Prince Bob

On 5/6/2024 at 12:22 PM, L3xu5 Mum said:

A warning ⚠️ came up on my dash yesterday on my 15 year old RX450h.

 

check hybrid system 

 

Any ideas how to deal with this please? Car seems to be running fine 🤞🏼
 

Any wise words much appreciated - thanks 

I had the same issue on mine years ago, a new 12V Battery, and all was good

On 2/9/2023 at 2:15 PM, Flashback32 said:

I was contemplating the RX450h. It ticks a lot of boxes for me.

Is there an equipment list and specifications somewhere?. There is a link from this forum to a PDF file, but that link is broken. It would have been useful to me as a potential buyer.

Is a 2010 model adequate?  or should I pay a little more to get a newer model due to improvement in equipment levels or facelifts etc....

Should I be looking for out a specific variant?

I saw some RX450h come with sun roof and others models came with roof rails..... I note some come with a Mark Levinson audio. I do like my music. DAB radio is on my wishlist. I like the idea of a smooth comfortable car.

Is Lexus service history important? Some seem to come with it and others not.

I am also worried about buying a clocked car. Are there any tell tale signs on the Lexus or its true mileage?

 

 

Flashback I've attached a brochure with specs which you may find useful.

I think the general consensus is to avoid air suspension as it can potentially be expensive to put right, other than that just the usual pre owned car checks

RX-450h-(9Mar10)_tcm-3066-452072 (2).pdf

2 hours ago, Sundance said:

I've discovered something interesting about my recently purchased RX400h in that it has three Summer tyres (Avon ZX7) and one All-Season tyre (Avon AS7) fitted. I've not yet investigated what lies under as the fifth tyre.

Historically, with previous cars, I've not been keen on Avons as I think they're of softer rubber whereas I've looked more favourably on Goodyears as I believe them to be of harder rubber and consequently last longer. But now I'm faced with a predicament.

Firstly, all 4x tyres have good tread so actually there is no reason why I should change them immediately.

Secondly, whilst I don't think it's illegal to have an All-Season and a Summer tyre on the same axle I'm not entirely sure whether it's actually sensible although to date I've not noticed any problems.

Thirdly, I'm likely to remain a softy Southerner and down here we rarely have any snow so, as and when I do decide to change, is it really necessary to even consider All-Season tyres?  If I do, my initial research has uncovered the Bridgestone "Weather Control A005 EVO" as a favourite all-rounder circa £147 per corner (Blackcircles).

I had a similar predicament. Front tyres needed replacing, do I replace all 4 tyres with all seasons, or do I just fit some summer tyres on the front?

I believe the Bridgestone duelers I had were the oem tyre but I wasn't impressed with the wet weather performance so went for the Goodyear Efficientgrip SUV summer tyre. The professional and owner reviewed seemed good (maybe sponsored?)

The tyre is much improved in the wet, able to apply full power without torque steer and the traction/stability killing the progress and no more crabbing either. 

I do live in the South though so we don't get much snow and I don't rely on the car to get work so summer seems ideal, my be different if I lived up north where there is real snow. The average temp in the UK last year was 13c and summer tyres work best in temps above 7c

3 minutes ago, Sundance said:

As I implied earlier Robert, I consider £630pa road tax a complete rip-off so the 450 is not for me.

I have a feeling that parking sensors are included as part of the 400h pack and that air suspension was a not overly popular feature of the 300 (or was it the 350?) and not the 400h.

I'm sure others more expert than me will correct me if I'm in error.

Road tax is not £630 on a 450 its about £170, emissions are are only 148g km. I agree £630 is a rip off and I certainly would not have purchased a 450 if road tax/ved was that high.

The 350 is £630 due to age of car and high emissions (264g km). 

The 300 is £360, (288g km). 300 was a lovely car but found it slow & thirsty (20ish mpg)

Air suspension not avaliable on the 400h, standard on SEL trims on 300/350. Parking sensors were dealer option.

19 hours ago, Sundance said:

I'm a current owner of a very low mileage well kept & maintained '06 IS250 SE-L having jumped ship from Jaguar just over 2yrs ago.

