02Ls430

Hello:

I just joined the club today. I have been reading much of the threads on here and it seems as though I have gotten a great car. I was more the Benz guy so I am enthusiastically looking forward to enjoying my Ls-430 w/nav. Now to the matter at hand.

I purchased the car last week at an auction for a great price and realized, after I had paid for it, that there was no sound coming from the radio, tape, or CD player. I do have sound from the nav though. I took it to the Lexus dealership and found out that the Mark Levinson amplifier was blown and that it would cost 800 bucks to fix. I was also told (not by the dealer) that this was a very common problem with LS-models up to the 2002 model. Is this true? Should I install an aftermarket amp instead of getting another ML amp?

I was also advised that it would be best to get an 2004 model Ls-430 ML amp accompanied by a plug and play adapter and simply replace it and everything should be fine. Has anyone heard or tried this before?

Thanks in advance for your kind advice and help.

BTW: My car has 77,000 miles and I bought it for just under 20 grand.

02Ls430

Anyone? Any advice or suggestion would be highly appreciated?

Thanks,
02Ls-430/MD

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

Welcome to Club Lexus!

I've read more threads about the ML subwoofer going, not as many about the amp.

If you do end up getting a new one, try sourcing a used one first (PM member Aliga who has salvage yard connections) or a LS-focused salvage yard I'll link here in a minute after I dig it up. Not too many of these cars in the junkyard though.

You can also probably get a better price through one of our forum vendors such as Sewell Lexus lexus-parts.com (we get 10% off with discount code CL911M) or Carson Toyota (www.l-tunedparts.com)

02Ls430

Thank you for the information Dave. I hope my sub is not blown. I've gotten some nice quotes on used amps and I think I might settle for one.