Linehill

If you are in the West Midlands area I buy from Jefferies Tyres in Bromsgrove. Bridgestone Potenza @ £160 incl vat and balancing.Simon

How many years are you getting from the aux: Battery? Mine is now 7 years old and seems OK. But I know when the Battery fails you are stuck! It won't start the system.

If anyone has recently bought a new Battery, could you give the make, code number and amperage please? and price paid.

Regards

I can now answer my own question. Lexus Cheltenham told me the auxillary Battery is specially made by a Lexus subsidary company, and is the only one to fit the small tray. NOT TRUE. I have fitted a Bosch S4-158 with a 4year guarantee. Identical in size. Price £44.82 v Lexus £78.00!

Thanks to Google search!

Final update. I have now fitted the Road Angel Vantage model to the windscreen. It works fine and checks both your actual speed and warns of fixed and mobile speed cameras, blackspots, schools, average speed limits and more. Regards Linehill

P.S. The Lexus dealership was NOT the Woodford branch

Quite a story! I do think you have either been very unlucky or badly treated. I have nothing but praise for my Lexus dealer in Cheltenham where I purchased my RX400 and have had it serviced since. Nothing but polite and competent service at all times. Including collection and return of the car. I did originally buy a second hand RX300h and after 6 weeks exchanged it for a RX400h because I found the ride in the 300 too soft and wallowed and it made me feel slightly car sick. There was thing wrong with the suspension (standard struts, I just did not like the ride. The added weight of the batteries seem to give the 400 a firmer ride. I have test driven the 450 with air suspension but can't justify the cost! Also a trade in offer of £9k for a 55 plate 400 with only 33K miles in perfect condition seemed a bit mean!

Hi, Neil. Thanks for your information. Very useful. I spoke to Road Angel and they now tell me that the Professional Connected and the Professional have been discontinued. Denied there was a problem, but said a new and better camera detection model will be launched in a couple of months time. The Vantage model is now the only one available, and they might replace mine with a Vantage. Here's hoping! Regards Simon

Hi, iv'e got a RX400h on a 07 plate and have been running a Road Angel vantage for some time now with no problems at all and before that the professionally connected, so i dont think there is any interference from the hybrid system, I can only assume you have been unlucky with Road Angel units.

Good news. Did you have to fit an external aerial and have you got the unit windscreen or dash mounted? I have tried both positions and with and without the aerial in various places on the windscreen. Sometime the unit worked, but kept loosing the bottom left bars indicating GSM strength/GPRS connectivity. After a miles the unit display freezes and cease to work.Road Angel have changed the professional connected unit and have now got the second one back for testing. Why did you go to the Vantage? Kind regards Simon at Linehill

Is there a member with an RX400h or 450h using the new Road Angel Professional Connected, or Professional or Vantage GPS speed and camera warning units? I used an early model "plus Classic" for years with no problems. This type had to be upgraded regularly via USB/PC connection. Now not compatible with Microsoft Windows 7 or Vista programmes. Road angel have changed it, with discounted price, for the latest Professional. These models are updated every 3 minutes by an inbuilt telephone connection. No computer needed, very clever. BUT 2 units supplied are not able to keep connected to the satellites. This could be interference from the hybrid system. Road Angel do not know. Has anyone in the club had the same problem?

Kind regards. Linehill. (RX400h 55 plate)

I was also quoted approx: £500 to renew front discs and pads by Lexus Cheltenham. My very trusted mechanic in Worcester who looks after my other cars did the job for £230 incl: VAT and using genuine Lexus parts. Shop around and save some money. Bear in mind the main dealers have posh showrooms and service centres which we, the Lexus owners, pay for! Labour charges are bound to be much more.

Hi,

I'd like to buy my wife a Lexus 400h for Christmas, around 56 reg/up to £20k.

Knowing nothing about the Lexus, I have a few questions which I'm hoping you can please provide me some feedback on!

Generally, how reliable are these cars? Especially the electric battery components (ie. the hyrid bits!) and the engine, gearbox etc.

