Spock66

I think only by swapping it over, but as you say potentially more time and money....

Could it be the ECU?

Yes headlight alignment is still an MOT test criteria.

Most are self-leveling these days for HID's and LED's so it's often the level sensor mechanism that has failed.

You could reword the title - Dealer wants to sell you a new car......

No doubt this is also why insurance premiums are increasing across the board, writing off a car that just needs some relatively minor body repair.

I suspect it's new ECU's, they do refer to the post 21 models as having enhanced security hardware so I think it's probably a terminology issue.  That would also explain why the solution is applicable to multiple models, whereas some form of mechanical protection would likely need to be bespoke for each model.

I hope they don't have the Can Bus issue 😉

37 minutes ago, Goodplan53 said:

I have replied to the effect that this should be covered by the warranty, shouldn't it?

So as a 70 plate you will be outside the 3-year manufacturers warranty, if this was this an approved Lexus vehicle I would expect it to be covered by the 1-year approved warranty.

https://mag.lexus.co.uk/buying-used-lexus/

Our confidence in the quality of the Lexus Select Approved Pre-Owned programme is reflected in the fact that each vehicle comes with at least one year’s unlimited mileage warranty. So comprehensive is the warranty that it is equivalent to that offered when the vehicle was new, with the exception of consumable items such as batteries, exhausts and wiper blades, which are covered for three months or 3,000 miles.

2 hours ago, ArneT said:

But sadly, like with home networking and "smart" devices, security was an afterthought. The original design (back in the 1980s) was for convenience and connectivity without thinking about the "what ifs" of some nefarious person or device being connected and what could go wrong.

Actually I would blame the manufacturers for using it in applications it was never intended for, it was never designed to be a secure protocol so using it to control critical security features was a major design flaw which could and should have been foreseen.

Have you had a replacement windscreen?

3 hours ago, ColinBarber said:

No they haven't. For older vehicles they are installing trackers and immobilisers and newer ones have updated firmware in the main body ECU to detect hacks - that isn't anything like implementing encryption across the entire CAN bus.

And no doubt Lexus could do something similar if they could be bothered....

15 minutes ago, Malc1 said:

and chatting to my nephew this morning and he's reminded me that the Lewis guy caused some little mayhem in the insce market when he got the Govt to stop motor insurers offering good deals by Law for existing loyal customers ..........  zero special loyalty treatment allowed by LAW it seems

Actually it was the other way round, ie stopping new customers getting better deals than existing customers.

Check out the posts re the Can Bus issue too.

Had mine serviced recently, no mention of any updated plates (I had the plates fitted last July).

The oil leak looks like it could be just the sump gasket or even the sump plug.

I'd suggest get a nice set of matching carpet mats too, it's not a 1970's Landrover 😉

27 minutes ago, YvesD said:

Is there any theme to where these attempted thefts take place?

I suspect location and the majority are scouted out as targets beforehand, although there have been reports of more random thefts too.

Maybe the problem is your idle speed is too low, should be about 750 I believe, if your idle speed is only 500 that could explain the Battery warning light coming on.

Just now, PDM said:

The facelift MK4 certainly uses a combination of sat nav data and speed limit signs.  When I pull off the drive onto the street it has not seen a speed limit sign but it does know the limit is 30mph. Not sure about the pre facelift MK4.

Yes I think you're right, I have a pre face-lift Gen 4.  Speed limit is only displayed when there is a sign and that times out after a few minutes, often sign is missed or wrongly interpreted.

I think it must be the sat nav.

Older models like the Gen 4 only use the camera I believe, hence you get 120 etc as that's often a sticker on the back of a truck.

Do you mean the Classic XK150 or something more modern?

The Classic XK150 would win in the looks department but loose in every other category.

37 minutes ago, Rabbers said:

he saw, to his joy and delight, the same two policemen replacing what looked like a burst tyre on their car.

That can't be true, there would have to be a risk assessment first, then a major incident declared with at least another six police vehicles in attendance.

4,000 holes in Blackburn Lancashire.....

The comparison sites generally offer dates 1-month in advance of the policy start date.

So I took out a new policy as soon as I could, then two weeks later saw exactly the same policy and company on another comparison site for around £240 cheaper (nuts I know).  So cancelled the first policy before it started and took out the cheaper option, (cost £20 in admin to cancel, but I did get a £15 amazon voucher for taking out the policy initially).

35 minutes ago, YvesD said:

Just had my 'renewal' through from L&V.

As others have reported, they have declined to insure again!

I had the letter too, but weirdly they still come up on some of the comparison sites with a reasonably sensible price (but high excess).