Optimist

Hello PCM I had the ATF fluid on my RX 300 changed at about the 9 year mark. Independent garage charged an hour labour plus the fluid, no need to pay Lexus rates for such a routine job. I do not know when Lexus recommend the job be done, I just felt it was sensible maintenance. Cheers John

I have owned a 2003 Mk II for the last 5 years, beautifully put together and the best car I have ever owned. I did however, have an expensive problem with the stereo which is detailed on this forum. Nothing else in my ownership that I would alert you to. I had the cam belt changed at the10 year point, not at a Lexus dealer,any competent garage should be able to handle that job although I think you need the rollers changing at the same time. I also had the auto box fluid changed about the same time. I do not know enough about the model to offer an opinion on what may go wrong as the years pass. All the above having been said, I intend to change in the near future as I am becoming concerned that something expensive is sure to break soon. All the best with your purchase. Cheers John

Greetings All A brief note from me to finalise this one. Lexus Birmingham acknowledged that they should have spotted the faulty power lead to the amplifier and I have been refunded the cost of the diagnostic work done by Mobile Soluitions and the cost of my petrol plus a consideration for the time I have spent travelling to and from Derby. All well handled by Faye Staley at Lexus Birmingham. My thanks to those on this site who took the trouble to offer assistance. Cheers John

Gents An update which I will keep as short as possible. I was about to write off the unit I had sent for repair when Mobile Solutions said that it had been fixed, I travelled to Derby but when re-installed, still no good. This indicated the separate amplifier which had been previously checked by Lexus B'ham, I visited them and they assured me that the amplifier was OK and that the wiring had been checked. Back to Mobile Solutions who at a very reasonable cost took the amplifier out and found that the power feed to the amp was faulty, replaced and now everything is working fine. It would seem that something caused the head unit and a power lead to fail at the same time. Concerned that Lexus did not spot the faulty power lead, particularly as their labour charge was £225, and I will be visting them to discuss the matter and suggest that the labour charge for Mobile Solutions to find the fault they missed plus my petrol should be reimbursed. My final bill to Mobile Solutions was over £500 so about £725 in total, a lot of money to spend on a 12 year old vehicle but half of what Lexus would have charged for a new head unit. I did consider fitting a non-Lexus replacement unit but apparently a lot of work (and cost) involved to link it up with the existing arrangement. Excellent service from Mobile Solutions (Rob) at Derby. My thanks to Colin and Chris on this site for their interest and assistance. John

Chris No idea on an RX but I used trolley and bottle jacks on Fords many years ago and I think the jack head fitted well under the suspension arm mountings. Chees John

Chris Again many thanks, I do agree with your view that a half decent stereo makes the vehicle more saleable. I think I can get a unit professionally installed by a friend of my stepson. I am quite clumsy and it is not a job I would personally tackle. Do you have any direct or reported experience of the units and installation service offered by Halfords? I just have a feeling that my original unit is not repairable and that soon I will be following your valued advice. All the best John

Chris Thank you so much for taking such trouble on my account, I confess that I laboured under the delusion that only a Lexus unit would fit. I did not think to ask for the part number when the unit was extricated from my dash but I think such should be obtainable from the repairer. I do not have Sat Nav or a reversing camera and the unit is not the Mark Levinson version. I am about to check out the links you have provided. I did check out the E Bay item that Colin indicated, and it certainly looks the same as mine, but I suppose that is not the most stringent and accurate test to apply. From the photograph on E Bay it is not Mark Levinson and does not have Sat Nav, judging by the age of the donor vehicle (2005) I do not think that it would have a reversing camera. EDIT: It does have Sat Nav, all I have to do is read the description! Would I be correct in concluding that the only reliable approach is to check out part numbers? Again my thanks to you both. Cheers John

Colin Thanks for the response, it is a Mk 2. I will be bidding on the E Bay item. Cheers John

Greetings All I joined the LOC about 4 yrs ago but was unable to post, I have been an avid reader of the forum. I own a RX 300 SE which is approaching 12 years since first registration, mileage is around 75K. Undoubtedly the best vehicle I have ever owned and I intend to replace it with an RX 450. The problem is that the original fit stereo has ceased to make any sound: all the lights come on, stations and CD's can be changed but no sound. The dealer has tried a new amplifier but that did not make any difference so the old one was re-installed; all fuses and connections checked by dealer and an independent auto electrician, all seems fine. The complete dash unit has been taken out by Mobile Solutions in Derby and sent off to to an outfit that repairs such items, to date and after 6 weeks they cannot get it to work, although they are still trying, they do not market reconditioned units. The cost of a replacement unit from Lexus is around £1,500 which is a fair part of the vehicles part-ex value of around £3,500, however, without the radio the part-ex value is reduced by that amount although I may be able to negotiate the sum down a little. Has anybody had experience of such stereo problems or know of the availability of recon units? I would be most grateful for any response. Cheers