Scarlet Pimpernell

good luck mate

BTW keep an eye open for the BMW owners Club... its just around the corner ;)

Cheers matey - can't wait for that.

Thanks to all for a warm feeling and kind words... you're the best!!

huhhh....why u going mate?

None really, other than it's time to move on. I don't have the IS any more and my experience of the ISd is becoming a distant memory. Everything that needs to be known is, so I'll be concentrating on them Beemer ones!! Might pop in to have a look as a lurker without login, but don't see the need to post anything any more.

Just a quick note to thank everyone who has offered help and advice on this forum to me.

I've asked Janey to revoke my access asap, and so you'll probably not hear from me again, unless of course I buy a Lexus again.

It's been a good 3.5 years - highs and lows, and some good friendships along the way. Some will be glad to see the back of me, but hey, it ain't a fan club and you can't be good to all in the pursuit of perfection...

Farewell!!!

Hi,

My car is at lexus Edinburgh as we speak for a variety of issues.

They tell me that squeaks and rattles are not covered by the warranty (mine has an extended warranty provided by Lexus UK). They will pay for parts, but not the labour.

Is this right?

Ta

Normally rattles won't be covered - even the parts could be on a goodwill basis as the extended warranties normally cover mechanical and electrical stuff only.

Good luck...

Hi,

My car is at lexus Edinburgh as we speak for a variety of issues.

They tell me that squeaks and rattles are not covered by the warranty (mine has an extended warranty provided by Lexus UK). They will pay for parts, but not the labour.

Is this right?

Ta

Normally rattles won't be covered - even the parts could be on a goodwill basis as the extended warranties normally cover mechanical and electrical stuff only. Of course it depends on what's causing the rattle - if the satnav unit doesn't fit well, for example, it could be covered if a new complete unit will fix it.

Good luck...

I'm sure that there is a Youtube Vid on this - for an IS350 with the rattle.

EDIT:

I think right now, all those who took out PCH/PCP's are best off...wish I'd done the same!!!

Well done GaryC

I must warn you though...you have to go through a couple of seasons to be sure. I went for up to 3 months after fixes with everything much improved, then the weather changed (hot or cold seasons) and all hell broke loose again.

I knew it was too good to be true. All rattle free for just over a week and then the familiar plastic creaks and cracks sounded when travelling over uneven surfaces. The sound appear to be coming from the armrest area. I did notice that when my missus sits in the passenger seat the rattles/creaks are much less. I wonder if there is something inside the passenger seat mechanism that is loose ???

I still get the creak sound in my right ear near to where the upper part of the seatbelt housing is.

The rattle are less than they were but there still is that unsettling plastic rattling from the centre console.

I just don't want to have to contact them to take it in again

I did say that you might find they'll be back...sadly there is only one option to get rid of the noises on some of these cars - and that is to get rid of the car :shutit:

The ones by the ear drove me mad towards the end of ownership, and it was partly due to the grab handle. If I pushed it right down "squeaky" would stop squeakin', and then come back again. But there was also a buzzing from the drivers A post somewhere high up that the dealership could not fix - not loud, but close enough to the ear to actually give a headache...new seatbelt anchors didn't make a jot of difference. The passenger seat vibrated at motorway speeds too - almost like a constant "juddering" in the backrest. At one point I used a rope to fasten the backrest passenger side front and rear headrests to each other to stop it...

It need a new seat but I'd given up on it by then. I feel it for the mug who paid £17,850 for it in July/August 08!

Is it being sold as a Lex Approved car? I'd be shock if they were...especially as they've got the model listed wrong!

They made you pay for a non wear and tear part while the car is under warranty? I wouldn't have paid myself and just gone to another dealer (but I realise depending on location that this isn't always a possibility)

I'd take the car back to them, if that's sorted the fault, the error should have gone. My inclination would be that something else is wrong.........

It's bizarre how some 220d owners are really happy, and some have the complete opposite experience - are there two factories building them by any chance?

I've often wondered the same, though some owners are happier regardless

Perhaps Lexus should strip out all the extras that come as standard and charge us for them too, as other manufacturers do. Then we can compare like for like on extras, accessories and equipment features. At least then the extra value offered by Lexus will be more obvious...or not...

