LenT

Point well made George! When I had occasion to work under a car, I had four ramps to drive up on - or lower the car down on as appropriate. The ramps themselves could then be further wound up if necessary. I never trusted any form of jack without axle stands. It’s not so surprising that DIYers have to be constantly reminded of the dangers of working under badly supported vehicles. But it appears that some of those in the Motor Trade learn the hard way too. According to the Health & Safety Executive, in the last five years 12 mechanics have died under vehicles that dropped down on to them. And over 2,300 suffered non-fatal injuries. It’s possibly another instance in which familiarity breeds contempt!

I think you were typing this at the same time as I was my own post. So I just wanted to acknowledge that it seems to be a much more measured response than previous posts to which I was responding. I may have misunderstood, but surely here you make the point that this is an aberration in your previous and extensive experience of Lexus cars and service. I would be curious to know if there is any make of car for which one cannot find a disgruntled owner! Far be it for me to intrude, but I really would have thought that considering the substantial investment you have already made, and your previous satisfied relationship with Lexus, that there are still plenty of routes to resolving this matter that you can explore.

Why? Now I may be mistaken Steve, but as I understand it you purchased the car on September 1st. I’m not really clear as to whether you bought it new or as a used vehicle. If the latter, did you inspect it at the Dealership? Have you had it independently inspected? In fact I don’t think you’ve even confirmed that it was from a Lexus Dealer. And if so, why not name them? As has been said by a another Poster, they don’t know of one in Kent who would give such bad service. Of course you’ve only just come back after your OP of October 19, not that you have any obligation to do so! But you don’t seem to have taken up any of the suggestions made by earlier Posters. Why would you sell it and take the hit after only three months when you have several legal avenues by which you can pursue compensation - or a new vehicle, as you can reject it as Not Fit for Purpose! Whether you choose to buy another Lexus after this is yours to make. But this website wouldn’t even exist if your dismissal of the Lexus brand, its dealers and its cars was the general experience. I’m sure we all appreciate that buying a new car which then appears to be faulty - faults that the Seller cannot identify ( and incidentally, ‘known faults with a Lexus’ is a nonsensical excuse) - is infuriating and should not be tolerated! But just selling it and taking the hit - and denigrating the entire Lexus product to so - is surely not the best way forward? It has also occurred to me to point out that Toyota/Lexus are to be found regularly at the top of - or thereabouts- of most Automotive Satisfaction Surveys. Now that’s a majority view by Owners. It doesn’t happen by chance.

And ‘Big’ ?

Well call me naive, but it never occurred to me that my initial chit-chat with the Sales folk at Lexus MK might affect my future standards of service. In fact it’s now so long ago that I can’t really remember how my time as a Hitman for the Mafia even came up….

Well, I have a different model Lexus, but I only found mine by getting on my back and looking at the area just under the dash and near the steering column with a torch! I suspect it’s an example of Japanese sense of humour! 😊

Unfortunately Nigel, the Manual for my IS250 only covers 16”, 17” and 18” wheels. I have 18 “ wheels. But if it’s any help, the recommended pressure from cold is a constant 36psi irrespective of tyre size. In other words, there seems no change in recommended pressures with wheel size.

As Linas hints, there’s reviews and there’s reviews! 😊 Firstly, it’s not a good idea to have different makes on different axles - although putting the newest tyres on the rear axle is correct. However, I believe that the Pace 10 may be a ‘run flat’ - unlike the Goodyear 5s. This means the Pace has a thicker sidewall and will have different ride characteristics to the Goodyears. Which could mean that in stressed conditions the front and rear axles will have very different levels of response. Indeed it may even account for the slightly erratic steering that you’re currently enjoying! Of course, this is all a bit late as I expect having made this buying decision you’ll not be inclined to dump them for a new pair of the excellent Goodyears! So just drive very, very carefully. I thought you might be interested in a professional assessment of the Pace 10. https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Pace/PC10.htm Not an encouraging read, unfortunately. But at least a warning to others!

Very interesting. Not something I’ve ever come across either. I take it that a Manual didn’t come with the car. But there should be a tyre pressure label on one of the front door pillars. Failing that, check the tyre maker’s website.

