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Hi guys I was involved in a very serious accident last week. Driving home from Gymnastics with my girls a full fat V8 Mustang driving like an absolute lunatic came barreling towards us head on (in my lane,) it was a head on collision, it's still all a bit of a blur, my car was on fire when I came round, I had my daughters in back, the back doors wouldn't open so I had to drag them both out through the front. it was a mess! All 3 of us were eventually taken to hospital and released a week later. The whole ordeal has been a nightmare, one of the worst thing things I've ever had to experience! Needless to say the Lexus is toast (literally) I'm gutted about losing it and everything in it but more importantly I'm extremely grateful that all 3 of us are still here! The broken bones, emotional trauma we all sustained should heal in time, and we live to fight another day. The Police wont tell me much at the moment but did mention that the Mustang ended up worse off than ours in terms of initial damage and the driver of that car along with his passenger are still hospitalized The Lexus did its job! (in addition to the car seats the girls were sat in) I chose this car because I wanted something reliable, comfortable & safe, it fulfilled all 3 of those requirements effortlessly. Started at every press of the button, got us from A to B in comfort and when it came to it, kept us as safe as it could in a situation many aren't fortunate enough to walk away from. I couldn't have picked a better car for the budget I had, i'm very thankful for that. Just wanted to share this for anyone new here considering buying an IS250 or any Lexus for that matter, and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone here sincerely for their help and advice to all the questions I had prior to buying this car and during my ownership period. I wouldn't have chosen it and maintained it correctly if it wasn't for the friendly advice and info I got from you all so again BIG thank you to everyone here from the bottom of my heart!! Not sure what I'm going to replace it with at the moment as well maintained ones are thin on the ground, prices starting to climb and I doubt i'll get much back from my insurer, but I guess i'll cross that bridge when I get to it... Please stay safe everyone, look after yourself and your loved ones, we just never know what's going to happen sometimes!

I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure:0) Do the two tone colours make the LS400 look dated or is it a classic look? The Maybachs are more obvious and look good so I'm sticking with the two tone on both of mine.

Hi Jack, Quick update. My parts arrived from Amayama, brilliantly easy to deal with, parts as advertised, all fitted by my guys locally (the tech there is Toyota trained and loves my FJ Cruiser too🙂) So, 4 new Type C wheels (off the forum) all TPS replaced, 4 new Michelin Cross-Climates, new height controller installed & working, passenger window adjusted, fluids service and bingo! It's driving like a new car & no warning lights on and no suspension work needed. 2 trips to Norfolk & back, 2 up and 2 dogs plus luggage got 29mpg running E5 fuel only, total distance 1250 miles. Bloody marvellous. Thanks again for the Amayama contact.. Best regards. Nick

I have just purchased am lc500 12/22 convertconve.interested in owners experiences

I used to own a 1974 998cc Mini Clubman that sounded a bit like that…but only when the exhaust needed replacement! 😆

SOLD. Didn't take long!

🤔

The lower plastic cladding is quite easy to remove in fact. Are they going to be body colour or the original complimentary colour? I'm going to repaint my black '96 and am in a quandary whether to go all black or stay black and grey. "I used to think I was indecisive but now I'm not so sure!"

Pictures required by law! 😎

I've never understood why most countries limit what you can have as a number plate. If people want to have WINDY or BIGBOOMER or whatever, then let them (so long as it's unique) and charge them an annual fee for it. I was once told that keeping track of the numbers was difficult if they didn't follow a particular template. Utter bo!!ocks! It's all computerised these days. As for the Police not being able to identify the year of the vehicle (as if it matters), also utter bo!!ocks as they have ANPR and can look it up in a few seconds, and personalised plates are easier to remember. Anyways, I now return you to your hunt for an LS460 with apologies for the rant

