Coxy

Actually if we're going down that route we'd also need to consider the fact that the months were getting colder from the start of the "project" and colder average also uses more fuel which further backs up my theory (because as it gets colder I should be seeing less MPG) and I have recently filled on normal for mpg to remain,

My RX has returned a better mpg after running a few months on Shell Vpower. I previously only ran it on 'normal', I once filled up about £45 with higher octane v power from almost empty and noticed no difference at all, so reverted to normal. However in the past 4 months I've done nothing but run it on higher octane v-power and my average mpg has now increased by 3. Same Commute, same roads, on average. I actually do not attribute this to the octane difference but more so the additional detergents they claim they put in it help clean the fuel system and touch point engine components. Which I feel is supported by the fact I had to run it on v-power consistently and it was a while before I started seeing postive results but those results have remained. I otherwise agree on your assesment of octane vs vehicle requirements. I believe the RX manual advises 91 minimum which I believe most branded fuel is in the UK.

Hate to put a downer on things but honestly regardless of driving style if you're hoping for an average for 30mpg from the Rx300 then to be straight you are going to be dissapointed. Go in wide eyes open, that's all.

Ha, water leaks, man... I was one of the guys who had to renew my carpets, read essentially strip car back to a working chassis! I left a big thread with pics around so worth a look. Mine was a multitude of things -Front windscreen seal (not your issue) -Hole under the tail light unit (bullet hole?) You can safely assume you won't have this. -Tail light gasket(s) -Body sealant drying around rear roof and top of boot shell area, under the last strip of the rubber roof rack guttering cover strip. The sealant shrinks, dries and exposes the seal lines of the double skinned body letting water in VERY inconspicuously. I fixed this with Granville clear sealant but it's a pain getting sealant adhere to the metalllic gloss paint of the surrounding area so has been fine since for a few months but has reared it's head again slightly, when I can be bothered I will fix with proper body sealant but will likely require picking some sealant out first (rather than sand and re-spray) At least 1 other owner had this issue on his, mines a 300 his was a 400h. In short - ball ache. Still love the car though... just.

When it happens does it change in note or other ways when you put the AC on?

Thanks.

All the glass franchises use aftermarket non OEM glass unless specified or in rare occasions where they use non manufacturer etched pilkington glass that is OEM quality but without the manufacturers stamp. How else are they making a profit? Most of the glass is of Euro source (Nordglass, Polish), with some Chinese sourced becoming more common as the Chinese up their game. NONE of the after markets will be OEM QUALITY, They will all claim and be factually correct that it meets OEM Spec (note the difference in wording), which will mean in terms of shatter specs, thickness, safety specs etc but it will not be up to OEM quality, especially Lexus'es quality control. Having said that I am using a Nordglass windscreen with perfectly acceptable results but only as I had to pay for replacement. If insurers were doing it I would be requesting OEM.

It'll be the circled bit as per pic I would imagine. Note the two rivets. Personally I'd lift the rocker cover and remove the plate altogether and check remaining areas for the loose rivet. Once confident loose rivet was not in the top end I'd remove the sump and check the oil pickup and sump itself. I would imagine the guard itself protects against oil flinging out of the filler cap from components rotating at 1000+rpm (if you're running it stationary without the cap to check levels or such) and also to protect foreign objects from easily entering the via the filler. In short - the car will function mechanically fine without the guard as long as those stray bits are fished out (so don't feel you have to be duped over a new genuine rocker cover at £0000's no doubt.

XC90s have their fair share of issues too but unlike the RX most of them are mechanical and costly such as the rear diff / drive shaft couping being made of play dough, auto boxes prone to failure, vacuum engine mounts almost guaranteed to fail and general DPF issues on the Diesel engines which incidently aren't very refined and struggle to return much more MPG than the Petrol RX300... go figure. Having said that the XC90 ride is nice, interior comfort and trim is great, they have aged well and I personally felt XC90 seats (in leather) were some of the most comfortable I've sat in when driving, I agree on RX300 heated seats not being up to European rivals standards.

HI Adrian Yep factory sat nav on mine, same year as yours 2004. But again is an option so some come without.

Far as I know everything from an Sel can be had on an SE apart from air suspension. I've seen SE with ML systems. A lot of SEs on eBay etc are actually SELs just look at the interior shots for that little air suspension button. Whether that's a deliberate ploy by the sellers or just people getting it wrong on listing who knows. I have an SE with everything minus the ML system and turning headlights.