I'm sold on Lexus but I'm not a small guy plus not getting any younger so am finding the low entry and B pillar increasingly tricky to negotiate.

I've been looking around and beginning to really fancy a sub-100k '07/'08 RX400h on a £7,500 budget.

Have researched and there seem quite a few that suffer from sub-frame and structural corrosion (no thanks!).  I'm also looking out for sunroof leak issues, ensuring cambelt & water pump change if more than 60k with regular servicing a gimme.

What else can trip me up? Drawbacks? Air suspension (not sure if this is relevant on the 400)? And what is this 'B' gear all about?

Any guidance from you lovely RX owners out there would be gratefully received and thoroughly digested. 🙂

If I were you I'd be considering a 450, you'll appreciate the double pane glass, keyless entry/start, parking sensors, auto fold mirrors over a 400. No cambelt changes to worry about either. You will lose out on a tape deck though! Nothing rides like a Jag  so expect a firmer ride than you are used to in the RX...

Haven't heard of any issues with the hybrid Battery, however the 12v Battery is not cheap.

Some models do come with air suspension which isn't cheap to fix, however  issues do seen rare. 

On 11/17/2022 at 2:44 PM, eleveneleven said:

Hey all.

Apologies if this has been covered before just wondering what the mpg is on the 2nd gen GS300's 

Currently drive an IS250 and seriously considering a 300, driving is a mixture of short 1  to 3 mile trips with a some longer 30+ mile motorway runs twice or 3 times a week. 

I know its going to cost more overall to run just wondering how much more. if I have some rough mpg figures maybe I could justify it with some man maths 😄 

Thanks in advance.  

I used to get around 20 in town, and up to 38 on motorway. Making progress on motorway 32. Regularly did over 450 miles to a tank

On 11/24/2022 at 6:12 PM, KyleP said:

Hi all, I'm seeking some guidance and help with some issues I've had with my GS450h over the last few days before I lose my mind.

 

Tuesday this week, I had the rear windows tinted darker. No issues with this, except when I've gone back out in the evening, the rear window was fogging up. I assumed this was the moisture from the window tinting, to get the film in place.

Wednesday, after driving for about 5 minutes, "Check Hybrid System" comes on. There doesn't seem to be any change in the way the car is driving, but I pull over for a few minutes, let it reset, and start again. It comes back on, but I'm late for a job so I carry on. Only notable thing is that the info display isn't showing anything, although battery seems to be going up and down still. I get to my job, car sits outside for a few hours, then I get back in it and start it. Still check hybrid, but the info display is working. In an attempt to get rid of any moisture in the car, I whack up the heaters for my drive home. 

Wednesday evening, I go down and unplug the battery in an attempt to reset any codes and see what happens. this does nothing, and in fact lights up a check engine light, so I give up for the day.

Today, I get picked up for work, so the car has sat there not doing anything for 14+ hours. When I get back from work, I try my luck, turn it on. Everything is fine, no warnings on the dash, info screen working fine. I take it up the road and it sounds like the exhaust is blowing, it's pretty loud. I managed to borrow a cheap OBD2 reader off a mate, using Torque Pro, it gives the fault code P3191. I've searched that on this forum, but it's sending me down even more of a rabbit hole.

 

Has ANYONE every had this happen? Any similarities? Should I consider moving the car on? My biggest concern is I'm driving to Bruges end of December, the last thing I want is a unreliable car. 

 

I had a similar 'check hybrid system' on an Rx450h. New 12v Battery problem solved, no issues 2 years later

On 11/27/2022 at 6:15 PM, Tim Whe said:

I'm thinking of buying a GS300 SE - 2005 Model with 54,000 on the clock.

Does anyone have any pointers for me on items that I should check. I.e evidence of potential faults.

Things that I should look for, listen to or even test out.

Thanks in advance.

Look for corrosion on leading edge of bonnet. Many years ago when I was looking many had an issue. Check alloys for corrosion  as well. Check 'Y' section on exhaust this is where they typically start to blow. Make sure TPMS is working. That's about it. The 2005 model you are looking at will fall into the 'cheap' tax bracket. 

