Ozymandias

My 2006 120k miles RX400H has an air con leak at the junction of the pipe at the front lower right on the condenser. 

The condenser had been replaced due to a stone damage leak.

My air con specialist tells me that I need a new pipe (88710-48181). The cost for the part is £466 at my local Lexus dealership or £300 online + fitting.

I'm searching out a cheaper alternative!

Is it possible to reweld/seal the pipe flange?

Any thoughts would be gratefully received.

Mine was £295 at Lexus Birmingham. Sadly those sweet, sweet days of Essential Servicing have passed away.

I replaced mine with a Duracell DA45 from Eurocarparts for about £60 (rx400h 2007). The 5 year warranty was the deciding factor for me.

My research turned up that the sensor unit is a Dorman 924-755 typically about  £50 from the UK. However I did find some on Alibaba as cheap as $2 so some caution would be needed to try to ensure the unit is of reasonable quality. 
 

Driving home earlier this week I noticed the AFS light was flashing on the dashboard of my 2007 RX400h.
A little googling LED me to suspect the linkage on the height sensor behind the rear right wheel.
Sure enought the lower ball joint on the linkage had seized and the linkage had snapped in the middle.

The linkage alone is not available from Lexus and the local Lexus dealer quoted over £400 to supply and fit the sensor, arm, and linkage (89407-48030) as a unit. 

Toyota however do supply an identical linkage (48906-35020) for about £80 from a dealer or £40 from eBay.

Still pricey I know but I didn't fancy fabricating a linkage using Rapid Electronics Modelcraft Swivel head Ball Joints and the ball joints are sealed and the link is easily adjustable with the Toyota part. Two nuts to remove and replace and all is well.

Hope it helps someone in the future if you are looking for an equivalent replacement for the link.

I use one of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/USB-AUX-MP3-Adaptor-TOYOTA/dp/B00DJ3DYXA/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1483641513

as I've not have much luck with the FM transmitter route.

The car will be out of any warranty (10yrs/100k) so from that point it's not worth doing but is it worth doing from a maintenance/prevention of problems point of view?

I also have a timing belt replacement booked in for the 100k service, by the above warranty argument is that worth doing?  

Does anyone know if the inverter coolant is totally replaced as part of the rx400h inverter recall work?

My rx400h is coming up to 100k but the inverter recall was done at 80k some 3 years ago.

It seems a waste of money to get the inverter coolant replaced at 100k if it has been replaced as part of the recall. 

£59 at Lexus Birmingham and Leeds

I'm using a Yatour YT-06. It plugs into the back of the standard head unit and emulates a CD player. I can play audio from the SD card slot in the YT-06 or from any device (I have a personal DAB) using the line in function. I believe Yatour have a Bluetooth enabled version as well. 

The  unit cost me about £50 and took me about an hour to fit :)

Lexus will do the timing belt on an RX300 or RX400 for £295 under their Essential Care scheme for cars older than 5 years from new.

I think the latest Navigation disc is E1C 2015-2016 ver 2 - part number PZ445-X03EU-0J

An Essential Care major service at Lexus would be £399 (+ the pads/discs) saving you £200 :).

hello there according to lexus birmingham where i get mine serviced, the major service is £349 and a minor is £179 which is the same as last year.

Yes I just signed up to Lexus Birmingham based at those prices :) but some dealers (e.g. Coventry Lexus) seem now to be using the revised 2015 prices.

I was considering the the Essential Care Servicing package for my 400h. Looking at the Lexus web site the prices seem to have been raised considerably over the 2014 prices:

2014

Minor £179

Major £349

2015

Minor £199

Major £399

Thats over an 11% increase for a Minor service and over a 14% increase for a Major service from 2014 to 2015.

It seems a little excessive to say the least.

When I had mine done by my Lexus dealer, they took 2 days. They put them in an oven to bake for a day so the finish is much more hardwearing than just painting.

I must admit I am leaning towards the 3 day service of the Prestige Wheel Centre in the hope that the extra days days will mean a better job.

I know from membership of another community that some members have used City Powder Coatings in Birmingham at £20/£25 each wheel with generally satisfactory results.

Never used them myself but just one to add to your list (assuming they are still operational).

Yes I looked at City Powder Coatings - the reviews seem a bit mixed but the price is good. Their website is down at the moment and they only seem to offer to refurbish alloys with no tyres and off the vehicle. I must be getting old as it all seems too much effort :)

Just privately purchased a 400h and loving it but the alloys have the usual blight - blistering and lifting.

I'm based in Birmingham, West Midlands, UK and am looking for recommendations/experiences of good alloy restorers around here.

So far I've found (four alloys, drive in, strip, coat, balance and refit):

The Wheel Specialist - same day service £265

Midlands Alloy Wheel Refurb - same day service £180

Prestige Wheel Centre - 3 day service £216

Why does one company need three days?

Anyone have experience of the above or a better recommendation?

Thanks for any input.

This is the first time I've ever needed to do this as my old Saab has alloys that have lasted 15 years without any issues!!