steve haley

Odd you should say that because I was thinking the exact opposite in that not even the AA or emergency services bother with winter tyres. They are hard to get here and much misunderstood. Everyone thinks they are solely for snow but the reality is that the min the temp drops under 8deg C they actually work better than summer tyres in any conditions. Having used them for over 20 years for annual 6wk trips to the alps I have never had to resort to snow chains or felt that the car was in any way out of control and 15 yrs was on rear wheel drive cars. I now fit them in Nov and pull them in April (statistically you are more likely to get snow at easter than xmass). Every time I buy a new set I am amazed how each generation is better. Tried to show the wife how to handle snow and ice in the lift car park in Switzerland which was snow on ice and had to give up as I unless I went crazy It was like driving and stopping on tarmac. Given that most people will get through at least two sets of tyres in their ownership I think you have to be mad not to have two sets of tyres - all it costs is a set of scrap alloys off ebay for about £80. Ok you have to pay upfront for the second set of tyres but from then on its the same as the Winter set will take the wear from the sumer for 40% of the year and you keep the summer alloys in good nick. The best I could get last year were the Vreds - the dunlops were stupid prices. Are you implying that some insurance companies give better rates for winter tyres if so would love to know who.. rgds Stephen

Best way is to punch the codes quoted on ebay into the update site and see if they come up with the same part number - if they do you should be OK On the reverse topic was thinking of upgrading mine to 2010 - anyone know what a 2 year old full set(2008/2009) for the 5th gen (pz485-x03eu-08) is worth. This was the first one with on the move entry allowed for nav but not phone. Plenty on ebay but most appear to be the 3 non UK discs. rgds Stephen

Think that it is the same as the Iphone 3 but would get confirmation from whoever you are looking at.

I fitted my own to my rx350 and can definitely say that it it is in addition to the existing CD player. It comes with a harness and you unplug the plug from the back of the unit, plug the plug of the harness into the stereo and the old plug into a socket on the harness. This gives you two cd players one of which is the ipod. There are 4 units available that I am aware of 1) Lexus - expensive and lacking features (think it is basically a low end dennison) 2) Grom - basic and cheap 3) Vaistech - the only one that really does video 4) Dice - probably the best of the bunch feature wise There is also a dennison but know almost nothing about it. My understanding is that it is playlists only. If you do a search on here you will come up with pleanty of pointers on all 4. I fitted a vaistech but will probably replace it with a Dice as it is the only one that allows you to look at albums by artist. The others where applicable let you get all songs by an artist or a list of all albulms and as I have a 160gb that I basically use as a jukebox in the car it didnt work so I ended up just using the ipod itself to control it (manual mode) If you are confident enough it is a straightforward job to do oneself once you follow the instructions here (use double sided tape or similar to make sure you dont drop the screw) GRom:- http://www.carputer-shop.co.uk/ipod-iphone-kits-c-1/ipod-iphone-adapter-toyota-lexus-p-31 Dice http://www.dal-tec.com/index.php http://www.incaripod.com/Brand/DICE_Electronics/DICE_Electronics_iPod_Integration_Kit Vais http://www.cheaptoyotaparts.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=66&category_id=44&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26 http://www.vaistech.com/products/home.php Dension http://www.incaripod.com/Brand/Dension Other/various http://www.ipodcarkitdirect.co.uk/ How to install http://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-second-generation/227901-vaistech-sli-installation-instructions-w-pics-for-04-07-rx.html Before you buy read the manuals carefully and make sure you understand how you can select music on the ipod especially if you want to use the touch screen. I would only ever buy a model with manual control ie where you can use the normal ipod controls if need be - at least then if the interface is dire or problematic you can use the ipod. Also make sure it is compatible with your ipod model. I MAKE NO WARRANTY ON THE RETAILERS SITES LISTED HERE rgds Stephen

Had this happen to me by accident - then the software kicks in and relocks the the car if the drivers door isnt opened in x seconds and off goes the alarm

Never found all season any good on icy roads - personally would always find room somewhere for a set of winter tyres. Most people view them as snow tyres and dont realise they are actually better once the tempc <10c period. The only all season I know is winter certified is the Nokian WR but they arent as good as a dedicated set of winter pirelli/dunlops. ADAC do tests every year in various sizes http://www.adac.de/infotestrat/tests/reifen/default.aspx Most people I know in the alps drive 2wd with winter tyres so the 4wd is just a bonus if anything the weight is a disadvantage. rgds Stephen

