Boot Leaking - Has Anyone Tried This Seller For A New Seal?

[Chris CPT]

Hi all.

Water leaking into the boot of my '98 LS 400. Checked it out today in the (torrential) rain, and it's running down the inside of the seal before leaking into the boot behind the trim next to the bumper.

After researching on here (instead of starting 'Boot leaking' thread #2,750,000) I've deducted that this is the problem, so I obviously need a new seal.

Apparently they're around £70 at a Lexus dealership, which is a huge amount for a strip of rubber, but other guys have aftermarket fitted strips and siliconed them together and had no problems afterwards.

I've found someone on eBay selling these for just £26.00, and wondered if anyone has bought a seal from this seller and used it successfully? Heck of a lot less than an official Lexus one!

Ebay linky

Here's his description:

"The boot seal on the Lexus LS400 vehicles is prone to shrinking and flattening allowing water into the boot - the leak is not noticeable unless you lift the boot carpet and look into the spare wheel well - something which owners don't do very often.

This replacement rubber boot seal will solve that problem

Simply remove the old boot seal and fit this one - make sure the join comes at the bottom near the boot catch - the join should be sealed with silicone.

A very cost effective and easier solution rather than going to the main dealer.

This boot seal will fit the Mark 1, 2, 3 and 4 LS400s - basically all the years from 1990 - 2000

Many seals sold and fitted without any problems

Full refund if any problems - buy with confidence"

Thanks guys,

Chris

[steve2006]

Comes with a satisfaction or you money back from Paypal super eBay guarantee ( well OK then 45 days to complain and do this) so at that price got to be worth a punt.

I know other members have bought the seal in cut lenghts but cannot remember where from but at a similar price.

[Chris CPT]

Comes with a satisfaction or you money back from Paypal super ebay guarantee ( well OK then 45 days to complain and do this) so at that price got to be worth a punt.

I know other members have bought the seal in cut lenghts but cannot remember where from but at a similar price.

Thanks Steve. Yes I suppose there's the money back, but I just don't want to dry out the boot and get rid of the smell for it just to happen again and have to repeat all that.

If anyone's had one of these of seals on for a couple of months, and had heavy rain or washed their cars a few times without water coming in, please let me know. It'd be a big help. If not, I'll bite the (gold-tipped) bullet and buy one from Lexus. ;)

Thanks,

Chris

[steve2006]

The post below gives details of the company I mentioned above, appears to be sucessful in curing the fault.

Another point worth mentioning is avoid parking the car facing downhill, reason being the water tends to collect in the 2 corners nearest the rear screen then overflow into the boot,several members have drilled a hole in each corner then fitted a gromit and drain pipes to avoid this.

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/49279-leaking-boot-cheap-fix/

[macky68]

Hi Chris

Have just purchased a new seal for my 96 ls with an interesting water feature in the boot! Will let you know if it solves the problem.

Regards

Adam

[Cotswold Pete]

It is easy enough to get old seal out, clean it up and then re-seal it.

Cost of some new sealant from DIY store less than a fiver.

Done this on two Ls 400, and no problems afterwards.

Takes less than an hour to do.

[Chris CPT]

The post below gives details of the company I mentioned above, appears to be sucessful in curing the fault.

Another point worth mentioning is avoid parking the car facing downhill, reason being the water tends to collect in the 2 corners nearest the rear screen then overflow into the boot,several members have drilled a hole in each corner then fitted a gromit and drain pipes to avoid this.

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/49279-leaking-boot-cheap-fix/

Yes I noticed it collects. What a silly mistake for Lexus to miss when they were designing it! I'll look at putting drainage holes in as well. Thanks for the link.

Hi Chris

Have just purchased a new seal for my 96 ls with an interesting water feature in the boot! Will let you know if it solves the problem.

Regards

Adam

Thanks Adam. I'll probably just buy the eBay stuff anyway. Called Lexus and they quoted £80+VAT for one. Gulp.

It is easy enough to get old seal out, clean it up and then re-seal it.

Cost of some new sealant from DIY store less than a fiver.

Done this on two Ls 400, and no problems afterwards.

Takes less than an hour to do.

Thanks. I think it's had sealant on in the past and it still got through, so I'll try the aftermarket rubber strip I think, as it's not a bad price anyway.

[macky68]

Hi Chris

Fitted the new seal yesterday , only took a few minutes , most time spent cleaning the lip to take the new seal.

We had some heavy showers during the night & its as dry as a bone this morning, So a cheap easy fix! You have to be a bit more forceful closing the boot lid , but I'm sure this will soon settle down.

Regards

Adam

[Cotswold Pete]

Hi Chris

Fitted the new seal yesterday , only took a few minutes , most time spent cleaning the lip to take the new seal.

We had some heavy showers during the night & its as dry as a bone this morning, So a cheap easy fix! You have to be a bit more forceful closing the boot lid , but I'm sure this will soon settle down.

Regards

Adam

It will need a good shove to close, and after a while it is a little less of a shove, but never as easy as with a leaky seal - I assume the boot is more airtight.

Reminds me of a story I heard once about the VW beetle when re-launched, that the door seals were so good !!, that it was hard to shut the doors, so they had to make the cabin a bit leaky to allow air to bleed out as it was being compressed. Not sure it that was true or just some guff made up my a motoring journalist.

[macky68]

Hi Pete

I think that story is true, many years a go a friend of mine had a mk1 golf , she used to have to drop the window an inch to close the door!

[Chris CPT]

£26.00 eBay boot seal fitted about a month ago. Slightly longer then needed so cut a section off, and then used strong sealant on just the bottom lip (where the water comes in when leaking) before fitting the seal to make double sure it won't leak.

Been over four weeks now and the car has sat through some seriously torrential rainfalls plus regular washes and it's not leaked. Success!

Cheers for the advice guys.

Chris

[n4chv]

I had a leaking boot and a small swimming pool of water sititng in the spare wheel well and I decided to pay Lexus to replace this rubber seal - problem solved ever since

I was very fortunate in that my Lexus dealer cut the cost of their labour by 20% and parts by at least 10% or 20% where possible in order to encourage me to keep using their services.

I'm hoping for a similar level of service with my LS430