Neil E

If it's maintained correctly it should cope with very high mileage. In the US there are examples with 300k on them.

Are both headlights too high or just one? It is possible to do a manual adjustment (I've done it as a temp adjustment) but if everything is set correctly and working correctly then there should be no need as the lights auto level. This thread on the US site explains it after the first few posts. https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc430-2nd-gen-2001-2010/808843-auto-leveling-headlights.html

285 should be fine and the rolling circumference is spot on. I had 2 sets of Contis at 285 on 9.5 but after fitting the rear ISF ARB I went with 275 Contis on the rear and it felt better. I know it can vary from one tyre make to another but if I was to do it all again, I would go for 10 or 10.5 inch rims to run 285s. The slight flare on the rear arch from the kit does allow for a slightly more aggressive offset. https://www.wheel-size.com/calc/ I would think the strut brace for the Mk2 GS is the same as the SC but haven't found anything to confirm it.

Good info Toby, what width wheels do you have?

https://www.canavie.com/ Looks very impressive. Might be worth asking them directly if they make a version that works with the RHD UK model RX. The lack of detailed specification info on the site is a concern, I would feel more confident about the quality of Alpine, Kenwood or Pioneer with a Beatsonic interface but that could only upgrade the AV and Nav.. Beat-sonic definitely does work with the ML system but it's not a cheap solution. https://world-beatsonic.com/audio_adapters/lexus-rx-double-din-kit/

No experience of the Apexi or Blitz versions but they simply open the throttle quicker than the standard factory setting will allow. Some of the tests done by various car bloggers demonstrate it quite well but I haven't seen a test with an SC430 reset to factory standard response against a throttle controller to know how much of the delay is saved.

Might be worth asking these guys if they can help. They supply universal adjustable links. www.spring-loaded.co.uk/categories.php?cat=RoadNutz+Adjustable%2FUprated+Suspension+Drop+Links

Hi Toby glad to help with the info. Were you able to obtain the drop links and bushes too?

For a strut brace I think the US will be your best option now but you could try The Lexusman. I had to import my rear ARB and that wasn't too painful. Coil-overs and stiffer sway-bars definitely make a difference.

Well done Rob, good to see you're back on it. That's a great result. All the best for 2020.

Hi Joe, I don't think Retroplay actually fitted the mirrors, I think it was just an observation that the Japanese /UK spec cars have the folding mirror feature. IF the mirrors are controlled by the door modules then that might help but I haven't been able to find anything to confirm it. If there are US and UK versions then they may not be inter-changeable as they control other features, it's going to take some research.

It could be coincidence but the cruise stalk is on the steering wheel. If the cruise light on the dash is illuminated then that would suggest the cruise stalk is connected correctly. So in 'Drive' above 30 mph if the stalk when pushed up and down to set the speed doesn't work that suggests the contacts in the stalk could be the issue. If you're okay disconnecting the battery and removing the steering wheel with a suitable puller then it's a fairly quick task to swap the stalk for a good secondhand part.

Hi Joe I can't find a wiring diagram for the mirrors, Retroplay on clublexus looked into this before and we confirmed the mirrors swivel on the button and have the option to tilt down when reverse gear is selected. Try these people for the parts. www.1stchoice.co.uk/quotes/while-you-wait/REQ-AD8FB4B they are showing results for door mirrors. Search for UK Lexus breakers and you will find there are a few.

Hi Ross, it sounds like you're on top of it now. The ML system can sound very good and of course because the car is so large and so quiet that helps a lot but ultimately it's only going to sound as good as the speakers will allow. Adding good sub bass can make quite a difference at reasonable listening levels. I'm still convinced that the old LS400 had one of the best standard car audio systems but I haven't yet found a standard car set up to compare with one made from high quality aftermarket components. I'm looking to swap from the SC430 to an RCF but I know the audio will be a big disappointment.

To check the door speakers, if you put your hand on the grills you will be able to feel that they are working but don't expect to hear anything except low notes from them. If in doubt, open the door and listen to it, that should confirm whether the door speakers are okay. To adjust the sound, I would start with a completely flat setting on the system and then turn the volume up to a level you are comfortable with. (Don't use compressed music to test it) It won't sound complete until the volume is really quite loud. Then make adjustments in small increments from there until it sounds good to your ears. Some people like surround sound, some go for a front sound stage. Lexus (Harmon) allow a certain amount of adjustment but it's limited. They designed it so that the mid to high frequencies are high in the cabin, that's what you would expect. It doesn't matter too much where the bass comes from as direction of low bass is difficult to resolve with our ears.

