Hello! New Rx300 Gen Ii Owner....

[ChrisKaye]

Hi everyone,

After six months of searching (and lots of forum reading), I finally took the plunge and bought my first Lexus, a late 2003 SE-L with 108,000 from a dealer for a very reasonable £4500.

Understandably, at this age and mileage, there's plenty of little bits that need doing (routine/preventative maintenance) that I'd like to embark on, as a lot of stuff I can do myself but big jobs will be dealer/Indy garage, like Timing Belt & Water pump etc. It helps that I've always had Toyotas and looked after them myself as I have built up a good relationship with my Toyota Parts counter and get some discounts on the stuff I buy :)

Essentially the car is in good condition, everything works (except intermittent functioning of Auto-wipers!) body work is also really good and the "Persian Quartz" shines nicely with no noticeable stonechips that I can see. Carpets need a good clean and usual Drivers bolster/seat wear. Even the alloys aren't too bubbled!

I'll put a post up shortly with a list of things I'm going to do and hoping for some input from you lovely people! In the meantime, please could anyone suggest the easiest way to search for articles on the UK RX300, as I keep getting loads of US 1999-2003 RX gen I results which is really annoying!

Is there another search keyword I could use, like the engine code?

Is there much difference between RX330 workshop manuals and our UK RX300's?

Thank you all if you have read this far!!!! :)

Chris.

[plastic orange]

I pick up a 2005 SE on Monday, so will look forward to your comments on your purchase. The dealer I bought from changed the cam belt (although he reckoned it had been done), gave it a full service and had the wheels powdercoated. I'll post an update when I get it - wife's car as I've got an LS 400.

PO

[ChrisKaye]

Hi Plastic Orange,

Hope your missus enjoys the RX as much as I have been!

My missus is nervous about the size of the thing, but she's a good driver so I'm sure she'll be fine.

We've got an 1999 MR2 (one of the last SW20's made) and a 2003 gen 7 Celica T-Sport so it is utter smooth, quiet luxury going to the Lexus - the sporty characteristics of our other cars, whilst great fun, is incredibly tiring on the boring commutes and long journeys which the Lex really comes into it's own!

Also having a 6 year old and finally four doors will make life easier, too!

We're also planning a 1200 mile trip across Europe to see family which is the main reason I'm planning so much work to the RX300 - it's got to be reliable for us all.

I've booked the RX into Poole Lexus at 0930 next Saturday for an on-ramp Visual Safety Check - it's free and will let me see the underside of the car, exhaust mounts, brakes & suspension. The service counter guy there was very pleasant and printed me a sheet off with stuff done to the car in the past that was missing from my service books supplied with the vehicle by the dealer.

Will let you know how I get on!

Chris.

[jonthebarber]

Hi Chris

Welcome ! Had the same problem with my intermittent wipe , there is a sensor by the rear view mirror which has to be stuck/flat to the windscreen , if yours has had a new one (screen) they don't always put a new sticky pad on (mine didn't) just buy one and fit , try with a watering can to test . Easy fix 👍

Jon

[ChrisKaye]

Hi Jon,

Thanks for the welcome!

I suppose I'm lucky in that the window either hasn't been changed before, or if it has, it was done at Lexus.

I'd read on previous posts that badly fitted windscreens can have all sorts of problems but mine still has the word Lexus engraved below where the old tax disc holder would have been, so assume it hasn't been changed!

Unsure what the issue with the auto wipe is because was working til about Wednesday this week then nothing! Checked the box at the top of the windscreen above rear view mirror and all is attached firmly etc.

Couldn't work out how to get inside it at the time and with most things like to double check I know what I need to do before using brute force and ignorance (have broken many plastic clips from trim pieces in my time to know better these days!!)

Chris

[jonthebarber]

Hi Chris

Far as I remember it's easy to remove (I am in between cars/lexus'us at the mo) have you tried pouring water on the sensor with a watering can ?

Jon

[plastic orange]

If the RX is as reliable as my LS I'll be happy. However, if my wife doesn't gel with it, my daughter in law wants it.

The underside of it looked not too bad in my inspection of it prior to purchase, but it will be getting additional rust treatment so that it lasts - and it should be easier to get under it to do. I'll be using bilt hamber products as they get the best write up at present.

Pete

[ChrisKaye]

Hi Pete,

I'd love to know how you get on with the rust treatment, any chance you can take a few snaps as you go and a few notes?

Could make a great post in the Forum's "How to" guides as content is a bit thin on the ground there!

Ta,

Chris.

[ChrisKaye]

Hi Jon,

I took the sensor off (was really easy to do) the clear gel pad was there and intact (and looked clear/spotless) - I unplugged the sensor and inspected that, looked like it could use a light clean but unsure how? Lint free cloth and alcohol?

I plugged it all back up and clicked the sensor back into place and tested. The only difference is that when the stalk is set to "auto" the wipers act as if it were an "intermittent" setting on a normal car!

It's as if the rest of the car can't see the autowiper sensor box now it's plugged back in... Is there anyway to reset this?

Thanks,

Chris.

[plastic orange]

I'll be waiting for the better weather to do the rustproofing, but I'll let you know how it goes.

Pete