ronnaybarkay

Thanks for the info on the towbar. I ll have to check!!

I have an RX 300 on a 53 plate. It has just gone past 60k with FSH from Lexus Croydon. It is the S EL with air suspension. I have had it for nearly 2 yrs and the wife uses it for the very short 1 mile each way school run plus other local running. The best mpg I have had has been 23mpg. During the winter when we dont do coastal journeys it has been 15mpg. Whatever car she has it would only get filled up with fuel once a month, so in that sense Im not bothered too much about that. I had a knocking noise on the front which needed a front suspension leg replacing at £830 (for one). Then I had a brake fluid pipe perish at a replacement cost of £130. I have just had the timing belt replaced and new plugs = £490 as I plan to run the car for a couple of years. I had all this work done at a none lexus garage, where I bought it from. Based on what Lexus quoted, and what I ended up paying I have maybe saved £150 overall. When changing the timing, belt the garage mechanic cut a breather pipe causing loss of power and engine warning lights... I have realised that I might save £30 on a particular job, but maybe next time I will use lexus. I might let them do the 60k service later in the year. Good car. Amazingly smooth especially on motorways. Poor on fuel. In the back of my mind I am always dreading the next big expense, but fingers crossed it will now run pain free for a good while... Ive just had a tow bar fitted for the purpose of using a rear mounted bike carrier.

Not sure if it may help,but I understand there is a small servo inside each vent for controlling the direction of the airflow from each vent. I had Lexus Sheffield examine a knocking noise from the car and the identified the from shock absorber. In addition the technician picked up on the servo in the vent next to drivers door window always moving causing a noise. Lexus wanted £299 to fix. I went to my local garage where I bought the car and they said the could do it for less than £100. The only issues with some vents is the dash may need to come out. Its none essential so Ive not bothered. It may be totally wrong as a suggestion.

Pardon my naivity with this next question, but the only dealings I have had with Lexus sheffield is for a recall. The website link is for Lexus.co.uk. How do the prices displayed on here, translate to those quoted by the dealership? Obviously the dealer is independent in some sense of prices and services, but are they obliged or otherwise to reduce prices in line the those shown on Lexus.co.uk? Just so I can have some understanding before mentioning these prices to dealer. Thanks

Just had a discussion with service manager. He reckons about £430 ish for full service inc spark plugs, and as car is now 10 yrs old he advises timing belt change. This is £300 + vat. So if I were to go ahead with this I am pretty much looking at £800 give or take... Right now, I cant afford to upgrade to a more expensive vehicle. But the thing which is always in the back of my mind is the balance of how long we'll keep the car, and the chance of more things going wrong over the next few years. As great as it is, it's 10 yrs old pretty much and counting.... I hate the issues that cars create...

Ive sent an email asking for a breakdown of everything, whats covered/ replaced etc so see what they come back with, and what the "club" aspect involves.

I keep getting letters from Lexus Sheffield pointing out their "competitive" prices re service and repairs. They also highlight in bold, the Lexus Sheffield Lexus Privilege Service Club. Does anyone have any experience of this and any benefits, what it is, what it costs, and whether its worth considering joining it? My 53 plate RX 300 has done 59200 mls. i am considering the 60 K one being done at Lexus, but will need to get a bit more on the idea of cost first - considering my plans for the length of time I intend to keep it. Just wondered, about the above as the wording of the letter implies saving money by joining this club... Always the sceptic I thought I'd ask if anyone uses it first. Thanks

The garage told me the power steering fluid had been leaking, so they have also steam cleaned the underside. I had been discussing with the wife, prior to the relief, that if it was a huge bill then we may have to look at something else. I hope.... that having spent £900 on a new shocker 8 weeks ago we can enjoy some trouble free motoring for several months... Thankfully we ve been able to not use it until fixed, because if theres no fluid in and we'd have been driving. At some point it may have gone bang and been much more expensive as you point out. Our car is a 53 having done 58k. We also really like the car, just the low mpg is a pain, as the wife does only very short journeys. About 220 from a tank.... Its ended up costing £183 to fix, inc part, labour & fluid. Seems fine and now no noise. Prior to the fix I did ring lexus to sound them out on the price of a pump. They said in their experience its the hoses and not the pump, so didnt give me a price, but the £3 k mark is huge...

my local garage has identified one of the power steering pipes corroded and leaking. Being fixed tomorrow for about £170. Relieved...

