I have a 08 plate 220d sport, which I bought with heavy mileage 75k in summer 2010 from a main dealer. It came with a years warranty as part of the Lexus used car service. No problems in my first year of ownership, I do around 20k a year, time for renewal of warranty post 1st year, cost not cheap £760 / yr and around £200 less with Warranty direct and a few other warranty companies. I decide after much to and fro on whether the expense is worth it in these times of money being tight, to go with the Lexus warramty on a monthly direct debit.
Mid Sept normal days driving, notice cooler fan for the engine is coming on whilst driving !? Ignore it for that journey .... however happens again on way home, decide to pop the lid, no coolant in the reservoir !!! Check radidator, pink gunk everywhere, sure fire sign of a leak ... Call lexus assistance, they send the man from the AA to check it over, he confirms leak and says take to garage.
Ring local Lexus dealer, no problem sir, under warranty !!! bring it in we will look at it and fix the leak. 20 mins after dropping it off, get a call from them saying it needs a full engine rebuild, head gasket has gone, EGR valve, etc etc .... Imagine my relief, not even paid 1 month of the DD on the warranty and it is in need of the engine to be rebuilt.
They had the car for a week, nice new Lexus given as a replacement and the cost for the work £4k !!!!! phew (labour was at £80/hr for 26 hours of work), without the warranty I would have struggled to have had that work done and would probably have to right the car off, I am sure I could have argued with Lexus that the car was just outside it's warranty period etc, but what a relief, no questions asked and the work was done.
The car is transformed, feels smooth, plenty of power, mpg has gone up 60 miles per tank, just is like a new car, so pleased with the result and my luck in getting the warranty and this happening at the time it did.
The new engine build has paid for 6 years worth of warranties back to back, so the crux of the story, if you can, get the warranty as when a Lexus goes wrong it goes wrong big time !
