LS430 woes

"V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches" (jbv12)
10/22/2018 at 11:52 • Filed to: None

So I’ ve decided that I’ m going to buy another LS430 at some point , but when I buy one, i want to get an Ultra Luxury or Custom Luxury with the Saddle Brown interior.

Unfortunately, they seem to be about as rare as a designo optioned S class, and it took me just under a year of shopping for one of those to come up for sale. Price isn’t really important with this car, but its infuriating not even having the opportunity to buy one. Also, I’ ve just come to the realization that both of my daily drivers now rely on hydraulic suspension to be drive able . Pray for me

DISCUSSION (13)

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
10/22/2018 at 12:16

Trade you my shiny Taco for that old LX of yours. I’ll even let you add a few grand on top. Oppo deal.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/22/2018 at 12:24

I mean, it is a modern classic so its value can only appreciate from here, right? I’d be a fool not to take that deal.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
10/22/2018 at 12:28

I did actually look up the value on mine and was like, “No freaking way.” Looked up more online for sale, “No freaking way.” In theory, it *could* be worth more than your LX, therefore gimme gimme gimme

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/22/2018 at 12:46

W ell count me in then! I seriously cant get over how well this thing drives though, its like an LS400 on stilts. I’ m ex cited to see what this thing does in the sn ow too, I’ m expecting it to be pretty unstoppable.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
10/22/2018 at 12:47

You know what else is unstoppable? RWD TACO!

No wait, that’s totally stoppable in the snow.

Land_Yacht_225 > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
10/22/2018 at 19:27

Both daily drivers rely on hydraulic suspension? I thought the LX was air ride...?

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Land_Yacht_225
10/22/2018 at 20:46

No, it’s hydraulic, at least on the 470. It’s a pretty reliable system according to my research, nothing like ABC in terms of function. I’d say it’s more analogous to a W126 SLS system because it’s pretty much just load leveling. Have you had to rebuild your valve blocks yet?

Land_Yacht_225 > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
10/23/2018 at 07:18

I should probably have my rear done because of the sticking return valve for the passenger rear wheel that sags after shut-down on occasion, but that's pretty low on the priority list. I had my transmission resealed about a month ago, paid $1,100 to replace the electric radiator fan after it failed on the last drive up to Wisconsin, and I had my oil hemmorages diagnosed to the tune of $1,500 for the pan gasket and oil level sender, and $3,000 for the charge air manifold down in the V of the engine.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Land_Yacht_225
10/23/2018 at 08:17

My rear block is finally getting to the point where it might need rebuilding. The rear right corner has always sat a bit lower, but now sometimes it will sit really low which is sort of annoying. Other than that, I haven’t had to do anything to the car since my pump went out around this time last year. Granted, I didn’t have the car for the month of June due to the insurance rebuild, but I digress. I think I’m going defer the maintenance until the spring anyways and just winterize the car now, I know it’s gonna need some sort of an overhaul the spring so I might as well just do it then.

Land_Yacht_225 > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
10/23/2018 at 22:22

Well, the car is going to have to go in sometime in the next few weeks to get the maintenance light reset, so I’ll have my guys do an MPI (last couple of repairs I did at our dealer before I quit).

I don’t know what my timetable is going to be for getting the pan done...I’m going to leave the manifold indefinitely. The oil spots on the driveway are more annoying than having to put a quart in ever 900 miles. I wish I knew how to judge the condition of my motor/transmission mounts and my harmonic balancer.

Also I am seriously considering supplementing by adding a Town Car to the fleet.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Land_Yacht_225
10/23/2018 at 23:41

You should try an LS430 man. Seriously a fantastic car. I just had all my motor mounts done under that insurance claim, but I think I need to get a driveshaft coupling replaced due to minor vibration. I just started winterizing mine today. I had the fluids changed and aired up the tires, now I’m just waiting for the cover to arrive.

Land_Yacht_225 > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
10/28/2018 at 11:12

I like the LS430 enough to stomach it’s looks... But they’re too expensive. Percieved reliability costs too much... And I really miss my Buick, and Cadillacs, and Lincoln.

What I would really love is too get a 95-96 Fleetwood Brougham.

All of which may happen because the Vanden Plas got rear ended on Friday night.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Land_Yacht_225
10/28/2018 at 21:45

I just think they drive really nice. I hope everyone in the VDP was ok. Those Cadillacs are pretty cool looking, but I love the headlights especially.