2024 Convertible Help!

[whereoncewaswonder]

Hi all

I recently put in an order with Lexus Nottingham for a 24 LC500 Convertible Sport Plus on the basis that I would like the wheels from the Sport Plus Coupe instead of the standard wheels.

I've just been told that Lexus GB have said they can't change the wheels as this is 'not an option'. This seems unhelpful as you can get these in many other countries on the 'vert and not keen AT ALL on the new standard wheels - they have reversed the black and alloy sections from previous years.

Before I cancel, I'd like to see the new wheels in person just to make sure that I couldn't live with them. I really want the car!

The only car for sale on AT with the new wheels I'd to see is the Regatta edition at Cardiff but that's a bit out of my way to get to.

So I was just wondering if anybody had an idea how I could get to see those wheels in person? Also, does anybody know how I can pursue this further as it seems a bit short-sited for them to miss out on an order based on what should be a simple change (the wheels I want are the same size as the standard wheels and the tyres are interchangeable).

Cheers

Rich

[NemesisUK]

When ordering my first RC I asked if it were possible to change the wheels for a type offered on a 'lower' spec model. I was told, no. Lexus do not give free selection and the only options are those Lexus offer in the brochure.

It was suggested I take the original wheels as included and purchase a set of the ones I preferred (Lexus very happy to sell extra!) and then sell on those I didn't like.

Might be an option for you?

As for getting to see the wheels you want, you may have to accept you will need to travel. Perhaps your dealer could enquire if there is a car somewhere closer for you?

[Spock66]

1 hour ago, whereoncewaswonder said:

Also, does anybody know how I can pursue this further as it seems a bit short-sited for them to miss out on an order based on what should be a simple change (the wheels I want are the same size as the standard wheels and the tyres are interchangeable).

You could contact Lexus Customer Relations, but I strongly suspect I know what the answer will be (you can have any colour you like as long as its black).

cr@lexus.co.uk

[whereoncewaswonder]

Thanks for your reply Peter.

Yes, I did ask if I could order the wheels separately and was told I couldn't as wheels are ordered according to chassis number, and therefore could only be ordered for a coupe 😆.

It's slightly frustrating as there are actually no other wheel options at all for the Convertible Sport Plus - it's very much take it or leave it. 

Quote

As for getting to see the wheels you want, you may have to accept you will need to travel.

The dealer is suggesting that, apart from the Regatta edition at Cardiff, there are no other cars available to view in the system which have the new wheels (I believe they are only on September 23 registrations onwards), so a trip to Wales might be on the cards! 

From your response it does seem that Lexus are quite intractable in these matters and therefore attempts to pursue a change of wheels any further might not be successful.

However, any other suggestions would be very welcome.

[whereoncewaswonder]

20 minutes ago, Spock66 said:

You could contact Lexus Customer Relations, but I strongly suspect I know what the answer will be (you can have any colour you like as long as its black).

cr@lexus.co.uk

Thanks for that email- worth trying. I must say this is all very surprising not having had a Lexus before. I'd heard such positive things about how accommodating and helpful they are.

[NemesisUK]

5 minutes ago, whereoncewaswonder said:

From your response it does seem that Lexus are quite intractable in these matters and therefore attempts to pursue a change of wheels any further might not be successful.

 

Yes, Lexus are strictly 'by the book'!

As the wheels you like are so new it may be that there are no independent sources, yet.

I was fortunate in that the wheels I liked were available on another RC model and so my dealer suggested they could take a VIN from that model to order the additional set. I decided to stay with the originals in the end. Wheels are very expensive!

[NemesisUK]

6 minutes ago, whereoncewaswonder said:

I'd heard such positive things about how accommodating and helpful they are.

To be fair my dealer has always been just that but they cannot 'beat the system' as it were!

[eightk]

I’m not a fan of the reversed black/chrome wheels at all.
Apart from eBay and used wheels another option could be taking delivery and advertising the 2024 wheels as I’d guess there’d be a fair bit of interest from existing owners in upgrading to the new wheels - you might even get a perfect set of the original design wheels in part exchange? 
Considering the price of these cars and the flexibility the Americans seem to get you’d think there’d be more personalisation options.

