runsgrateasanut

Lovely Colour combo!

I bought mine purely on the t'bay images and a few discussions with the seller. He wanted £1000 and as I said I'd have it trailered down South for £200 rather than travelling to fetch, he took that off the price . It had an MOT but boy have I spent some money on it since. About three times what I paid for it. Mainly service items but ouch can they hurt. Also I've had no end of sleepless nights since I bought it. Running nice now and although up to five minutes ago I decided that having had the autobox filter replaced I'd leave having the pipes to the Rad replaced, as they could take some levering to remove with consequences, I've just bought a Nissens "made in Denmark" Rad for £35 + £10 delivery on t'bay. Not going to be in a hurry to have it fitted as yet to be billed for quite a lot of work. Must be £800 labour and going back to June last year. I think my Mechanic must have a soft spot for me!! Good luck with your purchase and hoping its up to your expectations. ps My ' 96 W140 S Class I sold to take a chance on the Lexus is alas no longer on the road or Sorned so ................

I disconnected the battery (as instructed) but not when I found nothing inside. When the new ones were put in I did give the undertray a smack to clip it closed, and so perhaps (??) they fear that could trigger the Air bag. Always assumed its a motion movement that triggers it, but on reflection it took no time to disconnect other than the ninety second delay recommended for the airbag to discharge. Hadn't had any problem with misting to date, but nice to know air will be filtered. This car keeps getting money spent on it, but I want it to last me a few years.

Denso Cabin filter arrived from Rock Auto today to replace - ermmmm nothing! Instructions give warning about wearing safety goggles and disconnecting battery first to "prevent supplementary restraint system" (air bag) from operating. Is this necessary? I hadn't planned to hit the two part filter into place with a hammer!. Trying to understand this as just dropping open the glove box is likely to make more vibration. ?

I bought an expansion tank from a 94 LS back in June 2015 as mine has leaked ever since I bought it owing to a crack by the level sensor. Not yet replaced the original as its only ever lost a small amount. I looked inside the replacement and thought there's a spot of what could be rust so decided to flush it. I noticed sediment in the sink and so decided I'd filter it. About the same amount or maybe more was in the sink. A magnet confirmed that there is no iron. This is Aluminium Oxide I'm guessing which may represent all that is in the radiator, or may be a small part of a larger deposit? I remember finding about three inches in a Copper Water Immersion heater once. Having spent quite a lot on the Car for replacement parts and just changed the Gearbox Filter I'm still thinking about replacing the Radiator when the Hoses are changed. - Trying to find 11mm hydraulic hose has been impossible, but £77 from Lexus for a metre of hose is just not on. Hoses are either too tight or 1mm too loose. My mechanic will have to source. For an extra £150 for a Koyo it may be worth the expense to (hopefully) be safe for the next five years or perhaps twenty one years? If you've ever had the experience of a failed internal cooling system you will know my concern. The Behm Rad was 1996 and pre the Valeo disaster period for Radiators and whatever brand they used in 430's.

Very impressed could do with this myself. You can't run power from the Vanity light itself which would only come on when you pull the Sun Visor down and open the vanity mirror?

None reported on a forum that is - but nothing lasts forever and when hot and cold fluid is constantly flushing through copper and solder? If I can get a second hand one for a tenner I might open it up to see how it looks inside. If only we could be assured that there won't be a failure I'd go along with you. 21 years is a good lifespan. What is the OEM make in the LS400. Is it a Koyo?

Does no harm to remind people to check their licence is in order. The reason why my Licence was removed from the Register was explained that I had written to DVLA informing them in 2003 of my Brothers death in a car accident, and they mistakenly deleted my Licence. As the names are entirely different, it shows the lack of care (or ability) by the staff they employ to do the job. I have received no recompence for the inconvenience, worry or costs this error has caused me.

E10 is widely sold in France I believe- some petrol stations I've seen appear to have nothing else. Yet to fit LPG which kit gathers dust in the various boxes but it was a saviour on my W40 when low on petrol and the only option was E10. Most wiser men than moi don't recommend it for older engines. Russian Roulette is not for me unless I have no choice, in which case I'll have to sort the LPG situation.

Will you replace the Radiator at this time? I wondering if a 21 year old Radiator (or 18 in your case) will last much longer or possibly develop the fault we all fear? It may have been an excellent product, and there is no sign of rust or anything in the expansion tank, but having experienced an Auto pipe drop off a Behm at 18 years I'm now torn between replacing a possible gem of a product with a Denso or a Nissen and not necessarily get a better (albeit newer) product. I'd be happy with five years guaranteed from a new one. If only!

The coolant top up is only necessary because the expansion tanks on 400's can develop a minor leak owing the the temperature gauge being rather tightly installed. Not enough to worry about, but I do have a spare tank just in case the leak gets worse. Never put in any oil between changes. Mileage 8000 a year. Change annually.

Watling Engineers St Albans used to produce one. Telephone 01727 873661. Bought mine off ebay brand new from a purchaser who hadn't installed it £40 + delivery. They are over £300 to buy from the vendor. Not yet had my electrics fitted as need to run new positive from battery. Always a bind deciding if inside or outside the car, etc.

There are plenty available on Rock Auto Parts in the states. Cheapest is £74.18 shipped £79.87 check out their site. They are a pretty good source of parts. Lots for my Car now at reduced prices. Clearout stock.

