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Off to play golf with a young lass I know and on the journey over she says "this car is so comfortable I feel like I could go to sleep in it" I then give her a short history of the LS 400 and that almost tipped her into the land of nod!

Not a picture but I finally got round to getting a quick clip of my exhaust Makes my Evo X sound unbelievably dull in comparison!

That was my experience when I sold my MkIII LS400. Never really thought I would get another one - hey ho! Actually owning one is the only way to fully appreciate how good they are. They compare very favourably with most modern cars. If you compare them with other cars of the same age, they are just incredible. The ride is my favourite quality along with smooth gear changes and ample acceleration. Economy is more than acceptable for a 4.0 litre V8 - much better than you would get from a Jaguar of similar vintage. Buy as new as you can afford with a service history and you will not regret it. I drove mine yesterday and thought, this car cost £48,000 in 1998 and I am the owner! Would you consider a Rolls Royce of this vintage? I certainly would not because of the £££££££ signs you would see coming out of your pocket. If you do pick a Lemon you will be VERY unlucky. So many people on this forum have sold their cars with regret and bought another one. They are also very reluctant to sell to upgrade. Good luck with your search and keep us all posted.

I went through the same process since my car came only with a single key. After having lost it in a pub (and recovered after it was found) - I set on getting a spare key as I did not want the same stressful moments again. Lexus dealership prices for a new key I consider unjustified and hence decided to do it myself. If you have the Techstream already - it is only a matter of getting exactly the same type of transponder chip and getting a new housing+blade cut. Get your hands on Techstream software and OBD2 cable. Befriend someone working in a garage?:) Get the correct transponder chip. Open up your original key and compare with the chip you got off eBay. Do they look exactly the same and with the same code and same configuration of buttons? The code on the transponder is the firmware version of your ECU and has to match. if it does not - back to eBay. I went by the code on chip and configuration of buttons (i.e. 3 of them on mine) and paid attention to the style of inscribed labels to match chip of my original key. You're better off looking for a used key as long you're sure the chip inside is the one you need. The casing with the blade won't be useful as it will be for a different car anyway and can be discarded. Get a new key housing and the blade cut. Timpsons wanted to charge £35 for a housing + cutting. I paid £20 at some other key shop. Please note that very few key cutters will agree to cut a key if housing+blade is not provided by them - hence skip shopping for it on eBay. They say it is to provide a warranty or something. Mine's plastic housing has cracked after a year. Insert the transponder chip into the new housing. Register your key with your car's ECUs: Fire up Techstream, connect cable to the OBD2 port (located top of the driver's foot well, bottom of steering column). Insert your original key and get car into READY mode. Use Techstream menus (can't remember exact steps, dig around a bit) to register your key with two different ECUs: Immobiliser Alarm (door locking) system The Techstream software will guide you through the steps. Hope that's useful - I wish I knew all of the above before...

Maybe we should rename this thread to LEXUS (SAGA) OWNERS CLUB CHAT.......

It's a frequent question people make about hybrid cars, you can find in forum many answers, usually HV battery lasts lifetime of car, but it may break like other not critical components of any car. How long a transmission lasts?

I know, these cars are amazing, and unless you have one, others don't get it. Had my first LS430 (it was Silver with grey leather) for four years and when I sold it to go to NZ I literally cried. Missed it so much that I had to buy another, which after a short stint in the UK is now back in NZ with me. in fact it must be the most travelled by sea Lexus, it's been to NZ from UK then back to UK and now back to NZ. I've had it 4 Years now and I intend to keep it a very long time. In fact I've just bought a 4 year Lexus warranty here for $2,500 (about £1500 in post Brexit exchange rates) which I thought was very reasonable after replacing an air shock in the UK a couple of months ago for nearly £1,000! It's on 67,000 miles now, the last 20,000 in my hands. I still marvel at the effortless way it drives and delivers power, totally quiet, and with an amazing sound system ( hooked up to my iPod). Here's a picture of her taken yesterday. The comment above by Mark about gleaming paintwork is so right. It's only the readers on this forum that have any idea why the thought of selling is so hard to contemplate, because as soon as she's gone you will hanker after her. 🤓

This thing sounds pretty beastly!

