teejaybee

Wow, thank you so much Chris!! That's very helpful! I think I am likely to do around 6-7k a year, though I can't get enough of driving it at the moment, so it's likely gonna be more :) i tend to agree that it seems excessive to service it every year, but as it's only 3 years old, it might be a good idea from resell value point of view to have it serviced every year, at least for the next 3 years, which will bring it to the end if my PCP agreement...

I am pretty sure i could get cheaper quote from other dealers, but the location is hard to beat. And They Know It!! I think I might have to just bite the bullet. As long as you think the quote isn't too outrageous?

Thanks again!

Jake

Jake, where is your local dealer? I have an 07 which will need a service in March 2013, I still don't know whether to stick with a main dealer or go independent. It's got a FLSH to date, it will be a major service next time and I will probably keep it for 2 years so it will be 7 years old when I sell it. Whatever happens I think I will ring round the main dealers to see what they are charging hence my wondering where your dealer is?

The RX400h wheels are a lot better than some of the older ones, e.g. IS200 wheels. The corrosion could have been started by scrapes, chips, bumps etc. so I'm not really surprised that Lexus won't refurbish them if they are over 5 years old, 2 years out of warranty and you're not the original owner.

I accept the age of the wheels but you can see when wheels have been scaped/curbed, these were not. I am only the second owner, not quite sure how the number of owners matter if there is a FLSH. I stand by what I've previously said that Lexus as a "Luxury" marque with an acknowledged high customer service dealer network can't emulate their dealers. Mazda were able to satify this customer in similar circumstances, Lexus UK were not, not even to a token offer towards the refurbishment costs. Make of that what you will, I know what I think. Love the car, not the maker!

Sorry to hear that your dealings with Lexus UK have been the same as mine, their customer service stinks, thank goodness their dealers actually understand how to look after customers! I love my Lexus but will have to consider how I feel about "The Bosses" when I am ready to change.

In fairness to Bristol Lexus they refurbished my wheels somewhat.

Thanks again!

Thanks for this, being completely useless where is the socket located on the car?

Cheers

Hi all

Reading that The RX400h can lose Battery life after being left for more than 2 weeks has propmpted me to get a Solar powered Battery charger as many owners have. However, you need a lighter socket to be live in order for this to work. I have been to a specilaist auto electrician and after consulting Lexus (because it's a Hybrid) they have come back to me saying it can be done, will take about 2 hours labour and a couple of ancilliary parts totalling about £110 + Vat. If you have had it done did it need anything special or was it straitforward and more importantly what did you pay. I thought it might cost about £50!

By the way I am absolutely useless at car mechanics/electrical so please don't try and explain how you do it yourself as I will only end up with a bigger problem.

Many thanks

Had my RX400h for about 2 months now, I am averaging 30mpg around town with careful driving, that's not driving slow, just smoothly and anticipating the traffic infront.

What I would say is that if you buy a car like the RX400h you have to take the mpg it gives! There are plenty of "big" cars out there that will give better mpg but they won't be a Lexus...

Hi and welcome. I am sure there will be lots of people wanting your advice and I am one of them. If you get the time to look at my query under the RX400h forum (it's about corroded alloys) and then just tell me if I am being unreasonable and wasting my time?

Many thanks

Hi

Well Lexus have decided that as it's a used five year old car they are not interested. This has come from the CEO of Lexus UK via his customer service department.

So much for the customer service excellence that Lexus seem to thrive on....

They have even tried to shift the onus onto the Lexus dealer I bought it from, outrageous. Lexus built the vehicle, it's quite well documented about corroding alloy wheels but still they won't accept some responsibility. It's not like I am asking for complete replacements, a token would be nice. So potential used Lexus buyers beware, just 'cos it's a Lexus doesn't actually mean exemplory customer service.

It's not what I was expecting from owning a Lexus, just goes to show you never know!

Kind regards to all

Putting "OBDII solar charger" into google produced loads of results, unforntunately the cheapest supplier is out of stock but the one below is a suggestion

http://www.amazon.co...r/dp/B003IVD77Q

Thanks for this, of course the other solution is to get a charger that works off the cigarette lighter socket - providing you get it rewired to permanently "live". I think I may look at this option.

Hello, I have now purchased a solar charger that plugs directly into the OBD 2 socket on my Lexus RX400. For those who do not know where this is or what it is. It is located next to the bonnet release it is a 16 pin diagnostic socket that has a connection direct to the battery via a fuse. The solar charger plugs directly into this quite easily, there is no crawling on the floor. Ok you may need to kneel down the first time just to see which way up the plug goes. I am using my Lexus daily so I am testing it on my sons Audi which he has left in my drive as he is working abroad. I know that the battery on this is not good and if left any longer than 5 days it will not start. I took a voltage reading using a digital multimeter and then plugged the solar charger in. I have found that although it is called a solar charger it is more of a battery maintainer, the battery voltage has stayed the same over 24 hours. I will continue to test it and post on here if I think it is worth buying... cost £35 I intend to use this when I leave my Lexus to go on holiday for 2 weeks next month.

