sorcerer

Thanks Steve, although I'm not quite sure how relevant and useful a manual for a left-hand drive 2000 car would be when working on a right-hand drive 2005 car. Not trying to be flippant, just realistic, cos it's a lot of money to shell out if most of it doesn't relate to what we need when we need it. Got to be honest though; due to health problems I can't really do much of my own work now anyway. It's just that I like to have that 'book of knowledge' to look at when a problem or an idea pops its head up. Looks like I may have to pay for timed access to the online version if I ever have the need.

And just to add a little to Steve's reply above, usually if the rectifier has gone, the ignition (battery) light will stay on or come on when the engine/key is off.

Many, many moons ago I had a Rover 800 Sterling and the Haynes manual just wasn't good enough so I bought the official factory manual; well, two actually, as there was a separate one dedicated to the electrics. I can't remember the exact cost but it was certainly over £200 for the two. Can you get the factory manual for the RX300 from Lexus?

It doesn't matter what's "preferred" - if the owner's manual and the plate in the car say 30 then it has to be 30. A guy I used to work with was involved in an accident and I can't remember if the insurance rejected the claim completely or if they reduced the payout, on the grounds of incorrect tyre pressures being a contributory factor in the accident.

I got my local independent guy to change the transmission fluid and also the internal filter, although the filter probably wasn't necessary. @ChrisKaye said that from what he'd read the filter doesn't really need doing until about 250k if I remember right, but it just seemed counter-intuitive to me to change the fluid but not the filter. I managed to get a great deal on the fluid, 10 litres of Toyota Type IV from the Toyota dealer for £75.60.

Aha, I've got an RX300 with traditional key start. I had no idea the GS430 has push-button start or that the manual key is removable from the electronic key. I must admit that I was a bit puzzled when you initially wrote " I have two electronic keys both with mechanical keys " but I floundered on anyway

Now, I admit I've had a glass or two so bear with me here Michael If you haven't got an original key, how are you using the car? I know the alcohol may be responsible because I'm not usually so thick but... Oh, have you not got the owner's manual? My key number is written in there along with the chassis number and some other stuff.

But this is the point - what is OEM? I can tell you that neither Toyota nor Lexus have a battery manufacturing plant (but will happily hold my hand up if anyone knows different) and yet MikeyV's initial post that started this topic off states that he replaced his battery in April "genuine Toyota item". Second post in the topic has the other Mike (Bluesman) saying that he has a Lexus battery. I'd almost stake a year's wages that neither of those batteries are manufactured by Toyota or Lexus. They may be Bosch or Varta or something else, manufactured for Toyota and Lexus and with the Toyota and Lexus names on, but they have not been made by Toyota or Lexus. So why not just buy a Varta or Bosch-branded battery for less money and easier availability? When the exhaust needed replacing on our Nissan Maxima QX 3.0 V6 Se Plus, I tried Kwik-Fit, National and all the usual suspects but none of them could get one. Nissan wanted £795. Instead, I got a custom-made stainless steel exhaust, warrantied for the life of the car and transferrable to however many new owners it may have had, for £350 fitted. That goes way over and above, and far exceeds OEM spec., but you'd happily pay the £795 because it was Nissan-branded and would come from a Nissan main dealer?

Seems you don't really have much choice. It's either pay extortionate, stupid prices for new or get used and take a chance. It's always the same with older cars in general but especially the prestige marques. There's a whole steering column on Ebay for £90 with 30 days warranty on it. Looking at the pictures may help you to visualise where stuff is on yours to lube/adjust it. Or there's individual motors here I know it's not the same thing but we used to have a Nissan Maxima QX 3.0 V6 SE Plus Auto that needed a new oil pan. The photos below show a pressed steel, black enameled roasting tin that we bought at Argos or somewhere for £3.99. It has a couple of holes in the rim (but I don't know what for) and it's great for roasting joints of beef, lamb or whatever. The other photo shows a pressed steel, black enameled sump pan. Ok, it's got some nice cross-hatching on that appears to serve no purpose whatsoever and it's got a few more holes in the rim - but I really do NOT see anything that justifies the £167.99 we had to pay for it because I couldn't find one at a breakers at the time. I was absolutely incandescent with rage at such a rip-off and wrote to the CEO of Nissan UK to express my feelings but just got a standard letter back stating the high cost of warehousing and what the poor dears have to go through to hold spares for all the huge ranges of vehicles they supply etc., etc. Load of carp as we all know.