🫢 Steady on, Ron. This is a family website, you know! But back to positioning the Milenco…. With me it depends on whether I remember to do it before or after the steering wheel lock has engaged. If it’s engaged, then it has to go vertically on the left or I can’t get out. I also have to remember to move my left leg and sit slightly sideways or I’ll have trouble getting my leg over. (But it was ever thus!) If steering lock not engaged, then I can position the wheel as shown so that the Milenco is horizontal over a key spoke. I also find it easier to operate the key in the Milenco lock when it’s right in front of me. Still, how dull Life would be without these little challenges? 😊 PS. I should add that Milenco themselves illustrate the lock in the horizontal position. On my wheel it will only cover the spokes with the paddles, which means positioning the wheel before the steering lock engages. I hope that clears that up!

My IS250 is a year younger, but I have no intention at the moment of entrusting the Services to any one other than Lexus Milton Keynes. In fact I have taken out three year Service Contracts ever since I bought it from them. I mention this only to provide a more balanced overall view. Obviously, Dealerships will vary and my view might change. MK is also the only Lexus Dealer I have experienced. But my experience has always been excellent - so far. Unlike Michael, my Lexus always received a complementary full valeting after a Service. Unfortunately, this also included a run through the car wash when I had specifically requested that this didn’t happen on account of the car now having had a ceramic finish applied. So I was impressed when the Service Manager called to apologise and to inform me that this request had not got through to the lad doing the valeting! He offered to rectify any damage that had been caused. As it happens, no damage had been done - but it struck me that many Dealerships would not have caused potential problems for themselves by telling me anyway.

It sounds like you have inadvertently pressed the window control lock button. This stops the passenger windows operating as a child safety precaution. This will be explained in the Manual, but if it’s the same as mine, look for a bank of three switches in the driver’s door, just below the mirror adjuster. The largest of the three is the window lock button. See what happens if you press it!

It was indeed your recommendation Ron that clinched my decision. Has Milenco not yet sent you your commission? 🙁 I agree that the silver version does look classier, but in the end I went for ‘In-Yer-Face’ yellow on the basis that instant visibility is one of the claimed benefits.

I regard the Disklok as the Big Daddy of them all. As I recall, it was the first - and is still one of the few - to pass the ‘5 Minute Attack’ test, resisting the attentions of professional destroyers. I had two - and still have one - but find it awkward to store in the car and a bit more cumbersome than the Milenco. But given that, its great strength is that it covers the entire wheel, so sawing through the wheel is no longer an option. The Milenco is one of the few others to pass the same attack test. What decided me is that it takes up less room in the car. - but it also takes more getting used to in order to fit and remove smoothly. It’s possible that somewhere like Halfords might stock them both, so you can compare them directly.

I have just bought this Milenco on the recommendation of another member. It’s a very solid and well-tested bit of kit. I can’t say if it will fit your wheel, but it’s perfect on my IS250. It takes a bit of practice, but it’s easier to store in the car than the Disklok I used to use. I bought this direct from the Milenco outlet. It’s the latest version with rubber blocks that lift the lock off the steering wheel so that it doesn’t mark it. The only problem I found is that sometimes the rubber blocks dropped off the Milenco before it was located on the wheel. Of course it may not happen to you, but I solved this by fitting a couple of cable ties around the blocks and locking them to the Milenco. Milenco Direct outlet: https://www.milenco-outlet.co.uk/security/milenco-high-security-steering-wheel-lock-yellow.html

Yes, this is clearly a standard aerofoil section. So be particularly careful when driving into a headwind. Combine that with a road speed of, say, 150mph and you might achieve lift off! 😊

Well, I didn’t Kevin! I had my IS250 Detailed when it was about six years old. Unless I am mistaken, your Lexus is rather newer than that. Mind you, few Detailers are also bodywork repair specialists as well. So they need to start with a reasonable finish! But the results in terms of appearance and protection are far superior to anything the likes of Supagard can offer. Now I’ve always thought that there a fewer easier things in Life than spending someone else’s money. I’d never heard of Detailing until I started looking for things to do to the car while we were all confined indoors due to the Covid lockdowns. In case it might be helpful, here’s a link to my Detailer. I expect he’s typical so might give you a better idea of the results to expect. https://www.huntsmiths.co.uk/

I know it’s been mentioned a few times, Kevin, but now might be a good time to consider having the car professionally detailed with a good quality ceramic finish. Mine was treated with Modesta products only three years ago, but I already feel it was a shrewd investment.

