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Tonight's charge result- best of the year so far. 52.5/50.9. Actual mileage from the previously predicted 50 was 47.5 which included 12 miles of motorway driving.

The sill flanges are now looking better after straightening, treating the rust and applying Rustin's metal paint. I also applied underseal to the inside face of the flanges and injected some cavity wax, just in case. However, removing the dents would not be easy because there is no access from the top of the sill, so I decided to live with them, especially as they are hidden by the plastic sill covers.

Car came back to me on Saturday, not fit for road so had to be trailered, was the earliest I could organise the company I always use, but was worth the wait! Today I made new weather seals for the rear lights as one was missing and the other very tired, seems a previous owner had issue with water leaking into boot and decided it was the missing weather seal, instead of making one, just siliconed the entire back end to within an inch of its life! So that'll be a job for another day. So I used the old one as a template, bought the neoprene from ebay for £6, cut them out rough then trimmed down a little for fitment. Quick, easy and satisying, I wonder if easier than the silicone marathon....

If you're looking to get any work done. I highly recommend checking prices across different authorised service centers. Lexus also have just service centres that do not have a dealership / showroom. These service centres tend to be cheaper. E.g. Lexus Hayes and Lexus Chalfont. I had my waterpump replaced a while ago and Lexus Hayes did it for £320 with coolant and a new belt for the price. Lexus Twickenham which is a "dealership" wanted £428 without a new belt. I am not sure if service costs differ too but worth checking. You will continue to retain your warranty if you use these centres and their rates are comparable to an indie.

thanks for the responses gents, I am so enamoured with my es300 that I am tempted by an LS to use for shows - will keep looking perhaps at a 'cheaper' but more used, yet still good example - perhaps a later one too...

Malcom, dashboard EV range is pretty consistent with the app. Stated 66 km with AC on . It was a very sunny 30°C + week-end in normandy so AC was a must have even

Tire pressure check this week-end after 1000 miles / circa 1 600 km No loss, still 2.6 bar (I do drive 60% on highways so I usually set the tire pressure a little higher and yes I know highway this is not the perfect playing field for a PHEV 😉 but I got 6.5 l / 100 km fuel usage with adaptative cruise control set at 85mph which is legal speed limit over here ) Run flats seem to hold pressure quite well (compare to my previous self sealing tires which required a .3 bar refill on the same interval)

Where about are you looking for one? Would be useful to know which city or region so that people can advise accordingly.

Hi I ordered a UX Takumi on 20/10/22 with an estimated delivery date of 30/9/23. Through to 16/5/23 the "My Lexus Build Tracking" web page had the status as "Order in Progress". Had an email on 16/5/23 saying "We're building your Lexus UX". 6/6/23 email: "Your Lexus is now complete". Then, having asked for the name of the ship which is carrying my car, I can now track: https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/details/9327748 using: https://www.marinetraffic.com When I last checked a couple of days ago it was south of Taiwan on it's way to it's first port of call, Singapore. Not sure if it then has to call at another port but it's due to arrive at Portbury, Bristol on 13th July. Something to keep me amused for the next few weeks!!! After Portbury a lot of Toyota and Lexus cars go to Derby (the Toyota factory) then on to the dealer. This can take another 2-3 weeks so guess I'll get mine end of July or early August. I've ordered the Lexus front and rear dashcam option. Not sure whether these will be fitted at Derby or the dealer but I guess that could add a day or two to the timescales. Thought this might be of interest to anyone wanting to monitor the status of a UX they've ordered.