SE has plenty of toys for the year, heated/vented electric seats, blinds, etc make sure they all work. Mirror fold switch is hidden in panel where your right knee will rest (took me a while to find it)

Great on fuel for 3.0, 38 mpg on motorway, will be 20ish around town and short runs. Boot on 450h is tiny, if you don't care about fuel get a 430 or 460 (if you can find one)

Good luck

21 hours ago, Joebloggs90 said:

Hey all - I joined the Lexus club - purchasing a beautiful black RX450 from 2011 with cream interior and pano roof! I have some initial thoughts and questions please. If you know any answers please just answer what you can. Thank you very much!

1. The leather seats have got really worn out and cracked everywhere leaving long black scar like lines. It looks like this is an issue many lexus owner have faced. Is there anything I can do to try fix this (Without changing the leather) 

2. I've been really struggling to pair my phone so I cna make calls. When I go to pair it, it says "disconnecting you from audio bluetooth". So it seems there are two different bluetooths one for listening to audio like spotify another for phone connections. Is that right?

3. Does the UK sat-nav allow you to put full post codes in? For example I can go SW19 5 but then cannot get the final two letters for specific address. The satnav tech is pretty lame and I doubt I will use it much as it is so unintuitive but I guess it is an 11 year old car!

4. The car came with a large panoramic roof. I was surprised when the dealer told me it doesnt actually open, its just a fixed close pano roof for letting light in. I thought it would be able to open!

5. I am also a bit surprised the car does not have quick touch indicators. Need to get used to this (pressing them all the way down and up)

6. Although the car drives pretty smooth I did have to unhook and take the parcel shelf off and stow it away as it caused so much rattling in the vehicle it was crazy. Wondered if this was just maybe a loose bolt or they are always that noisy on bumpy roads. Seems strange for a luxury car to make so much rickety noise on unsmooth roads.

I had a similar rattle, it was actually the rear seat. Fold the seats, unfold them and make sure they are secured. The rear seats slide and recline and if they aren't locked in place properly you will get an irritating rattle.

15 hours ago, b4u2 said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325426859340?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3Dcd94df720e78493880ba568432793227%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D325426859340%26itm%3D325426859340%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3Adc63b820-686d-11ed-9f9b-1a5dd29085a7|parentrq%3A928764e31840a45f0dab6fe7fffb9de0|iid%3A1

Hi, I am thinking about this and wanted your thoughts and opinion.

We have no car currently and really need to buy something.

Is it expensive to run compared to average car because of 3.5l v6 engine?

Looks to be very good value. 

Fuel wise low 30s overall, which for a vehicle of the size and weight is really very good, expect less in cold weather. A 300 bhp 2.5 tonne truck will never be great on fuel though, but depends what you are used to. I get better fuel economy in town rather than motorway

The seller mentions electric tailgate doesn't work, there is a switch in the glove box, maybe seller accidently knocked it and doesn't realise? Not the end of the world if it doesn't work and could be used to knock money off, although there are soo many for sale might as well get one with everything working.

6 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

I can give my thoughts on most of them, as fitted to a 2014 model.

I had the Michelins at the front for just under 25-30,000 miles, and a pair of dealer-fit Dunlops at the rear. I had always intended to get matching ones at the back but they just didn't wear out. Despite there being a fair bit of tread on the Dunlops I eventually went for a full set of Continental All Season Contacts earlier this year. The price was comparable, about £700 including front tracking at a local tyre place, and Michelins weren't easily available at that time.

The Michelins were fine in everyday use, and as I say I got 25-30k out of them on the front, not bad for such a heavy old thing doing lots of miles on country roads. I had a couple of puncture repairs in them, fortunately both times far enough in from the sidewall.

I can't say whether it was them or the older rears that caused it, but just before the full tyre change this year it was getting noisy. Changing to brand new Continentals all round made it noticeably quieter, and the ride felt a bit more supple too. Difficult to say whether that was new vs. aged/worn, or the quality of the tyres.

