LenT

Was that third party only Linus? Could be a Guinness Book of Records entry…. 😊

Yes, that’s cleared that up. 😀 Sounds like a great cruise! I guess you’ve left the Lexus at home… No doubt you’ll be enjoying the many delights of the Keelong Night Market - if they let you off the ship. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g13806823-d1383207-Reviews-Keelung_Miaokou_Night_Market-Ren_ai_District_Keelung.html

I would have thought so too - if selling cars was your business! But I understand why you opted for new rather than ‘Pre-Owned’. My previous car was a Honda Accord. So my sensible head said buy a low mileage one a year or two old and avoid the instant depreciation as you drive off the forecourt. But sitting in such vehicles I couldn’t help noticing the odd scratch and scuff. So I too bought new - did a deal with my Prelude - and enjoyed owning a brand new car. With the Lexus it was different. Lexus had stopped marketing the IS250 when I had to replace the Accord. But Lexus Milton Keynes had this one example barely two years old and immaculately presented. So I snapped it up! PS. It’s not even three o’clock in the morning Stephen! It’s not that I think so highly of my posts that I repeat them, but you’re replying while I’m still editing them!

Me too! More like Arthur Daley than Lexus Main Dealer… If you - or indeed anyone else - is looking for a used Lexus, then maybe search for Lexus Select vehicles from the ‘Pre-Owned’ offerings? These are supposedly subjected to a 150 point check before being presented for sale - the implication being that they are properly prepared and warranted for sale. There’s more information about these vehicles here: https://www.lexus.co.uk/pre-owned/lexus-select

Me too! More like Arthur Daley than Lexus Main Dealer… Have you searched for Lexus Select vehicles from the ‘Pre-Owned’ offerings? These are supposedly subjected to a 150 point check before being presented for sale - the implication being that they are properly prepared and warranted for sale. There’s more information about these vehicles here: https://www.lexus.co.uk/pre-owned/lexus-select

I also agree with Ken. Write a detailed letter to the Dealer Principal (unless of course it was the Dealer Principal!) After all, that attitude and the state of the car is losing the business sales - probably to another Lexus Dealer. In your mind it was also damaging the Lexus brand - which would interest Lexus UK even more.

I feel annoyed on your behalf Alan! Did they charge you for the new valve? If they sold it to you on the basis that they could program it, then the failure to do so is surely down to them. You originally mentioned that you were looking to buy a set but you’ve just had one replaced. Did they check the other sensors? If they’re all original then it’s unlikely that just one has run out of battery life. So the problem could be with the whole system. It’s certainly the case that a Lexus dealer might only get involved if they’re fitting a ‘Lexus’ part. Maybe see if a Lexus dealer will check the whole system for you? Maybe it’s as simple as a fuse that’s failed. Are you still getting the TPMS warnings? When I had to replace a TPMS valve it was because a helpful lad had sheared it off while trying to remove the dust cap for me! Fortunately there was a tyre retailer just four minutes away and fitting a replacement didn’t seem to be a problem at all - and only cost £65. Perhaps someone else has some better ideas?

Wise move Chris, by the sound of it! Don’t despair Chris. It’s much more a reflection on the Dealer. Anyone in car sales who can’t be bothered to properly prepare a vehicle for presentation doesn’t deserve to stay in business. I always maintain that if they can’t even be bothered about the bits you can see, then always walk away. Are there no other recognised Lexus dealerships within a reasonable distance? I do believe that outfits such as Carwow might be worth looking at - but I’ve no personal experience. Good luck!

Just to point out, Chris, that if they’re replacing the two front tyres then they should go on the rear wheels. And they should be the same as the current rear tyres ie you have the same brand and type of tyre on all four wheels!

True…but deciding when it’s not necessary is going to vary from driver to driver. It’s also a balance of benefits. One aircon systems maker has these observations: “Regular operation ensures its functionality and significantly increases its service life. If the air con system is idle for too long, moving parts and seals can become porous, the risk of losing refrigerant increases and the oil in the compressor can degrade. This can lead to costly repairs and shorter maintenance intervals. However, short time operations of less than ten minutes should be avoided.” So, I should turn it off to pop up to our village shop and then remember to turn it on again for a drive to the next town. I - or more likely MrsT - in the absence of a/c will then decide on the internal temperature while not bearing in mind that this can be individually selected between passenger and driver. As I do a low mileage anyway, the potential mpg saving is outweighed by the maintained system efficiency and marital calm achieved by keeping the system switched on! But that’s just me!