Hi there Newbie here from Denmark. I’ve been a BMW enthusiast for many years, and have lately sold my beloved 7 series e38. I simply got tired of the harsh ride, and decided to switch to Lexus. I got interested in a currently for sale pre-facelift LS430 2001 model with 143k miles. I’ve been reading up a lot on the LS430, which was the primary cause for choosing this specific model, as I believe it will serve my needs. I want a nice, soft and quiet ride for relaxing cruising. I’ve attached some images of the beauty. Some details: I’ll be the third owner. Documented service history A very small portion of the lower passenger side window has delamination. According to the owner, this started several years ago and hasn’t gotten worse. So I hope it stays this way. It’s not an Ultra Luxury, but it has dual pane windows, air suspension, navigation, and Mark Levinson sound system. Does it make it Custom Luxury, don’t know for sure? Anyway, I might need some inputs, since I’m completely new to Lexus. I’ve been reading up on some weaknesses, and there seems to be one critical part, that bothers me. According to many online sources/threads, these models tend to have major issues with the radiator, causing the coolant to leak into the gearbox, which results in a damaged gearbox. Now, I’m used to do DIY on all my cars, so replacing a radiator won’t be a big deal. So far, I’ve found several threads, where owners have installed an external oil cooler that eliminates the problem. Others have replaced the stock radiator only, which already has the oil cooler inside. This seems to be a better thing to do in my eyes, since the radiator itself could be due for replacement anyway. But I’m trying to understand, what is the actual cause of a leaking coolant into the gearbox situation? Is the correct approach, to make sure to replace the whole radiator in time and how often to be specific, or simply just install an external oil cooler to eliminate the problem? Rgds, Mario

Hi Steve Yes it does look beautiful in black (when clean😃). Mine is metallic red (Premium Mesa Red) which is washed regularly and does not show road dirt. Economical for the size of car 35-42 on a good run but a lot less when in "hybrid power" but it can shift. Do you have the five seater with screen and rear controls? Love my LS David

Yes thank you @B1RMA for organising the get together and all the rest. So nice to see the F's out in the sun. Major tailback on the M40 due to an accident but managed to get into work with 30mins to spare.

I found these articles quite helpful in understanding negative voltages. https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/technical-articles/can-voltage-be-negative-understanding-negative-voltage/ http://www.learningaboutelectronics.com/Articles/What-is-negative-voltage

The POTS (Plain Old Telephone System) run by the GPO/Post Office Telecommunications/British Telecom/BT/Openreach for many decades has always been run by sending out -48V from the exchange batteries. Mind you, now that the old POTS is being retired from service, the copper cables are being recovered, and the whole system moves over from circuit switching to packet switching on fibre,most of the exchange buildings (and their battery rooms) are being sold off and no more -48V.

Good luck - hope it does the trick.

Paul Frost is a breaker and renovator of Lexus cars parts as well as other high priced marques and I have in the past purchased parts for my cars from him, all good . He has a vested interest in the sale of these independantly made oil coolers but to the best of my knowledge he his not a Lexus engineer . I think the jury is out but I would not deviate from a Lexus design on a critical system such as the transmission.

Thanks B1RMA for organising it. I eventually got home around 5pm despite leaving you all early after ignoring my satnav and deciding to go back via the M42 .. just to find it closed between J6 and J8 due to weekend roadworks and stuck in the diversions. 😒

Sorry, my LS430 has HIDs and 9005s for high beam so a different arrangement since the HID is always on and it just adds the high beam lights. However, I would imagine it will be one relay for the 2 dipped beam filaments and another for the 4 high beam filaments. The stalk switch will choose between energising relay 1 (low) or relay 2 (high). That was how my 98 Legend worked.

Lovely early car. I love white cars, but not the beige interior. I do agree with George on the not driving part, but mainly because it is so mint, you risk spoiling it, decreasing its value etc, unless of course you don't care about future values, but that would also pose the question of why spend so much in the first place? I wouldn't be worried about reliability issues, they are great cars, tonnes of knowledge out there and although some parts for the early gen cars can be a little tough to get ahold of, a lot of items can be found on reputable websites, but require import from Japan or US. Both of which I have done and not had issue. If you are buying as an investment/ once in a blue moon drive, probably one of the best examples, but if you want to swan about in it on the daily/ semi regular, probably not worth it.

If the MOT centre is using lift pads rather that actual 4 post lifts then they need to use the slotted pucks and place them under the jacking points. That's just laziness and ignorance right there. My test centre only uses the ramp style 4 post lifts.

