Jakeuk

33 minutes ago, Herbie said:

Did you get it from a Lexus main dealership because if you did, that's not how I read it. Have a look here for the 30 day/1000 mile exchange policy:

https://www.lexus.co.uk/pre-owned/lexus-select/#benefits

You're right. And it was indeed a Lexus main dealer. Unfortunately they'll only exchange and they don't have anything in the LS range.

30 minutes ago, Herbie said:

Maybe I'm just weird eh?

Maybe i'm the weird one. 

28 minutes ago, Spottedlaurel said:

I don't have the paperwork with me to check, but I don't think it has to be faulty for an exchange...

...With nearly four times the mileage and all sorts of issues my aged LS is more hushed and refined.

I was reading up on the "short term right to reject". It does tend to suggest that it would need to be not fit for purpose. It would be pretty ****ty for me to try that. Also, as a friend of mine in the car business pointed out, the car now has one more owner and so it's value has changed. Also I traded in a 2007 LS460 for it. They were sending that to auction so that's presumably already gone.

And yes, my LS, with 114k on the clock was way more hushed and refined too. Then again, new it's nearly twice the price of an RX450. 

13 minutes ago, Spacewagon52 said:

I wonder if people read that the suspension is hard then they think it is? Herbie's experience of some very smooth cars and his two RX models, coupled with a bad back, seems to contradict this idea that the ride is harsh. I have never been in a 450h but was wondering how people, who have owned a RX400h and a RX 450h, compare the ride comfort?

I find both the RX 300 and RX 400h very comfortable - particularly on a rough dirt track. 

For me it was the case that the initial drive home on the M25 and M4 was very pleasant. The following day, driving it around locally, every pot hole and crack in the road was extremely evident. You've got two RX's and an LS. Surely you notice a big difference, no?

10 minutes ago, Phil xxkr said:

How can you get reassurance from elsewhere? 

I don't think there's actually anything wrong with the car.  There's dozens of forum posts about the harshness of the ride in RX models. It is what it is.  I'm going to take it in to my regular service centre next week to see if they can fit a security device on the cat. I'm sure they'll confirm that all is as Lexus intended.

I guess 25 years of driving LS's and SC's (Soarers) has made me very hard to please.

10 minutes ago, Spottedlaurel said:

That's a shame. Are you within the 30-day period where you can exchange it, even if they may not immediately have the right LS as an alternative?

I've literally had it 2 days. I didn't think that the 30 days applied unless the vehicle is faulty in some way.

I'm assured by the Lexus dealer I bought it from that the ride is as it should be.

I guess it's just not for me. Looks like I'm stuck with it, at the very least until the Registration document comes through.

Just now, Herbie said:

Don't forget you're comparing a luxury saloon with an SUV that has a different centre of gravity and will be very different in lots of ways. Having said that, neither my 3 nor 4RX has ever felt like a bouncy castle so maybe there's a problem somewhere?

Yes after 12+ years of driving LS4s I've clearly been spoiled. I had an idea that it might be a shock to the system. It's turned out to be exactly that. I've dropped the tyre pressures to 33psi (which is what they're supposed to be apparently). The Lexus dealership I bought it from had them above 35. I'm wondering how low I can go without all the warnings firing off. Not that I think it's going to help much anyway.

Looks like I'll just have keep an eye out for an LS600h. Which is what I really wanted anyway.

I've just traded in an LS460 for an RX450h. It's like driving around in a bouncy castle. Is there anything that can be done to soften the suspension?

It's the Luxury model. I guess in hindsight the Advance might have been a better choice as that has air suspension I understand. Or is that just as bumpy?

4 hours ago, Tulpen said:

This happened to me a few years ago, here is my post on the topic:

On the US forum there are many entries about steering rack problems. What happens is that the steering wheel, for no reason, takes up a 45 degrees left or right position with the front wheels straight ahead. Running diagnostic check gives an error code which requires a steering rack change. 

I had this happen to me and took it to my local Lexus dealer. I told him about the US forum and he just laughed. He was adamant that the problem was NOT the rack. They ran a full diagnostic and, sure enough, got a code which recommended a steering rack change. He still didn't believe it and told his guys to run a full program check on the various systems. They found a corrupt script in the Auto-Parking module. A quick re-boot and all was well. That was 5 years ago and I've had no problems since. 

