LenT

My car was professionally detailed with a ceramic finish and I am not aware of any warnings regarding rubber seals. The sensors emit a sonic signal and the ceramic film is not only very thin - too thin to affect the signal - but also in contact with the sensor so internal reflection won’t occur. And after all, many people actually paint over the sensors without affecting their performance. The problem is more likely due to water ingress around the sensor - especially when ice has formed and then melted. I have experienced this myself on our other (non-Lexus) car. In my case it was simply cured by wiping the sensors dry. If ignored I imagine that the sensor may suffer internal corrosion and that would affect its performance.

I used to run an advertising agency and my Partner would tell new business contacts that - according to research he claimed to have seen - it cost SEVEN times as much to recruit a new customer as retaining an existing one.

You don’t actually specify who ‘they’ might be, but I can imagine that a regular Dealer will suggest replacement rather than patching. You don’t mention if you’ve tried any exhaust specialists, but they must be your best bet. Alternatively, if you were up to it as a diy job, a Breakers Yard might come up with a suitable Lexus - although there weren’t that many of them! An Internet search of ‘car exhaust repairers in south Wales’ came up with quite a few - so some time ringing around might produce results. How successful a welded patch might be is going to depend on how much was due to external rusting or internal damage. My own experience of diy patching solutions suggests they’re probably a waste of time. But provided there’s still sound metal to attach to, I would have thought a good welder could do a more economical job than replacing the boxes. How long it’ll last must also depend on how much internal damage has been done. Good luck!

My KeyCare cover comes ‘free’ with my car insurance. But this AA page outlines the cover and replacement service it claims to offer. https://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/key-assist

My AA Membership includes a lost key recovery system. A tag provides the Finder with the AA’s details and the incentive of a £10 finder’s fee! Obviously it’s not restricted to car keys!

Oh, I don’t know? Let’s not be too hasty….🤔

Transported me back to the early days when I would double declutch - either because of a lack of decent synchromesh or just because I could! However, I do recall once driving an Uncle about, who ran an auto repair shop, who said “What are you doing that for?” ”For the engine braking.” I confidently replied. ”Well,” he said, “You want to remember that brake shoes are a lot cheaper to replace than clutch plates!”. Something I strenuously avoid these days for the reasons you state. And the finest argument for an auto I can think of. In fact, does Lexus even sell a manual any more?

My sentiments entirely, Ronnie. Although I’d driven plenty of autos, this was the first I’d actually owned. I’d always thought selecting my own gears was the epitome of proper driving. Did I get that wrong!! The Lexus autobox is so good that I quickly realised that letting it choose the appropriate gear was a much more sensible use of my time - and far more befitting of my advanced years. Not to mention kinder on my slightly arthritic left ankle. I did try the paddles a couple of times, but it did seem a lot of effort for little gain. I appreciated that they could provide engine braking down steep hills - but you don’t encounter many of them here in Northamptonshire!

There may indeed be some kind of connection. It seems that the original Meltis New Berry Fruits - made in Bedfordshire from 1908 - with their unique LIQUID centres, have long ceased production and been replaced by New Berry Fruit Jewels! These are an ersatz confection of SOFT centres made in Germany! Mind you, it may also be possible to blame Brexit.

Firstly, if you have run-flats you don’t need to use an injectable tyre repair kit. They are both temporary solutions designed to enable you to drive slowly for a limited distance to a place of safety or repair. As for the TPMS valves - well the solution is designed to harden on exposure to air and to be distributed over the interior of the tyre by motion as well as air movement. So inevitably it will lodge in the valve stem and fill the pressure sensor hole in the TPMS valve. Few - if any - tyre specialists will agree to repair a RF because they have no way of knowing how much damage has been caused internally to the tyre by running the wheel rim on it. Similarly, even if they try to clean the sensor and replace the entire valve stem, they cannot guarantee that the hardened injectable solution has not affected the TPMS valve’s performance. One brand of solution (Slime) claims to be safe for use with TPMS valves - the valve makers claim that none are! I’m sure Lexus has a definitive answer regarding its own supplied product, which you will find tucked away in the Manual. But I would suggest being resigned to replacing the TPMS valve if you have to use the injectable repair kit! As another thought - and I don’t know the car well enough to comment - but is it possible to stow a SpaceSaver tyre in the boot?

A word of caution, if I may Gray. There may be less charitable Lexus owners here who will resent you flaunting your obvious wealth. 🙁

I replaced my D4S bulbs with the Osram Xenon Nightbreakers (also from autobulbsdirect) and they have been a great success. The originals were, frankly, inadequate - and far inferior to those of my previous Honda Accord. For me the brighter main beam, although very welcome, was less useful than the better controlled dipped beam that gave a much better view of the pot-holed verges of our narrow country lanes.

An acceptable shopping trolley substitute many years ago, was to look for a handy Skoda. It was also said in those days they were equally likely to be found in local streams, rivers and canals. 😊 I am led to believe that this is no longer the case.

I’ve just revisited Gov.UK to brush up on the current Guidance for MOT Testers - as you do. It does state that tyres must be fitted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Clearly, fitting them the wrong way round is thus a no no! Surprisingly, perhaps, this is NOT a Fail but is classified as a Major fault advisory. In effect, it can be ignored by the owner! Quite how that makes sense is beyond my pay grade. 😊

How can that ever be considered a clever thing to do? What makes a tyre fitter think they know more about tread design than the people who designed the tread? Why do they think manufacturers go to all the trouble of moulding arrows and words such as ‘Outside’ on to the sidewalls? Do they think it’s just for decoration!? An incorrectly fitted directional tyre will have reduced wet road efficiency, increasing the risk of aquaplaning; reduced cornering ability; increased wear rate and will generate more road noise. Now whether all that will be dramatically apparent will obviously depend on such variables as road surface, weather conditions, driving style, speed, age of the tyre and so on. So it may well be the case that a driver never becomes aware of the negatives associated with incorrect tyre fitting. But if such a vehicle was involved in a serious accident that involved investigation by the Police Accident Investigation Unit in the UK, for example, and they discovered this error, it would undoubtedly be regarded as a contributing factor in attributing liability. Perhaps this animation by Continental Tyres may help explain the principle of tyre fitting to your supplier?

