Connoisseur

60 plate cars did get a mild facelift; usb in/hard disc sat nav/bumper style tweak. There may be others but these are the ones I know hth ps smooth? oh yes

Michelin Pilot Sports 3 ZR18 97Y

Congratulations. If you're anything like me you'll still be smiling four months in.....for me the car is 'stupidly fast' and I mean that in praise. The car gives me so much confidence when overtaking and making progress, the sport and power settings turn B roads into enjoyable challenges, and the rest of the time it is quiet as a mouse and very relaxing. A full set of new tyres have made the ride and quietness even better.......... Enjoy your driving M

Drove it from St Neots to Thetford and back, roof down, basking in glorious sunshine with a V8 soundtrack....

is this then of any interest given your concerns? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-GS-450H-SE-L-with-16-mth-Lexus-Warranty-/291486936952?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item43ddf9af78 hth M

shows milage up to 66000 but the seller claims it's FS Lexus History and apparently Lexus did a major service at 100.000 as you indicate, if the car had a major service done by Lexus at 100,000 (can't have been at 10 years because hasn't reached the age yet) then there is no question of any of that mileage record being correct............

'fraid it's not for the bumper corners; the strip protects the bumper ledge below the loading area which can get hammered from loads being rested on or dropped on it

***** up rather than conspiracy is my first thought also, but am not clear how old the car is - 2010 or 2007?

Spoke to my Lexus Dealer about getting accessories for the car; rear bumper protector strip and a vertical cargo net were the first two. The response was that neither were listed for my car's VIN though I knew they were produced for the third series GS. It appears that Lexus have an interesting approach to parts/accessories because the rear bumper protector strip, according to Lexus, only fits the GS300/350 up to 2005, and the GS cargo net is only for cars up to January 2008, tho' perhaps not the 450h? I am curious as to why Lexus do this. I bought the protector strip as I figured Lexus hadn't created a wholly brand new rear bumper design for the 450 - and they hadn't, the strip was a perfect fit. Same for the cargo net, which I bought from a Lexus Dealer in the USA as, inc. shipping, it proved cheaper than trying to buy one in the UK. Fitted it this morning with no trouble at all. The big one I was nervous about going for was the integrated DAB accessory at circa £500 fitted, so I didn't. Lexus tell me it doesn't fit the GS450h, but on lexus tech-eu the accessory information and fitting instructions show that it does...... Lexus parts and accessories numbering/fitment info is a mysterious thing :) Is this is same for all Lexus models I wonder?

Robert, in case it helps below are pics of the final instal; first one with the unit mounted on the Brodit, second with the unit stowed in the ash tray space. The Brodit mount is specific for the GS, easy to instal with no drilling or damage - I just followed the included instructions. If you do go for the Alpine unit then this would be a straightforward job for a fitter. Obviously the mount is always visible but for me it was the most elegant solution I could find, and avoided sticking anything on to the dash area etc.

.............issues with the DPF in the diesel Insignia and with hindsight I shouldn't have bought it but you live & learn! Oh yes, many have been 'mugged' by the dpf/dmf farce, and I'm sure more will be. I too am content to be in an all petrol family, tho' the V8 has always created contentment in any case :) Let us know how you get on.....................

Hi and welcome John, am sure you will love your new car. Not long to go now.......................

Motorway driving gives me 35 to 38mpg, tho' 38 really only when doing 60 to 70 mph. If you do 80 to 90mph regularly (on the autobahn) then you're unlikely to see 35mpg..... btw am hoping to take mine to Germany this year, to one of the very few still 'unlimited' autobahn stretches - if they do exist........ hth

Sometimes it is just the obvious/simplest thing that is at fault. so very true Colin, mind you owning complicated (but superb) cars can mean a lot of seeing the wood not the trees! I kept charging battery and thought it was my battery but in my case it was the alternator. Always check using a multi-meter. Good advice Omar, thankfully on this occasion the alternator check came out fine!

...a duff battery. Thought I was going to need a new starter motor or maybe had electrical gremlins, or even new alternator 'cos I had the battery tested on the car only two weeks ago and was told it was charging fine. But then the car just died so battery off and load test result is battery dead as a dodo. £105 for a new battery is a lot cheaper than new starter/alternator or tracking down electrical issues!

10. view of console from passenger side. Cable arrowed on left is cable for DAB control unit - this cable runs from the main DAB unit into cigar lighter space and to control unit. Cable arrowed on right is Vais unit cable from hu to cubby box 11. instal complete, control unit poking out of ash tray space, awaiting Brodit mount 12. unit is invisible when not in use, control unit can be dismounted and kept elsewhere, or put back into ash tray space. Note to self, must source new gear handle! hth M

6. straightened wire coat hangar (red dashes) used to pull string through from top of dash, then aerial cable attached to bring down and thread inside dash. Dash end cover simply pulls off with care, as does trim coloured cover piece to its lh 7. panel under n/s dash below air bag has four clips - pull hard to remove and then thread aerial cable across base using cable ties to secure. Care as puddle light and TPMS button power feeds are on rh side of panel 8. replace panel and keep cable free to go under dash - at this stage I tested the aerial with a DAB unit powered via cigar lighter to make sure it was all ok. Note the cable join, aerial came with 2 metre run, I added a 1 metre extension to give some slack 9. dismantle whole of centre console and pull hu out(main DAB unit lower right while we find power feed and connect all cables)

Have completed the Alpine EZI DAB instal, with the help of my mate Pete. Am impressed with the unit operation, and the sound via the OEM head unit. Turned into a long job because we had diffculty finding a permanent live under the dash. Didn't get all the pics I wanted but have posted what I have with commentary in case it helps others doing same or similar job. install info: * I fitted the Kinetic DEGA-T4002 DAB glass mount telescopic pivoting aerial aas recommended by dabonwheels.com. When retracted the aerial is very stealth and even closed gives a fair signal. I ran the aerial cable down the n/s pillar behind the trim, through an opening under the tweeter dash cover, down the side of the dash, along the lower dash (removed panel below the air bag to do so) and into the back of the centre console then up to the DAB unit - some pics below. * the main DAB unit was fitted on the top of the head unit using double sided tape - plenty of room and is the same location as Lexus use/recommend for their own add ons * the controller unit cable runs from the main DAB unit down to behind the hu and up into the base of the ashtray space (ashtray unit itself removed and smal lhole drilled for cable to pass into the space) - when not in use the controller fits neatly inside the ashtray space with the door closed. * main DAB unit requires both switched and permanent lives. Fused switched live easy run from the rear of the cigar lighter - on the GS a permanent live is not straightforward. Most of the cabling behind/under the dash turns out to be low voltage signal, and the two fuse boxes, one under each side of lower dash, are designed to be inaccessible! Eventually found a permanent fused live on the battery side of the interior footlamps. The DAB unit only draws power to keep the unit memory going via permanent live so not a great load. * sound is supplied from the DAB unit to the HU via FM transmit - works perfectly and there is an direct feed from DAB to hu by aux cable available if I need it. The finishing touch is to mount the unit on a Brodit, as soon as the postie delivers the same...... M pics - 1. aerial fitted top lh corner of screen in retraced position 2. aerial interior section installed on screen with cable going behind roof liner and then into pillar trim - black square is a block holding roof lining away to allow cable to go under 3. cable run down pillar before pushing under front edge 4. prise tweeter grille from dashboard to access path for cable to go down side and under dash 5. aerial cable run from under pillar trim to opening next to tweeter (on rh side marked in red) cont. in next post