ddiddle

Hello,

I've recently become part of the Lexus world for the first time, purchasing a 97 LS - original owner, 71,000 miles - overall very nice - and the price was right. I've admired these cars from afar, and have had great experiences with Toyota and Honda/Acura in the past and presently, but finally have taken the plunge for the LS.

I appreciate these forums and have lurked here from time to time doing research, and I'll look forward to getting and receiving help in the days to come.

My question presently has to do with wheels. Mine (stock aluminum) are rather weathered and I've seen a set of beautiful GS wheels on CL for next to nothing. I wonder if anyone knows offhand if the GS wheels will bolt up to the LS. The GS was a 1998. If you google 1998 Lexus GS, you'll see the wheels in 90% of the pictures - the basic 5 spoke aluminum.

The only differences in spec, as I've managed to find, are:

Width - LS: 7", GS: 7.5"
Offset: LS: 45mm GS: 50mm

I'd also be interested in opinions as to how they'd look. I can't find a picture of an LS with GS wheels online. I respect all the customized stuff, but I'm pretty much a factory stock sort of person.

dicer

Pictures? What colors sounds like a nice car with only 71K on it. And welcome to the site.

mappo

Yes, they are interchangeable - same bolt pattern. Here's a pic (not my car). I think they look pretty good on the LS.

ddiddle

Thanks very much for the welcome and the help. I'm cleaning it all up this weekend and will post pics afterward.

It's the two-tone cashmere beige.

Stereorob

just FYI, this thread is absolutely worthless without pics

ddiddle

OK, don't want to be worthless... :-)

As you know, here's what my car looks like now...only not quite so good as this...yet.

These are the wheels I'm thinking of buying and putting on the LS...if they'll fit with no issues.

ddiddle

Some actual pics of my "new" car:

ddiddle

Some pics of my "new" car. In process of changing from rather faded gold emblems to chrome - still needing the deck lid "lexus" name and the trim for the antenna...and then there's the wheels...

dicer

Looks good how is the interior?

ddiddle

Thanks. I plan to get the front bumper cover painted too deal with the sun fade on the top and a few chips on the lower part.

The interior is great - very clean really...no tears or split seams in the seats. I bought a new set of Lexus mats for it - the front ones were there and decent, but not perfect and no rears were present. Once I figured out that you have to put the CDs in upside down, now I can say that all the electronics work without issue. I'll post a few interior pictures later.

There are panels of the leather that are pretty hard and stiff. I've hit them a few times with Lexol and rubbed it in - I'm not sure if there's any real improvement or not. If there is, it's barely noticeable. I've read a couple long threads on here about Lexus leather and whatever it's coated with not allowing moisturizers into it and all that...seems like there are mixed opinions on the whole thing. I'm thinking the most definitive answer has to do with avoiding conditioners and just keep it clean by wiping it down, allowing the moisture/humidity to slowly rehydrate the leather - thus make is softer. At least that's what I'm picking up from people like JFELBAB over in the care and detailing forum.

I plan to get the front bumper cover painted - a little sun fade on the top and some chips on the lower part.

ddiddle

OK - back the wheel question.

These are the wheels at issue. The seller says that these were on a 2008 GS 460 as winter wheels and tires, but from all I can tell, these are not 2008 GS wheels - they're more like from 1998. According to the FAQ in this forum, they would not work with my LS due to the big brake calipers. But...if she had them on a 2008 GS...and the FAQ here says 2008 GS wheels will work on the LS...then they should work on the LS.

Am I to assume the seller must be mistaken?

omarg

those are 16s from a 98-00 gs. I highly doubt they would clear the big 4 piston front brake calipers from the 95+ LS