I have at last collected the SC430 wheels. The wheels themselves will need refurbishing, but thankfully the covers are not too bad, with only a few minor blemishes. The seller also included a pair of 15mm spacers, although I have had to order a set of shallow nuts and some chrome dome nuts before I can do a trial fit. I imagine that the brushed metal finish on the plastic covers would be impossible to replicate, so I might give them a gloss clear coat to prevent further deterioration. Or I could paint them the same colour as the wheels, or some other finish, such as dark grey to match the lower panels.

not sure if that was said in jest - but to my knowledge, all facebooks ads say 1.0 and 123bhp unless the seller edits those fields specifically (I think)

Highland John I have used 2000 and 3000 wet and dry wet on a slow drill to remove film. I do use low tack masking tape around the light lens. Then use a uv protective clear spray to stop or slow down the degrading of lens.

@Razor61 Many thanks for that, it certainly looks like an impressive result. I'll pop in ECP next time I'm in town and get some. The only experience I have of wet-sanding was with the e60 which had 'got away from me' and required something drastic. Went from this.... to this.... Given that they were c £1,000 [Adaptive Xenons] a side to replace them new, I had nothing to lose. Appreciate your taking the time to help with this.

How did you know Ghost 2 was ineffective!! Yet I did not read or found anyone installed Ghost 2 and his car was stolen unless it was towed. would you please share information about bypassing Ghost 2 so people don’t waste money on it ?

Apparently the food and drink at that particular cafe was awful, Lexus link system recognised this and went into don’t let them out mode. 😀

From my own experience it also effects models from 2015 (I own a 65 plate). I suspect changing the battery isn't the cause if the problem it just is the final straw. I would expect that something internal has previously failed causing the continual battery drain. When you disconnect the battery, the radio unit discharges and damages something else internally. It is removing the battery that allows it to finally fail rather than connecting a new one, because it has a protection circuit. I have disassembled a unit and found no obvious damage but I don't have circuit designs to analyse more. My advice, buy a secondhand unit (or a discounted new one) it didn't need recoding when I did it. Reporting another failure to Lexus GB may help others in the future.

In that case I’d stick with the dealer to have the reassurance with the warranty they provide.

Slight confusion here possibly? Having said you want someone other than a Dealer for general service, you then later say that… I may be mistaken, but I suspect that the service warranty’s conditional on it being carried out by a Dealer! There are three London Lexus dealers showing in the Lexus list and I presume you are already aware of them. I think both Edgware Rd and Woodford have had mainly good reports by LOC members in the past.

Despite me not making it (gutted and daughter still unwell 😞) thanks from me for organising @B1RMA I know it can be a bit like herding cats. Perhaps we might get another one in before the weather turns horrid again...

Oooh goody, a ragged out, pimped out, neglected LS430. Errr, pass!! 🙄 You would be FAR better off with Nicholas's 2001. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125985269652

You will struggle to find independent garages specialised for Toyota/Lexus simply because they dont really go wrong theres no market for them. Its the typical wear & tear items that are usually due servicing, tyres,brakes, waterpumps, engines with cambelt. Unlike the German cars VW, Audis, VW Specialist that are setup to support with tuning & servicing etc Most garages can service these cars, nothing complex at all unless your doing anything major to the HYBRID system. Im not a mechanic by any means but servicing Toyota/Lexus has been one of the easiest cars to work or live with the only time it sees a garage is for an MOT If your good at DIY & Have the space invest in a couple of ramps/axle stands & tools & you will enjoy working on these cars look on youtube for how to guidances.

