Malc1

Guys, being on here more often these past two weeks and whiling away some of my twilight hours here in Delhi ............. the TWO major issues very common to the Lexus Forums seem to be AIR SUSPENSION and DPF OIL FILTER and diesel engines. Essentially, Lexus probably should never have tried to develop a diesel engine and for heaven's sake, the Air Suspension is a woe right across the different Lexus models and the cry that, " Oh for conventional springs !" Us oldie Ls400 owners with conventional springs might well have the best of all worlds ..... the diesel oil filter issues throwing up those Christmas tree lights on the dash, pretty they might be but cheap they ain't Just some thoughts Malc1

hahahahaha ....... nope, the needle's stuck ( I jest ) Malc 1

Are you worrying too much about the oil ? Maybe the Ls400 is completely different animal but I have no problems driving europe for say 6000 miles over a month in hot/cold/freezing temps, fast and slow roads, eating up the miles on the autoroutes and country mountain traversing ....... with zero worries about my semi-synthetic simple Wilko oil ! Italy springs to mind really, freezing in the north and the mountains, quite hot in the south and autoroutes to dash along before you come to a full stop and a diversion around a country mountain ! Enjoy your trip. Malc 1

I'd thought the 2nd one is worth maybe 1500 with a body like that ! If everything else stacks up, she sure looks immaculate Malc1

hmm ............ seeing the cost of the pipe coils is so small and the likely cost of paying an indie to do the whole job .. I know which way I would go for peace of mind ! Malc

In 2007 I bought a 1994 Ls400 with just 8,542 miles and a very patchy service, but a Lexus cambelt change at at 10 years. A brilliant car in all respects, knackered tyres though, original and worn edges, used in Ascot and Kensington all its life. I would have it today if it hadn't been vandalised to write-off status, If it looks good and drives well and you feel good about the car, and the price is right ............................ I should go4it Malc1 and Malc

I think it's quite amazing, keep getting to do all the issues before they arise and you should have a car that might last another 27 years, Well done. I admire your dedication but know there's a tremendous economic argument here too .............. you will have brilliant comfortable and reliable motoring for decades to come and at almost zero cost. And I'm sure petrol fuel will still be available too ( hopes ) Malc1

gbp 1995 is more than enough with all that body repair to be done ...... guess it really SUX at that price eh ! Malc1

..... I think you might find that a car of such vintage is usually worked on by an indie and much trust is put into those guys by the cars owners that even on this forum the owners themselves aren't specifically knowledgeable ( apart from Steve 2006 who is brilliant on most stuff with Ls400s ) I know I have had some brake pipes replaced from time to time on my cars over the years, my indie doesn't treat brake pipe renewals as anything other than a comparatively simple task and probably knows his way around commonality of sizes for unions, flexi pipes etc..... probably holding a selection of whatever in his limited stock................... brake pipe renewals is something I wouldn't hesitate to leave to a consummate expert to do ...... bit like tyre changing, it's simple for an expert but amazingly challenging for someone not so used to doing it ! Good luck whichever route you take but I certainly wouldn't consider using Lexus for anything so mundane ( or anything at all really with the criminal prices they charge, even for spares, apart from batteries ) Malc and Malc1

IMHO the Mercedes on-going maintenance costs will be horrendous and a big hole in your pocket. Lexus lulls you into a false sense of bonhomie for when you change marque .. especially to Mercedes or BMtroubleU Malc1

.... different car here ..... removing the petrol filler cap doesn't always result in that sharp outtake of air, that gush, whatever the level of fuel remaining .... I had sort of, for no reason at all, put it down to the heat of the day maybe evaporating and some fumes being released. Of an 85.1 litre tank the lowest it's got to is about 80 litres before a refill, well into the orange light and me knowing there's about 100 miles left once the light comes on. Malc 1

I think there are very many Ls400 afficionados who would love to acquire a very early car like yours. Well, I would anyway ! Where are you in the world ?

...... bit odd that there's no proper pictures at all. Phone him and ask for proper ones and regn no. to do a DVLA MOT history check might help Good luck. That earlier green one on AT still looks good to me for a starter Malc

In 3 x Ls400s and 15 years none of mine have leaked in the boot ! ( yet fingers xd ) Malc1

......... do you need to change any of the peripherals as well as just the belt ? 55k kms seems a very low interval to make any changes at all and at 115k kms overall I'd only be thinking to change the belt alone, checking the pulleys etc for undue wear and expecting the water pump to last many many more 000's kms yet ! When you do have it all done, as you intimate, bring it over for a holiday to the UK and save the cost of your trip by having it all fixed at an indie rather than a Lexus main stealer. BUT don't blame me if you're unlucky and nothing lasts beyond tomorrow ! Malc 1 I'm running an old but cherished Ls400 and cambelt change at 100k MILES is the norm ( in the USA so why not here too ) and when mine's next done at 205k miles in about 18 months time ( 190k miles now ) at it's 3rd change ( I'm the 2nd owner ) we'll just check if the peripherals need changing but will most certainly change the probably original waterpump.

