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The only thing to do with mindless jobsworths is to escalate and keep on escalating until you find someone with that actually uses their brain for something other than keeping their ears apart. The late 2000 and early 2001 LS430s all have the same problem that you have. They full comply with and even exceed the required emissions levels, but the documentation doesn't show it.

Proper man maths that……

Another place to look at is the rear wheel arch liner. Wearing a glove run your hand inside the rear wheel arch. You may be surprised to find how much mud & dirt collects up there which I think contributes to wheel arch paintwork bubbling/rust. When I wash the car it's now my routine to clean inside there to remove the accessible dirt.

The staff in the Glasgow LEZ office are complete idiots! I got a penalty charge for driving though Glasgow city centre in my 2005 LS 430 earlier this year. I appealed it with them, sending my V5 certificate which shows the emissions for the 3 measured toxins. I also sent a link to the RAC website that lists the parameters for each Euro standard. They informed me that as my V5 didn't explicitly state that it was a "Euro 4" engine, that they were rejecting my appeal and the case was closed. I then appealed it with Scotland's General Regulatory Chamber, First-tier tribunals, Transport Appeals. I requested a telephone hearing and The Adjudicator told me right at the start that he was granting my appeal. I've attached his decision for you to have a look at. The bottom line is that you don't need to be paying £75 for the certificate of conformity as it clearly states your emissions on the V5 document. These LEZ offices same incapable of reading a V5 document! I've since contacted the department responsible for updating their LEZ checker database, forwarding the tribunal decision and asking them to update their database. Apparently that still isn't enough for them to just update it, although they have said they will contact the DVLA for further details. There's no way their database has been compiled from DVLA provided data in my opinion; they've clearly just went 'petrol car before 2006 = not eligible'. Here is the Adjudicator's blurb about the decision to grant my appeal extracted from the attached document: 11. The appeal is allowed for the following reasons: the Euro 4 emissions standards are, for a petrol vehicle: CO not more than 1.0g/Km; THC not more than 0.1g/Km; NOx not more than 0,08g/Km. The Appellant’s vehicle emissions are, as vouched by his V5C documentation: CO 0.19g; THC 0.05g; NOx 0.02g. All of these are significantly lower than the requisite levels for Euro 4 standards. 12. I accordingly prefer, on balance, the unchallenged position of the Appellant to that of the Council. I am at a loss to understand the position of the Council who seem unable to read and apply the information contained in the V5C document. 13. As I have allowed the appeal, Appellant is not required to pay the penalty charge. Any penalty charges for subsequent contraventions which have occurred may have been overcharged within the 90 day period of the LEZCN forming the subject matter of this appeal. Refunds may, therefore, need to be provided to the Appellant. Decision_5464_LZ00037-2403.pdf

In one decade I owned 3 separate four door Bentleys and lost count of the number of engine management/warning lights that came on, at least once a month. The ECU's are numerous in cars today and the last Arnage I had has 48 controlling every thing. E.G didn't tighten my fuel cap once and engine management light came on. Dealer plugged it in and discovered a breach in the fuel system air pressure. He tightened the cap and the light went out. So what chance do we have when we are heavily dependent on ECU's. I'm on my sixth Lexus since 2019 and never had a warning light come on. Enough said I think.

Actually, what I take from all that is despite my feelings for some parts of this digital world how wonderful are some other parts. Once upon a time you would just never have been able to research and resolve your problem like this. Well done old son. Cap off to you.

Hello, Wife has a Lexus Rx450h (newer & under warranty) as the family car and I have a Lexus GS450h (older 07 model) as my speedy, wafty darling. Both have full Lexus service history and I'm very happy with them. At least, until today. I was on my way to service and change all the 4 shocks on my 07 GS450h at Lexus and the dreaded "Check Hybrid system" came up. I took a good 1 hour detour to test it out and it drove fine with no issues with battery charging and discharging. I've just arrived home to check the code and the only code is the P0A7F which indicates the hybrid battery is deteriorating. The cost of changing all 4 shocks is not cheap and I expect it to be £££ but I was prepared for this as the car is only 90k miles. However, if the cost of battery replacement is added, this becomes £££++. Instead of spending all this money, would I be better off just getting a new car? And what car does a man go to after owning a GS450h? What is the sensible thing that you would do?

