australianstan

Hi Richard, which company did you use out of interest? I’m in Dublin too and I still have around 9 months on the warranty but after that I’d like to plan ahead. Thanks, Stan Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Having just bought a ten-year-old Lexus I won’t be buying into the brand again. I love RWD, but my GS won’t let me enjoy it with its nanny-state permo-assists. The build quality is appalling- I spent four hours today trying to sort out the rattles in the cabin, and I’ll spend a similar amount tomorrow smothering the door seals in gummi pfledge and sorting the next problem. Every time the temperature changes there’s a new rattle or squeak in the cabin, I can’t keep up with it. When I took it for its big service last month I came away with a bill for more than €5000, which included critical items such as as brakes (all-round) and an entire suspension overhaul. This, on a car which had full service history and up-to-date nct (MOT). I’m not even mentioning the battery paranoia that most 3GS 450h owners must be having around now- I’m luckily guaranteed up to Feb 2019, but after that I’ll be ****ting a few battery-cell shaped bricks. My last car was a Mazda RX8- the most notoriously ‘unreliable’ car in the world. It never missed a beat in three years of ownership. It did 11mpg, the cabin build quality was second-to-none, it had a LSD and I miss it. Surely that’s ‘luxury’- driving something you enjoy? I’m still to find that yet in my Lexus, even though it’s ‘RWD’ [emoji22] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mine is pre-facelift and was registered March 2008. Only after I bought it did I realise it was manufactured Feb 2007- I wasn’t trained at the time to spot the very subtle facelift details. I still win- in the eyes of the Irish tax system it’s only €750pa, as opposed to €1809, but it commanded a very high purchase price as they’re like hens’ teeth in the ROI. Lexus has approved my traction battery warranty until end Feb 2019. I’m just praying the battery throws some codes soon so that I can replace the whole thing under warranty. Knowing my luck it’ll fail on the 1st march! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is wrong. The hybrid battery needs to be used regularly otherwise it will degrade. If it’s left sitting unused for long periods it will degrade. Also, the exhaust may not heat up quickly. My 450h doesn’t heat up at all when I drop my daughter to school, it runs mainly on battery Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In the two months I’ve owned mine I’ve had to spend around €4500 fixing stuff- all four shocks, water pump, new 12v battery, all brake discs and pads. This was on top of the €11000 purchase price for a 2008 450h (the tax changed here in Ireland in 2008 from €1850 PA to €750 as it became emissions-based, so the post-change cars hold their value very well). Lexus have agreed to give me a new bonnet, however, as there were small signs of corrosion, and it passed its final hybrid battery check last week. Reversing auto-tilt mirrors don’t work properly. Driving-wise it’s great, although it creaks like an old ship, going to have a felt and silicone grease festival this weekend to see if I can eliminate the noises. Traction control is too invasive- every time I put my foot down the nanny slaps my wrist. Traction not great in general really, again it might be the tyres in need of refreshing. Love the power though, and it’s doubled the mpg of my rx8 in every driving style. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’m in need of drivers-side front and passenger-side rear shock absorbers as mine are leaking. I’ve been quoted around €1100 installed by Lexus for these but does anyone have any suggestions of places to source OEM parts or any aftermarket suggestions? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just back from it’s first full service at lexus in a couple of years, horrified by the price of some of the items- front brake pads and discs, €685.14?!! New battery €542???!! Is this a stealership taking the ***** or do these items genuinely cost this much for the 450h? I fitted a €80 battery last week but they’ve said they can’t do the hybrid battery cheque due to ‘fault codes in the system’ and won’t give me the warranty for the next year without a new 12v battery so maybe I just need to suck this one up. Need a new water pump at €647.50 which I know is an Achilles heel of the 3GS so not so surprised by that, even though it’s a €120 part. Finally two shocks are leaking but they reckon it’ll be grand until the next service, at least I don’t need to replace those too! Fuming at the brake discs and pads though, going to try my friendly local mechanic and see what he says. