New 98 LS400 owner

[PaddyT]

Hello

Thought I would introduce myself and my new car. Wanted one of these for ages and so happy with it so far (had it a week and already done over 800 miles just enjoying it). Unfortunately, I have a puncture at present otherwise I would probably still be driving! 😛

Patrick

[Malc1]

Hello and welcome to the Forum 

You have a super car and I’m sure I’ve seen yours recently advertised online   Well done buying this one, she seems well cared for and should last you many years and miles and give you confident reliable comfortable brilliant motoring 

Having a puncture is a bit of a zugger but at least you have a real spare wheel 

Well done 👍 

Malc 

[Scotlex]

Welcome 😃

As said, at least you have a spare wheel (unlike some of us 🙄)

[steve2006]

Hello and welcome to the LOC Patrick.

Never saw this one come up, please tell us more about it.

Unlucky with the puncture, I had one (touch wood) in 20 years of Lexus ownership but mine are space savers which look stupid and rated up to 50 MPH. I didn’t feel safe at 30 getting to the local tyre place and that was on the front.

[JamesIS220]

Congrats on the purchase, looks lovely.

Not a Lexus owner but have an Auris Hybrid. Also just put my 1996 Volvo 940 auto estate for MOT and it passed. My work van. Cheap in 2016, paid £250. 3 advisories. Slight seepage PAS hose. Rear exhaust leak. Prop centre bearing slight play. Not bad for 211,000 miles. Petrol auto.

[PaddyT]

Thanks all. 

23 minutes ago, steve2006 said:

Hello and welcome to the LOC Patrick.

Never saw this one come up, please tell us more about it.

Unlucky with the puncture, I had one (touch wood) in 20 years of Lexus ownership but mine are space savers which look stupid and rated up to 50 MPH. I didn’t feel safe at 30 getting to the local tyre place and that was on the front.

Picked it up from a dealer in Middlesbrough last Saturday. Nice people. Car has just over 89,000 miles on it at present, has at least 23 Lexus stamps in the service book, not bad for 26 years old and will probably continue with Lexus myself just for the history. New cambelt / tensioners last year with receipt - no waterpump mentioned however. Judging by the service stamps it's lived most of it's life in the London area. Looks not bad underneath rust wise, all arches in good nick. I plan on taking it to get treated with Lanoguard as I live on the outskirts of Glasgow and enjoy a odd drive up into the highlands in the winter. The roads can get very salty up here 🙂. Has the satnav (not sure if these were standard in 97-00?) but can't imagine ever using it. 

Purchase a CD burner for my laptop which came today and have enjoyed some nostalgia burning some CD's for the cd changer which I enjoyed on a drive up to Dundee to pick up my other half's new car 🙂. 

Cars ariel does not go all the way down and the headlight washers don't work. The low fluid light is on and I've been told by a fellow owner that the headlight washers don't work when it's illuminated, so he reckons the sensor in reservoir must be stuck at bottom. First two DIY issues to resolve already on the list 🙂 .

[Malc1]

Hey Patrick. Just trying to send a message to you about your new car but you’ve disabled this Message System it seems 

Malc 

[Malc1]

Just watching Wheeler Dealers and their Mercedes 500SEC ….. a 5 ltr beauty BUT I had one for personal use when I had my 2nd hand car sales business on the Romney Marsh  and quite honestly ……. the then same age Ls400s …… like ours ……. just knocked the spots off ‘em in all normal respects …….

We really do have the best “ normal, special “ cars you know 👍👏💥

Malc 

[steve2006]

Headlight washers only activate if the headlights are on and the low level washer reservoir is usually due to a waterlogged float in the sensor. There is a DIY repair somewhere on the www which involved removing the sensor, removing the float, drying it out then coating it in varnish before reassembling.

Aerial is another common issue but you can just replace the mast and drive for around £15.00.

[PaddyT]

On 11/2/2024 at 7:10 PM, steve2006 said:

Headlight washers only activate if the headlights are on and the low level washer reservoir is usually due to a waterlogged float in the sensor. There is a DIY repair somewhere on the www which involved removing the sensor, removing the float, drying it out then coating it in varnish before reassembling.

Aerial is another common issue but you can just replace the mast and drive for around £15.00.

I took the car out a run today up to Glencoe, Oban, down to Crinan, Lochgilphead, Inverary and then home, a good 230 miles. Absolutely love this car. Have managed to put 1,600 miles onto the odometer since I got it on 26 October. I decided to "exercise" the aerial by forcing it slightly up and down, gave it a good clean and put a bit of lubricant on it and it's absolutely fine now! so that is a result 😁.

 

[Malc1]

Very well done …….. I envy you in spades …….. wish I could replicate my Scotland trips I did in times past …….. with my Ls400s of course 

These are wonderful timeless travelling machines and the more you drive it the more you want to …….. just don’t stop now 👌👍😄

Malc 

[rich1068]

8 hours ago, PaddyT said:

I decided to "exercise" the aerial by forcing it slightly up and down, gave it a good clean and put a bit of lubricant on it and it's absolutely fine now! so that is a result 😁.

If it starts to play up again genuine ones were still available from Lexus until at least a year or two ago. The motor is usually fine, it's the plastic toothed belt attached to the antenna itself that goes. Very satisfying to fit!