Razor61

So I did the Duxback this morning. looks a lot better and it’s in the garage for the stuff to cure. There are a few streaks on the drivers side if you look really close so may apply the coating again when it’s cured. Time will tell how long it lasts, I’ll see what it’s like after washing the car tomorrow and may apply the protective sealant stuff I got with the Holts kit.

Is that using the duxback stuff or sanding the headlights and sealing them?

Headlights on my IS250 are oxidized, drivers side worse than passenger. Car was in at Lexus for it's MOT a couple of weeks ago and I mentioned the oxidization and they said they have some stuff to make it better. Anyhow I got the list of stuff that needs doing on the car - nsr rear caliper seized (to be done under warranty), wheel alignment which I knew needed done and a thing called 'Duxback' coating. I thought the 'Duxback' coating was some kind of coating for the glass and Lexus were offering this if you want it and was around £30 I think but can't remember exactly. Last week the car was in for the work which was all fine and dandy. I then started searching for 'Headlight restoration' kits/stuff and came across the usual kits with abrasive paper where you basically sand down the headlight lens working up to fine 3000 grit, polish it and then seal it. But the search also popped up with 'Duxback Headlight Restoration Kit', the penny then dropped that Lexus were offering this treatment for the headlights and not the glass. 'Duxback Headlight Restoration Kit' doesn't use abrasive papers but is a two part process with liquids, one for 'cleaning' and the other to seal/coat to make the lenses clear again. It gets good reviews and there are YouTube videos which show the results. The sanding method is a bit drastic in my opinion, it does work if done properly and may be the only way of rectifying it. So after all that waffle I searched for some Duxback and ECP have it at a reduced price of £8.59 and apparently is normally £24.99, at that price I bought some and a 'Holts Headlight Restorer Kit' just in case the Duxback doesn't work (the Mrs IS200 has the same issue so it won't be wasted). I planned to try the Duxback last weekend but the weather was atrocious so I couldn't try it but this weekend I will try it and report back with photos of before and after.

Malc, are you talking about the ‘1997 Grey Lexus LS 400 4.0 4dr for sale for £9,995 in Horsham, West Sussex (autotrader.co.uk)’ that’s was for sale on here? Just making sure……..if it is that car then I can remember enough from the original For Sale topic on here to say that I’m pretty sure there was no mention of a speedo change. I was keeping an eye on the car and I would have remembered I think, I even remember the last entry which was ‘deposit taken’ or something very similar then it was removed. Presumably because the current Milk Float company bought it. I hope that goes some way to put your mind at rest.

Neither would I, I don't want to pay more than £5k max for a good Mk3 LS400. Whether I get one for that remains to be seen but the car in question is a very very good solid car and if someone pays the asking price they would not be disappointed. And the new owner could buy a set of winter tyres for sale on here for winter driving, which is a good idea for a car so big and heavy without traction control...............

Malc, I presume you are referring to the '1997 Grey Lexus.........in Horsham for £9,995' reg 'P152JJC' at the top of this post? If you are, then there is nothing underhand or anything by removing a 'For Sale' post when it's actually been sold. That's normal for any site where you sell things, when you sell a car on Autotrader or eBay etc the advert is removed when it's sold. If I put a car up for sale I'd want the advert removed asap when it sells to stop any more phone calls or messages.

It's been removed, probably when it was sold.

Badges were Gold😀

I'm sure there is nothing suspicious at all, IOM isn't that big so it's understandable that the mileage is low. The previous owner, who is a member on here, may want to elaborate but as I said in the beginning there is nothing to be suspicious about in my view. Irrelevant now unless someone is interested in the car and prepared to pay the asking price.

I think the car spent most of it's life in the Isle of Man and was brought to the UK mainland a few years ago. IOM have their own reg numbers and MOT system I think. As far a prices at the moment, I agree they are silly money. I thought prices had peaked but looks like I'm wrong, although I'm looking for another good Mk3 I'm not willing to pay £10k for one that's for sure. My son in law reckons they will continue to go up in price and good examples like this one will be worth £20k in a few years. The one I had was in the same body condition (I think a bit better to be honest but not by much) 70k miles plus as you know I'd done a lot of work mechanically and the rear corrosion sorted. Shame I had the accident otherwise I could have been sat on a gilt edged investment😂

It was a members car and was for sale on here recently.

No it’s not, I’ve looked at quite a few LS400’s recently and the MOT history can be helpful. Mainly about rust and rot, if there is an MOT advisory or failure relating to corrosion within 30 cm of a jacking point, suspension mount or something similar then it’s a big red flag. Not a surprise given the age of the LS400, finding one without the dreaded rot at the rear end is difficult. I think I may have found a MK4 that is a good one but I’ll find out for sure when I see it. I really wanted a MK3 but after looking for a while I don’t think I’ll find one without rot in the rear arch areas at the price I want to pay. As a side note, I am amused at the description of cars for sale versus the reality when you go and see for yourself. Latest one for me was described as ‘runs like a dream and has wanted for nothing’, reality was……….exhaust blown and sounds like a tractor plus a swimming pool in the boot, knackered leather seats and arm rest but apparently the seller loves the way the leather grain stands out. Plus side was there were no holes at the back end but in a few months there will be.