All I can say is the Continentals are doing a great job, whether it was driving around France this summer in 35-40deg temperatures or on wet, cold roads here. Too early to say how they're wearing* or how they'll be in terms of noise/ride, but I'd happily buy them again. *Just looked at my last service record, the front were +/- 6.5mm average, and the rears +/-7mm, after something like 6-8,000 miles.

Looks like the Sport Contact 5s are a summer tyre, so not strictly comparable with the Michelin.

Sorry, I'm wittering away. My personal recommendation, if you can afford it, would be to ditch the Bridgestones as they'll never wear out on the back and fit either the Michelin or Continental all seasons at all four corners.

Don't know if you'll use a local depot or someone online, but for comparison Black Circles are currently giving 10% off Continentals so they'd be just over £580 for four, or £40 off a full set of Michelins making a full set £750-800 depending which of the three versions are chosen. I can't see that the Michelins are circa £200 better....

 

N.B, I did it for 30,000 miles and had no issues, but it's not recommended to mix different season tyres front and rear, I don't know if your current Duellers are all seasons - if you want to keep them that may be a consideration?

Many thanks for a detailed response.

The rears are down to about 6mm, so can't really justify getting rid of those which is a shame. I'll probably be 6ft under by the time they wear out!

The Bridgestones are fine, but are only rated 'C' for wet weather performance, although I don't know if this is an internal rating, or compared to other competitors. 

I had my car serviced, all was good apart from the tyres which will be due for replacement soonish.

Currently running Bridgestone Duelers 235/55 R19 all round. These are fine, apart from some mild torque steer. The rears have plenty of life so only need 2 front tyres.

Cross climates seem to be popular, any other recommendations? The Continental Sport Contact 5 and Dunlop Sport Maxx RT, appear to have good reviews, can anybody here provide any feedback on these tyres?

Thanks in Advance 

On 9/11/2022 at 3:54 PM, jose1962 said:

I have a same situation as Darius. Triple beam lights. The grey round plastic cover, once removed is to replace the Halogen 9005 bulb. This bulb is used in the most inside portion of the headlamp. This is for the daytime running lights and highbeam.

I cannot find where to replace the DS4 bulbs. There is no other opening.

 

The LExus diagrams are for the non triple beam lights where behind the grey plastic cover is the  DS4.

Any thoughts?

 

If you have the triple beam headlights, these are LED (SEL/Premier). The DS4 refers to the Xenon bulbs (SE-L). 

5 minutes ago, jay.pxl said:

My IS hasn’t started giving off a damp smell when I initially turn on the ignition with the air-con on. The smell disappears after 10 secs.

Is there any preventative tips or just needs regular top up the cleaner? - posted in the thread.

I used the cleaner about 2 years ago and  changed the pollen filter, no issues since then

On 7/20/2022 at 6:47 PM, oldieish said:

Apologies if this an already well trodden path. I couldn't find anything using a general search.

Other than the seats, sound system, sun-roof and air suspension (sounds a bit like what have the Romans done for us . . .) are there any other differences between an RX 450h SE-L and SE-I ?

I'm not bothered about the sun-roof nor the suspension but I do prefer the SE-L seats (also those in the RX 400h). Is it possible swap the seats between different/later versions/models? Also is the Mark Levinson unit retro-swapable to any benefit? Or is the standard set-up generally sufficient?

The SE-L gains the following over the SE-I:

LED headlights

Mark Levinson audio

Extendable under thigh support on the seats.

Heads up display

Ventilated seats

Illuminated scuff plates

Camera on passenger side mirror, I believe Lexus call this 'side monitor'

Air suspension.

As for for switching seats and audio, with enough money and time anything is possible. Whether it's financially worth it is another question.

I have attached a PDF that highlights the changes in more detail, you may find this useful.

RX-450h-(9Mar10)_tcm-3066-452072 (1).pdf

Great job, that looks to be a great piece of kit! How long did the unit take to install?

On 4/14/2022 at 10:35 AM, SCC said:

Morning.

I'm looking for a little advice here.