I've had a rethink about all this after my epic failure😉 The original plan to rebuild the spare ECU (cap replacement) and reset the immobiliser has been scrapped, instead I'll be sending the original ECU out of the car to 'Japanese ECU ECM PCM Repair' aka 'Lscowboyls' in the USA. Yes the car be be off the road for a while and it won't be cheap but once all the work is done on the ECU and refitted to the car there won't be any chance of the ECU Capacitor issues and there's no need to mess with the immobiliser. I decided this after talking to Bill (Lscowboyls) about the whole thing and what's involved replacing the capacitors. I should have done this in the first place but you live and learn.................... It's more complicated on the 97-2000 VVTi LS400 ECU (apart from the immobiliser thing) for a few reasons, if anyone want's to know the ins and outs of it all then pm me and I'll do my best to explain. If you're thinking of attempting this yourself on any of the LS400 ECU's, my advice is................don't do it and have it done by an expert who knows what's involved, not just electronics soldering but an experienced expert in rebuilding ECU's with this issue, i.e. 'Lscowboyls' as mentioned above. I will continue working on the immobiliser thing on the spare ECU to see if I can reset it or disable it and also continue working on the mileage adjustment on the instrument cluster.

Mine too 53.3/52.2

Tonight's result - 52.4/49.8. Slowly improving!

Take the opportunity to change from air to coils - you can get a whole brand new set of coils for not much more than one air strut.

Then tonight 53.4/52.3

Gone are the days when a dealer was looking to make 4000 total on a used car sale (2000 on the car your buying and 2000 on yours) Its not only Lexus but with used car prices being still high there,s a lot of greeditis going on (with everything) So a 30000 used car on the forecourt, drive it away and a month later your looking at a 6000 hit. They'd give you 24000 a month later...then guess what...back on the fourcourt for a smidge under the 30000 and resold.... The devaluation graph angle instead of being a steady slope seems to be fall of a cliff then a steady slope but starts after 12 month of ownership. It's a funny old market, used cars still on demand.... The 'real trick' is to blank out your mind of anything to do with equity and cars... A stat from someone I know in the business seems to suggest that a high percentage of cars in the market are being acquired on lease schemes and are purely seen as a 'rented piece of equipment' instead of any sort of owned asset.

It's pretty civilised inside until you give it some beans! Under normal driving you get a rumble. 🙂 Mine is one of the later versions with the GPF, so not as shouty as the earlier versions - but still makes itself heard!

Renato have a watch of this video, sound turned up 😎

Brett, the video put me right off the LC500 … (I’m joking, of course) … Does it sound like that from inside the cabin too? I mean with the windows closed.

That film clip brings back memories of shredding the rear n/s tyre down to the canvas on a BMW 325,going to my space on the 5th floor of multi storey.I didn't pay for my tyres then...

They are all genuine Lexus/Toyota parts bought either from Lexuspartsdirect or Lincoln Lexus, brand new in the original packaging, all for the Gen 2 LS400, bought for a 1998. Pair of rear discs (Currently £143 at Lexuspartsdirect) Rears pads (no longer listed, about £100 from memory) air filter (now discontinued, £20 for copy on ebay) cabin filter (£16) one valve cover gasket (£15) All together to buy from LPD would be around £290 if they were available, selling for £100 including tracked, insured delivery. That's less than Chinese bits from ebay would cost. I won't split the bits, if they don't sell I'll give to a friend who does autojumbles. Thanks for reading.

I want to keep it the original two tone and although generally not a silver car person, I do think it works well, plus the wheels add to it without being OTT. I think either works for you, full blace can look lovely but if I were to pick a complimentary colour, it would be grey! I understand the problem, I hate being indecisive... or do I? 😉

Yes Steve, a decent price I think. More and more parts seem to be discontinued from Lexus so it won't be long before it'll be aftermarket or nothing.

Here's one, at a price! https://www.lexuspartsnow.com/parts/lexus-wheel-assy-steering~45100-50102-e0.html I think the USA is your most likely source, unless a UK breaker comes up trumps. Here's a previous topic on this forum:

That’s a very generous offer Nick, very useful for a current owner and if not needed immediately still good to buy and save until they are. I can’t see them being available for very long.

