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CAR FOUND, managed to get confirmation from police that it’s in recovery lockup. Big thanks to BillNick🙏🙏🙏 for posting the pics and info. Many thanks

It is simply not right to have to fit physical devices to the wheel that over many hundreds of times using will eventually cause wear and tear to the steering wheel material. My opinion of Lexus UK is very low but they really should install a mitigating measure as appropriate to make this attack more difficult. A software update to support encryption or blanking plate to make it harder seem sensible. I have felt since ordering the ES that Lexus UK do not listen to customers and I expect they will do nothing.

I know this forum is a heavily biased statistical sample 🤔 but something tells me the Lexus marketing people didn't do their homework before they decided not to bring the new IS300 to the UK.... You read around the internet and there are many of us that aren't much into SUVs.

Sorry to read about this. First 'performace' Lexus I've heard of being targeted. Looks like people are starting to work out the rarity of them and their cost in certain parts of the world! I hope you get it back or at least the money it's worth in insurance. I'd like to think they wouldn't have broken into your house for it, but you can never say for sure.

Car is booked in at Westfield Motors (Rayleigh) next Tuesday. If they do a good job I may even get them to take a look at the air-con another day.

Mine took 5 weeks from the ship leaving Japan to arrive at Portbury. Allow another 2-3 weeks to get to the dealer. Lexus may have more detailed tracking than the App but if you ask the dealer for the name of the ship is on, then you can track it's progress using one of the marine tracking apps.

For anyone interested in what may happen in a PDI (pre delivery inspection) I have found (by accident) a US document for PDS (pre delivery service). https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2022/MC-10207955-9999.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj3uPeGpKT-AhXQFsAKHUnlAJAQFnoECCkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1M7o6NQhogwm7eEPVO6RBa Also found a dismantling manual for the NX350h ! https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.lexus-tech.eu/HYBRID/HVDM/EN/nx350h_AAZH20,25.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj3uPeGpKT-AhXQFsAKHUnlAJAQFnoECC4QAQ&usg=AOvVaw2fmDeNXv-YWbwurpizuVm7

I am hoping that the used price for an IS300h remains 'high' as I will be selling my fully loaded IS300h Premier when my new NX350h arrives. Sorry purchasers, just my situation. I have noticed that the guide price on parkers.co.uk for my car is only about 500 pounds less than what it was in February last year, so second-hand value that are holding up very well at present.

Would you believe that the Stoplock I used on my IS300h doesn't fit Betsy? The manufacturer reckons it's a recommended fit but I beg to differ!

I would also purchase the new model IS if it was available in the UK.

Sadly early and late SC’s shocks are different, not by much but the way the spring seats is a difference diameter. It’s possible to cross reference part numbers from the States, that’s what I had to do for the early shock absorbers….or just have a spend up with Lexus 👍🏻

Tonight's charge 51.3/49.3 which is the best with air con indicated range so far this year.

If the new model IS was available in the uk, i would buy one in a heart beat.Im not a fan of SUVs.I have mentioned this to my local dealer and the standard response is " we have the ES if you would like a saloon car . The forcourt was full of used ES models , and i must say the second hand prices were holding up very well. Steve

Excellent news, hope there is little or no damage 👍

Surprised/not surprised they didn’t contact you immediately 🙄 Hope the outcome is as best possible for you matey 🤞🏼

Wow! How interesting. If it is.... get the scratches off the bonnet and she'll be as good as new! If it is, does the car being stolen screw the history and value? Edit: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=226&t=167843

@Gsf grey solihull could it be?

Great minds think alike, all 4 keys for 2 cars now in foil 🙂 Thanks for the CANbus explanation. I was aware what CANbus was just unsure how it was used for a theft. Is the headlight thing only for Lexus or most cars?

Simply put, they get easy access to the wiring to the left headlight where there's also some CAN bus wiring. The CAN bus is a network that allows all the ECUs to communicate with each other, so they can inject a signal that makes the car think that the owner wants to unlock the doors, switch on the engine and so on. Then off they go with your pride and joy.

On the positive side it’s insured and no one was hurt… however… Test your faraday pouch regularly - mine didn’t work. I’ve now got a tin from Amazon that DOES work. If keyless can be turned off that helps… or they move to canbus theft instead. Think about basic immobilisers or switches and relays that cut starter motors or fuel pumps - a hidden switch that stops the car starting cannot be beaten. B@stards.

I would be gutted if some scrote stole my RX but there's just no point in worrying about it. If the scrotes want it so much they'll get it one way or another. Since time immemorial as soon as one security method has been invented, 24 hours later some ne'er-do-well is working on a way of circumventing it.

