This time though I think I'm going to put 25k miles on in maybe 18 months then sell it with total mileage of 59k - I think it might still be worth a bit. Mike

I have realised that after the novelty wears off, there is no way I'm going to be jetwashing or handwashing the GS 300 each week. And yet it needs cleaning that often as it has to sit under a big tree with sap and bird stuff. I realise that taking it through an EVO carwash is not the best thing in the world - particularly for swirl marks, but can these be put right by (say) a thorough wax job every six months? Although it's 5 years old the paintwork is in exceptional condition and it's probably why the Lexus dealership put it on its forecourt. What's people's opinion about the difference in price I might be offered (from Lexus dealer) if I trade it in with perfect paintowrk as opposed to less than perfect. When I trade it in it will probably be around the 9 or 10k trade in value. Thanks Mike PS - on a car wash is it useful to pay the top whack and get the wax and dry done. - I often don't 'cos of the wax on the windscreen.

OK after driving the GS 300SE for a couple of weeks, the moaning noise is really the only thing that's annoying me. It's a bit like the song of a humpback whale which starts singing about 20mph. It has sounded identical with old and new tyres, and I am beginning to suspect that it is still there with no change in pitch when I go over a change in road surface. And it seems to be coming from only one place - offside front. I should sit in the passenger seat and get someone else to drive me and see if it seems to move to nearside front. It occurred to me this morning that it's like the sound of someone blowing over the top of a milk bottle. Anyone any ideas By the way in answer to another thread - I find the GS 300 sunroof windnoise is completely absent compared to my BMW 730i, and certainly general wind noise is no worse. supension and associated thumping noises definitely appalling compared to the BMW - would softer suspension help, and how much is it likely to cost - I ain't bothered about sporty handling Mike

I agree with this reply - £542 over a couple of years (for most of us) pales into insignificance besides the depreciation. However, I have just traded in an ageing (189k miles) BMW 730i, partly because the fuel consumption around town had suddenly got worse to about 19mpg and on a run I could only get 25 ish. I was fairly alarmed to see the GS300 returning just 19.5mpg in mixed driving - haven't tried a long run yet - and I have been experimenting :). When the BM was newish, it got total average of 22 and on a run I could just squeeze it over the 30 mark. However, this was as reported by the on-board computer which I later came to suspect as being about 10% optimistic. I have been driving the GS more normally this past week and consumption looks better - exactly half a tank on 165miles - I know it's not an accurate gauge, but last week I'm sure it had only done about 140 when the needle was in the same position. Mike

Thanks mate - the wood dash gear looks interesting but I was mainly interested in new rear carpets and roof rack system - also the bootliner that I saw mentioned. I do a lot of sea fishing. Anyone know where in the Uk I can get this stuff, preferebaly viewing it on line first. Thanks Mike

OK I have just swapped a BMW 730i with 189k miles for a GS300 with 34k miles ... and the GS300 is noisier - not the engine, just the road noise which is dreadful. I cannot believe how much thumping the GS300 makes over minor bumps and holes, and the thrumming of the tyre noise starts at about 20mph. I should qualify it and say that the BM was noisier in the engine department at the end of its life but was a magic carpet when I first bought it with 37500 miles on. The tyre noise thing is not just the tyre I don't think, as the dealer has just replaced all 4 with a different make for me, and the noise is identical. I think it's a resonance that is badly damped in the suspension units. Interesting to hear some say that the new GS is sorted - it needed to be. One big plus for the GS - there is no lag - and I mean absolutely no lag - when setting off from a standing start. very easy to spin the wheels and it surges away. This wasn't the case in the BM Mike

I can see a few descriptions and part numbers on the pinned posts on this forum, but where can I find out more - eg pictures and prices?

try resetting the ecu to get the car to drive to your way of driving that may make it pick up a bit faster booming sound though tried adjusting the bass :D ← Does ECU stand for electronic control unit? - if so it doesn't sound like something I could do. Tried reducing the bass to about -4 and faded away from the back speaker, but still relatively yukky sound (compared to the 730i) Mike

swapped my BMW 730i (189k miles) today for a very clean GS300SE so here's a few first impressions. Dealer was great - Lexus Teesside - no arrogance which I have experienced over the years at BM and particularly Merc dealers. car was immaculate when delivered and they'd put 4 new tyres on when only one really needed replacing. (Not quite sure about the Federal tyres, but I'll let you know). The car - quieter than the BMw but probably not as quiet as when the BMW was relatively new. Road noise is definitely much worse but it may be the new tyres and/or over inflation as it thums badly oer minor holes Finish on the Lexus is better. Gadgets are better. Like the glass sunroof. Like the automatic lights. I Don't believe the performance figures - the V8 3.00 BMW seems to me even at 189k miles to have more urgency in acceleration than the GS300 Boot is wider but the mouth is very small - can only just squeeze my fishing tackle box through. Sound system not as good on the Lexus - presumably that's why they have made the Mark Levinson stuff standard fit now. Anyone with any tips as to how to get rid of the booming sound please shout up Nice to have a change, but at the moment, I'm regretting missing the opportunity to buy my pal's BMW 740i. Perhaps my view will change over the next few weeks Mike

Do Lexus do a ski bag kit for the rear armrest? If not, anyone done their own mod? It's actually for fishing rods rather than skis that I need it. Thanks Mike

I think that's slightly different Steve - I believe there is a pin on the back of most car audio units that allows an incoming call to squelch off the car's audio system. But what I want to do is feed the actual sound from the hands free kit into the system - a bit like playing an iPod through it I guess. Mike

I have a neat hands-free thingy from O2. It plugs directly into the cig lighter socket and has a reasonable speaker built in and a separate mic which you can place up near the sun visor. Unfortunately sticking the device in the front panel cig socket collides with the gear lever when in 'P'. So I thought I could stick it away inside the centre console box accessory socket. Of course that would mean I'd hardly hear it during a call, but it has a socket to run a privacy earbud from. Could I somehow connect this output into the GS's audio system? Thanks Mike