Stuart-S

How do you rate the NSX Kevin? It may be next on my list. 

So they’ve finally confirmed on the UK blog that this is not coming to existing LCs and LSs outside of the US.

Pathetic really and the handling of this plus their obsession with SUVs has put me right off Lexus now to be honest. 

5 hours ago, wendle said:

Clarkson and Co has never had anything good to say about Lexus car's, except for the LFA, and i am sure he did that through gritted teeth.

I don’t think so, he’s said on more than one occasion that the LFA is the best car he’s ever driven. 

Hah, that’s the one I bought, Stuart 🙂

I believe the CarPlay update also features Android Auto, Google’s equivalent, so you should be fine natively.

Edit: sorry I think you might mean will Android Auto work with a CarPlay wireless adapter, in which case I suspect not and you’ll have to use wired USB. 

£40 no-brand one in mine that I bought from amazon and fitted myself using a fuse box adapter, first to my RC and now to my LC. My dealer routed the cable behind the A-pillar when they did the fuel pump so it’s neat and looks factory fitted.

Hasn’t let me down yet in 4 years of use.

21 hours ago, Rydo said:

EDIT: I see your posts on the blog Stuart. They still have the following reply to a comment further down.

Ah I'd forgotten about this, they've since responded to me apologising for the misleading wording of their previous post. Still no news officially however.

1 hour ago, Kevin Williams said:

So Chris, Lexus Plymouth are being nice to me...!

I don't know anything about using Apple Car Play... I will have to youtube it...!

Hopefully Stuart can advise me what's good about it...!

I don't use voice control currently, but I will when the CarPlay update is available because you basically get Siri in your car - you'll be able to say things like "take me home" and the navigation will automatically pull up your home address and start guiding you.

For me, the main benefit of CarPlay aside from Siri is being able to use whatever navigation apps you use on your Iphone, right there in the dashboard, because for me, Lexus navigation is pretty terrible and always has been. I'm curious to see if that also extends to the HUD though, because currently I do like the turn-by-turn directions being displayed there.

1 hour ago, Kevin Williams said:

Chris, for your info... I have heard back from Lexus Plymouth...

As for software update, there is software available to update your MM17 system to the latest MM19 setup which includes Apple car play & Android auto functionalities, this is a chargeable update but in this car case I can offer a free update, I will however need the car for approx. 5 hours to do said update.

Hold up, they’re offering you the CarPlay update?

Congrats Kevin, looks like a beauty!

Thanks both for posting pictures of your wheels - both look like excellent jobs!

Just now, AJ500 said:

I think the latest replacement flap mechanism was released during early 2020,so you probably dont have it.

malcolmw on here said on another thread that he had the latest one fitted under warranty but it is now sticking again.

The lubrication worked on mine last winter and I backed it up with the tiny piece of foam.2 minute job.If it now fails I will speak to Lexus but its a back seat and trim out job and I have just gone through that with the fuel pump.

Ah right, I've literally just had the fuel pump done so I am loathed to send it back to the dealer and have it pulled apart again so soon, especially if even the new mechanism is prone to sticking.

I did also think about vertically widening the hole where the retaining bolt slips in, but I will go non-destructive to begin with!

16 minutes ago, wendle said:

no not by just looking at it, if you sign into your Lexus link app it will show you all the work / services done on the car

 

Nothing in there about the fuel flap, but I would've thought if they revised the mechanism at some point they would've started manufacturing them with the new mechanism as standard surely?

Edit: Never mind, I see AJ said my car pre-dates the latest revision.

51 minutes ago, wendle said:

personally i don't think lubricant will help, nothing is sticking, its just the spring which is not strong enough, which has been mentioned is what back in the mechanism, i don't understand why owners of a 90k car are sticking pieces of rubber in the flap to make it work propley when there there is a free fix

I was assuming mine already has the revised mechanism as a MY2019 - is there any way to tell?

Ah, gotcha - didn’t realise 3-in-1 was the brand, thanks AJ!

Interesting, any recommendations for lubricant then chaps?

21 hours ago, AJ500 said:

ML and HUD are not standard on any LC.

Correct, they are in fact the only two options available to Sport+ models.

My MY2019 fuel flap has started sticking now it’s cold and I am fairly sure I will have the revised design. I’m going to spray WD40 into the hinge area and stick some rubber pads to the back side of the flap to give it a bit more spring. 

So I'm beginning to think this isn't happening anymore. Centres have started to receive the updates according to LEXUSUK on their blog. I asked whether the LC was included in this round only to be told:

Quote

We do not currently have any information relating to an Apple CarPlay retrofit for the LC.

which seems to be a backtrack on "later in the year" which was their previous line after confirming the LC would be getting it. I pressed them on this and the comment has fallen foul of moderation so I suspect it's a no go and they are trying to keep it quiet. Crazy situation where a Toyota Aygo has full CarPlay support and yet the two very top models that Lexus make, the LC and LS, are both out in the cold and left to look inadequate against competitor offerings.

6 hours ago, AJ500 said:

Its a known issue.Mine wax fine when I bought it but as soon as the weather turned cold it stuck shut when you pushed the button and needed prising open.

There is an upgraded version apparently

Mine has just started sticking now the temperature has dropped - mine is a MY2019 so presumably has the newer mechanism?

4 hours ago, Kevin Williams said:

The repair cost is £150 ex vat for the ceramic polishing, and repainting of the spokes.

They also charge £30 ex vat to remove and re-fit the tyre.

That is very good. According to my dealer the run flats on the 21s are very hard to get on and off, so I am not surprised they charge for that too.

Looks like a great job, Kevin, how much did TRS charge for that?

21 hours ago, AJ500 said:

I think the pump change takes about 3 hours and you must have less than half a tank of fuel.

Interesting, I limped to my dealer with pretty much a full tank to get the pump done and they didn’t say anything. I assumed they’d empty the tank and refill it. 

There’s a thread on here somewhere about it, but in a nutshell it comes as standard on MY21 LCs and will be available as a paid retrofit “later this year” according to the UK Lexus blog. 
 

They have been saying that for many months now though (official line was delayed by COVID-19). 

I agree with Piers, I use a lot of Autoglym products, and rate them highly, but I'd leave alone until it actually needs cleaning, personally.

Right, this is a strange one, but it's niggle time.

My previous Lexus - an RC - had very well-illuminated door handles, which lit up when approaching with the key and were a godsend at night. My LC however, is next to useless in this regard, especially with black paint. So first question, is everybody's this bad? I wouldn't mind if there was a light on the wing mirrors, but there isn't.

Assuming everyone else has the same problem, does anybody know what would be involved in replacing the LED with something a bit more powerful? I would imagine a glow around the handle would look pretty cool at night and useful, but I'm guessing it would be a big job and would require removing the door panel, which I am somewhat reluctant to do.

Chris, if you do find somewhere, would you be happy to post some before and after images? I’d be very interested in seeing how well the refurbishment works. 

5 hours ago, Kevin Williams said:

So when I have the V5 and I can verify the car. Does the app show what fuel is in the car, and does it show journeys you have made...? Thanks

No, it’s very basic currently, but as I said the multimedia upgrade may change things (the car can be connected to WiFi).