As promised, here is my more detailed review of the LC500 V8 1. Models and Features When I test drove the LC500 and its hybrid counterpart (for about 100 miles each) both cars had the full Sport+ pack with HUD and Mark Levinson ICE. I actually purchased the “base” model and would comment as follows: - On the road, I cannot tell any difference between the versions with and without the LSD and 4WS. - I only listen to talk radio so the “big” stereo is pointless for me. - I previously had an 4RX450h with HUD and found that reflections in the windscreen from the bezel in the dash top was a problem. With the F-Style instruments in the LC and the large digital speedo, I have found the HUD a unnecessary. - The glass roof is quite a nice feature in a coupe. - In my opinion, the 20 inch wheels look better than the larger “bling” option although I don’t think that there is much difference in ride comfort. I have Bridgestone Turanza T005 run-flat tyres rather than the Potenza (which I found gave a very harsh ride on my Aston DB9). - I went for Sonic Red with Black full leather inside. There is not much to choose in comfort between the standard and sport seats. I would have liked to have cream leather with the red exterior but it is sadly not an option. My second choice would have been White/Rose. - Does the rear extensible wing really do anything at normal speeds? 2. Exterior and Styling I know that styling is a personal thing but a lot of people have commented on the striking looks (and rarity). If you look carefully, there are 4 exhaust tailpipes but these are hidden in the rear skirt - typical Lexus restraint. The rear skirt area is the only place on the car which is difficult to wash as it has many horizontal “grooves” which pick up dirt. The very long (and thick) doors which are set well back on the car mean that you need to plan carefully where you stop in case an adjacent car parked too close prevents you getting back into the driver’s door. I like the windscreen washer jets which pump out water in the centre of the blades as this gives a better wash at speed. 3. Interior and Controls Everyone knows this is really a 2 seater. The touchpad is pretty useless and nowhere near as good as the joystick type of controller on the 4RX. I have had the SatNav screw up and need resetting from time to time (push and hold radio ON button) but this is a minor irritant for me as I don’t use it very much. I see that the same system on the latest NX has a software upgrade so maybe I need to get this done. I have one slight rattle from the right of the dash at 50mph on coarse tarmac but you can only hear it in warmer temperatures. I might get this looked at if it gets more annoying. 4. Driving and Performance I am very impressed with the smooth and docile performance in traffic which transitions to high performance on open roads. It’s like two cars in one. The brakes are huge and very progressive with excellent feel. (Maybe I have been driving hybrids for too long and have forgotten how a normal brake pedal feels.) I’m glad they didn’t fit ceramic discs as these are “track” focussed and are not so good on the road as they need warming up a lot. I have no squealing like I did on my DB9. The driving modes: - ECO – Wouldn’t know, never used it. - Comfort – Not a lot softer than Normal. Only notices at low speeds in town. - Normal – As advertised. A good compromise and not too firm. - Sport – Seems to take a few seconds for the mode to change to allow higher revving etc. - Sport Plus – Roll is reduced but even here the ride is not too severe. The steering and throttle response are more aggressive but not stupidly so. The exhaust noise and “crackle” in the last two modes is very nice experience – a bit “boy-racer” but hey... It lives up the GT billing. Not a sports car but a comfortable and fast car for grown-ups. It feels “tough” and can definitely be used day-to-day. 5. Maintenance and Service I have cold tyre pressures set to 2.4 bar which seems to rise to about 2.7 bar after warm up. I am getting an amazing 26 mpg overall which is outstanding for a 5 litre V8. For comparison, the Aston 6 litre V12 did 16 – 18 mpg on the same journeys. Nothing leaks. I have checked the oil and none has been used in the time I have had the car. Servicing costs are as follows: Intermediate Service £345 Full Service £596 This compares very favourably with the DB9 which basically costs £1K per year at the main dealer. 6. Overall An excellent car but it remains to be seen what depreciation will do to residuals in the long term.

