LS400 Priorities....MOT Fail

Benaywood · May 20, 2019

So my new LS400 (S20 BHH) went to the MOT station, on the back of a fairly clear past history despite it's 207000 miles. It's last service a year ago with Lexus a year ago and it's been driving nicely despite a slight blow in the exhaust (which was replaced a couple of years ago). It failed on 5 counts (corroded brakes the main concern) and had I think I counted 13 advisories!....Yikes!!

So it's with Japex who have been great and who are sorting out new brake pipes but they've given me a nice health check and assured me it's not the end of the road for her just yet. On the 'red' list is the top two and the remaining are on their amber list...

-Catalyst to centre pipe flanges leaking - aftermarket stainless centre pipe fitted. Requires replacement parts or specialist exhaust repair.

- Both rear upper suspension arm inner bushes worn. Both rear hub bushes worn. Front lower arm front rubber bushes worn. Rear coil springs corroded. Power steering oil cooler slightly leaking behind front bumper.

-Advise timing belt replacement sticker in engine bay reads last replacement 15/01/2009 @ 133477 miles

-Oil leaking from both rocker cover gaskets

-Battery failed test - sluggish starting advise new Battery

Does anyone have experience of getting any of the above sorted? My plan was to get the exhaust blow fixed, run it for a year and get the big job (timing belt) done next year as part of a process of sprucing it up and keeping it long term but this list has made me worry that budget may be blown. Japex suggested the oil leak wasn't a giant job but I'm trying to put together a list of priorities and to determine how worried I should be by the mention of the power steering oil cooler and the suspension bushes... Are there any comforting words anyone can share or experiences with any of the above?..

Ben

Japex Automotive Ltd Check Sheet Results - May 2018.pdf

Texas · May 20, 2019

Al those items are really 'wear 'n tear' items but it's a shame they all cropped up at the same time, the cam belt is ( according to a sticker!) 10 years old so is at the end of its service life regardless of miles done. As stated nothing there to indicate the actual demise of the overall car if you keep on top of it.

best of luck and nurse the 'old girl through!

paul m.

Stupot · May 20, 2019

1 hour ago, Benaywood said:

rear upper suspension arm inner bushes worn. Both rear hub bushes worn

My LS400 failed it's MOT on one each of these a month ago. 1 x Rear Upper Control arm (nearside) and 1 Rear Hub Assembly (offside). My Independent garage got a 'discount' from local Lex dealership, but the parts still came to £767.40 inc VAT (including a new wheel bearing). With fitting, came to £1035 😩

The rear hub assembly is a single unit with the bushes and the wheel bearing could not be separated from the hub, so a new one of those was needed! I was hoping to just get new bushes pressed in for the failed ones, but they said as the other bushes were nearly shot, it did not make sense.

You might get these parts cheaper from Lexus Spares direct (Swindon), or from Japan (Amayama) or USA (Rockauto) but either way, it's not going to be cheap!

Benaywood · May 20, 2019

Thanks Texas..Glad you feel they’re ‘wear and tear’, that makes me feel a little better but Stupot’s costs are making me wince at the moment.. sort of to be expected but maybe the suspension’s got another year in it? I’ll talk to the garage to find out but feeling a little more confident.. it’s a mindset isn’t it? Spend the money I save on depreciation on maintenance (and fuel...)..

Malc · May 20, 2019

6 hours ago, Benaywood said:

Power steering oil cooler slightly leaking behind front bumper.

tiny job, a £3 length of the appropriate copper tubing does the trick .... but do it now before it gets worse ....... on mine the gubbins weirdo pipework above that needed doing and flexi hoses did the trick !

Malc

Malc · May 20, 2019

4 hours ago, Texas said:

the cam belt is ( according to a sticker!) 10 years old so is at the end of its service life regardless of miles done.

not really, mine was done at 11 years and 100500 miles ..... waterpump too ..... belt looked as if it had many years and miles left in it tbh

yours could be ok for a year or two yet ...... the cambelt might actually destruct at @150k miles

this also then needs coolant and a new serpentine belt at the same time ..... to last another 100k miles

Malc

Malc · May 20, 2019

6 hours ago, Benaywood said:

Rear coil springs corroded.

they will show signs of surface rust .. only to worry aboout them when they actually " snap " and they might not for years yet, if ever. Mine's only had one replaced in 220k miles and 24 years ... and that was 8 years and 100k miles back

Malc

Malc · May 20, 2019

UCAs ............. upper control arms are a bugger, last between 160k and 220 k miles depending on the driver and are horribly expensive BUT from Amayama are manageable, probably about £250 each incl shipping, Customs Duty and VAT etc ( 50% of Lexus UK price )

only replace them when they are MOT failures or Advisories that actually NEED doing !

Malc

hope some of this allays your worst fears 😉

Tinonline · May 20, 2019

I’d go for the reds right now.

How handy are you with a spanner? You can do the Battery?

If you have a good/friendly local mechanic or garage then source the parts from US and get them fitted...I do this if I’m not fixing the car myself...you can get a good price quality balance. Garages want revenue so they’ll generally do this.

Always try Lexus Birmingham first and ask for a discount...🧐

I prefer genuine parts but don’t get hung up if your budget is tight.

As mentioned by Texas it’s all come at once.

Think of it this way...it’s worth doing. Unlike my wife’s S type Jag...(same age as my LS400) year 2000, under 73000miles...scrapped the other day. Head gasket...air con hasn’t worked for 5 years...other niggles...pile of rubbish and horrid to work on. My Lexus would be fixed if it had the same issues...

