LenT

One possibility, Shaun, is that when fitting the rear camera the connection to the built-in aerial in the rear screen has been damaged or disconnected. Or even the continuity of the aerial in the screen has been damaged. My car suddenly developed the same symptom - albeit long after the rear camera was fitted - but shortly after a Dealer service. The problem was rectified by the Dealer - apparently by replacing the rear screen FOC! It’s possible that my Service Contract covered such replacement or they felt responsible in some way. Frankly, I wasn’t too bothered about having an inquest as to how the problem was caused, which I think the Dealer appreciated! I hope this helps.

Spookily, Neil, that’s just what I suggested today to another poster about to collect a new Lexus. I doubt he’ll bother, but as you’ve discovered - and Detailers would recommend - if you want bodywork to stay looking like new, then that’s when to ceramic coat it. It’s a relatively small investment relative to the purchase price, but it’ll pay dividends if you’re planning to keep the car for some years. The one place where the benefit is a bit dubious is the windscreen, as you discovered. This article explains it in more detail. https://cars.newagain.co.uk/blog.asp?topic=Can-you-ceramic-coat-windscreens&tag=&id=40 Many years ago I knew the Company marketing a product called Rain-X, which was a silicon coating for glass to promote water beading. They specifically recommended that it should NOT be used on windscreens for the very reason you’ve described. When Chris Mitchell sold the product to another Company, they dropped that warning!

What an infuriating incident, Malcolm. Was this a recent crime or a past event that still rightly rankles? It may be scant consolation, but as a Case Study for having a dashcam in parking mode overnight, it may at least serve as an incentive to others.

Yes, that seems to be very much the case, Malcolm. Which is why - were I taking delivery of a brand new Lexus - I would take it straight to a professional Detailer for paint correction and a ceramic coating. The cost represents a small percentage of the total investment but provides the ideal start to a long lasting finish.

I think that sums it up pretty well, Linus. And the fact that both systems flourish probably indicates that the ‘average’ motorist is perfectly content with a ‘clean and shiny’ car and less concerned with the finer nuances of attaining bodywork perfection. Having said that, I can now provide an example that demonstrates the point. For health reasons, Mrs T hasn’t driven her Suzuki 4x4 for nearly two years. It’s barely moved off the drive. But now that she’s taking it up again, the need is to remove the many muddy, cat paw marks that it has collected. Which is why we’ve just returned from treating it to the top £10 car wash at the local BP station! What hypocrisy, some might think. But it’s the ten year old family work horse and as long as it’s ‘clean and shiny’ that’s all Mrs T demands. Justifying any further investment involves a degree of debate that is ultimately not worth the effort. Fortunately, she greatly approves of the Lexus, so I can spend what I like on it!

How very irritating for you, Kevin. This - and the lack of locking wheel nuts or bolts - can take the gloss off the pleasure of acquiring a new car. At the very least, it means an additional Dealer visit. Although not the Dealer’s fault, I hope they are taking responsibility and arranging some acceptable compensation! To brighten your mood, I can suggest an additional way to spend your money. Have you considered having it professionally Detailed and a ceramic coating applied? Much depends on how long you plan to keep it, but Detailers say this is the ideal time for them to work on a car - when it should have the very minimum of paint correction required. All the best for Saturday. 😊

Apparently,:modern washes use microfibre filaments which are claimed to be gentler in action and less likely retain the grit they’re supposed to be washing off - especially in view of the copious volumes of water they use. Those who make them and install them certainly argue that they’re better than the ‘average’ hand wash. In reality, it seems that the quality of their maintenance will greatly affect their performance. But I think it’s fair to say that even these low-cost mobile operations are superior, simply because of the time they devote to the task and the expertise they apply to it. I’m certainly a convert. But will I burn my bridges and give away all my car wash kit? Probably not…just in case!

After having my car ‘Detailed’ I was urged to avoid any further contact with the local garage-based car washes. But you’re quite right Linus that many articles advise that because they use far more water they can be less damaging than a hand wash. However, as my new mobile mate observed, car washes that use recycled water rely on the meticulous maintenance of the filters to eliminate microscopic grit particles. And that is often not up to scratch - as one might say! In addition, they use more aggressive detergents in the wash which will be more effective at removing wax finishes, for example. And I’m sure we’ve all gone round the car afterwards dealing with the various areas that have been missed. It happens to be the case that our two local, Tesco-based hand washes are indeed EE staffed. But presumably that’s because they were smart enough to negotiate the franchise in the first place. I’m sure that no-one is suggesting that the individual’s ethnicity is the cause for concern. Watching these lads in action, I would say it’s the time pressure they’re under. After all, cars are left with them while the owners go shopping. They then come out after, probably, less than thirty minutes and expect the car to be gleaming - and it usually is, despite the lad having to do, say, two or three (or even more!) in that time. And as you rightly observe, their reward for all that effort is hardly likely to encourage a dedicated approach! The fact that these operations are still in business simply shows that many motorists are perfectly happy with the results. But then many motorists have their cars serviced by the likes of Halfords.

I’m sure we all wish you sunshine and happiness for such a significant family event, Dave. 😊

I think Rowley is referring to the likes of Hand Washes that pop-up in Tesco car parks. Unfortunately they do tend to be operated by predominantly Eastern European lads organised by someone who acts suspiciously like a ‘Gangmaster’. In terms of the potential damage to a car’s finish, there would be little to choose between them and a mechanical car wash. Although the car wash doesn’t drop a drying towel on the concrete and then pick it up again to continue drying the car - as I watched one lad do!

