Spot the problem with this RX 400h SE-L

[John1971]

I am still looking to buy a RX 400h and just come across this one on Facebook can you spot the huge problem which got the alarm bells ringing as it looks like it has been in a bad accident  whttps://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/685937846037528/?ref=category_feed&referral_code=undefined&referral_story_type=listing&tracking={"qid"%3A"-6798500499387789444"%2C"mf_story_key"%3A"4906303882770908"%2C"commerce_rank_obj"%3A"{\"target_id\"%3A4906303882770908%2C\"target_type\"%3A0%2C\"primary_position\"%3A0%2C\"ranking_signature\"%3A8281380546567733248%2C\"commerce_channel\"%3A504%2C\"value\"%3A0.002297226319072}"}

See if you can spot what I spotted the clue is in the picture I took from the listing.

Cheers John

[beyond the blue]

Quite a lot of front end problems in 2016???

[John1971]

Hi Neil

Now the Fun begins you may not spot the problem as it looks like to own a 300h a 400h owner would maybe spot the problem sooner.

Try again as Its not a general problem it is a specific problem with this one sole car.

I will give you another clue  it looks like it has been in an accident at some pint and a cheaper repair has been done with wrong parts if you look at any of the RX400h photos you should spot the problem.

Let the fun and games continue.

All the best John

 

 

[Neil E]

I'm no expert but has it been repaired with an earlier front bumper? I think the later one has round fog lights. 

[ColinBarber]

It has an RX300/350 front bumper. 400h has round fog lights - that's the easiest way to tell a 400h over a petrol variant from a distance.

[beyond the blue]

Beaten to it! No bumper grille. Check out the 2016 MOT fail.

[John1971]

And the winner is Neil

You hit the nail on the head as yes the bumper is from  either a rx300 or a rx350 as when the produced the 400h the changed the bumper which has round spotlights and I believe also changed the alloy wheels.

Well done and this is why I wont be buying the one detailed and so my quest to buy a rx400h continues.

All the best and many thanks to all participants and viewer's of this thread cheers John

 

[John1971]

Here is a picture of both so you can tell the difference and to quote ColinBarber

"It has an RX300/350 front bumper. 400h has round fog lights - that's the easiest way to tell a 400h over a petrol variant from a distance."

I use this a lot in my search for my new car.

All the best John

[John1971]

I bet that the lack of the extra vents in the bumper would probably cause cooling issues?

Cheers John 

[steve2006]

Any MOT failures or advisories for tyres to me shows a complete lack of care for the car and more importantly safety.

[John1971]

Hi Neil

I see what you mean on the mot history for 2016 but I bet that was just the break calliper's that needed servicing a good clean.

It  May have happened in 2019 as it failed on Reason(s) for failure Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a)) which could be accident related or a bulb not inserted correctly?

All the best John

[ColinBarber]

12 minutes ago, John1971 said:

I bet that the lack of the extra vents in the bumper would probably cause cooling issues?

Cheers John 

It's not ideal. On the 400h there is an additional radiator in front of the main engine radiator for the hybrid system that cools the inverter. Whilst there is a lot of over engineered capacity and the UK isn't the warmest country in the world, it could stress the system without the proper airflow and/or use more power because the fans come on more often.

Best to avoid this vehicle.

[John1971]

Hi Steve

Very true I always check out the MOT history and I gave a miss on one car that had been quote "looked after and well cared for" Not the mot history had loads of faults with the outer edges of the tyres while in there ownership which points me to think he liked to drive it fast around bends or just bad wheel alignment / geometry lol.

Cheers John

 

[John1971]

I don't know if I am very picky or its a case I can spot a shed when I see one.

But I have been looking for a RX400h now since 2019 and have not even sat in one yet as I have made my mind up to give it a miss well before that stage of buying.

The most recent example of one for sale at £5k which had fill Lexus service history and been fully maintained regardless of cost.

But looking closer and at the mot history loads of repeating advisory's even on the last one a month ago regarding leaking shock absorbers front and rear. so all would need replacing as I asked if they had been replaced they said no so much for  "fully maintained regardless of cost".

So I managed to knock them down to £4k and asked for proof of the full Lexus history and guess what Not all Lexus stamps in the service book and also not been serviced in over 18 months.

And so I said sorry I will give it a miss and did not even go to look at it.

So is it just me being picky?

All the best John

[royoftherovers]

9 minutes ago, John1971 said:

I don't know if I am very picky or its a case I can spot a shed when I see one.

But I have been looking for a RX400h now since 2019 and have not even sat in one yet as I have made my mind up to give it a miss well before that stage of buying.

The most recent example of one for sale at £5k which had fill Lexus service history and been fully maintained regardless of cost.

But looking closer and at the mot history loads of repeating advisory's even on the last one a month ago regarding leaking shock absorbers front and rear. so all would need replacing as I asked if they had been replaced they said no so much for  "fully maintained regardless of cost".

So I managed to knock them down to £4k and asked for proof of the full Lexus history and guess what Not all Lexus stamps in the service book and also not been serviced in over 18 months.

And so I said sorry I will give it a miss and did not even go to look at it.

So is it just me being picky?

All the best John

Yes it is you being picky John. And you have every right to be so.It is a great pity that there aren`t more car buyers like you matey.

[John1971]

Cheers John

I would have taken a look if it was advertised correctly and more so truthfully But it makes me think what else are they hiding.

Also the car was only worth £3600 with the high mileage but I thought well if it has been looked after and full Lexus history it may be worth a look.

Also I look after my cars and my current car which is beyond economical repair I have owned for 11 years a 2001 1.8l Zafira which I only paid £750 for it and it only needs the steering rack replacing but It is at the pint were it will need more repairs so time to put it to pasture lol.

All the best John  

 

[ColinBarber]

Generalising here but the issue is the 400h is a £ 50k vehicle in today's money, and has spare parts and official dealer labour charges to match. When such a vehicle is 15 years old and only worth £ 5k, the majority of 2nd/3rd/4th owners aren't prepared to spend the sort of money required to go beyond just basic repairs.

You need to be lucky to find a one or two owner vehicle that has been well looked after - there are a few still out there. But even then you will probably still find corrosion on the underside of a Series II RX.

[John1971]

On 2/26/2022 at 9:12 PM, ColinBarber said:

Generalising here but the issue is the 400h is a £ 50k vehicle in today's money, and has spare parts and official dealer labour charges to match. When such a vehicle is 15 years old and only worth £ 5k, the majority of 2nd/3rd/4th owners aren't prepared to spend the sort of money required to go beyond just basic repairs.

You need to be lucky to find a one or two owner vehicle that has been well looked after - there are a few still out there. But even then you will probably still find corrosion on the underside of a Series II RX.

Cheers this seems to be a big hurdle for me I just found one two owners from new 120k on the clock full service two of which were independent.

Looks ok not to bad price but only the GOV website holds mot history which runs out in march 22 other sites parkers even the vehicle check sites cannot find details of the car reg FE06PHO which is a concern.

I have had this a number of times when looking for my next car it maybe due to private REG ?

Cheers John 

[John1971]

Here is another example of one with the wrong front bumper and it is a cat s damaged https://www.gumtree.com/p/lexus/2008-lexus-s3-400h-3.3-sr-5dr-cvt-auto-estate-petrol-electric-hybrid-automatic/1426972966