What Do You Know? Lpg Ls400 Are Like Buses - You Wait For Ages And Two

[jpjsavage]

Here's another one that has come up on Pistonheads today:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4235225.htm

Any thoughts? Not a Mark 4 as suggested I should look for, but LPG and some good money spent on it apparently.

Your comments welcomed as always gents.

[Bluesman]

I was just going to post this one for you.

Worth serious consideration.

Take off the £1200 LPG conversion and you have a good LS for £795

Mike

[noby76]

they say cars are like women! you will never ever find the perfect one even when you buy one from new... you might meet one who can cook and clean but might lack in the looks department and one who cannot cook or clean but her looks are striking hour glass figure!! as my grandma said to me go for one who has 60-70% of what you look for and try and work with them to achieve the remaining 30-40% they lack... and this applies to cars you can search and wait for the 100% with the right spec, colour, year, service history, few owners, low mileage to come along but it will never exist; there will always be a shortcoming! rather, pick one which has at least 70% of what you look for in a car be it year, colour, low mileage, service histroy,performance, fuel efficiency(LPG) etc and work on the 30% to bring it to your taste. i.e new set of tyres, paint touch up work, new brakes, service, all fluid changes, new stereo etc and you will be a happy man :D

[jpjsavage]

they say cars are like women! you will never ever find the perfect one even when you buy one from new... you might meet one who can cook and clean but might lack in the looks department and one who cannot cook or clean but her looks are striking hour glass figure!! as my grandma said to me go for one who has 60-70% of what you look for and try and work with them to achieve the remaining 30-40% they lack... and this applies to cars you can search and wait for the 100% with the right spec, colour, year, service history, few owners, low mileage to come along but it will never exist; there will always be a shortcoming! rather, pick one which has at least 70% of what you look for in a car be it year, colour, low mileage, service histroy,performance, fuel efficiency(LPG) etc and work on the 30% to bring it to your taste. i.e new set of tyres, paint touch up work, new brakes, service, all fluid changes, new stereo etc and you will be a happy man :D

Good advice! This car is down your way I think. Did you have a view on it? I have emailed the owner and sent him a text but no reply yet.

[noby76]

Good advice! This car is down your way I think. Did you have a view on it? I have emailed the owner and sent him a text but no reply yet.

he seems like a genuine guy from the advert and from the pics the car looks good cosmetically tyres, body and interior but obviusly we cannot tell if its ok mechanically untill you see it in the metal to check all parts , electrics ,test drive and if all paper work are genuine.. worth checking out i would say you can always walk away if something is not right mechanically but from the pics, body and interior looks good to me so the thre main things i personally will look for if I am to make the trip to view will be electrics, mechanical parts (gearbox, power steer, signs of fluid leaks), LPG condition and paper works .

[Bluesman]

they say cars are like women! you will never ever find the perfect one even when you buy one from new... you might meet one who can cook and clean but might lack in the looks department and one who cannot cook or clean but her looks are striking hour glass figure!! as my grandma said to me go for one who has 60-70% of what you look for and try and work with them to achieve the remaining 30-40% they lack... and this applies to cars you can search and wait for the 100% with the right spec, colour, year, service history, few owners, low mileage to come along but it will never exist; there will always be a shortcoming! rather, pick one which has at least 70% of what you look for in a car be it year, colour, low mileage, service histroy,performance, fuel efficiency(LPG) etc and work on the 30% to bring it to your taste. i.e new set of tyres, paint touch up work, new brakes, service, all fluid changes, new stereo etc and you will be a happy man :D

We Grand parents are a wise old bunch.

Mike

[jpjsavage]

they say cars are like women! you will never ever find the perfect one even when you buy one from new... you might meet one who can cook and clean but might lack in the looks department and one who cannot cook or clean but her looks are striking hour glass figure!! as my grandma said to me go for one who has 60-70% of what you look for and try and work with them to achieve the remaining 30-40% they lack... and this applies to cars you can search and wait for the 100% with the right spec, colour, year, service history, few owners, low mileage to come along but it will never exist; there will always be a shortcoming! rather, pick one which has at least 70% of what you look for in a car be it year, colour, low mileage, service histroy,performance, fuel efficiency(LPG) etc and work on the 30% to bring it to your taste. i.e new set of tyres, paint touch up work, new brakes, service, all fluid changes, new stereo etc and you will be a happy man :D

We Grand parents are a wise old bunch.