Hey everyone, Lexus Glasgow loaned me a LBX in the Cement colour with the SAND interior. I thought that I would post some pics to help anyone looking at these colour options. The Cement colour has little metallic flakes, that catch the sunlight quite nicely. I hope this helps some of you. Thanks, Thomas

I live in a small Somerset town with a population of approx 20k. Given the rarity of LC's I am pleasantly surprised to know of at least 3 cars in Clevedon. A yellow hybrid, a white convertible and my blue Regatta. Anyone else with similar experiences in their localities?

Have a look here for costs and levels of service offered by Richard at Hybrid battery Solutions: hybridbatterysolutions.co.uk

Yeah try that. And i totally understand. Its getting harder and harder to choose which car to buy with companies these days primarily offering SUVs and arguably not as well made as older cars. If you're happy with the car and plan to keep it for the next 5-6 years then spending ~3k on it makes sense. Thing to note is that £600 will only get you a replacement cell. I think most battery repair places also offer a reconditioning of the remaining cells for ~1200 or so. I believe they run it on some machine to get rid of the deposits that form inside that reduce the battery life e.g on a normal lead acid battery sulfation is what kills it and some machines can boil off these deposits. I feel like its something similar that they do for the NiMH batteries to kind of restore them to get the best performance. Maybe speak to one of these places and get a quote as this might make sense vs replacing 1 cell only to find out a year later that another one has conked off. Also on the shocks consider ordering them from amayama or other places where you can get original parts cheaper and fit them at a local indie that will save you a ton of cash as in my experience the cost of parts at lexus is sometimes double or even 3x the price of what you can expect to pay elsewhere.

I would agree with Len and vote for Michelin CrossClimate 2. For UK weather these are just the best all-year-round tyres. Note to self: stay away from "sport" tyres on cars that are meant to be driven in peace. All the sport tyres I've had on different cars they all have been just too hard for comfort even in 20+degrees weather, which was becoming much more noticeable with temperatures dropping under 10. I've recently replaced the "sport" tyres on my wife's Velar with CrossClimate 2, maaan, that's a different car now! The rubber stays soft at near 0 temperatures. It handles just as good and the road/tyre noise seems to be lower and further in distance too. The tyres on my ES still have got some 5-7K miles in them, will go for CrossClimate 2 fore sure.

This may help, here is a Yellow LBX that I seen at the dealership as well as the forest leather interior on the LBX

@Notamech, you just gave me an idea. Given the P0A7F code is the only fault on the car. I might actually just clear this fault and see how long it takes to come back on.

Depends on why you want to change cars? Are you bored of the gs450h is it that you just want to experience something different now? If so then that rationale works. Else from a purely financial pov retaining your existing car is always the better option. Sounds like your decision to replace the shocks is not due to faulty shocks but because you think it might improve the ride quality? If so then i would say defer this job until there is an actual issue. If its actually damaged then i would say get a new car as thats nearly £3000 you will be putting into this car that could go towards you driving something newer. As far as fixing the battery goes. Independent garages/companies will replace the bad cell and recondition the other cells. So in theory it should last a good few years but like with anything else things can go bad again and you will be supported only upto the warranty period the company provides. So in theory you can get mayne another 2-3 years out of this car by spending £1200 or so on reconditioning the battery. At this point the car will be 20 years old already and you may want to change it then if not now.

Amazing to read through this thread and the eventual outcome!!! It just puts a smile on one's face. It is a good idea to share details of some of these independent garages so other lexus owners can patronise them.

The whole battery won't be fault - it would be individual cells - these can be replaced and the battery reconditoned with warranty for circa £600 by independant companies. The car in current state wont be worth much at all (with its faults) if you decide to part exchange it or sell. On a side note did it have a Hybrid Health check last year? or is it too old for that.

Just tried using the USB to play audio and the android seems to work fine . Personally I can’t tell a difference in sound quality between using the USB and Bluetooth. Yes Smart tuning provided the unit.

I cannot answer your direct question, but there is always the possibility and an easy fix, to get a raised seat pad I know they do firm ones especially for that purpose to raise a chair in the home.

