sanjikun

Glad to be part of the club! I was a longtime lurker...waiting on a deal for a clean GS...and I found one! I got a 99 with 150k for 5600, fully loaded with navi, xenons, etc.

Only thing it needs according to the dealer are two new front tires (never rotated and wearing thin...causing mild vibration at high speeds on the highway), and the timing belt. Although he wasn't sure when the timing was last done so I figured I should do it anyway...looks like some people have some wide range of prices depending on where they went...hopefully I can keep it 500 and less.

My question right now is that when the car is started, I can hear a small pump going off for a few seconds and then it stops. Is this normal? I know on my TL you can hear the ABS pump or something (like a faint air compressor of something) when you fire it up, but it's normal. Is it the same for the GS400 or should I get something checked out?

Thanks in advance!

tmf2004

iTrader: (15)

Welcome to CL..

sanjikun

thanks tmf2004! I see u have a 99 gs400 too...with some incredibly low mileage! I'm jealous! Although I'm very glad that mine at 150k purrs like it's got 30k on it...

I don't suppose you know what I am talking about by that faint mechanical noise when the car starts up?

LEXUS_KID

iTrader: (4)

WELCOME sanjikun

Infamous 1

iTrader: (20)

Welcome to CL!

sanjikun

so glad to join the club. I had a 95 sc300 manual before, and that was one of the reasons I decided to jump back into Lexus after a few years of BMW repairs...that car only ever needed oil and filter changes, and you could put gas in and go. Looks like this GS400 is exactly the same!!!

Other than the possible sound of the brake booster pressurizing that is worrying me (is that normal for everyone?) I'm slowly figuring out little tricks as my car did not come with the books. Finding out I have self leveling headlights rocks!!! I saw them lower when I turned them on and was amazed...didn't know reflector type housings had self-levling functions. I think my pass side is low though...it is about 1 foot lower than my driver's side at night...isn't it supposed to be the other way around?

Thanks all! (and I love the yellow fogs at night!!!!)

5t341th

iTrader: (16)

welcome. is the pumping sound before or after the engine is started

sanjikun

Thanks 5t341th!

The pumping sound occurs right after the engine has started, and every so often while the car is driving. Seems to be coming from behind the area where the pedals are. After a little searching, sound like it may be my brake booster, but it was coming on too often so i got worried. On my TL, the brake booster makes its mechanical whir as soon as you turn the car on, but not again while driving...

btw, my 99 is silver too...would mine be millennium Silver? or is there another name for it? Your 2000 looks awesome with the updated tails! Looks kinda like mine without the license since I bought my car out of state and am still waiting for the title to arrive in the mail.

eclipse604

that pumping sound should be the brake booster. it comes on for a few seconds after the brakes are applied so if you tap the brakes and then release, it might come on.
the 98-99 silver is called alpine silver. 01-05 are millennium silver. not too sure about the 2000s but logically it could be millennium silver as well.

soakgame

congrats! that's a nice purchase.. i have no doubt in my mind that GS's can hit 300k miles w/ the right care

my 98 is getting close to 200k and i'm seriously thinking about getting another one.. there isn't really any other car out there right now (besides the infiniti G sedans 2007 and up) that i can see myself driving for a decade or more

most of my friends have IS's.. and others have bmw's 5 series / M series / etc.. but i don't want to go that route

sanjikun

eclipse...good deal. that's what I thought. It would make sense since it only comes on every so often after using the brakes or starting the car...oh well. Well, Alpine or Millennium, they both look nice..although I was really hoping for black..but couldn't turn down this deal.

soakgame, thanks! I've seen with regular basic maintenence and care, these gs300's and 400's seem to be climbing into the 200-300k range no problem...most owners still reporting that their vehicles are still running strong. I was actually looking at IS300's before stumbling across this GS...I love the IS, but this is much nicer! I've been a bimmer guy for awhile with 3 series convertibles...but this ride is so sweet I may actually pick another one up. (I still have the bimmer, and this GS400 was actually a replacement for the wife's TL...but man I love driving it!)

CPMD

iTrader: (2)

Welcome to CL

sivikvtec

I've asked before on here if that noise is normal. Mine does it all the time and I've been told its normal.

sanjikun

Makes me feel better knowing I'm not the only one. =)

I see you also have an e36 M3 there...very nice. They're a blast to drive. My DD is a 96 318i convertible. not as fast as the M3, but any e36 is pretty fun to drive!

I was cross shopping e39 540i bimmers, and was very surprised to learn that the GS400 has more power. We've never (my wife and I) had self leveling headlights before...that's cool as heck too.