Newbie with 2006 Facelift Model

Nigel Coleman · April 20, 2023

Hi all.

So over a month ago I purchased my 2006 SC 430 Facelift Model in Indigo Ink Pearl with Rutland (Ecru) leather Interior from the "Lexusman" in Gloucester.

Apparently Rich Walker has had 65+ SC 430's go through his hands and when I went to purchase it he had 3 on his drive including mine and his own car. After doing lots of research it was a facelift that I was after with the 6 speed auto box, factory fitted Bluetooth, revised lights and slightly firmer ride. Mine also came with a stainless steel exhaust and 19 inch split rim alloys and 4 brand new tyres.

I thought that a facelift might be out of my budget - so looked at higher mileage examples. It had 143,000 miles on the clock with a full service history with 14 stamps (12 Lexus main dealer and 2 Lexusman Lexus specialist) so as I usually only drive about 3500 miles a year - I went for it. In the paperwork there is a receipt for a timing belt replacement at 96,835 miles in 2015 so I suppose It needs doing again within the next 2 years? The asking price was £6,500 which Rich said was the cheapest priced facelift for sale in the UK - it was on auction on eBay and I got it for £900 less - result!

I've been driving it for several weeks now and I love it! Mechanically it's sound and drives great. No warning lights on and every thing works apart from the aerial. The leather interior does need a little attention which I should me able to do myself over the coming months. The only other fault is a knocking noise at times from the centre folding roof panel which after reading this great forum I have identified as a "slack" roof mechanism cord/rope which probably will need to go to Lexus to fix?

Without doubt this is the best car I have ever owned. My last 3 have been Mercedes CLK 320's which are good but no match for the SC 430's quality and standard features. Also another bonus because of being registered in late March 2006 - the cheaper rate road tax!

Here is Lexusman's pre sale video: (87) facelift model sc430 - YouTube

Las Palmas · April 20, 2023

Congratulations. Very beautiful car. Enjoy.

Peter1208 · April 21, 2023

Nigel, it looks like you have grabbed a real bargain here at the price you paid.

Do hope enjoy your new car.

mr2lad · April 21, 2023

Nigel… 1st congrats on car and by all means brag about it 👍🏻

BUT please dont big up Rich walker aka lexusman

lexusman is not a lexus specialist….. hes just a dodgy 2nd hand homemade car dealer… he has no mechanical or any other qualifications to call himself a specialist,

he is banned from this forum and other many lexus Forums and groups for his dishonesty and has ripped many ppl off in his time…. And complaints on his dodgy unsafe sales and work

His so called warranty’s he says he gives you is just word of mouth… thes no legalality in it

Thes a queue of ppl me needing a quiet little word with this said individual

Nigel Coleman · April 21, 2023

Thanks Peter. Yes I'm over the moon with it.

I was going to buy one for my birthday in July but this one came up and with buying in March and the economic climate I was lucky and secured a bargain.😍

Nigel Coleman · April 21, 2023

Hi Graham.

I really was not trying to "big up" Rich Walker (Lexusman) but simply relating my experience of buying my first SC 430 and running it for several weeks.

I have to again say that I am very pleased with my purchase. I found Rich to be fair and knowledgeable in particular about the Lexus SC 430 and was pleasantly surprised to find that the person I was buying from had 3 of them on this drive. I later found out that he had 65+ SC 430's over time and that in my book makes him somewhat of a specialist/expert dealer in this model of car.

I am very sorry if some members have had problems with him - I can only relate my experience. I have only ever had 3 brand new cars but have purchased many used ones. When buying used you have to remember the phrase "buyer beware". It is up to the buyer/member to do their own research/due diligence to try and minimise risk. Before buying from him I did an MOT history check and there was nothing out of the ordinary in repairs/replacement or advisories apart from back in 2020 mention of rear subframe corrosion which the previous owner addressed and had undersealed.

Of course the car was/is not perfect. The retractable aerial does not work (radio works fine), the rear parking sensors are faulty, drivers seat has a 5mm. rip and the leather seatbelt retaining strap is detached under the headrest and needs repair. These are all things I can tackle myself and have more than been accounted for in the price. The mechanics are good which is more important to me.

My post was about my lovely SC 430 - not about any individual.

In any event I am happy and proud to now be the owner of a SC 430 and member of the Lexus SC 430 Club. 😁

Glyn Jennings · April 21, 2023

Not wishing to get into a debate regarding Rich Walker but you will find there are people who think he is the best thing since sliced bread because of having had a good experience with him and others the exact opposite because of a bad experience which I can testify as being one of them. It’s the same old story if everything goes well it’s OK but if you have a problem he doesn’t want to to know and won’t acknowledge anything is wrong. Personally I think he is unpredictable and it is a fact he has been removed from most forums and groups because of this. In the end he had his own Lexusworld website shut down because of negative feedback being posted about him. I certainly would never let him near my car again and I wish I had never heard of his services. Unfortunately new owners like me at the time do not have any prior knowledge of him as some of the long standing SC owners do. To be fair he has bought and sold a lot of SC’s over the years and some have been good but some have not.

Going back to your own SC it does seem you got it for a good price and with the mileage it is probably more likely to have the odd issue here and there but they are great cars an a joy to own so well done joining the club.