Mike

You certainly are!

Been in contact with the owner of this car, it sounds like it has been looked after but needs a few bits and pieces done (mainly front brakes) and basic things like AC regas and a bit of TLC on the bodywork. The front driver seat bolster is a bit worn apparently but I'm sure that can be sorted. So, from what he says, nothing too major. Probably worth a viewing. Just a shame it is the wrong end of the country for me!

[steve2006]

Can't quite understand how the car needs work to the front brakes, the pads were replaced, a full service history and it has a new MOT so I wonder what the problem is?

The AC needs a regas, is this just a case of refilling the refridgerent or are we talking new condenser/compressor? For the sake of £40-50 I would have regassed the system before selling if that is all it needs.

Drivers seat bolster always wears on the door side so nothing unusual there.

Another point with the later LS is to check the height sensors particularly the rear offside as the link breaks, I have seen one example where a cable tie was fitted as a replacement!

Having said this the problems make a good bargaining chip when it comes to the price.

[jpjsavage]

Can't quite understand how the car needs work to the front brakes, the pads were replaced, a full service history and it has a new MOT so I wonder what the problem is?

He talks about a slight juddering in the brakes when braking from high speeds and suggests that front discs might need replacing. I think these are around £200 for the pair. Obviously, I haven't driven the car so I'm not sure whether this would be the correct diagnosis?

[steve2006]

That would explain it, the effect wouldn't show up on a rolling road for the MOT brake test and you can ask for at least £200.00 off the asking price.

Mine also has the same problem with high speed braking but the discs are in good condition and originals.

Serviced my parking brake the other day and what a difference, the car will now hold on just the parking brake in drive and at fast idle.

It's the AC which could be an expensive repair as there is no DIY route unless you are prepared not to have it working.

[jpjsavage]

It's the AC which could be an expensive repair as there is no DIY route unless you are prepared not to have it working.

Thanks for that. Is there any way of telling whether the AC repair is a simple regas or something more serious?

[steve2006]

Not without specialist diagnosis, what normally happens is the system is fully emptied then recharged with a nitrogen/dye mix.

A leakage test is then carried out using an ultra violet light or the soapy bubble method.

The gas pressure is also monitored and if the pressure holds and no leaks are found it can then be recharged with R134.

If there are leaks the system must be repaired before regassing.

[Bluesman]

Not without specialist diagnosis, what normally happens is the system is fully emptied then recharged with a nitrogen/dye mix.

A leakage test is then carried out using an ultra violet light or the soapy bubble method.

The gas pressure is also monitored and if the pressure holds and no leaks are found it can then be recharged with R134.

If there are leaks the system must be repaired before regassing.

As someone said earlier in this thread and I agree if its just a regas why hasn't he had that done because its a cheap fix and you get rid of another negative out of the way.

Ask him that out right and see what response you get.

As for the rest of it there is always going to be something that needs looking at and fixing just use these as bargaining chip.

Looking at the write up this isnt your normal Del Boy selling his problems onto some poor unsuspecting new owner but you are always going to emphasise what is good on the car and play down the not so good.

I think you are going to have to say to yourself are you serious about this car if you are then get on down there and have a good look over the car and a decent test drive ( I dont mean to the end of the road and back) Its not unreasonable to expect to drive it for around 10 miles or so.

Mike

[jpjsavage]

Not without specialist diagnosis, what normally happens is the system is fully emptied then recharged with a nitrogen/dye mix.

A leakage test is then carried out using an ultra violet light or the soapy bubble method.

The gas pressure is also monitored and if the pressure holds and no leaks are found it can then be recharged with R134.

If there are leaks the system must be repaired before regassing.

As someone said earlier in this thread and I agree if its just a regas why hasn't he had that done because its a cheap fix and you get rid of another negative out of the way.

Ask him that out right and see what response you get.

As for the rest of it there is always going to be something that needs looking at and fixing just use these as bargaining chip.

