LMS Teacher

My 2006 LS430 has 90,000 miles and I know that it will need the following maintenance done: a. Timing belt and tensioners b. Water pump (Done while doing the timing belt) c. Spark plugs d. Brakes (probably needs pads/new rotors/fluids changed) Everything is original issue from the factory, including the brakes. I plan to take it to a Lexus dealer, and am asking if anyone has had the following done by a Lexus dealer and what did it cost?

Well thanks for all the help from this forum. Absolute waste of my time. I bought a battery yesterday if anyone cares.

Geez, I thought someone would help me on this. My 2006 LS430 needs a battery, and the Interstate battery installed is a 800CCA battery, but when I went to the store, the guy says I only need a 550CCA battery. Hence my question of what was the original battery installed by Lexus? Do I need the 800 CCA or is the 550 CCA battery plenty good enough. The owners manual was no help. Looking for some corporate knowledge.

My replacement battery in my 2006 LS430 is dying, and the one installed is an Interstate MTP-24F (Group 24) I assume. Since I didn't watch what was removed, I am wondering whether the OEM battery size was a group 24? And if you know the CCA info on the OEM battery also. Thanks

Well it's been about a week since the battery in the proximity key was replaced, and that appears to have been the problem. So chalk it up to blind luck, but I wonder how many car batteries have been replaced by dealers for big bucks, and them knowing to also replace the battery in the proximity key but not include the $5 key battery on the service sheet. I would have been none the wiser.

She took her "key" to the dealer and had a new battery installed. Last two days no more issues, but she had my proximity key and now her key with new battery. Not one problem. Battery cables are absolutely clean, water in battery is good, and when it turns over, it is fast. So my thinking it was the switch not sending the right signal or enough of a signal to the car to tell it to start, yet enough to unlock the ingnition switch. I will keep you posted.

Wife's 06 LS430 clicked as she tried to start it. She tried again and it started right up. Suspected the battery, but it was replaced in 2010. Her proximity key battery is the original one, so she took mine and had not more problems. Am I just lucky or is there still a gremlin hiding under there to bite her when she comes out to start it at night? Will the key, which she keeps in her purse, make the engine appear like she has a dead battery? And then work fine.

Doesn't anyone know something about camber bars??

Thanks for the tip, and maybe my wife was wrong about the price. Based on the cost at Sewell, the $500 probably included installation. Thanks Bought the lens and it is on the way. Thanks for the tip.

Thanks for the tip, and maybe my wife was wrong about the price. Based on the cost at Sewell, the $500 probably included installation. Thanks

Have an 06 LS430 and have the passenger side fog light lens is broken. Dealer wants over $545 for the assembly itself, not including installation. I looked it over from the top and from the bottom and could not figure out how it comes out. What has to be removed to replace it, and can the just front lens be replaced, or is it one whole assembly? Where would one find the housing other than the dealer?

My left side tires, both front & rear were cupping on the inside only on my 06 LS430 after 42K miles. Took car into dealer for tires and he performed a 4 wheel alignment and said I needed new rear camber bars both right and left sides. Although the right side tires seemed ok wear wise with 42K on the tires, service mgr said both camber bars needed to be replaced. What are they and why would a bar go bad?

After I bought my 06 LS430, I was directed into another room where they unloaded on me to buy Lojac, wheel & tire warranty, paint warranty and electronics warranty. My question is does anyone know if the wheel & tire warranty is honored at other dealers or just the selling dealer?

Let's try it another way, has NADA been updated to reflect the cost of fuel on the resale value???

Guy down the street has a pristine 2002 LS470 for sale. He says it has 100K miles and every option available. He wants $25K for it but with the price of gas going up, I figure the price of this Lexus should be going down. What have you paid for one lately??

If this topic is still open, what Toyota oil filter was the guy trashing anyway?? I buy the Toyota 90915-20004 which according to this website two years ago was the best filter money could buy. So I bought 30 of them.

Here is a suggestion, fill the crankcase with new oil. Take your old filter and cut the closed end off and remove the filter element. As you know, oil flows into the filter through the outside and returns to the engine through the center hole into the threaded nipple the filter screws onto. Screw the cutup filter back on, put a clean drain pan under the filter, get a good flashlight and then have someone crank the engine. If it starts up, don't let it run too long, just long enough to see if oil is flowing out of the filter. If it is flowing out the filter, then replace the filter with a new one and drive it. If the oil in the clean drain pan is old oil which it should be, throw it away. Add some more new oil to bring to full. Take two aspirin and relax. Now on the other hand, if no oil comes out which I don't believe will be the case, shut it off, call the tow truck and get the credit card out. Good luck

Thanks, pushed the off button and it reset. Thanks.