Extra's and options don't make a car an "Executive" brand - else Mondeo Titanium X's and Honda Accords would be king and their "value" rating would be even higher!!! There's a fine balance between engineering excellence, the "drive" and what you get for your money...which is why the BMW 3 outsells the Mondeo...the badge counts for some too...

I was positively wowed by the options when I had my Lexus, but looking at it now from the other side, the only option I miss is the rear view camera which I can have fitted for a small fortune...my current car doesn't have half of the Lexus kit, but my experience has proven to me at least that most of the options are "nice to haves"...

The biggest issues now though are :

Limited engine choices

High Co2

the reasons I think why Lexus have allowed this to happen in Europe is because they follow the American market and demand there drives their development. Wait till the yanks start buying BMW320d's...and other BMW and Audi Diesels...Lexus will be hit hard then. The Hybrid programme needs a serious kick (i.e. better Co2, more boot space, less weight).

Fabulous choice mate - It's a good spec you've gone for - I doubt you'll be wanting for anything!!! It's not the S-Line though is it? You'v gone for the free "port" upgrade which is excellent value.

I'd have an A5 over the A4 any day...I was one of those people that wanted to get the A4 but was disappointed by it, the A5 felt and looked much better but I couldn't convince her indoors that we could live with 2 doors...

Normally Audi quote 12-14 weeks for a new car (or at least they did to me every time I enquired). So early May delivery = an order this week...they should be sitting twiddling their spanners with this credit lunch so you might be OK with the pricing and impact thereof...at least you can quote it to the lease company if they try and charge you the higher amounts.

Bet you cannot wait...

Probably the most emotive subject in the world and another thread which could go downwards . It's a topic that becomes very heated and the lines between subjective and objective become blurred all too easy !!

Just do a search on here and check out the poll - it's worth spending a few hours trawling through the threads. If you want the perfect car and believe in the science, then remember it's only a car, and no car is perfect:

Ultimately you will have to decide and live by it, but generally I wouldn't just buy a car because of reputation or what humans have put have down on Customer Satisfaction surveys ever again!!!! It's a personal thing and the car has to fit your budget, your family and feel connected to you when you drive it....

If you're a Lexus fan, there is nothing better on the road...and even if you're not, the IS250 Auto with MM makes a compelling case. It's a good car. Diesel? Well that's another story!! Concentrate on the gearing, the clutch, fuel economy, quality of fit and finish ahead of the toys in the car...and make sure you subjectively compare it to the competition too...

Might be worthwhile challenging Lexus about this - your car should only just be out of warranty...and you wouldn't be expecting this sort of failure...

Try it - you've not a diddle to lose!!

I agree with Dave1. An A/C specialist would give you a full diagnosis and any options. I do think that it might be worth fixing to defend yourself from fumes from other traffic.

Doesn't sound like an AC problem - more a control panel issue. This is the problem with modern cars...too many electronics and motors. My old Toyota Corolla had a lever you pushed left to right to switch on re-circ...

Both purchases of my Lexus and BMW were handled disgracefully by the same group, lost cheques, mess up's with Cherished plates and road tax, bottles of wine for recalls which weren't there, never had calls back after leaving messages...all very consistent between both marques. The common denominator is that they are owned and run by the same people - so like I say - there is a "low" that they seem to think is acceptable. Poor management!!

My experience of Lex Cov was of arrogance on their part - talk about salesmen looking down their noses at you...very little product knowledge and loads of chin rubbing and sharp intakes of breath...all I asked were questions like -

"Does the fanned seats blow AC air, or ambient air"

"Will there be an Auto model of the diesel"

"Does it have variable assisted P/Steering"

So which group were you dealing with for your Lexus and your BMW?

Sytner

Hi,

So "Does the fanned seats blow AC air, or ambient air", sorry to hyjack but i'd like to know this answer too!?

On the IS, it's ambient air. There are no specific AC ducts for the fan's under/inside the seats in the IS - might be different for the LS etc...

(I know other manufacturers, such as BMW, with "Active Ventilation" blows AC'd air not just through the base, but gently through the backrest too....)

hmm....so this is official reason for MOT failure:

"A wiper blade insecure, missing, deteriorated or which does not clear the windscreen effectively to give the driver an adequate view of the road (through the windscreen) to the left and right sides of the vehicle, as well as to the front."

and that is a wear/tear item(which lexus website says warranty does not cover). so i'm taking it warranty would cover it??