Hi Mark, the 9 beeps usually signify the warning that something has possibly been left in either the front or rear seats, or the boot. When you turn off the car you will get a beep and a visual warning on the dash. To disable this warning you need to press the OK button (bottom of the four on the left hand side thumb control, assuming you have HUD). I recognise that you have tried opening and closing doors, but I think unless you reopen the door that has triggered the signal it won’t be muted. It’s also worth noting that if you have driven with a passenger (or opened the boot before travelling) then switched off the car and then resumed your journey soon after the setting will still be live and will need cancellation at the conclusion of your journey. It’s a bit nannying to say the least, but better than forgetting about the fresh fish you left in the boot on a hot day 😉😂 regards, Kevin

Glad you mentioned Wheel Gods in Bolton, didn't know they existed. I have always sent alloys to Lepsons in Gillingham and means packaging and shipping. I'll give Wheel Gods a go, I work in Bolton, I have a spare set of alloys the same as yours that really do need sorting out so will take them in. Not sure they can be salvaged though. I have no plans for the spare set I have, got them when I had a 95 LS400, so if you want/need/would like them, then ping me a message.

My wheels looked a tad better than yours and now washup well and sparkly …….. and on 250,009 miles just now 👍 Just 3x yours eh ! Malc

.....but according to Lexus UK, this did not effect RX models destined for EU Countries nor the UK. How can that be given there's no difference to RX models, only to the standards by which each country operates for safety? The answer it seems is that issues were limited to some "batches" with the anti collision/BSM equipment and on pedestrian safety testing, so the article wasn't being fully honest as not all vehicles nor vehicle years of those models were affected. I was assured that all models being imported into the UK are fully compliant and that there is no issues with the electronic safety aids for UK customers.

its this one. https://caratduchatelet.com/lexus-landaulet/

The Varta battery will be fine, but you need to either drive the car semi-regularly (at least one 20+mile drive per week) or else connect the battery to a battery maintainer. Short local drives count for nothing and are in fact a net drain on the battery as the starts use more power than the Alternator puts back into the battery. In the car I connected wires to my battery that end in a connector in front of the radiators but behind the grille. If the car is going to be stood for some time, then I lift the bonnet, plug her in, and close the bonnet (there is plenty of space between the bonnet and car for the wire). The charger is inside my garage and I just extended the red and black wires on the charger cables to reach where my car is parked. If you can't run wires to where the car is parked, you can get solar panels that you can put on the parcel shelf that when wired in will provide enough power to keep the battery charged.

Yes, you can wind it out manually. You need to remove the lower cover and then you can get a spanner on the square section at the lower end of the telescopic shaft and wind it out. It is a slow process so you will be winding for quite some time. Save up plenty of patience before attempting it. I had to do mine last year.

Although the 2019 onward cars are actually slightly faster off the line owing to an updated final drive and lower rpm threshhold for the 2nd intake valve opening #beardmode

A few days ago I was having an MOT and while on the ramp i could see dried mud all along the wheel arches of the back wheels as shown in the photo. Cleared most of it but the mechanic wasnt too happy with the mess on the floor. Luckily he had a pan and brush so i cleaned it. Also, at the bottom of the back bumper on the left and right sides theres a lip or something and that catches dirt. I noticed that as well while on the ramp and cleared ALOT of stuff out. Worth checking to see if it need cleaning..

Thought I’d share the YouTuber Toyota Lexus specialist review THE CAR CARE NUT

if thats the case then it may be time to consider a 2015 👀

mOnKeY fInGeRs. That's 34mpg. Mixed driving but mainly local.

There's a "page 2"? Must admit never had any issues at all using Lexus navigation except now finding my way around new system. Maybe I've been lucky but good to have apple maps option. I have waze but I detest that. Made for a child graphics, annoying voicing and no better than my garmin nav units

Yes, it is annoying! I have spoken to the manager of the dealership recently. He told me that he will look into this and try to get back to me after he hears back from Lexus GB. Just waiting to hear back from him/dealership. Not sure what I can do. But, I expect to get a few free services from them as a resolution 😅

95 Ls400 not in heaven yet …….. piccy as I parked up yesterday she still flies along dreamily 👏 Malc

Glad you got it sorted 🙂 Personally I found the HUD and touch sensitive buttons second nature after about 30 minutes driving the car… all very straightforward in my opinion!