Quoted for truth I did exactly the same. Though it narrows down your options if you sit tight you will be rewarded. (Unless you get one with loads of leaks like mine :) )

Hello Richard, I've a fair history in mechanics so this is based on my experience with engines in general and not specifically related to an rx300 but a lack of wanting to rev out along with your comments of running rich (what makes you think this?) leads me to suspect an air leak or a sensor that controls fuel/air (one or both) failing. Alternatively it could be spark related. Have you pulled the plugs? Sensor wise we could have failings of : MAF, (easy to find, on top of air filter pipe housing) Lambda (oxygen) sensor, (usually located post manifold in the exhaust outlet) Map sensor (possibly not present on RX300 due to age) Deeper issues could be injector failing or coil failure (actually easy to fix) From what you describe I do not believe outside temp fail would be related to your running troubles but who knows what sensors/stuff runs on the same sub looms as that (in essence nothing would surprise me with modern cars). Hope that helps prompt some further investigation in the right places

Ask if they have the Hunter Pro alignment system in their place yet? Kwikfit are on a roll out of these systems which are considered some of the best in the industry over the traditional tracking systems. However it often is down to the skill of the operator more than the tools. A "proper" alignment centre, that is, one that doesn't just generalise in a few things like exhausts and MOT's too (re kwikfit) but specifically focus on proper alignment as their main speciality and via ideally using a hunter pro system is where I'd be going personally (and I plan to soon as mine is tugging to the left a bit) Try this - they only list approved hunter Alignment centres. https://www.alignmycar.co.uk Cheers

Hi any way to tell if a used wing mirror is of the auto dimming variety? mine got cracked yesterday from another driver who drove off. Lexus want 320 for just the glass needed. Bait steep for me at the moment. Whole unit nit is cheaper on eBay but gamble on whether it'll have the auto dimming glass or not with it, any way to tell?

Had windscreen replaced today at national windscreens, they showed me the old one and confirmed definitely the source of the leak, LH and LH bottom corner had not attached itself at all with the bonding material. I was pretty confident it was this but always good to have your thoughts confirmed once and for all. Also said the previous fitter didn't install the rain sensor stuff properly and asked if I had problems with auto wipers not working as they should - of which I had, so they sorted tghat too - Top service. Now just one rear tail light gasket remaining that I'm awaiting part for and she's all done!

Two no no's generally when I'm buying is cars from further up north, particularly Scotland (no offence guys!) and cars from the cost. No matter what they are. Learn't from bitter experience previously. Car from Scotland was very new but absolutely covered in rust underneath. My theory is it's colder, higher and snows/ices more along with being generally wetter so that combined with more salt used on the roads due to lower avg winter temps. The coast for the same reason but from sea air as someone mentioned. Sorry - recognise that doesn't help anyone!

Finally believe I've cracked this. Noticed it coming in to the passenger side too when sat in car at lunch during heavy rain today. Long story short it was coming down from behind the dash. Stuck some folded paper towels into the internal crease between where the windscreen meets the dashboard. Came came out with a wet edge on the paper towel. Tried it again and again, same, pulled the LH B pillar trim off, carefully examined the internal bond between screen and pillar, used paper towel method again here, came back wet edged. Finally found a small leak in the seal between windscreen and bpillar, the bond was leaking. It was trackign down to the front windscreen edge and tracking down to the footwells from there, dependend on where i parked (work = flat, home = RH decline) dictated which footwell the water tracked to. Getting new screen put in on Monday. I'm 99% sure this is the cause of this mysterious leak. What;s made it unbelievable difficult to trace is there's a lipped plastic trim peice that sits under and surrounding the glove compartment, due to it being lipped (imagine a tea tray) it's had to fill up slightly from the leak before it overspills into the footwell. hence when I hose tested it I could see no obvious signs there and then. OMG huh.

Not a bad idea. Might give that a go Graham

Yep done that, not come up with any luck yet on other possible sources beyond the initial leads. Took it to a windscreen shop yesterday who were very honest and helpfully reluctant to change the windscreen as they said whilst it is a aftermarket one it is well seated and not often the cause of the leaks. Last night I took the roof rails back off and siliconed the holes right up just in case - still leaked from the rain last night.

Front footwell leak is back - still at a loss on this one.

Job well done mate, I believed it was possible and posted in a few other threads including SLACKBLADDERS with my thoughts on this so I'm pleased to have my initial research and thoughts confirmed on this being very possible and fairly straight forward. It's the way I'd go if I had an SEL, hell i'd prob even do it if they were fine just for peace of mind. So all four corners for little more than the price of one new air shock from Lexus! Good result for you. Where abouts in Somerset are you Aderz. I work near Taunton so imagine we're not far!

Any interior pics? Love the interior of these.

Thanks for all your great comments. If nothing else hopefully this thread will serve as an aid to someone in the future. I don't want to jinx it so touch wood but so far so good, had some pretty heavy rain earlier and was raining last night and seems okay. There is some very slight residue damp in the front footwell but I am helplessly believing this is just final bits from the second leak I found still tricking down slightly as it's not a patch on how it was before I fixed it. I've left some blue roll under the carpet in that area as that stuff darkens very easy and noticeably when wet so will check that in the morning

Mine car is on the originals but they are slowly dieing. It's worth noting that the powered tailgate works fine at my house which is not far from sea level, however when I drive to work which is up in the hills quite substantially higher than sea level the powered tailgate then doesn't open fully - must be due to the altitude having an affect on the gas pressure inside the strut. I will likely just buy 2x originals from breakers