Winge Mode - With Apologies

runsgrateasanut · May 22, 2014

Just returned from a 1200 mile return holiday to France and it was to be my last in my Mercedes S320.

I've been looking forward to using the Lexus and am awaiting on DVLA for number plate change.

Getting a bit apprehensive about this car which I so much want to love and use after six years with the Merc. Can't afford to run both.

I've only driven the Lexus sixty miles since I bought it, and today I'm beginning to think I may have bought a money pit.

Already I've bought brand new front and rear discs and pads to be fitted as I couldn't believe how spongy the braking felt and there is so much play on the pedal where vital fractions of a second spell yards of extra stopping distance. OK these are service items, clearly neglected to date.

Today, I've taken the car a mile up the road and never have my sphericals been so cold which is a good sign that the Air con is working - BUT, despite pressing the button for the flow to be at face level, I'm still getting an icy blast on my trousers. Whats this all about? OK the Climate display is blank and can be replaced £100 purchase from US for a DIY job. Not seen anything in UK but for LHD its only 45 bucks and even 20 bucks for a Chinese import. Why no RHD other than on eBay US?

Seating position. OK I 'm just over six foot and Japanese cars may be made for smaller beings though the US market demands ample space. A bit lower headroom than what I'm used to, but comfortable enough.
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The Cambelt Q. I can't answer. At 114k miles and 20 years old it should need changing and if only I new for certain that it hadn't already undergone this expense. The previous owner (bar one) passed away and so no service history since 2009. Good thing it is non-intereference Engine, but will I feel confident on those 1200 mile trips? Its hand dipping time again.

I read on here that the earlier models (although the reference was to Imports) don't have the ATF flowing through the Radiator. From a lucky experience the AT cooling pipe corroded and fell off my Merc Radiator right outside my house last year spilling the ATF and barely allowing me to park the car. I thought this is one scenario I won't experience with the Lexus. But will I? I think the AT flows into the Radiator on the right hand side looking in the engine bay. I don't see a seperate cooling Rad but stand to be corrected - hopefully. Not an experience I'd like repeated in my lifetime. Saved the Merc Autobox but if I'd been two hundred yards away, who knows the damage,

Just before buying the car the previous owner had a "power steering " leak but its not from the two pipes which look as though they should have been replaced same time. Thats another problem just waiting to happen looking at the state of them. A job I can probably manage to do myself..

Also, the Battery was flat or insufficient to start the car on our return from hols after two weeks.. Is this common or just another service item at the end of its life? Will test when I get the time

I really want to love this car as I don't change cars often and I was so influenced by the fact that there is so little rust on it in comparison to the Mercedes rot everywhere, that I may be spending shedloads of cash to keep it on the road.

It does feel superb to drive and I've had V8's 5 litre Mercs before and do love the sound and feel of the 4 litre engine. A real plus!

Sorry about length of winge. I'm sure I'll persevere or where thicker trousers!

Malc · May 22, 2014

You've bought a 21 year old car with no previous recent history then !!!! not sure what you really expected.

Perhaps a starting point is to check with the DVLA the previous recent MOT advisories ( you can do that on-line ) and then do these service items ( as you say, that's all they are ! ) and think that you will maybe have many many years of trouble free motoring and perhaps even an appreciating ( in value ) classic.

If the cambelt was changed in 2003 ish then you may have a sticker somewhere in the engine bay to tell you and then have at least a little comfort from that.

It should have really had its second one about now. 114k is no miles on your car, the pas leak has been fixed ? usually drips onto the alternator from the reservoir and knocks that out .............. but maybe it's been saved !

The radiator is stand alone from ATF fluids passing thu' too.

So how much did you pay for your wonderful piece of classic engineering ?? Bet it was a bargain, hope so, give's you leeway to get it "right " and enjoy for the future. Which of course you will once the initial expense has been overcome.

Enjoy your Ls400 ....... and prepare to buy your next one; once smitten you will never look back and wonder why you didn't start your love affair with Ls400s a long time ago.

Malc

steve2006 · May 22, 2014

AC air flow,there is an open vent mounted on the panel below the steering colunm shroud, turn it to redirect or shut off the airflow.

Regarding the climate control LCD the price comes down to demand,far more LHD LS400s were sold than RHD models and with the dwindling number of 1993-1994 models left on the road no one is going to mass produce a cheap LCD they may never sell.

Believe it or not there is no specified cambelt replacement mieage/time, all the owner's manual mentions is that it is checked during routine servicing however it is prudent to replace for peace of mind at 60,000/6 year intervals.

Regarding the flat Battery was it fully charged initially? You say it has only been driven for 60 miles since you bought it so it may not have been fully charged to begin with. Again there is a section in the owners manual which recommends turning off the remote locking/unlocking system and using the key when leaving the vehicle for extended periods of time to reduce Battery drainage.

TigerFish · May 22, 2014

AC air flow,there is an open vent mounted on the panel below the steering colunm shroud, turn it to redirect or shut off the airflow.

^^^^ this. Nice feature in really hot weather, but easily turned off by rotating the vent all the way round to the end.

runsgrateasanut · May 22, 2014

Thanks for your advice - . It feels and I think looks, like a lovely car. Who said they are ugly? Smooth and quiet.

I see that the vent rotates under the steering wheel but perhaps a Flap is not closing as it should.

The Battery may not have been fully charged when I got the car? Its quite possible. I'll bear in mind the point about saving Battery power.