One charger on the island explain why I have only seen 2 or 3 Tesla cars on the roads.

Sorry to hear about the loss of your Vehicle. When i took delivery of my car i got the Dealer to turn off the keyless entry and the Start off. For the sake of having to press a button to unlock a door, you put yourself at risk of having your vehicle stolen.

Thanks for all the sympathies all. Agree with the sentiments above, it really beggars belief that this can go on in 2023! Encryption is such a basic thing used everywhere, I can't believe we pay for such expensive cars and something so basic has been overlooked. I'm told that the 'dustbin lid' type steering locks are better than the T-bar ones, I've had a neighbour who had their car stolen with the T-bar on, the scrotes just cut right through it!

WOW, sorry to hear about this. They seemed to know what they were doing.

Sorry to read about this....But, and this is not aimed at you personally , but everyone who owns a car It really annoys me when thieves are getting away with other peoples cars, people are quite happy to spend £5 a week on star bucks coffee but not on protecting the second more expensive thing they own. NO keys in a protective pouch, No added immobiliser, No type of added steering lock. we read every day of car's with remote key access being stolen by thieves picking up the signal from your key's as for breaking into a house, i find this very unlikely, and again if you really think this is a possibility you may as well leave the key in the ignition

As others have said so sorry you've had to go through this. Obviously a targeted theft. But why? struggling to see the logic in it as there's so few of them about, it would be easy to trace parts etc. Not a nice experience, and hope you reach a satisfactory outcome to the situation. Must admit - I'm off to buy a faraday cage to keep our keys in now.

Murray hi ....... maybe an upholsterer could make one for you ? Malc

Hi Everyone, Very sad to see the number of vehicles being stolen at present. I just read about the stolen GSF. As you may know, other manufacturers have introduced motion sensitive keys that go to sleep after say 30s so that when you put down the keys at home, you are not susceptable to a relay attack. When you pick the keys up, they wake up again. AFAIK, Lexus does not provide this feature. It looks like Ford even offered (at modest cost) to upgrade keys for owners of newer vehicles that were shipped without motion sensitive keys with ones that were motion sensitive. I have just seen this: https://www.keylessdefender.org/ Its a small circuit that wraps around the battery and adds the motion sensitive feature for existing keys. I wanted to know if anyone had tried it? Paul P.S. with the number of thefts recently i wonder if we should have a separate forum just for thefts and security?

Great idea but at €149 per key ( on the Slovak website ) it is not cheap. However, if it is proven to be effective, it is probably worth the investment.

But they would for the recent GSF theft reported on here earlier today which was a relay theft. Better to be protected against both CANbus and relay attack. Assuming Lexus eventually provide the wheel arch reinforcement plate then thieves may go back to relay as the most common method. Paul

I have to admit that one of the lower clips went ping, never to be seen again despite a good broddle with an extending magnet! The struts I bought went on with a healthy click too which gave me confidence too. Anthony

This Sunday morning 00:22, I’ve uploaded CCTV above, gone within 2 mins. Police rang this morning to say car was spotted 15 minutes after theft but sped off!!!!

What a sickener, I'm really sorry to hear about it. Deepest sympathies.

But will they insulate you from the financial shock of £ 75k for 200 actual miles range ! I should find out soon as mine is in transit !

Was very nice it was but we missed out on the Moors views due to persistent rain. Matthewsons was also a disapointment. Just the tat shop was open. Got crapped on by a Roc/Condor/Albatross in Whitby. Luckily was raining so I had my hood up. It hit me central on my head/hood and the splash went 10 feet in front of me. York was very pleasant though and we had some sun.

I asked my dealer for the VIN number. They were able to give me this after the car had gone into build (or thereabouts).

I have never got on with these CD things, the needle keeps slipping off. Bill D.

Absolutely ridiculous that in 2023 this is a problem. Like going back to the late 80s and early 90s.

No problems on my latest MOT in February 2023, I had new tyres last year going to 245/45/R18, up on standard 245/40/R18 to give a softer ride! But the potholes and rough roads in South Wales are still causing the car to bang in the pot holes, all good on smooth motorways. So all parts must have a life expectancy, so after 108,000 miles I thought upgrade the suspension to new standard parts from Toyota keeping it stock. Noticed that in the USA they can buy suspension kits, but not from Toyota.

I had M.O.T. advisories for the ball joints on the front upper arms which were creaking. Mileage 132k. When I took the arms off, the ball joints were dry and rusty. I bought two Delphi arms from e-bay and the noise has gone. Cost of parts: £145. Cost of fitting: nil as I did it myself.