This LS400 looks pretty good to me, has anyone been to look at it by any chance? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-ls400-/255201991938?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

I was under the impression that UK LS400's did not have the option of Air Suspension, is this correct? Reason I ask is that I've enquired about a 1999 LS400 for sale and it's not an import. The seller tells me that since replacing the battery the whole front end has dropped, mechanic tells him it has air suspension and will need 'pumping up'. I'm doubtful it has factory air suspension, aftermarket air suspension maybe but I think even that is doubtful. The dropped front end on both sides sounds a strange issue, one broken spring maybe but 2 broken................not likely in my opinion but I suppose its possible.

This may help from the manual 15. REMOVE EXHAUST MANIFOLD (a) Remove the 3 bolts, retainer and nut holding the front exhaust manifold to the front exhaust pipe. (b) Remove the 2 bolts and exhaust manifold stay. (c) Remove the 6 bolts and 2 heat insulators. (d) Disconnect the 2 oxygen sensor connectors. (e) Remove the 8 nuts, exhaust manifold and 2 gaskets. 16. RHD: REMOVE STEERING SLIDING YOKE - this is the connector bracket/joint between the steering column and the steering rack

This looks interesting, I wonder how much it will go for........... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274992942206

It is very nice, I’m still on the lookout for a good LS400. I still kick myself for not buying the first one I looked at a couple of years ago, Gold, 60,000 mile spot on example that had been well looked after for £3k or £3.5 (can’t remember which). A few years ago it was on the more expensive side so didn’t buy it and I should have done.

It is to be honest, more so on the LS430 though. In the early 2000’s when I took my company IS200 in for servicing they had a Gold LS430 in the showroom and I always wanted one. In fact I started looking for a Gold LS430 a couple of years ago but once I read up about the whole LS400 story I change to wanting an LS400 mk3.

No I didn't, it went for more than I was prepared to pay. I wasn't particularly bothered about the faded paint but I couldn't check for corrosion/rust/holes in the usual areas. Seller was very honest though and answered all the questions I had, some kind of plate welded on one side in the boot area near the rear arch and signs that maybe more work is needed. That influenced how much I was prepared to pay. Maybe it will be up for sale again, you know what eBay can be like................ An LS430 caught my eye on Autotrader though, link below, but an MOT failure mentions corrosion. It looks fantastic though. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108146244321

Is anyone bidding on this car? I have had a bid on it but I don't want to get into a bidding war with anyone on here that is interested😉

The Gold LS400 with faded paint is up for sale again. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-LS400-1996-Low-Mileage-/284483736271?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

I do want another LS400 but it has to be a MK3 really so I can use all the new parts I have. Finding a good one that is solid in the potential 'problem' areas is proving difficult, I have looked at quite a few described as 'absolutely no rust' or 'it's mint mate, no corrosion at all' or words to that effect. And as you can imagine they were not as described but if you don't have a look at the car you will never find out. I can't agree more on your second comment 'As long as the rust is treatable rather than terminal all of the other functions are serviceable and it could be fettled on the paintwork' but you put it better than I did............. There is one LS400 MK3 I have looked at which is a cracking car, nice colour, nice interior, low miles and is very very solid especially in the potential 'problem' areas but I can't pay the asking price. The search will go on and in the last few days a few more MK3's have come up for sale, one is very near me but has 19 inch rims and a modified exhaust but worth a look.

True, but I’d be more concerned about corrosion being mentioned in an MOT that is ‘within 30cm of jacking point’ or words to that effect which, given my experience of the last LS400 and others I’ve looked at, normally means rot/holes at the bottom of the rear arches into the cill areas. There will always be corrosion underneath, suspension components etc as well with on a car that age as we know unless it’s been proper fettled at some point. Rear subframe on my last LS400 looked like it was about to disintegrate but once all the loose flaking rust was removed it was fine, it looked at lot worse than it actually was. I’ve seen decent pictures of the arches on this car which are very clean with no bubbling, top of the windscreen is clear of bubbling as well. I’ve been looking for another LS400 mk3 for quite a while but don’t want to pay the earth, £5k absolute maximum all in with buying the car and doing the timing belt and water pump if at all possible. I would like one without faded paintwork but I can live with it if the car is totally solid and no rust/bubbling on the arches etc.

Timing belt done in 2012 @ 84k so due to be changed by age not mileage, no record when water pump was done. I’d have a go at it myself this time around or see if Lexus Bolton can do the job for £500. Clear lights can be changed back easily. Yes the paintwork is faded but if there’s no rot and it’s solid bodywork wise and it’s just the faded paint, it’s worth a go in my view. Question is though, at what price is it worth buying? I would think £2.5k - £3k max and it’s probably worth it.

Is anyone bidding on this car by any chance? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/-/284464195237