GS 450h....wow

[Gentleman]

After trawling this forum for ages. Watching youtube videos and reading about this car, I decided to get one but have struggled to find one to my liking. They either are not SEL model, SEL model without the ACC, very high mileage, no FLSH or in poor condition.

All this changed when I found this 07 beauty with factory tinted windows (mildly), FLSH up until a year ago, ACC and in good condition. I rang Lexus to verify the mileage and all checked out so I purchased it with 80k miles on the clock. The drive home made me feel like a little kid and I couldn't stop smiling.

I rang Lexus to book a service and I was advised to do a £750 service which includes spark plug changes etc. I have agreed to do this and I'm taking her in this week. After this service, I am planning to get 4 new tyres, get the car professionally detailed and alloy refurbished etc. However, I thought I'll ask from the experienced people out here:

1. Aside from this £750 major service and before I start spending on aesthetics, what are the other things I should do first to keep it running and purring...

2. As  I have no experience with this car, how do I know if and when the shockabsorbers need replacement.

3. Is there any local garage in and around Essex who would know about this car

4. What have people done for music as it unfortunately as no aux cable or Bluetooth for music?

Thank you all and I am still smiling lol

 

[shafque]

I think i saw this listed on Auto Trader. Am I right?

[Gentleman]

Yes you are right...

[Gentleman]

Are you looking for one of this too or you've been there and done that?

[shafque]

What does ACC mean. How much did you pick it up for?

I am looking for one also. Either in silver or Black. Does this one have the Wood Pack?

[Gentleman]

ACC - Adaptive cruise control.

I picked it up for £6200, although there are slightly cheaper ones online. This doesn't have the wood pack.

[LexIS200Sport]

Welcome to the club, James. Excellent choice and lovely car  🙂

Mine's also a 2007 GS450h SE-L with ACC. I've owned it since 2014 and 68,000 miles. It's at 138k miles now and still runs well.

Shocks started weeping at ~110k miles if I remember correctly. It may have started before this as I only found out about it when it was in for an oil change.

For music connectivity, I went with Grom Audio. This link will show the installation that I carried out on my former IS200, but I carried it over to the GS. I can stream music from my iPod via the apple connector or from my phone via Bluetooth.

 

[royoftherovers]

13 minutes ago, Gentleman said:

After trawling this forum for ages. Watching youtube videos and reading about this car, I decided to get one but have struggled to find one to my liking. They either are not SEL model, SEL model without the ACC, very high mileage, no FLSH or in poor condition.

All this changed when I found this 07 beauty with factory tinted windows (mildly), FLSH up until a year ago, ACC and in good condition. I rang Lexus to verify the mileage and all checked out so I purchased it with 80k miles on the clock. The drive home made me feel like a little kid and I couldn't stop smiling.

I rang Lexus to book a service and I was advised to do a £750 service which includes spark plug changes etc. I have agreed to do this and I'm taking her in this week. After this service, I am planning to get 4 new tyres, get the car professionally detailed and alloy refurbished etc. However, I thought I'll ask from the experienced people out here:

1. Aside from this £750 major service and before I start spending on aesthetics, what are the other things I should do first to keep it running and purring...

2. As  I have no experience with this car, how do I know if and when the shockabsorbers need replacement.

3. Is there any local garage in and around Essex who would know about this car

4. What have people done for music as it unfortunately as no aux cable or bluetooth for music?

Thank you all and I am still smiling lol

 

Congratulations. Did you buy from a DEALER AND did it come with a warranty James ?

[shafque]

32 minutes ago, Gentleman said:

ACC - Adaptive cruise control.

I picked it up for £6200, although there are slightly cheaper ones online. This doesn't have the wood pack.

Thats a good price. Was it FSH? Also for your servicing there are 2 good Japanese specialists not to far from Essex. You have on in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire accessible via the M25 called JAPEX - https://www.japex.co.uk/ and also JEM LEXUS located in Hendon North London - http://www.jemlexus.co.uk/.  You may want to give them a call and get some quotes first.

[Gentleman]

38 minutes ago, LexIS200Sport said:

Welcome to the club, James. Excellent choice and lovely car  🙂

Mine's also a 2007 GS450h SE-L with ACC. I've owned it since 2014 and 68,000 miles. It's at 138k miles now and still runs well.

Shocks started weeping at ~110k miles if I remember correctly. It may have started before this as I only found out about it when it was in for an oil change.

For music connectivity, I went with Grom Audio. This link will show the installation that I carried out on my former IS200, but I carried it over to the GS. I can stream music from my iPod via the Apple connector or from my phone via bluetooth.

 

Thank you for your post. Not only reassuring but helpful. I'll definitely have a look at the GROM audio.

If I may ask, did you sort the shocks out at an independent's or Lexus? Also, how have you managed the maintenance, servicing etc for the last years?

[Gentleman]

38 minutes ago, royoftherovers said:

Congratulations. Did you buy from a DEALER AND did it come with a warranty James ?

