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Did you check under the seats for any snakes? 🐍

Cairngorms in between Grantown-on-Spey and Aviemore, heading back home after visiting my kids whom I hadn’t seen since lockdown...extremely pleasurable 614ml trip on Monday just gone

When I was little and in London, used to stare through the window of Hampstead Cars on the Finchley Road. Loved the American cars! When I could finally afford it, went to see one, was underwhelmed, and bought a Soarer instead!

So since picking up last Thursday two new tyres on the front cleaned the thoroughly gross interior new battery oil, oil filter, plugs, air filter, cabin filter (done today, knackered!) sourced luggage cover, fog lights, driver and passenger mirrors Currently about £1500 in, which isn't bad at all. A little bit of bodywork needs doing (£250-£300) and rear sensors then it's handed over to my wife. So a big, comfortable, safe family car for less than £2k. So long as everything goes to plan I don't think that's too bad.

Hehe, each to his own eh...I love a challenge (or maybe I'm stubborn!)

For a new CT200h (or nearly new CT200h) assuming the first service hasn't been done yet at 10k miles / 12 months, then for the three services it's intermediate followed by full 20k followed by another intermediate. Look at https://www.lexus.co.uk/owners/servicing-and-maintenance/vehicle-service/#pricing and scroll down and select model CT200h and you will see the pricing - and for 2x int and a full 20K it comes to £865. This is the official Lexus prices and so you should certainly not be paying more than that. The service plan allows you to spread this cost into 24x interest free monthly payments. If the initial 10k intermediate service has been done then it's a full 20k, int 30k, and full 40k which would be £1,055. I would be pointing them to these figures - your best quote is still higher (just) than the official Lexus figures for the 2x full and 1x int (so that assumes your car has already had it's first 10k int service - you don't say what the mileage is on it now). Now, if they are adding something that is fine - but you will not need an MOT for 3 years (does the plan get you that far - it's normally a two year plan), chances of a bulb blowing are very remote in that time, you will get a free wash and vac anyway when it's serviced with a Lexus service plan and so the only thing might be free puncture repairs that may be an extra to the standard Lexus plan...

Sprayed the inside of the car twice yesterday and left it locked overnight with the movement sensor off. Let’s hope Mr Mozy or Mrs Moth have departed this world. I suspect it was Mrs Moth as my wallet has not been opened much since March.

I didn't dare do that, they were so hot on motorists. Our police aren't allowed to hide but over there they hide behind anything and you don't know you have done anything wrong until you see the lights flashing and a quick burst on the siren. 55mph was the max in those days I don't know what it is these days but 55 and in many places 45 was dangerously boring.

All the more reason for keeping my LS400.

That's appallling. Its not like its difficult or expensive to change either. If you've had the car serviced at a garage and been charged for that filter I'd be having a chat with them around whether they think its acceptable. If you've had the car a while and serviced by same garage, check back to see how many pollen filters you've been charged for. This is one of the reasons I do all of the work on my cars myself.

Hi Anthony if you get your car serviced at your local lexus service centre the hybrid check is included in the service price and your hybrid battery warranty is then extended for an extra year, if you have your car serviced at a non lexus centre you can still have the hybrid check for the price of £58.

Hello all New to the forum but I guess this is the best place to post this thread I have a 2003 IS200 Sport in Platinum ice that I purchased new in May 2003... it's been a very reliable car with only 80k and full Lexus history, I have kept the car as it was the day it left Lexus Bolton, it's been in storage since October last year and my intentions was to write this thread in March when weather got better but due to the virus it didn't happen It's time to let the car go so I thought I'd see if any genuine Lexus owners would want it, as me and the Mrs have really looked after this car and it means a lot to her but i dont have room for a 2nd car at home It's got unmarked alloys and always ran on Bridgestone Potenza, it had belts and water pump done 10k ago, none smokers no pets and not even eaten in the car I'll not ramble on ...it's got a pile of invoices and history etc ...original mats ...dealer sticker and sales brochure I can't bring myself to ebay it if I could I'd keep it .... I'm not going to mention a price I'd rather someone come and look and make a sensible offer I'll be completely honest there is a few things that don't work as should but didn't really matter to us Radio works fine but CD sticks Air con doesn't run cool Washers arnt the best If I can get pics up I will ..hopefully I can ....pics where taken in August 2019 Anyone interested I'm in Wigan and the car is in storage away from home so it will be appointment viewing between 9-5 Thanks Derek 07790026840