I am thinking of buying an RX450H, I've not got a particular car in mind but it will be around 2011 or about £15000. I am wheelchair bound now so I will be having hand controls fitted to it so I will be limited when it comes to general maintenance, but I will try and do little bits myself. 

I won't be using the car as our daily driver as my wife does most of our driving now, but I will use it maybe once a week for about 20 or 30 miles.

But can you tell me the kind of problems I should expect, are there any common or recurring problems with these cars? 

How many batteries do they have and how long can I expect them to last?

What does it mean if the seller says there has been a hybrid check/service?

Do they suffer from rust in any specific places?

Any advice really.

Many thanks, Mick,

Hello Mick 

See link to save you having to use the search function as the question has been asked a few times.

The cars are very reliable, the most reliable luxury car you can purchase according to carwow & warranty direct.

With any preowned car a lot of the long term reliability is down to how well the previous owners have looked after the car, but Lexus seem be more dependable than most.

I'm a low mileage driver, (5k ish per year). I did purchase a new 12v Battery not long after purchase. However the car was on  the original Battery, I think 10 years is very good going! The Battery didn't actually die,I had an hybrid message on dash and new Battery solved issue. Tend to find cars these days when voltage is low you get error messages before the Battery dies.

The hybrid batteries aren't known to fail, there are some independents that can refurb though. As part of the service at the main dealer a hybrid Battery check is carried out and gives a 1 year warranty.

On this age of car though I believe you are better off putting money aside for general maintenance, rather than purchasing a 3rd party warranty. Most independent dealers will provide a 1 year warranty then you are on you own and you never know how good the warranty is until you have to make a claim!

Good luck

I have a full cream interior and a child. I just bought some black mats, the carpet style ones not rubber. The genuine Lexus mats cover the floor really well

11 hours ago, Cypry 1 said:

I wonder if anybody can let me know if the fuel consumption on my Series 3 RX450H is about 2 to 3 mpg worse in this cold weather.

Is this a general trait at this time of year ?

I wish my winter consumption was only 2 to 3 mpg worse! I'm seeing a drop of about 20% on short journeys, but it's to expected, batteries don't like cold weather and the car uses the engine alot more, a 3.5 V6 has to get energy from somewhere. Just grateful I don't have a full EV. 

On 12/13/2021 at 6:59 PM, Mikethack said:

Hi,

I'm trying to escape diesel DPF issues and so the petrol hybrid RX has made my shortlist of possible options. My budget isn't unlimited so I'm probably looking at an early 450h with well over 100k miles or a late 400h with more reasonable sub 100k mileage.

My instinct would be to aim for a newer model (ie. 450h) if possible as they has lower running costs and I'm assuming other under-the-skin improvements over the 400h but will the high mileages be an issue?

So my question is whether there are known issues to look out for (in either model) in these older and/or high mileage cars? I've seen a thread about the tailgate closers being an issue for some, so something to try out on the forecourt! How is all the hybrid and battery technology lasting? Have any failures started to appear? I'd hate to run away from the costs associated with DPF failures/replacements just to be landed with astronomical hybrid repairs.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks.

If I were you I'd be looking at a 450, you'll appreciate the double pane glass, keyless entry/start, parking sensors, auto fold mirrors over a 400. No cambelt changes to worry about either.

The warranty on the hybrid Battery is now 15 years provided you get the checked over once a year at Lexus or 10000 miles whichever is first. Haven't heard of any issues with rhe hybrid Battery, however the 12v Battery is not cheap. Not had any issues with the tailgate, just the annoying beep when activated and it's not the quickest in the world to open or close.

Some models do come with air suspension which isn't cheap to fix, however  issues do seen rare. The RX450h was recently rated the most reliable car you can purchase according to carwow and warranty direct.

Like all pre owned cars you may have wear and tear issues like suspension bushes, tyres, brakes etc but you can't really go wrong with a Lexus. Just look for full service history and a good overall condition of the car 

On 9/7/2021 at 9:53 PM, Forey said:

Hello, it’s my first time posting, but I’ve been reading the forum a lot recently and I'm chuffed.

