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LS - 3rd Gen (2001-2006) Discussion topics related to the flagship Lexus LS430

Introduction - 2004 LS 430

Old Oct 31, 2017 | 04:29 PM
  #1  
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cad55ken
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Smile Introduction - 2004 LS 430

Hello all -
Just purchased a 2004 LS 430, $12,300 - Mystic Gold Metallic - 113,000 - Ultra Lux - am third owner. Second owners (husband and wife - mid 80's in age) owned it since 6,000 miles. Have complete service history printed out by Sewell Lexus in Fort Worth. Previous owners took excellent care of the car. Fully optioned - including Pre Collision and Lexus installed Satellite radio, Birds Eye Maple (my favorite) with Ecru. Had TB done, but the entry on the service ticket does not list out WP or belt tensioner kit; new tires and brakes recently done. It needs: hood struts, sub woofer, front left tweeter, and steering wheel volume control switch. All other functions / switches work as they should. Its on its second amp. Never wrecked / smoked in. Immaculate paint and interior. It was detailed once and sometimes twice per year by Sewell Lexus - and it shows. Driving from Weatherford Texas back to Dallas - 30.10 mpg!! going 70. Three separate parties waiting in Pre-Owned to see if I got there by this past Friday evening and completed the purchase!! This model is still sought after. I had found one at Park Place Lexus, but I was second in line behind a couple from New Mexico who drove in and purchased Saturday morning. When I saw the GOLD with the Ecru and Maple, that was all I needed.
I had a one owner 2004 LS 430 UL back in 2013 for two years and I did a stupid thing - traded for a one owner 8,000 mile 2013 LS 460 L UL - oh well, we live and learn. The 2013 was fully loaded except for Night Vision - great car - no problems, but it just did not drive the same and it was not as quiet as my previous LS 430 or my current one. Yes, LKA is neat, but not $80k worth of neat!! Can anyone say 'D E P R E C I A T E' ?
I am so much happier in the LS 430 UL now sitting in my garage - it is a superb car - rock solid. In the coming days, I will (as I did with my last LS 430 and previously owned '88 v-12 BMW 750 iL) have Royal Purple put in the engine, radiator, transmission, power steering, and differential. Too, I have wrestled with 'Do I put in a complete new stereo or have the sub replaced?' I have read and read and studied and looked at installs - I have decided to replace the sub, tweeter, and get the volume control switch replaced. The previous owners evidently never used the cassette - it was somewhat reluctant to operate - but the more I 'exercised' the unit with fast forward / rewind, the better it got. The cassette scan finally kicked in and now all works perfectly. They evidently never moved the outside mirrors around. When I test drove the car, I just assumed the mirrors were OK - but when I got home, realized they could not be adjusted and the auto look down in Reverse was not functioning. So, I 'exercised' the 'Left Right' mirror switch for about 20 minutes. Now, the mirrors work perfectly and Reverse Look down functions. The Sunroof was reluctant to 'Tilt' up let alone Open Up. Same story - I exercised it for a few minutes, and now it functions well.
I will have Sewell 'lubricate' the sunroof and check the rear view mirrors when I take it in for the few things it needs.
I love reading all the stories on this forum. Too, I watched a number of vintage commercials, walk arounds, performance reviews, etc. on YouTube and really believe these are 300 - 400 thousand mile cars.
LS 430's RULE.
PS - will add pics as soon as the weather in Dallas clears back up
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Old Oct 31, 2017 | 06:27 PM
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Congratulations on the purchase! Enjoy!
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Old Oct 31, 2017 | 09:41 PM
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Congratulations!
I am also in search of a good LS430.
Today I did a test drive on the one I thought I would purchase but immediately decided against it after the test drive.
Too many things to repair and I do not want that kind of additional headache.
I am looking for a one owner 2004, 2005, or 2005 LS430 with anywhere between 92,000 miles and 110,000 miles. Everything on it must be working fine. No dents, scratches, or kinks.
If I can keep my 1998 in that condition I am sure another person is doing the same.
Get in touch with me if you know of someone willing to sell one......no dark colors please.