Received an email from Lexus Cheltenham in which say up to 31st August they are offering 20% discount on car accessories. It's not clear whether a 'Gold Member' will benefit any further, whether the offer applies only to their branch or Group. However, if you are in the market for anything it could be worth your while giving them a call for a comparative quote.

Hi Mike , I have been recommended the Hinds Head garage Chorley by another Lexus owner , the owner Paul has a lexus himself . Small family firm with good reviews ! My car is going there next week to have the transmission filter changed .

Ah well, worth a mention. Hopefully someone else will be able to impart their wisdom.

Yes, as is the hybrid battery. But if you have an extended warranty then this whole conversation is moot as you have to get your vehicle serviced at least once a year at a Lexus dealership under the terms of the warranty and therefore you are getting the hybrid health check done anyway.

I think that £36 per month is fair and reasonable. I pay £34.

I took it out in July 2014 with the intention of not buying another car. I mean having had a Lexus GS, where else does one need to look ?

Oh, Lee.What have we done? You said yes and I said no! Poor Vlad is now in a quandry. You`d better get up there matey !

A really smart move Vlad. Do not go there as £93 could be a really small amount to pay in the context of a big mistake.

Hi Gary and welcome to the club ;I'm sure you will enjoy your 250C especially when the sun is shining .I have owned mine for almost 5 years and it is a great car especially for continental holidays ( to be continued when the present fiasco has subsided ) I am afraid I can't be much help to you as I carry out all my own service work ,the only time I visited a dealer was for the airbag recall.It might be worth you checking this has been carried out ,it may have been missed if the car has been away from the main dealer system. With regard to the roof I have not had that problem, the only company I have had recommended is Cayman Autos in Redhill ,I don't know how far you are from them ,they have a good web site worth looking at if you have queries Regards Dave

Other spark plugs were fine, so I will be more upset if I brake a few plastic clips while doing the spark plug as if just leaving it alone! lol! I might give it another go. This is embarrassing, I have change spark plugs on a few cars in my life so as my dad (who is still here, thank to lockdown) but this one is proving to be the hardest to change! 🙂

only if you are a Supporter 😉

Phoned Lexus Glasgow to find out how much will they charge me for changing 1-off spark plug (other 5-off I did myself), it would cost me £93! Apparently manifold partially needs to be disassembled to get access to coil and spark plug! So, what did I do to my Lexus? I opened a bonnet, removed the engine cover, looked at it, confirmed that it looks complicated, put the engine cover back on and closed the bonnet! I need to do though Battery Health Check and also buy engine oil, oil filter and diff oil for the next service.

Would you believe they landed this afternoon 😵 so that's 2 days for delivery - I've waited longer for local parts! Lesson learned when ordering from the states, use FedEx 🙂

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-Lexus-SC-430-Repair-Shop-Manual-Original-Set-New-SC430-FEO-Service-2-Volume-/401599800024

An indi list is being compiled by John, see here and you may find one local to you

Finally arrived from NZ after over a month. Looks really good, has loads of information in it including all of the service data for the car. I will be poring over this in my limited spare time to see if I can learn anything interesting.

Update: It was a bad tire after all, which was cracked all around between thread and on the side. It would drop to 29 psi in couple hours after inflating and stay like that for months.