Generally, what have your experiences been with regards to running costs, from a service point of view?

There's a slight price premium from buying directly from a main dealer, which I'm fine with - presumably this is a good route to take?

My wife currently has a Toyota Rav-4 which she has owned from new (for 7 years) and it's been excellent, so is a bit of a shame to see it go, but it's time to change it.

The Toyota is very cheap to run with the main dealer service typically £500 (minor) and £1000 (major) each year.

My car on the other hand is a fortune to run (typically £1500 and £3000 per year), so I'm hoping it's closer to the Toyota in running / service costs!!

Thanks,

GD

I bought a 55 plate 400H with 18,000 on the clock for just under £20K. My first large SUV/4x4/ and hybrid. The car is virtually faultless, very well finished and luxurious. A joy to drive over long distances. The CCV transmission is seamless, no feeling of gear changes. Steering well balanced and good feel. Seats very supportive. Fuel consumption good for a vehicle of this weight and size. (Learn quickly not to ride the accelerator pedal when going downhill or slowing down). Traction in this snow and ice remarkable. I have taken out a 6 year service contract with my Lexus dealer in Cheltenham @ £30 per month. This covers all service costs and parts excluding brakes and tyres. It does also cover the plug and cam belt services which are very expensive! The only quirk with the 400h is the small auxillary Battery which primes the hybrid system to start the car. It is not powerful enough and can run flat very quickly if ancillary equipment like radio/CD/DVD and lights are on without the engine running. Sturdy the forum entries on this subject. Lexus have gained a well deserved reputation for reliability and quality. I can't argue with it! Happy motoring.

Regards Linehill

Is it possible to remove the roof rails on the RX400h? regards Linehill

I have a '55 plate RX400h, with the standard stereo and SatNav (not the ML).

I asked at a Lexus dealer today regarding getting the iPhone adaptor fitted, costing about £200 all in. Its the one that goes inside the glove box.

I had heard from somewhere that the kit does away with the CD multichanger, but the guy in the dealer stated that it is a seperate unit that actually comes on the SatNav screen, and is controlled from there too. It allows you to still use the CD/Tape/radio etc as usual.

I am not convinced he is correct, as it contradicts what i have heard before.

Does anyone have a definitive answer for me?

Yes. I had one fitted to my IS250, and I transferred it to the IS-F. The unit plugs into an auxiliary port in the CD multichanger and shows up as an additional CD drive, so you can still use the CD/Tape??/radio. I will add that both my cars have the ML system, but it should not make a difference.

I fitted the Dension 300 gateway for my ipod on my 55 plate 400. It plays any selection including playlists/all music with or without shuffle. The controls on the steering wheel control the ipod. I do not have sat nav, but the screen shows CD1. This is in addition to the 6 disc changer. The tape deck is not affected. Cost about £250 including labour. If you want to do it yourself the unit costs about £175. Regards Linehill

I tried it and it doesn't work on mine.

Same with my RX400h, 55 plate. I think we will have to remember to manually lock the doors! My dealer thinks that when this system of auto locking doors started some years ago with Mercedes,BMW etc, the emergency services stated that this could prove fatal in bad accidents as they would not be able to open the doors externally. Mercedes and BMW, and I beleive the new Lexus models will unlock the doors automatically if the air bags go off. This may explain why our early RX400 do not have the auto locking option. If that is the case how would they open our internally locked doors in an accident?

Anyone got any more ideas on this subject?

Linehill

I have studied the forum on this subject but can't really find the answer! I have a 55 plate RX400h SE. Has anyone with this year model actually managed to set the doors to automatically lock after the car reaches 5 - 10 mph? If yes, how did you do it? My dealer thinks this option was not introduced until about 2008.

Regards Linehill

Post a link so i can order one up please.

