Looking To Buy An Ls400

[veloman]

Hi All, first post as title looking to purchase an LS400, after reading reviews etc what an awesome car, not looked at any yet, presume i need to look for excellent service history, what are the cambelt change intervals on the ls400, and what cost to change at an independant, looks like pas pump leaking is something to look for, also what sort of fuel consumption are you guy's getting, any advice appreciated. :eerrrmm:

[veloman]

Just read the thread on fuel consumption, interesting read, as others said with little depreciation and low maintenance, over a few years should be excellent value, had an insurance quote for me and the wife on a 1997 LS400 at £180 fully comp per year.

[steve2006]

Hello and welcome to the LOC.

Good examples are becoming hard to find and those that are are fetching some crazy prices (take a look on eBay for the low mileage examples!)

Is there any particular year you are looking at, the last model (series IV) is considered by many to be the best of the bunch with all of the niggles from previous years ironed out and of course the specification is higher with built in sat nav for example but even this is outdated by modern standards.

The power steering leak is common to the early models and is generally due to the failure of a simple O ring.

IIRC the cambelt is a 60,000/6 years for the non VVTI and 100,000/10 years for the latter VVTI model.

Time for replacement is around 8 hours, Lexus dealers often offer competitive rates on the job so worth riinging around.

Good luck with your search,please feel free to post up links for any you are considering and we will give feedback both good and bad :)

[veloman]

Thanks steve for info, looking for a late nineties car, will take my time and be picky.

[Bluesman]

Welcome David. We are a friendly bunch and some of the LOC members have a huge amount of knowledge on the LS. As has already been said good ones are becoming so rare that you will need to have lots of patience as it will take time to find a good one, they arnt all lavished with love and money like most LOC members cars are.

Good luck with your hunt.

One more piece of advice be very wary if you going to see a car being sold by Lexuschap, mostly on eBay. Chapter and verse on him in the archives.

Mike

[GEN]

I have a 1998 model and the timing belt gets done every 60000 miles at a Lexus dealer. I think the 100000 miles timing belt change is for the LS430 onwards but am quite sure that, sadly, the LS400 1998 requires the 60000 miles change while it is said that the very early models (1992?) do not have interference engines so the timing belt change is not as critical.

[mikeyv]

I think I posted my views on the thread you just mentioned, so won't bother repeating them.

Just to add, particularly as you are Sussex based, I used Grove garage in Brighton today for an exhaust repair, and found them excellent.

They were recommended on here by another member, and the owner is ex Lexus, and specialises in Toyota/Lexus work.

[steve2006]

I think I posted my views on the thread you just mentioned, so won't bother repeating them.

Just to add, particularly as you are Sussex based, I used Grove garage in Brighton today for an exhaust repair, and found them excellent.

They were recommended on here by another member, and the owner is ex Lexus, and specialises in Toyota/Lexus work.

Talking of exhausts the OEM Y section is being offered on Amalaya at £148.00 at the moment compared with £400.00 odd here so even taking into account shipping and possible HMRC interest should still work out cheaper should it ever go again.

[mikeyv]

I think I posted my views on the thread you just mentioned, so won't bother repeating them.

Just to add, particularly as you are Sussex based, I used Grove garage in Brighton today for an exhaust repair, and found them excellent.

They were recommended on here by another member, and the owner is ex Lexus, and specialises in Toyota/Lexus work.

Talking of exhausts the OEM Y section is being offered on Amalaya at £148.00 at the moment compared with £400.00 odd here so even taking into account shipping and possible HMRC interest should still work out cheaper should it ever go again.

That's not too bad to keep it original.

[Malc]

...... with the cambelt change interval ..... as has been advised here, the 60k miles 6 years on the Ls400s up to the vvti is as stated at 100k miles and 10 years. HOWEVER .. in the US of A the Ls400 ( all models ) specifies, it seems, 100k miles for the cambelt change............. they are of course the same engines as in the UK cars !!

Engines ( ex the non-interference Mk1s and Mk2s ) will be caused catastrophic issues when the cambelt snaps.

However, there is no discernible advice to my knowledge that a cambelt has ever gone pop below 150k miles due to simple wear and tear of the belt, other than when maybe the waterpump has failed.

That figure I read on a USA forum somewhere as the probable tipping point.

The early Mks had cambelts made of kevlar ( literally bomb proof ) but I haven't yet determined the construction properties of those later OEM cambelts.

For my own car, a Mk3 with 166k miles now and 2 cambelt changes done by Lexus, I shall be leaving the next change to 205k miles ( 100k since the last change ) at which time I shall have the waterpump changed ( unless there are tell tale signs prior at which that will also bring forward the cambelt change.)