Looking at the write up this isnt your normal Del Boy selling his problems onto some poor unsuspecting new owner but you are always going to emphasise what is good on the car and play down the not so good.

I think you are going to have to say to yourself are you serious about this car if you are then get on down there and have a good look over the car and a decent test drive ( I dont mean to the end of the road and back) Its not unreasonable to expect to drive it for around 10 miles or so.

Mike

Thanks Mike. Good advice as always. I've sent him an email today with a list of questions (the kind I would normally ask face to face). I hope to get some decent responses from him and then I'll decide about whether or not I want to make the trip down to view/drive the car. I really appreciate your advice guys. Thanks again.

[abs66]

I got all four disks for about £150 from euro car parts and if I remember rightly the fronts were less than £100 for the pair.

I will go and have a shufti and feed back.

[abs66]

About 55 each. For a mk3.

Other models will no doubt differ.

[Dale_V]

If the AC isnt working ill put money on it needing more than a regas. Warped brake discs on these are quite common, its a heavy barge to stop which heats the brakes and warps them

drivers bolster is also common, i replaced mine with a excellent condtion passanger cover supplied by benfur off here.... passanger and driver seat tops are the same for the ls400... obviously the passanger seat gets less wear ;)

[jpjsavage]

Had a good chat with the owner this evening. He gave a very fair representation of the car. There are one or two issues but he was up front about those and is sending me a few more pictures. I think I will have to get down there and view it at some point.

The AC works but it is not very efficient. He seemed to think that a regas would sort it as there were no signs of the compressor failing.

A couple of very minor things that wouldn't put me off buying it.

1. The gas struts that hold up the bonnet aren't working. Can you get replacements for these?

2. The handbrake light flickers (not a massive thing really).

Also, he was going to do an oil and filters change as it does need a service (done 12k since last service last September).

[mikeyv]

1. The gas struts that hold up the bonnet aren't working. Can you get replacements for these?

Thread here http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=57402&st=15

[steve2006]

Just spotted this one for the price you buy the LPG and get the car for free!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEXUS-LS400-4-0-V8-LPG-Conversion-/271063504233?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3f1ca4d569&_uhb=1#ht_834wt_1189

[The-Acre]

Had a good chat with the owner this evening. He gave a very fair representation of the car. There are one or two issues but he was up front about those and is sending me a few more pictures. I think I will have to get down there and view it at some point.

The AC works but it is not very efficient. He seemed to think that a regas would sort it as there were no signs of the compressor failing.

A couple of very minor things that wouldn't put me off buying it.

1. The gas struts that hold up the bonnet aren't working. Can you get replacements for these?

2. The handbrake light flickers (not a massive thing really).

Also, he was going to do an oil and filters change as it does need a service (done 12k since last service last September).

Maybe I'm being a bit picky but 12k between services (apart from being far too long) doesn't suggest it's been that well maintained

[jpjsavage]

Maybe I'm being a bit picky but 12k between services (apart from being far too long) doesn't suggest it's been that well maintained

What should the service interval be?

[Bluesman]

Had a good chat with the owner this evening. He gave a very fair representation of the car. There are one or two issues but he was up front about those and is sending me a few more pictures. I think I will have to get down there and view it at some point.

The AC works but it is not very efficient. He seemed to think that a regas would sort it as there were no signs of the compressor failing.

A couple of very minor things that wouldn't put me off buying it.

1. The gas struts that hold up the bonnet aren't working. Can you get replacements for these?

2. The handbrake light flickers (not a massive thing really).

Also, he was going to do an oil and filters change as it does need a service (done 12k since last service last September).

Maybe I'm being a bit picky but 12k between services (apart from being far too long) doesn't suggest it's been that well maintained

Bonnet struts are easy enough to replace loads of them on eBay.

Mike

[black400]

The hand brake light on mine does that for a second or two , struts a common isue , service at least he told you could have siad nothing

[The-Acre]

Maybe I'm being a bit picky but 12k between services (apart from being far too long) doesn't suggest it's been that well maintained

What should the service interval be?

My manual says oil at 4,500 miles. My last one (1993) I never let it pass 6,000. I'd certainly have some concern over one of these engines that hadn't had an oil change in 12,000 miles. Be interesting to see what colour the transmission fluid is.