I think it is the otherway arround in that the Cayenne is a Toureg blinged up As for competant maybe - reliable maybe no. My mate has had a lot of problems with his at 5yrs old 120k diesel With respect to the original question it all depends. 1) Yes the milage on the 400h is better but this is only really significant arround town - I get 24mpg on a mixed run from my 350 (Luton to London centre) but 28+ on a long run on motoway/dual carriageway at speed with no regard to economy. When I did the sums I reckoned that the petrol had already been largely discounted into the price as my 9mth old SEL was 6-9k cheaper than an equiv 400h. You get a tax break on the Road tax and London congestion with the 400h which makes it slightly cheaper if you are going to keep it a long time. My friend has an averrage of 28mpg on his 400h from mixed city/mw (50:50) but reckons it doesnt vary much and if anything city is better than long runs. 2) While the 400h suspension is stiffer and better than the normal 300/350 it is nowhere near as good as the air suspension on the sel 3) The 350h is faster and more responsive than the 400h which in turn is faster than the 300. If you use the the power on the 400h then the fuel consumption suffers badly 4) Sorry but I find CV gearboxes just strange and noiser than normal. (had a 400h for a weekend and reguarly driven/drive in a friends). 5) The 400h is not 4wd (engine drives the front and electric the rear - this makes a difference no matter what people say. You can feel the 400h trying to stem the front wheel tramp when you accelerate hard. To compensate Lexus have stiffened the 400h stearing (less feel and stiffer so a lose-lose in my book) 6) 400h's appear to have engine starter battery issues under certain scenarios. (My friend now keeps a jump start booster box in his boot). I was put off as my car often lies idle over witer months f0r 3-4wks at a time and the dealer suggested that I left it on charge. 7) The 350 will eat brake pads - it is heavy but they arent exactly expensive and nor are discs If economy is important and you either live in a town or do lots of short journeys then the 400h is probably the car for you otherwise I would say it simply comes down to personal preferance. Me - I went with a 6mth old 350 sel 18mths ago and have not regretted it at all. One of the best cars I have ever had. Goes up the 1:10 in switzerland better than anything I have owned/rented. With snow tyres on almost unstoppable in the white stuff and tows my 16mtr 900kg glider trailer like a dream. Quietish and lots of power when you need it up to and beyond uk speed limits. MPG on the 350 is somewat sensitive to petrol quality - I normally feed mine super unleaded from sainsbury (at a 2p premium) and reckon I get 5-10% better fuel consumption if on a run. The air suspension is wonderful but I pray they have ironed out the the problems that have plagued some of the older cars but it makes towing and long trips with full boots way easier. Either way both are great cars and doubt you would be disapointed with either. There are better 4x4 (x5, toureg, Disco) out there but they are way bigger and not as reliable and unless you are going to tow around very heavy things or are serious about off roading then the lexus is a better choice imho. If muddy tracks are your thing then both will work but the 350 is definately better. My friend cant tow the glider trailer over the grass airfield easily when wet while I have few problems. Having said that if you fit a set of Nokian All seasons then this would disappear. While the car can cope in very slippy winter conditions there really is no substitute for decent winter tyres and they only really cost the price of a spare set of rims. I used to run an xjs in the alps with winter tyres and never used chains and that was on a heavy rear wheel drive car with huge torque.

I bought a 6mth old 350 SEL for a song 18mths ago and have been very happy with it. Far nicer handling/steering and ride than the 400H IMHO. I had tested the 300 several years previously and the 350 is way more responsive with power to spare. I always felt that the 300 was slightly underpowered but have nevery felt that the 350 was lacking. Goes up a 10k 1:10 hill in Switzerland better than anything else I have ever had! I get arround 23-28 from it so the 8k diff on purchase price should cover the diff in mpg for a few years yet. Has a better Sat Nav screen as well. rgds Stephen

It is has been seviced by Lexus so I presume that the real thing was used.

Sorry meant to say RX350 - the hybrids will be very light onb pads due to the regenerative braking rgds Stephen

Has anyone else had experience of excessive front brake pad wear on a 350 or 300? I have just eaten 70% of my front pads in 10k they were changed at the last service at 15k again worn about 75%. I do tow a lage trailer about 1200miles a year (Mostly moterway) and it lives at the top of a steap hill in Switzerland for 1mth a year but none of my previous cars have ever eaten pads at this rate. rgds Stephen

Not quite what I have got but mine seems to want to go into high, but does not stay there. This could simply be a lack of understanding of how it works ( as I do not have an owners manual ), but does not seem right. The low setting seems to work fine and stays put. Any advice please gents and ladies ? Wont stay in high beyond about 15mph - very irratating if you want to drive up a track at a reasonable pace.. Yet more naneygate software...

