Barry14UK

One possibility could be a rolling scrappage scheme as vehicles reach a certain age. I know some very good cars were scrapped in a previous National time limited scheme in the UK and think there will be incentives for owners to change at some stage. So perhaps a carrot and stick attitude by Government as a drive to reduce emissions. (It is appreciated that producing electricity is not entirely without use of fossil fuel as things are presently but battery powered cars help) The question is implicit in the start of this thread, ie about how willing people will be to continue to buy new petrol/diesel/hybrid cars before very long and the effect this might have on the value of current IC cars.

We know that some manufactures plan to stop building solely petrol and diesel engined cars before long. Also, with improved battery technology and development of electric cars and more widespread availability of charging, I wonder for how much longer it will make sense to buy a new IC engined car or even a hybrid one. Manufacturers are about to release quite a number of battery only new models and already there are early generation ones on the used car market. These will undoubtedly sell better as charging facilities and availability, range and choice improves. Of course Petrol/Diesel stations will still be operating for many years. However, I think that before very long IC powered cars will suffer heavy depreciation. This could result in purchasers buying a top of a range car at bargain basement price. However, would you be deterred from buying a new car in the next three or so years time realizing it may suffer very heavy depreciation when you change? There is also the strong possibility that owners of IC cars will be further penalized by Government. Remaining manufacturers could find it uneconomical to continue to produce IC cars as demand drops off. Anybody had any thoughts on this subject?

That looks a nice car. I prefer the rubbing strip which breaks up the large expanse of metal doors but this seems to have gone out of fashion - weight/cost saving on later models? Like others, look forward to seeing pics of your replacement and hope you are very happy with it.

Thank you Herbs. I will do as you have done but use the alternative festoon bulb, the one you fitted being no longer available. I assume the fade down will be as before, although this is not critical.

Thank you for your confirmation and posting pic which speaks for itself about difference made. Do you think that if I removed my existing main bulbs and took them to Halfords they could provide replacements or using any markings on present bulbs I could order from somebody specializing in bulbs? Also, does it just involve a direct replacement or does a resistor or whatever have to be fitted? No doubt this is obvious to someone with your electronic experience but for some of us we would have to check.

I find it fiddly too. Also, allied to this, I find the main internal light rather dim. I wonder has anybody maybe upgraded with LED's - assuming existing conventional bulbs or tubular type?

Body seals can harden over the years and also seize to frames in winter. I have had to use warm winter to free off before now and when this was not possible and had to open had some of the rubber left on a door frame on previous car, so along with helping squeaking helps with two problems. Thanks for recommendation - have placed order today.

Colour is very much a subjective thing and more important to some than others. Some years ago I read an article that said dark blue cars were statistically most at risk of being involved in an accident which didn't surprise me, because the driver who T boned me in my dark blue very long Fiat 3200 (130) Coupe claimed not to have seen me. I can't believe other dark cars would be better in this respect but have not researched any figures recently. Car colour is important to me and I have mostly had Silver cars because I not only like the colour but it hides dirt well and I am not somebody with a sponge/leather frequently in my hand. I do like the very light blue found on some Mini's and the Messa Red on some RX's. I do wonder how the red would be after time though as in general on other cars at least, it's the most severely faded car colour you see on the road. There is no doubt that some cars look better in certain colours than others and can influence sale price and down the line purchasers preference. There is also a matter of what is fashionable. Certainly agree grey is in vogue at present, even in bathrooms! Enjoy many safe miles in your new ride.

I suppose most people rely on the dark tinted rear and side windows. Perhaps the gap is shown up more because you have cream seats and rear parcel cover. My cover is black so gap less obvious. Strange though it will seem , my parcel shelf that came with the car was lying loose on the boot floor and when I tried to fit it I couldn't because it was for a HONDA!! Lexus Cheltenham subsequently provided replacement. Anyway, point of mentioning this is to say that the Honda one has several adjustable clips along the rear edge that must engage with a transverse tube behind the rear seats or maybe to a fitting in each back seat of their car. On the Honda the cover must stretch far enough forward to enable this I would think. It would be difficult even for an upholsterer make anything that would harmonize I think, whilst maintaining versatility of seats and not mark them. At the same time you would have to consider whether any modification might draw attention and expectation that you had something easily marketable hidden beneath. If of any interest I can send some pics as Lexus didn't want the Honda one back and I have not got round to putting it on ebay yet!

Grey!! Looks like you got a nice car otherwise - just teasing.

Would have been more helpful to the lady in video if those filming and laughing at her, seeing she was at a loss, had put her right!

Don't know what resources the Police are putting into ending this form of theft but maybe some (more ?) 'bait cars' observed by police and when culprits found hopefully they will get hefty sentences (or be deported where applicable). Such cases would need to be widely publicized in the hope it would deter others. Maybe insurers could exercise pressure on the Police to be more proactive. d

Hi Barbara, Sorry you have fallen foul of these scumbags. The first thing you have to decide is how you are going to deal with this. The cost of fitting a genuine replacement will be high and you might have to wait because there is likely to be a back order from Lexus meaning quit a wait. If you claim on your insurance the chances are that your premium will be loaded on renewal. The alternatives then are that you have a length of pipe fitted to replace the cat for permanent or temporary use. This is illegal. Otherwise you could get a cheaper aftermarket cat fitted and if you wish help secure this by one of the protective devices mentioned in this thread. If you park in the same place regularly the thieves may target you again. No device will guarantee that your cat will not be stolen but because this is literally a cut and run crime any device fitted may make the thieves leave your car and move to an easier target. Let us know how you get on.

not a difficult job to slacken off road wheel bolts slightly, jack wheel and fully remove bolts and wheel, disassemble caliper, remove pads, remove any rust from pins and contact surfaces. when all clean and appropriate rubbing parts lightly greased with recommended type, reassemble, I would do all 4 calipers to get smoothest braking and longest use out of pads an rotors. Always a good idea to tighten wheel bolts to manufacturers specified torque working in an opposite pattern as far as possible rather than in a circular pattern. This assumes rotor. pads and pins are in serviceable condition, otherwise replace as necessary while parts disassembled. There must be plenty of videos on this should you need more detailed help.