Great view with cracking photography a must look if your Isf is White 👍 Volvo S60 Polestar vs Lexus IS F: comparison review (video) July 29, 2014 Car Reviews, Comparisons, Lexus, Lexus Reviews, Sedans, Turbo, V8, Videos, Volvo, Volvo Reviews Brett Davis Before you get to heavyweights like the BMW M3 and Mercedes-Benz C 63, you have these two tantilising underdogs. The 2014 Lexus IS F is back for another year in similar spec as last year, while the Volvo S60 Polestar only joined the game in 2013. Can the newcomer be a match for the veteran? This isn’t your conventional comparison but if you’re in the market for a mid-size sports sedan for around $100k or more, you need to investigate these two. It’s a battle of rear-wheel drive versus all-wheel drive. Turbo versus high-revving natural aspiration. And cross country adaptability versus hardcore handling. In the blue corner is Volvo’s updated S60 Polestar. It comes with a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline six producing 257kW of power and 500Nm of torque. All of this is sent through a revised Haldex all-wheel drive system, optimised by Polestar, after going through a six-speed automatic transmission which now comes with paddle shifters. From the land of the rising sun is the Lexus IS F. It’s based on the previous-gen Lexus IS, but it has been given a quick touch over with carbon fibre and Alcantara for the 2014 model year, with notable details such as a neat little carbon fibre lip spoiler at the back. Under the bonnet sits the same 5.0-litre V8 producing 311kW and 505Nm. This Yamaha-developed unit turns the back wheels via an eight-speed sports automatic, also with paddle shifters. Prices? This is where the comparison spreads the most. The Volvo starts from $99,550, with the V8 IS F retailing from $125,475. The IS F has dropped in price over the years but it stands quite a distance from the Volvo, edging more closely to the $150k-plus BMW M3 and Mercedes C 63. 2014 Volvo S60 Polestar – THE SPECS Engine: 3.0-litre turbo six-cylinder Output: 257kW@5700rpm / 500Nm@3000-4750rpm Transmission: Six-speed auto Drive type: All-wheel drive, Haldex system Wheels: F: 19×8.0, 235/40 R: 19×8.0, 235/40 ANCAP: Five stars (scored 36.34 out of 37) Kerb weight: 1770kg Power-to-weight: 6.8:1 (kg:kW) Official fuel economy: 10.2L/100km Economy during test: 11.8L/100km Fuel capacity/Type: 67L/95 RON Power efficiency: 25.1kW:L/100km 0-100km/h as tested: 4.9 seconds 0-200km/h as tested: 18.8 seconds Priced from: $99,550 (get a finance quote) 2014 Lexus IS F – THE SPECS Engine: 5.0-litre V8 Output: 311kW@6600rpm / 505Nm@5200rpm Transmission: Eight-speed auto Drive type: Rear-wheel drive, mechanical limited-slip differential Wheels: F: 19×8.5, 225/40 R: 19×9.0, 255/35 ANCAP: Five stars (scored 33.4 out of 37) Kerb weight: 1700kg Power-to-weight: 5.4:1 (kg:kW) Official fuel economy: 11.4L/100km Economy during test: 12.8L/100km Fuel capacity/Type: 64L/95 RON Power efficiency: 27.2kW:L/100km 0-100km/h as tested: 4.7 seconds 0-200km/h as tested: 17.3 seconds Priced from: $125,475 (get a finance quote) Volvo S60 Polestar vs Lexus IS F – THE PACKAGE In terms of comfort and practicality, we’ll just dive right in and say the Volvo is the winner of this department. Its plush semi-leather sports seats are generously bolstered yet uber-soft and comfortable for long journeys. In the rear there is also noticeably more legroom and a useable middle seat. The Lexus has excellent front seats as well but they can seem a bit too large for the cabin. If you’re a large figure, you will find it confined, with a raised up centre console making you feel quite cocooned. For average to small drivers, it’s an intimate place that you’ll immediately feel acquainted with. Unfortunately, rear-seat space is restricted drastically in the Lexus, with a huge transmission tunnel making way for the heavy-duty driveline underneath. This results in a centre seat that’s demoted to a plastic shelf. For the outer passengers legroom is confined due to those large bucket seats in the front. You tend to cut the Lexus some slack when it comes to equipment. We’ve highlighted this before and we’ll highlight it again; most Lexus vehicles come with a huge list of standard features, leaving few surprise option boxes for the dealer to talk you into. Being the flagship IS, the IS F comes with almost everything that the more modern Volvo gets, including radar-guided cruise control. It also gets a number of features that the Volvo misses out on, such as a standard electric sunroof, a power adjustable steering column, and a 14-speaker stereo. It even comes with 10 airbags while the Volvo makes do with eight. Where the Lexus falls short is in the operation and form of these functions. The stereo, for example, might be a premium ‘Mark Levison’ unit but it fails to please with rather tiny sound and less-than-ideal clarity; the 10-speaker unit in the Volvo sounds much beefier and more enjoyable overall. The radar cruise control seems like it has aged as well. It won’t bring the car to a complete stop in the Lexus, and in mild traffic conditions it rather crudely slows and speeds up the vehicle. In the Volvo, the cruise uses more sensors and can calculate traffic more comprehensively and more readily, and it adjusts the controls automatically in a much smoother manner, only slowing the car down when it’s completely necessary. It will bring the car to a complete stop as well if the car in front stops. In the very back the Lexus offers 378 litres of boot space and the Volvo offers 380 litres, which means they are both capable of accommodating a decent interstate trip with three or four passengers. Volvo S60 Polestar vs Lexus IS F – THE DRIVE Ride and handling Volvo has utilised one of its motorsport sponsors to enhance the handling of the S60. It features Ohlins dampers at all four corners that are adjustable. In the middle setting the drive is compliant and absorbent, with a hint of body roll to provide an inviting and playful experience. The nose tucks away with confidence, but the steering lacks the response you’d expect from a sports sedan. There’s no special communication through the wheel either, and there is some play just off centre. Over in the Lexus, you get dedicated sports suspension. It isn’t adjustable like in the Volvo but the driver