Malc

is this a Chinese Volvo electric beast ..... ever likely to appear from total lockdown in Shanghai and the carnage of total blockage at the ports ? . or is it coming from Sweden maybe ? are you able to discover this ? Malc

Nigel .,........maybe, maybe not . depending how restorative she needs to be ......... mine's worth very little tbh . had many dings and bumps over the years and yes, quite tired bodywork . but hey, she's a very daily useable car ........ there's a few issues that could do with attention BUT I'm happy for her to just plod along giving me joy every time she goes out and about ..... air cons iffy . the wheels are desperately overdue a refurb ... one door mirror electrics are kaput ( most of the time ) and the temp gauge needs the pixels sorted .. none of which individually are of huge cost if indeed I was to ever want her to be " perfect " . ( oh and the front exhaust needs a specialist " fix " for the downpipe that's got nowt left on it to weld to stop the emissions bad reading for the next MOT ) ........... but I don't coz if she was then I know I'd have to be 20 years younger myself to worry tooooo much about dings and bumps etc ..... Peter .......the ULEZ is an issue when we go to visit friends and family in London area ( as Sadiq is expanding his reach ) ... so the 2006 3.5ltr Honda Legend does the trick for those trips . a not quite comparative to the Ls400 tho' Handed my 1932 Triumph Southern Cross Sports Tourer to my nephew to look after and USE . and he does almost every other weekend trotting thru' the Norfolk and Cambridgeshire countryside with the kids .. visiting pubs for lunches etc . wot a life eh ( he's nr. Newmarket ) BUT at 238k miles I know she's ( my Ls400 ) a little in " unknown territory " .. would I just jump in her for another 4k mile trip across and around Italy, up the Dolomites again, well yes I would . check the oil, water and tyre pressures afore I go and fully expect to be getting back in one piece a month later ............. when covids banished tho' methinks If she breaks down, well . I can always continue my trip by just buying anohther car whilst I'm there and some garage somewhere try's to sort out any issues with the Ls400 Nigel .........Go get your Ls400 back on the road, you won't regret spending comparatively very little to enjoy the daily pleasure it could bring No point having any spare dosh just lying around for when you go ........... if you don't spend it you know someone else will ..... Malc

for your encouragement only .... when you can part with some more cash . ............ and in the Ls section here there's a white '92 Ls400 mentioned for sale at @£17k ..... yours looks the same colour as my first Ls400..... a white 1992 car some22 years ago with which I parted company at 180k miles and quickly followed by my Mk2 and then immediately followed on by my present Mk3 now at 238k miles ........... which I've had for 11 years now and about 115k miles too .... they've taken me over much of europe and Ireland and all the UK just about .... fabulous and immensely reliable and comfy driving cars for sure .... wouldn't know what to get to improve on performance etc tbh ... she's so so quick and fast when needed ........ my dear old V8 4ltr limo .......... also have other cars too but nothing quite comparable although all of greater value I'm sure Good luck choosing which cars you're going to keep for your future Malc

and had you still kept your Mk1 Ls400 it would have probably lasted this long mechanically etc'wise and saved you lots and lots of capital ££££££ AND you would still have a brilliant serviceable comfy reliable economic to run ......... 4 ltr limo ...... the envy of evryone around you too ( if that had any importance , probably not eh ! ) AND you could have done all those monster transporting loads using a " hire van " at little ad-on cost just a thought Malc

I also remember reading that part of the Grand Tour in one's RR was the chauffeur had the " kit " to take the engine apart etc to fix it all on the roadside ..... up a mountain pass maybe .. to keep the GT on track .......... ah those halcyon days Malc

a fresh view on a car manufacturer Marketing doing good by the planet .... for every new car sold a Beech, Oak, Hickory tree will be planted .. would it catch on and promote sales I wonder .......... and .......... ....... price difference here twixt E10 and ( what I use in my '95 Ls400 ) E5 is 8 pence a litre ...... and the E5 seems to give a very slight, almost imperceptible, BUT it is there, uplift in the car's response to my driving ..... what the economy mpg figures are like I really don't know and it would be too complex for me to worry about .... my analytical mind gave up that sort of effort way back I'm afraid BUT I'm thinking I might just do the fresh marketing approach on my own business website to offer to plant a tree for every ( what I sell ) sold ! Malc

why's that ? Malc

Phil just thinking ...... this is a similar age old problem with the Mk3 Ls400 .... never the Mk1,2 or 4 it seems I'm thinking someone or several with a Mk3 Ls400 posted up their solutions too ..... somewhere here Malc

