Malc

.......... at least you should be able to find the sticker in the engine bay somewhere that tells you when and at what mileage the cambelt was last changed Malc

... looks brilliant, well cared for .......................... and presumably a massive service history ? Malc

............. I ALWAYS pick up loose screws and nails in the road and kerbs when I'm out and about .... I know a strategically placed object can destroy a perfectly good tyre when the puncture cannot be repaired and cost someone £100+ ...... from someone else's carelessness in dropping the bugger in the first place. I remember a few years ago now I reversed into a kerb space outside my local library and a screw went straight into the edge of the side wall ............. almost new tyre and irreparable and £100 down the swanny Malc

August 2014 last tyre puncture repair on the Lexus cost me £14.95 " all up " incl balance .... tyre had done 9k miles Malc

.............. looks very repairable to me but why not pop it over to a tyre place and ask ! .... and maybe keep it as the spare Malc

.............. superficially, and from what you can easily tell right now, how does the old belt look compared to the new, shiny and teethwise ? and what mileage has it covered please Thanks Malc

..... plenty of coffee called for then ! Malc

.. that's it Omar ....... I couldn't quite find the right words Malc

hahahahaha ............. never worry about spending on the Lexus, fortunately it's such a rare event and I'm so pleased that maintenance costs are so comparatively tiny ..........£500 is barely what many people pay in finance charges a month to buy and maintain an " ordinary " car ......... aren't we so lucky to have found the Ls400s :outforcount: Malc Costs: UCA ( from ADL ) £255 Front pads £49 Oil filter £8 Air filter £19 MOT £54 ( I supply the Wilko semi synthetic oil @£15 ) and labour £120 NO VAT

................ well, maybe I'm a bit staid ( or sad old git ! ) but I think it looks a bit naf tbh .... and sillily expensive too Oh how I really appreciate my Mk3 after a week of stupefying loss ............... just bereft for the week it was being fixed and MOTd Malc

ok now, car passed MOT and it's only done 173,994 miles .. the original nearside UCA looked absolutely ok, no wear and tear in the joint BUT it was getting a bit " sloppy and soft " and the Tester couldn't pass it. As I said, the supplier of this new UCA is ADL so here's hoping it's fine and lasts forever ! I am half expecting the offside UCA to require replacing next MOT. Malc

...... maybe, but tbh what's the point in replacing your existing ................... just had mine serviced and MOTd ( with one new UCA aghhhhhhhhhhh total bill £510 ) and as ever, the dear old lady drives a dream. Malc

........ mine have just started their 4th year in use and cost about £18 then from Toyota / Lexus Malc

.. and of course there's the coffee and bikkies too.................. which are priceless Malc

... maybe it's my age but I'm sure I saw on here earlier today a guy selling his Ls400 55000 miler and asking for opinions as to value ! Guess the mods have moved it or something ! Find that post and you might find yourself a good car ....... the autotrader one seems a bit expensive tbh BUT great Ls400s are getting harder to find Malc

.... really frustrating, without my Lexus until late Tuesday ...... the UCA arrived all ok yesterday last thing BUT the sodding thing is bent ........... someone at ADL I guess has dropped it and the aluminium has bent slightly ........ replacement should be with my indy on Tuesday ( they promise ) Malc

.... for what my opinion is worth ......... go for a Ls400 or a Ls460 The 430 seems to be absolutely great for many guys BUT there are some with air suspension issues which cost a fortune to remedy, the gearbox cooler rusting into the radiator and causing catastrophic issues and of course it's only the Ls400 that has a stainless steel exhaust. Can't see me moving from my Mk3 tbh Malc

The Dartford car is probably imported from Ireland coz it has a Z in the numberplate and reading the forums here there are all sorts of issues on big engine cars maybe not receiving proper servicing in general because of the enormity of the road tax issues and these cars falling to later impoverished owners. ......... the more expensive one seems to have Lexus service history ! Malc

yes I see that BUT my old screen actually had Lexus stamped on it ! The new one is just generic, times have changed Malc

Problem I had was that the insurers nominated national company couldn't replace my screen for 3 sodding weeks !!! too busy they said. So they agreed to me getting two quotes and I went with the local company, went to their Sittingbourne premises and waited, had coffees, read my book, while the engineer did the work and he gave me the running commentary. The MOT was imminent ( see my other post today ) and their national nominated company is just " pants ". The black side strips were quite ok and refitted well........ after drilling out the steel screws from the corroded aluminium threads that held them in ! But all is well now and as I say, the wind noise has miraculously vanished. and my £80 excess to pay from the total bill of £215+vat including the new top silver strip at £45 + vat. Malc

OK, 175 k miles and 20 years old one has to expect a few minor challenges. For one week only, mountaineering last month in the Dolomites, dear old Lexii creaked and groaned a bit and quite surprised me tbh. But then everything back to normal and she, as usual, drove a dream. Well, MOT today and the nearside UCA is a bit buggered and needs just the one side replaced ( at this time ). My indy is going with ADL ( he tells me 100% Japanese and quality and at £250 all-up, about 50% of Lexus OEM cost ) I did hesitate, ............. but thought OEM at £1k for both sides, well, let's pass at this time on that one ! The front pads are getting close so he's replacing those, oil and oil filter ( I supply the Wilko 10/40 semi synthetic oil ) and new MOT and she's off for another 12 months of hopefully glorious armchair trouble free motoring. I fully expect the offside UCA to need replacing next year,...................... the same happened on my Mk1 Ls400 many years ago ( maybe 10 ? ) at 150k and 160k miles and I replaced then with OEM parts at @£250 a side. Ho hum, it's only money !!! Malc

Hi guys, just had to have a new windscreen for the MOT ............. an 8" crack just appeared overnight. The old Lexus imprinted screen which I thought might have been the original just wasn't. I asked the company doing the work to make sure they got the new silver trim piece at the top coz i remember from times past this was a real issue in refitting my Mk2 Lexus screen.............................lucky they did so. The old screen had the silver strip ok but it had been bodged being put in, presumably by Lexus as it was an original Lexus stamped screen ! The strip had been cut horizontally and glued up so it looked like a complete piece. I didn't go for replacement metal black strips at the sides ( the insurers wouldn't pay ) and wonder why ............ .. at £150 + VAT EACH strip ! So I now have an amazingly clean new windscreen and amazingly the wind noise I had for the past year or so has just disappeared. Reckon it was the ill fitting with the old silver trim strip being bodged that probably caused the noise. Now for the MOT Malc

Is there any chance of someone making a list for us LOC members of those manufacturers and vendors that are selling these sub standard suspension parts ? This is clear evidence of Raybestos crap which one might otherwise consider, in the normal course of events, to be a reputable and trustworthy provider. Steve 2006, is this something that the " powers that be " in LOC might be able to organise maybe ?? Thanks. Malc

My Lexus / Toyota wiper rubbers have now been on for 3 years and some 35000 miles and I fully expect them to see through this next MOT on Wednesday ok as they seem to be working fine and without judder, smearing or anything untoward. Malc

of course, my mind was wandering I guess .... too much pasta and pizza these past weeks !! Malc