Just email https://www.lexuspartsdirect.co.uk/ and they will be able to send you a link to Transmission Oil page to make a purchase. ive used them for most parts i need. with regards to engine oils, most companies like Lexus, Opie Oils & Euro Car parts all have ebay stores now so best to check the seller. i have just purchased 4 litre Castrol 5W 30 from a non dealer ebay seller and just had my oil changed and it was genuine. if in doubt you cant go wrong with Euro car parts for Oil/Filter.

not had car long . Last service was done for previous owner some 2500 milles ago. Will not be going there for it to be done.

Same here...I service all my cars...

I bought my Castrol engine oils from a eBay seller that turns out to be Eurocar Parts.

Welcome Garry. This is all I have currently. Lexus Indie Garages.docx

did they mean a bug in the software or an insect? 😀

Welcome to the LOC Gary,hoping you find the forum educational and informative and congratulations on your new purchase 🥳👍

I used to travel to the States, Chicago on a regular basis in the 70s-80s and was a great fan of the Rockford files, well we only had a couple of TV channels in those days. I used to use the same car hire company every time I went and I always had a red Pontiac Firebird with a 5.7 litre engine and a Firebird on the hood/roof, what a beast but it was so wound down it wasn't as fast as what you think it would be but it used to make an amazing noise.

Technical glitch....originating in my brain stem ! ☺️

Hi Zuke. Don't think you'll need 6 litres. I've been researching trans fluid refills for the is250 and believe the actual volume is 7.6 litres. But I believe only 1 maybe 2 litres comes out of the drain plug or taking the bottom housing off. The rest is supposedly in the valves and other gubbings. I'm wondering however if the bottom housing is removed is that where the filter is? I'm thinking of the GS300 or RX350 and an online video showing this. Let us know how you get on because any threads on here ive seen are a good few years old.

Just to follow up on this I decided to stick new pads in and replace the springs all in one go and discovered that very few UK dealers sell the pads with the hardware kit. Of the 3 I contacted via email only one bothered to email me back to say he did not have the kits nor could he get them! 5 minutes on rockauto and not only do they have brake pad kits with the hardware they also sell the illusive springs as well from £5 up. I was able to purchase a full set for the car with springs and even sent via FedEx the cost was roughly the same that some here wanted just for the pads. So, provided her majesty's finest customs don't nick the parcel (which should not happen as duty has been prepaid) I should have the bits by tomorrow or Monday.

HI Terry Packs go out on friday so you should get on Sat or Monday at the latest as they get sent 1st class. cheers

Just a small update. I rung toyota for a price on the lock. Only £65! Will collect Saturday just to confirm part numbers and such.

Hi Steve, there is plenty of room at the front of the engine so I doubt it will be an awkward job. Check this video for a quick how-to to at least it gives you an idea, skip to 5mins in for the actual swap. Good luck. Cheers, Lee

I've always suspected the engine covers are purely cosmetic for the benefit of customers who purchase the cars new from the dealers. The people who buy these cars new don't buy them with the intention of doing their own engine maintenance! They buy into the concept of having a luxury car with everything taken care of by the dealer, and the sight of a complex modern engine that needs looking after can be off-putting to them. These cars are sold by the driving experience, comfort, technical toys and dealer service, not by the mechanical bits under the bonnet. In fact I would be surprised if many potential buyers ask to look under the bonnet before signing on the dotted line. There is nothing wrong with this situation, the new cars have to be presented in a way that appeals to new car buyers. If they weren't they wouldn't sell and I wouldn't be able to buy an LS430 with 95K on the clock for £2,900 ! John N

I'd like to know who makes these decisions. Seems to be some random person as it is different on every model. There are newer and older Lexus vehicles where you have the option to lock when you move into drive and/or when speed reaches a certain speed. If you have an option to unlock, it would make sense that there is a option to lock in the first place but your manual (for your year) will tell you.