I think the Accord might be cheaper on the pocket than the Legend tbh, My indie tells me it's very challenging to source spares other than from Honda main dealer as there are so very few Legend's ( of any age ever ) sold into the UK market. BUT so far 3.5 months the car's been BRILLIANT ( 56 plate SH-AWD 106 k miles ) .... but not so as I would change my Ls400 for it ( ever ) ....... my / the 4 ltr V8 is exceptional, now at 190k miles and will last me another 21 years I guess .......... hahahahaha I've had this one 5 years and my third over 15 years of constantly driving Ls400s Malc1 Malc1

OMG how on earth does an engineer service guy get that wrong .... and destroyed your car in the process. You should have had at least another half million miles in the old lady Doubtless you have had a few words with the car servicing guy about his lack of skills Malc1

on the Ls400 forum I know there's a piece about rejuvenating headlamps/ front lights to be like new at a minimal cost .......... car bodyshop repairers use the kit from their suppliers and it stays good for years. Malc 1

I thought the Acura marque is the Honda Legend ? Btw, the g/fs Honda Legend is a bit darker body colour but same upholstery ( I'm told it's rare ) and as a V6 it's quite brilliant ....... but i do prefer my Ls400 Malc

............... not a word from the dealer and he's not answering his phone ! This is a dead duck, sorry guys Malc 1

.... it's incredulous that one has to almost dismantle the front of a car to replace a headlamp bulb ! Heaven knows why they develop such impossible situations for owners ...... does it cost about 500 squid to have a bulb replaced at a Lexus dealer do you think ! I had an intermittent twitch on my offside headlamp bulb ......... new bulb about six pounds and 3 minutes to complete the job ! Malc1 ( am I a dinosaur )

...... maybe there's a specific formal process to be followed when jacking the car up ? Or maybe a specific methodology that has to be followed including even when changing a flat tyre/wheel at the side of the road Malc1

.... that green one on autotrader does look an ok car and after Due Diligence it might be a bit of a bargain ! gbp 2200 might be a " keen " price BUT if it's been around a while then maybe it's a duffer ... there's only one way to find out if anyone's really interested ...... do some research and go see it ! I would do all of that if I was trying to find a good Mk4 Ls400 Malc 1

.......technologically advanced modern cars might be, but oh don't they throw up worrying trends and stressful thoughts on what should otherwise be a pleasurable driving experience. Not knowing EXACTLY what's left in the tank, not worrying about EV capabilities and the technology needing super human efforts to resolve when a simple thing like a lack of petrol occurs ................ bring back simplicity of motoring and being given just enough information, not actually knowing that you're going to break down in 28 miles time and heaven forbid, having zero ECUs and glistening pretty lights on dashboards that forebode the death knell of what is a perfectly good car .............. bring back the " old " technology, maybe even a starting handle and oh, a bumper that actually does that, not a piece of re-enforced plastic that's going to cost a fortune to replace when it gets a little scratched and dented. But then there's collision safety issues so maybe the newer the better ....... or maybe just very very careful driverless cars that I guess will never collide and eventually, when like in Delhi traffic, never actually move for fear of a scrape or two. But I'm passionate about my V8 Ls400, petrol guzzling simple(r) technology that purrs along at very little expense apart from petrol .... in armchair comfort and the strength of a tank like structure to protect me. Being old, am I allowed to say these things Malc 1

****, I feel for you having serious rust issues on such a recent car, I thought the Lexus marque was a bit above that ! What mileage are you at with this problem ? My indie always takes my Lexus ( and my other cars ) to the MOT testing station personally to be there and understand exactly what any potential MOT issues might be from the Tester himself. This gives him the opportunity to maybe resolve instantly any simple issues and also to bring the car back the next day ( or sooner ) if it's something he has to achieve back at his workshop. I get charged the full official 100% MOT price though BUT I'm not otherwise paying for his time in that attendance and I guess he only pays the normal Trade price of say 50% of retail MOT price. But I'm happy with that, it's a great personal service. He never charges extra, only for the annual service ( and any MOT work ) that follows the MOT. Helps maybe make my cars possibly the lowest maintenance cost one's around. Malc 1