Newbie with 2006 Facelift Model

[Lexiguy]

41 minutes ago, Nigel Coleman said:

Video 1 states main dealer only.  🤑

Sorry Nigel, that was a nervous laugh. It's something I suffer whenever anyone discusses Lexus Part prices, but I am sure many of us can tell you of tale about bizarre pricing that defies all logic!

If you are a Lexus Club gold member you will get a discount from a Lexus parts department.

There is also Lexus Parts Direct you could check out, below is the mast alone!

Good luck, Anthony 

[oneflewover]

Hi, regarding aerial. I did mine x2 with aftermarket, no good. Bought the OEM and it's been fine since.

[Nigel Coleman]

IMPORTANT UPDATE!

Another related problem:

So last night the folding roof was down - but would not close. So I looked in the handbook and read the emergency manual roof closing pages. I got to stage 4 but the remaining looked like heavy going so went inside for a cup of tea and to look online. I found an American forum thread suggesting a faulty above windscreen (passenger or driver side) pin locate sensor/switch.

So I looked into the passenger side roof pin location point and immediately saw the black plastic pin cover stuck inside! This was holding the switch below in the "closed position" so the open roof would not close - I removed it and the roof then worked properly.

What had happened was the glue from the worn away Gorilla tape was so sticky that it wedged in place and when the roof was opened pulled the plastic cover off the actual metal pin keeping the switch on.

So the roof is now working but it's back to being noisy when closed.

It looks like the tape is not such a good idea?

Any thoughts from members?

[Glyn Jennings]

Hi Nigel,

This probably is to late to help you and may not applicable but when you talked about replacing your aerial I was sure I saw somewhere where you can change the aerial mast quite easily.  The subject has come up again on the CLUB Lexus forum and there is a Technical Bulletin on how to do this which I  have attached.  However it does require you to be able to power out the mast and then just power the new one in but unless you could coach yours out it probably won't work for you but I thought I would mention it anyway.

If you are not already aware there are a number of Technical bulletins covering various subjects on this site which are very useful for repairing the SC yourself.L-SB-0029-13-Repair Manual Supplement Replacement of Antenna.pdf

 

[Nigel Coleman]

Thanks Glyn.............. very useful info.

Those 3 videos put me off doing the job but that update makes it look simple.

 

[oldjoe90]

re comments on Rich Walker, i get him to repair any fault i have had with my car {number 36) also has done cam belt etc and replaced all front steering joints due to pot hole damage. He replaced alternator under warranty even though i was just outside of warranty period. For me he is the only person i will let work on the car, so yes speak as you find.

[Nigel Coleman]

I'm more than pleased with my SC430 from RW.

In fact I have found a bonus while going through the paperwork. I thought the cam belt would need doing in the next 18 months as it was replaced back in 2015 at around 97,000 miles but I found an invoice for a cambelt change at 119,000 miles in 2019 which he has confirmed.

Some lots more miles or time to go before I need to worry about it again. Still drives great with no warning lights.

[Boomer54]

On 4/20/2023 at 5:42 PM, Nigel Coleman said:

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

 

I see on that car the black outlayer on the window trim is exposing the metal below. I wonder have you investigated what would be involved in resolving that issue. Mine as a similar issue albeit very small which I would consider having done in due course depending on what it entailed.

[Nigel Coleman]

Yes the black coated metal/aluminium window trims have oxidised over the years leaving them with patchy greyish spots.

I have tried various cleaners and restorers but they don't work.

It looks like they will need repainting or replacing (perhaps with chrome ones). I might have a go at painting them myself sometime but will first need to look into how to remove them for prep and spraying?

My main priority was first to recolour the interior leather and repair a small hole which I did.

[Boomer54]

14 minutes ago, Nigel Coleman said:

Yes the black coated metal/aluminium window trims have oxidised over the years leaving them with patchy greyish spots.

I have tried various cleaners and restorers but they don't work.

It looks like they will need repainting or replacing (perhaps with chrome ones). I might have a go at painting them myself sometime but will first need to look into how to remove them for prep and spraying?

My main priority was first to recolour the interior leather and repair a small hole which I did.

Can you post up a pic showing them currently. Let's see if we can work out a solution that does not involve having to strip the inner door panelling etc. Are you confident the metal is Aluminium? I thought it was ,but I am not exactly an expert in these matters.

This is one of mine and the otherside is virtually the same. I imagine this is more or less the start of the process, but would progress over time.