has the option to hit the sport button on the steering wheel, which firms up the dampers. It’s firm and rigid. It’ll even ***** a rear wheel in the air pulling into driveways. You can feel every bump in the road in the Lexus, and in that sense every bit of information is sent up through the steering wheel so you know exactly how the tyres are responding with every move you make. This can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your preference. During daily commuting it’s tiresome. Out in the mountains or on a track, it’s almost perfect. The harder you push it the more it makes sense. You also have the freedom to relish in some very controlled oversteer if your heart so desires, thanks to a proper mechanical limited-slip differential. It is one of the easiest vehicles to drift in our opinion, with immediate response and no aftershock or ‘tank-slap’ effect coming back to centre, so long as you know what you’re doing. Power and delivery The Volvo might now come with paddle shifters, which do enhance the driving experience somewhat, however, they are connected to a fairly conventional automatic. You don’t get blipping on the downshifts like you do in the Lexus (and in many other lesser sports cars). Instead, it rather abruptly changes down on your demand, if it feels like listening. We found it to be more enjoyable – and quicker – to simply leave it in fully automatic S mode, making the paddles an almost redundant addition without a decent transmission to back them up. The power surges strong in the Volvo, pulling through corners and up steep hills with grinningly potent acceleration. There’s no major turbo-lag issues to wait for and the Haldex all-wheel drive system makes it feel glued to the ground, like it’s impossible to get unstuck. Through a tight winding road the Volvo is no doubt an easier vehicle to drive fast. It gallops across uneven surfaces with greater composure, and rips around corners with pure untainted grip. Thanks to the brute power of the 5.0-litre V8, the Lexus offers a better power-to-weight ratio here. You can feel the engine is more at one with the rest of the car, with a meaty mid-range and a gloriously savage top end. We timed 0-200km/h in both vehicles to give you an idea of the broad performance spectrum of both, with the Lexus stopping the clock well over one second sooner than the Volvo (see video below). Part of this sheer speed is down to the fantastic eight-speed sports automatic transmission. It behaves like a well-sorted dual-clutch unit, with finger-tip response and lightning upchanges. Downchanges tend to cause the hairs on the back of your neck to stand on end, as the auto blipping sends a riveting induction noise echoing from the engine bay with each change. It wasn’t long ago when critics accused the IS F for having too many gears, with eight, but now it is the norm. It feels both punchy and long-legged, and it doesn’t waste away power with wheelspin. In terms of theatrics and powertrain excitement, the Lexus trumps the Volvo. Economy Interestingly, despite the typical efficiency of turbocharged engines, the Lexus does offer a better power efficiency. With 311kW on tap and an official average fuel economy of 11.4L/100km, the Lexus uses less fuel for the amount of power it generates. In the rear world, it’s the opposite. We averaged 12.8L/100km in the IS F and 11.8L/100km in the Volvo. This was achieved in very similar conditions, with equal highway driving and an equal amount of high-tempo spirited driving up and around the mountains. The official average for the Volvo is a respectable 10.2L/100km. Brakes Both vehicles come with serious stoppers. The updated Polestar gets Brembo six-piston front calipers with 370mm discs, while the Lexus retains the same six-piston Brembo units with 360mm front discs as last year’s model. The discs are perforated in the Lexus. During a heated drive up our usual test route, the Volvo brakes perform with confidence, even after repeated onslaught. In the Lexus the brakes are just as powerful, although, they feel more natural and can be modulated with finer foot movements. The Volvo pedal starts to drop sooner than the Lexus pedal after ongoing abuse, and pedal feel does diminish. Control and confidence is higher in the Lexus. Some slack should be given to the Volvo though as this test vehicle has over 7500km on the clock, compared with just 800km in the Lexus. Volvo S60 Polestar vs Lexus IS F – THE VIDEO Volvo S60 Polestar vs Lexus IS F – THE VERDICT We can’t comment on longevity or ongoing ownership, but as a car to enjoy for a week the Lexus IS F is the more exciting car. And this is despite being over five years old now. It’s aging gracefully. Every drive is an occasion; from the moment you fire up that growling, ultra-refined V8, to tapping the on-demand paddle shifters and turning the finger-tip precise steering. As a vehicle to live with every day, on a more long-term basis, the Volvo would be the more complete option. It can perform brilliantly in a wider variety of conditions with equally impressive results. It’s more user-friendly, more comfortable, more practical with more rear seat space, and it uses less fuel while offering very similar acceleration. And let’s not forget it is much cheaper at the showroom. With the Lexus, you’re paying a 30 per cent premium for a better power-to-weight ratio and, on paper, a more efficient engine for the power it generates. You’re also paying for a higher-tech, finer tuned engine, a more responsive drivetrain, and sharper handling. If you love driving, our heart can’t stop beating to the tune of the Lexus IS F. This is a wonderfully engaging rear-wheel drive package. If, on the other hand, you’re after a very quick sports sedan with class-leading technology and superior comfort, as well as the sheer confidence of all-weather adaptability, you need to step into your nearest Volvo dealer now. As it turns out, these two vehicles are very different and made for almost entirely different purposes. It just so happens they offer similar performance at a reasonably similar price point. Volvo S60 Polestar vs Lexus IS F – THE COMPETITORS Audi S4 3.0-litre supercharged V6 – 245kW-440Nm – 8.1L/100km – 1780kg – from $105,000 TAGS Lexus IS, Lexus IS-F, Lexus Reviews, Polestar, Volvo Reviews, Volvo S60, Volvo S60 Polestar