aluminium and oxidisation was always forever an issue Remembering when the nigh all aluminium Rover 2000 came on the scene and the amazing solution to dreaded RUST ... but most Rover 2000's and 3500's have now gone due to I guess aluminium " rot " . there's never a solution ..... the amazing glass fibre of the Scimitars too .. very few of those these days ... don't remember seeing one for years now just keep treating the Sc430s alloy bits then ... so tell us do .... what is the alloy solution ? Malc

so how much is this expected cost plus the second year's " top up " .... end of year 1 .......... ? and then guaranteed for how long ? .... or just not guaranteeable ? Malc

then why not ( or maybe you have already ) asked the Forum Ls430 Members here about their thoughts ! It's a big big spend and will last many years whatever you decide and Brake Wear Sensors, well, on mine they have now ( my indy tells me ) been cut off and taped appropriately ... they always showed as " worn " when there was mountains of wear left . so infuriating tbh . they just had to go There was always plenty of wear left until the next service but one, when that gave enough time to prepare for discs, pads whatever at that next due service I've never missed them, just avoided the red warning light, and never had issues with changing the necessaries Malc

are these Pirellis the best comfort wise for your car then ? I only ask in a circumspect way coz the Pirellis I had on my Honda Legend, whilst brilliant wear .. never wore out ........ were goddam not comfortable a ride ........ thank god they did wear out eventually and now with Falken, which, as on my old Ls400 ............... perform very well in all respects ......... and not that expensive either just a thought ! Malc

must get away for a few days very soon ....... tooooooo much staying at home after all these lockdowns and waryness about stuff healthwise etc spend some of my hard saved pennies on a bit more life methinks ....... but it's a grey " fresh " day here in my part of Kent ..... where's me jumper ! Malc

and the answer is ................. ?? Malc

I doubt you'll find a breakers with one to strip ........ good luck Malc

simple really ...... yes local auction .................... WHY on earth are you worrying anymore about all this .. the simplest most cost effective and useful and instantaneous route is simply in yoiur hands right now Malc

that sounds a brilliant outcome, well done have you tried Lexus main dealer ? Amayama or Rockauto ........ these are the usual for older cars or LexusPartsDirect maybe Good luck Malc

so was there an MOT Advisory for rust ? or is it just normal surface rust colouring effectively ............like all exposed metal areas would have hiding it all up won't stop it is my thinking, especially if it's left to fester and get worse being hidden and not breathing My preference is to just leave it all as is and when there's specific MOT Advisory issues then start to address those specifically BUT I'm possibly in a minority on this issue tbh Malc

I'm reading one of my BAAmex card offers is some dosh off at Currys ... should you have an Amex card too ! Malc

I'd have thought the opposite ,. .... more free time to get out and about doing happier journeying and more miles means more expensive insurance no doubt ( maybe ) Malc

would be amazing to see one of these at 19 years young and 252k miles eh ! methinks there will be some huge issues in that sort of extended anticipated lifespan of a modern hybrid car ...... excepy maybe a Prius which as we know has amazing longevity in common normal use ... as taxis etc ... million miles not unheard of I believe .... but then it is a Toyota Malc

methinks that buying a " used " car with a few 000 miles will always show some signs of wear and tear . simply coz it's been on the road let alone if it's been used " normally " rather than thinking it to be cossetted by the wishful thinking seller / owner These older cars could also be summat of a " good buy " if one's happy to accept a few gnarls and swirls and bodywork curls and a higher but quite acceptable well looked after serviced miles .... but at a sensible price I'm always thinking these wonderful cars of ours are there to be used and it's a shame not to get the full benefit of driving such amazing cars for as long as one can Malc

1969 Wolseley 16/60 bought at 3 years old ..... illuminated badge and all .. and a HUGE boot, brilliant spacious car, leather and walnut beautiful car to drive too ( for it's time ) .... and the Wolseley 6/110 which my dad had before .... illuminated badges all .... and the 6/110 was a 3ltr straight 6 .... beautiful sumptuous car for sure My Mk3 Ls400 has a HUGE boot too Malc

.......... was naturally, the bitch of a son born out of wedlock ............ the appropriate word was deleted by Mods Malc

we have no ideas of your insurer BUT I do know that the specific insurer can be an absolute ***** or indeed an angel ................ my dealings with Saga over recent times have been BRILLIANT but with Adrain Flusylux group well, the former to be sure ! Malc