Interestingly, he told me that, after a rack change, they would have to do the same re-boot as part of the schedule. Makes you wonder how many racks (at around $5000) have been changed for a computer glitch. The fix cost me about 130 euro.

 

Hi George. I saw your story elsewhere after I posted this. My service people don't have Techstream, so I guess I'll need to find a Lexus dealer that are prepared to do more than just tell me I need a new steering rack. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Thanks also to Mark, for your input as well. 

My LS460 has the VGRS steering warning on the dash. It previously had another warning related to the VSC, but my service people (not Lexus) managed to clear that fault by doing a wheel alignment and resetting/clearing some codes. After which the steering wheel (which was quite a few notches off centre) corrected itself. Or least almost corrected itself. It's quite literally about one notch off dead centre now.

Lexus say that the fault is related to either the Steering ECU, the column or the entire rack, and are quoting silly money. The fault I understand is actually related to the steering ECU and I think it was actually a recall in the USA. It comes about only on the 1st Gen LS460s and happens if you switch locks too fast while parking.

I'm taking it back to the service centre this week and they're going to try another alignment to see if they can get it cleared completely.

I thought I'd ask here though to see if anyone else has had the problem and managed to cure it. I should add that apart from the warning and the fact that the wheel is the tiniest bit off centre the car is perfectly fine.

There's now an aftermarket RX400 replacement available for £540:

https://www.cats2u.co.uk/lexus/35550-lexus-rx400h-33-catalytic-converter-03-05-12-08-bm92690h.html

Mine has a Disc button, which when pressed comes up with DVD Changer & "No Disc". But pressing mode just Scrolls through FM, AM,etc.

2007

I have just bought an LS460 and would like to use the auxiliary inputs located in the centre console to play music from my android tablet. However the remote control for the car is missing and according to the owners manual it would seem to be required to select audio. Can anybody confirm, or better still tell me how I can select the aux input without a remote?

Try http://www.247spares.co.uk/

Thanks Steve. Tried 247spares. No luck. Probably not helped by the fact that they refuse to list the LS430. When I put my reg in they bring it up as an IS200 and even if I manually try to enter it they don't have an option for an LS430, just an LS400.

I'm after a second hand aircon compressor and clutch for a 2001 LS430. I presume that they were the same no matter what year (although if I'm wrong please feel free to correct me), and if so obviously the later and lower the mileage the better.

I also have a Smartnav Touchscreen (in addition to the OEM sat nav) and that shows the speedo speed is at about 75 at a true GPS 70MPH.

This just means that your speedo is more accurate but worth giving extra caution when approaching the "safety partnership vans" (scammers) in 30 zones.

I'll be very interested to know how you get on over time, especially from a ride / handling / noise combination. As it stands, I have plenty of tread but have no intention of spending £800 for a set of new shoes - if I still have it then!

I'll keep you posted. Although I don't anticipate any problems. They are after all P Zeros at the end of the day. As I said previously, ride and noise are a great improvement. As for handling, I don't really throw it around. Our other car is a Soarer, which is a far better option for cornering and stuff like that. If it was handling I was after I wouldn't have gone for an LS400.

The only minus I can see so far is that the Neros are not as chunky from a cosmetic point of view as you can see below, but I'm more into comfort than looks.

I'll also double check the speed thing with my TomTom. Although I don't regard it as being particularly accurate for speed readings. Great for finding speed cameras though!

I'm sure you'll agree that the OEM satnav is about as much use as a chocolate teapot.

I've got a 98 LS400 with the dynamic handling pack and have finally given up trying to get the official 245/50/17 Pirelli tyres for it.

I've just gone for a set of 5 Pirelli P Zero Nero 235/55/17's instead. Comes to around £400 for a full set including the spare (as opposed to £1200 for the Asimmetricos, IF you can get them).

The result is noticeably less road noise (10mm less tyre obviously). Softer ride as there's a little more profile, and £800 pounds more in the bank. Possibly a little more as I have three of the old tyres with about 5mm of tread left that are going on eBay tomorrow.

The profile change has a negligible affect on the speedo calibration according to this calculator. Apparently when the speedo reads 70 I'll actually be doing 71.39mph. I can live with that.