My SC430 🐜

[Lexiguy]

My car is a 2007 Lexus SC430 finished in silver with ivory trim and the mid-coloured wood trim.

I bought it in June 2021 from Jay Hussain the owner of MyNextCar in Sandy, Bedford and that experience was excellent. 

I thought by joining Lexus Owners Club and LexusWorld combined with trawling the Internet and reading everything I could would stand me in good stead. I now realise I needed to have learnt much much more! 

But I was fortunate and got a good car, it was supplied by Lexus Edinburgh and had a full service history despite the majority being at 2 independent garages. It wasn't long before I decided this would be my forever car and my daily driver.

The next 12 months were to be spent understanding her needs, pampering her and moving from project to project governed by need and finances.

This was her after about 6 months ownership.

 

[Malc]

and you have a drive-thru' wash next to her too 

Malc

[Lexiguy]

At 80k it was the highest milage car I had ever bought and I was concerned that the vehicle was as genuine as I hoped it was.

Despite the supplying garage spending a significant amount of money on it (£1000's) prior to me getting it, I took it to Lexus Leeds for a check over.

They did an outstanding factory recall, I believe on the airbag system. Then replaced 3 leaking shock absorbers and a TPMS sensor (all paid for by the supplier).

I felt the brakes were not as good as they could be so I discussed this with the service advisor. After this discussion it was felt that an aftermarket upgrade would be an improvement from oem brake pads and discs. 

So I bought EBC brake pads, discs, shoes, new clips and pins, overhauled the calipers with new pistons and seals, painted them and finished with a full brake fluid flush and change by Lexus Leeds.

It was well worth the time, effort and money as the result is great brakes which I trust!

[Lexiguy]

Lights were my next up grade. Which is still a work in progress to some extent.

I have replaced all the bulbs with high power leds except for the front footwell lights, front indicators, front wing repeaters, main zenon bulbs for dipped beam and puddle lights which are on order from the US.

The only ones which gave problems despite always making sure they were the correct ones and were canbus or error free, were the rear indicators and it took an auto electrician to resolved the issue. Most were from eBay and I can supply vendor details if required.

The difference is amazing giving a modern look to the car and much more effective lighting.

[Lexiguy]

Due to reading several reports about flat batteries or charging problems replaced the cigarette lighter with an ammeter which had two USB sockets. Interesting to keep my eye on and also great to have more usb sockets.

The exhaust tailpipes were in awful condition so I used Autosol and a lot of elbow grease, only to be told that using Autosol and 0000 wire wool would have made the job easy... but wow what a difference!

 

 

[Lexiguy]

I have always regarded the Lexus exhaust to be too tame for my liking and yearned to put one on which would give a good V8 burble on tickover but sound like it means business on moderate acceleration.

So when my car was in for service at Lexus Leeds in April this year and they informed me that the system was shot, that was the excuse I needed!

It went into Tony Banks Exhausts in Leeds who fabricate custom stainless steel exhausts and give a lifetime guarantee. 

I went through the dilemmas of whether to delete the third cat and whether to have twin pipes at each side or oval or round 

So I said, yes to a complete system from front cats back, having a 3rd cat, chrome round tailpipes and gave him a good explanation of the tone and volume I wanted.

TonyBanks himself did the job saying he had done several SC430's before and he knew exactly what I wanted.

I returned for my car and when driving home felt it was still tame but over the next few days the sound improved and is now exactly right.... so much to my amazement he did know what I wanted, and he delivered! I am picky and the workmanship is excellent and I would recommend them to anyone.

 

 

[Lexiguy]

As with many SC430's my headlights soon deteriorated after purchase and it remained on my list to address this, sooner rather than later.

....several months iater I used an Ispon kit, not recommended as using the spray can protector after the rubbing down gave them a clear but with a mottled effect.

A second attempt using and alternate sealer did the job although the deterioration in the headlights mean that headlight replacement must remain on list for full perfection!

As can be observed on the pictures above the front number plate holder is too long and the easy wag would be to buy a standard length plate. Not happy to do that I bought a front plate mount from the US but removal of the long one revealed two small square location holes. As these would be on display and the front bumper paintwork had many blemishes I had the holes filled and the complete bumper sprayed by a smart repairer I have used for many years. So that was another tick on my list!

Looking better now!

[Malc]

5 hours ago, Lexiguy said:

several months iater I used an Ispon kit,

just used the Halfords kit recommended on here a while back ......  10 mins including headlight washing ........ not quite sparkling as new but very clear whatever ......  £6.95 .  a Turtlewax product !   small 300ml green bottle will probably last many many applications  ...  such an easy application process, easy to do a couple of times a year if necessary and the bottle will probably last 10 years minimum .  you could clean a whole fleet of cars 

Malc

[Malc]

this is on the Honda Legend of course ....  my Ls400 is glass headlamps thankfully

Mmalc

[Lexiguy]

Rubber Seals 

The rubber seals on my car were hard in places and showed some signs of wear. On researching products to help, I was introduced to Shin Etsu grease as being the best product on the market. I have to say that it probably is because it rejuvenated my seals beautifully.

Bluetooth Music

When I purchased my SC I missed being able to play music from my phone and the Internet but with research and a friend here on LOC I found an easy solution.

It was an easy job to fit a Y splitter lead into the back of the Mark Levison unit and that lead also had provision to connect another lead which had a small gizmo on it.

When connected up a double press of the CD button brings up CD1 on the display and now with an easy set up it can play from Spotify, Alexa and other music sources from my phone in my pocket.

Is that brilliant or what???