No confusion, Paul. The valve is the sensor. But as it states, this is an unbranded TPMS valve that “Requires diagnostic tool calibration.” - which I suspect is a tool you don’t have. In which case you would need to take them to a good tyre retailer and see if they will fit and register valves supplied by you when the tyres are fitted and the wheels on the car. I don’t know if they will on the basis that if they’re not Lexus branded - or supplied by them - they cannot be responsible for their operation! In which case you will have bought a set of valves that no-one is prepared to fit and accept responsibility for. So I suggest it’s better to have that discussion before buying anything off eBay. But others may have different opinions!

Unlikely. Aftermarket sensors will almost certainly have to be programmed to the car and that requires specialist equipment. Are you also planning to fit the TPMS valves? And then presumably you will take the wheels to a tyre shop to have the tyres fitted. I suggest you will save yourself a lot of time and trouble by, first, locating a good tyre shop and choosing the tyres. Then ask them about fitting and registering OEM valves - you should be able to negotiate a good all-in price. It also makes them responsible for any problems!

Yes. It will invalidate any car insurance. It also renders the driver liable for a fine up to £1000 - but that’s the least of their problems! It sounds like you’ve had an encounter with a totally irresponsible driver and an equally feckless family. As others have observed, the other driver’s family will be very less eager to pay for repairs once they discover how much that’s going to cost. By then time will have passed and your own Insurers may be less than cooperative. Frankly I would report the driver to the Police and let them discover if he was even insured in the first place. And advise your own insurers and insist that the repairs are carried out by an Lexus-approved dealer. Individuals who are such casual law breakers can hardly be relied upon to act morally if caught out. This article explains the consequences of driving without an mot: https://www.protyre.co.uk/mot/what-is-the-penalty-for-driving-without-an-mot-certificate#

I’ve only occasionally stumbled across TV transmissions of E-Races, but I think these two comments neatly summarise the underwhelming nature of E-Racing. I don’t know if this is always the case, but the ones I’ve seen have all been street circuits. The problem there seems to be that the racing is mainly confined to nose-to-tail circulation, punctuated by the occasional collision or off-circuit excursion. All the time the degree of spectator involvement and emotive association appears to be akin to that of an electric lawnmower as they hum around the circuit. Mind you, I’m also losing interest in F1 for similar reasons. These days the place to see really competitive on-track racing is at a Touring Car event. Better still, a Classic Car meet with the heady aroma of Castrol R!

Good news indeed, Piers. 😊 Christmas has definitely come early for you! All the best…

I think they pretty much set the standard for all-season tyres. We have them on our other car - a small 4x4 - and I would have had them on my IS250. Except…it has 18” wheels and different size tyres back and front. At the time, Michelin only did one of the sizes, so it was a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 instead.

He can now turn his attention to the Michelin website where he will see this illustration showing the Primacy 4 as an example of a symmetrical tyre! Asymmetric, Symmetrical and Directional tread patterns

So the system foiled two CanBUS attacks, but the car suffered extensive damage because, presumably, the thieves didn’t know the system was installed and they not only could be wasting their time but also increasing the risk of discovery. Or if the car displayed warning labels, they either thought it could be defeated or the labels were a con. It’s also interesting to ponder if these were two different gangs or the first lot returning for a second attempt. Because if word gets around that this system successfully foils CanBUS attacks, then it becomes worthwhile to advertise its installation. Do you plan to have it installed in to your new, non-Lexus car on the basis that it’s an effective deterrent and the car is less attractive to the thieves?

Not withstanding the specific responsibilities of car makers, I think this is a valid point to make. It is of course arguable that many makers, such as Lexus, could improve their theft prevention systems - not least to compete with their rivals. But as far as I am aware - and I stand to be corrected here - there are no equivalent manufacturing standards for theft prevention as there are for passenger protection or car safety. For example, Thatcham assess vehicle security and accessories as a guide to Insurers but not as something mandatory for manufacturers. Take Household Insurance. My policy stipulates a specific standard of security on different floors. If they can prove non-compliance it will invalidate a claim. These days new builds have the Police-promoted ‘Secured by Design’, that establishes standards ranging from safety and the security measures of construction sites to internal and external security standards for domestic dwellings - which includes locks, lighting and alarms. Different standard levels qualify for different levels of Certification. Unfortunately there seems to be no such equivalent for the car industry. And it has to be appreciated that in many cases it’s the very people who design and install security systems who are best informed as to how to bypass them - generally for perfectly legitimate reasons. But eventually such knowledge inevitably gets out. The result is that there is no car that cannot be stolen - as there is no house that cannot be burgled and no bank vault that cannot be penetrated. So what we have is the usual arms race between owner and thief over possessions - but expecting the possession to do much of the work. No doubt Lexus could do more to keep pace with criminals - as could the entire motor industry. I suspect that the damage done to the brand image by the increasing publicity that Lexus thefts are attracting - and the increasing problem of insurance - that will ultimately be more effective at prompting investment and change than owners’ complaints!

And I have also just emailed Michelin Support to see if they can clarify the contradictions we’ve just revealed. And they may also have to explain to other tyre professionals why the Primary 4 is NOT asymmetrical! This could run and run! 😆