Picking up 04 LS430 w/ ML and NAV, have questions?!
08-16-07, 07:51 PM
#1
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Picking up 04 LS430 w/ ML and NAV, have questions?!
Guys,
I was looking to get a new car for awhile now and did not know what to get instead of my 01 GS430 w/ 110k miles. It is time. I test drove 04 E500 35k miles sport package and 04 545i sport, but affraid to have problems that come with MB and BMW ownership. I had a budget of $30k. BMW would be more then that but I thought I would just bite the bullet. After I drove it I loved the steering feedback obviously, that is the biggest problem I have with 2GS cars, steering is horrible. It is much better now since I have Daizen rack bushings, tightened pre-tentioner, control arm bushings and Tein CS 2nd gen on mine now, but still not as good as 04 LS430 I drove today, feedback was nice.
I decided to get a silver with grey 04 LS430 ML NAV with 50k miles and trade mine in (I will take off Tein and my sound sys obviously and put stock back). I drove the car with my fiance and we liked it a lot. It looks beautiful in silver and love the ML and NAV, and the inside looks very nice in the car too. I think it would be a good car to enjoy and have less if any problems compared to MB and BMW. I am planning to have it for about 1 year and 6 months and then get white 06 GS430, love that car. Plus I think LS will hold pretty good value also.
Anyway, I was woundering of how to lower the ride and firm it up abit and to get it close to my GS ride now with Tein CS I have now, without getting Tein. I did not see struts that Carson or TM Engineering carry, do we have any choice but OEM? Also I thought to put Tanabe DF springs to lower the car and make it handle better and use stock struts, how would that ride, did anyone do that? I wanted to get 19" MRR HR2 wheels to compliment the car and maybe a roof spoiler and be done with the car. Any suggestions on suspension choices? I read about air suspensions that UL edditions have, but mine I do not think has one. Also the brakes felt weak for some reason when I drove it compared to GS? Do I need new pads? How is the break distance differ from GS to LS, I saw that LS have bigger calipers. Thanks for any input.
I was looking to get a new car for awhile now and did not know what to get instead of my 01 GS430 w/ 110k miles. It is time. I test drove 04 E500 35k miles sport package and 04 545i sport, but affraid to have problems that come with MB and BMW ownership. I had a budget of $30k. BMW would be more then that but I thought I would just bite the bullet. After I drove it I loved the steering feedback obviously, that is the biggest problem I have with 2GS cars, steering is horrible. It is much better now since I have Daizen rack bushings, tightened pre-tentioner, control arm bushings and Tein CS 2nd gen on mine now, but still not as good as 04 LS430 I drove today, feedback was nice.
I decided to get a silver with grey 04 LS430 ML NAV with 50k miles and trade mine in (I will take off Tein and my sound sys obviously and put stock back). I drove the car with my fiance and we liked it a lot. It looks beautiful in silver and love the ML and NAV, and the inside looks very nice in the car too. I think it would be a good car to enjoy and have less if any problems compared to MB and BMW. I am planning to have it for about 1 year and 6 months and then get white 06 GS430, love that car. Plus I think LS will hold pretty good value also.
Anyway, I was woundering of how to lower the ride and firm it up abit and to get it close to my GS ride now with Tein CS I have now, without getting Tein. I did not see struts that Carson or TM Engineering carry, do we have any choice but OEM? Also I thought to put Tanabe DF springs to lower the car and make it handle better and use stock struts, how would that ride, did anyone do that? I wanted to get 19" MRR HR2 wheels to compliment the car and maybe a roof spoiler and be done with the car. Any suggestions on suspension choices? I read about air suspensions that UL edditions have, but mine I do not think has one. Also the brakes felt weak for some reason when I drove it compared to GS? Do I need new pads? How is the break distance differ from GS to LS, I saw that LS have bigger calipers. Thanks for any input.
08-16-07, 10:23 PM
#2
Lexus Champion
How much will it cost you to do all these modifications you mention?
Do you have an idea of a ball park cost?
If you like the air suspension of the UL, why don't you test drive it to see how it feels?
Do you have an idea of a ball park cost?
If you like the air suspension of the UL, why don't you test drive it to see how it feels?
08-17-07, 07:05 AM
#3
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
i think you did not get my question.. i found the car and it is not Ultra, so I assume it does not have air suspention, that is why I am asking what are my options to stiffen up the ride a bit and lower it for better handling and look..
08-18-07, 08:32 AM
#6
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Me too Gsteg.. After even all mods to my 01 GS430, where I got Daizen rack bushings, tightened the pre-tentioner, the 04 LS430 steering feels better and the suspension on LS is night and day compared to stock GS, it was not floaty-boaty at all. That is why I think if I will put DF Tanabe springs and use them with stock shocks (did anybody do that by the way?) and get wheels 20" MMR HR2, the car will drive and feel and handle great, because it is already not that bad considering the car is a big car.
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