katabrontes

Sorry I misunderstood the problem. The up/down/right/left as you switch on is a normal checking procedure for the HID lamps to confirm that the self levelling and Adaptive lighting system (which swivels the beams as you turn corners)., The adjustment I described will not affect any of this but simply lifts or depresses the HID beams. If yours suddenly dips after it has stabilised I suspect the self levelling link may have broken or come off its fitting. You will find this under the rear off side of the car where there is a short link joining a ball on the axle to a swing arm on a potentiometer mounted on the chassis. this adjusts the HID lights as the angle of the car changes due to loading in the boot etc. If it has come off you could just refit it (I found the ball joints were pretty tight. if it is broken you will need to get a new one from Lexus (about £30+ I think someone suggested) (or maybe Toyota where it may be cheaper. Someone did suggest there is an after market type which is cheaper in another series of posts about this topic. If the potentiometer is broken I think it costs a few hundred to replace.

If the 400h is the same as my RX 350 it is quite easy to do this. If you lift the bonnet and look at the top of the casing for the dipped beam (HID) light (easily seen on the near side, you need to remove the cover over the power steering reservoir for the off side) then turn the cogged wheel using a 8mm ratchet socket spanner until its a bit higher. Hard to judge it on the wall but I lifted it up and then checked on the road and dropped it again until people stopped flashing me! Other wise I think an MOT test station or most garages could do it using their specialised beam setters. I asked Lexus in Bordeaux about this when I was in France and the answer from them was "it couldn't be done"!

Having just looked at the handbook on my RX350 I se that the reversing lights are fitted with 16W tungsten bulbs so it should be quite feasible to replace these with 21W bulbs while remaining within the Regulations (Max 24W) and providing a bit more light on the subject. I assume the fuses and wiring would support the small extra current drawn by the higher rated bulbs. Access to the bulbs is a bit of a performance as it involves removing both the upper and lower panel on the inside of the tailgate but it won't need to be done more than once.

No he doesn't! (and he is refreshingly sensible as well as newly welcome)

Neatly summarised - thank you.

The point of Topdown's post escapes me. Having other things to do which are more amusing I have not checked the relevant legislation but I suspect that it will not be found that cars are required to have wheels or seats (as opposed to regulations as to the construction etc of wheels or seats if they are fitted) The burden of several (rather more sensible) posts is that if such lights are fitted it is reasonable to expect them to provide as much utility to the driver as possible (or allowed by legislation). Since there is not limit on brightness in the quoted regulation there is not reason to limit this to the extent that one cannot see where one is going in reverse. If one extended this argument to driving forwards would the other posters consider it acceptable for the front lights to be simply "sufficient to warn other road users" of your intention to move forwards or indeed your presence rather than an aid to safe driving in the dark. I hope the moderator will consider it appropriate to close this topic after this post to avoid annoying Mr Roberts with any further pointless posts on the subject..

I can hardly believe what I have read in most of the posts. Of course reversing lights should illuminate the road behind the car and, in my experience with a variety of cars over the past 40 years or so they usually do. Anyone who thinks its safe to reverse "blind" shouldn't be diving at all - at least not in reverse! By the way on my RX350 the side mirrors only "dip" when you select R if the switch for adjusting them is set to R or L. If its in the neutral position (which i have always used on other cars to avoid accidentally changing the setting) they don't dip down (or very little anyway). I discovered this by accident. I don't think its in the handbook.

I thought people might find it helpful! Why else?

I bought some "carpet" mats from Car Mats UK which were pretty good. Not quite a perfect fit and the fixing system didn't work too well but they only cost £49 for a full set of 4 and seems good quality. They do rubber mats ( http://www.carmats-uk.com/318/lexus-rx400?t=5 ) as well but for £40 and a set of basic quality carpet mats for £20 ( http://www.carmats-uk.com/318/lexus-rx400 )

See below for answer from Lexus UK. There is no need to do anything. Thank you for your further email. I can confirm that the HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamps on the RX 350 do not need to be converted for travel on the continent. The set up of the headlamp is such that the light shines in a horizontal flat beam which has no kick up and as such is not dazzling to drivers of oncoming cars. As you have suggested, we would recommend that the Intelligent Adaptive Front-lighting System (I-AFS) is switched off when travelling on the continent. Yours sincerely Claire Newman Customer Relations Executive

See below for answer from Lexus UK. There is no need to do anything. Thank you for your further email. I can confirm that the HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamps on the RX 350 do not need to be converted for travel on the continent. The set up of the headlamp is such that the light shines in a horizontal flat beam which has no kick up and as such is not dazzling to drivers of oncoming cars. As you have suggested, we would recommend that the Intelligent Adaptive Front-lighting System (I-AFS) is switched off when travelling on the continent. Yours sincerely Claire Newman Customer Relations Executive

See below for answer from Lexus UK. There is no need to do anything. Thank you for your further email. I can confirm that the HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamps on the RX 350 do not need to be converted for travel on the continent. The set up of the headlamp is such that the light shines in a horizontal flat beam which has no kick up and as such is not dazzling to drivers of oncoming cars. As you have suggested, we would recommend that the Intelligent Adaptive Front-lighting System (I-AFS) is switched off when travelling on the continent. Yours sincerely Claire Newman Customer Relations Executive

