The-Acre

Of course at the age of 61 I should know better, but as we were confessing recently about beating Jags etc. I thought I would chance it with a new BMW X5 on the A24 coming home from London. All went well on the straight, I certainly had the edge, but humiliation came at the roundabout in the wet. We all know the LS is a nightmare in the snow, well they're not much better in the wet. I accelerated before I straitened up and almost lost my rear end. The X5 left me in it's wake! A lesson learned, remember my limitations!

Very nice, and from what I can see, the best looking car in the car park!

The guy who did my air con compressor last week said that the electronics on a Lexus are the best he's ever known, of any car! And he's been working on them for years.

My guess would be the sunroof, have you checked your drain holes lately, including the ones in your trousers?

Welcome to LOC. Fab looking car! Be careful when changing bulbs for something that's not standard kit, there have been some issues when doing this, some not too pleasant. The electronics on these cars are more complicated than women, and they don't like being messed around with (also like women)

Silly me, I didn't think of asking for the old one. Never mind, I'm just glad to get it sorted for relatively little money. Ambermarine's info on treating it like a heart transplant was good, getting it fitted before the elements get to it. Makes you wonder what the others you see on eBay are like, left lying around for ages in the cold and damp until someone buys them.

eBay compressor fitted today, £85 including postage, £160 for fitting, re-gassing, and new auxiliary belt. All working fine.

As us carpenters say, measure twice, cut once!

I remember this time last year people saying the same thing. It seems to happen to loads of cars when the weather changes in the autumn, no idea why, but round about November it seems to stop, It's always happened on most cars I've owned, and can take ages to clear.

Well the part should come Tuesday so I'll get it booked in asap. The guy breaking the car is so helpful, he even took the time to remind me that they don't like moisture, so it needs fitting quickly rather than lying around in a garage. He said that's why he leaves it on the car until someone buys it. This is his ebay id, worth remembering if you need parts for a MK4. catsmoothbekbek He's also the seller I bought my spare key from.

He did say the clutch bearing can be replaced but I just thought it would be easier to swap the units and be done with it, I'm not convinced it's working 100% anyway. And JPJ, I'm not sure what it will cost, but he told me it's an easy job. I want to have a new auxiliary belt as well so that can be done at the same time.

Thanks for that, I'm going to get it done properly, I needed to make sure the mechanic would fit a second hand part as he only likes to use genuine parts, but he said he would. I suppose although it's second hand it is technically genuine! He is Lexus trained (and a Lexus owner) and the most trustworthy mechanic I've ever come across.

Mine is making a noise when it's running, sounds like the sound you get from knackered bearings, fine when it's switched off. The guy said the car he's breaking is running and the air con is ice cold, so I guess it's better in the long run to replace it rather than looking at possible repairs, especially if the old one has to come off to have work done anyway.

A guy is breaking a 2000 model LS400 and wants £75 + £15 postage for the air con compressor, is that a reasonable price do you think?

When you say "guy" make that a girl! I've decided just to take it to the guy that does my work, going back to Halfords will just wind me up. Thanks for your comments. I don't know if Halfords have done something wrong or not, either way I shouldn't have trusted them with a "decent" car.

Is this the one that was lurking in the Shoreham area?

Welcome to LOC! Phil

Thanks Ian. I wasn't sure what the oil went but that makes sense. I had the idea that low oil would cause a noise but obviously not. I guess that means a new or used compressor then.

Still trying to get to the bottom of this. On a recent post, someone pointed out that if the compressor is only noisy when the air con is switched on, the problem is in the compressor and not the clutch. As mine is only noisy when switched on, I'm assuming that's my problem. So my question is, does the oil lubricate the whole compressor or does it have another function? Is it possible the oil has escaped causing the noise or am I miles out with that thinking? It just seems a bit of a coincidence that it happened within 4 weeks of Halfords supposedly checking the oil etc. It still blows cold but I'm not really letting it run in case it's still repairable. Thanks.

Welcome to LOC, and I'm afraid that's exactly what happens, you become very possessive, and no one else is allowed to drive it! Enjoy your car. Phil

From one Phil to another, welcome back!

At least it's usable as an every day car, and can even take a baby seat!!

"Save money on buying this Lexus salvage car" Eh? I can't see anything salvageable on it!

I thought for some reason a Cat C would affect my premium but it didn't. Certainly wouldn't bother me as long as I had full details of the accident/repair. Most importantly as others have said it needs to be cheaper. Looks very nice. Seems to have gone now anyway.

If I was looking I'd still consider this, even being a Cat C, assuming I negotiated a good price of course. If you plan to keep it for some time I don't see that it really matters. Easy to get put off thinking it's had major damage. My Vectra was written off as a Cat C, but all repaired with a new bumper and some work on the tailgate, perfectly safe though.