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Recently bought GS450h 2007. Suddenly boot release stopped working. Checked fuse, button in glow box, motor. Only would work with spare key located near number plate. Further research found that lexus recommend changing upgraded harness that could cost over £1k. It causes current issues and disables boot release in ECU. Quick fix that could last from 1 day to never come back again is to disconnect battery for 5-10min. start the car and it will start working again. It fixed mine, let me know how it works for you guys.

The problem is that you never know what other people are going through at any given time. Because he's been pleasant and reasonable in the past and this was out of character for him, I'd be inclined to think that he's having a bad time or problems with something. Maybe he's been told he's being made redundant; maybe he had a really bad headache or back pain and had been getting wound up like a clock spring for hours and then he just couldn't take any more and the (normal amount of) noise was the straw that broke the camel's back this time. I think I'd knock on his door and ask if he's alright and explain that you're a bit concerned because he's not normally like that.

I think they would look great in BMW smoke chrome, the wheels on my M5 were that colour, they are not actually chrome but a super shiny anthracite and as they get dirty they just look regular anthracite, an absolute joy to live with!!!

if any of you are thinking about getting your callipers repainted, BCS have a kimited period of 53% off, I have just booked mine in, just need to decide what colour to go for

Hi guys happy to be apart of the club. very proud owner of 2013 GS 450H quality with great performance and handling what more can I want. It’s such a underrated car. so I’m just hoping if someone can shed some light on the start up sound as mine is quite loud for the first few seconds after starting it then it goes a bit quieter but not completely quiet like when it’s running only on the battery. is this normal on this model?? other than this the car runs and drive nice and smooth EV mode works fine and feels great to glide along the road. the car is a pleasure to drive and the engineering in this is so advanced and clever it’s unbelievable that I don’t see more of these on the road

I was bored so had some fun with the brakes... They were just weathered calipers so I cleaned them up and painted them red. The discs are dimpled to give the race look. I didn't drill them as it may affect structural integrity. I'll change them later when I'm bored..

I have them and they are more a gimmick than a safety feature. They are too late switching off so you are going to annoy a lot of oncoming cars. So I tend to leave them off and use them manually.

I averaged 31 mpg in my 400h. It's the wrong time of year to be getting the best mpg figures in a hybrid. Once the weather improves so should your mpg, and it takes a few months to learn how to be more economical with a hybrid.

It just has to be performed at an official Lexus retail or service centre and conform to the schedule in the service book. Essentials care would therefore qualify IMO.

The CTek is a good charger but way over priced. Aldi do a rely good 4 amp intelligent charger that works on both flooded, and AGM batteries for around £12. It will work on 6 volt and 12 volt batteries, and has settings for small motorbike batteries, standard car batteries, and a cold charge setting. With a liquid crystal display showing battery voltage, and charge level plus the Aldi 3 year guarantee. John.

Sounds like a long handled brush and some meguirs all purpose cleaner might reveal the truth but it certainly looks suspect. In 1990 I bought a new Vauxhall Cavalier Sri in white. About 6 weeks later I noticed some brown stains around tailgate sealant. Car went to dealers bodyshop and repaired Couple of months later I noticed some more stains in other body seams. Factory engineer attended and car again repaired. 7 months from new I noticed nearly every visible body seam was leaching a brown stain. Vauxhall took the car back to the factory and over a 3 month period reshelled the car. I was concerned about the vin number, but because it was a factory rebuild they put the original vin on the car. They lent me a brand new Cavalier CDi for the duration of the repair. My car was better new when it came back as they had a team in the factory who hand rebuilt vehicles under warranty. When I purchased a New Corsa for my wife a few months later Vauxhall gave me an enhanced deal for returning as a customer sotI was very happy with the customer service. Hopefully you will get your issue resolved satisfactorily.