Hi all, First post here and soon to be a new owner. As I've been obsessing a bit over IS-F's I thought I'd post these up. Apologies if it's a re-post! Cheers, Ben Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

go for it, I get where you are at, the ls430 is a different ball game to the is250 and 20 miles a day is bang on the money. If you get a tidy example i would just do it. tbh cars like the ls430 are legendary in terms of build quality and craftsmanship, even more modern marques fail to meet the level Lexus reached with these cars, the styling definately shows its age but if you can set that aside you have presidential quality driving to enjoy daily.

The is250 is an extremely reliable car. Probably the most reliable car you can buy. Sadly the is220d is completely the opposite. Just read through the threads on the forum. Lexus made a huge mistake putting the deisel engine in the is. On a steady motorway run at 65mph on cruise I can hit 43 mpg. I was lucky to get 40 with the deisel. Around town I'm averaging 25 mpg but expect better once the weather warms up.

There you go guys, just brought her home :)

In my opinion being in almost the same situation as you "but my GS450H prices are about 25% higher" at most I would go for the £200 option at most. Your local garage will probably be cheaper even with a plug change. Our cars are at an age and millage where dealers service stamps mean little. I do as much work on my own car as I can, and this means keeping a record of work I do and all the receipts to materials I have bought. John.

Yes I guessed that matey I've been keeping a list of all the press fleet cars but this one has never cropped up in any article review etc. Big Rat

I was fortunate enough to have read a previous post before taking my CT in. I dropped it off with 1/4 tank and upon collection they'd filled it to 3/4. No smell of fuel in the car and brilliant service, compliments to the team at Lister's Lexus Lincoln.

