whole9yards

Thank you Bruce! That really helps! :) really appreciate it. I am going to go ahead with the sensors, can't wait to pick up the car on Saturday!! The reviews are looking good for 400h, even though there's been negative about driving in snowy icy conditions. Any experience with that? I actually quite like the look of 450h, and was never sure about 400h. But it's been growing on me lately, and I love the look of it now! :) is your car a head turner?

Thanks Dan! It does make me a little worried, but as long as it only happens on VERY steep hill, then I am OK. I am just used to how stable the GS is on steep hills. I am more concerned about the parking sensors to be honest. Did you have one fitted to your RX? I asked my local dealer and the cost they have come back to me with is £923, which is quite a lot :( But I would rather have it as it's a big car! And I am a new driver. I would be happy to spend that money, as long as when it's fitted it's not so awkward to use! I would hate to have something that looks and functions clearly as an add-on or after thought. I can understand that there probably wouldn't be any display on the dash, however, it should at least kick in when the car slows down and switch off when it goes up over 10mph. I wish to hear from people who have got them installed to let me know how it compares really to factory integrated sensors...

Thanks Colin! It was very helpful and much appreciated... It's shame, after spending so much money to upgrade, i will have to spend even more to get something that should really be standard to start with. :( have you or anyone had experience with these 800 series sensors? How practical are they and how do you find them working compared to integrated sensors? Is it worth getting? Thanks Jake

Hi all, Newbie here. Got my GS300 a short while ago, but just decided to trade up to a 09 reg RX400h Executive Limited Edition today, mainly wanted to move into the hybrid category, plus I always wanted an SUV. I am really excited about the car and everything about it except for a couple of things that really baffle me. please could anyone help? 1. This car comes with rear parking camera, same as my GS300 so I just presumed that the front and rear parking sensors come as standard too. However, I just realised that RX400h doesn't come with parking sensors by default! Is this true? With the rear camera, does it not mean a rear sensors would definitely be part of it? 2. If the above is true, how much am I looking at to have the sensors fixed by the main dealer? I have grown very much used to the sensors having driven my GS300, and RX is a big car, I'd really like to have them to be honest. 3. Presume that I can have the dealer to fix the sensors for me, how robust or reliable are they (If I get the 800 series as recommended by some). Do they work quite awkwardly as not very much integrated with the existing dash control etc.? 4. I have read some articles from some drivers reporting the car rolls on a hill start. Is that an universal problem with RX400h, is that true? 5. Lastly, I also just realised that the SmartAccess doesn't apply to this model either! How silly, my 05 GS300 has all of the above as standard. It's a real shame cos I hate the look of the old fashioned key and hate having to turn it to switch the car on the old fashion way. :( I guess there's no way around this? Many many many many many thanks for your help in advance! Jake

I would certainly approach them and ask why they did not advise you regarding the Lexus Fixed price repairs and charge accordingly. The price is on their website if you check. On their site click Lexus Services, then Owners, then Service your Lexus, then Fixed price promise, more details and scroll down to GS models. They cant really argue if it is on their own website. Thanks for the advice guys! called them and I was told the price for replacing one is more than just halving the price for replacing the pair... as there's no price listed in the Promise Table for fixing just one Shock, I had to take their words for it :( Oh well, you learn don't you. At least they are friendly people and quite efficient. I still would prefer to get a Lexus dealer to repair/inspect the car than a local garage though. At least now I know there's a price table to refer to :) Thanks again guys!

Thanks guys! It is indeed Lexus garage/dealer in Bristol. I am shocked that they would over charge! The work had been done today and paid for, but is there anything i can do to ask for some money back? How authoratitive are the price list? Thanks!!

£340 is way over to "fix a leak" on a shock absorber? Lexus main dealers charge £495 to replace PAIR of shocks front or rear on a 2005 GS. Cars with disc brakes tend to get a very thin film of what looks like rust on the disc surface in damp weather which is then worn off almost immediately when the car is driven. This will happen even with new discs. Have a look round a few dealers and look at cars on their forecourt. If they haven't moved for a couple of days when the weather isn't good then you will notice the same on the discs on those cars. Which tyres did they fit.......top quality I hope for £180 each. Thanks for the advice!! I am very inexperienced and this is my first ever car! They probably saw that and took the advantage :( To be honest I just wanted to get it fixed but I will bear this in mind next time and check on the forum first before signing any invoice! I did ask them if they would replace the pair for that price and I undertand it's good practice to replace the shockers always in pairs? But I was told that's not the case anymore and they tend to just replace the leaked/broken one now instead. Is this BS? I mean they could have told me to replace both and charged me for it but they didn't... This is a main dealer in Brislington, Bristol by the way, so I was counting on its reputation for not ripping me off. Not sure what tyres they are replacing with (see? newbie or what! such an idiot :( but on the list it says dunlop next to the cost estimate... any idea if they are worth the money? Many thanks!

Thanks for the reply! The servicing costs £270, tyres, tread down to 3 on both front wheels, cost £360, fixing the shock absorber leak quoted for £340, plus a new EU number plate, £20. All in £1k :( So are you saying even if i had all discs and pads replaced, the sound would still be inevitable? I didnt go for the recommendation to replace the discs, as its just advised not urgent. Good job i didnt too if it wouldnt make any difference...

Many thanks for the reply! I was actually referring to some grinding noise coming from the front wheels, it feels like it's right underneath the brake pedal... I can feel the vibration too. It goes away after the car is driven for a few minutes, and it usually happens after the car had been parked in the rain or cold for a while... Took it into the dealer for seriving (£1k!! ouch! the front tyres need replacing and they also found a oil leak on the shock absorber which had to be looked at), anyway, they said it's normal sound, apparently it's to do with water or dust getting on to the surface of the disc and it's rubbing the pads?? which explains why it only happens sometimes... They did mention that the pads on my car had recently been replaced, but not the discs. They recommended the discs to be replaced but at an extra £500, i opted it out for now... maybe that's what is causing it?

Hi all, Not sure if this is a known issue... I started noticing grinding squeaky noise when I release brake pedal. This tends to happen when it's cold or wet, and it disappears after the car's been driven for a while. It is most noticeable when I try to pull out of a parking spot after parking the car in the cold or rain overnight. Taking the car in for a servicing tomorrow, but wanted to know if anyone could advise?? Many thanks in advance!! Jake

Thanks Steve2006 :) yeah, i am loving the car so far! Really quiet,and handles beautifully. Love the rear camera, comfy seat and all the gadgets :) Its a shame... Not that i am hosting a Disco party :P, but i was hoping for the inside of the car lit up a bit more brightly when i unlock the car in the dark :P i also noticed that the rear right passenger's foot light underneath the driver's seat doesn't light up... Is this something I can get fixed through servicing? Thanks :)

Hi all, Newbie here, got my first ever car over the weekend and it's a 2005 GS300 SE. I had gone through the manual and figured out how to adjust the brightness of the dashboard display etc, but can't seem to find any information on how to change the brightness of the interior lighting (on the ceiling and the under the seat). Could anyone please advise? Many thanks! Jake

Newbie here! Hello everyone. I'm from Bath, just bought my first ever car, and it's a 2005 Lexus GS300 SE. Loving it at the moment and would be great to share the experience with you guys. Plus I will have tons of questions about the car and about servicing etc in general, on which I hope you could kindly offer advice. Cheers Jake