Resurrecting this thread as I've just replaced the ECU caps on my Mk4 1998 LS400. ECU was a pain to remove. Found a fantastic local PCM repair chap who soldered them in for me for £40. Re-install was pretty straight forward. I followed the advice to turn the key to 'run' but not start to let the ECU acclimatise for a minute or so (lots of whirring noise, VSC check light came on, then off etc) Fired up great, to huge relief. This was all done in a day, removal, repair, re-install. But I was lucky the repair chap was down the road and did it straight away. First thing I noticed on driving, I did not need to ease the accelerator pedal from standstill or near standstill to avoid the power take up 'jolt'. So tranny seems smoother from start. More low end power accelerating off the slip road. I did have a rough idle when gear in drive but at stop for first 10-15 mins (after warm up but before fully hot). This happened for my first two short drives. So I took the car for an hours run on the dual carriageway and now the ECU seems to have learnt and that problem no longer exists. So... all good. Hopefully in time I will discover if it's cured the random engine limp mode problem that I experienced twice in the last two months. That problem was cured by pulling over, stopping car and re-starting when it then ran as if nothing had happened... fault code read O2 sensor which can apparently be a ECU cap warning sign.

RE suspension: reason that few problems are reported with the Mk3/4 is that they're too new. It's not until air suspension has many miles under it, and perhaps 10/15/20 yrs old that it gives problems. Unless Lexus have a secret to wear and tear that no other manufacturer knows about, they'll likely need looking at after a decade or more of wear and tear (if you're unlucky) but on the whole, Lexus seem to have had few problems. Earlier LS models did have issues and as already reported further up this thread, 2002/3/4 RX's had a few issues but most of these seem only to have been reported after many years of use bringing us back to the main point....too early to tell for the Mk3! Of more importance, and something most seem to miss are potential corrosion issues with rear fuel pipe and sub frame assemblies. At 2 years old, I noticed a surprising amount of corrosion (mostly surface) on the rear subframe which was inexcusable for such a premium brand. They leave the factory with little to no corrosion protection here from what I've seen, so what is recommended after you buy one is lie underneath (with goggles on!) and scrub the area with a brass or wire brush to remove any loose corrosion and muck then liberally spray with ACF50 which will convert any remaining corrosion to be inert. Give it a month or so, clean off the underside and liberally re-coat with XCP Professional (£16 per 400ml spray can and one is all that's needed per annum). This coat should be repeated twice yearly and will provide comprehensive corrosion protection for the sub-frame. For servicing, I thoroughly recommend the Lexus service plan which gives you 3 years servicing for around £1100 and covers the big service interval (at least with mine). Lexus have been brilliant to deal with and when I transferred the service plan from my GS300 to my current RX, they even added on an extra year for free, bringing it up to 3 years servicing at no cost to me so I saved about £400. My local independent wanted over £300 per service (intermediate) and closer to £550 (main) so I do consider the lexus plan great value plus they valet the car each time and ply me with coffee and biscuits! Finally, the Lexus warranty is also worth budgeting for. Free hybrid health checks (or is that provided with the service plan...I can never remember!), free MOTs, full 5 star AA roadside assistance (worth £275 annually on its own) and all parts/labour in the event that something goes wrong. I just budget for it as part of the running costs and have complete peace of mind as a result knowing in the unlikely event anything does go amiss, I'll be looked after well. I initially baulked at stumping up for these things but when you break it all down, you do get a lot of value from them as well as peace of mind...well worth it if you can afford to buy an RX in the first place. I compared my experience with that of a friend who bought a similar aged BMW X3 just out of warranty. His gearbox failed within one year and cost him £3k to mend, and he still incurred similar running costs to me on top of that. With such expensive and complex vehicles, it pays to take no shortcuts with maintenance and warranties. Good Gap insurance is worthwhile too and a 3 year plan with an independant shouldn't cost more than £250 for a good policy. Overall, our RX has cost us less annually to run than a Skoda diesel hatchback we owned. Mechanical issues and wear and tear cost us dearly with that...over £2000 in repairs alone over a similar timeframe. Finally, that tax alluded to only applies to new vehicles bought after April 2018 and not to used cars.

Yep, 1st Gen IS did have weak spots at the rear arches, I have seen couple with the proper rust!