I don’t think it’s a con, but it’s only worth having in specific circumstances. It should certainly only be taken out after reviewing what your main car insurance covers and offers in compensation for a total loss. The AA cites a survey that finds a new car can lose up to 40% of its initial value in its first year - although the current chip shortage might well have reduced that. But traditionally a new car suffered significant depreciation the moment you drove it off the forecourt. Guaranteed Asset Protection insurance would bridge that gap between what you’d just paid and what it had just lost. So it would, ideally, in the event of a write-off, enable you to buy another new car of the same spec. So when I bought my new Honda Accord, I took it out. When I replaced it with a two year-old Lexus, I didn’t. I hope this AA article helps: https://www.theaa.com/cars/gap-insurance#:~:text=GAP stands for Guaranteed Asset,purchase price of your car.

In the current climate it may be wise not to spell out what those steps are. There may be some dodgy characters reading these comments right now! 😡 Maybe when you collect the car, he’ll relent enough to write them down on condition that you eat the paper before driving off! So, Gary, here’s wishing you and your new Lexus many happy years …together. 😊

I expect you were surprised that Lexus MK were competitive tyre sellers. I know I was and perhaps it may now encourage other LOC members to give their local Dealer a chance to quote. Did they comment on the TPMS status? And what were the results of the tracking check? I might even get this done at my next service there. 😊

Well, from your account it does appear that it is going away. I would hope that the second mechanic would have removed as much of the melted deposit as possible before applying the heat resistant paint. But as your third photo shows, there doesn’t appear to be any exposed material left that might pose a fire risk. At the car’s next MOT, you could ask the mechanic to check the entire exhaust system for any remaining material while it’s up on a hoist. But if you can’t smell it in the engine bay then it was obviously confined to the area under the car. In any case, after four hours of driving, exhaust systems generally get hot enough to emit distinctive smells any way. Which is possibly what you can now detect when you open the door!

Well, it certainly looks like some polystyrene insulation material has burnt on to the exhaust pipe. But it’s a bit surprising that a mechanic hasn’t been able to scrape it off. Possibly there’s still some located on the exhaust pipe that’s hard to reach. It shouldn’t be a fire hazard as I expect it will all gradually carbonise - a process you can accelerate by going for long drives that get the exhaust system really hot. As for the smell, here’s a cheap but effective remedy: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Air-Freshener-LITTLE-TREES-Fragrance/dp/B0070YY4RE/ref=sr_1_8_mod_primary_new?adgrpid=128733248281&hvadid=606190324771&hvdev=t&hvlocphy=1006551&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=8350481739510747798&hvtargid=kwd-47382050&hydadcr=9536_2247973&keywords=car%2Bair%2Bfreshener&qid=1697953264&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sr=8-8&th=1

Unlike Don, I thought my reversing light was rubbish and nowhere near as good as my previous car - a Honda Accord. Of course, it might be down to the age of my car. Anyway, I changed it for this LED wedge-base Philips bulb and transformed the view in the reversing camera. I don’t know if your Lexus uses the same fitting, but for £12 it’s not a huge risk. https://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/955-w16w-white-philips-ultinon-pro6000-led-bulbs-single.html

Excellent suggestion that puts the onus back on your Insurers and applies the principle that you shouldn’t be disadvantaged by your loss. However, I think Insurers may only do this in certain circumstances- so again worth examining your Policy to see what conditions may apply. I thought that this adjudication by the Financial Ombudsman might be helpful. It’s possibly not an exact comparison but might help you give your Insurers an incentive to settle! https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/decisions-case-studies/case-studies/new-car-stolen-customer-isnt-offered-replacement