Looks like the tubes under the P/Steering reservoir may have been changed (black painted?)

Can you clarify Malc, on the Radiator point you make? Is the fluid cooled via pipes within the Water Radiator?

For £1k its a lot of car and I bought it without going to see it as it was 200 miles away. Had it traliered to me and that cost was included in the price. .Happy to spend the same again if needs be just to know that it's going to give me reliability!

black400 · May 22, 2014

I would be interested in your Ls v S comparison, I sold one of my LSs last week , and got a cheap E class, its not that bad , I still have my 00 LS 400 but it needs work, I am thinking of getting a Ls430 or a S class , not gone on the look of the merc.

black400 · May 22, 2014

I did this with a scubby legacy ? Bought it for bad weather and lugging stuff around, did not go see the car , still buying bits , I might get it going by 2015.

The joys

Malc · May 23, 2014

If you manage to spend £1000 on the car I'll be amazed, most costs are for little money and you will probably have a great car for the future ... the ATF radiator issue seemingly only manifests itself on the Ls430 ........... never on the Ls400.

I know no more than that .. I'm not a techy, just know that from 12 years of owning a Mk1, Mk2 and now my Mk3, I have enjoyed blissful and economic motoring for a very long time.

I have not long returned from a 5 week, 6060 mile trip thru France and around Spain and Portugal and back in mine, fantastic trouble free too .............. this past week, at 160k miles, I have a power steering fluid leak and keeping my fingers crossed that its nothing too serious and my mechanic can fix it ok.

For at least another trouble free year of blissful journeying

Enjoy your car.

Malc

runsgrateasanut · May 23, 2014

It won't be difficult to spend the Thou. I've spent £170 on brake parts and I can't do the job myself these days so labour costs to come. If Battery on way out that will be another £60. £29 for 2 Exhaust Gaskets - labour cost to come. Cambelt and all parts and labour I see someone had quote £600, though dealer says £390 (but mentions Cambelt only). No point in not doing the job completely with new water pump and tensioner. Water expansion tank leak I may have fixed. Sensor gets done up too tight and causes a crack to appear. Replacement if needed must be £45? We'll see.

I plan to put LPG on the car and this will cost about £600 if i do most of the work for a single point system.

Martin, the S class is a lovely car and I use my present one as a Carrier of stuff to France (took over the frame of a King size Bed in it two weeks ago not to mention a boot full) but the Straight six 320 is not really enough power for such a heavy car unless you are travelling light. Also its on LPG which is essential with cost of Petrol. The V8 420 or 500 was an alternative choice to the Lexus or the CL Version of the W140 but in the end I decided I liked the look of the Lexus and the V8 engine was sold on me..The Model shape of the W140 series is not everyones cup of tea. Its a big beast to park and earlier models don't have sensors. Wouldn't go for any later than '98 S Class as suspension issues with later Cars. Lovely ride but rust is a real issue. Being on the Sea front doesn't help. Older cars certainly cost for repairs but their value for what you get at purchase is I feel, a great deal.

steve2006 · May 23, 2014

The transmission cooler on the series II is behind the front bumper and below the radiator,if you look at the picture it is the pipe running across with the round cooling fins on it.

Titch LS · May 24, 2014

Stuart, I have a mk4 (2000) and when I first drove it, like you, I was also concerned at the long pedal travel for the footbrake. This is normal apparently. The 'feel' of the pedal is different to other cars I've had and is the same for all LS400's. My brakes are super powerful none the less, but I do have 'brake assist' on mine. The vent just below the steering column can close both ways to stop cold air. In the winter it can be opened and directed for nice warm air to flow up your trousers! Don't worry about the oil cooler, the 400 doesn't have this problem.

runsgrateasanut · May 24, 2014

Thank you Steve and Brian thats a relief to know about the oil cooler.

That does trouble me a bit about how far the foot needs to travel to get some Brake bite. I'm a conservative driver watching the econometer like a Hawk. The existing brake pads are very low on the rear and the sensors have long been chopped off.

With replacement fluid I am hoping that the amount of travel will lessen considerably. Fact is, that I can't recall such travel on an MR2 I sold a couple of years back which was an Import, the same age as this Lexus.

Angel123 · May 24, 2014

I have had 2 LS400's. Both had very good brakes. I have and had very small travel on the brake pedal before they bite. I can only speak from what I have experienced.Tom

Mybikes a cx500 · May 25, 2014

I had a stuck caliper once that gave a spongy pedal, that should be sorted with your new pads and disks

runsgrateasanut · June 3, 2014

Wow - what a difference in braking! Just got the car back from my mechanic who changed front and rear discs and pads. Nobody should drive with the amount of play I found on the car when I got it. Reasons I'm told were that at least one front Caliper had pistons somewhat stiff to move, almost seized, and one Slider pin could not easily be removed. OK pads were worn but now the car bites as soon as I touch the pedal. I've still to replace the front slider pins and rubber bushings as in poor condition and one bushing disintegrated applying heat to remove the slider pin as locked tight with rust.

The support "A" springs also poor condiition and need replacing but the job of replacement can now wait. Pricewise I find its going to be cheaper to buy from the States these various parts and if a previous owner had not chopped off the Wear Sensors connectors I'd have bought four at just £3.82 each! Possibly a bargain, but you do get what you pay for, and there is always the cost of shipment. Parts costs have quite a range of prices I find.