🙂

Benaywood · May 20, 2019

Thanks for the advice chaps, has helped put my mind at ease a little especially with regard to the oil leaks and the springs. I'm pretty hopeless with spanners to be honest and had assumed it would be too complex but I could try and pick up a few tricks.. Luckily I'm only a few miles from Japex who have got it through the MOT by doing the brake pipes and headlamp adjustors, I'll find out the damage tomorrow but I spoke to them and it seemed pretty reasonable and they seem like good eggs. Armed with your advice I feel in a better position to discuss future work so many thanks! I think as I see it over the next few months to a year it will be in order: Exhaust, power steering leak, service and rocker gaskets, wheel refurb, Battery, polish and side plastic trim, tyres, belts, suspension if it's desperate then do something with the scratch....

Oh whilst I'm here, what's that plastic thing I can pull out from under the passenger seat? It's got me baffled!

Stupot · May 21, 2019

10 hours ago, Benaywood said:

Oh whilst I'm here, what's that plastic thing I can pull out from under the passenger seat? It's got me baffled!

Storage for 'First Aid Kit'... or whatever you want to put in there.

Malc · May 21, 2019

12 hours ago, Benaywood said:

It's got me baffled!

the Drugs Squad now know where Ls400 owners stash their gear :zorro:

Malc

Malc · May 21, 2019

17 hours ago, Malc said:

UCAs ............. upper control arms

I should have mentioned ..... avoid Blueprint replacements ... I had one front and it only lasted 43k miles before i replaced both fronts ( and rears ) with Amayama which are Toyota manufactured OEM .... the Blueprint was easily available and 50% cost of Lexus OEM UK BUT failed as I said ... and similar price to Amayama

The Amayama Toyota parts are original you need to make sure they are correct sided when you get them, they actually write on them in marker pen 'right ' and ' left '

Malc

hope this helps too

Benaywood · May 21, 2019

Thanks for the advice guys and also for telling me where the ‘stash drawer’ is. The car is back on the road, I think it was 4 hrs labour for the brake pipes, parts were minimal and I got to discuss the health check which fitted with what most of you were saying. The Power steering oil cooler leak is an quick job and pain free whilst the rocker gasket is not!! I was advised to ‘monitor’ that but not lose sleep over it, I didn’t really discuss the suspension issues (did anyone have this done recently they can cost?) whilst a future belt, water pump etc was approx £9-950 all in. Mine was one of 3 LS400’s outside which I take as a good sign..

It’s good to be back gliding on the road and once my bone shaking Honda is sold on a Thursday I can start the rolling refurb..

Malc · May 22, 2019

7 hours ago, Benaywood said:

the suspension issues (did anyone have this done recently they can cost?)

I did, invested about £2k in my beast this last year or so with all UCAs replaced and cambelt, waterpump etc and 4 new tyres ........ and a few other bits and bobs too

Good2go for another 100k miles at least I would say :yahoo:

Malc

Mikaelse · July 10, 2019

Front lower bushes I have exchanged on two LS400 cars. A 5++ ton press fit job if you find the bushes. I bought OEM from US for 35$ each
I have exchanged rear springs . Not difficult but you need to be careful and rear seats need to come out. The spring can kill you.
I Bought swedish made springs from Germany . 45 £ each

Benaywood · July 10, 2019

Thanks, I wish I had your expertise.. had a bit of ‘shake’ on the blast down to Dorset this weekend and thinking may be a sign that these may need attending to! I’m booked in to a major service at a specialist next week so will await their report..

runsgrateasanut · July 11, 2019

Just had my mechanic replace the power steering pipe with a set I made up. Was 12mm tubing with a 10mm short tube insert and two solder Straight 10mm Couplers on the end to slip the rubber pipe over. Pipe bought in France but may be able to buy in UK?

Malcs solution may have been less complicated?

Malc · July 11, 2019

guess the 10mm stuff pipe bends easily, the 12mm seems to need some plumbing skills :whistling:

But it was the gubbins above that was failing with mine and that was so so complicated and expensive with the correct Lexus OEM mild steel configuration ...... flexi hoses did the trick with mine thankfully

Malc

runsgrateasanut · July 11, 2019

4 hours ago, Malc said:

guess the 10mm stuff pipe bends easily, the 12mm seems to need some plumbing skills

But it was the gubbins above that was failing with mine and that was so so complicated and expensive with the correct Lexus OEM mild steel configuration ...... flexi hoses did the trick with mine thankfully

Malc

French pipe is twice the thickness of UK 15MM pipe. Difficult even with pipe benders to bend beyond a certain point. If anyone needs a small length of 12mm to shove into 15mm already with either soldered or conversion kit reducers etc, pm me and I'll explain how it was done and send you a length. With 15mm you can get a semi circular end to join the pipes but not for 12mm which is why I had to use Compression joints.

Mikaelse · July 11, 2019

On 5/21/2019 at 11:26 AM, Malc said:

I should have mentioned ..... avoid Blueprint replacements ... I had one front and it only lasted 43k miles before i replaced both fronts ( and rears ) with Amayama which are Toyota manufactured OEM .... the Blueprint was easily available and 50% cost of Lexus OEM UK BUT failed as I said ... and similar price to Amayama

The Amayama Toyota parts are original you need to make sure they are correct sided when you get them, they actually write on them in marker pen 'right ' and ' left '

Malc

hope this helps too

YES I have also good experience with AMAYAMA parts. seem to be genuine OEM LEXUS/ TOYOTA Stuff if they claim it is. Bought several times from them.