See below for answer from Lexus UK. There is no need to do anything. Thank you for your further email. I can confirm that the HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamps on the RX 350 do not need to be converted for travel on the continent. The set up of the headlamp is such that the light shines in a horizontal flat beam which has no kick up and as such is not dazzling to drivers of oncoming cars. As you have suggested, we would recommend that the Intelligent Adaptive Front-lighting System (I-AFS) is switched off when travelling on the continent. Yours sincerely Claire Newman Customer Relations Executive

See below for answer from Lexus UK. There is no need to do anything. Thank you for your further email. I can confirm that the HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamps on the RX 350 do not need to be converted for travel on the continent. The set up of the headlamp is such that the light shines in a horizontal flat beam which has no kick up and as such is not dazzling to drivers of oncoming cars. As you have suggested, we would recommend that the Intelligent Adaptive Front-lighting System (I-AFS) is switched off when travelling on the continent. Yours sincerely Claire Newman Customer Relations Executive

See below for answer from Lexus UK. There is no need to do anything. Thank you for your further email. I can confirm that the HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamps on the RX 350 do not need to be converted for travel on the continent. The set up of the headlamp is such that the light shines in a horizontal flat beam which has no kick up and as such is not dazzling to drivers of oncoming cars. As you have suggested, we would recommend that the Intelligent Adaptive Front-lighting System (I-AFS) is switched off when travelling on the continent. Yours sincerely Claire Newman Customer Relations Executive

See below for answer from Lexus UK. There is no need to do anything. Thank you for your further email. I can confirm that the HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamps on the RX 350 do not need to be converted for travel on the continent. The set up of the headlamp is such that the light shines in a horizontal flat beam which has no kick up and as such is not dazzling to drivers of oncoming cars. As you have suggested, we would recommend that the Intelligent Adaptive Front-lighting System (I-AFS) is switched off when travelling on the continent. Yours sincerely Claire Newman Customer Relations Executive

See below for answer from Lexus UK. There is no need to do anything. Thank you for your further email. I can confirm that the HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamps on the RX 350 do not need to be converted for travel on the continent. The set up of the headlamp is such that the light shines in a horizontal flat beam which has no kick up and as such is not dazzling to drivers of oncoming cars. As you have suggested, we would recommend that the Intelligent Adaptive Front-lighting System (I-AFS) is switched off when travelling on the continent. Yours sincerely Claire Newman Customer Relations Executive

16 September 2013 See below for answer from Lexus UK. There is no need to do anything. Thank you for your further email. I can confirm that the HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamps on the RX 350 do not need to be converted for travel on the continent. The set up of the headlamp is such that the light shines in a horizontal flat beam which has no kick up and as such is not dazzling to drivers of oncoming cars. As you have suggested, we would recommend that the Intelligent Adaptive Front-lighting System (I-AFS) is switched off when travelling on the continent. Yours sincerely Claire Newman Customer Relations Executive

According to Lexus UK there is no need to do anything. See below for their reply. 16 September 2013 Thank you for your further email. I can confirm that the HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamps on the RX 350 do not need to be converted for travel on the continent. The set up of the headlamp is such that the light shines in a horizontal flat beam which has no kick up and as such is not dazzling to drivers of oncoming cars. As you have suggested, we would recommend that the Intelligent Adaptive Front-lighting System (I-AFS) is switched off when travelling on the continent. Yours sincerely Claire Newman Customer Relations Executive

According to Lexus UK there is no need to do anything apart form switching off the AFS when taking a UK RX to Europe so I assume it is the same the other way as well. see below for the answer from Lexus UK. You do not need to use the stickers. 16 September 2013 Thank you for your further email. I can confirm that the HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamps on the RX 350 do not need to be converted for travel on the continent. The set up of the headlamp is such that the light shines in a horizontal flat beam which has no kick up and as such is not dazzling to drivers of oncoming cars. As you have suggested, we would recommend that the Intelligent Adaptive Front-lighting System (I-AFS) is switched off when travelling on the continent. Yours sincerely Claire Newman Customer Relations Executive

I think I have worked out how to adjust the height of the dipped beam HID lights. If I lengthen the link between the potentiometer and the suspension I think that should do it. I have done it about 2 turns and will see what difference it makes. The bolt was pretty stiff to turn so I assume the ends have friction threads.

I have found the small toothed gear wheel above the HID lights but this is connected to the levelling motor so I assume that moving it would not change the orientation of the lights once the self levelling system kicked in. There is a small screw in the centre of the toothed wheel but if I remove this and take the wheel off I am not sure how easy it would be to get it back. Has anyone actually done this on an RX SE with self levelling motors on the HID lights. I am going to Lexus in Bordeaux next week so I will ask them about it.

I find the dipped lights are a bit too low and don't really light the road far enough ahead for me. Does anyone know how to lift them up a bit (I have the self levelling feature on my RX 350)

There was a parcel shelf on the back seat of one of the crashed RX on the Parts Shark website when I looked so may be worth another try

On my RX350 the computer shows about 20.7 but calculating on full to full and the trip meter give near to 19.8 running around the country at a fairly gentle pace. It was better on a fast run on the motorway (400miles) - about 26MPG - so it looks as if the computer is a bit optimistic. The service manager at LKexus Bordeaux told me that one should expect about 9L/100Km (31.4MPG) from an RX400 and about 8 (35MPG) from an RX450. He thought about 13l/100Km (21.7MPG) would be about right for an RX350