Sounds like a wind up!

Hi all here are pics of new car .It has been worth all the travelling and the hours looking on line , talking to dealers etc .You can't expect what you want to come to you , i know i'm a fussy bugger when it comes to my car or bikes but i think i got this one just about right. Take care Keth

Well that's one way of evaluating! Just remember not to google (insert car here) and rust when looking at other manufacturers of old vehicles .

Guilty, that said, I agree it's silly money for what it is but I don't drink or smoke so I kinda justify the expense if it's on my car which is pretty much my only real luxury. Carl

It does look good - but not £260-worth of good I'm afraid. It's only that price because enough people are willing to pay that price for it. If they weren't selling any I'm sure the price would come down.

Unless the IS220 has been well looked after and it has been used mainly for motorway mileage, and you need a car for long distance driving, it is best avoided. There is an IS250 for sale on Autotrader for the same kind of money, although it needs an alloy wheel refurb and has a fault with wipers and has 130K on the clock, it might be a better bet. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201702182455144

That's better, blue, now you are talking...................

I know the feeling mate

It's sickening what such yobs do. The "have nots" think it's ok to vandalise what they can't afford or don't like. It would be great, just for once, to catch someone like that in the act. They would think twice about ever doing it again!

The sound that would come after ~30 seconds and is normal. Someone said it is gas lines being purged. In the past I had presumed it was maybe some sort of immobilizer or hybrid system-specific mechanism locking down itself. Same discussions on here: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/topic/58686-does-your-rx400h-make-noises-after-turned-off/ and here: Cheers

That is a brilliant analogy ....oh so true !! i honestly don't think there are many cars out there that have such an effect. cheers,Roger

This vid will give a good indication of rubbing with a brush. I found the brush much more effective than a cloth. You can get a good lather generated and work right into the grain of the leather. I found Dodo to be one of the best.

The only 'maintenance' I did on my previous cars was to remove the wheels to swap to winters and back again. Used a thick marine ply sheet to place the jack on. Worked fine. But yes, lost a few valve dust caps before now...

T-cut has a bad name because its probably the most aggressive polish you can get. The reason for that is because its designed for hand use and therefore needs to be aggressive to do the work. Basically, if T-cut doesn't make an impact, I doubt anything will. I personally would have reached for Autoglym Paint Renovator in this situation - a no nonsense product. If it is true oxidation, it will come off easy, if not, you might require a respray. I would hazard a guess that the panel has been resprayed poorly in the past, especially since only 1 is affected. It shouldn't really be oxidising anyway as its a clearcoat-ed paint

Gravel (river pebble) IMHO is the best. Easily maintained with an occasional rake over. Great early warning system. Any air bourne weeds are easily removed.

I've had a look on various sites and good old YouTube, looks like you tilt the mirror facing up (using the controls) and it clips out from the bottom then the top, I think there's 2 or 3 connectors on it, looks like a 5 minute job. I actually plan to do this sometime today so will let you know how easy it is.

Thanks for highlighting the article, makes for an interesting read. As much as I like fruity Volvo's, the v8 burble of the IS-F would get my vote.

As other posters have said, your friend of a friend obviously knows little about cars and less about Hybrids! The Hybrid warranty can be extended for a another year/10k miles by paying Lexus £59 for a Hybrid health check. This is up to a further 5 years/50k miles. So that protects any Hybrid battery/motor bits. The details are on the Lexus Website. Battery issues are very rare, there are plenty of old Prius and Lexus running round with greater than 150k miles without issues. Rest of the car is pretty reliable and normal premium exec car, so awkward to get to stuff, could be expensive for bits if it goes wrong etc. However nothing to stop you getting an independent dealer to service it, or doing it yourself with the correct tools/experience, though you might struggle with some of the more advanced technical bits, though that is true for most modern cars now I guess. If I was buying used, depends on your budget, but I'd want a lower mileage, slightly older (IS300h first on market in late 2013 early 2014) approved used car from a Lexus dealer with a full history.

Bought Philips 12342RVS2 Racingvision + 150% Headlamp Bulb H4 and they are a definite step up from the original bulbs. They are not going to last as long but for the extra vision they are worth it. Cost around the £20 mark.

