Cotswold Pete

Looks like a good show, might try to make it - need to check calendar when I get home Only 5 miles from where I purchased my current Mk4.

I think you have to do it for your car. I have found that with current and previous LS, the speedo versus gps gap was different between cars,and with my current one the gap is not linear. So gps reads 70 when speedo says it is doing 75 but gps says 73 when speedo says 80 and gps says 80 when speedo says 89. What I need to do is the work out whether the gap between speedo, gps and average speed number is different, but probably need a nice clear road and too much spare time on my hands

From previous cars, always found water dripping down the inside to be the result of blocked drain pipes. Sunroofs as far as i know always let water in, which is why they have drains at all four corners.

I prefer the Mk4 method. Once had a Peugeot with rain sensors, but preferred to keep it off. Maybe I am just too much of a control freak when it comes to wipers!!!

It does not look as bad as many I have seen. However fine particulate in a filter is the hidden problem which means always should be changed as per schedule. I assume the increasing amount of diesel cars with their increased particulate is also clagging up more an more filters.

Not so daft, once had a mate of mine who helped his brother fit a Revox reel to reel in a 2CV back in 1976. Removed the front passenger seat to do that. I do sometimes listen to cassette, with all of that hiss and drop-out, but having a classic car, it needs classic sound IMHO, but understand why the iPAD route would appeal

This is the only downside to a Mk4, but I assume the glass weighs more so increases fuel consumption

So should I use floss to clean the bit behind the wing mirrors or is it best to use one of those Interdental TePes. I do actually use old toothbrushes to remove the green algae that gets onto the window seals.

Condensation from exhaust in any other car would indicate head gasket on it's way out. Though never heard of a the gasket going on an LS Is your coolant needing to be topped up. Also check filters, on my 1st LS, they were well overdue and made a difference of about 3mpg when filters replaced. A MK4 certainly has no problems doing 36mpg when treated gently, my Mk2 got up to 34, so assume different auto-box makes the difference on long runs

I agree that the LS is so quite, it is only road noise at 60mph you hear, and that UK roads are so naff the harsh surface creates too much noise. I will say that went out in a Golf Blue Motion the other day (one of my sales teams car), and the road noise was almost as good as the LS (but then it has narrower tyres) One thing to remember is that the LS was designed before the advent of computer technology used extensively in car design, so I suspect newer Lexus cars will have the upper hand in better acoustic isolation, and there would be 60 computers working on the problem, not 60 engineers.

Found this link about lead acid life. Does seem that if your LS is allowed to drain the battery, then it will not last long. http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/can_the_lead_acid_battery_compete_in_modern_times So does explain why trickle charging is good, and leaving a the alarm to drain the system is a route to having a short battery life. I have managed to get mine started using a battery that is much smaller, so maybe the larger battery is designed in to keep all this electronics ticking over for a month or more.

Seems like everyone who has had LS400 exhaust pipe problems, it can be a cheap fix of a stupidly expensive fix, depending on what the problem is. From what I understand my Y piece was on it's way out, and that when they took starting taking stuff apart that was when the flanges came to light. So I am quite happy that I now have a stainless Y section so in theory future expense on exhaust should be minimal. I assume one day the Cat will need to be replaced, but last MOT was still well within limits.

Just got the exhaust sorted today. Turned out that it was not just the Y piece but the flanges all shot to heck. So pocket £250 lighter after Infinity Exhausts sorted it. Took them less them less than 2 hours, while I went for a walk along the bit of the Cotswold way that goes through James Dyson's back garden (big bl**dy garden, mind you). Car now back to the silence I expect other than a whole chunk of the A46 has had top dressing this week, so nice an noisy surface until it gets bit of wear on it (just before it all starts shedding the top layer!?!?! :mat:

you have grey leather aswell like mine - thats rare very easy to keep clean unlike cream - black in my opinion doesn't to the car justice Current and previous LS have grey leather, and totally agree about the black. Not sure about the cream, I think it looks okay, but not so sure I would want to have one given my 400 is everyday workhorse.

First time this happened to me in previous LS, made me panic, but having had 3 battery replacements, kind of get used to it. If the battery is fine fettle then should be able to leave standing for more than 2 weeks, even a MK4. Left my Mk4 for 3 weeks at Gatwick, fired up first time on return. Left my Mk2 once for 3 months, and it fired up first time. But a battery can go from good to pretty rubbish very quickly.

An LS always look nice when scrubbed up, I need to spend some time getting mine cleaned up, but as ever other DIY projects and the garden get my attention when the weather turns nice.

Graphite powder is generally better for the lock rather than WD40, certainly used it on padlocks to greater effect than WD40 or any other liquid lubricant

Need to show this to my teenage son, as he used to want to know when he was younger if you could carry passengers in the boot. But I told him not allowed as no child seat harnesses.

Maybe if you had just bought a MG TF1500 (55 model) as your 68th Birthday present, the number plate could be put onto the MG. I quite like the RAC badge as well, but that would look out of place of the TF1500

My previous LS used to do this weird cycling, but it had the Capacitor failure issue (stalling after long runs). With current Mk4, the AC causes the engine to run at about 150ish RPM more when stationary. It does not cycle though, so I assume the capacitors are okay, though I notice my idle speed can drop to 250rpm at times, so I assume the ECU is either not quite 100%, though I have a slightly leaky exhaust (to be sorted in 3 weeks), so be interesting to see if this makes any difference. With previous cars I have owned, found replacing the HT leads made a difference to idle rev cycling especially in extreme heat or extreme cold.

You should notice a big difference once you have new rear pads fitted, I certainly did. Was surprised at the cost of the sensors, and so when I do the front brake, may well have ago at repairing the sensors (which are still taped up). Enjoy your trip, a interesting way to get to Edinburgh, via France!!

Should that be - I was so proud of my LS that I showed him around - I know I would. Down in Devon two years ago, had GS300 and iS220 owners wanting to have a chat and a peek. The GS chap had given up his LS400 for a the 300, a nice car for sure, but I love the classic look of my Mk4.

I think the boot looks like the cleanest place to be, so I'll not be putting in a bid. My kids make a blinking mess of my car, but I do keep them clean, so maybe this seller keeps pigmy goats in the footwells!!!

Just been in email dialogue with Dr Colorchip, and they say that their paint works best when the chip is down to the metal, as it is designed to bond better to metal than base coat paint. And there-in lies the problem with the LS, the chips rarely show metal, because (I guess) the top coat is so darned thick. Has anyone used Dr Colorchip and noticed any difference whether on base coat or on metal.

Pete, if I may ask? What would she otherwise fritter the hard-earned away on? I sincerely hope it isn't her hair; or even worse, shoes for the kids! None of them, it's her Jag that she is worried about when it has it's MOT in three weeks, I reckon it will be fine. Also a whole load of money to be burnt on getting the lounge sorted - new oak floor, built in units etc etc. If it were me, it would a the sofa, the drinks cabinet, the TV mounted on the wall, and the stereo set up for best sounds, job done. But ladies they need it different!!! As for the kids, well they can go around bare foot if the Lexus needs sorting Will take the LS to Infinity Exhausts near Bristol on saturday and see what they say, seems worth getting a reasonable job done while I actually have some pennies in the bank account