Hi, I’m new to this forum and I live in the UK. I want to buy a GS300/350 but I’ve read about the 2006 GS300 issues and that people recommend the 2007+ GS350.

The problem is that in the UK I cannot find any GS350s, only GS300s. I did manage to find GS300s made in 2007 & 2008 but will the 2007-8 model have the same issues as a 2006 model?

If they have the same issues, what are recommended alternatives?
The website I am using is www.autotrader.com incase anybody wants to look at the 2007-8 GS300 pictures to help tell the difference.

Thanks in advance

 

UK and Jap market GS300's are different then the US market GS300. The US GS300 is a direct injection, and that is what the problem is. It was designed for fuel efficiency. The Jap version is better and uses a different system for fueling.

Even the UK I believe the V8 GS430 were made until around 2007 or 2008

If you wanted more options/tech and newer front and rear bumpers stick to an 08-up

 

Ok that makes sense, thanks a lot for clearing up the confusion for me

 

Afaik middle East and Japan got 3gr Fe while North America and Europe got the fse

 

What your saying is Europe received the FSE aswell? How come we never hear no issues from the european guys.

Where are u getting your info from? wikipedia says the same as you but I dont think its correct. Why would lexus run it for all those years if they knew it had issues, unlike the US for only one year.

You know more about these engines then I do.

 

Certain markets has the FSE motor. I know for sure that they have FSE by searching some of their forums. Also, not all markets issued the TSB. I believe the North American market is the only place where you will find the carbon remedy TSB on the 4GR-FSE and the 3GR-FSE.

Also Japan never received the 300s. They went straight to the 350s at launch. The 300s were mostly used in the Mark X and Crown.

Lexus EU press release on the GS 300 https://media.lexus.co.uk/2005/04/the-new-lexus-gs/
https://www.automobile-catalog.com/c...cutive_se.html

Apparently, the 350 was never offered in some parts of Europe.
https://media.lexus.co.uk/product_in...0-archive-2005

 

So the UK/Europe models I've been seeing from 2005-8 all have the 3GR-FSE? (Which is what it seems like from those 2 links)

 

Europe
Limited model line
GS300 (3GR-FSE only)
No 350 types, no AWD versions

North America
Full model line
GS300, GS300 AWD (3GR-FSE)
GS350, GS350 AWD (2GR-FSE)

Japan
Limited model line
GS350, GS350 AWD (2GR-FSE)
No 300 types

Middle East
Limited model line
GS300 (3GR-FE only)
No 350 types, no AWD versions

 

Same here in Poland, we also doesn't get 350. I've found info about 300 upgrade (some work with carbon build issue) after 2008 model. You should considev hybrid becouse there are more popular there than 350

 

So it's safe to assume that I should try to stay away from the UK GS300's that I was looking at?

 

Yes. E.g. GS350 for Japan. Or another RHD-countries (maybe Australia, Singapore).

 

To complicate matters there is also the Toyota Crown Athlete :lol:

These cars are actually part of a special Brand Called Crown:

https://www.autozine.org/Archive/Toy...rown_13th.html

They are for Police/Taxi Use, so a very solid chassis.

 

There's the whole crown range, plus the mark x. It's amazing how many awesome japanese vehicles we don't get to have. Prime example - a platform for a new GS technically exists... but only the new Crow (S220) is using it. The hybrid has the same drivetrain as the ls500h (and lc500h).

 

I don't know if those brands could fly in the US.
Ford Owns Mark. The Mark VIII was a unique American car and very close car to the SC or GS Ironically. V8 DOHC, IRS, RWD, Air suspension option.
Front struts looks almost like they could interchange. They both have a bolt that goes thru a sleeve.
4GEN GS went to separate rear shock spring setup like the MK8. Wasn't there a 2dr GS? RC? That would be a Mark 8!
This looks like they got inspired by their rear suspension :lol:. The rear setup is very different from ours.





The new RC looks like a modern version of a MK8.

Crown could be similar to Fords Crown Victoria, so that could be a brand issue too.

A bit off topic, but interesting none the less!

 

I was also talking about missing things like the is350/gs350 over here in the EU... with the 350 being the most bulletproof setup (port injection for valves, vacuum brake booster, cheap shocks, etc).

As for the 4GS/RC looking like a MK8... toyota chassis share an insane number of parts. The 2IS/3GS/crown&markX(of the era) chassis are just about the same. I was cross-referencing body panel parts at one point when I was bored