LS430Onyx

After more than a year of reading the forum, I finally joined. You guys are so much more polite than the BMW and Mercedes forums, that's for sure. Have a 2004 Onyx Blue LS430, Modern Luxury, two sets of custom rims. Second owner and I just turned 65,000. Original owner did the Tbelt, thermostat and water pump at 37,000. He did a 15,000 service every five, so the maintenance records were great. I replaced all the Mark Levinsons with new ones, new amber fogs, Diode Dynamics LED blinkers for the front and rear, license plate lamps, front parking and front side marker. Have a set of Summer rims on 255/40/19 and a studded Winter set on 235/50/18. Been an awesome car. The journey started when I sold my E320 4Matic (should have kept that car), and traded on a nine month old Genesis with the Premium and Tech package. Car was beautiful, every possible option, fast and a stereo that was beyond amazing. Bought it at 22,000 miles, however around the 32,000 mile mark, the chrome chipped off the grille, the leather stretched, the car would stall in oncoming traffic, winter driving was dangerous, the nav would shut off and restart multiple times, and then towards the end, the car would not start two out of every ten starts. That was the last straw. Traded for a BMW X5. Major mistake. This thing was LOADED!!! However, only kept it for ten weeks. Sitting in a Lexus parking lot, engine running, ten degrees out in Winter, the coolant tank exploded under the hood, stranding my dog and I sixty miles from home. BMW wanted $900 to do the work. Ended up having my indy do it for under $300. Then the nav started flashing that the four wheel drive and stability systems weren't working. What a mess. BMW thought maybe I needed a new battery. They charge $399 for the battery, $25 for shop fees, $189 for one hour of labor and a $199 fee that "introduces" the new battery to the alternator via the BMW proprietary software. At that point, I wanted the car that was reliable, fast, big, well built, luxurious, quiet and efficient. The LS430. Perhaps one of the best Lexus ever made.

LS430Onyx

Mounted on Conti 255/40/19

tallcaguy

Nice car! Welcome to the club. I did German and will never go back. I agree w/ the many comments that the 430 is one of the best cars Lexus ever built. I think it's interesting that this is the car all the service guys want to drive. My indie shop owner has one. Sure there are the standard fixes (mirrors, door locks, tilt/telescope steering wheel, etc) but it's a nice car. I will own one even when it's obsolete and everyone's driving around in fuel cell cars (or being Uber'd or self driving). I live in a college town where Prius ownership is semi mandatory. Still own two 430's

Jabberwock

Great looking LS430. Welcome and nice catch on a low mile LS430. I have a friend that drives a older Mercedes S430. He pays thousands per year for an ongoing extended warranty to keep his car up and running.

I did not have the heart to tell him total repairs on my LS430 in almost 8 years of ownership has been one malfunctioning driver's side mirror that was replaced at no charge under CPO warranty. If you maintain per the manual the LS430 should be trouble free for a very long time.

wander

Looks like you found a gem! Nice looking R107 as well, that's one to hang on to.

How do you like the amber fog lights, did you just replace the bulb?

LS430Onyx

The SL is for the spring and Fall months. Both have been great cars.

LS430Onyx

Not a hundred percent crazy about the amber yet. Fog lights on cars these days are horrible, not like back in the mid eighties BMW, Volvo, Mercedes or Saabs. I will know more this Winter when it reflects off the snow. I changed just the bulb.

Dylroberts

Wow what a great find! Gorgeous color.

Duck05

Of course we are!!!! We do not have to spend hours and hours at the dealerships getting our cars fixed......

LS430Onyx

Very true Duck!!

LS430Onyx

For me, I gave that BMW one chance. When it stranded my dog and I in Winter, sixty miles from home, that thing was done. Having kept it only ten weeks, it was the shortest time I ever had a car.

wander

thanks, I've also noticed the fog lights seem to get lost under the bi-xenon headlights.