Discussion
Just went out to have a try....yes, it connects via BT and you can stream music that way. However, it doesn't appear you can change track using the OBC if streaming via BT, you'd need to manually use your phone to do that (I think).
If you set up wifi hotspot then the system can connect to the wifi signal your phone is sending out and connect to web radio etc that way too which is quite cool.
Bizarrely, when playing music via BT it is noticeably louder than when connecting via the USB cable, not sure why.
Overall, a very good system I think. It'll take me a while to get used to it and to work out what I want from it and the best way to go about that. In reality, for me, connecting to the USB cable to stream music is no issues, that way I can get to use the steering wheel buttons to change tracks etc, and having my phone in the storage area is fine. Any incoming calls or messages get shown on the VLine system anyway (and you can answer phone calls of course as you can normally anyway).
Hope that helps.
If you set up wifi hotspot then the system can connect to the wifi signal your phone is sending out and connect to web radio etc that way too which is quite cool.
Bizarrely, when playing music via BT it is noticeably louder than when connecting via the USB cable, not sure why.
Overall, a very good system I think. It'll take me a while to get used to it and to work out what I want from it and the best way to go about that. In reality, for me, connecting to the USB cable to stream music is no issues, that way I can get to use the steering wheel buttons to change tracks etc, and having my phone in the storage area is fine. Any incoming calls or messages get shown on the VLine system anyway (and you can answer phone calls of course as you can normally anyway).
Hope that helps.
TyrannosauRoss Lex said:
I took a few pics last night when I parked up near a friend's house, here's what it looks like
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1eJZRLk01WSRTs4yL...
This is on the standard Lexus screen? Sorry i have no idea how this works, looks like a great idea though if the standard screenhttps://drive.google.com/open?id=1eJZRLk01WSRTs4yL...
quigonjay said:
TyrannosauRoss Lex said:
I took a few pics last night when I parked up near a friend's house, here's what it looks like
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1eJZRLk01WSRTs4yL...
This is on the standard Lexus screen? Sorry i have no idea how this works, looks like a great idea though if the standard screenhttps://drive.google.com/open?id=1eJZRLk01WSRTs4yL...
So I have had to resort to putting on the back seats with a dust sheet down! Bit irritating.CharlesdeGaulle said:
TyrannosauRoss Lex said:
Very sure. Does your car have a rear fridge? I think that may be why.
No fridge for me. I don't even have the full rear armrest of delight. But I can fit a bike in 
Thanks for this write-up Ross. What are your impressions of the LS now that you've had it for a bit? How does seat comfort/adjustability compare to the BMW? I'm on the hunt for one (they're rather thinner on the ground over here in South Africa), and I've only had a static inspection of one - I loved the damped centre armrest of loveliness...
Budleigh said:
Thanks for this write-up Ross. What are your impressions of the LS now that you've had it for a bit? How does seat comfort/adjustability compare to the BMW? I'm on the hunt for one (they're rather thinner on the ground over here in South Africa), and I've only had a static inspection of one - I loved the damped centre armrest of loveliness...
The seats are noticeably better than those of the 7 series. That said, the 7er had standard and not the "comfort" seats, so I can't compare to those, but yes, the LS seats are definitely a step up. Overall it's a very nice car to live with Ha, the centre armrest is pretty cool, although it's one of those things I don't use a huge amount. It's useful to store stuff in and if I'm doing longer trips I plug my phone in (using the new VLine system) to use Android Auto and keep my phone in there
The LS460 should be going in to get the ride height looked at at some point this week or next. Someone is coming to collect the car, and to save another trip in 2 months time I'm getting it serviced as well and will get them to give it a thorough check over.
It doesn't need spark plugs, coolant or an air filter as they were done last year (air filter is every 2 years, coolant every 5 and spark plugs are good for 40+k miles). I figured doing it now, if something is found I may be able to claim on any warranty.
I'm doing very few miles at the moment but this weekend saw me do 2x50 mile trips both Saturday and Sunday, so 200 miles over the weekend which I'm sure will have done it some good.
Otherwise..... It's running fine
It doesn't need spark plugs, coolant or an air filter as they were done last year (air filter is every 2 years, coolant every 5 and spark plugs are good for 40+k miles). I figured doing it now, if something is found I may be able to claim on any warranty.
I'm doing very few miles at the moment but this weekend saw me do 2x50 mile trips both Saturday and Sunday, so 200 miles over the weekend which I'm sure will have done it some good.
Otherwise..... It's running fine
6 months since the last update. Not a huge amount to report but there have been a couple of things. The ride height appeared to just be something that needed recalibrating, so it wasn't anything serious that needed any cost outlay. The car had a service about 6-7 weeks ago which was effectively a major service except no need for new coolant or spark plugs as these were done last year. The car came back with a clean bill of health.