I was quoted £299 from lexus sheffield to do the servo next to the drivers door window. I spoke to the garage where I bought the car (non lexus) and the guy had done one on his own car. he said it would take an hour and the dash didnt need to come out. I havent had it done as its none essential. He said the rest of the vents would need the dash out.... Certainly the main windscreen vent which is very much essential... You might save a couple of hundred £ at most, but it may not be done perfectly. Its a judgement call to trust a garage that say they can do it for a saving? or to pay the full lexus price... It needs doing regardless at this time of year. I got rid of my last car and got the RX 300 for this very same issue..... good luck

The sound is a high pitched whine, but would the alternator belt cause the noise to increase in volume as you engage the power steering mechanism slightly?

Having recently spent almost £1000 getting a new front suspension leg to cure a worsening knocking noise. I got a message from the wife the other day worrying about a new noise she could hear. Now this indeed worried me. As it really must be a noise if the wife can hear it. She was oblivious to the previous suspension problem and resulting noise.... Anyway, it appears to have just started, but its worse with a cold engine. Basically there is a loud, high pitched whining sound on start up. It doesnt alter with a blip of throttle, and worsens when you move the steering wheel slightly whilst stood. It to me suggests something along lines of power steering pump? I drove the car when she first mentioned it and it had been warmed up so was not as noticeable. I could hear a faint whine in the background. Just started the car after a few days of it being stood, unused and the noise is quite loud and noticeable. Due to the plastic coverings under the bonnet I cant really get a good look, but the noise is definately coming from behind the dashboard/ steering wheel/ steering rack area. Any ideas or experience of power steering issues? Based on the last huge bill only about 8 weeks ago, is it likely I can expect another if it was to be the pump. Are there any other components that should be checked out? Many thanks.

The garage I bought from gave a "full" service a year ago when i bought the car. I cant say what exactly that included. Since then in a year we've only done 3500. The car is mainly the wife's. I have a diesel Vauxhall for work. When we got out as a family we always use the Lexus as the child seats are in. The daily school run is 1 mile each way x 4 trips p/day. She doesnt go very far in it at all, and I can probably assume that this has a lot to do with it. Probably a handful of miles per day if more than school trips. The nature of the roads mean its not particularly nice or safe to walk.... Plus when I drive it I can comment on my own driving style/ habits. Less so for hers... but I doubt as conservative and smooth!!! As we near the 60K mark I'll enquire at Lexus and see how much that service is and whats included.

I thought the figures were normal.... Ok. Have you any suggestions as to where to start looking first? We take regular motorway and long A routes to the east coast and even the read out in the car only ever says 23. The car is laden with 2 kids n associated baggage however.... including the wife in that too!!

The price for a new shocker was troubling me, so yesterday I took the car to the garage where I bought it from a year ago. The owner and his son both drive RX300's and swear by them, repeatedly telling me they are the best car on the road by a long way.... I ended up spending 3 hrs with the boss's son, and a mechanic driving it around local roads, in between raising it on a ramp to try and identify the problem. They initially thought it was the anti roll bar/ bushes but disconnecting these and another test drive proved it wasnt. When I left the car with Lexus, I told the service staff there was a knocking noise. I am not 100% convinced the top of the suspension leg is causing the noise. That point is just below the windscreen at driver side. To me and the local garage, the noise is more from the bulk head, central deep behind the dash towards the footwells. Im not saying the Lexus man doesnt know what hes saying, but they never gave me the chance to take him out in the car and point it out. It just doesnt sound like its from the location they noted on the check sheet. I cant afford the cost of the shocker to find it hasnt cured the issue. At the moment Ive postponed the replacement until the local garage can spend a bit more time looking. After 3 hrs of considerable messing around. I wasnt charged a penny either.

and ours is a 53 plate with 57k on it. I hear the 350 is a little bit better?