It probably is normal at low listening levels. If you cover a speaker grill with your hand it's easy to tell if the driver is working. Without getting too technical, the hifi system uses a dividing network to split the signal so that the various frequencies are sent to the correct speakers Set the system to a 'flat' setting so that neither bass or treble is enhanced. Choose some music (I would recommend using a good CD or even a test disc) that you know has bass, voice and high pitch treble. Listen to each of the speakers and you should find that the sub in the back produces the low down bass, the low door speakers produce mid bass, the voice and higher frequencies will be produced from the speakers in the dash. (these are mids and tweeters) Ignore the hype and the silly comments but this thread may help www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-4th-gen-2007-2017/239355-the-new-ls-mark-levinson-reference-sound.html And to balance out the comments in the thread and for a simple sensible explanation of car audio design try this.

Hi Peter welcome to the club. Ask the dealer where it has been serviced and put the vehicle registration into the Govt MOT check site for the MOT history. That should give you some background on it. www.gov.uk/check-mot-history Hopefully it's had the cam-belt replacement service and water-pump replacement done. They are important. 1000 miles per year may increase once you get behind the wheel of the SC430, it's a rewarding drive. If the car is fine now and has been maintained correctly it should last you a lifetime. Mine has done 150,000 miles without any major issue despite all of the abuse it has received.

That sounds like very good service. I was a given a brand new RXL for a few days. There was a insurance fee of £25 but as I had some additional work done, they didn't charge it.

. Thanks . An X pipe should improve the flow and stop the drone. What you're proposing has been done many times before. How loud it will be will depend on the silencers. There are examples on you tube and on Lexus World. Richard (The Lexusman) does his that way. Good question, I didn't ask so I don't know if my big rear silencer has glassfibre around the tubes or if it's perforated stainless steel but I'm happy that it does the job and makes the right sound for me.

Lexus, well known on line auction sites, and salvage/car breakers. Many breakers offer parts searches on line. You might even find a set of the newer style wheels if you ask the SC430 community. Plenty of owners have aftermarket alloys.

Hi Phil, welcome to the club.There's a lot of info on exhaust set up here and on the US site. If you search elsewhere, read my build thread and follow the links to other resources you will find all you need to know and more besides. Third cat delete is not an MOT failure. If the system maintains a Y pipe or an X pipe to merge the flow from both banks and then split them again to be muffled by a rear silencer or two it shouldn't drone or cause fatigue on long journeys. Centre resonators will make it quieter, too quiet in my view but it's a matter of choice. Skip to 5.50, and 12.15 for the exhaust bits.

Takata air bag replaced by Motorline Lexus Gatwick, again by a Master Tech. All seems to be working very well. Had a good chat with the very helpful service manager Andy. Would definitely recommend them and was surprised to learn that they have done as many as 25 - 30 SC430 airbag recalls in the 18 months that they have been open at Gatwick.

Good news, that sounds more like it. The diagram makes it look a tough task but knowing how quick it is to take the centre console apart, I suspect it will be fairly easy to fix.

Hi Harry I wasn't able to talk to the tech, I might be able to when I pick the car up next week but I know from my experience of the SC430 that it is designed to clear all of the front screen and it does just that. Despite having a build thread of 46 pages, I haven't needed to access the heater so have no experience or pictures of the assembly but looking at the diagram below for the lhd model, the driver side damper sub assy and the mode damper sub assy move the 'flaps' that direct the air flow. My suspicion is that in the course of carrying out the air bag recall work something was done accidentally (or not reconnected) to disturb the operation of perhaps the drivers side servo or the duct to the screen on the driver's side. I've With the temp set to say 25 both sides. If you try the different modes on the HVAC panel display, can it direct hot air to 'feet only' on both sides and to the centre vents on both sides or is the driver side actually stuck in the one mode?

Well if it's a common problem with SC430 models I haven't heard of it and I'm in touch with quite a few owners. Clublexus would usually have a thread or two if it was a known issue but searching for similar faults doesn't seem to reveal anything common and I can't find a clear diagram that shows how the control to the screen vents is connected. Mine goes in tomorrow for the air bag recall. If I'm able to speak to the technician as I was last time, I will ask if he thinks it's necessary to disconnect the ducts or if it's possible to accidentally disturb the damper control in the process. If Lexus Gatwick get mine wrong I may have to get the spanners out and do a new tutorial 🤣 I haven't needed to get to the passenger airbag so far but I am concerned that they need the car for 2 days.