I am going to buy my first car, which must be reliable (hence Lexus), fairly cheap so second hand, quiet, low maintenance, and preferably an SUV to spare my wife from having nauseas.

My eyes are focused on the RX 300 from 2003 and 2005. From 90K to 105K miles. 4K GBP max.

 

I’m currently wondering if I should get an SE or an SE-L.

• We are music heads. So the Mark Levinson system sounds attractive. But does it do that much of a difference? The fact the car is quiet is already a huge asset.
• How easy and costly is it to upgrade the default pioneer sound system, by adding a sub woofer or replacing it fully?
• The air suspensions of the SE-L: is there a substantial risk of failure and are they more expensive to repair than the spring ones?

 

Any other differences I should be aware of between both versions?

Also, I'd be keen to know whether the SE comes with the wooden steering wheel or if it's exclusive to the SE-L?

 

Best
Forey

The RX300  is a lovely motor, however any car that is 17+ years old has potential for issues no matter what the brand. 

I owned an RX300 and whilst reliable, the car is very thirsty, expect no more than 280 miles from a 72 litre fuel tank. The car is heavy and doesn't have huge torque, so you really need to put your foot down to get a move on.

The cambelt is due every 90k or 10 years which ever comes first. Tyres are 18 inch from memory,good brands aren't cheap, it's a heavy car so watch out for worn suspension bushes and worn pads/discs. For a first car I just don't think it's worth the potential hassle and may sour your experience of the Lexus brand.

I purchased an SE as I didn't want/need the complication of air suspension. Standard audio was fine but I'm not an a stereo guy. The car isn't that quiet by modern standards....

If the wife insists on an suv for a first and you want reliability I would suggest a Toyota RAV4. Your budget would get you into a 2008/2009 or an older model with much lower mileage. You still get the dependability and reliability and you can always upgrade at a later date.

16 hours ago, Vlady said:

Hi Robert, yes, for my model (GS450h Premium) the front discs are pretty expensive and the problem is they are not the best quality, in my opinion, even if they are a Lexus supplied. 

I couldn't find in UK any aftermarket discs and pads, I guess in USA there would be someone selling aftermarket parts.

This is from Lexus online shop:

And the Lexus Glasgow dealer wants even more money for it, I do not remember exactly but something around £600-650 for the same set. When I asked them if they can match the price to online shop they refused to match it or even drop a few pounds off.

Rear discs I had no issues finding, I had then from Dingbro for about £130-£140 which is still cheaper than Lexus online shop.

https://www.lexus.co.uk/owners/servicing-and-maintenance/lexus-essential-care/#nextsteps

The pads & discs for the GS450h are also £325 all in pads/discs labour. When you speak of not good quality, do you mean braking performance, or feel through the pedal?

On 8/19/2021 at 3:57 PM, Vlady said:

£430 for my front discs and pads from Lexus Parts Direct! Discs I have now were already skimmed as they had plenty material at that time, now I need to go for a new set, if I decide to change them. The car is still not being used full time so little vibration (occasionally) doesn't bother me.

Can't believe how much cheaper discs and pads for GS300h, more than half a price, I think you can get them for like £160-170!

£430 seems alot for front pads and discs. 

https://www.lexus.co.uk/owners/servicing-and-maintenance/lexus-essential-care/#nextsteps

Main dealer charges £325 for pads, discs, labour, rears  are £295.

Quite a few independents were unable to source rear discs, looking on ecp they are currently unavailable.

My local garage charged me £528 all in pads/discs/labour/vat front & rear

9 hours ago, b4u2 said:

It's lovely car and not sure why you think or ask if I am regretting buying it but I didn't actually realise properly how expensive and costly it will be to run.

Unfortunately a 3.0 petrol suv will never be economical or cheap to run, just enjoy the car for what it is

1 hour ago, b4u2 said:

@Herbie

well maybe you can work it out for me the tank of fuel costing me 80 quid which gave me 240 miles how much does that work out miles per gallon

Depends on the cost of fuel where you are, but at £1.31 a litre or £5.98 a gallon, £80 is 13.37 gallons. So 240 miles on 13.37 gallons is 17.9 mpg