ChrisM

I'm afraid not, they took off my£350 excess and paid £550, they wouldn't negotiate. Will chase excess via legal firm plus 2 weeks car hire while I found another vehicle, plus £80 plate transfer fee, and about £193 cost of remainder of insurance. Firm was of a nautical nature, not a captain though. Their first offer over the telephone was £3020, saying it would have been more if it hadn't been a at B in the past, which I queried and he then said Oh no go that wrong and offered £900. Should have kept quiet !

That sounds like my post, I would probably have sorted it out myself had I been nearer home. Having fully comp and the extra Legal Protection certainly is probably the way to go. It may have been a blessing in disguise as I have now replaced the LS with an RX450H SE-L, and the difference is quite outstanding even for a 7 year old vehicle with 80K on it. It is down to horses for courses as I need something my partially disabled wife can drive, automatic. and a rear end that can hold her mobility scooter. When I am too old we can have a hoist fitted to load it. The worst part of this write-off is I got £900 for an S reg with 194K miles and she was only just run in. I was going to take her off the road in April and redo all the suspension etc. The fun and games trying to move my private plate to another vehicle as I need V5s to do this and doesn't help working away from the home office. Just like to thank every one for their help over the last 10 years of my LS400 ownership. I shall be in RX forums but will still look in here too. Chris

I have managed to ring a dealer and found that the width between wheel arches is 50 inches which is wide enough for the scooter. Front to back length of boot is about 43 inches. My wife has tried sitting in the drivers seat of a 300X and found no problems reaching the pedals , unlike my LS400, so based on that I presume the RX450H will be no different, other than the price difference in used car prices.

lly Malc When I spoke to the Hunt Master and told him a new bumper wing and lights he said Insurance job. Again working away from home makes life more difficult in the situations as don't have my V5 to hand and have a plate I want to transfer.

Insurance has stated they won't do that. Any way I am 330 miles away from my home so the logistics are difficult.

Due to my LS400 DHP being written off by insurance company as too expensive to repair, I am now looing at a used RX400H. As my wife have mobility issues and uses a scooter I need to now the dimensions of the boot, especially the narrowest distance between the wheel arches. I had to break down the scooter into it's designed parts to go in the LS but would prefer to keep it all together an install a hoist in the years to come. Could an RX400H owner measure this distance and let me know please. Also is it wider in RX450H ? as I may be able to push the budget little higher to a 450H Which model comes with the Wooden Steering wheel as standard as my LS had one and I loved it. Many thanks in anticipation. Chris .

Long and short of it all is that travelling back to work in the Newcastle area I hit a pack hound running loose on the A19. Insurance have now decided that it is uneconomical to repair as quote to fix was £2,600.00. So my pride and joy for over 10 years that I was soon to spend money on suspension and steering refresh has been written off. Not only that the company has cancelled my insurance so it can't be driven. Damage has not made it dangerous to drive , just a dented offside bumper, creased offside wing, broken headlight fitting but not glass or bulb, but lost the offside indicator. So thanks to someone else, dog owner, I am 330 miles away from home without a vehicle with a wife who is only partially mobile needing a mobility scooter to get her around long distances, shopping et So I have been forced to hire a vehicle so I can get to work to earn or pay a taxi fare of £15.00 each way to work. Luckily they have said I can pay to transfer my registration plates. So I am now on the lookout for an RX 400H as it is probably time I gave up being a boy racer in my LS400. An RX will be more practical than an LS as as I get older I could fit a hoist for my wife's scooter to lift it into the back. The LS was great for getting it in the boot as it comes apart for travelling. I am awaiting a call back from the Claims dept with an offer for my car, but heard nothing after a phone call last Thursday night at 20:45 - then he said he couldn't give me quote because he couldn't check my driving license with DVLA because they were closed for the night !! Said he would phone back following day but never did. Some customer service. I won't mention insurance company yet until everything is settled. Anyone know of an RX 400H available please let e know. Cheers Chris.