I'm afraid, I bought from a private sales. I noticed lexus was selling similar age and condition for around 10k with less equipments. I really wanted the ACC. Having said that, it has had most services done by Lexus until a year ago. So I figured I can take it back to Lexus for a service and just maintain it. I bought it for comfort cruising and the occasional speed. 

[Gentleman]

12 minutes ago, shafque said:

Thats a good price. Was it FSH? Also for your servicing there are 2 good Japanese specialists not to far from Essex. You have on in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire accessible via the M25 called JAPEX - https://www.japex.co.uk/ and also JEM LEXUS located in Hendon North London - http://www.jemlexus.co.uk/.  You may want to give them a call and get some quotes first.

Thanks. I have the service booklet which has Lexus service up until 2019 but the most recent owner has had it serviced else where.

Thanks for the specialists.

[shafque]

You done the right thing mate! I dont know of any car in that generation with the comfort prestige and speed and also very goo value for money.

[LexIS200Sport]

7 minutes ago, Gentleman said:

If I may ask, did you sort the shocks out at an independent's or Lexus? Also, how have you managed the maintenance, servicing etc for the last years?

All main dealer, bar the aftermarket exhaust and wheel alignment. Which reminds me, another thing that let go on mine at 120k miles was the exhaust.

 

[royoftherovers]

2 hours ago, Gentleman said:

I'm afraid, I bought from a private sales. I noticed lexus was selling similar age and condition for around 10k with less equipments. I really wanted the ACC. Having said that, it has had most services done by Lexus until a year ago. So I figured I can take it back to Lexus for a service and just maintain it. I bought it for comfort cruising and the occasional speed. 

Thanks James.   sure you will enjoy the serenity of it all.

I`ve had mine for 6 years and have enjoyed every second of untroubled stress-free motoring.

[Gentleman]

2 hours ago, LexIS200Sport said:

All main dealer, bar the aftermarket exhaust and wheel alignment. Which reminds me, another thing that let go on mine at 120k miles was the exhaust.

 

Thanks. I'll stick to Lexus too. I'm sure they'll inform me if anything else needs doing after service.

I just need an excuse to go on a long drive now

[Gentleman]

36 minutes ago, royoftherovers said:

Thanks James.   sure you will enjoy the serenity of it all.

I`ve had mine for 6 years and have enjoyed every second of untroubled stress-free motoring.

It is this kinda comments that makes me look forward to enjoying this car. Thank you

[royoftherovers]

15 minutes ago, Gentleman said:

Thanks. I'll stick to Lexus too. I'm sure they'll inform me if anything else needs doing after service.

I just need an excuse to go on a long drive now

I need a bag of sweets from a shop in High Street Orkney !

[royoftherovers]

18 minutes ago, Gentleman said:

It is this kinda comments that makes me look forward to enjoying this car. Thank you

Be very careful James as mine delivered to me my one and only speeding fine !

[Mossypossy]

If the exhaust is original then the rear boxes and y section may be ropey.

My 2009 one also had a weepy radiator.

 

[Gentleman]

19 hours ago, royoftherovers said:

Be very careful James as mine delivered to me my one and only speeding fine !

I can imagine. I have been surprised a few times by the car speed when I look at the speedometer...

[Gentleman]

19 hours ago, Mossypossy said:

If the exhaust is original then the rear boxes and y section may be ropey.

My 2009 one also had a weepy radiator.

 

It's got the original ones but it passed the Lexus  check this morning. I'll post their findings

[Gentleman]

Took the car in this morning. Very good social distancing observed by staff and the usual Lexus customer service that is usually talked about.

Aftter the Lexus check, there was a list of recommended work as per the picture - 4 tyres, aircon, rear suspension, wheel alignment and fuel system flush. I've gone for fuel system flush and wheel alignment. Considering that the previous owner recently did alignment - my guess is that other shop may not have done a good enough job.

My intention was to change the tyres but as the car has Goodyear tyres all round with good thread, I've decided to leave this alone for a while. Also, I already found Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 Tyres with 69db, A rated grip and C rated efficiency that I was planning on purchasing from tyreshopper and I wasn't sure what Dunlop Lexus will put on.

When I change the tyres, I'll do the NSR suspension.

Total cost is £924, not bad.

 

[Mossypossy]

Always a great feeling when your Lexus bill is under a grand!

My 100k one was a mere £630.

So far I am £7500 in. Car plus two tyres, new radiator, new exhaust back end and a Lexus service.

[Barry14UK]

As regards shock absobers, this is not the car that you take off road but could be affected by driving over severe pot holes and fast over speed bumps so difficult to say how they compare now if you have not driven in earlier life. Some people drive them until theyleak or become more bouncy.  I think you really need smebody who knows the model as the press down on the corners method is not very accurate.  I have seen shocks that have been removed and tested on a machine but that may prove unnecessary.  There can be quite considerable differences.  It's a bit like torquing up nuts.  The person with little experience if subsequenly  checked with a rorque wrench will show a greater varience than a man who is tightening nuts all day.  So best go to the person who knows how the shocks should perform