Most definitely. 99% of people have no idea what it is - I’ve been asked if it’s electric numerous times! The other 1% absolutely ‘get it’… and they’re the real car enthusiasts. Roughly the same price as a knackered Mclaren or dancing donkey but there’s no negativity or OTT photography like you’d get with something more ubiquitous. Suits me perfectly.

It's a shame for Lexus, but I very much see the rarity as a positive for an owner. I don't like the attention something like a Ferrari gets you, but the attention the LC has got so far has been nothing but positive.

Something that no one has mentioned is, what about when it's away from your home address? You can invest in any amount of lockable parking posts and/or other stuff to keep it safe at home but if it ever has to stay away somewhere overnight..... Life is not a rehersal. You get one chance and that's it, so if you want a Lexus go and get one and stop being so paranoid. Enjoy your money while you've got it and can spend it. In a couple of months my wife and I will be doing a road trip to Eastern Europe, something we've been doing annually for our holidays since 1991. We never have any specific destination in mind but we'll be driving and touring around Czechia, Slovakia and Poland. Some hotels will have their own car parks, some won't, and my pride and joy will just have to take its chances being parked on the road. Will I worry or fret about the possibility of it being stolen? Absolutely not.

Today was a big day! Collected my 73 plate Sport from Listers Lexus in Cheltenham, brilliant dealership. So I’m probably one of the few owners who leave their LC on the driveway and I’m off on holiday for 2 weeks. How does the battery hold up?

Seen loads around and about, even one this week. Was out driving in the Beamer and spotted this -

I have seen this one with black interior and it would be a very brave choice in my opinion. I particularly disliked the way it clashed with the rear number plate colour, but that’s just me 😆 Not sure how popular come PX time…

Hey, its been a while.... not alot has changed tbh. I spent the whole of last year just enjoying it and going to shows. Actually won an award at an Exclusive JDM show which was a proud moment, all the hard work over the years payed off. Did another Exclusive JDM show at Sturgate straight and managed to really stretch its legs, 1st time launching the car and using the 2step properly. Absolutely loved it! VID_35190221_172732_727.mp4 VID-20230924-WA0003_1.mp4 VID-20230924-WA0002.mp4 Sorry for all the pics and vids, there is so many more i have this is just the best of the bunch tbh. Hopefully get it down Santa Pod this year see what she can do.

Wow that is a big list for such a low mileage car. Really sorry and surprised to see that. If that was mine I'm afraid I'd cut my losses and list it as spairs or repair. Good luck to you.

Defer your migration plans ? Malc

I think if we're being realistic, it would fetch about 10-11k as a part exchange. If you sell it privately it may get up to £13k. But that all depends on how the market is doing and at the moment its not doing massively well so there could be an increase drop

We hired an Lc500 5L V8 on Turo out of Los Angeles, and drove down to Phoenix and back. I absolutely loved this car, it was so easy and enjoyable to drive, especially at high speed, with a lovely V8 sound. I found it to be very comfortable, but my more rotund partner found it less comfortable. If I had the money, I would not hesitate to buy this car; it has its foibles, but those pale into insignificance when you consider the gorgeous V8 engine, which is a thing of beauty .

I actually love the Ventley and most cars other than a Rolls are not a patch on the Bentley interior including the Lexus LS. I love the Bentley it was and will always be my dream car! Also it's a big car, but performance is blistering..0-60 less than 4.0 seconds, top speed 200mph plus, unrestricted, torque 850 NM etc etc- not for the faint hearted. Rear spoiler only goes up at 95mph! In terms of loads for sale that's true as they are expensive to maintain, but with me I am different and don't give up. Bentley wanted £2200+ Vat for one front suspension strut plus fitting.They also told me buy a pair! I hot the oart code replaced the first two digits with vw phaeton. Bought a secondhand vw phaeton one from ebay £120, paid Mr Bowling, (Bentley experts.) 2 hours labour £140. £260 all done, been brill for last 6 months. Rear calipers are Audi A8 front. The recent issue on steering lock affects Audi A8. Porsche etc So the lesson here us do your homework, make the effort and sometimes you get rewarded, or use common sense buy with your head and not your heart and get a Lexus!

Same here! Oops I had a puncture and the tyre pressure warning came on, but I can forgive that one.