LED's are more reliable but seems an expensive exercise if you need to change them. then. Is it likely in your case or is it just a case of adjustment?

Wow! Does it reside in a forest?

Supplying spare parts contributes greatly to the profit of manufacturers, If manufacturers can get parts made cheaply elsewhere they will do so. I remember on a W124 Mercedes I had in the late nineties the under bonnet loom degenerated to the point I was getting a bad misfire. I was told it was made in Poland and was known to fail. Also,even back then some Mercedes components were being made made in China. I don't know whether Lexus buy in parts from China but being aware that Chinese tend to make anything they can sell, it comes as no surprise to me that they will make a version of Lexus parts. Some of what is made in China is very good, I was surprised how good some HS drill bits I bought were but some stuff is very inferior. I remember buying what was ostensibly a North Face jacket from a large Government supported store we were expected to attend as part of a tour of China. It was cheap, and on close examination the material and stitching showed it was not genuine. Maybe they have improved in recent years but I would not automatically accept everything they sell as aftermarket products is of the same quality as sold by major manufacturers, even if the OE parts were made in China. Having said that, the difference in price of the level adjuster as detailed in this thread would probably tempt most people with an older car go that way, even if the part might not be so long lasting.

When I asked Lexus Birmingham about the price our member was quoted 4 weeks previously they said that special offer had ended and I would be looking at about the price that Snows Group have them advertised for which is £354.99 delivered. I think I got them at around £300 delivered from Lexus Direct, They waived the delivery charge as I bought cross bars too. I note that there are some used ones here for the moment but with several watchers https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303360994135 Should you get second hand ones ensure you get the longer bolts that are required to fit them. (These are included with new ones) From previous thread on same subject:- Posted September 16 Somebody on the forum mentioned that he got a heavily discounted pair from Lexus Birmingham in June. When I finally got though to them on the 3rd occasion in July and a week apart, having been told they would ring me back but didn't, they said the offer had ended and the rails were at a much higher price, I contacted 'Lexus Direct' (who sometimes put in an appearance on this forum) and they agreed to post a pair to me for the inclusive price of £300. and it hopefully stil on their website This is quite a bit cheaper than the normal price. (Lexus Exeter have them on ebay for circa £350 pounds for example. If you do get a pair, here are a couple of tips. The instructions are all in symbol form and these suggest you bin certain parts you have to remove but I suggest you retain these. If the next purchaser of your car does not wish to have these rails, you can then easily remove them and reinstate the original bits you removed, as so many people want these rails.you will find a buyer. Another tip is to fit the undersides of the plastic - yes plastic, (cheap skates) end covers before offering up to fix, as trying to spring these in after bolts could stress the plastic. The tops then snap into place

In the past I have used a combination of vacuum and compressed air and knocking them to clean air and pollen filters if they look pretty fair and never had a problem. Of course there comes a time when they have to be replaced.

I tried Lexus Birmingham as mentioned in this thread for the side rails but their price had increased very considerably and best price I could get new ones for was from Lexus Direct who occasionally contribute to threads on this forum. There are aftermarket non OE options available cheaper on ebay but otherwise it's checking with Breakers for genuine ones and demand for these seems to outstrip supply.

It's most likely that because there are comparatively fewer Lexus cars on UK roads than the premium German cars, there are relatively far fewer Independent specialists for the marque. There was a list compiled of all independents by county with ratings for BMW specialists but I can't remember now whether I got this through being a club member or by searching the net. Such a list for Lexus could prove useful for service and if a problem happened away from home, particularly for owners of older vehicles not wanting to pay Lexus Franchise rates for work. Anybody know is there is such a list for Lexus? I have also noted that the range and choice of parts on ebay for example is far smaller than for main competitors, I suppose this is another aspect where you pay the price for Lexus being more exclusive,

How would you know (other than assume) how a car has been used)? It is mainly the number of cold starts that produce proportionally greater engine wear. My daughter lives in a rather remote area and does a very high mileage taking her children to school and various other activities. She was using her 7 seater SUV for this which car she needs when the whole family go out. However, she has now bought a much smaller car to do the school run, which is more economical and easier to park. So the SUV gets used much less but has mixed purpose use. I only do a small mileage these days, about half of which is for long journeys but having had only premium 6 and 8 cylinder cars for the last 25 or so years, albeit secondhand ones, which I largely maintained myself, I intend to continue this indulgence which is less strain on my back.

I had my car serviced at Lexus Cheltenham in May, I got them to give me the price of their services both standard and essential for the different mileage increments plus of course any additional work found necessary. Having said that, they did offer me inducements to go back to them for service of my car which I had bought from them. (In fairness to them I will not say what these were but I was not offered the receptionist with the coffee LOL) Always worth checking around. Interested to learn what your discussions lead to

Well the authorities have had many years to consider and update but have not changed the regs in this respect, perhaps for the counter reason I posted.

One further thought. Many of the posts in this thread consider only MOT requirements and implications. MOT requirements are becoming increasingly more strict but by no means cover all that is required for a model to obtain Type Approval which is something quite different. If it comes to paying up in the event of an accident do you think that insurance companies will automatically do so because you have passed an MOT but gone outside Type Approval. particularly if you have not run these alterations past them?