Stephen I will check on mine as well, doubt I will see anything as during the day the car on the underground parking with bad lightning but I will see what I can see. Rust is a horrible thing, I like to care about the car paint, in fact, rust was the main reason I sold my BMW, it also was badly repaired after the accident I didn't know about and it just ruined our relationship! 😞

I found the heated seats in the LS400 much better than those in the LS430 although the cooled seats in the LS430 worked surprisingly well in the car I bought off Phil, they didn’t work at all on the LS430 I bought from our good friend, Old Baz!!! I had a Vauxhall Vectra Elite once and the heated seats in that would almost set your ***** on fire, they were uncomfortably hot. I’ve heard that sills can rot very easily on X-types, especially earlier models. If I was to get one I would go for either the 2.5 or 3.0 V6 which also benefit from 4WD and probably sovereign spec. Ford made a real winner with the mk3 Mondeo and I’m so far really pleased with it. Ford did have the patent for the heated windscreen but I believe they don’t anymore and I think some new Vauxhall’s have it now. Would I be tempted back into a Lexus? All I’ll say is never say never!!! Despite all I’ve said and I have been very cruel I know the absolute truth is that I would still be very tempted by an excellent mk4 LS400, if I was to buy another LS430 I would go for a facelift one this time as I’ve already had 2 pre facelift ones. I also quite like the look of the LS460 although prices are a bit too high on those at the moment. I used to have a 1990 Granada Scorpio, it was the first large executive car I ever bought and I really felt like the big cheese driving that around as I was only 21 at the time!!! The insurance was eye watering but I wanted a Scorpio so bad. I also had a W220 S-class, mine was a LWB 5 litre V8, it had just about every factory option fitted and it would’ve been around £100k new but I paid £4k for mine. Don’t get me started on SUVs and simply awful crossover SUVs, it’s a sad time for proper traditional cars now the roads are becoming plagued by these truly hideous machines. I really don’t see the appeal of them at all!!! They look a bit like an off roader but would probably get stuck in a cow pat, they are heavy and have a high centre of gravity making them unstable and ultimately offer no more real practicality or space than a regular hatchback so what’s the point!?! Rant over!!! You’re right mate, I do appreciate the help I’ve had on here and just needed to let off steam!!! Now I’ve calmed down I have to admit to still liking Lexus and if the truth be told I wouldn’t rule out buying another after all but I would be ultra careful this time, the fact I liked the cars so much makes it more annoying when they go wrong because you just want to enjoy it!!! Absolutely no worries at all mate!!! I’ve just been feeling fed up and snapped at you so my apologies for that. Phew!!! That’s a long post, I know many people would laugh at us for getting so worked up over cars but I love cars and have done all my life and hoped Lexus would be the ultimate experience, with the exception of Phil’s I’ve been very unlucky with them. I’m really enjoying the V6 Mondeo at the moment but I’m not going to rule out another Lexus one day. Cheers guys!!!

Mine are more like a metallic gun metal grey definitely darker than standard though pretty happy with them that's why they've stayed

Mine have been done in that colour... Looks good IMO but obviously not biased at all 😉 I am aware the wheel is on the wrong way in last pic. This was soon dealt with. Oh and the car was filthy in the last pic. The wheels had been done that day on a dirty December back in 2017 🙂