Had a problem with my Mk IV this morning, noise from front left of engine bay, so switched off a/c, and noise disappeared. Drove another 7 miles into clients car park and on final right hand 90 degree bend in access road, my power steering died and battery warning light came on. I managed to steer into a parking bay but reckon that the external drive belt providing power steering and alternator facility has snapped, as haven't had chance to check under the bonnet yet. Can anyone give me an idea of repair cost for installation of a new belt? Is it a roadside/car park job for the AA, of which I am a member or will it be a relay job to a garage ? Disappointing this has happended after nearly 190,000 miles and 18 years Thanks in anticipation.

I have Continental 245 45 R 17 95 Y on my DHP rims. This time the garage supplied me with a pair with stiffer side walls. They do look that bit different then the standard 16" rims. Mine are due a refurb when I have the time as my 98 is my daily driver at 189k miles.

You should have had an extra booklet with the owners manual for the extra functions for Sat Nav and Audio, well that is if the previous owner passed it on. I had all the docco from when my car was delivered including an introductory audio CD. With the radio on press the left audio round button and a display should come up with 3 upright bars Bass Middle and Treble I think they are called, Press the round button moves to the next bar and turning the button increases or decreases the effect and is shown by a red line on the bat which moves as you turn the button. Next is a cross of two bars for right to left balance and forward to read balance which works in the same way,

39buss Thanks for the offer - think a 460 SE-L is favourite at moment but still looking. Might take you up on garage though. Had some work done by Swingbridge garage in Gateshead last time so may use them again. Sorted my front speakers problem, it seems that the SAT NAV had switched off the audio to these speakers whilst it directed me over the weekend, but forgot to switch it back on. Set a destination this morning and she spoke fine through the front speakers, so cancelled the route and the audio came back. Tip there for any other Mk IV owners who might get the same problem. Saves stripping down the door card etc !!

Listed problems were advisories only - MOT passed ok. Not sure about air suspension myself, I used to have a Citroen BX - but that relied on fluid I believe not air, and I found that fine. Not sure what constitutes an OLD Codger, being just over 60 and still feel in my teens I wouldn't mind something with new toys , radar cruise , cooled seats and self parking . Sods law, just as I'm looking around at cars my old girl decides the front offside speakers should stop working.!!! must be jealousy or a warning. Hope its just a loose lead - maybe Muse at almost full volume has loosened something

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b) Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b) Nearside Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2) Offside Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2) Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2) Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2) Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2) Offside rear exhaust silencer damaged Fuel filter corroded Fuel lines at fuel filter corroded Is it really that bad ??? any one have any idea on costs to replace/repair the above ??

I have owned my Mk IV DHP for nearly 8 years now and it is approaching 182,000 miles. I enjoy this vehicle and is my daily driver and long distance cruiser when returning back to West Sussex from Newcastle while I am temporarily working near Sunderland for a motor manufacturer in one of their IT sections. I have been looking at moving up to a newer model and am not sure whether to look at 430 or the 460. My other alternative would be to spend a few thousand bringing my DHP to scratch by replacing the ball joints and suspension parts and refurbishing the wheels and getting the body work tidied up. This I would like to do as cost effectively as possible, so any recommendations of a garage in the Newcastle area would be appreciated. What are other members thoughts ? Use 3k to renew existing vehicle, splash out up to 7k on a 430, or up to 15k on a 460. What is likely to go wrong on the 460, I have looked at those available and one in particular seemed to have tyre wear problems with suspension parts replaced and wheel geometry setup performed. also a radiator was replaced. Does the 460 suffer with same problems as the 430 with air suspension and transmission cooling pipes to the radiator. Any thought on this are appreciated.