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Power mode definitely makes a difference to the throttle response and I tried it with ‘sport’ dampers today on my favourite back road. Seriously impressed by the way it goes and handles- it’s a big car but it’s great fun in the bends. My RX8 PZ is considered one of the best handling cars this side of a Porsche, and the GS, whilst not as nimble, definitely ticks the fun box. Genuinely surprised! Changed out the 12V battery for a new one today, the one in it must have been original, only giving 330cca. Climate control has definitely improved, although not totally solved, and the auto-dipping mirrors are much better and are now practical. Interior lights are now useful rather than being ‘mood’ lights, and pretty sure the auto-wipers are working better?! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just seems to make the ride harsher as far as I can tell, although haven’t tried it in the twisties yet! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Farqui, many thanks for the advice. I tried programming the mirrors when in reverse but they won’t set on the individual memories without it being in park. Your tip of setting it to number three is great though- this works well enough until I can figure out why they’re not dipping all the way in reverse. It definitely feels like a setting problem- the mirrors all work and do dip in reverse, just not enough on the driver’s side to make it practical. Took the radio out today and installed the Grom aux in, works perfectly with my Bluetooth music streamer, now have all my tunes running from my phone and sounds great on the ML system! Took out the Vais adapter so if anyone wants it PM me. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Very much enjoyed the trip home from Belfast today, radar cruise was superb on a busy motorway. Tried out the ‘power hybrid’ mode, felt like it had a bit more torque, does it give more electricity or is it just quicker throttle response? Either way it made short work of overtaking and left a set of elevens at the toll bridge! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks SpeedyGee, just had a go through different variations of climate, was just sat on the drive and the engine wasn’t fully warmed up so not expecting really hot, but here are some observations- 1. Both on hi, no air con- driver warm, passenger cool. 2. Air con on, driver lo, passenger hi- driver icy, passenger cold. 3. Air con on, driver hi, passenger lo- driver warm, passenger icy. 4. Little bit of air coming out of top vents when directed to feet only. 5. feet always cold on passenger side 6. Little bit coming out of defrost all the time on fresh air, not on recirc. The only time the heater got hot was after about 30 mins on the motorway, everything turned up to hi, air con off- was noticeably cooler with air con on. All the different modes and temps did something, I just assume the mix and/or mode doors aren’t fully closing or are getting false readings. I’ll check the cabin filter when I have time but fully expecting to have to take a good few layers of the dash apart! No aux input on the pre-facelift unfortunately, hence buying the Grom. It actually has a Vais iPod connection, which is very expensive, but it randomly only seems to want to play on one channel. I’ve tried with my actual iPod, an iPod-lightning connector to my iPhone and a 30 pin-3.5mm jack connector- 7 times out of ten it only plays on the left channel on any of these connections. When it’s playing on both it sounds amazing, don’t know whether it’s the Vais cable or a loose connection to the head unit. One other thing- the driver’s mirror doesn’t auto-dip all the way down in reverse and thus doesn’t return to its previous position, so I’ve turned this off for now. Loving everything else though! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi all, brand new to Lexus ownership, picked up my 2008 (pre-facelift) GS450h from an independent dealer last week. Only 70000 miles on the clock and in very good condition. Metallic navy blue with cream leather. First big drive up to Belfast on Christmas Day and really enjoyed it. I’m coming from a Mazda RX8, obviously a totally different driving experience but I’m really enjoying the comfort and bags of power on tap. A big thing I’ve noticed is the air vents seem to send cooler air to the passenger side and overall don’t seem to get very warm. I’ve read that this might be a airmix servo issue. There’s lots of info out there on how to DIY for the 2GS but not much for the 3GS- has anyone had any experience of fixing their climate controls? I’ve also bought a Grom aux adapter and will install this when I have my tools. I’m not a stranger to taking dashes apart so will have a look at all the servos when I’m in there. The car has FSH (very unusual in Ireland) so I’m not expecting any massive bills immediately but I’ll take it in to Lexus in Dublin in the new year for them to give it a full assessment. Looking forward to Lexus ownership, hope I’ve bought a good one! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk