2000 Lexus LS400 - a bit of a bargain (to buy...)
Discussion
Hello all. Here's my newly-acquired car - a completely unnecessary Lexus LS400. I bought it for -£0.14.
I took over ownership on Friday, after chatting with a nearly-former colleague, who was moving her car over to her partner after starting a lease on a new car for her new job. This is his old car, and much loved by both of them. There's a story here, recounted on the barge thread, which I'll elaborate if anyone's interested!
I've done about 150 miles in the car now, and it's an interesting comparison to my daily Skoda Roomster and rolling-resto Mercedes W124 estate. Although I can't directly compare to my Mercedes as it's been with my mechanic for a month, and I can't compare much to my Skoda because it's been parked since I got home in the Lex!
For a car that's nearly twenty years old, the car is remarkably well-equipped - auto lights, heated seats front & rear, auto mirrors, cruise control (first on a car I've owned, but much appreciated on the cars I've driven), lovely comfy seats.... Oh, and a four litre V8.
So, what's wrong with the car? Well, considering the price, not much!
- Brakes sometimes sing (gentle braking);
- Paintwork not perfect, with some minor scrapes & stone chips (not a problem!);
- Antenna is very juddery when going down, and makes a horrible noise at the bottom of its travel (any tips?);
- Minor crack in one rear light unit;
- Fan belt squeal, briefly, after a rain squall was blown straight into the grille while sitting;
- One wing mirror has stopped the auto-darkening - it's just dark, but perfectly usable;
- Recent Landsail LS388s all round (cost more six weeks ago than I paid for the car).
On the flip side, it's Lexus LS400 with everything working except the bulbs behind the cabin temp displays, the ashtray catch, and the antenna. And it's on recently-refurbed DHP wheels. And it's comfy. Very comfy.
There's some mild rust on one rear arch:
Driving impressions:
It's quiet - on a cruise, the loudest noises are the tyres and a spot of wind (the car, not me. Mostly). The engine note makes a restrained woofly appearance, but it's by no means intrusive - one of the other cars in the fleet is a 52-plate Smart, currently on winters, so the LS is a significantly quieter car!
Steering is light but accurate, with a lovely wood & leather wheel with a nicely slim rim.
Acceleration is adequate - I haven't floored it yet, but I imagine it'd gather speed more than acceptably.
Lots of space for driver and passengers, and the electrically-adjustable everything is great, albeit overkill - headrest adjustment is just showing off!
Economy.... well. Display is currently showing ~26mpg on this tankful, based on mixed driving. Not toooooo bad. But local stuff will see that figure drop considerably. But then, this is a car I'd be happy to drive to the south of France and be comfortable doing it - I have previous with that, having done exactly that this summer with r129sl's gorgeous W124 estate.
I'll update as & when. For now, I'm very much enjoying the amount of car for the amount of money exchanged - this is, by 14p, the cheapest car I've acquired. And I'm quite pleased with it.
MOT due in the next fortnight - we'll see how she does.
I took over ownership on Friday, after chatting with a nearly-former colleague, who was moving her car over to her partner after starting a lease on a new car for her new job. This is his old car, and much loved by both of them. There's a story here, recounted on the barge thread, which I'll elaborate if anyone's interested!
I've done about 150 miles in the car now, and it's an interesting comparison to my daily Skoda Roomster and rolling-resto Mercedes W124 estate. Although I can't directly compare to my Mercedes as it's been with my mechanic for a month, and I can't compare much to my Skoda because it's been parked since I got home in the Lex!
For a car that's nearly twenty years old, the car is remarkably well-equipped - auto lights, heated seats front & rear, auto mirrors, cruise control (first on a car I've owned, but much appreciated on the cars I've driven), lovely comfy seats.... Oh, and a four litre V8.
So, what's wrong with the car? Well, considering the price, not much!
- Brakes sometimes sing (gentle braking);
- Paintwork not perfect, with some minor scrapes & stone chips (not a problem!);
- Antenna is very juddery when going down, and makes a horrible noise at the bottom of its travel (any tips?);
- Minor crack in one rear light unit;
- Fan belt squeal, briefly, after a rain squall was blown straight into the grille while sitting;
- One wing mirror has stopped the auto-darkening - it's just dark, but perfectly usable;
- Recent Landsail LS388s all round (cost more six weeks ago than I paid for the car).
On the flip side, it's Lexus LS400 with everything working except the bulbs behind the cabin temp displays, the ashtray catch, and the antenna. And it's on recently-refurbed DHP wheels. And it's comfy. Very comfy.
There's some mild rust on one rear arch:
Driving impressions:
It's quiet - on a cruise, the loudest noises are the tyres and a spot of wind (the car, not me. Mostly). The engine note makes a restrained woofly appearance, but it's by no means intrusive - one of the other cars in the fleet is a 52-plate Smart, currently on winters, so the LS is a significantly quieter car!
Steering is light but accurate, with a lovely wood & leather wheel with a nicely slim rim.
Acceleration is adequate - I haven't floored it yet, but I imagine it'd gather speed more than acceptably.
Lots of space for driver and passengers, and the electrically-adjustable everything is great, albeit overkill - headrest adjustment is just showing off!
Economy.... well. Display is currently showing ~26mpg on this tankful, based on mixed driving. Not toooooo bad. But local stuff will see that figure drop considerably. But then, this is a car I'd be happy to drive to the south of France and be comfortable doing it - I have previous with that, having done exactly that this summer with r129sl's gorgeous W124 estate.
I'll update as & when. For now, I'm very much enjoying the amount of car for the amount of money exchanged - this is, by 14p, the cheapest car I've acquired. And I'm quite pleased with it.
MOT due in the next fortnight - we'll see how she does.
Edited by Northbrook on Sunday 8th December 17:29
Edited by Northbrook on Sunday 15th December 21:17
hstewie said:
My plan is to keep it for now. It's growing on me. It'd be a hard choice between the Lexus and my W124 if I had to make one, but I probably won't - looks like this car will be Mrs-appropriated fairly soon, as a change from the 52-plate Smart that's too uncomfortable.
Although I haven't told her yet about the 4 litre V8 or the 290bhp
MOT is due by the 20th, so I'll hopefully run through my Man in case anything is needed. But, to be honest, I'd be fairly surprised if anything was...
We'll see, but it's a confidence-inspiring car.
Although I haven't told her yet about the 4 litre V8 or the 290bhp
MOT is due by the 20th, so I'll hopefully run through my Man in case anything is needed. But, to be honest, I'd be fairly surprised if anything was...
We'll see, but it's a confidence-inspiring car.
Thanks all. Another few miles driven today, and I really appreciate the oasis it provides from work & busy roads. Although, of course, it's a 'new' car and an old one, so part of my brain (the bit that's frustrated with my W124) is listening out for problems to emerge.
The passenger window not wanting to auto-wind to the top of its travel is a minor annoyance. Likewise the random patch of expanding foam that's sealing a tear in the rear driver's side door seal (why?).
Fan belt is squeaking. Brakes are sometimes singing. But the car will be with my Man next week for the MOT, so we'll see what he says.
I'm off to France tomorrow for the day. I would take this car, but I booked the ticket before the handover was agreed, so Skoda Roomster it is. No leather, no heated seats, no cruise control, no cosseting ride. But double the fuel economy!
The passenger window not wanting to auto-wind to the top of its travel is a minor annoyance. Likewise the random patch of expanding foam that's sealing a tear in the rear driver's side door seal (why?).
Fan belt is squeaking. Brakes are sometimes singing. But the car will be with my Man next week for the MOT, so we'll see what he says.
I'm off to France tomorrow for the day. I would take this car, but I booked the ticket before the handover was agreed, so Skoda Roomster it is. No leather, no heated seats, no cruise control, no cosseting ride. But double the fuel economy!
Edited by Northbrook on Tuesday 26th May 19:32
Thanks all!
There are a couple of things which are diminishing my enjoyment of the car:
- Belt squeal. It happened this morning (damp, car last driven 36 hours before) and, although the squeal diminished from all-the-time to just when I was on the throttle, it squealed on & off for my entire 20-minute, 8-mile commute. Same this evening (albeit I'm only 5 mins down the road so far). Fans being turned off made no difference.
- Very odd rhythmic thudding when starting the engine from cold. This has only happened today, but both this morning and evening. The thud are initially enough that you feel them, every half second or so, then seem to tail off, then come back quieter, then tail off & disappear.
If anyone has any tips, I'm all ears! Car is going in for MOT next week so I'll ask them to look, but if it's something dodgy I'll stop using the car for now.
Thanks.
There are a couple of things which are diminishing my enjoyment of the car:
- Belt squeal. It happened this morning (damp, car last driven 36 hours before) and, although the squeal diminished from all-the-time to just when I was on the throttle, it squealed on & off for my entire 20-minute, 8-mile commute. Same this evening (albeit I'm only 5 mins down the road so far). Fans being turned off made no difference.
- Very odd rhythmic thudding when starting the engine from cold. This has only happened today, but both this morning and evening. The thud are initially enough that you feel them, every half second or so, then seem to tail off, then come back quieter, then tail off & disappear.
If anyone has any tips, I'm all ears! Car is going in for MOT next week so I'll ask them to look, but if it's something dodgy I'll stop using the car for now.
Thanks.
Hmm. I now thinking the squeal might likely be pulley or tensioner related, not the belt itself. I'd have thought the belt, if slipping because it's damp, would dry out in 20 mins. A bearing wouldn't, and if the tensioner isn't keeping the belt tight, that again wouldn't change.
I say it like it's fact, but it's my non-mechanically-minded conjecture.
The thudding.... I don't know. Is there something that's supposed to move around on startup? Other than the pistons, the cams, the...
I say it like it's fact, but it's my non-mechanically-minded conjecture.
The thudding.... I don't know. Is there something that's supposed to move around on startup? Other than the pistons, the cams, the...
I was chatting to a colleague last night, and he had an interesting suggestion: is the alternator loose? That might explain the initial thudding, while it moves into a comfortable position on cold start, and the squealing could be due to the pulley being misaligned.
I have no idea, but hopefully I'll be able to take the air intake plastics off tomorrow and have a little look. I've seen the top alternator bolt called the pivot bolt, along with a suggestion to undo to release tension from the belt (odd, when there's a tensioner for the same job) but there might be something in it.
I ended up giving the former owner's partner (my colleague) a lift home from the work Xmas do last night, when her taxi was a no-show. She commented how quiet the car was, with no squealing.
Probably the best illustration of alcohol earmuffs I've ever experienced - the car was squealing the whole way!
I have no idea, but hopefully I'll be able to take the air intake plastics off tomorrow and have a little look. I've seen the top alternator bolt called the pivot bolt, along with a suggestion to undo to release tension from the belt (odd, when there's a tensioner for the same job) but there might be something in it.
I ended up giving the former owner's partner (my colleague) a lift home from the work Xmas do last night, when her taxi was a no-show. She commented how quiet the car was, with no squealing.
Probably the best illustration of alcohol earmuffs I've ever experienced - the car was squealing the whole way!
I keep finding things wrong with the car.
The bonnet struts need persuading to stay extended, and the passenger-side inside door catch trim panel is cracked.
Shocking.
But I have looked at the fan belt, and I may have an idea what it is....
One bolt and some jiggling (of the car, not me) and the air intake box thing was off. Air filter needs changing
...so that'll get done soon along with oil & filters.
To recap: there was a thudding at cold idle, and almost-constant belt-type squealing.
So, what did I find?
Well. Do you think it'd help if the power steering pulley was rotating in the same plane as everything else? I do!
It was hard to start the car, take video and see what was happening but, as far as I can tell, the thudding may be the belt flogging back and forth before settling down. The tensioner may be toast, the belt may be stretched, or it may be the simple fact that the power steering pulley is a good couple of mm out of alignment with the other pulleys that is the root cause of the whole problem. Car behaved reasonably well this morning, but significant steering or extra electrical drain could provoke squeal for a few seconds.
I'll let my Man know, and hopefully he can sort it on Tuesday before the MOT.
Car sounds good without the air intake box.
The bonnet struts need persuading to stay extended, and the passenger-side inside door catch trim panel is cracked.
Shocking.
But I have looked at the fan belt, and I may have an idea what it is....
One bolt and some jiggling (of the car, not me) and the air intake box thing was off. Air filter needs changing
...so that'll get done soon along with oil & filters.
To recap: there was a thudding at cold idle, and almost-constant belt-type squealing.
So, what did I find?
Well. Do you think it'd help if the power steering pulley was rotating in the same plane as everything else? I do!
It was hard to start the car, take video and see what was happening but, as far as I can tell, the thudding may be the belt flogging back and forth before settling down. The tensioner may be toast, the belt may be stretched, or it may be the simple fact that the power steering pulley is a good couple of mm out of alignment with the other pulleys that is the root cause of the whole problem. Car behaved reasonably well this morning, but significant steering or extra electrical drain could provoke squeal for a few seconds.
I'll let my Man know, and hopefully he can sort it on Tuesday before the MOT.
Car sounds good without the air intake box.
Edited by Northbrook on Sunday 15th December 14:13
It'd be great if the car could have DAB, and an update to the sat nav, parking sensors, and radar cruise. And a whacking great big LPG tank. But, for what it is - and what it cost - it's fantastic.
The radio unit also runs most other things, including the heater controls, so that wouldn't be able to be replaced without money and/or ingenuity I wouldn't want to invest in it.
Radar cruise would be lovely, like the later LS models, but I'm happy enough with the novelty of standard cruise.
We'll see how I feel about fuel consumption after a while.
Ross: you're right. I won't spend out on consumables until the MOT has been passed. I would be surprised if it doesn't pass, but you never know.
The tyres.... I thought the same. But then they're a matched, new, set. If they become horrendous with the kind of driving the car is likely to get, I'll get shot of them and enter the world of not-reasonably-priced tyres (my other cars are on 15s, so the tyre cost is considerably lower) but I'll wait and see. I haven't provoked the traction control just yet.
Does anyone know if the power steering pump can be rotated (on its vertical axis)? That's whatll need to be done for the pulley to be in plane with the others. I'm wondering whether its an adjustment job, or time for a new pump. Thanks.
The radio unit also runs most other things, including the heater controls, so that wouldn't be able to be replaced without money and/or ingenuity I wouldn't want to invest in it.
Radar cruise would be lovely, like the later LS models, but I'm happy enough with the novelty of standard cruise.
We'll see how I feel about fuel consumption after a while.
Ross: you're right. I won't spend out on consumables until the MOT has been passed. I would be surprised if it doesn't pass, but you never know.
The tyres.... I thought the same. But then they're a matched, new, set. If they become horrendous with the kind of driving the car is likely to get, I'll get shot of them and enter the world of not-reasonably-priced tyres (my other cars are on 15s, so the tyre cost is considerably lower) but I'll wait and see. I haven't provoked the traction control just yet.
Does anyone know if the power steering pump can be rotated (on its vertical axis)? That's whatll need to be done for the pulley to be in plane with the others. I'm wondering whether its an adjustment job, or time for a new pump. Thanks.
It's not wobbling - it's just operating with the inner edge of the pulley further in toward the front of the engine than the outer edge. If that makes sense.
Looking at the (terrible) vid of the initial start, the belt is flapping around on the run between the tensioner and crankshaft. I wouldn't be surprised if the tensioner is gone, too.
Looking at the (terrible) vid of the initial start, the belt is flapping around on the run between the tensioner and crankshaft. I wouldn't be surprised if the tensioner is gone, too.
It is the same car!
https://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-features-s...
So: the Goodyear are gone; the scrape has been dealt with (still a slight ripple on the wing, and a lightly cracked rear light), the timing belt was done, and the ash tray catch has stopped working.
From what I can tell, I 'bought' the car from the guy who bought it from you.
I'm off to read your thread now!
https://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-features-s...
So: the Goodyear are gone; the scrape has been dealt with (still a slight ripple on the wing, and a lightly cracked rear light), the timing belt was done, and the ash tray catch has stopped working.
From what I can tell, I 'bought' the car from the guy who bought it from you.
I'm off to read your thread now!
Here's the earlier thread on the car. It's lovely to have found this connection.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
rider73 said:
towbar
As if found out when I walked around the back of the car for the first time, it certainly does. (the only times I'd seen the car, it was backed into a space (and reversed into a hedge))
I didn't know it was removable, though. When I have some time, I'll have to take a look at how to take it off.
- edit: remove as in take off the swan neck piece temporarily - the whole thing is staying :-)
Edited by Northbrook on Monday 16th December 08:14
There's nowt like a shiny new MOT.
Car failed on an ineffective handbrake, caused by the cables seizing (and one cable outer deforming).
My Man couldn't source replacement cables for both sides, so grabbed two NS cables and modified one for the OS. All done, bill to be communicated later.
He didn't have time to resolve the squeal, but said the serpentine belt is very loose, so either the belt is too long or the tensioner has gone.
Tensioner is ~£70, so I'll probably get both to make certain. I may even do it myself, if it's relatively straightforward. I just need to establish the belt length.
Car failed on an ineffective handbrake, caused by the cables seizing (and one cable outer deforming).
My Man couldn't source replacement cables for both sides, so grabbed two NS cables and modified one for the OS. All done, bill to be communicated later.
He didn't have time to resolve the squeal, but said the serpentine belt is very loose, so either the belt is too long or the tensioner has gone.
Tensioner is ~£70, so I'll probably get both to make certain. I may even do it myself, if it's relatively straightforward. I just need to establish the belt length.
Well, today is being a little eventful.
Cabin filter was a pretty easy job - back of the glove box out (very easy - it's missing), clip off the white cover panel, pull out filter holder, take out element & replace. The holder is damaged in several places so will need to be replaced, but is fine for now.
Kinda needed doing.
Air filter, more of the same.
But the squealing? Well.
A couple of underemployed engineer trainer colleagues wandered over, so we whipped off the old belt, and went to fit the new. All was going reasonably well.... except the power steering pump pulley was out of plane with the rest, and then it turns out that it's supposed to be bolted in three places but isn't bolted in any...
As a result, with the new & slightly shorter belt, the belt contacts the back of one of the pulleys as it goes over the (I think) alternator.... and that won't be good!
Breakdown cover activated, and hopefully someone will be here soon.
Cabin filter was a pretty easy job - back of the glove box out (very easy - it's missing), clip off the white cover panel, pull out filter holder, take out element & replace. The holder is damaged in several places so will need to be replaced, but is fine for now.
Kinda needed doing.
Air filter, more of the same.
But the squealing? Well.
A couple of underemployed engineer trainer colleagues wandered over, so we whipped off the old belt, and went to fit the new. All was going reasonably well.... except the power steering pump pulley was out of plane with the rest, and then it turns out that it's supposed to be bolted in three places but isn't bolted in any...
As a result, with the new & slightly shorter belt, the belt contacts the back of one of the pulleys as it goes over the (I think) alternator.... and that won't be good!
Breakdown cover activated, and hopefully someone will be here soon.
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