tallcaguy

It would be interesting to have the different ride options.

LEX ES300

I must admit I'm getting tired of mine. I do love her but expensive repairs are getting me down and spoiling my enjoyment! I have owned it for almost 10 years and looked after her so well with nothing but the best - , its always kept garaged, only serviced at the dealer with only original parts, gets fully cleaned everyweek, and I drive it sensibly but it hasnt made a difference, I guess the climate here is just too harsh.
The ML sound systems in these cars in my opinion are just woeful. I had a 97 es300 before this and the factory ML sound was waaay better and never had any issues in years and years of ownership. On my LS430 i have had to replace both front door speakers and sub (all foam broken and cracked) and almost 2years ago the amp blew. Replaced with another new factory amp for over $1000 and just last week this ones blown up again too. Door lock actuator went at a $1000 and ive also had a trans issue that no one else in the world has experienced on this model.(well I Am yet to hear of anyone or any world wide trans specialist that i have written to that has encountered this on this mode)l... I have no engine braking downhills. No amount of lexus diagnosis has uncovered the problem. Last year i went through a full new set of front rotors and brakes ($1000 plus) because this is the only way to stop when going down hills. The trans provides no engine braking when down shifting at all. Yet all the gears work beautifully and smooth as silk in all other conditions.
I am about throw more parts at it in a last ditch attempt to fix it but after that i will have to continue to live with it...already replaced the ecm with no change and now going to replace the whole trans body valve assembly with another brand new oem one ($1400 plus labor). Really hoping this will fix it and I can start loving my car again!

Jabberwock

Dealer service on an older luxury car is going to be very expensive over time. Hopefully you can find a Asian car specialist over there with more reasonable labor rates.

I personally would not spend 1 dollar on repairing the OEM ML audio components, they are just slightly removed from bargain bin junk. Way better to just have a good quality aftermarket stereo and new speakers installed when any part of the OEM system fails.

Door actuator failures can usually be repaired diy with a $6 electric motor avail on ebay but it is fairly complicated project. I have also seen used complete door actuator assemblies pop up from time to time for about $100 on ebay. Maybe if one fails again buy a used actuator and have an independent install it. It si a common failure across most Toyota products and seems to be related/linked to extreme heat environments. My buddy with a 2003 landcruiser has had all 5 actuators fail on his otherwise bulletproof truck and they all start failing when it is very hot outside and the car has been in the sun.

If your car downshifts then that is what is called engine braking going downhill. In other words going downhill you manually put the car in a lower gear (ex like 3rd gear) and the revs go way up and being in 3rd gear will limit the speed and will do so going downhill. I assume when you say no "engine braking" you are unable to manually shift the transmission into a lower gear while going downhill?

LEX ES300

Thanks for the tips. I guess a lot is heat related in my country. Totally agree with you. The sound system is junk.I try to save money whenever possible by buying new oem parts myself from other sources but these cars just arent that common over here for other workshops to confidently work on them. Some basic things yes but most no.

I have no engine braking during any downshifts (either in auto mode or manual sports shift mode) except some slightly in 4th. None what so ever. My car is the only LS430 in the world that you can go down a hill and using the sport shifter shift down into 3 or 2 and coast faster and faster getting up to very high speeds of 110 or 120 km/hr and only have just over 1000rpm on the engine,. Yes Thats right, only 1000rpm!!! NOBODY ELSE TRY THIS....YOU WILL BLOW UP YOUR CAR! I have even started in 1st and rolled down a hill in 1st getting up to 100km hr with only slightly over 1000rpm. Absolutely impossible on anyone elses car! The trans is shifting into the lower gear because if you put your foot on the gas (not that you want to going down a hill) the rpms go way up according to the gear you manually shifted into. It just wont hold any revs coasting downhill.
I have a huge thread in this forum about it but i am on my own with this issue. I am planning on updating the thread when my new valve body assembly arrives.

Peacebay

Assuming it’s an 04-06?

LEX ES300

Yes, its a 2004

BCT

That is weird.

I just got back from spring break hiking trip and I can confirm that mine has engine braking. I was shifting up and down in manual mode flawlessly. I have to say I was pretty impressed how the car handled in twisty roads. I did not drive too crazy, but for a big car with several hundred lbs in passengers and gear, she is pretty agile, and still comfy and smooth so that my son can sleep well in the back seat.

It makes me want to take her to tail of the dragon

BigBoomer

Sounds to me like either the torque converter is toast, or else the lockup sensor or mechanism is busted and is not connecting the tranny to the input shaft.
Essentially, when the wheels are driving the tranny, it is removing the tranny link to the motor.

LALS430

Have you had any luck on the clunk? I've chased and still no luck.

CelsiorAUS

Hey all i thought id jump in here and give a hello especially to the long term LS430 Owners. My last login here was in 2013, so you can say ive had 6 years of trouble free motoring and only came here because im finally getting ready to buy a new car. A bit of history first..

I've owner an 89 LS400 (JDM With Air), followed by a 98 and to my current car a 2001 LS430. I never did like the headlights but i couldnt afford the Facelift model at the time. I picked up by Black on Black 430 with Entertainment pack in 2011 for 25k aud with 140k kms. In the years of ownership heres whats niggled and gone wrong

1. Idle Speed was a little bit low, im not sure if this is stock but i just turned on seat cooler to give it that extra 100rpm.
2. My fuel needle would drop a few mm occasionally and sit there. My mechanic said its probably rusted a bit but its stablised (Or stopped lifting again) so i believe my tank always has some in reserve as my needle is low, but its been fine
3. Recently my sunroof is squeaking alot on open and on close its lost its guide so auto close only moves it 10cm. I believe its lost its memory but i havent bothered to fix this
4. Last week my door speaker started crackling
5. Last year my radiator cracked (700 aud fix)
6. Some of my bonnet paint has cracked where it curves on one side. Very strange (has anyone else seen this?)

The rest of the car is perfect, leather and interior is 100% immaculate and a dream car to drive. Ive managed to amass a large amount of money from savings (especially because this car is so reliable) and am now looking at a new car. The LC500 is so sexy but too expensive and ive looked at 460s to 600HL to 911s to maseratis but i cant really find something i like and nothing seems to match my trusty LS430. I actually came by to start a thread on life after 430 and what car did people get?

My question is whats next? What car can match the low maintanence cost, smooth ride, amazing leather, audio, Low DB etc? Where else can you find a car with double glazed windows?

e60bmw

iTrader: (1)

Nope, I use it as my daily. And still have my GS if I get tired of it which is much different. Personally I might add a s63 down the line, they have continued to get cheaper and I've always been a fan of them with the amount of power under the hood.

Vantage007

I've had the same question, and thankfully my job as an editor of an auto magazine is to literally evaluate new cars weekly. I have the answer - Genesis G80 5.0L. The G90 is nice but for the price, the G80 V8 does exactly what we want and ticks off all the boxes you pointed out.

That said, when the time comes to replace my 430, I'll be trying to seek out an LS 460L with the executive rear seat package.

ahxks1

I have an '05 LS430 UL with 56k miles!. Love it. I have 16" wheels on it for an extra floaty ride (still have the 18s stored, never used them). It's my 4th LS, but we are planning to have another baby, which makes 3 kids. Don't think a sedan will be ideal anymore. But a great car. Here's a pic with the stock 18s

ahxks1

My dad has the G90. Wow! great car, and so much better than the G80 (or the LS)

Bocatrip

After 10+ years of ownership with my LS430, I can honestly say I just can't see ever getting rid of it! Best car I have ever owned!