Thanks, I'm just trying to give the ol'gal the TLC she deserves. I still have a few items to address but we're getting there.

Tell that friend of a friend, he's an idiot.

Wife does portrait photography but shes done a good job of the car, with a bit of persuasion

My force took part in a joint operation with Humberside's Road Policing Unit a few years back, they used this car along with a couple of Evo X's and a 335d M-Sport. Lovely cars.

Paul you are right on both counts, Lexus do seem to be happy to be different which is to be congratulated The grilles personally I love but that is a personal opinion, the interiors instruments and so on make the other manufacturers look very yesterday at times, it's great. Long may it last Big Rat

As I have mentioned in some previous threads on tyres, I did development work for Michelin for what was then the suitability of there tyres for Police Pursuit type vehicles, all the way down to general purpose vehicles. Vehicles used for high speed instructional work driver training etc. They are a very good quality brand, who spend vast sums of money on R&D without going into boring detail I believe the best advice on tyres is buy the best you can possibly afford and drive accordingly. Dont exceed the limits of your ability or that of the vehicle and you cannot go far wrong. The most important thing you can do is maintain the correct pressure this paramount, check them frequently you look after them and they will look after you and your family and other road users for that matter. Big Rat

My 430 is a November 2000 model so an early one. It had been well looked after with all lexus servicing and one toyota one. It had 112000 miles on the clock when I bought it 2 years ago and now has about 127000. It has never failed an M. O. T and drives like a dream. It still has the airbag suspension which is fine, original radiator, original screen and no rust whatsoever. If ever it suffered with one of the aforementioned problems I would either just get it fixed or buy another 430.....I love my car.

If the battery pack fails completely I believe the car will not run, it has internal safety checks to verify the integrity of the battery pack/hybrid system (in case of accident) and will not turn on unless it passes those tests. The first check is the safety fuse in the trunk. It's not enough to just put the fuse back in, you have to slide it fully to engage it, otherwise the car won't start as you've noticed. Even if the hybrid battery were fully discharged, I believe that the car would still start if the system was intact and use the gas engine to recharge the battery. There are two orange safety plugs, one on the connectors over the high voltage wires and one closing the case of the battery itself. they are removed using the tool built into the end of the orange safety fuse in the trunk (so that you can only remove those covers when the fuse itself is disengaged).

yes i saw it on ebay - Nice unique car - Keep hold of it! These are amazing cars - i washed mine the other day after a while and its amazing how the paintwork just gleams - the build and material quality its absolutley outstanding - even after 13 years the dash/buttons do not shown any signs of wear or fading - you will never get that with modern cars no matter what - if you want the same craftsmanship you have to go back in time!

You are one very fortunate boy John. You are in love with three old girls,can ride (in) them daily and your wife is in full approval ! Do not spoil a good thing. :):):) Regards John

they exist and are called BMW's That been said, soon enough this type of technology on board will be available by all cars, as they will all connect to the mobile phone and its apps. Not forgetting the self driving cars either that will soon be a game changer in the industry Considering this, Reliability and Brand appeal will become again the most important sales point

Hey Gary, So how's this for a small world... Had a phone call last week from a guy who was interested in buying my IS-F, but couldn't do anything at the moment due to having an extension built. I explained my car was no longer for sale (just ordered PPE headers!), but had no issue with him calling me again once he had his finances sorted out to see if I could be convinced to part with it. Anyway, guy explained to me he was really interested in buying an IS-F, and asked if I knew about the Police car version that was on the roads a few years ago. I of course said I knew about that car to which he told me he was one of the main mechanics that worked for the Police, and that was the car he looked after! Sorry for the long winded story, but thought you'd be interested to know that was the car that made him want to buy one for himself. Cheers. Pete

I was about to joke, maybe drug dealers in Yorkshire were not afraid of Lexus IS-F as formidable car on pursuit, but more of being locked in the boot and taken on B roads... But being serious - seats in back of IS don't go down or recline, not sure what are you referring to the false back, but if that is partition between boot and interior - it is not false. You should only have small latch which can only be opened from the boot right in the middle.

Looking very nice, mine on the other hand had FLSH,.....well did until I had the 60k carried out by a very good friend and excellent mechanic that I trust implicitly, I'd have more faith in a non maindealer example, so good luck to u and I'm sure yours was purchased at much more appealing figure than most 👍