My liner came from GB Haley. Go on eBay.co.uk look in vehicles accessories and key in rubber boot liners. There are plenty for all makes. Mine is a good solid flexible mat, not the rigid shaped mats from Lexus. It is £29 plus postage and does the trick.

regards

Linehill

I've found a boot liner for my RX400h on a well known auction site. It's £ 26 plus £7 in postage, which is a fair way shy of the others on the same site which appear to be upto £ 15 in postage. RX 4x4 03 onwards. Is the boot space in the RX400h (05 plate) the same as petrol RXs ?

I bought a rubber liner mat from eBay at about this price. Fits well and was delivered in 2 days.

Has anyone in the forum group upgraded from an RX400 to an RX450? Is there sufficient improvement/benefit/performance to make it worth considering?My dealer says the 450 can achieve 45 mpg! This is not supported by the forum comments. Apart from cosmetic styling changes to the dashboard, and I believe a socking big auxillary Battery under the boot floor,(so Lexus have listened to the RX400 complaints!) is there much difference in the two models? Is the air suspension system really that good? I do find the standard suspension on my RX400 quite uncomfortable in fast cornering. Too much body roll, but then it is a high up SUV and not a sports car!

Have you run a forum search? :)

Different dealers calculate labour rates differently and have different unit costs so prices do vary. Always haggle on price, no mater what they quote. Also phone round a couple of dealers and don't be afraid to play one off against the other.

Yes, I have been through the forum search. Most discuss the service plan which I do not know anything about. As I bought my 400 second hand from Lexus in Cheltenham, maybe it does not qualify. I will ask the service manager. As I intend to keep the car until it or I fall to bits, it might be a good long term prospect!

I am due to have an annual service and MOT on my 55 plate RX400h by the local Lexus dealer who supplied the car. It has 26,000 miles on the clock and goes like a dream. I am interested to hear what service charges other 400h owners are finding around the country? Did you try to negotiate any price reductions? What hidden problems did the dealer try to tell you about your car? Do all dealers work to pre-set service price arrangement, or charge as much as they can?

I agree with Fred. The 400h is a remarkable car. Fuel consumption really does depend on your right foot! I average 34-38 mpg overall on mixed road driving. One tip I can give you is when you do not need any power, take your foot completely off the accelerator pedal and basically let the car freewheel. If you set the information button to actual mpg you will see 99.9 when the car is not using any fuel or is running on the electric motors. If you drive with a very heavy right foot you see a pretty poor mpg!

I am about to change my petrol bmw 530 SE (2004 model) for a Lexus 400h. I do not know Lexus very well and would be extremely grateful if someone could help me with the following 3 questions:

1. Reading this forum, it does not seem that the fuel consumption on the Lexus is very good (it is not good either on the BMW 3 litres petrol engine). I am sure a number of people have done what I am about to do (ie swap a BMW for a Lexus) but if so is there a big difference in terms of fuel consumption ?

2. Using the Lexus search engine, I have shortlisted 2 models - a SE model (2008) and a Limited Edition model (2009). What are the difference between these two models ? Has the 2009 model changed compared to the 2008 version ?

3. On their website, some Lexus dealers indicate that they are happy to negotiate the price. What generally can be negotiated ? 1 to 5 % ?

Thank you very much for your help.

Fred

Hi Fred, i have had 3 lexus's now and think they are outstanding, i bought my 2006 RX400H SE-L back in march, it was up for £25,995 with 27k on clock 1 owner, the price wasn't negotiable, but they always have a margin, i managed to get it for £22,500 full tank fuel, bumper protector, boot liner,touch up paint, free delivery to lowestoft suffolk as i bought it from lexus Hatfield, oh and free baseball cap for my boy so if you dont ask you dont get, always plenty more out there. I generally get 33/34 mpg out of mine and have seen 38 on a run so not bad for 3.3 petrol. Not sure on the differences between the two models you listed sorry, but hopefully some help to you.

All best

Phil

Thanks Phil - this is very helpful.

Fred

The power socket in the boot only works when the auxiliary is switched on.

Interesting. What exactly do you mean when the auxiliary is switched on? I carry a Blackspur Battery starter/tyre air pump/torch unit which is connected to the 12 volt contact in the boot to keep it fully charged in case of an emergency. The charging light on the unit does not light up even when the car is running. Do you know if this connection is fused? I do not think it is recharging the blackspur and once a month I boost it on the mains adapter, which does show the charging light!

