Cotswold Pete

My Mk4 (2000) has folding mirrors, so it must have been the very last of them that had it fitted in UK. I have not looked to see if the near and offside mounts are different.

I had valet key with my Mk2, but not with current Mk4, which is why I fixed the keys. My first attempt at fixing was cr*p, and lasted about 6 weeks, so my version 2 of fix was better thought out. I would say that if i charged myself say £15 per hour to fix, it would have been cheaper to go to Lexus and buy a key at their prices, but I love a challenge.

I know what you mean about the twisting action being the problem, and with my keys being 15 years old, were getting a bit 'iffy'. So I looked at 3rd party shells, and though okay they are not as rigid as the Lexus original. So I decided to re-build one of my keys, as the problem seems to be the back part (with the logo on) where the screw beds down, this tends to go, so spent a day or two with some hard plastic and super-glue getting it done, and for last year had no problems. I have also got into the habit of holding the key nearer the stem end (rather than lanyard end) so that it puts less strain on the whole sheebang. Hopefully they'll last another 15 years!!!

Sounds like a real pain, and though I am not an insurance assessor, I like things to be as they should, and not look a little bit 'not quite right'. Best of luck getting it sorted.

I would say that the LS400 and 430 are distinctive, and both designs grow on you even though the 430 take a bit longer IMHO I find the 430 was the car that tried to look a bit like a Merc - when it did not need to. I really think the 460 (first generation) nailed it in terms of looks, but not so sure I really want a car with all those gizmos surrounding me. But I am sure when I get around to swapping my 400 for a 460 then I'll take a different view. One thing for sure, the next car will be a LS

The garage owner was questioning me to start with, which is what I find annoying. To be honest if I had the time I would do the brakes myself, as I have done it on my previous cars, but got too many other things to do at weekends, the car has not had any love and attention from me in last 9 months, so looking more like a dirty farm car (inside and out) rather than the luxury barge it should be. The other thing I have discovered is that this garage has mucked up two of my neighbours cars by doing his own thing rather than listen to what the car owner was saying, so maybe the garage is only good for 'general service' rather than specialist fault finding. I do appreciate some of the issues are a bit of a dark art to bottom out, and if I lived near Japex I would probably take the LS to them to see what their thoughts are, but cannot see that happening, unless I get new pads and the problem still manifests itself.

Just wanted to get off my chest how annoying garage owners can be (I am sure they are not all the same), when they think that 1. Car owners do not know as much as garages 2. Forums are a waste of time. So I am pretty sure my front pads (Blueprints on for 30 months) are vibrating, they have been for last 6 or so months, but sometimes worse than others. I have some brake squeal and sometimes on certain speed humps I get the every so gentle clump/thunk noise. So in my head I have decided that the best way forward is to get Lexus pads on the car. So here is how it goes the other day. (somewhat paraphrased) Me: I was wondering if you could fit Lexus pads for me, you did the brakes 30 months ago, and I think this is best course of action Garage: Well why Lexus pads, the blueprints are as good, in fact I had a guy the other day who wanted OEM parts fitted, so we ordered the OEM parts and other 3rd party set, and we then showed the customer that they were made by the same company. Me: Well I have got brake squeak, judder that varies, it seems to tie in with the speed I am driving, and I have asked on the Lexus forum for ideas Garage: Well that is the trouble with forums, they are full of people who are not mechanics, and people end up spending money on things not needed because of these forums. At this point I should have just left the building, but he started to suggest it could be the tyres, the suspension, or even me in my head (what???) etc. What he wanted to do is to go out for a drive with me and listen to the sound etc. I replied that some days the problem was so slight not enough to worry about, and at other times it was more noticeable so we might need to drive around for a day or two. At the end of the day the problem is live-able with but I really would like the LS to be as smooth as it should be. So I have decided to find someone who will just do what the customer asks, in other words fit the parts I have asked for, not anything else, and no naffing debate about whether it could be the tyres or the suspension, or some dastardly plot by Jeremy Corbyn to ban luxury driving, or whatever. BUT what annoys me is more than once (not just this garage) I have had mechanics say that forums are a pain, because people do not know what they are talking about. I trained as an engineer many years ago, so I have sought advice from this forum and put my engineering brain in gear and though about whether what the chaps on this site say, makes reasonable sense. And if it turns out that the brake pads were not the problem, then at least I have new brake pads that will last a long time (given the blueprints have now done 25,000 miles) and the ruddy squeal should have gone at the very least. Anyway I have got it off my chest now, so I just need to speak to the chap who does my wife’s Jag to see if he will just do what I ask, and I will not even mention the fact that I am on the Lexus forum.

Long time since I thought about washing up liquid. I had heard it was a problem because of salt, but on the aa web site, just seen it saying it produces too much foam - so I assume that means you could end up driving through a bubble bath. I would imagine the amount of any additive in washing screen liquid will eventually cause a problem to the something on the car (be it paint, wipers, screen rubber), but the amount of salt and junk on roads in winter must surely do as much damage in the long run. The idea of meths and washing up liquid sounds fair enough, but I use the Halfords stuff, good value, keeps the screen clean and means I get to keep the meths for family tea times :P

Thanks heavens for this posting, made me look up my license, and it expires next Oct. Hopefully I'll have no horror stories on this post, but like 99% of drivers being without a license would be a real brake on living life. if I had to catch the bus to work (11 miles) it would take 3 buses and 2.5 hours (as opposed to 25 minute drive).