Malc

On other less robust cars one might expect to change a cambelt at 60k miles and 6 years. We did have an Alfa Romeo once at the garage that enlightened us to the probabillity of cam belt changes at 15k miles ........... and the Alfa Dealer workshops were ALWAYS full of cars with engine damage where owners followed the service schedules of 60k and 6 years changes ... and came 'orribly unstuck !

[veloman]

Thanks for all the helpful replies, will be patient with my search as it has to be the right car mechanically and also colour, i personally like the dark green, ATB

[runsgrateasanut]

Check out the thread "was 93 a cusp year" and you'll find a link to one on Preloved.

The gentleman gave me a considerable insight into the history of his ownership which I refer to on another listing " anybody selling" I think the car is green and it may well be worth a look.

[veloman]

Thanks stuart , will take a look

[runsgrateasanut]

Keep us in the picture on your ultimate purchase. See the car is black and not green - it was the window tint that must have stuc in my mind

good luck

[cruisermark]

there is a buying guider here:

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/82073-looking-to-buy-a-ls400/

[aviator888]

...... with the cambelt change interval ..... as has been advised here, the 60k miles 6 years on the Ls400s up to the vvti is as stated at 100k miles and 10 years. HOWEVER .. in the US of A the Ls400 ( all models ) specifies, it seems, 100k miles for the cambelt change............. they are of course the same engines as in the UK cars !!

Engines ( ex the non-interference Mk1s and Mk2s ) will be caused catastrophic issues when the cambelt snaps.

However, there is no discernible advice to my knowledge that a cambelt has ever gone pop below 150k miles due to simple wear and tear of the belt, other than when maybe the waterpump has failed.

That figure I read on a USA forum somewhere as the probable tipping point.

The early Mks had cambelts made of kevlar ( literally bomb proof ) but I haven't yet determined the construction properties of those later OEM cambelts.

For my own car, a Mk3 with 166k miles now and 2 cambelt changes done by Lexus, I shall be leaving the next change to 205k miles ( 100k since the last change ) at which time I shall have the waterpump changed ( unless there are tell tale signs prior at which that will also bring forward the cambelt change.)

Malc

On other less robust cars one might expect to change a cambelt at 60k miles and 6 years. We did have an Alfa Romeo once at the garage that enlightened us to the probabillity of cam belt changes at 15k miles ........... and the Alfa Dealer workshops were ALWAYS full of cars with engine damage where owners followed the service schedules of 60k and 6 years changes ... and came 'orribly unstuck !

Changed the cambelt every 20K on Alfa 156 and i did the work myself to ensure it's done properly. And yes the dealers were always full (not only because cambelt problems lol). Since driving Lexus, i would not touch Alfa with a stick..

[Chris Skelton]

Thanks for all the helpful replies, will be patient with my search as it has to be the right car mechanically and also colour, i personally like the dark green, ATB

Nice Green one on eBay (or so it SAYS, having no pics!)

[Bluesman]

Mine is dark green with a beige interior and it wasn't the colour I wanted when I was looking for my LS but am I glad I went with it, I have grown to love it and when shes had a good wash and brush up she looks amazing. Mike

[Chris Skelton]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-LEXUS-LS400-AUTO-GREEN-/291390083566?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276

Pics now up. Bad ones, but may just mean someone who's not too good at posting!

88K miles sounds good?

Pity; I was in London last weekend!

[Malc]

..... 88k miles sounds brilliant and with a full service history ..... but can you see the actual service history sheets and see the stamps ? Immaculate, well, the front bumper is scuffed for starters !!! and if that's immaculate and a lack of sensible photos, well, I don't know :eerrrmm:

Malc

[Bluesman]

Only 1 feedback which was over a year ago for buying. Its a shame people cant use a camera unless they can and don't want you to see the real condition of the car. I am old and very cynical. What you can see of the inside looks OK

I would definitely check all the FSH? very carefully.

All that said it looks a decent car. Mike.

[veloman]

The times i have heard the word immaculate used over the years, 9 times out of ten its dissapointing, might give them a bell, never keen on short write ups either, buying a lexus, i will wait as long as it takes for the right car.

[PEPE]

The times i have heard the word immaculate used over the years, 9 times out of ten its dissapointing, might give them a bell, never keen on short write ups either, buying a lexus, i will wait as long as it takes for the right car.

Hi David

My Mk3 is IMMACULATE and I might sell it as I am in the process of downsizing. Here are some pics:

I notice you also live in Sussex so if you are still interested please PM me to discuss further. In any event, welcome to the club and good luck!

Pepe

[WarwickT]

Pepe your car does look immaculate no doubt

[veloman]

Hi Pepe, Your car looks superb, i am waiting to hear from my brother who has a friend near derby who is thinking of retiring from driving and has owned his LS400 from new , i think with approx 88k mileage, so i am just waiting on this one at the moment, but thanks very much for the offer, Thanks David