try pressing the TA button

Sorry wasnt the towbar bits I was offering but the bits that are removed when you fit the towbar stephen

Probably not too bad - maybe 2-4hrs work depending on help knowledge etc BUT You will need a new bumper bar as the tow bar replaces the back bumper and also the foam inside the bumper will have been trimed/cut Have a look at the fitting instructions and you should get the idea.. http://techdoc.toyota-europe.com/aimupload...08-K2552-00.pdf If you leave near in London I may still have the bar and rear towing eye in my garage from when I fitted mine ALternatively you could just use a grinder to cut the existing towing ball bar itself off leaving the rest installed rgds Stephen

There are two issues here 1) Will the wheels physically fit 2) Is the Rolling radius close enough to the existing wheels The answer to one is try them and check they dont foul on full lock The answer to two is that the diff is 3.5% which is not great but not terminal your speedo will overread by this. I have had worse on a previous car with snow tyres that were deliberatly smaller to allow for chains rgds Stephen

Thanks for letting us know Sorry for the bum info all the information I had said they would fit but there you go. Lexus service depts were hopeless ta Stephen

I am not sure if this a fault with my 350 or an endemic problem with the software/hardware but when I have TA or is it TP turned on while listening to Radio 2 in or near London then periodically the radio will mute for 1-2 secs as though it is going to a traffic announcement (but with no bleep) then turns back to the original programming. Most of the time it works fine and happily retunes to LBC/Chilterns etc for traffic announcements. Not one of my previous radios did this so it is either a Lexus enhancement or a fault. What ever it is it is annoying and the service department's solution of turning off the EON isnt exactly helpful as that involves turning off the local Traffic reception. rgds Stephen

Let us know how you get on - now comitted to 18" route but still curious rgds Stephen

I think the answer is yes PCD & Bore are the same and Offset is close enough ie under 35. I beleive that the old RX is 24 for 16" and the new 35 for 18" - was going to use them for snow tires but I ended up chickening out as Lexus pointed out there were "not" approved and might invalidate the warranty if they rubbed etc But a cheap set and try them - about 30-50£ on ebay rgds Stephen

Not sure I am the best person as I bought mine 9mths old 9mths ago but 1) I would not put up with ANY warning lights on a newly purchased car - You should raise this immediately. 2) Never had an issue with mine that I can think of BUT it depends exactly how steep it is the RX is somewhat heavier and mine idles very slowly. Years of driving autos means that I habitually left foot brake anyway. 3) Mould is quite distinctive - if it is then I would get it traced and sorted - mould=rust in my experience. Look under the front mats for any damp. Lexus 2nd hand warranty states you have 30 days/1000 miles to part ex against another car if you are not happy but if you can show it does not meet the standards promised in the preperation and valeting section on the following link then I would suspect that you have a strong case for a refund if you claim to have relied on it and can show that they didnt do it. http://usedcars.lexus.co.uk/approved-preowned-benefits.aspx You should have been given a grey covered ring binder with all this in it along with all the inspection forms etc - if that is missing then you already have a strong case. On the plus side the lexus warrenty is second to none and RXs are normally very reliable. I would be very careful to get all this sorted one way or another before the 30 days/1000 miles are up rgds Stephen

The bit I read was in the actual manual (page 310/311). It says it automatically drops down a whole 7mm (!!) above 62mph for better stability. For high speed driving you have to remember to press the button for "LOW" which is 15mm lower than normal. Could just under half an inch be worth the bother? Alan. Must admit I lower it on the motorway and feel a definate increase in stability, Cant say I ever notice it changing @ 60mph rgds Stephen

This is the big differenece between theSilverline (Dice) and the vais in that you can select a group within a group. The vais you can select songs by albulm OR artist not both - not helpfull if like me you have large ammounts by single artists. The new version can also be controlled by the headunit or the ipod simultaneously. If you want to fit your self then the dice can be got for under £100 Fraid I found the vais to be lacking and will be ebaying mine shortly. rgds Stephen

Does anyone know of any 2nd hand 17" alloys for sale that will fit an 2008 RX- have to be in reasonable knick but not perfect. Looking for some alloys for winter tyres and would prefer 17" rgds Stephen

Hi I am looking for a set of scuff alloys for an RX for winter tyres - ideally 17" as the range of tyres is better. Would prefer these to be Lexus badged - does anyone know which model wheels will fit the RX? - Are they all the same width? Unfortunately these tend to just get advertised as is200 or GS etc on ebay. Last ? is where is best to source these from? rgds Stephen