MLW

The difference in price is about £20 for 5 litres. The engine cost £5,000 to replace. Surely £20 a year extra is not too much to pay?

This is really tricky. In my view, either you buy privately 'as seen' and you know you are on your own, relying on your 'car' judgement, and your experience. Remember when you buy such a private car, you are buying 50% the car and 50% the seller and paperwork. Fair enough, as you will get it cheaper, buying private, but there is little comeback. Or, go to dealer and pay more, for a dealers full services. You seem to be half way. If the stamp on the contract says what it does, one normally would see bells ringing...... i.e. trouble. Did you pay the £20+ to get an HPI report, or run it through 'Check an old MOT history' on the web. I know this sounds patronising, but he knows more about the car than you (asymmetric information), so you must protect yourself. It seems like you thought it was a bit 'iffy' and got a £1,000 off ( an unusually large sum). Big money. You took it almost on trade terms, i.e. taken as seen , no comeback. Why did you agree to that stamp? It rings trouble. I fear a small claims court would say it is clear on what terms you purchased. By all means try to get the dealer to cough up, but I would not put my pension on it.

I'm amazed how long these blades last. In previous cars I replaced the blades every 18-24 months. My 430 is now nearly 3 years and going strong. I think it is because they are 'parked' below the bonnet line and out of the sun, so less deterioration.

I am surprised that it is rusting. What is the nature of this? Real rust is from the inside, so an injection hot wax system is needed. This is what the factory do, but if it is bad a £300-500 professional system will give a day to it and provide a guarantee. Or if it is just bits and pieces then a rub down and Waxoil or Dinitrol would be fine.

Page 57 of the owners manual calls it C type. Yes it is a smart key. Update. The offending key will not open or close the doors or boot, but WILL start the engine as normal.

This is a 'C' type fob, with no key visible (apart from the emergency key slide up the side). Is the transponder buried inside the black fob below the 3 buttons?

That is interesting. It is a bit like a bathroom ventilator. They often do not seem to work until you put one thin sheet of loo roll up and yes, it is sucking old air out.

Yes I did. I might try another battery, although it was new. Silly question but how much is a new key/modem?

2002 LS430 with a 'C' type key. The second key has stopped working. Replaced the battery but the red light still does not come on, or open the car. Does it need to be programmed to talk to the car's computer. The first key was replaced about 2 years ago and the battery/key fob worked fine. Any ideas most welcome.

Euro Car Parts £120. Not Bad. https://www.eurocarparts.com/basket

Perfect explanation, and pictures ..... but oh oh for that 4 poster.

If you are fitting new pads, just go To Euro Car Parts and fit Pagid. Simple, very good, fair price .....and they work well.

Out of interest, what is the life of 430 exhaust. I thought being stainless steel, about 20-25 years. Am I wrong?

That is interesting, with most saying they are pretty poor. It is surprising as my wife's Mercedes SLK has great heated seats. Two settings as well. I'll try cleaning out the filters, but at best I can hardly feel anything, hot or cold.

In this hot sticky weather keen to use the 'seat blowers'. Mine hardly register. Motors can be heard but no real woosh, either on hot or cold. Any advise please? Are the filters likely to be mucky, and does this make muck of a difference?

This is a professional job. Bite the bullet. £60-70- each. Leave the car at the refurbishes for 2 days. Go and pick it up, and marvel at the difference. £300 tops. Pay and walk away amazed.

If Lexus say 0w-20, why not use 0w-20?

Pagid pads at Euro car parts are great. Smooth, silent and lots of feel and grip.

the LCA??? What is this?

All these under trays are good aerodynamically, but difficult to work with. The front tray has about 18-20 screws in it. A real pain, but they are all like that. The 'oil filter change flap' will work if it is up in the air on a a lift. In a drive way, the oil change involves about 8-10 screws to give one 'just enough space'. My old Mercedes had a 3 inch space that allowed the sump nut to be removed. Heaven, because an oil change took just 30 mins.

What does the owner's manual say?

Went to ASDA, oil now back at the old price of £22ish. Shell it is then.

Are all these mileages on a 'sealed for life gearbox oil' or have they been changed. Interested as my 430 is coming up to 60,000 and I am contemplating a gearbox oil change?

Go to an alloy wheel refurbishers. You would be amazed how they can repair wheels. Was in a tyre shop the other day. Guy had hit a pothole and thought the wheel was scrap. No no, said the shop. We can fix that. Specialist have wheel rolling machines that force a buckled wheel back into true. They could refurb it the same colour as the rest, or have all 4 done for say £60-70 each. They fit new valves and balance them, as part of the deal/price.

Just accurate really. One speaks as one finds. My only fear is having to go to Lexus for anything. The car is remarkably old fashioned in that most things are easily serviceable. Plan to replace the spark plugs at 60,000 miles, cost about £80-90 at Euro car parts. Not too bad for the next 60,000 miles. The key to older cars is to over-service them a little. Today Shell oil is £19+ at Euro car parts. Amazing for the best one can buy at this price. ASDA oil is £15 for 5 litres this week, and many who has not read the extensive spec will say it is rubbish. It is great oil. The car manual specified SL oil at manufacture. We are now on SN. Can't be all bad.