I think the answer is Put the key in the ignition and turn 2 clicks, wait five minutes (Don't open any doors - so probably sit there for the five minutes with the doors closed),then take the key out. I could be wrong though :hohoho:

I have just had my Mark IV back from having rear disks and pads fitted by an independent garage. The 20 mile drive back on Friday was sheer bliss after having the noisy exhaust repaired and the breaks overhauled all round I have today, Sunday, just driven 340 miles with an annoying clunk at low speeds coming from the rear offside. I have had a look and found that there appears to be a shim or spring missing from the outside pad that holds it in place and stops it from moving, at the top of the pad and fits into a notch in the caliper. This appears to have gone missing so that the pad is flopping up and down and clunking against the top and then bottom of the caliper. I checked the nearside and can see a spring/clip/shim on those shoes. The sound goes away when I lightly depress the brakes as this prevents the rear pads from moving. Can someone tell me the part number(s) for these parts so that I can order them and get them fitted when I return at the weekend. I am going to hate travelling with this noise until I can get it sorted. Any diagrams or pictures of these will also be appreciated.

Gateshead, know it well, spent two years living in the Baltic Quays overlooking the Baltic Mill and the Tyne, up until September last year. Know Washington too, stayed in Ye old Coppe Shoppe during the week for about 8 months in 2006. Both times whilst I worked on contract for Nissan. I really enjoy parking my Lexus in amongst all the Nissans - make it easier to find. Probably going back again in April so may see your GS300 around.

Not me, but know exactly where you mean, travelled through there many a time when working in Newcastle and visited my mum in Morecambe. Great journey that, A69 across to Carlisle on to M6 and off at Carnforth, the best bit of the M6. Journey is only spoilt by the traffic lights there at Carnforth seems to take ages to get through them. Carvery at the Carnforth Hotel is recommended, as is the food at the Cross Keys further down the A6 passed the Morecambe turn, towards Lancaster. Another good route from the A69 is to turn off and head through Alston and join the M6 at Penrith. Some lovely scenery that way and a smashing cafe at the top for coffee. I suppose being from Durham you'd use the A66.

I don't suppose you have the part numbers for the clips/screws/bolts that hold the under tray to the car for a Mark IV, mine seems a little loose and would like to get it tidied up. Also the ones that hold the front 'Mud Flap' to the inside well arch as one seems to be missing from that as well. My nearest Lexus garage is some miles away and would like to go with parts numbers in hand before setting off. Thanks.

DHP was an option on MK IV I understand.

DHP models normally have 17 inch rims , lowered suspension, and have wooden steering wheels and gear change knob.

Wasn't me, but if it was a DHP like my MK IV, then the suspension is lower than on standard model. Can tell if DHP if has 17" alloys, and has a wooden steering wheel. I don't like these speed humps where there are three lumps in the road. Most people go over the one on their side of the road. I got between the one on my side and the one in the middle, just going up a little on both of the bumps. Stops rubbing the under tray.

Well not quite popping it open, you have to remove a small screw under the fob near where the key part enters the fob. Don't loose it !!. Then you can to pry apart the fob , might be easier if you take it off a key ring if it is on one. Then the three button electronics module comes out. You then have to take the battery cover off - again watch out for those two small screws. The battery you require is CR1616 3v - it is shown on the rear of the electronics module and the correct way round to install it. Once done you should be able to check it works ok before putting back in key fob housing You'll need a small Phillips headed screwdriver. You shouldn't require to reprogram the key if you are quick enough, but try not handle the battery too much as it will drain it. Use plastic tweezers of rubber gloves. Sometimes best to dismantle objects with small screws etc inside a large plastic bag so if you drop anything or it falls apart , you'll keep all the bits in the bag. I've done mine a couple of times.

Is Sapphire a rare colour on a Mark IV ?? as that's the colour of mine, which looks similar to that in the picture. Is there any premium on having a DHP over the standard model?

Not all, but it seems much can be achieved but delving deeper, and especially finding a good local garage with a knowledge of Lexus. Fortunately we have one here in West Sussex (actually he's just over the border in East Sussex!) Can you provide details of the garage please, as I am returning to West Sussex after a couple of years in Newcastle and want some work doing on my MK4 that's just turned 16 years and with 168,000 miles on her.