Simple things first. Whats the level of water in your expansion tank? Has it dropped significantly? Dip something in to see if "oily" If your Car has a Transmission dipstick what does the fluid look like? Water will be obvious I'd have thought. Magnets in filter tray would I imagine stop chaff coming from the Rad if it was a cheaply made Rad. But maybe not? My Merc gearbox went tight stopping the car when the pipe to the integral Rad literally fell off outside my house losing liquid. What does the cold level of the Transmission look like? What fluid is found on the Cars undertray, if any?

Why haven't I got a water cutter in my tool box! Stamps feet!! Did you use the gasket even though there was no trough for it to sit in, as a means of sealing the two flanges? I reckon there could be a good market for those flanges. I know someone on ebay produces the triangular (almost) flanges for the top end of the Cats, which frankly never deteriorates, but finding someone who will produce the bottom flange I've had no joy. I have a pair of spare Cats for a later model which I'd like to experiment with attaching new flanges before disposing of them. Bolt hole Alignment is the tricky bit if the Y pipe is not available.

The flanges look good. When you say different style, what do you mean? Do they not require any form of compound between them? Are they stock flanges? If so I'd be interested to know what the dimensions are and where purchased.

Sounds like you've had eight years enjoyable ownership - why not make it ten? Itching to try something new I suppose. Understandable, but frankly you've got the car through the MOT and unless it really is a beaten up old wreck then the list is not that expensive to deal with - if you even have to deal with some of it. Labour cost will depend on what you really feel you want to achieve? A really smart rejuvenated vehicle (including body work) or a Car that gets you from A to B successfully and with known confidence. I've added my thoughts to your list. Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b) Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b) Both my springs have been on and off as advisories. Have new YKB rear springs cost less than £100 but won't change them until MOT fail or they fail. Also have "slight play" in both suspension arms and if doing the springs, a good time to do these. I do have replacements which cost £300 but may as well wait until a "fail" on MOT. Nearside Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2) Offside Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2) If leak is by the Cats to Y pipe, Wynns exhaust gasket sealant as recommended on here by Colin (?) should sort for about £15. probably last a year. Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2) Don't know the cost but suspect small? Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2) Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2) see above comment Offside rear exhaust silencer damaged possibly get a sound second hand one on ebay from a breaker for under a £100 ? Fuel filter corroded Fuel lines at fuel filter corroded guess these should be done together but I can't imagine being too much of an expense.

Was this a fail MOT list or what part was the fail, and what part Advisories?

I guess it would depend how flush you are, and at what age you are for considering making the change. I have no knowledge of the the other vehicles advantages / disadvantages, but knowing the beast you already own is an advantage to perhaps lining up a new set of problems. Second hand Cars are usually sold because a problem looms on the Horizon. This said, boredom does set in at times. I kept my last car for six years. This one is only in its second year and has cost me a lot to get it to a satisfactory state, but worth it IMO. Being an Old Codger I don't need to keep up with modern man. What was your last MOT failure and advisories out of interest?

A weight of your mind, I daresay? Stopped by the Gendarmes in France once because the inner black part of the "0" was missing from the number plate. Would have been a €60 euro on the spot fine if they hadn't realised it was a Hire Car and waved me away. Have since put an insulation tape "0" on another hire car where it was missing to avoid the hassle. Tell me Mike what LPG system/brand did profess gas put in your car?

You can buy the Arm bushes on ebay £30 or £170 if you want the Poly things. Its the Ball joint that will be the difficult part to source, I imagine. Looking forward to seeing what your S/S Exhgaust man may make up. Will this be with CAD so that it can be replicated exactly? With regard to dispensing with the Cats it may not be a wise move as you have LPG. I may be wrong, but it may not give your ECU accurate enough info? Others will correct me on this. You may want to check out the LPGforum.co.uk where they are always extremely helpful.

Tippex thinner

Having more than half a tank full of petrol is a good sign given that most being sold are on empty. As an aside as regards Seatbelt clips, its one of my irritations that on the 93 model I spend at least a minute trying to find the Seat Belt clip with a winter coat on. Its far too short a stalk and absolutely no point in the illumination of it as I can't see it even if I crank my head over to the centre. A longer stalk is preferable to the gimmick light. Mustn't lead on to the Seats being too small as I know Members generally like them. The advantage of the S Class being wider body, wider seats and IMO more comfortable, I miss.

Lets hope you can do something with your originals or amayana eventually restock. The US Seller "partscontainer" if you look at their negative feedbacks just for the last month I think you will come to the conclusion OES wont be OEM in some cases.

The quote was not my own. I would say that if you check the situation with regard to aftermarket front UCA's you'll find that the rubber gaiter on one I purchased from the States lasted about three months. So, although the bushes may (???) be Ok I don't know just yet. Next MOT will tell. If you buy from the US its likely to be quoted as a major brand name, but actually sourced in China or Taiwan. Buy separately a gaiter from UK supplier before fitting would be my advice.. There is mention where to buy Gaiters on a thread. As for a "split" in the steel/welding of a rear UCA I'm pretty sure I found mention of it on this site. I was wanting to buy a Front wing from US. Vendor listed spec as "OEM True" but when questioned it was actually an aftermarket part made I don't know where. Only 50 Bucks, but to import probably prohibitively expensive.