Hmm…..veeeery interesting!! 🤔

Just out of interest, Steve, was the Shadow system fitted using the same electrical connections as the Ghost? Was it fitted by the same auto electrician as fitted - and removed - the Ghost?

I see that this old Post has been resurrected. How appropriate.

I’ve always had BlackVue cameras. In the event of an impact, the camera automatically saves a few seconds prior to the impact. The total length of the recoding can be set by the user. There is no limit to the number of recordings that can be made in such circumstances. So in a busy car park you do get quite a few videos of shoppers parking! Still, if one decided to take exception to your nice Lexus you’d know who to look for! In standby mode the activation can be by impact or by movement detected by infrared sensors eg someone walking in front or behind the car. In some cars I’ve returned to find that an impact has been recorded only to find, on examination, that it was me shutting the door on leaving the car!

Wise decision! Your car is just as likely to be attacked or damaged when it’s parked - if not more so! As a general rule, I think this is the kind of equipment best installed by a busy auto electrician - who may be doing it on a regular basis - than a dealer’s mechanic who does it occasionally. And if this Dealer keeps offering outdated cameras, then they won’t be selling many of them.

What intrigues me, Steve, is that I suspect that the services these ‘posters’ are offering is….how can I put this?…illegal! I appreciate that they are probably non-UK, but are they forwarded to some appropriate investigative agency so that they can be tracked down and a mild clubbing administered?

Look up Alloygators. They’re rim protectors and I think, from practical experience, that they’re the best thing that can happen to alloy wheels! 😊

My suspicions were aroused when I noticed that ‘wizzy millions’ apparently owned a 2025 Lexus. Is that even possible? If so, I expect he paid cash. 🤔

Well, it’s not me. I hope that helps to narrow it down. 😊

I’ve only just caught up with this thread, Stuart, but wanted to express my sympathy that you have been the victim of such mindless vandalism. I regret that I cannot offer anything practical in the form of replacement screens, but agree with Malcolm - and others - that the culprits should be exposed. I suspect that the Police may have a good idea who’s responsible for this and other instances of local criminal damage. Without clear video evidence it’s a matter of catching them in the act. I wondered if you had considered calling the local paper or TV and revealing how much this moronic activity is affecting your Life and the challenging circumstances that you are already dealing with? Of course, you may feel that that might make you even more of a target. But the culprit is almost certainly well known locally and some well directed publicity might well shame others into developing a social conscience. After all, it’s your car today - but it’ll be theirs tomorrow unless it’s stopped.

Well, I don’t have an NX350h but I have had dual cameras on cars for many years. I’ve never noticed DAB interference- and quite how a hardwired camera would interfere I’m not sure - unless the aerial connections in the rear screen were damaged during installation? I’ve never found the rear camera a distraction, despite mine having a white led to indicate that it’s powered up - because I’m focusing through the screen and beyond the camera. But most importantly, the minor temporary inconvenience of wiring one in is irrelevant compared to the additional protection it affords. When I had an HGV undertake on a motorway before pulling out and writing off my car, it was the rear camera that recorded the manoeuvre and ensured a no-quibble payout by the Insurers.. That incident alone paid for its installation many times over. So what ever the temporary problems you think there may be, I would suggest they are nothing compared to the long term benefits.

Exactly so! And it has the advantage that it doesn’t affect any of the other electrical settings. Better still, the engine will turn over - but it won’t fire up! Which means Chummy has to sit there wondering what the problem is? Short of calling out the AA, they’ll walk away rather than be caught in the car., Here’s a link to a good installation which also demonstrates a neat place to locate the switch.

Well, I do have a suggestion, Sean, but it depends on how much you want to spend on a 14 year-old car. Look for a good local Detailer and have a ceramic finish applied. I did it on my 2015 IS250 over three years ago. It turned out to be a three day process but the results were excellent and road dirt, bird lime and such like are easy to remove. In fact, a heavy rainfall does the washing for me! You can see the initial results on my LOC page.

Any decent tyre retailer should be able to do this. I’d be inclined to ring around and check out the local suppliers. Battery life can be anything from 5 to 10 years, depending on how the car’s been used. So you’re probably right about the batteries failing. Unless you were planning to fit them yourself, you might also consider getting a new set of tyres at the same time so that you do both jobs together. That way you may also be able to negotiate a discount on the total.

Why, James? If by that you mean that it is only active when the ignition’s on, then you might want to reconsider that. I’ve always wired my dashcams so that they are in standby mode when the ignition is off. After all, your car is just as likely to be attacked - if not more so - when it’s parked and unattended. I have a BlackVue and their website is full of clips catching cars damaged in car parks and attempted break-ins.