It has developed one fault which is a little odd and irritating, because it's very, very intermittent. Basically, very occasionally the car will be down on power by a fairly considerably margin. Full throttle it still revs cleanly but it's just much slower. Apparently it is likely to be an issue with the VVT system, and there are a few issues it could be, none of them seem horrendously expensive, but one is certainly more than the other. The issue is that it has happened 3 times now over the course of about 3 months. The rest of the time the car is infallible. The other issue is that it is not showing any fault codes, not even pending ones, and when it is present there are no warnings on the dash. It can happen when I put my foot down, and then back off the throttle, then give it the beans again and then it has full power once again. It is very odd. So it seems daft to start spending loads of money investigating something when you might not be able to suss it. My usual garage as well as a well-reputed independent Lexus specialist have basically said leave it and see if it becomes more frequent or can be easily replicated.
Otherwise, it's been very good. I have used it very little lately and have often thought about whether it is even worth keeping it. I did need to use it yesterday and was driving for around 4 hours, and it is a very, very competent mile muncher. I also discovered a couple of days ago that it has double glazed windows
It has developed one fault which is a little odd and irritating, because it's very, very intermittent. Basically, very occasionally the car will be down on power by a fairly considerably margin. Full throttle it still revs cleanly but it's just much slower. Apparently it is likely to be an issue with the VVT system, and there are a few issues it could be, none of them seem horrendously expensive, but one is certainly more than the other. The issue is that it has happened 3 times now over the course of about 3 months. The rest of the time the car is infallible. The other issue is that it is not showing any fault codes, not even pending ones, and when it is present there are no warnings on the dash. It can happen when I put my foot down, and then back off the throttle, then give it the beans again and then it has full power once again. It is very odd. So it seems daft to start spending loads of money investigating something when you might not be able to suss it. My usual garage as well as a well-reputed independent Lexus specialist have basically said leave it and see if it becomes more frequent or can be easily replicated.
Otherwise, it's been very good. I have used it very little lately and have often thought about whether it is even worth keeping it. I did need to use it yesterday and was driving for around 4 hours, and it is a very, very competent mile muncher. I also discovered a couple of days ago that it has double glazed windows
swampy442 said:
Re the VVTI system, I know from other Toyota engines they have a tiny, very fine filter in the oil feed line to the VVT solenoid, that blocks up and can give you operation issues. Just an idea
Yes I gather that is what is the likely culprit, but without knowing, and it being incredibly intermittent it seems daft to throw money at it when it may not even fix it. Thanks for the heads up though. It's got its MOT in 3 months time so I will get them to check that out when it's in Cheers
First bit of DIY needed today and I'm hoping it's sorted it. I was driving home last night and put the front windows down, but on raising them back up the passenger's side became quite windy like it hadn't sealed properly, and when raising up you could hear it rubbing in the seal a bit. Today I went out, just checked by lowering and raising the window again and I don't know how to describe it but it just sounded like the seal was grimy and the window was a little reluctant to go in.
I put the window back down, cleaned the top of the window and then got an old toothbrush, sprayed some cleaner on it and brushed inside the seal, tried drying it with a cloth and then sprayed some autoglym vinyl and rubber care rather liberally into the seal and just ran a cloth along the bottom of the seal. Left it for a while while I just cleaned the windows around the car and put the window back up and it didn't make that noise again so I'm hoping that has sorted it.
As an aside, I think you can get specific stuff to treat rubber seals, can't you? Any recommendations? The only issue with the window seals on the Lexus are that they are almost "hidden" behind a hard plastic shield which is obviously there to further reduce wind noise. This means actually accessing the seal is pretty difficult. I'm hoping the vinyl/rubber care will help, I think it has silicone in there, and where it is a spray it got up there OK. I was given it, so at least it's come in handy!
I put the window back down, cleaned the top of the window and then got an old toothbrush, sprayed some cleaner on it and brushed inside the seal, tried drying it with a cloth and then sprayed some autoglym vinyl and rubber care rather liberally into the seal and just ran a cloth along the bottom of the seal. Left it for a while while I just cleaned the windows around the car and put the window back up and it didn't make that noise again so I'm hoping that has sorted it.
As an aside, I think you can get specific stuff to treat rubber seals, can't you? Any recommendations? The only issue with the window seals on the Lexus are that they are almost "hidden" behind a hard plastic shield which is obviously there to further reduce wind noise. This means actually accessing the seal is pretty difficult. I'm hoping the vinyl/rubber care will help, I think it has silicone in there, and where it is a spray it got up there OK. I was given it, so at least it's come in handy!
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