John, where did you get this charger from? I would be interested in getting one too as soon to go away and the last thing I want is to come back to a flat Battery! many thanks

These look good but you may find the shipping prohibitively expensive!

Hi all

I have searched the previous posts but anything relevant appears to be somewhat old.

Has anyone been successful in getting a "goodwill gesture" out of Lexus UK regarding corroded alloys? My car is 5 years old and I bouhgt it from a Lexus main dealer in Bristol. Having had a Mazda CX7 previously that was just about 4 years old I had some experience of looking at a Japanese vehicle's wheels in perhaps more detail than would normally be necessary!

My Mazda had badly corroded wheels and Mazda UK were absolutely brilliant replacing them all FOC even though the car was out of it's normal warranty. Fantastic customer service.

I noticed that the wheels were bubbling on my Lexus but to be fair to the Dealership they did the best they could however some bubbling still exists. Now this doesn't happen overnight, it takes years and that was my arguement with Mazda in that the corrosion must have begun whilst still in warranty which they accepted. However having emailed the Top Man at Lexus - John Williams and receiving a reply their conclusion was sorry but it's five years old. Yes it is five years old but this must have started when it was still in warranty. Unless you know what to look for you wouldn't spot it until it was too late and more importantly should you even have to think about looking for something like this on a vehicle such as a Lexus? I wouldn't have expected complete FOC replacements but some sort of goodwill gestue might have been more appropriate especially to someone new to Lexus ownership.

Whe I received a reply I responded to it and haven't heard a thing since (2 weeks ago) even a "sorry but nothing doing" would have been something. So I've just emailed JW again expressing my dismay at no further communication, I wonder if I will get a reply?

Anyway, has anyone had any luck? Am I being unrealistic considering my previous experience with a Japanese Manufacturer? Any comments/advice much appreciated.

I have noticed the same thing, I think it's something you will have to grin and bear!

Yes, I think Lexus missed out on a unique selling angle.....buy our £45000 car and we'll even throw in a torch to help you adjust the mirrors at night!

Hmm.

Cheers for this, personally I find it a strange decision but what can you do?

Hi all

Ref RX400h 2007

Can anyone tell me if the electric mirror controls and the seat memory switches should be illuminated at night if the lights are on?

It seems starnge to me that you can't see either in the dark unless you open your door! If this is correct then fine I'll have to grin and bear it but if they should be lit up then I need a trip to my dealer!

Many thanks

Hi all

I'm looking o get a horizontal cargo net for my 07 RX 400h. Anyone found a cheaper alternative to the Lexus official one? What I don't want is a cargo net that is just too big for the job, I suppose ideally I want an exact fitting but I guess I'm asking too much?

Thanks

I have now had my car (an 07 SE) for 10 days and I like it...I don't love it yet but I really like it. I think it's the sort of car that grows on you and I can see this happening in my case. I think I can relate to some points from the other owners replying to you. To achieve good MPG there is a definite driving style to adopt, at the moment I am getting 33 in a mix of journeys but it takes some doing. Then again if you own/are going to own one of these cars is 4 or 5 mpg really going to make a difference? It's a "luxury" car not a Mondeo, running costs will of course be always higher!

The only minus point I can think of so far is that although the seats boast a great quality leather and multi-altering functions I don't actually find them particularly comfortable. Maybe I haven't found my ideal position yet.

I did buy from a Lexus main dealer and as such got a full year warranty and great service to boot! It's all about peace of mind.

So, exciting? Not really, but all the other boxes are ticked and I can't see me changing any time soon.

Thanks again for the advice

Thanks!

Getting my RX400h tomorrow on an 07 plate. It's going to need a couple of new tyres in the next 3 months (screwed the dealer on my p/x and RFL) so can't really get anything else out of him. So are there any recommendations for tyres that you guys can advise?

Thanks to all

Thanks for the replies.

nib4722 - I'm not expecting brilliant mpg but certainly better than at present. Hopefully all the niggles you have experienced will be ironed out if they occur within the first year so the warranty will cover it. I know that Lexus seem to wear their tyres down unevenly so will be checking that out next week! I am a little concerned about the Battery life, we tend to go away for over 14 days so normally I would expect my car to start when I want it to, think I will quiz the dealer about this. The car is due a 50000 service and MOT before I buy it. I ,ay then be temped to go elsewhere for the next service as long as they use approved Lexus parts the book can be stamped accordingly.

My Mazda's alloys were blistering and even though they were just out of the 3 year warranty they changed all four so a very careful inspection on Friday is needed. I'm not going to pay full whack for iffy alloys so if there is some blistering I'll be looking for replacements or a decent discount otherwise no deal!

Will let you know what happens. By the way did you buy your Lexus from a main dealer?