New member, mature Lexus

Wherryman Sam · December 12, 2020

Hi fellow LS400 lovers,

i still can’t believe that I am now the owner of this. After gliding around in it for a week, my decision to buy is now firmly cemented in my mind as probably one of the best decisions I ever made. I’ve never before owned a Lexus, but when I saw this I was reminded that this model had been my wedding car. Twenty seven years later, my blushing bride and I are still together and still very much in love. We even still have wedding photos of us posing in blissful rapture alongside the Lexus LS400 which was loaned to us by the company my wife worked for.

it’s a joy to drive and at a tad under 80,000 miles, still a relative baby. She needs a good valet and those wheels need a refurb, but don’t ladies of a certain age need a trip to the beauty salon every now and again? 😉

I’m conflicted about the reg, though. On the one hand, it sits well on the car and the windows are etched accordingly, but it means nothing to me and we have our own cherished plate. I’ve thought about this for a while and I’m erring on paying the £80 quid retention and banging my own plate on it. At least if have to sell it, I can do so with the original plate on.

Anyway, I want to thank you all for your knowledge and advice. I’ve been “lurking” on the forums for a while and I’ve already picked up some valuable information. SGS Engineering for instance will definitely be on my call list because the gas struts don’t seem to be holding the bonnet up - I wondered why there was a 4 foot length of wood in the boot but after trying to check the levels, I think I know! 🤭

Regards,

Sam.

Malc · December 13, 2020

many congratulations on your very sound purchase, the prior MOT looks a bit dodgy but clearly she has passed the current MOT and you will be keeping her sound and well fed for the future .......... she looks a very smart car

I've a feeling I've seen this reg pop up before on this forum as a members car a while back :unsure: ............or maybe just seen it for sale on autotrader sometime

do keep us posted on developments

Best wishes with it all and ................ good luck

Malc

Spottedlaurel · December 13, 2020

Welcome, great to see another Norfolk-based LS400 owner on here.

I don't know if I've seen yours around, did you buy it locally? I've got photos of one or two other L400.... registered cars, I suppose it's going to be popular on them. It probably wasn't intention here, but your plate looks like a Norfolk-issue 'EX' registration.

runsgrateasanut · December 13, 2020

Congratulations on being a member of the "Beige" Boys club. Its a great colour and rarely looks dirty as my own Car only got washed twice a year at most. Yes EX is Gt Yarmouth registered I think I was told many moons ago.

Wings look good. Can use MR2 clear side indicators with a bit of fettling if you want to mess around with its appearance. Wheels, well its a matter of taste. My own are Lexus borbets from some other model.

royoftherovers · December 13, 2020

5 hours ago, Malc said:

many congratulations on your very sound purchase, the prior MOT looks a bit dodgy but clearly she has passed the current MOT and you will be keeping her sound and well fed for the future .......... she looks a very smart car

I've a feeling I've seen this reg pop up before on this forum as a members car a while back ............or maybe just seen it for sale on autotrader sometime

do keep us posted on developments

Best wishes with it all and ................ good luck

Malc

i`ve the same feeling re the Reg Plate Malc.

Wherryman Sam · December 13, 2020

Thanks for the warm welcome, guys. She’s passed her MOT now and I understand that she’s been MOT’d and worked on by the same garage for quite some years now - I have MOT paperwork going back to around 2010, all from the same place.

My understanding of her history is that she’s lived her life in the Cheshire/ Manchester area and was sold new by F. Grange & sons of Cheshire. I’ve been told that the chap who owned her prior to me inherited her from his Father. I assume that the plates have been on since new, but I don’t know for sure. I might start doing a bit of digging now after your intriguing comments.

As for the wheels and side repeaters, thanks for that it’s worth bearing in mind. My wife knows a wheel refurb specialist so in the first instance I’ll have him take a look and see what he suggests. I have to say though I’m quite taken with the wheels on this example, but if the wheel guy can get mine looking tidy, that’s fine too. You’ve probably all seen what I’m linking to being aficionados but hey.

https://www.ronhodgson.co.uk/vehicle/lexus-ls400-ls-400-v8-free-delivery-in-lancashire-32515959-c452-486a-9f3c-acc47646de3a

Once again, thanks for all your kind comments and support.

Regards,

Sam.

ambermarine · December 13, 2020

The wheels on the example are off a Mark 4 97-2000 with chromed caps the wheels could be optioned chromed but were mostly in the states as they did not like salt,the usual format was as mine are .

Malc · December 13, 2020

you'll find a wealth of useful info about your car model, the Mk2, on here, it's worth checking the cambelt and waterpump have been done in a reasonable timeframe especially, ( 100k miles ) / 10 years to make sure she stays " sound "

I think the original wheels are very very suitable for your car :yes:

might you tell us what you paid ??