Originally Posted by cad55ken
Hello all -
Just purchased a 2004 LS 430, $12,300 - Mystic Gold Metallic - 113,000 - Ultra Lux - am third owner. Second owners (husband and wife - mid 80's in age) owned it since 6,000 miles. Have complete service history printed out by Sewell Lexus in Fort Worth. Previous owners took excellent care of the car. Fully optioned - including Pre Collision and Lexus installed Satellite radio, Birds Eye Maple (my favorite) with Ecru. Had TB done, but the entry on the service ticket does not list out WP or belt tensioner kit; new tires and brakes recently done. It needs: hood struts, sub woofer, front left tweeter, and steering wheel volume control switch. All other functions / switches work as they should. Its on its second amp. Never wrecked / smoked in. Immaculate paint and interior. It was detailed once and sometimes twice per year by Sewell Lexus - and it shows. Driving from Weatherford Texas back to Dallas - 30.10 mpg!! going 70. Three separate parties waiting in Pre-Owned to see if I got there by this past Friday evening and completed the purchase!! This model is still sought after. I had found one at Park Place Lexus, but I was second in line behind a couple from New Mexico who drove in and purchased Saturday morning. When I saw the GOLD with the Ecru and Maple, that was all I needed.
I had a one owner 2004 LS 430 UL back in 2013 for two years and I did a stupid thing - traded for a one owner 8,000 mile 2013 LS 460 L UL - oh well, we live and learn. The 2013 was fully loaded except for Night Vision - great car - no problems, but it just did not drive the same and it was not as quiet as my previous LS 430 or my current one. Yes, LKA is neat, but not $80k worth of neat!! Can anyone say 'D E P R E C I A T E' ?
I am so much happier in the LS 430 UL now sitting in my garage - it is a superb car - rock solid. In the coming days, I will (as I did with my last LS 430 and previously owned '88 v-12 BMW 750 iL) have Royal Purple put in the engine, radiator, transmission, power steering, and differential. Too, I have wrestled with 'Do I put in a complete new stereo or have the sub replaced?' I have read and read and studied and looked at installs - I have decided to replace the sub, tweeter, and get the volume control switch replaced. The previous owners evidently never used the cassette - it was somewhat reluctant to operate - but the more I 'exercised' the unit with fast forward / rewind, the better it got. The cassette scan finally kicked in and now all works perfectly. They evidently never moved the outside mirrors around. When I test drove the car, I just assumed the mirrors were OK - but when I got home, realized they could not be adjusted and the auto look down in Reverse was not functioning. So, I 'exercised' the 'Left Right' mirror switch for about 20 minutes. Now, the mirrors work perfectly and Reverse Look down functions. The Sunroof was reluctant to 'Tilt' up let alone Open Up. Same story - I exercised it for a few minutes, and now it functions well.
I will have Sewell 'lubricate' the sunroof and check the rear view mirrors when I take it in for the few things it needs.
I love reading all the stories on this forum. Too, I watched a number of vintage commercials, walk arounds, performance reviews, etc. on YouTube and really believe these are 300 - 400 thousand mile cars.
LS 430's RULE.
PS - will add pics as soon as the weather in Dallas clears back up
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2017 | 12:23 PM
  #4  
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Great find and welcome to the club. Sounds like you got a winner. Others have stated as you have, and returned to the 430 fold from the 460.
Hope it works out great for you.
I'll be looking to sell my parents 2001 Mystic gold with 200k miles on it here shortly.
Enjoy!
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Old Nov 1, 2017 | 01:48 PM
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cad55ken's Avatar
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Thanks !!
By the way - how has your parents car been? Has it been reliable?

Thanks

Ken
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Old Nov 1, 2017 | 01:50 PM
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cad55ken's Avatar
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Don't know of any for sale. I will tell you this - here in Dallas - the LS 430's (especially the Ultra Lux and Sport) get snapped up fast.
Best of luck on your search.

Ken
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Old Nov 1, 2017 | 03:41 PM
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So funny to hear that there are still buyer's looking enthusiastically for one owner cars! Yes they exist, but realistically for cars that are so old....make some sacrafices and find the car you think may be well worth it with service records and a clean bill of health including no body or paint work and hopefully (no offense to members) a southern or California car! Good luck to all.
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