Nice one, been in many RR's and even a ragged old knackered RR is a machine worth driving. If I had to leave Lexus it would be for a nice V8, as they are comfortable and fairly quite, but I think it'll be the LS only for a while. Enjoy the winter and not getting stuck when the white stuff arrives.

Maddest I have ever seen was in Istanbul, but these stories make it sound like a quiet Sunday in Bakewell. For crazy un-expected I did find Jo'burg and Cape Town interesting, goats on the motorway, and pedestrians without a care, and at night driving through red lights (or robots as they call them), because you might get car-jacked if you stop. So you had to keep your wits about you all the time even when it appeared to be safe. Also the A22 in Algarve used to be really 'interesting', lots of high speed drink driving which is why it earned it's reputation as one of Europe's worst roads, saw lots of near death maneuvers back 20 years ago, though not so bad since they built the dual carriageway down to Lagos.

A short and spot on summary. Not sure that my Mk4 will outlive me, but then it might last another 20 years with some TLC

Subtle enough IMHO. I never have enough time to keep my in trim, let alone make any mods, but I do like the monogrammed headrests Like the red colour, though not driven a red car in 22 years, every red car I ever had was involved in accidents (not my fault). Ever since I stopped driving red cars (had 5 in my driving career) never had anyone hit me.

Certainly worth a look, seems tidy from the photos , even the bump (more dent) seems to be liveable with. The knock is probably the usual control arm wear your going to get at about this sort of mileage, or could be non OEM brake pads which can clunk about a bit. I guess it is a short drive for you to have a look see, be interesting to see your thoughts if you do look/buy.

The basking shark look is not growing on me, and I must confess the 430 look has never appealed, but if ever I had to buy one (should my current LS give up) I am sure I would get used to it. I guess when your driving your not looking at the grill, so maybe I am just being an old fuddy-duddy. My main 'problem' with newer cars (of all persuasions) is the console looking more like a flightdeck cockpit (by the way anyone know why it is called a cockpit?)

In many ways I prefer the console on the pre-Mk4 models, seem less distracting at night, and the lovely glow of LED's is nice IMHO

well after 7 years of own LS, you still learn something new. How does it adjust the sensitivity - is this in the hand book? So many oil burners out there chucking out all sorts of muck, makes me wonder how we put up with it, all that black soot turning to sulphuric acid in your lungs (all be it in small amounts)!

So glad they spent all that time and effort to show the Yanks how to build a car that was worth buying. I wonder how a 15 year old USA Luxury Sedan (Detroit Dustbin) would be like to drive now. I heard the USA complained about it's slightly hard, but having driven many a car in USA, I would swap that hard ride for the ability to stay on the road (which was always a challenge in the wet and above 60mph on average new Hampshire country lane (or even dual carriageway). Watching that video was bit like the sort of film they put on before the main feature came on screen.

Now we know why the people on Grand Designs go over budget if that is how much it costs to polish a floor. Hope you sort something out to keep the toes warm

Agree that a wood floor will keep the old toes warmer. Maybe if your not too bothered, look at putting down scaffold board, nice and thick, not going to be as nice as a hardwood floor, though should take a lot of abuse. the only issue being they are not tongue and grooved, so you may need to route a lip to make sure you do not have gaps that go right down to base. Make sure your log burner has a slate/concrete base, and your wood sits on some robust damp-proof membrane,which may mean any the concrete slab needs a a look at to make sure no punctures through the membrane. Also if you install a wood floor, you would need to leave a 10mm-15mm gap around edge other wise when the wood moves it could push your garage walls out (seen that happen once, not a pretty sight).

Any laminate floor is going to a nightmare if any liquid gets in and start to lift off the top real wood veneer. If it has to be wood, I would go for a solid oak floor, which would be cheaper than engineered board. We are just going through the process of installing solid oak floor in lounge above a slightly damp cellar, and the one the one thing I would suggest is talking to some builders who specialise in floor insulation, and also the timber companies. You will get a number of views and then it's up to you. English oak is as tough as you like, but spilling oil onto anything like that will stain (though not likely to damage the oak). How about polishing the concrete floor and sealing it, always looks nice (if your into that sort of thing) on Grand Designs.

That wheel looks like an example of one sat in a damp boot for too long.

Not sure what got my brain asking this question, but it maybe with bright mornings we had a for a while I have taken to a bit of winter driving with the roof open. But the other day I cast my eye around the estate where I work, and it seems like none of the cars have sunroofs. The people in the office reckoned it was because we all have AC these days. But the 400 has both. I have never noticed whether the 430 & 460 are without sun roof, but if modern cars are all without, then that is another reason to stick with my 400 and because it is designed and built properly it does not seem to contribute to increased noise levels when closed.

Maybe you should give these guys a call near Glos docks, and they did my complete autobox oil change http://www.autotransgloucester.co.uk/ They seem to know their stuff, though of course they would not be able to change the settings for the other stuff. I use Gas & Go in Swindon and the chap there has his own 430 so may be worth a chat with them as well

And still talking TV, if you go this web site and get the tool Get_iPlayer you can pull TV and Radio programmes off the BBC, and watch them when you like (this tool removes the time limit). http://www.infradead.org/get_iplayer/html/get_iplayer.html I've been using it for years, a real boon for Radio 4 programmes that are not podcasts which I want to catch up on while wafting along in the LS