Thanks gents, problem solved by turning the audio off 🙂

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks and Buses Are Here for The Long Haul, Here’s Why By JAKE MARTIN https://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/author/jakemartin2233/ The transportation industry is one of the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, and diesel-powered vehicles have long been the primary mode of transportation for long haul trucking. However, with the introduction of hydrogen fuel cell technology, the industry has seen a significant shift towards cleaner and greener alternatives. Hydrogen fuel cell trucks have emerged as a viable option for many long haul trucking fleets who are looking to reduce their carbon footprint. Biagi Bros Transportation Shares Experience with Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks at the ACT Expo in California A portion of the Biagi Bros operation is delivering beverages, 24/7 to meet the significant demand for one of their biggest customers, Anheuser Busch Brewing company. Greg Stumbaugh, Corporate Equipment Director at Biagi Bros Inc, spoke about their use of hydrogen fuel cell trucks, emphasizing that they run these trucks non-stop, 24/7. Given the continuous usage, Stumbaugh shared that electric trucks were not a feasible option due to their range limitations and long charging times. In his words, “We run those trucks 24/7, it’s literally non-stop. So for us, electric is just not an option”. Stumbaugh concluded that using electric trucks would require more trucks for the same job, resulting in significantly higher costs. Biagi Bros is running the fuel cell trucks from Nikola, and these trucks make a 134-mile round trip, covering 110,000 miles per year, non-stop. The advantage of hydrogen fuel cells is that they can be refueled in a matter of minutes, just like traditional diesel trucks, rather than taking hours to recharge like electric trucks. This means that the fuel cell trucks can operate around the clock with no downtime, ensuring maximum productivity and profitability. It’s been said before just not as loud! Here Volvo also makes the point of Long Haul use and hydrogen. Many Fleet Owners are Considering These Points When Looking at EV vs FCEV: Firstly, these trucks are significantly lighter, allowing them to carry more payload without increasing the weight of the vehicle. Secondly, hydrogen trucks can operate in severe weather conditions, including freezing or hot temperatures. The charging time and infrastructure required to support a fleet of electric trucks can be a major hurdle during peak hours or periods with brown-out restrictions. Electric trucks can take hours to recharge, resulting in significant downtime and lost productivity. Hydrogen fuel cell trucks, on the other hand, can be refueled in minutes, ensuring maximum productivity and profitability. ➡️PLAY THIS HYDROGEN NEWS ARTICLE Fuel Cell Buses: The Future of Public Transit The transportation industry is constantly evolving, and with the need to reduce carbon emissions, alternative fuel vehicles are becoming increasingly important. Fuel cell technology, which uses hydrogen to generate electricity, is one such alternative. Fuel cell buses have emerged as a viable option for public transport fleets, and many cities around the world have adopted these vehicles. One such city is Foothill Transit in California, where they have been testing fuel cell buses for some time now. Roland M. Cordero, Director of Maintenance and Vehicle Technology at Foothill Transit, spoken at the ACT event this year, sharing his experience with fuel cell buses – They currently have 33 FCEB’s and 19 BEB’s. He stated that the cost of fuel cell buses has been a factor, but with funding from the government in California, it has become more feasible. One fuel cell bus costs an estimated $1.2 million dollars each, but with funding of $400,000, it becomes a lot more affordable. He summarized some of their 13-year experience with the challenges of BEBs in these bullet points: Limited Range Demanding Charging requirements Operational Impacts High cost of in-route chargers High cost of technology parts In California, the timeline follows this: 25% of buses purchased must be zero-emissions buses by the end of this year, 50% by the end of 2026, and by 2029, 100%. According to Cordero, the fuel cell buses have been reliable and are performing well. He is confident that they will work better than battery electric buses. Foothill Transit has been testing these vehicles and has seen a significant reduction in emissions. Fuel cell buses emit only water vapor, making them environmentally friendly and perfect for public transport. The Future of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology in Transportation Hydrogen fuel cell technology is rapidly gaining traction as a potential solution to the transportation industry’s carbon emission problem. However, it is still a relatively new and evolving technology with both advantages and disadvantages when compared to electric vehicles. While hydrogen fuel cell trucks are lighter, more efficient, and can operate in severe weather conditions, the cost of production and transportation of hydrogen fuel remains a significant hurdle. Refueling infrastructure is also limited, which can be a challenge for companies operating in remote areas, but mobile refueling is a growing sector that is helping relieve this challenge now. Electric vehicles, on the other hand, have become more popular for shorter distances due to their lower upfront cost and widespread charging infrastructure. However, the need for frequent charging and the lower range may be limiting for long-haul trucking and high-use applications. In Conclusion, listening to industry experts and companies that have experience using hydrogen fuel cell trucks, such as Biagi Bros and Foothill Transit, it is evident that hydrogen fuel cell technology is highly suitable for long-haul and high-use applications due to their lighter weight, less downtime and mobile refueling. While the cost of hydrogen fuel remains a challenge, ongoing investments and advancements in technology and infrastructure are expected to bring costs down and make it more affordable and accessible for more fleet owners.

