Malc

well, if you're dramatically opposed to using other than the Lexus Main Dealer then the car needs to be scrapped for sure, not worth wasting any more of your time on or maybe ....... which you seem to be totally averse to, an option could be to go visit a local ( or two ) gearbox repairers and ask their simple opinions just my thoughts Malc

guess most people have an annual service and MOT at the same time and I sure as wouldn't delay the service if it's fairly crucial ......... and therefore get a fresh MOT too Malc

so what is the terminal issue with the gearbox on the Ls400 ? we know they die on the Ls430 with a lack of radiator change etc but never heard of it with the Ls400 Malc

bugger seeing out the rear view mirror though Malc

Nigel, she looks a lovely car for sure ....... Reminds me of my J reg Mk1 all those years back ................ same colour as mine then, pearlescent white Problems I had at about 160k miles, the front UCAs had to be changed and the pas reservoir leaked onto the alternator and burnt it out one night on the M20 The expansion tank cap failed and cost about £5 in those days from a factor The 15" wheels and brakes not so good as the now 16" for sure ... the wheels look the same but they aren't, there's one spoke more for the 16" I had her till about 186k miles ( when I bought my M reg Mk2 ) and had the cambelt changed at about 120k miles, it's first change I thought .... didn't realise about the waterpump needing changing too in those days ..... long while back My first taste of a Ls400 and I've had one every day since, about 20 years now You'll enjoy every moment of her, just use her as much as you can, they are amazing cars to drive and as cheap as chips to keep on the road ...... whenever you replace something expensive ( with OEM ) it wall last another 160k miles .... forever Good luck Malc

then at least get a quote for OEM from Lexus / Toyota who will pop it on for you too I'm sure when replacing my ( ordinary ) battery at Toyota it seemed pretty seamless and quite inexpensive ..... why try to save a couple of squid when Toyota might be fine and correct Malc

the local Toyota dealer might give you a really good price for the correct battery Malc

I'll be quite amazed if there's a market for these cars at anything like these silly prices But let's wait and see ......... some classic car dealers treat cars like a currency .... like rare number plates too .................... like Bitcoin perhaps Mine's going to be run into the ground in about 15 years time when she hits @400k miles Malc

insurers " win win " in all circumstances Malc

but I understand E5 will also be around for a long time too there's a contemperaneous ( well, a few days ago ) post about this E10 thing Malc

never had a problem with my fuel gauge ............ other than there's never usually enough of the stuff showing ( sorry, a joke ) Malc

over time we now understand it's 10 years / 100k miles earlier stuff said 100kms ....... 62k miles but even earlier gave no time for a change as the first Ls400s had a Kevlar timing belt ..... just about indestructible Malc

lots of useful stuff here all 4 UCAs maybe, rusting air suspension linkages, delaminating windows,, rusting exhaust bits, air struts themselves going kaput, timing belt, pulleys and Waterpump every 100k miles / 10 years AND you must have by now had a new radiator to save the gearbox ( at 100k miles ) too best look it all up though fabulous cars if you fine the right well cared for example and 170k miles is a doddle to have covered Malc

yes, up to age 11 is about the max age to get a sensible hitech outcome these days Malc

can you please remind us all once again of his legendary names ? Malc

this is a brilliant post, well done NOW an 04 plate SC430 drove into the car park yesterday and whilst it looks a beautiful car I think the two rear seat passengers must have to be ultra skinny. hardly room for a briefcase I would say are we so spoilt for space in our limos Malc

camino de Santiago ? a buddy of mine from Singapore did this last year ...... a long long walk, tiring but exhilerating he says Malc

can't understand why your gold badges deteriorate in colour ................ when I jangle my pocket full of loose change sovereigns they never seem to tarnish .......... now, they are difficult to spend these days what with most shops only taking card payments Malc

managed quite well with my 1932 Triumph thus far with additives ....... now had to have her made more drive safer and friendly and whilst we've kept all the original stuff and spare engine etc she now sports a fine Triumph Herald 1200cc engine,probably a leaded fuel engine too, Willys Jeep brakes, safe electrics and lights that are sensible .. hopefully she won't breakdown every 15 miles and the RAC Recovery will heave a sigh of relief ....... even though they loved the callouts to a rare 1932 classic Our Ls400s aren't that rare yet ............... so I'm sure we'll manage with E10 eventually and there will be some additive to make them run better than ever .......... just wonder how many there will be left on UK roads by the time E5 is " cancelled " I remember my tour of Italy a few years back and I had to fill up on E10 at one stop ......... didn't seem to harm the running at all ........ but then going into altitude, up the Dolomites, does strange things to petrol cars I understand just reminiscing Malc

and what's the timeframe for the removal of E5 from our forecourts ? or will it still be available for donkey's years I wonder Malc

c'mon everyone, it's just some old messed around with 9 year old ( low mileage ) Ls600 ............... who else would want it at that age ....... secondhand values drop even for these classy mobiles ............... base cost of car plus 2000 hours labour must have put the likely initial cost at @ £350,000 or more The Prince probably won't use it too much into the future Anyone going to make a bid on it's value ? maybe a wedding car for the UK ...... be nice to drive it back from Monaco for sure Malc

one member on here did actually own the one and only Ls460 AWD in the UK too .. not sure if he still has it, you could search and try to find him or if anyone else knows Malc

I think I mentionjed this before on an earlier post ......... Ls600 Landauette or something Malc

and BA and Ryanair and Easyjet have received a few ££billion in commercial paper facilities directly from the Bank of England avoiding the UK Exchequer and the normal covid loans air tickets attract UK Tax Air Passsenger Duty of between £12.50 and £500 per ticket per pax per filght depending on Class and destination ... the UK Govt desperately needs those monies but won't be seen directly to support that specific revenue stream I guess nothing to do with China I know BUT I wouldn't doubt that India companies might at some stage be stopped from honouring it's lines from Chinese banks Malc

India is phenomenally successful as a hi tech nation with brilliant academics and health care professionals .................. just look at Jio and Ambani in India BUT the UK Govt has a HUGE hang-up against Indians venturing into the UK My chief honcho guy in Delhi ...... we wanted him to come to the UK for a simple month, all expenses paid by the business ( mine ) just to have a proper " feel " for the UK psyche, our blood line for business ... and they simply said NO, they never give a reason and never have to ... a simple loss to the UK Exchequer as that would have helped the taxable profitabilty of my business for sure At a similar time the Archbishop of Canterbury applied for an african priest to come to the UK for a similar reason, and again they said NO But as he is a Lord and can pull a few strings and has divine guidasnce on his side, they eventually, after a loooong argument relented and agreed, I have zero faith in the UK being able to tap into India as a source of skills, they sure as hell don't need any from the UK especially as they don't seem to have any Ls400s ................... cest le vie the India economy will run rings round that of the UK in a decade or two Malc