NeilB

Yes it seems severe, but when you consider the Lexus bodyshop says the bumper will need to be replaced because they dont want to put good paint on bad, so what (not so sure about doing the same test on the good front bumper'!)

1 hour ago, Glover said:

Hi Neil.  Just searched the NBRA website and PK Motors isn't a member.  Looks like the insurance ombudsman might be your best course

Yes I think that you are correct. I am hoping to get a professional paint consultant to provide an assessment of the cause of failure so that the Ombudsman has an alternative to the Admiral reason for failure.

2 hours ago, Glover said:

Hi Neil. Just did a search for VBRA and it came up wit NBRA.  VBRA joined with the National Association of Bodyshops in 2017 to become the NBRA, which is why you can't find the VBRA..  The NBRA website is http://nbra.org.uk/

Many thanks that's very useful. 

On 5/23/2019 at 2:39 PM, olliesgrandad said:

My ex had a vw polo bought new. Someone cut the fabric sunroof with a knife. Car repaired by insurance companies repairers but upon return roof didn't function car went back, but was a very long time in bodyw A few months later I noticed the bonnet had changed colour further inspection revealed over spray, signs of filler and missing stone chip repairs. Insurance company engineer insisted the car had been repaired and that it was factory paint. Complained to the insurers and they arranged for their chief engineer to inspect car at vw bodyshop. Before he arrived the bodyshop manager without close inspection said the car had clearly been damaged and repaired without our knowledge. Insurers forced to agree an VW bodyshop refinished front of car to proper standard 

I wish that Admiral had a chief engineer that would carry out the visits and had an interest in customer satisfaction! In my case they sent a a fella from a firm called Banwells that started telling me it was stone chip damage as he was climbing out of his car before he even looked at it. He spent very little time looking at the peeling paint, in fact when I pointed out I can peel the clear coat off he said yes that's because moisture has penetrated between the clear and base coat, hee didn't try it himself. He was more interested in noting the mileage, tyre tread depths, chassis number and taking photos of the front, roof etc for his report to send to Admiral together with his bill.

On 5/20/2019 at 7:04 PM, NeilB said:

I have had my RX450H from new and the car is now 6 years old. The car has been fantastic mechanically and at 60,000 miles were still on first set of tyres and brakes!

We however required a new rear bumper when a van decided not to bother checking his mirror in a car park 5 years ago when it was 1 year old. Admiral, our insurer insisted that we use their approved paint shops rather than the Lexus approved shops. Now the paint clear coat is peeling off on both sides by the wheel arches and Admiral say that it is due to stone chip damage and this has been validated by their independent engineer, Banwell & Associates. The local Lexus bodyshop say its due to poor paint repair quality as there are visible solvent micro blisters, but Admiral disregard their comments. The problem is that I would have bought another new RX450H eventually, but should I now that Admiral and Banwell say this happens to all Lexus'? There is no way I am going to spend £50k+ when this could happen again. I have had BMW's. Mercs, Porsches from new and never experienced this paint flaking issue and it looks hideous and Lexus have quoted circa £1750 to repair because it will require a new bumper.

Another thing I have learnt is not to use Admiral Insurance if you have a Lexus because they don't approve their bodyshops on the grounds of cost.

 

 

One of the paint companies that I have talked to suggests that the best definitive way to determine paint adhesion performance is to carry out a cross hatch test where you use a stanley knife to score the paint in a cross hatch pattern, and then apply sellotape and rip it off to see what is removed: clear coat and or base coat. The trouble is that he suggests I should also carry out the same test on the "factory painted front bumper" for a direct comparison. Sort of double or quits, then requiring rectification at both ends of the car! It could make a good post though.

40 minutes ago, First_Lexus said:

I've been with Admiral quite a few times over the years, but this thread - and their renewal quote - has seen me leave this year.

They tried to put up my multi-car policy by almost £200 and there had been no changes to my cars or circumstances. As in previous years they were willing to reduce the price, but I decided to go elsewhere. Having done some research on service vs price I've gone with Hastings Direct for the NX and Graham Sykes for my MINI at just over £400 for the pair, protected NCB, legal protection, enhanced hire-car (with Hastings) and breakdown cover for the MINI (as it's already included as standard on the Graham Sykes policy).

I was with Graham Sykes a few years ago for my classic Mini and they are great to deal with. Now that my Cooper is 15 years old I can insure it on a 'classic' restricted mileage policy for very little and that has made a big difference.

 

Yes the logic of multicar policies sadly is destroyed by the insurers tendency to take advantage at every opportunity. Having 2 separate policies makes it easier to see when one is being leveraged.

On 5/20/2019 at 11:40 PM, Glover said:

In essence what your insurers would have you believe is that the paint spraying robots at Lexus applied the paint incorrectly to one part of the car when the vehicle was built.  Bizarrely when your car was hit the part of the car that had poorly applied paint was the only part of the car that was damaged and then subsequently repaired. Really????  As the man said 'there's more chance of Elvis coming back riding Shergar and being struck by lightning!'   A more plausible explanation was that the humans carrying out the repair working under pressure to keep costs down skimped on preparation and/or applying the paint.  

My RX is a year older than yours and I have no paint problems whatsoever and I would gladly buy another. 

RXs sold in the UK come from a factory that has been rated number one in the world for quality (number two is a Toyota plant in Japan and number three is the Lexus plant in   Canada).  Couple the award winning factories with the fact that Lexus consistently win awards for the quality of their cars and  I doubt very much that a poor paint finish on a car would have got past inspection at the factory. 

I'd suggest taking your case to the insurance ombudsman and the VBRA (assuming the repairers were members)  And finally can Banwell and Associates be independent when they are paid by Admiral?

Good luck

Does anyone know if VBRA still exists? Their website, email and phone doesn't seem to be working. Someone will be in trouble if they forgot to renew their telecom agreement.

On 5/20/2019 at 7:48 PM, NemesisUK said:

6yr old tyres! I thought the recommendation was to change at 5yrs max?

They are in good condition, checked by the Lexus dealer at annual service. I am also only supposed to eat meat 3 times a week and maximum 5 pints of beer a week.

I am really pleased to hear a resounding "this doesn't normally happen to Lexus cars!" Unlike I was told by Banwells and the paint shop PK Motors, Tunbridge Wells.

I will take this further with the Ombudsman and any paint trade associations I can find. I will also use a truly independent paint specialist unlike the Admiral hires.

Many thanks, this is the first time I have used a forum, it's good to hear I am not the only fool to have bought a Lexus.

I have had my RX450H from new and the car is now 6 years old. The car has been fantastic mechanically and at 60,000 miles were still on first set of tyres and brakes!

We however required a new rear bumper when a van decided not to bother checking his mirror in a car park 5 years ago when it was 1 year old. Admiral, our insurer insisted that we use their approved paint shops rather than the Lexus approved shops. Now the paint clear coat is peeling off on both sides by the wheel arches and Admiral say that it is due to stone chip damage and this has been validated by their independent engineer, Banwell & Associates. The local Lexus bodyshop say its due to poor paint repair quality as there are visible solvent micro blisters, but Admiral disregard their comments. The problem is that I would have bought another new RX450H eventually, but should I now that Admiral and Banwell say this happens to all Lexus'? There is no way I am going to spend £50k+ when this could happen again. I have had BMW's. Mercs, Porsches from new and never experienced this paint flaking issue and it looks hideous and Lexus have quoted circa £1750 to repair because it will require a new bumper.

Another thing I have learnt is not to use Admiral Insurance if you have a Lexus because they don't approve their bodyshops on the grounds of cost.