New Member, Buying An Rx 400H, Need Advice Please

[Moejoe]

Hello all,

Greetings from Sunny Dublin!

I'm looking to purchase an RX 400h this week, I'll be looking at two examples an 06 with 76k and an 07 with 100k mileage. The latter is a single owner vehicle with FLSH. I've been on this forum for the past week reading about potential issues. I've come from an 05 BMW 525i which had a -wait for it- Battery discharge problem. After spending 2 months with a specialist it was finally diagnosed as having an ECU problem and the car was scrapped, it had 100k on the clock and was otherwise perfect.

I vowed never to go german again and to buy the most reliable brand car out there, you can imagine my concern when I read through endless threads about the RX 400h having Battery discharge problems (post traumatic stress lol). I'm not here to discuss this again as I know its been discussed ad nauseum, the only solution seems to be a soar charger or bosch aftermarket Battery.

My questions are as follows:

1.Is there anyway to screen for this problem as I don't believe the garage/owner willl let me know if it is occuring - will keeping it on with the radio on and the doors open for half an hour uncover this issue for example. Will the lexus dealer let me know if I ring them.

2. Other than checking on inverter recall, any other major issues to inspect or look out for. I will get a full inspection done for basic mechanical issues but I need advice regarding common issues.

I know there are many of you out there enjoying stress free motoring I just don't want to end up scrapping another car for electrical gremlins . Before anybody mentions it as far as I know there are no extended warranties or service plans available in the Republic.

This forum has been an invaluable resource so thank you all in advance for your help.

Regards,

Mohammed

[ColinBarber]

1.Is there anyway to screen for this problem as I don't believe the garage/owner willl let me know if it is occuring - will keeping it on with the radio on and the doors open for half an hour uncover this issue for example. Will the lexus dealer let me know if I ring them.

if it is a Lexus and has a 400h badge then it does it. :)

It's not a fault with certain cars it's just a fact that the small Battery doesn't provide more than 2 or 3 weeks left alone. It gets worse as the Battery ages because it loses capacity.

Not too much else to look out for. Check the brake disc surfaces, if they are rusty then it indicates the caliper sliding pins are seized.

Check the front tyre inside edges as they wear first.

Make sure you have master and valet keys and they all work

[CJHYBRID]

The RX400H is a wondefull car Mohammed I had similar concerns.Didnt buy mine from a Lexus dealer but mentioned my concern re the aux Battery having heard of the comments and they put me a new Exide one as part of the deal. I then ordered an AA solar charger which I plug into the ODB2 socket if I leave the car for any length of time although havn't done the fortnights holiday thing yet.

The higher driving position is fantastic and it is strange getting back into lower cars once you have experienced it.

You want for nothing in terms of standard equipment and can honestly say it is the most silent comfortable and easiest car I have ever driven and owned. JD Power placed it a no 3 in cars of the decade an accolade based on owners advising their evey day experience.

Then there is the Hybrid aspect after nearly 40 years of driving I have driven many cars and this is a totally differrent experience seamless silence reasonable fuel consumption but with 0 to 60 in a touch over 7 seconds.

There are one or to quirky things but all part of the cars overall character.

The big ticket items are expensive if they go wrong in any expensive luxury car but with the overall reliabilty of the brand supported by owner experience you would be truly unlucky to have an inverter or main Battery failure.

All I can say is buying a car is a big decision use your head and your heart and youll know when you have found the right car.

It will probably be a Lexus 400H

Good Luck

PS I would go for best overall condition and service history rather than mileage but check the belts been done on the higher one

Chris

[Moejoe]

1.Is there anyway to screen for this problem as I don't believe the garage/owner willl let me know if it is occuring - will keeping it on with the radio on and the doors open for half an hour uncover this issue for example. Will the lexus dealer let me know if I ring them.

if it is a Lexus and has a 400h badge then it does it. :)

It's not a fault with certain cars it's just a fact that the small Battery doesn't provide more than 2 or 3 weeks left alone. It gets worse as the Battery ages because it loses capacity.

Not too much else to look out for. Check the brake disc surfaces, if they are rusty then it indicates the caliper sliding pins are seized.

Check the front tyre inside edges as they wear first.

Make sure you have master and valet keys and they all work

Colin thank you for the heads up on the tires , keys and brake calipers. Now that you put it that way I couldnt care less if it goes flat after 3 weeks, I just don't want it going flat on me in 3-4 days. Thanks again for your input.

[Moejoe]

1.Is there anyway to screen for this problem as I don't believe the garage/owner willl let me know if it is occuring - will keeping it on with the radio on and the doors open for half an hour uncover this issue for example. Will the lexus dealer let me know if I ring them.

if it is a Lexus and has a 400h badge then it does it. :)

It's not a fault with certain cars it's just a fact that the small Battery doesn't provide more than 2 or 3 weeks left alone. It gets worse as the Battery ages because it loses capacity.

Not too much else to look out for. Check the brake disc surfaces, if they are rusty then it indicates the caliper sliding pins are seized.

Check the front tyre inside edges as they wear first.

Make sure you have master and valet keys and they all work

CJ thak you for the great write up, sums up what I'm looking for , reliability and customer satisfaction, lets hope I get lucky! You've confirmed what I had in mind, full service history more imortant than mileage per se. I'll let you know once I pick the right one , hope my head works better than my heart as I'm really looking forward to owning one!

[CJHYBRID]

Sure you will make a good choice

All the best

Chris

[nelmo]

I've just bought my '07 RX with 100k miles on the clock (full LSH). I've just had the cambelt changed and the 100k mile service done (all for £575 from a Toyota specialist).

I still have to pinch myself that this is a 100k mile car - it feels so smooth, comfortable and, most of all, quiet. My previous 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe was a noisy, uncomfortable, rattle-trap in comparison and that had only done 30k miles!

The service highlighted a common issue of rear brake pads almost seized in their calipers (because most of the rear wheel braking is achieved just with the electric motor, so the pads don't get used much) but otherwise no issues.

I've never quite understood the fuss about the Battery dying - it only costs about £80 to get a new one and I don't believe it damages any other part of the car. It just goes to show how good the car is, if that is the only common complaint (and when I say 'common', I don't recall a single thread on here of anyone actually experiencing it, just a lot of discussion of the possibility).

I'm not going to advise on which car to go for because I'm rubbish at buying (see my other threads - my seller told me the cambelt had been changed and I stupidly believed him ) but it's already warming up to be my best car purchase since... my last Lexus in 1999

[teejaybee]

Alloy wheels need looking at. Lexus along with most Japanese cars don't have great alloys, they corrode very quickly, if the ones on the car are that way bargain the price down or get them to do something about it. Lexus UK don't want to know if the car is out of warranty even when the product is patently not fit for purpose!