Hunting for a good one

[Thelongterm]

Hi,

I am ready to swallow a brave pill and try put my hands on a good LS400.

After lurking here for a while I've set my budget at around £2.5k.

There are currently 4 nice examples on eBay from a seller called used_car_sales2016, which one of these four would you go for?

[moretea]

That is Lexuschap I think.  Just a different name.  He is an enthusiast of them I believe.  All the best in your search.

[steve2006]

11 minutes ago, moretea said:

That is Lexuschap I think.  Just a different name.  He is an enthusiast of them I believe.  All the best in your search.

I was thinking along the same lines....the word “indeed” was always part of his description speel as was delivery anywhere in the country.

[dendonc]

1. LS 400, Green |(looks grey) with dark skirting

No MOT, it expired on 3rd May 2018.

I have not seen the others but personally I would not buy any used car without an MOT.

 

[The-Acre]

1 hour ago, Thelongterm said:

Hi,

I am ready to swallow a brave pill and try put my hands on a good LS400.

After lurking here for a while I've set my budget at around £2.5k.

There are currently 4 nice examples on ebay from a seller called used_car_sales2016, which one of these four would you go for?

Good luck with your search. Hopefully someone will confirm if it is the seller mentioned, be wary if it is.

[Bluesman]

46 minutes ago, The-Acre said:

Good luck with your search. Hopefully someone will confirm if it is the seller mentioned, be wary if it is.

Be very very careful.

[Cotswold Pete]

If you have not driven an LS previously, best to test drive one or two to get a feel. 

£2.5K seems a good budget, and check for last cambelt change.  Even high mileage should sound nice a quite once fired up, and then find some speed humps to drive over listening for any knocking to check control arm wear on the front. 

Check for rust in rear arches (prod with small screwdriver), and water in the boot (easy one to solve), and check all electrics and dashboard lights (which is a pain if you need to start taking dashboard out). 

There are enough good examples out there, so do not jump at the first one you try, unless it really feels and sounds right.

When I bought my Mk4, having pranged my Mk3, I did buy the first one I tried, but I spent over 3 months on ebay/autotrader scouting around, before heading off to have a look. It just felt right and I took it for test drive on my own, found a layby and gave it a good prodding (so to speak) before saying yes. The only thing I did not do was really poke around in the wheel arches, and five years later discovered the extent of a festering problem (now solved and watertight).

Best of luck in your search

[Thelongterm]

Thanks for the advice Pete, I don't see many LS of any model around here south of Gloucester. I plan on using a trusted local garage for servicing but do you have a tip where I should look for more specialist stuff once I managed to aquire the LS400?

[Cotswold Pete]

Danny,

I used to use Gas & Go in Swindon, he was ex-Lexus technician, but he has stopped doing it now (shame).

I live near Stroud and have started using Autocraft Services in Thrupp, they see the LS400 as old school mechanics, and in next year or so they will need to do my Cambelt.

If you are prepared to travel, Japex near High Wycombe seem to get excellent reports.

I would suggest best place for alignment/tracking is Chris Mullins in Glous (sort of opposite Pro-Tyres), he knows his stuff inside out.

Also used Auto Trans Gloucester for a full flush and refill of gearbox (cleanest workshop I have ever seen, and the owner thinks only two cars worth owning are Lexus or Jag).

I do keep a list on my PC at home of other places I have used (or come across), I had the dreaded Y-piece leak, and had that sorted by a place near Didmarton just off M4 (went for a walk through James Dysons back garden while they were doing the work).  So feel free to PM with any requests I'll see what I have (Doing this reply at work, so do not have all info that may be useful  once you land the LS of your choice.

[GrahamG]

My 1995 MkIII was one of the best examples of engineering ever experienced but not exempt from rust.

Rear wheel arches, door sills and rear sub frame are what I would examine carefully. 'Rear springs rusty' ran as an advisory on my MOTs for a number of years.

The rubber boot seal can look OK but let in water.

Definitely worth looking for a good Mk IV which I would still have though my '04 Ls430 is perfect for me.

[Malc]

1 hour ago, GrahamG said:

My 1995 MkIII was one of the best examples of engineering ever experienced but not exempt from rust.

I must be so so lucky with mine ...... now turned 206k miles and approaching 23 years and of my ownership for last 7 years and 83k miles, she has lived on the coast, for 2 years about 100 yards from the shore at Herne Bay and for the past 5 years or so on the Town Quay at Queenborough .............  all in Kent .....  and so full of salty air but ' touch wood ' still no signs of rust that's worthy of note.

She's a delightful lady ☺️

Malc

[Thelongterm]

Thanks again Pete, I am not far (Cam) so will be in touch once I have the right one in sight.



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[dendonc]

1 hour ago, Thelongterm said:

once I have the right one in sight.

I'd say one of the most common probs in these appx 20 year olds is underbody corrosion issues, they might be written on MOT as advisories but its not mandatory to write it.