live2learn

Thanks LScott, I appreciate that. Yeah, I went with the MXV4 Plus XSE. Nice ride. Plus Discount Tire here in Austin is just cheap as all get out on just about any tire, including the big names. Gotta love that! Thanks for the input....and reassurance. Mark

Hi everyone, Just got new Michelins installed on my '97 LS400. DAMN!!! Quiet, smooth, beautiful ride...amazing stuff... I get back to the apartment here, park, get out and notice that I have balancing weights on both front wheels, different weights obviously. But NEITHER of the back wheels have a balancing weight on them. Now the shop here who sold the tires did the mounting, balancing, etc., and has a lifetime balance adjustment at no cost, so I'm not worried about it really. I called the shop and they said the computer balancer often times will not suggest a weight be installed within certain tolerances, of course. He said I could bring it back anytime to have them re-check it if I had any odd noises, sensations, whatever. Anyway, I don't think it's anything to be concerned about, but I am curious if it's something anyone else thinks it's something to worry about. Thanks...

I live in Austin as well, and own a 1991 LS400 with a little bit more mileage than yours. Congrats on your purchase. Lexus of Austin is not very popular. A few guys with newer cars that insist on taking their cars to the dealer even drive to San Antonio for work. The only proper place I know is Bearden Automotive off Techonology BLVD on 183N. They do quality work, but they are not cheap. Anyone that specializes in Lexus is going to cost you proportionally. My car was previously maintained by the PO for the last 5 years or so by Bearden Automotive and I'd had some discussions with them. I believe he has spent upwards of 5k there in totality. Coincidently, I do all my own work. Hopefully that was some help. Sahtt, Thanks a ton for that, I really appreciate your help! I would do my own work, but 1) I'm more a motorcycle mechanic guy than a car mechanic guy, primarily from having spent the last 2 years preparing for then doing a long motorcycle trip through Canada, US, Mexico and then all 7 countries of Central America. In planning for that, I purposely eliminated most of my possessions, so my toolkit got downsized considerably to just what I needed for working on the bike. I'm not super excited about buying a whole new Sears special just for routine maintenance on the car, but at the same time it's going to need some small things to bring her up to snuff and I'd like to see those done by someone who knows what they're doing. I'll check out Bearden, someone else mentioned Tech One Automotive also, down on Burnet off 183, so we'll see what they have to say also. Thanks again!

Hi Guys, Just bought a 1997 LS400, one owner TX car from a dealer here in Austin, got a good price, especially on a one owner with all the service records from mile 6 to 104,700. Anyway, just checking to see if anyone knows of any honest and competent mechanics here in the Austin area who do good LS400 work at a fair price. Someone who is familiar with the car, its systems, etc. and who can do good routine maintenance and not bleed my wallet dry at the same time. Thanks!