Dear oh dear. So sorry to hear of your ES being stolen. I didn’t realise that the ES was a target until now. Mine is a locked garage, but still could be got at when parked elsewhere. With all the electronic expertise around, surely Lexus can come up with a fix/ deterrent? Specially taking in to account all the superfluous stuff they have incorporated into the ES. I think legal action should be taken out on Lexus.

Hi all, I really like the head up display and I agree about the safety aspect. The 360 degree camera is so handy for parking and getting the car in the garage. The power tailgate is good too and the ventilated seats were handy in the very hot weather of last summer. The Mark Levinson sound system is great but I wish it had a cd player. I know it may be 'old fashioned' to have one nowadays but I miss it. I had a 2006 Honda Civic hybrid and that had a 6 cd autochanger- those were the days!

I'm now using a steering wheel lock. Lexus are supposed to be looking at a plate to protect the cabling on the RX, but it seems the ES and probably the NX are vulnerable and they won't do anything about those models unless the owners raise hell. The thing about this is that the equipment to carry out the CANBUS attack is not cheap so the thefts are carried out by organised crime not the local crack head. If a pro wants your car he's going to take it. The only thing you can do is put a visible deterrent on the car that makes it a less easy target in the hope that they move on . Ghost could be OK but they won't find out until they've damaged the car and I'm not convinced they won't eventually find a way of circumventing this or any other immobiliser.

I will be digging out my steering wheel lock this evening.

Any motoring journalist that over-dramatizes the functionality of the NX's door handles as Clarkson has done (to the Nth degree by the way - "stuck in the car until 4am; blah; blah; blah") loses all credibility in my opinion. Anyone that can't use them (or understand the logic behind the technology) shouldn't be allowed behind the wheel of a car, let alone review one. He also makes reference to the "beeps" when using the infotainment system. Is he not clever enough to work out that you can turn that off in seconds via the settings? Has he not driven a modern car before? I'm sure he makes things up for shock value - he's just walking clickbait. I'm not trying to be defensive on my choice of car and I'm not saying the new NX is perfect (I know that others on here have had some not inconsiderable issues with aspects of it) but at least review it in a reasoned, rational, way and not use it as the latest attempt to "get noticed".

Hi Jonny As you are probably aware the SC430 engine is not a safe engine and if the cambelt breaks the repair costs would be colossal. I would imagine that very few garages would take the risk of selling an SC430 without doing the job or having proof and a receipt of it having been replaced by a trustworthy. I would worry that a visual inspection can not forsee belt deterioration that may start in the next few miles. I'm sure your auto engineer, irrespective of how good he is would want to guarantee it. It is also good practice to replace the water pump and consider tensioner replacement at the same time. This is not an area to take risks with, good luck. Anthony

Its every 100000 miles or 10 years, which ever comes first.

Because they don't help stopping. Actually the plain discs have best stopping power, because they have most surface - friction x surface area = most braking power. The drilling is coming from ancient times, like 1960s Le Man's racing when the pad compounds were very bad (organic compounds) and when heated-up they used to "gas-out". Gassing out brakes then would have created like a little barrier between pad and disc, reducing friction and thus resulting in less effective braking. So drilling the discs were obvious answer to let those gasses escape. Modern pads don't have such issue, so drilled discs exists for nostalgic and kind of ignorant reasons i.e. people seen them on race cars growing-up and think that somehow that is related to better performance, without understanding why that was done in the first place. All other designs, including "modern" drilled discs, perhaps has some application off-road, like rallying. Basically if brakes get covered in mud and water, when braking that could generate steam and it results in less effective braking - slots, dimples, c-hooks etc. allows dirt and water to escape from braking surface and makes braking more effective. But that doesn't apply to road cars, not even in the heaviest rain. The only circumstances that I can think of would be deep puddle or ford, where you are basically wading the water and getting brakes fully submerged, then upon your first braking the brakes may not work as efficient as they should, but that is why it is advisable to drag brakes a little bit and maybe brake few times after exiting the ford (that is actually the question in drivers test). Modern racing cars still sometimes uses some "fancy" design, some say slotted or c-hooks allows to "dress-up" brake pads, but that is not normal car use case, this is only for race cars where they replace brake-pads for every race and replace brake disks probably for every second one. For the normal car - "dressing-up" just means excessive wear and brake dust, so not desirable.

Commenting on this in March 2023 excluding a 70k mileage example they are close to £60k for the V8