Everyone knows, or at least I thought they did, that Toyota, Lexus, Ford, VW, Nissan etc., etc., etc., do not make batteries/exhausts/brakes and the like. They just buy them in from the same sources we would and stick on a gazillion percent markup before selling them to the sheeple. Same goes for servicing/mechanical work, to a degree at least. Ok, I admit that I've never been rich enough to buy a brand new car (58 now and even if I live to be 100, I'll still never manage a brand new car) and I can see that if you're buying a high-value car you'll want to hold on to as much of that value as you can. But, if you're the kind of person who just buys a car and runs it until it dies (like I am), then there's no need whatsoever to keep servicing and other work in the stable of the main stealers. There are plenty of very knowedgeable and very capable independent guys out there who do a great job - plus you get a warm, fuzzy feeling in your tummy knowing that your money is going to a good home, rather than just providing yet another bottle of Moet & Chandon for some fat cat somewhere

Have a look at this guy on Ebay who can supply keys cut by photo. I do realise that you already have the key blanks and just need them cutting but you may find locksmiths reluctant to cut keys that they haven't supplied anyway, partly because they've lost out on a sale and partly because some key blanks are very hard and can cause expensive cutter damage.

The thread below shows a brand-new, custom made stainless steel exhaust for an RX300 for £395 with a lifetime warranty. I would imagine yours may well be more expensive than that but wouldn't think too much more. I would never go to the main stealers for items such as exhausts, tyres, brakes etc., their prices are just silly beyond words. http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/109088-rx300-custom-exhaust/#comment-966031

Oi, I resemble that remark! At 58, my favourite band of all time is Led Zeppelin, who's members are currently 68, 72 and 70 years old and when I get there I'll still be listening to them - no Ken Bruce for me The biggest wrench of buying our RX300 five months ago was that it only has an FM radio so I can't listen to Planet Rock on DAB!

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/108697-lpg-conversion-and-the-petrol-gauge/ As to the small fillers in the petrol flap - very neat but highly impractical in my opinion. They're very narrow so the fill rate is very slow. Plus, they are quite flimsy in the sense that a lot of pumps have hoses that are 'tethered' and you have to pull the hose against spring pressure. Once attached via the necessary adapter there's a lot of force on that narrow brass filler and brass isn't the strongest material. I know of a couple of cases where the filler has sheared off.

This is the guy on Ebay who will supply and cut the key blank to your key code or by photograph. All you do then is transfer your existing electronics into the new key. Ebay locksmith guy

Have a read of this topic that I started a while ago. In the meantime I'll try to find the Ebay locksmith for you: http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/108450-2005-rx300-key-programming/#comment-959903

So am I on my RX300. That's the problem with 'inbuilt' units like these - because they're shaped and contoured to fit in the dash (both physically and colour-wise) putting any new unit in just looks rubbish.

Glad you got it sorted

DAB could be SO much better if they broadcast using proper bit rates but they're just greedy. Lower bit rates mean they can squash more channels in the given space and therefore make more revenue.

It'd be a strange old world if we were all the same mate - vive la différence!

Ah right, fair enough Mohammed - but I still prefer the original black wheel/black stitching

It's a long time since I bought anything from an auction but when I did, I never had any major problems. As long as you know what you're doing (or take someone who does) then you can indeed get some great bargains.

Thank you Piers. My search string had the word 'headlights' in but did not return that one you've linked to, which is a bit weird but cheers, I'll have a look at it now.

I was thinking the same. I think it's the white stitching that doesn't look right to me. However, as Piers says, as long as you like it then it's money well spent.

Well I searched for the phrase "oxidised headlights" and also "yellowed headlights" (without the quotes) but it didn't return anything useful. If you do happen to come across it somewhere I'd be grateful for a link please.