Malc

Wherryman Sam · December 13, 2020

Thanks for the info, Phil. No to chromed, then. 😝

Stuart, I'm happy to be a member of the Beige Boys Club, or as my wife calls it /posh voice/ "Champagne Gold". :blink:

Malcolm, thanks for that. I'll get the cambelt and water pump checked. I don't dislike the wheels, the two you can see in the images don't look too bad, just a little scruffy. The caps on the near side though have a lot of their original finish worn off and do look "plasticky" so I'll see what the wheel guy has to say about them.

I paid £2000 for the car from a trusted source who has worked on the car and carried out all its MOT work over the past decade. I'm happy with that.

Sam.

Malc · December 13, 2020

15 minutes ago, Wherryman Sam said:

and do look "plasticky" so I'll see what the wheel guy has to say about them.

I think you'll find they are unpainted from new and matched the original wheel paint colour .................. 27 years ago tho' :unsure:

Malc

Malc · December 13, 2020

just re-reading your latest MOT and you seem to have a PAS leak, if this is at the reservoir area above the alternator you really MUST get that fixed asap coz the leak WILL burn out your alternator ......... and that really is quite expensive and will come suddenly and immobilise you fairly instantly

it's happened to a few on here ( me included ) and is in the warnings section, the first post just above this one in this section of the Forum

Good luck

Malc

Wherryman Sam · December 13, 2020

52 minutes ago, Malc said:

just re-reading your latest MOT and you seem to have a PAS leak, if this is at the reservoir area above the alternator you really MUST get that fixed asap coz the leak WILL burn out your alternator ......... and that really is quite expensive and will come suddenly and immobilise you fairly instantly

it's happened to a few on here ( me included ) and is in the warnings section, the first post just above this one in this section of the Forum

Good luck

Malc

Whoa! :Jumpy:

Thank you so much for that Malc, it'll certainly keep me awake at night knowing that! :sweatdrop:

You guys are so knowledgeable and I'm so glad I signed up. I'll speak to my man ASAP and get that looked at. I was going to talk to him anyway because I've noticed a DONK! noise from the front nearside when hitting speed bumps / potholes which I've read today is usually strut bushes. The leak, as with other MOT advisories I would have taken care of, but in light of what you've told me I'll afford it top priority.

Sam

royoftherovers · December 13, 2020

5 hours ago, royoftherovers said:

i`ve the same feeling re the Reg Plate Malc.

If I recall correctly the son advertised it on this Forum briefly. His father or Grandfather had passed away and he wanted to dispose of it.

Wherryman Sam · December 13, 2020

46 minutes ago, royoftherovers said:

If I recall correctly the son advertised it on this Forum briefly. His father or Grandfather had passed away and he wanted to dispose of it.

Cheers John, that ties in with what I've been told. When I have more time I'll trawl this forum to see if I can find his OP. Always nice to get some more history behind her. 👍

The-Acre · December 13, 2020

1 hour ago, Wherryman Sam said:

Whoa!

Thank you so much for that Malc, it'll certainly keep me awake at night knowing that!

You guys are so knowledgeable and I'm so glad I signed up. I'll speak to my man ASAP and get that looked at. I was going to talk to him anyway because I've noticed a DONK! noise from the front nearside when hitting speed bumps / potholes which I've read today is usually strut bushes. The leak, as with other MOT advisories I would have taken care of, but in light of what you've told me I'll afford it top priority.

Sam

I fixed the power steering pump on my MK2 by replacing the O ring joining the pump and reservoir, if you can do it yourself be ready for the expense, probably £1!!

rich1068 · December 13, 2020

8 minutes ago, The-Acre said:

I fixed the power steering pump on my MK2 by replacing the O ring joining the pump and reservoir, if you can do it yourself be ready for the expense, probably £1!!

Or if it needs more than that there is a kit available from Lexus for 40ish quid. Or there is for the MK3 and I can't see them being hugely different. If you need an entire pump I got a decent one off the Bay for about £120. Non-genuine but seems to be OK.

Lovely motor Sam. I did a proper double take for a second because I've got a mate with a gold LS and LEX plate.

Regarding the wheels, they should refurb very well. £250 should get all 4 shot blasted and powder coated. Keep the originals, they ride so much better.

Mikaelse · December 16, 2020

I have 17" inch wheels on my two LS400. one for summer and one for winter. The 16" inch rims where rotted to junk unfortunately. I have looked for descent looking 16" aftermarket rims because I like lots of soft rubber softening the ride. On my Ls400 the brake calipers in front seem to not allow most 16" inch rims . They are huge. Any tips on 16" that works.

runsgrateasanut · December 16, 2020

I did notice these today being sold by someone known to the Forum.

I do suggest that you check the below link and others.

see https://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/126515-lexuschap-beware/

No idea if they would fit and quite a long way to go for them and with lockdown I guess a non starter.

Not sure if offset would be right and I personally would only pay on collection of them, not up front. Are Couriers allowed to travel between Tiers???

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-X-16-ALLOY-WHEELS-TOYOTA-CROWN-ARISTO-ESTIMA-JDM-LEXUS-GS-LS-SC-300-400-430/303788610736?hash=item46bb3654b0:g:cVsAAOSwvJ9f03wc

Nice looking wheels