I have an app on my phone and record the data everytime I fill up and have done for the past year. The average for local short journeys is 16 - 18 mpg. The BEST I have had from motorway trips is 22.5.... And I assure you I have a very steady right foot. Cruising at 68 -70 mph and drive conservatively. A tank of fuel - around £65- 75 will do about 220 miles on local running around. Dont be under any illusion. They are not good on fuel. But thats not why you want to buy one...

garytitley March 20, 2011 needed one nsf shock at Lexus Sheffield. No cause mentioned. Similar price

I have definately read a historic post from 2011, of someone, also in Sheffield having to have on front strut replaced at £930. I cant recall the exact reason for it. Will try and have a look. I firmly believe the mileage to be correct. The log book is stamped with previous service's from Lexus Croydon. The rest of the car is as sweet as a nut, and in very good condtion. No mention of a possible cause as yet. I intend to have a chat with the service mgr when I take it in. Does anyone have any experience of local garages being able to obtain/ fit genuine lexus parts, as it may be worth exploring this to save a few hundred ££'s.... as its only the leg, and nothing to do with the air suspension?

Just picked the car back up from Lexus, having had them have a look into the noise. Fault sheet remarks :play in osf top mounting" so it needs a new suspension leg at the eye watering price of £893. They have also found the "heater position motor is running constantly" when it shouldnt be. Another £299 both inc vat.... Gutted. I know its a Lexus but £893 for a suspension leg is very expensive by anyones standards. Booked it in for 2 wks time when they have a courtesy car available... I sincerely hope there are no more surprises for at least 2 years....

The noise is still there, as much as ever when the brakes are applied.

Thanks for the replies. The point about the noise whilst applying the brakes is a good one, and I will check this as I dont know, or at least havent noticed or linked the 2. I will have a good listen. I had seen the price of £395 for a pair of shocks but if you look in the small print there are some *** next to the price which state it does not include those cars with air suspension... The car went back to lexus about a month ago for a recall on the brake master cylinder. They gave me a book of vouchers which I'll have a good look through. I have noted the lexus essentials package, so will look into this. thanks

Hello everyone. Ive been reading the forum on and off for a few weeks trying to identify the cause of something which is starting to bother me. We own a 53 plate - 04 RX 300 SE-L and have done for the past yr. It was bought from a local, non lexus garage with full lexus SH. Its now done 57 000. Its the wife's vehicle mainly for running the kids around. We are both very happy with the car. I am becoming concerned about a noise which I can hear constantly. It sounds to me like a clunking, bobbling noise coming from the front struts/ suspension. It is very noticeable at low speeds, on whatever road surface you are driving on, ie perfectly smooth roads or those which are more worn. I am that obsessed with it I can even notice the noise or "feel" of the clunk even when driving at 50 +. The air suspension operates fine. No lights on dash etc. I am wondering whether the fronts shocks will need replacing. Its a noise I associate with cars Ive owned in the past when the shockers were getting ready for replacing. I have been reading some very alarming replies about the costs of lexus doing this work...? ie in the £ 000's. One member stated how Lexus sheffield charged £930 for just one shock absorber. The rest of the car is perfect, but I am dreading bad financial news. Can anyone offer any advice. I am thinking of having it booked it at Lexus sheffield and see if they can shed any light on it, with the vague statement of "I can hear a clunking noise coming from the front end".... The car drives and handles fine, but I am the type of person that can't just put up with these types of noises. If it was to end up costing a huge sum. Is it worth spending on this age vehicle? Your thoughts would be appreciated, as I continue to ponder scenarios and options. Cheers