Yes, but its because my number plate said W11NDY and not W11 NDY, ie no spaces. I keep an official set in my boot, most garages just look at them and say well its OK, becuase you'd only swap them get it MOT'd and swap them back, so whats the point. That plate will be coming off if i let her go anyway.

The holder is still screwed to the radiator grill but the FourDot plate is simply held with Ultra strong double sided tape supplied by FourDot themselves. Ait going anywhere....

Tonight's charge a bit better (like the weather!) 52.3/49.2.

If you have new wipers and not paid for them, then it is not really a bad deal.

Update on this and it’s not good news. Cloning the immobiliser key data from one ECU to the other hasn’t happened yet, more involved than I first thought but I will keep at it. I then thought I’ll replace all the caps, not as simple as I thought. I struggled to remove the caps in the first place, done this in the past although it was over 30 years ago. I tried all sorts, iron temp, solder, flux, solder sucker and every trick I could think of but still struggled. I replaced 4 caps eventually and removed 1 but then decided to stop. I was either doing something really really wrong or I’m just too old now or don’t have the skill anymore or all three🙄 I since found out that the 97-2000 VVTi ECU is more difficult to work on than the earlier ones, more difficult removing components apparently and is more sensitive to being worked on. Maybe that’s why I struggled. On the up side I found a company willing to replace the caps, ATC Drivetrain in Cannock. I saw this company on Car SOS the other day, 90’s MR2 with an ECU issue and needed a new IC and capacitors. ATC tested it, diagnosed and repaired. They can’t do the same with an LS400 ECU but are willing to replace the caps if supplied.

I would go with this: https://lexuspartsdirect.co.uk/product/lexus-is-phase-3-auxiliary-12v-starter-battery/

Like you I carry my dog or golf clubs on my rear seats,I purchased a couple of these from Amazon they are called ORETG45 rear seat covers they were around £15 each,they have flaps on them which on the upright I push under the headrest and on the seat I push the flap between the cushion ,they never seem to move and the seats underneath are like new.

I have for some years used a "dog hammock" on the back seat of our cars. Unlike just a seat cover, this has four high sides that cover the back seat and back of the front seats and door cards (straps go over the headrests and grab handles) with zip down sides to let the dog in and out. This way the dog can't scratch anything while on the back seat. The hammocks come in different sizes so you can choose one that best fits the UX, but we use the same one in both my IS 300h and my wife's Yaris as they don't need to be a close fit. In addition the ones we have come with a lead that plugs into a rear seatbelt and so if you put the dog in a harness it can be securely kept on the back seat and in the event of accident won't get thrown over the front of the car. We have bought ours off Amazon in the past (just search for dog hammock for car back seat) but plenty of places sell them with various different features.

the free electricity sounds wonderful, can he re-direct this free stuff to use in his home generally too . now, that would be very very good Malc

Hello, I am the Aftersales Manager at Lexus Leeds, I would like to take the opportunity to clear this up for you. The licence key is certainly a physical part (a plastic scratch card) and is ordered from Lexus like any other part, unfortunately, they were on a major back order for a long time - circa 3 months. They are now available to order and I hope this has now been completed for you. All the best & enjoy your NX. Jordan

I've also found a website with a comprehensive selection LS400 wiring diagrams for $14.99 (£12) if that helps anyone else? https://portal-diagnostov.com/en/root/rukovodstva-po-remontu-on-line/elektroshemy/lexus/lexus-lexus-1999/lexus-lexus-1999-lexus-ls-400-1999/lexus-lexus-1999-lexus-ls-400-1999-lexus-ls-400-1999-all-wiring-diagrams/

You obviously haven't read my two replies to the same question.Might I suggest you get someone who can read, to explain it to you.

HUD? Or the direction display between the "analogue" dials? If the latter that only works with the built in SATNAV

Glad to hear it works and I know that good feeling when the lights goes away! Good luck with and and looking forward to see big brakes installed.