It may be worth speaking to Lexus Press office to see if they have any press cars with them fitted.

[whereoncewaswonder]

8 minutes ago, eightk said:

Considering the price of these cars and the flexibility the Americans seem to get you’d think there’d be more personalisation options.

It may be worth speaking to Lexus Press office to see if they have any press cars with them fitted.

Thank you. Yes, it does seem extraordinary that there is a bespoke build option (with multiple wheel options, including the ones I want) in many other countries such as the US, Canada and Japan (which would also be RHD) but a simple wheel change is not possible in the UK for the halo model in the line up of which they sell very few.

From what I gather this is a Lexus GB issue. Does anybody think it might be worth contacting Lexus Japan? I can imagine they wouldn't be too pleased with how this has been handled.

[eightk]

Not sure Lexus Japan would even be contactable, certainly not easily.
It’s a UK problem judging from what I’ve seen on American forums, YouTube etc.

GB customer services, Press Office, social media etc might work.
Considering the amount you’d be spending I’d put it back to the dealer as that’s the easiest option - customer is ready to place the order but those wheels are crucial. No wheels, no order, or a guarantee when it turns up they’ll switch wheels with another Lexus Uk stock car.

Hard work spending £100,000 plus!

[whereoncewaswonder]

21 hours ago, eightk said:

Hard work spending £100,000 plus!

😂 Yes, I've completed on houses with less time and effort than this is taking!

I've contacted Lexus UK through the various formats you have all kindly suggested. 

My dealer is already aware that the wheels are a deal-breaker (I also had them specify this on the order form).

I could tell they were a little shocked and embarrassed at the attitude of Lexus UK, and are no doubt expecting me to cancel soon.

I'd like to exhaust every other avenue first though because the car is in a class of its own in my opinion, until you double the price and start getting to the likes of the DB12 Volante and Roma Spider.

[eightk]

21 hours ago, whereoncewaswonder said:

I'd like to exhaust every other avenue first though because the car is in a class of its own in my opinion, until you double the price and start getting to the likes of the DB12 Volante and Roma Spider.

I’m 100% with you on that. 

The new reversed wheels look crap - I reconfirmed my opinion last night watching YouTube. No idea what Lexus were thinking!

[DavidCM]

The new wheels do look awful.

The simple solution would be to have them removed and repainted/powder coated immediately on delivery.It should be relatively cheap to do as no remedial work would be needed to brand new wheels.It would also be an opportunity to perhaps go for a more interesting colour eg satin bronze..if that would suit your chosen paint finish.

[wendle]

If you don't want to go down the powder coating route but you would like the reversed look there is a option

There is a company, somewhere up north, near Birmingham i think, and sorry i can't remember the name, your have to do some searching like i did, who i contacted 5 years ago about refurbing the 21' wheel, at the time they were one of only two places that had the specialised  equipment to do it.

First they repair the damage, you won't have any damage as the wheels are new

then they submurge the complete wheel in a vibrating machine which is full of ball bearings and some sort of abrasion / polishing  substance, for i believe 3 days, don't quote me on that but i remember it being a long time, this polishes the hole wheel to a chrome finish, including the black portion, they then re paint the black potion of the wheel which of course you require to be reversed, they required my wheel, at the time for 10 days, you would have to take the wheels to them or have then delivered and returned. the cost of this process, at the time was £800 per wheel, which it expensive but it would be a shame that you are put of buying such a fabulous car just because you don't like the wheels.

i ordered a RC-F in 2015 and tried to get them to deliver it with the carbon model wheels, which i preferred but like you this could not be done.

sorry i can't help you more with the information , it may be worth phoning some Lexus dealership's up north, as i am sure that's how i found the company, as they probably use them.

Good luck and i hope you end up in the LC

 

[whereoncewaswonder]

Thanks all. Some more food for thought.

I have just visited Lexus Cardiff to see the wheels I will be given and, although not quite as bad in person as on photo/video, they are still something of a dog's dinner.

I have ordered the classic dark green/tan combination and they will stick out like a sore thumb.

