stericker

Hi Andrew,

I use the VicTsing Bluetooth FM transmitter - £15.99 from amazon. Plugs into the cigar lighter port.

Thanks to all for your help and advice. Due to the large amount of potholes on my daily commute

I decided to have both springs done. MOT now passed. The engineer said that he could hear

a slight 'pinking'. I could not hear it when he tried to demontrate - should I be concerned ?

Many thanks, Denis, Malcolm and Pete. Springs quoted at £89.15 each. Labour £70.00 per hour.

This is a London indie so I imagine they charge more than elsewhere.

My 1999 LS 400 has had a MOT fail due to a broken spring. I decided it was probably best to replace

both rear springs. Have been quoted £500 by local indie using genuine Lexus springs. Does this price

sound about right ? Evidently the rear seat has to be removed. Estimated total 4 hours work.

Denis. Suggest you go to your nearest KwikFit. They have equipment that should tell you the state

of your aircon. If they do not acheive good cooling they will not charge. But check first.

They did my Mk 4 and the cooling is great.

I recently bought two Michelin Cross climate for the rear. They were on special offer at Kwik Fit,

(£145 each balanced and fitted) They have behaved very well during the "Beast from the East"

So my new Michelin All Climate (see past thread) tyres were put to the test and passed with flying colours.

Yes Denis. There is Snow Mode on a 1999 400. I have used it in the past and it has enabled me

leave Mercs stranded in the snow.

Thanks for your note, Shirish. I have decided to go with the Michelins and have an appointment with Kwik Fit tomorrow.

I shall let the forum know how I get on with the new tyres. They have generally had good reviews but we shall see how

they perform on the LS.

Malcolm and Denis -many thanks for your responses. I have Maxxis at the moment and they seem to have done fairly well.

The Michelins have had good reviews and I was attracted by the 'winter' aspect and the low decibels but they are expensive. Kwik fit (there is a branch near me) are doing a special promotion on them. Maybe  I will stick with Maxxis - my small local indie tyre man does them at a good price.

Kwik Fit are doing the Michelin Cross Climate 225/60W16 (B/A/69dB) for £141.50 a corner - fitted and balanced.

Does anyone have experience of these tyres for a LS400 Mk4 ? Or is £141.50 too expensive ?

A look at my LS400's MOT history would see that a few years back the mileage

fell about 40,000 miles from the previous year. This was not a new speedo but the

MOT examiner reading the trip meter !

So maybe it was the weather after all. Forthe last 20 or so starts there has been no problem.

Thanks to all of you for your comments/suggestions. At the age of 77 I am not going to start

taking the car to bits. My first car was a 1929 MG 'M' type (with boat back) and I could dismantle

the engine and put it together again but today's engines are beyond me.I think Lexus Edgeware Road

is probably the answer. It might be the weather - living in East Finchley, one of the highest points in London,

we have had a number of below freezing mornings.

Thanks Phil. Does that mean immediate attention or will it gradually get worse ?

What sort of money are we talking about if I took it to an indie ?

I use my LS400 MK 4 every day and every day it starts within about two revolutions of the starter motor.

For the last couple of days there has been a fractional delay before the starter motor starts to react.

Is there a problem looming ?

I agree about going off topic. Is there a competition to see who can write the most posts?

Dusan. I have always thought the horn on the LS 400 is pathetic for a large car. Is your air horn legal

and where did you get it ? Is it easy to fit ?

Forgive me if I am "...teaching grandmothers..." but don't forget that there is no power to the

cigarette lighter equipment when the ignition is off.

Norman. I have found that with most pieces of equipment that plug into the cigarette lighter sockets

one has to first press down hard and then twist slightly to make a good connection.

What is it with the LS430 seats ? The seats in my 1999 145K LS400 look newer and better condition than the ones in that 2006 LS430.

I am to old for all that diving under the dashboard ! I bought a VicTsing Bluetooth FM car transmitter from

amazon (£12.99) and it works very well. No wires !

Some years back I sourced centre caps for my Mkiv from the States. Quite inexpensive and arrived quickly.

Shirish, Become a gold member of the LOC and you will get a 10% discount at Lexus Edgeware Road.

Very Good looking car, Shirish. Same colour as mine and I also live in North London so might see you around.

My wheels badly need refurbishing and there are a number of 'supermarket car park' dents. When I can afford it

I would like to go for a 460. Can anyone tell an old duffer like me what is the point of low profile tyres/wheels.