Almost the first thing I asked my guy is what he classified the IS250 as being - fully expecting it would be a ‘large’ partially influenced by the fact that ii’s also regarded as ‘luxury’. So I was surprised that he pronounced it ‘medium’. It’ll be interesting to see what he makes of our other car - a Suzuki SX4 which is much older and doesn’t have the benefit of ceramic coating.

Interesting point, Rowley. My guy was quick to establish that he took payment by card or online - and was a bit surprised when I offered cash. He also has quite a sophisticated website: http://www.rs-autodetailing.co.uk/ I must admit that I made my original admission somewhat tongue-in-cheek - and expected a bit of joshing as a result. Instead all the comments have been very positive in favour of mobile valeting. As usual, I seem to be coming rather late to the party - and should have done this years ago!

Well I don’t have the problems that Herbs has to overcome, but at 78 a cost/benefit v discomfort analysis definitely comes down now on the side of letting someone else do it! I’m sure you’re right that bulk buying materials through the trade will reduce costs per job, but it’s still a low margin business. While being mobile can be a benefit, it’s also subject to the weather. My chap was actually scheduled for a few days earlier, but had to call it off. As he demonstrated by emailing an image of an infrared thermometer, car bodies that day were reaching a temperature of 50C.

Good grief, Herbs! I’m impressed you can even drive the car. 👍

I appreciate that this is predominantly a cash business, but I do wonder how anyone can turn a profit at that rate. And, of course, put in the effort to deliver a good result.

🫢

My thoughts exactly, Linus. I would have thought his labour cost alone would be that, with operating costs and a profit margin on top. But I don’t know how similar operations compare. Mind you, I did supply power, water, Modesta top coat - and a mug of tea (I’m not totally inconsiderate). Be interesting to see if his next visit comes with a price increase. He did say I was probably the last private car customer he was taking on at the moment, what with much of his work being agricultural and construction machinery - such as JCB, John Deer, MF and such like. Having said that, he’ll be returning to do our other car at some time. Where I grew up, car washing was a useful source of income when you were at school. Perhaps not so much these days. But then I’ve never be afraid of hard work. I could watch it all day.

More of a blow job, surely. Or do you really drive that slowly? 🙂

Mine’s a different model, but the Manual doesn’t even show a Red warning triangle. Have you checked your Manual? Have you checked the oil level? Hard cornering can produce a low level. Alternatively, does it happen on every corner or just in one direction? It might be related to the sensors on the wheels. The other suggestion is….don’t do it then! 😊

I think the time has come to hang up my foam gun. Ever since I had the car detailed with a ceramic finish, even trips to the car wash were no longer allowed. Unfortunately, various age-related aches and pains meant that an hour or so of car washing was no longer the pleasure it once was. So biting the foam-gun bullet, I found a local mobile valeting service to come and do the business - inside and out. After nearly two hours of non-stop action, I have to say the result was splendid.. At least as good as anything I could achieve. It seems a lot of his private car customers are in a similar physical position. No doubt some here will find the thought of paying £40 to have your car washed quite ridiculous. And some will have bred convenient children to do the task. But for many, this will be the shape of things to come!

Slight confusion here possibly? Having said you want someone other than a Dealer for general service, you then later say that… I may be mistaken, but I suspect that the service warranty’s conditional on it being carried out by a Dealer! There are three London Lexus dealers showing in the Lexus list and I presume you are already aware of them. I think both Edgware Rd and Woodford have had mainly good reports by LOC members in the past.

That may well be the case, Paul. But if you were a thief it would mean an additional five minutes with the car - possibly generating an attention-getting degree of noise - and increasing the risk of discovery. In contrast a £40 set of locking wheels nuts will provide additional protection to what can easily amount to a £1K set of chrome alloy Lexus wheels and tyres. Were I a Dealer faced with a supply problem from Lexus, I’d buy half a dozen sets from Halfords rather than have a dissatisfied customer who’d just spent £40K with me!

Well I had a couple of attempts that ended up like a Monty Python script, so gave up. But to be fair, I had the same result with my previous Honda Accord. So either one has to persevere - or it’s Japanese sense of humour.

That’s astonishing! It’s a petty saving, considering the purchase price - and is the kind of minimal security feature you expect on a ‘luxury’ car. You could take it up with Lexus just to confirm that this is now their Policy. But frankly, if that was the case, then I would have thought the Dealer would have been bright enough to supply a set anyway, in order to avoid the discussion!

If you haven’t seen it, you may find this comparison between the Eagle 6 and Pilot 5 interesting. As it concludes, the choice really comes down to your personal priorities of the particular qualities each tyre offers. Clearly, both are excellent- although the differences seem rather marginal https://www.tyrereviews.com/Compare/Eagle-F1-Asymmetric-6-VS-Pilot-Sport-5.htm Sometimes, reading these reviews and owners’ comments, I do feel that often much is being made of very marginal differences that may only be sensed when cars are being driven in (shall we say) an exceptionally exuberant manner that doesn’t really reflect real world experience for the vast majority of Lexus owners. But maybe that’s just me! 😊