On the plus side, Ben at Lexus Cardiff has been extremely helpful and there is likely a possibility that I can get hold of a separate set of the wheels I want, albeit for around the £10-12k mark. For clarification, it isn't the old, non-reversed wheels I'm after but the wheels on the new sport plus coupé. You can view these on the configurator or alternatively Lexus Lincoln has a couple of new coupés in currently (viewable only on the lexus.co.uk used car search not on AT). In my opinion these are the best wheels of the lot and suit the character and style of the car best, particularly in convertible form.

[lloydweb]

Might be looking to change my LC in 24/25 but I think those Sport+ wheels, whilst nice, seem a bit 'busy' and probably much more difficult to keep clean than the current 21" ones. Other than the touchscreen, doesn't look very different at all to mine. Still no other car I'd really be tempted by out there at the moment, even at 1.5 -2x the price point. Being cash-only as well, plus the excellent car & dealer experience I've had, makes me loath to change from Lexus. Time to get on the configurator, I think!

[shapiro]

For what it’s worth… I like the alloys!

Don’t pay 10k plus for a new set…, check out this site. It is where I would buy a new set from. Even with import fees it would be cheaper. I don’t see the new style on yet but give it time. If anything you will have a new set for 2-3k and you can use your current as winter tyres or sell on.

 

https://www.jauce.com/search/Lc500+wheel

 

 

[eightk]

18 hours ago, whereoncewaswonder said:

For clarification, it isn't the old, non-reversed wheels I'm after but the wheels on the new sport plus coupé. You can view these on the configurator or alternatively Lexus Lincoln has a couple of new coupés in currently (viewable only on the lexus.co.uk used car search not on AT). In my opinion these are the best wheels of the lot and suit the character and style of the car best, particularly in convertible form.

Ah, ok you mean the completely new multi spoke design - scrub the used wheels idea then, unless you can find some in Japan as above - a bit risky for me but it could work. I’d agree they’ll be a pain to clean but green over tan with those wheels would look lovely - completely agree - green needs a light silver or grey, not solid black with little chunks of chrome! 

[Brian R]

13 hours ago, shapiro said:

For what it’s worth… I like the alloys!

Don’t pay 10k plus for a new set…, check out this site. It is where I would buy a new set from. Even with import fees it would be cheaper. I don’t see the new style on yet but give it time. If anything you will have a new set for 2-3k and you can use your current as winter tyres or sell on.

 

https://www.jauce.com/search/Lc500+wheel

 

 

Looks entirely viable, and what a resource that web site is. Come the day my local council demolishes a wheel and then denies all responsibility, that's where I'll be heading!

[whereoncewaswonder]

Thank you very much for the jauce.com link, Sappy. Looks like a real Aladdin's Cave of LC500 goodies!

I have just received a response from Lexus Customer relations about the wheel change - they are escalating this to the highest level they can and are aware that some of the feedback about the reversed wheels has not been, ahem, positive.

 

 

[whereoncewaswonder]

Just received some terrific news!

Lexus Customer Relations have been in touch and they will be able to have the wheels I want fitted at the factory.

I'll have to wait longer for delivery as it will be similar to the bespoke build process in the USA but that is a small price to pay.

Many thanks for all the tips I received on here, particularly those who suggested contacting customer relations.

Craig at customer relations has been amazing, and has worked wonders to get this actioned, despite hitting some brick walls along the way. 

Just a matter of waiting now - no estimated date as yet - but I'll be sure to update when I receive more info.

PS quite glad I don't need to go looking any further at other cars. Specced up a Granturismo at Maserati Nottingham and they wanted £21k for the paint option I selected! 😂

[eightk]

Ha! Good news. Persistence pays off! 

[scudney]

Well done and congratulations Richard 👏

[whereoncewaswonder]

Quick update.

Thanks in no small part to the help and advice of members here, I picked up my new green/tan LC Convertible yesterday with my desired wheels.

I'm no photographer but the pic below gives an indication despite dank conditions.

I'm told it's a 1/1 in the UK and Europe due to the wheels and it even has the bespoke build badge. 

It really is a lovely thing and I couldn't be happier so far! 

[eric skerritt]

Fabulous.