Sensor Decay

[craig430]

Having owned an LS400 for almost 10 years prior to getting my LS430 in 2003 I am aware of the problems associated with Lexus alloy wheels in the UK. Because of the "bubbling" my first car had replacements at 3 years old and bead blasting at 5 years old. My new car has already had all 4 wheels replaced at 18 months old.

I appear to now have a further problem with the British weather in that 9 months ago one of the front side parking sensors started to "bubble" on the surface. This progressed to the paint flaking off the entire centre of the sensor. What brought my attention to it was the random firing of the parking sensor display on the dash. The explanation given by my dealer was that I may have had a stone chip on the sensor which had broken the paint surface and allowed moisture in. They replaced the sensor however, with no charge. In the last month the front sensor started firing off occasionally for no apparent reason and on examination the sensor surface is devoid of paint and oxidised. Further examination of all the sensors shows that every one of the front ones are starting to bubble (including the one replaced months ago). The rear sensors appear to be ok.

My question is: "is anyone else experiencing this problem or is it only my car?"

If it is a general problem then I am concerned with what happens after the warranty runs out in 2006? I tend to enjoy my Lexuses (Lexi??) over many years but would not be happy to be replacing sensors at over £100 for each one - 6 on front bumper and 6 on back - (I am reliably informed that BMW & Merc ones are half this price) every few months.

A further question is why haven't Lexus addressed the alloy wheels problem over the last 12 years? It seems so unlike the quality image they aspire to and otherwise deserve.

[gino]

Hi seems as though you are picking up on a problem that comes with time.

If your dealer cannot give you a satisfactory answer to your problem then contact Lexus UK. explain your problem asking them if they expect you to pay for a continual problem that they should have sorted. I have found them to be very helpful in the past. Good luck

[craig430]

Hi seems as though you are picking up on a problem that comes with time.

If your dealer cannot give you a satisfactory answer to your problem then contact Lexus UK. explain your problem asking them if they expect you to pay for a continual problem that they should have sorted. I have found them to be very helpful in the past. Good luck

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Thanks for the response. My dealer is being very helpful at present (as usual), however having now experienced the problem twice in a car less than 2 years old, my concerns are for the future. I also wondered if this was a problem others had experienced or if the sensor and alloy wheel "bubbling" is only caused by the weather in my area.

[GrandAlf]

I have exacly the same problem on my 02 LS430, just run out of warranty. I have been rubbing car wax into the sensor front to protect from water. Seems to have settled down for the moment, at least the last week anyway. As the paint was chipped off, I natually assumed I had been hit by a stone, obviously not.