If you read the part in the link which refers to the MOT, your question is answered.

"In the unlikely event your vehicle fails its MOT test, a Lexus warranty will protect you against unexpected repair bills. As long as the vehicle is repaired and then passes, your warranty will pay for repairs or replacement of covered parts, up to the vehicle’s purchase price. All you have to pay is the original test fee, any re-test fee and the first £10 of any repair."

So, why does it state "Covered parts"? This implies that not very part is covered....

Like I say - it's in the small print. It would be great if it was totally all encompassing, and if it did provide you with a blanket MOT "insurance" as some do, but those 2 words say things to me...you'd have to ask them what IS NOT covered to be 100% sure before you make any assumptions.

I'd still consider the warranty - specially, like I say, if I had the diesel.

Even if the wipers were covered, the £10 would still mean that you then pay another £20-30odd as they charge you double for them wipers i the first place like most dealers do...

it's loud...like a raspberry or a ratchet mechanism - that's normal.

hmm....so this is official reason for MOT failure:

"A wiper blade insecure, missing, deteriorated or which does not clear the windscreen effectively to give the driver an adequate view of the road (through the windscreen) to the left and right sides of the vehicle, as well as to the front."

and that is a wear/tear item(which lexus website says warranty does not cover). so i'm taking it warranty would cover it??

I haven't read the link - but it can't be that simple - what about bald tyres or worn brakes which like wiper blades are past their useful life.....even the new car warranty doesn't cover them so the used ones isn't likely to. Someone at Lexus needs to be careful with wording and building expectation...

the only time a warranty would cover an MOT failure would be emissions/CAT/Smoke, electrical fault causing headlights not to work properly, dodgy brakes due to a leaking cylinder etc.

Does anyone happen to know if the SatNav for A5 comes with UK or European maps as i can't seem to find this info from the Audi website?

Full Euro they only do that now (DVD version) - they used to do a CD Rom based one for UK only on the A4 GenII

The problem is that it's all hit and miss....I know BMW, Mercedes and Audi drivers who have been overjoyed by the local main dealer - but that's because nothing major has ever gone wrong with their cars - so they've never had the "grey area" conversation about things...

Both purchases of my Lexus and BMW were handled disgracefully by the same group, lost cheques, mess up's with Cherished plates and road tax, bottles of wine for recalls which weren't there, never had calls back after leaving messages...all very consistent between both marques. The common denominator is that they are owned and run by the same people - so like I say - there is a "low" that they seem to think is acceptable. Poor management!!

My experience of Lex Cov was of arrogance on their part - talk about salesmen looking down their noses at you...very little product knowledge and loads of chin rubbing and sharp intakes of breath...all I asked were questions like -

"Does the fanned seats blow AC air, or ambient air"

"Will there be an Auto model of the diesel"

"Does it have variable assisted P/Steering"

My Nissan experience was brilliant, as was the Honda one - both much smaller (family owned) dealerships...that says it all for me.

Next car I buy will be one with Manufacturers warranty, but from cargiant 'cos there ain't no point in paying £000's extra towards them lush £multimillion showrooms...

Thanks for all the great advice. The one with the kettle gets the prize for originality!!

There's been a turn up for the books on getting the jam jar serviced - Lexus Brighton have said they will open JUST FOR ME on a Saturday to do the yr3 service. Ahhh! Cheers guys. (maybe they look at this site)

Now I can go back to Tunbridge Wells and say thanks but no thanks. Serves them right for choosing a site miles from anywhere and not having weekend courtesy cars or drivers. Booooh!

lol nice gesture?

Brilliant gesture - you came out trumps!

It goes to prove - they do look at these forum...

ps. new IS still a nightmare to drive in the snow! Good fun though but plenty of spare kecks recommended.......

I had all sorts of fun this morning sliding about,other vehicles (not 4x4's) didn't seem as badly affected

I made the mistake of getting into work today then it starting snowing very heavily so i decided to go home in the worst of it and got stuck several times on several inclines where other cars were managing to get up.I was trying not to stop at all but even then I was still getting stuck

Needs more weight in the back to help traction in these conditions

Reduce the rear PSI to 30 - makes a huge difference in the Lex (just remember that on thawed surfaces) - but you are right - my IS did 180's on my estate 2 years ago...once I reduced the pressure it was much much better.