Hi there,

Just taken ownership of an 07 RX400h SR this morning from Lexus Coventry and I have to say, the customer service levels are excellent.

I was trading in my 07 IS250 Sport and had 4 of the Coventry team dealing with me throughout the process. Great trade-in price and impeccable service for picking up the RX - from the full valet, full tank of fuel, to the 24 months warranty (due to high mileage) and 24 months roadside assistance.

I can't speak highly enough about the team there - my local Lexus dealer is Chester and they're pretty damn awesome too!

Initial thoughts on the RX:

* After the gadgets, keyless entry and ignition of the 250 I was trying to manage my own expectations... but the RX is a joy to drive, excellent handling, with the upgraded multimedia kit, full leather and sat nav.

* I'm based in the North West so still trying to figure out how to achieve the best fuel consumption - I only managed 26mpg average on the M6 - however, I was bombing along a bit...

* Amazingly quiet - can hardly hear the engine and the cabin quality is brilliant

* Driving position is great and power is quick and punchy once the right foot is planted down

Couple of questions:

* I want to get ipod integration so what's the best option - Lexus own or other? And where's best to get it fitted (in North West)?

* Parking distance assistance is something I want to get fitted - is this an easy fit for a dealer and how much am I looking at?

I can't compliment the RX400h SR enough at this point, it's pretty damned impressive!

I have a 55 plate 400. My local car audio specialist in Worcester fitted a Dension Ipod attachment to the Lexus ICE system. Cost about £250. All the Lexus controls function the Ipod, but the display does not show track information. This is due to the Lexus kit, not the Dension. Your 07 car may have rectified this. Let me know if you want further technical/product information. Regards Linehill

Hi just joined group in hope of help just spent week away and on return to airport the remote would not open car,also would not open via key even with pulling handle and turning key as suggested by lexus dealer.Called AA didnt have a clue coudnt be recoverd as in park and parked in tight spot(so i didnt get any muppets dinking the door,3hrs later AA man smashed window then lifted bonnet to jump it!!!!!(has this ever happend before)

Have a look at my forum entry headed "Do not leave your lights on" from January 2010. Extensive ideas and suggestions were made by many RX400h owners. We all know the auxillary Battery which primes the hybrid system is inadequate, Lexus know as well, but the Battery tray is too small to fit a larger capacity Battery in its place. No one has suggested that it might be worth actually disconnecting a Battery terminal if the car is going to be left for a few weeks unused. I don't know if it would stop a flat Battery, but downside is the alarm system would not function. But this is probably the cause of the Battery drain. Would the central locking work? This is a frustrating problem on what is otherwise an excellent car.

[ i have never had any brake problems on my 400 in 6000 miles of varied motoring conditions. Certainly never experienced your problem. On the snow and ice I could feel the ABS system working when any skids began. Maybe you should take your car back to your dealer and have the ABS and other systems checked. I have always thought the braking on the Lexus was most reassuring and positive.

I would be most grateful if other RX400h owners would indicate whether they have experienced a BRAKE FAILURE problem with this vehicle.

When applying normal constant pressure to the brake pedal, the brakes automatically release and then automatically reapply.

As this operation is automatic - without any change in input from the driver - it is distressing to be uncertain each time whether the brakes will actually reapply themselves after automatically releasing brake pressure! Obviously this presents a potentially lethal hazard to oneself and to other road users and to pedestrians.

This brake failure occurs when braking and turning into a corner and when the vehicle is travelling over a rough surface (which is most places!).

The sensation to the driver is that of skidding on ice (as braking force is lost) and gives the impression of a relative acceleration due the loss of expected deceleration.

Naturally, this is accompanied by a distressing sickening feeling in one's stomach due to the unexpected release of braking force when pressing the brake pedal - especially when approaching roundabouts and when travelling downhill !!!

PM me if you wish.