steve2006

Plus those Nectar points 😀

Always wondered how a screw can get embedded in a tyre so close to the sidewall. If you drop a screw it will fall onto its side not be stood up in such a position as to penetrate a tyre, something like a box of felting tacks scattered on the road yes I can see that but a screw no.

Do you want part numbers for the cats?

Having had “Classic” insurance for around 5 years my full NCB expired as this type of insurance doesn’t accrue any NCB. It was very cheap for an import model with agreed value and limited mileage. When I replaced the car with a later model, again an import my classic insurer wouldn’t offer cover at all and after a lot of calls I found only one company who would offer cover for an import with zero NCB which cost me over £600.00, £500.00 excess and 3000 mile limit. Renewal time and I was expecting a 25% NCB but the renewal was half the previous premium including excess waiver and 3000 miles.

I had a broken rear spring a few years ago and even then stock was limited. I replaced both with KYB springs and the rear did sit higher. The amplifier is integrated into the head unit, mine also failed (Premium Sound System) so I hard wired an after market head unit and sub amp. First thing I would check are the speakers, the cones tend to rot. The sub wiring is all in the boot so shouldn’t have been disturbed.

Pretty sure M6 x 1

Looking closely at the pictures it’s not just the rust, there is also a lot of flakey corrosion on the alloy cam cover and even the low pressure AC fill valve and pipe unions/ pipes look well crusty. The fact it is localised to just one side is also weird.

This is where a dash cam would have provided evidence in your favour. Only had dealings with a Claims Management Company once when my old 94 was written off. They collected the car which they took to their Chesterfield site and as promised left me a loan car.....a VW Polo and subsequently wrote off the Celsior. The 3rd party insurers phoned me up directly offered me a decent settlement after a short haggle and another grand each for myself and my Mother who was also in the car at the time of the accident and allowed me to retain salvage for free. This was on the basis that I returned the loan car ASAP ( I assume they were being charged a fortune for it and was too embarrassed to drive it so bought a cheap GS300 for transport) I rang the CMC told them to collect their loaner and return my car. After a bit of a squabble “ We don’t normally return salvage” the Celsior was returned, the Polo collected, Celsior was repaired locally ( the body shop owner bought the GS300 off me for the same money I paid for it) and we had a nice holiday.

It was in such good condition, reliable, cheap classic agreed value insurance and I do such low mileage I just kept it thinking I would never find another like it. How many cars do you know at 25 years old that still have their original brake discs all round, the original headlight bulbs, still not hit 100k miles and spends 99% of its life in the garage. Even when it was cat C years ago I could not find a decent replacement so after the insurance gave me the car back for nothing I had it repaired. A few times I thought about changing it, sometimes I thought “I’m bored with driving the same car and the seats need some work” However I did the seats myself and carried on. Had it not been for Phil selling his 2004 Celsior with everything maintaining wise already done and in immaculate condition at a good price I would certainly still have it. I did hang onto it for several months after buying the newer car but let it go before the insurance ran out.

Hi Tim and welcome to the LOC. Although there are many happy Lexus diesel owners many of whom have never had engine problems they appear to be the least reliable when it comes to the engine. Many had replacement engines fitted under warranty ( I think the warranty was also extended such were the problems) Clogged EGR valves, Head gasket failures and blown turbos ( search the forums for the horror stories). Personally I would avoid sealant, diesel compression ratios would soon blow that out, the apparent HG problem was caused by the gasket sliding out of position. I doubt if a replacement gasket would be the end of your problems. Finding a recon engine may prove difficult as no one wants to get involved in them but I believe the same engine is fitted in some Toyota models (D4D?) I do wonder why the car was sold.........

Nice one 😀 Shame about the airbag error, just be careful when “modifying” you don’t want the others going off unintentionally!

With today’s state of the roads I’m not surprised, having checked the previous owner apparently lived at 14a Pothole Lane 😀 Seriously the front suspension on the LS460 is quite involved with 2 separate upper control arms and the lower ball joint is part of the steering knuckle so not a separately replaceable item

Hi James and welcome to the LOC. I’ve only recently sold my 1994 model after 16 years of ownership, I never thought I would find another in the same or better condition but eventually upgraded to a 2004 model. How did you come across yours? It looks to be in good condition apart from the wing problem.

Same here, always watch the Salvage Rebuilds videos and also noticed the LS. May have been tempted to raid the pension funds for the Range Rover fire engine 😀

Actually the £1430.00 appears to be “ out the door” I know the MGF fetched £4900.00 hammer price and shows £5390.00 as the sale price.

It’s up now Malc on the listings page, final bid price was £1430.00 plus £180.00 commission and VAT so £1610.00 “out the door”. Not a bad price considering today’s market.

Given the skill needed to apply tint correctly on the curved rear window the price looks reasonable. I looked into DIYing my previous Celsior and checked out the YouTube videos. The side windows looked fairly easy but the back window looked impossible so never bothered. New Celsior has factory tinted rears 😀

Easy enough to confirm, get your mechanic to measure the parasitic current drain then disconnect the solenoid electrical connection and measure it again. My battery was completely flat after being stood 3 weeks at the airport recently.

Hi Gary and welcome to the LOC. I’m surprised you’re not going through your insurance? Having said that they would probably write the car off! The later models had various cosmetic changes made but I can’t see Lexus redesigning the body and doors so I would say it would fit. Electrically they should also be the same, as far as I know the door ECU is not coded to the car. The early models (pre facelift) did have problems with the laminated windows going cloudy so check that and they tended to rust where the trim fits across the door.

Perhaps not when you consider an Airbus 320 burns around 5 gallons of fuel per hour per seat, 2.5 tonnes an hour and that’s at cruise not take off 😀.

Missed this one and no idea what it went for but looks quite nice with reasonable mileage and MOT history With just 2 previous owners. Estimated £1250.00-£2000.00. If anyone knows what it fetched please post up. https://www.barons-auctions.com/view-lot/4398/for-sale-at-barons-auctions-1998-lexus-ls-400-automatic?search=true

“Lexus in pursuit of that perfect gear change” 😀

Can you not plastic weld it back together?

Unless you can find a breaker it will have to be a new one. Around £150.00 from Lexus or around £100.00 if you get from Amayama inc shipping and VAT. Still a lot for a plastic moulding...what happened to the original one?

Don’t forget the “AC not working, just requires a re-gas” one and of course the “Short MOT but will fly through the next one” 😀