Nigel Coleman · April 21, 2023

Sorry about upsetting some members. I did not know anything about Richard Walker until I purchased this car from him.

Glyn Jennings · April 21, 2023

35 minutes ago, Nigel Coleman said:

Sorry about upsetting some members. I did not know anything about Richard Walker until I purchased this car from him.

Don’t feel bad or worry as it is nothing to do with you personally and you are more than welcome to this group. Enjoy your car as that is what is important.

mr2lad · April 21, 2023

1 hour ago, Nigel Coleman said:

Sorry about upsetting some members. I did not know anything about Richard Walker until I purchased this car from him.

As Glyn said….

enjoy your SC …👍🏻

Lexiguy · April 22, 2023

Hi Nigel

Welcome to this SC430 forum and I hope you become a regular here posting news, information and pictures to us eager followers.

Yes, you have bought a beautiful car and I agree that it you have made a excellent choice. It is more important to buy the right car rather than avoid dealing with a guy that some people don't like (and can't let go). Personally I have had no problems with Rich Walker and to me he has always been helpful and knowledgeable although I commiserate with any who feel he has treated them shabbily. I really hope these people can draw a line under their bad experience and move on.

It is very rare that cars of this age do not have any issues, I know mine had...and still has! To me that's the fun of owning it, making it the best it can be. Many of us lavish our attention and money on them fitting accessories and replacing or refurbishing parts. Some of us even love them more than their wife and name them, mine is called Gina!

I hope you are planning to attend the Lexus SC430 weekend near Coventry in June where you can meet many of us, see many cars and learn lots!

Regards, Anthony

Neil E · April 22, 2023

Welcome Nigel, lovely looking SC in the best colour combination.

Are you sure it's the roof and not the more common rattle from the rear parcel shelf?

Nigel Coleman · April 22, 2023

Thanks Neil.

I did not know about the parcel shelf - I'll have a look.

My knock/rattle is not when you go over ANY pothole but when you get a lateral producing impact? Before and after getting my car I read many posts on this site and I thought a slack roof cord might be the problem?

When I briskly polish the centre roof panel I start a slight motion and I can hear a slight tapping/knocking from inside that panel. That's what makes me think its a slack roof mechanism cord? Don't think that I would be able to fix this myself though.

Nigel Coleman · April 22, 2023

Wow!

While doing some more OCD research I came across the following on YouTube.

Surely it's to simple to be true? But then metal against metal makes noise. Not sure how permanent a fix it is? - but if it works it's cheap and can be repeated.

Could be the answer to SC 430 owners roof rattle problems?

Going to try it when the the rain stops.

Nigel Coleman · April 23, 2023

I was concerned about the thickness of tape applied to some retaining brackets/spindles - however if you read the YouTube comments replies he states this has worked and lasted 6 years

Bob King · April 25, 2023

Enjoy your new car 👍🏻👍🏻

Perry Mahoney · April 25, 2023

On 4/21/2023 at 3:13 PM, Nigel Coleman said:

Sorry about upsetting some members. I did not know anything about Richard Walker until I purchased this car from him.

Hey Nigel, welcome to this very helpful and knowledgable forum and congrats on your excellent purchase. I acquired my 2005/6 facelift model 6 months ago and couldn’t be happier with it. Well, maybe if the rear seats were just a fraction more usable. And the aerial wasn’t a 1970s clunky electric model. And the sat nav screen had a few more pixels….😄

I didn’t know the back story to Rich Walker either. That’s the great thing about this forum, you learn something new every visit. Maybe catch you at the club meeting in June?

Nigel Coleman · April 25, 2023

Re: The roof rattle video:-

Well finally the sun has been out all day today in Torquay so I was able to half open the metal roof to look at the fixings.

They are totally different on my SC 430 to the hooks and spindles on the IS250C. In the video the IS250C fittings are a lot larger and easier to cover and cushion with duck tape. I'll just do an experiment on the 2 hooks connecting the rear screen panel and the main roof panel and see if that helps?

I have already coated all the rubber seals with Gummi Pflege Stift

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004B8GTQG?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

which did soften the seals reducing roof noise and I did a 4th. application today. Don't now get any rattle going over potholes unless lateral movement occurs.

Nigel Coleman · May 8, 2023

Retractable Aerial:

One of the minor issues with my car is the aerial is closed and not working. However the FM radio works just fine? Is it possible that a previous owner had it bypassed?

I found an excellent 3-part video on YouTube on how to replace and fix it. The degree of technical. know how required is very low but it is an EXTREMELY LONG PROCESS and would probably take me all day?

Is it worth doing it - or should it just leave well alone?

Members thoughts please

Lexiguy · May 8, 2023

Hi Nigel

Personally I could not own such a perfect car which was hiding a relatively small defect.

Part of the owning of a car like this is to tinker with it and I'm sure you would enjoy doing the job and the feeling of pride when it is completed.

Remember though that we need you to tell us about it and post lots of pics!

Anthony

Neil E · May 8, 2023

It's worth having the aerial working in my view. I would fix it. It even adjusts its length when switching between frequency bands.

Others who don't rely on it for decent radio reception would disagree because it is not required, is old fashioned and spoils the look of the car when extended.

FM reception is probably still okay as the SC has 2 antennas. Replacing the mast is a bit of a fiddly job from what I've seen and read but shouldn't take too long to do.