Hi everyone, Since my car is back with Lexus to do minor works (Refurbishing my alloys) this week as part of the recent purchase agreement, Lexus (In Edgware Road) kindly lent me for a few days a 2018 CT200H and I wanted to share with you my thoughts about this car (day 2 driving it): I have read a few negative comments from various journalists and car magazines that CT200H is a bit dull to drive, which kind of put me off in the past but I am actually really glad to be driving one in all honesty. It is a brilliant car and I suspect that the negative comments referred to the Hybrid being perhaps too silent for the journalists who are too accustomed with the German cars - I have driven for years quite a few Mercedes cars and more recently a BMW series 5 (F10 for over a year and half) and I have to say that Lexus is on another level (and above) with the genius hybrid engines. Having driven my GS450H for over 2 weeks since I bought the car, I have become aware of the Hybrid function and how this works etc. It has influenced my driving (for the better) by being more aware of my driving style and I really think Hybrid is a good solution to reduce pollution and contribute for the environment. The CT200H is a perfect city car, nippy enough (with sport mode) to drive around and I actually love driving in ECO mode. The driving and handling is very good (if not better than Mercedes and BMW), the suspensions were a bit harder than my GS but nevertheless, it is a brilliant car to drive around. I love the fact that it starts silently and when you put it in Drive mode, it is quick to drive off. The dashboard clearly laid out giving a lot of of information and it was equipped with lane assist, collision detection, cruise control, has a good sat nav, bluetooth, media with USB ports, radio. It is a very well equipped car for small value and much better value than many similar cars in its segment. I feel really excited to be part of the world of Lexus and to know that we are driving in the future reducing CO2 (no diesels!)... It was such a positive experience that I felt I had to share this with you about this car, that quite frankly deserve far better recognition from the press. Long live Lexus!

Never had a first generation IS, then? 😊 Fingers crossed. Have you had the GS from new? Just wondering if it has ever had a dodgy repair with a previous owner. Another possibility, rather than just any old dirt it is encrusted 'animal' (hence the tinge).

These colour codes are correct. They aren't normal Toyota paint codes though, they are probably BBS Japan OEM colour codes and touch-ups aren't available.

I'd strongly advise you don't do it at all. The battery isn't large and not really the suitable for starting a vehicle. If you wanted to do it then you must take connections directly off the battery. You will blow fuses if you tried to use the engine compartment charging points.

A used Lexus needs to be bought with care and due diligence. Merely buying it because it is a Lexus is somewhat short sighted in my view. If buying from a Trader then, as with all cars checking that a full (preferably Lexus) service history and all/any recalls have been carried out are both essential. The Trader is then required by Statute to remedy any significant faults occurring within 6 months of purchase. If buying privately, then check the service history and condition . If all services have been demonstrated and the condition is acceptable, then enter into a contract with the seller, so that in the event of clear misrepresentation the buyer can seek redress via the courts. If an acceptable service history is not demonstrated or the condition causes concern , then unless you are knowlegeable and competent re cars and their requirements, walk away. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that because it is a Lexus you will not have any problems.

Maybe bronze? bronze on white does look nice and would be a bit different from the norm. Tbh im not a massive fan of black wheels as you lose the definition of what the wheels look like. They do look good if you go full black on black though.

Martin, Would agree on all points you made, took me a while to find right seat settings to feel as good as when I had Vaux Omega. Would say LS seats could be better, I think back seats are better by a long way, but hard to drive when sitting in back. On heated seats the LS range seems to be a gentle warmer, been in Audi/FOrd/BMW of late where your backside is being roasted within 10 seconds, so agree on really cold morning LS is a little too gentleman like. Mondoe V6 in Ghia, a nice car, not driven one, but previous Ford experience tells me Mondeo a well sorted machine more or less since day 1.. X-type, the wife has one, Sport 2 litre, moves well, cheapish to run, but would say after 10 years expect to be spending a lot of money on welding sills every couple of years. Seems to be really common problem on Jags, not just X-type. Grips road well, but clatters about a fair bit, and not so quite at 80 as I would like. Running gear seems susceptible to earlier replacement than I would expect (well compared to LS). If it were me I would stick with Mondeo and enjoy life with the brilliance of heated windscreen (I know Ford used to have patents on this tech, so maybe thats reason why not a common feature).

Sincere apologies! Not wanting to appear snobbish at all. But I don't think that we are comparing like with like here. From what I've heard from friends, new jags are not everything they are cracked up to be either. Good luck with your new car.

Thanks Ian for the advise. I wasn’t thinking of switching it off anyway. I gather it will be difficult for the radar to pick up anything with such heavy rain. Cheers

Having owned a few German brands to me there is no comparison with Lexus. Japanese wins hands down, especially for overall refinement and reliability.