I forgot to add that I also took the oppertunity to change the shift position bulb to a blue LED. But when changing that bulb you need to wrap or black out underneath the bulb so that you reduce the light from bleeding. I also polished that perspex shift position trim. It's plastic so scratches up very easily. Mine was in a nasty condition so a polish has made it like new again. A few pics of that below:

My understanding is that not all Lexus dealershps offer the discount and for those that do it might not apply if you have the essential service option rather than the normal priced one for cars older than 5 years as this becomes a possibility. From what I gather in reality it's the same service but offered at 'cut price' so they can retain your business rather than you going to a non Lexus garage who would be less expensive.

In a hybrid there are two batteries - a 12V battery that basically 'starts' the hybrid system and gets the car into READY mode (which is our equivalent of the engine running) and also a traction battery that drives the electric motors and is around 288 to 300V depending on the car. Conventional cars have a starter motor that, when you turn the key, will crank the engine to get it running. The starter motor can draw more than 300A from the battery to start the car and when the engine is running, the alternator will replace the electrical energy used and keep the 12V battery charged up but it's main job is to run all the car's electrical systems - the 12V battery is only used for starting. Our hybrids don't have a starter motor as such and they don't have an alternator either. Our 12V batteries only have to boot the hybrid computers and one or two other things and it takes less than 20A to do that job, which is a lot different to the 300A a conventional starter motor would need. Because of that, Toyota/Lexus thought they could save a bit of money by only installing small-capacity 12V batteries, which is fair enough, except that the downside is that the 12V battery goes flat quicker than a larger battery would. For instance, it's not unusual for the 12V battery to go flat if parked up for a couple of weeks at the airport while you're away on holiday. Quite a few of us carry something like this in the car just in case it happens. So, that's the 12V side. Remember I said that our cars don't have alternators? Well, it's because the petrol engine doesn't run all the time - the car sometimes switches off the engine and runs on electric motors, which are powered by the traction battery. Anything that would normally be run by a belt from the engine, such as the alternator, the aircon compressor or the power steering pump, are all driven by electric motors so that they can still be used when the petrol engine is off. In fact, once the car is READY then the traction battery feeds all of the car's electrical needs, just like the alternator does in a conventional car. Taking the alternator as an example, the 12V battery starts the car and gets it into READY mode. Once READY, some clever electronics in what's known as a DC/DC Converter (our equivalent of the alternator), steps down the 300V from the traction battery to around 14.5V to keep the 12V battery charged. Different boxes of electronics do the same (albeit at different voltages/currents) for the aircon compressor and other stuff, all run by the traction battery. The other main job of the traction battery is to provide power for the electric motors that drive the wheels when the petrol engine is off. This battery is mainly charged by regenerative braking. The regen braking system takes the kinetic energy that would normally be wasted in heat by friction of the brake pads against the discs and turns it into electricity to charge the traction battery. Every time you lift your foot off the accelerator you'll see the power meter needle drop into the 'Charge' zone of the meter, but maybe not so far. When you actively press the brake pedal the needle will drop right down to the bottom of the 'Charge' scale, indicating maximum rate of charge. If the traction battery is dropping low on charge but no braking is taking place to charge it, the hybrid system will run the petrol engne, which in turn runs one of the motor/generators (MG1 and MG2) in a backward rotation to act as a generator and charge the battery. I often get MG1 and MG2 mixed up so that may not be strictly correct but you get the idea - it's one or the other. It can be quite noticable if the car isn't moving at the time, which is why I think that this may be what you're feeling. However, as I said above, if the car is in neutral then this won't happen, which is why you need to keep it in drive. Something else to bear in mind is that these are hybrid cars, not electric cars. If you run out of petrol, the most you'll get on battery alone is maybe a couple of miles, no more, and it also opens up a whole host of other problems. To be a fully-functional car, three things are needed as they all work together - the 12V battery, the traction battery and the petrol engine. Hope that helps, Herbie

Removed aircon compressor, fitted new compressor, drier and replaced the seals on the aircon line fittings etc. Also put back the stuff I had to take off to get the compressor out in the first place. Under tray, fan shroud and fan assy in order to lift the compressor out from the top.