TigerFish

Yeah, all mk1's had the separate key and fob. The key has a transponder in it so unless you could hack the fob and key about to fit them in a flip case I don't think you can do much about it. You could obviously stick the key transponder inside the dash near the key barrel to do away with that part but the fob would still be a problem.

There isn't much about for tuning, or mods, without spending huge amounts of cash. Unless I've missed some bargain sites somewhere.

welcome to LOC

It is a 3rd gen model that you have, which as far as I know began in 2005 so you there shouldn't be any reason why there is anything iffy with yours. the model code is UZS190 for the 3rd gen, whereas it was UZS160 for the 2nd gen.

Looked like a fun drive mate. Was this an option on a buyable track day, or was it a dealer perk? Shame there is no video from the track side of the car going round, it is hard to get any perspective of speed from the views they show.

Not sure what leads are available nowadays. When I did mine, there weren't any. I think there are a couple of options now, but I don't think any patch an aftermarket unit into the amp, I think they are all designed to bypass the amp.

I fitted an aftermarket stereo in my mk1 and mk2 GS300's. Much better than the standard setup for sound. The changer is in the boot, on the right hand side, if it had been removed, it would stick out like a turd on a bowling green, as the boot floor liner is moulded around it. The amp is located underneath the changer. If you are not bothered about returning it back to standard later, then just cut the wiring at either end (headunit and amp - to effectively bypass the amp). By bypassing the amp, you don't need to run new speaker cables in. Obviously with the amp bypassed, the sub in the rear shelf doesn't work. I fitted a Vibe active sub in the boot and removed the factory sub. If you need any specifics, let me know. p.s. None of the fascia adaptors I could find advertised for the mk1 would actually fit (they were all for left hand drive cars and the opening isn't symmetrical). I bought the one from Toyota for the Aristo. There are details (part numbers) for the fascia in the link in my signature "Mk1 Single Din install", hope it helps.

There is a link in my signature to a tutorial I did for changing the contacts and plunger on the starter. It was for a GS300, but the starters are the same.

I know what you mean Andy M. I think my 2001 GS430 Sport for £2,200 was a steal. Pretty darn fast too B)

Oddly enough, I have bought a couple of different iPod solutions for my 2001 GS430 Sport with sat nav and neither have worked for me, I'm sure dension was one of them. I had to send them back :(

Unfortunately, not all mk2's were compliant either. My 99 GS300 Sport wasn't, my 2001 GS430 Sport is.

My mk1 used to go flat relatively quickly (7 to 10 days from what I remember), but I would get the battery checked out just to make sure it is ok.

mk1 GS's are not OBDII compliant so don't waste your money mate. Full OBDII compliance was mandatory from 96 onwards in the US, but didn't come in until 2000 in europe unfortunately.

I think it is because the traction control uses the fuel/ignition system to stop the power, so if it thinks there is a problem in the ignition system, it makes sense that it can't rely on it for the traction control, and turns it off.

Main things to look out for are knocks in the suspension (some of the arms/bushes are pretty expensive) and binding brakes - evident normally with steering wheel wobble/shake with light/moderate braking. Genuine exhausts are very expensive, so either make sure it is solid, or look at custom made aftermarket exhausts, which normally hit the £300-£400 mark. Other than that, they are pretty solid motors. There are plenty of mk1's breaking, so nothing is normally in short supply, but be aware the breakers these days know what the bits are worth, so won't always be cheap. The timing belt having been done is helpfull, although they are a non interference engine so if it does snap, no damage is done.

My 2001 GS430 doesn't allow changing the destination while on the move either, only amending it.

Do you mean for the boot or the rear screen? both. Trunk and roof spoiler. :) I bought both of the roof spoilers (for the GS300 and GS430) from ebay. They are painted up and ready to fit straight from the box. Worth every penny in my opinion. For the trunck spoiler, I guess it depends what sort you want, both my GS's came with the factory trunk spoiler with built in brake light. If you want just a lip spoiler, again ebay ones look pretty good. For the factory type ones, not sure where other than Lexus/Toyota or a breakers yard.

Do you mean for the boot or the rear screen?

looks very nice mate. I have similar rear lights on my GS430 Sport. Exterior parts seem thin on the ground for these cars in the UK too. I have a roof spoiler (well worth it, they look great and relatively cheap), carbon eyebrows, smoked side repeaters, hopefully will be fitting coilovers in the next couple of weeks. My old GS300 Sport had limo black rear windows, which I really liked, so I'll be getting that done to the 430 at some point too.

I had red stuff pads on my GS300 Sport (plus drilled and grooved discs) but I hadn't covered many miles when I bought the GS430 Sport, So they hadnt fully bedded in. I took the discs and redstuff pads off the 300, and will fit them to the 430 soon. Even before a full bed in, the redstuff pads felt much better than the standard pads. I would've thought with the weight of the LS, the red stuff pads would be spot on too.

The mk1 has gas struts. There is a place in Derby that re-gasses them at a decent price, can't remember their name though.

Did you read my post above?

Unfortunately, on the mk2 GS, there are no damping struts. They work using torsion bars. The outer end of the torsion bars do have three or four (can't remember exactly how many) adjustment points. You need to pull the trim out from the top of each side of the boot (you can see where the torsion bars disappear behind the trim - they are the metal rods that span the boot opening just above the opening). Not sure which way you need to move them, or where yours will be adjusted to, but might be worth moving them to see if it improves things.

Nice buy B)

There is an ODBII socket on the lower dash panel on the drivers side. Unfortunately, pre 2000 cars (I think it is 2000) aren't "fully" ODBII compliant. My code reader won't read my 99 GS300 Sport, but does read my 2001 GS430 Sport.