The cabin air condition filter light came on so I bought a new one. Opened the book and did exactly what it said to replace, but the check maintenance light keeps coming on when I start the car. How do you reset it for the cabin filter???

I don't have the tire pressure monitoring system in my LS430, but two days ago, I drove the car and noticed it pulling to the right. I commented to my wife that her front right tire must be low. Just about then, a warning light came on which read low tire pressure. I checked the tires when I got home, and three had 32-33 lbs and the right front had 20 lbs. So I added air to it, but the message did not go out. So I got out the book, and it describes how to initialize the tires, but upon inspection, I don't think I have that system, because I have no reset button down under and to the left of the steering wheel. So I thumbed through the book, and it says to add air to the tire, but not how to reset the warning light. So I sent my wife off on a trip about 100 miles away, hoping it will reset itself. So if it does not, how do I do it without taking it into the dealer??

And the trunk also!!!

Unfortunately many mercedes owners share their HORROR stories here too (not an MB forum). guess it just happens too often. I posted this same information on the MB web page and signed off their user's group. I picked up my Benz after spending the $300 for the new glow plugs which I laid on the front seat, and then $2380.99 to have them install them plus the AC motor expenses and then drove it to the Lexus dealer and bought a new 2006 LS430. Since I have only put 300 miles on the Lexus, it is way too early to tell how this car will compare to the Benz. I have noticed that the diesel Benz had more zip in passing at freeway speeds which surprised me. The Lexus shifts down and then goes, the Benz just went. The Lexus is more quiet but then I had a diesel.

Got the call late yesterday on my E300. The bill this time is $2380.99. As soon as I inspect the bill, I'll give an update.

Currently own a 98 E300 Turbo Diesel. Sold the Camary (wonderful car) to upgrade to a Mercedes because of their engineering, safety, reliability, performance, and resale. I love the way it drives, handles, performs, fuel mileage around 33-34 mpg. I like the way it looks. I like the way others look at the car. It has been lousy on reliability however. First it was little things like the ash tray door not closing properly (warranty) but still doesn't work correctly. The coffee cup holder did not work properly (warranty). The passenger electric seat did not work correctly (warranty). Then the left rear window motor went (warranty). Then the other side went. The left side rear window motor went again. The left side rear window motor went again (3rd time). The air flow sensor went. The glow plug light came on. Replaced 3 glow plugs. The glow plug light came on again a month later. Replaced the other three. The glow plug light came on again after 14 months. Told them to replace all six plugs. They replaced only one. The glolw plug light came on again, after another 14 months. Bought all six glow plugs and laid them on the seat for them to replace 100%. (It is in the shop right now for this) The rear differential leaked, had them replace the seal. The front control arm bushings were cracked, had them install new bushings. (New bushings means car needs to be realigned) The electric fan motor that cools the engine quit working. Replaced it. The interior fan/AC/defroster motor is not working. (In shop right now, damage $$ unknown) The steering column moved when the turn signal was used. The Electric Ignition System (infrared key) quit working and the whole thing replaced. The check lights warning resulted in a wiring harness replacement (warranty). The low oil light and check coolant lights came on, not the same time of course, meaning two trips to the dealer. The oil and coolant were ok and they said "no trouble found". The rear view mirror came loose and was replaced (warranty). That just about covers my 98 Mercedes Benz with 98,700 original miles, original owner. The oil is changed without exception every 3-4K miles (old school). At this moment, it is in the shop again, and that is why I joined this club, my next car is going to be a Lexus. So I think I am an expert on MB reliability. I have spent a fair amount of time sitting in their customer lounge. While there, I tend to ask other MB owners why they were there. From what I recall, most are there for warranty/repair work and not routine maintenance. So we tell our horror stories, pay our bills, get in our cars and drive away. Now it would seem if I have paid once, and it fails again, they should offer me some "adjustment".

I agree that I should wait, but with the reliability record of my 98 E300 Mercedes, I fear that waiting will cost me another visit to the shop for glow plug replacement at about $900 a pop. The Benz in in the shop as I write this, a loaner car sits in my garage. It seems that I am in glow plug replacement mode around 2 months after the 12 month warranty. I do have a 12 month warranty don't I?