There is a fundamental reason why the transmission fluid is sent through the radiator on the Lexus LS400 and that is to keep the transmission fluid at its optimum operating temprature . The car was sold internatioally across all the continents and the climate extremes are very relevant. When the Mark 1 I owned was started up in a minus centigrade winters the gears were very sluggish and the sports change up and overdrive would not operate until the car had done a few miles. This was because the engine operating temprature had not reached its optimum level and so niether had the transmission fluid. So the radiator as well as cooling the fluid it heats it up to a consistent best operating temp and avoids burnt fluid and burnt clutches because the fluid is not getting where it should. Because a transmission cooler individually placed in the system does not have this precise control ,example; constant idling in low speed traffic jams means no airflow over the heat exchanger the temp of the fluid could exceed its safe operating temp and burn.

Ditto all that... including thanks to B1RMA for organising. Look forward to another 👍🏼

Big thanks to Birma for making this happen today. Saw more F cars than I've ever seen on the roads. Great seeing and talking to all, learnt more about my own car from you all than ever the dealer told me. Till the next time.

Thank you for organising David. It was lovely to meet everyone 😁. We really enjoyed looking round the venue too. For info I bought 3 tickets/wristbands at the kiosk (I have a pic of the numbers if needed) Hopefully I’ve attached the pictures I took. Sorry I’m no photographer

Hi yes thank you for organising the event had a good look at some very decent looking cars. Hopefully will own one myself in the not to distant future. In need of an isf as soon as possible. All the best john

When I went inside the Museum there was no one collecting any money or looking at tickets...that was going in the doors near we parked then down the escalator to the Museum display.

@B1RMA Thank you for organising this. Had a brilliant time today and thank you to all that came and made it great 👍.

Thanks for sorting things @B1RMA. FYI handed my sticker back so they best not invoice you for it.

Saturday was a good day, most ladies going together to do retail therapy in Coventry, leaving the men to talk SC430! Let's hope Sunday is better!

Hello Mario and welcome to the LOC. It looks like a very good example that you have purchased. I’ve never had the opportunity to examine a failed radiator/cooler to determine the exact failure cause so can only surmise it is either down to internal corrosion of the transmission cooler or fractures of the pipe work due to constant heating and cooling. I would also suggest that the fluid mixing occurs when the engine is switched off so no hydraulic pressure but coolant pressure would remain higher until cooled down allowing engine coolant to flow into the transmission cooler. When it comes to replacements the easiest method is a direct like for like replacement with a decent quality aftermarket unit or as you mention fitting a new coolant radiator and an external transmission cooler kit, the latter I feel being an improvement over the OEM combined set up. From what I can gather from previous failures it seems to happen between 8-10 years so for preventative maintenance I would stick to these figures for service life. Basically if the radiator is still the original do it now as a £200.00 part is certainly better than the cost of a replacement transmission and the labour costs involved. Replacement fluids should of course be OEM Toyota only.

Hi Mike Welcome to the SC430 forum on Lexus Owners Club. I hope you enjoy our group and you always have plenty of SC owners to chat to. It is always difficult to choose a venue which will suit all and Coventry appears to be fairly central for the members who attend. Hopefully there will be many SC's and their owners here and it is always good to put a face to a name. See you Sunday. Anthony

The car park at The Bear is ready and waiting for the sound of the throbbing heartbeat of V8 engines!

Welcome to the club Marcus, been using Momentum 99 since the early 2000's 😊👍

And proud of it!

I too always get my ( trusted ) service and MOT guy to pontificate on the likely rust issues ……. There don’t seem to be any so far, touch wood, just this blooming rust developing on my wheel arch these past couple of years …… and I just know the moment it’s sorted ( it can be they tell me ) some buggers going to zap me and I know it takes very little to write a car off these days ……. Especially our old and trusted steeds …….. I’m already on Cat N from some years back …… just a simple rear door, quite small, easily sorted bash ….. wrote her off …… and I just kept her going, of course We’re on “ borrowed time” with these old gals methinks 😎 Malc

Sorry to hear that Ken and hope you are on the mend soon. I'll make sure to post as much as I can.. Best regards. Nick

Hi there, I am wondering if anyone has the part number for the bearing or where can be bought from. Many thanks!

Drove it to Fort William to start the NC500 later in the week [emoji51] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk