[Hashed]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Thank you for reading my thread. All the best with your search/buy. Off hand I did not know the answer. But I called my Lexus dealers engineering department to check. According to them the ES300h being sold in India can run on Ethanol 20% mix without any modification. Thus far they've been a reliable bunch so I'll go with their input. Hope this helps.

Thank you for the information. The current situation on ethanol is very confusing with the ministry changing their thinking every few weeks - it’s good to know the Lexus can handle up to E20.

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Bagheera, my panther, goes for its 6th servicing this week. Report will follow. Unfortunately due to covid19 issues mileage has been minimal with everyone insisting on meeting only over video conferences. For certain very personal reasons I've decided to maintain and use Bagheera till I'm old enough to need dentures. I'm not a sentimental person and I tend not to accumulate things. In fact when I retired I gave away or threw away all those million plaques, awards and whatever one accumulates over a long career - all except two. So this decision to retain Bagheera has been taken with some serious thought. In a few years I'll request Toyota to support me with spares. So this thread might go on for a very long time. :-) after all I brush my teeth twice daily.

I can relate to the way you’re thinking - I too like to maintain and keep my cars for very long. Given the reliability of Lexus there’s no reason you cannot keep it for another 10-15 years, specially since you enjoy it so much! Bagheera looks stunning after the 6th service - I look forward to continue reading your updates.

[Baddychat]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

6th Service -:- Lexus ES300h -:- 51,000 kms

For the denting painting of the fenders the 3M PPC had to be removed. I'll check about re-affixing it once again. But there is no 3M centre left around my place now.

I have been following this thread of yours for a few years now and Bagheera looks anything but 5 years old.
The number of 3M centers have been dwindling in the NCR region over the last couple of years. I managed to find one in Sector 10 Noida last year when I wanted to get PPF done on my car. The workmanship was good at least when I used them last. You speak with them.

[Dhruv29]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

6th Service -:- Lexus ES300h -:- 51,000 kms


For the denting painting of the fenders the 3M PPC had to be removed. I'll check about re-affixing it once again. But there is no 3M centre left around my place now.

It's time to move on from 3M to be honest. There are many detailing outlets who can apply PPF on car with much better PPF and quality of application as well.
I had 3M PPF applied on E-class on front and back bumper back in 2015. When PPF was just introduced in the market. The quality of Llumar, X-pel PPF is much better compared to 3M.
I can recommend House of Polish on Golf Course Road, Gurgaon. Till now i have gotten my ES, Tiguan and an S500 whole body PPF from them.
They remove the bumper, headlights, badges etc. so that PPF is installed without any cuts, which the guys at 3M were never able to do. Also the orange peel effect and reflection of Llumar PPF is much better than that of 3M.

[V.Narayan]

This thread has several positives of Lexus strewn all over it. This month I have an anecdote from the other side.

On 3rd November I wrote an email to the Lexus dealer complimenting the work of their engineering staff on all the perfect paint touch up they'd done on Bagheera and appreciating one particular employee. I like writing letters when a job has been well done and also when a goof up has occurred. I believe, even if vainly, that I write letters that are lucid, crisp and interesting to read. No reply. On 16th November I sent a gentle reminder enquiring if they had read my letter. No reply...Zzzzzzzzz.... on 24th comes a reply acknowledging my compliments. 3 weeks. So I sent the Lexus dealer a rebuke that in my professional life if my officers took more than 48 hours to respond to a letter/written communication there would be hell to answer for and Lexus taking 3 weeks to acknowledge a letter, and a positive one at that, is a very sad reflection on them. Some readers might see me as another grey grouch but life is too short to live with a chalta hai style or lump it from others.

[lamborghini]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

This thread has several positives of Lexus strewn all over it. This month I have an anecdote from the other side.

So I sent the Lexus dealer a rebuke that in my professional life if my officers took more than 48 hours to respond to a letter/written communication there would be hell to answer for and Lexus taking 3 weeks to acknowledge a letter, and a positive one at that, is a very sad reflection on them. Some readers might see me as another grey grouch but life is too short to live with a chalta hai style or lump it from others.

No grouch at all Sir!

Lexus has one big advantage over other rivals in this segment : perceived reliability and going the last mile to ensure happy customers especially given they were priced at a premium (till the recent hike on Germans).

I myself am annoyed with their Mumbai team, as is a friend. Member Dhruv29 too had a harrowing experience with them.

[V.Narayan]

Bagheera, my panther, completed 5 wonderful years earlier this month. A round of detailing and a photo shoot is called for. My wife says I take more photos of my cars and scale aircraft models than I do of her. She has a point!

[Cyborg]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

My wife says I take more photos of my cars and scale aircraft models than I do of her. She has a point!

This is exactly the reason husband homicides could go up Mr. Narayan

On a serious note, congratulations on your Bagheera completing 5 years with peace of mind. Wishing you many more years of happiness with him.

Cheers

[V.Narayan]

Bagheera turns 5 years old :-) :: 54,000 kms like a fine Swiss watch

Bagheera celebrated her 5th birthday with a photo shoot. I'll let the pictures do the talking. She has rendered 60 months of trouble free service, no rattles, niggles or shakes and I dare say still looks handsome though admittedly my eyes are biased


This photo has been taken this afternoon at exactly the same spot as the photo on page 1 of this thread.




Like a good model Bagheera loves posing for a shoot.



The interiors have worn very well. In fact there has been little wear and tear except for crease marks on the drivers seat. I might change the floor mats to something new at the next service. My Amaze, the family utility car, seen through the window.


Ready for the next 5 years. I am hopeful Lexus' excellent A.S.S. shall continue.

Bagheera says a big thanks to all readers of this thread for your time and attention and posts.

[AKSarkar1]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

54,000 kms like a fine Swiss watch
Ready for the next 5 years. I am hopeful Lexus' excellent A.S.S. shall continue.
Bagheera says a big thanks to all readers of this thread for your time and attention and posts.

For a Lexus 5 years is still like the break-in period

Car looks impeccably maintained, I am particularly impressed at how well those light-colour interior inserts looks even after 5 years! Do you have any remedies to tackle the interior leather creasing (I would say that this is quite common with vehicle age).

Looking forward to more updates on Bagheera!

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by AKSarkar1

Car looks impeccably maintained, I am particularly impressed at how well those light-colour interior inserts looks even after 5 years! Do you have any remedies to tackle the interior leather creasing (I would say that this is quite common with vehicle age).

There are some useful and practical suggestions on page #19 offered by members. I am the one at fault for not having done anything about it. Maybe its time for my get get off my behind and get it done.

Thank you for your kind words.

Another photo. Like an excited 8-year old I cannot stop sticking pictures.

[vigsom]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Bagheera turns 5 years old :-) :: 54,000 kms like a fine Swiss watch

Congratulations Bagheera and the parents on this milestone. Knowing the brand, Bagheera should look the same after 10, 15, 20 years. Except the battery pack, I don't foresee any other area of attention. Joining the party with a collage of Bagheera, when new, and at 5. Has anything changed in five years?

[Dr. AUTOANATOMY]

Purchased through exercising logic & acumen, maintained with passion from the heart. Kudos on attaining this milestone and wishing your vehicle and you no short of complementing the Matt Farah million mile Lexus in years to come, Sir.

Inferring from the trailing pictures, a superficial detail and rollback of the odometer would be sufficient to pull a fast one on an automotive novice. It'll pass for brand new, layman would be none the wiser.

It's no exaggeration then, that certain Japanese vehicles are indeed passed down generations.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by vigsom

Congratulations Bagheera and the parents on this milestone. Knowing the brand, Bagheera should look the same after 10, 15, 20 years. Except the battery pack, I don't foresee any other area of attention. Joining the party with a collage of Bagheera, when new, and at 5. Has anything changed in five years?

Attachment 2297813

Thank you @vigsom for this warm post. In 5 years the floor carpet has started looking a bit worn :-) At the very bottom in the front the PPC has got scratched due to pebbles and debris flying on the road at speed. One has to bend right down to see it. I am wondering if I should have the PPC replaced across the frontal arc. When I bought her for Rs 70L in 2017 (booking done in 2016) I received some critical observations on value for money. And the nose to tail PPC invited even more sharply raised eyebrows. Given that at the time Lexus was a unknown brand in India I guess the criticism was not out of place. Touchwood things have worked out just fine. I am proud that she was the first Lexus delivered in India after Lexus entered India in 2017.

[V.Narayan]

To ceramic or not to ceramic.

Need the inputs of experts here.

The 3M PPC on Bagheera is now 5 years old. I am thinking of removing it entirely and having ceramic coating done. Both the removal and ceramic will be done by Lexus at their service centre. the ceramic comes with a 3 year warranty from Lexus.

Has anyone done this before. My concerns are on (i) the paint peeling off in parts; (ii) the glue of the 3M PPC getting stuck on the paint and needing to be removed (iii) the two - PPC first, ceramic later may not be compatible. Lexus said they have not encountered this before. Either I'm a fool or a high risk taker or both. I'm talking to the experts at Lexus to see what is feasible if at all. Inputs will be deeply appreciated.

[Dhruv29]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

To ceramic or not to ceramic.

Need the inputs of experts here.

The 3M PPC on Bagheera is now 5 years old. I am thinking of removing it entirely and having ceramic coating done. Both the removal and ceramic will be done by Lexus at their service centre. the ceramic comes with a 3 year warranty from Lexus.

Has anyone done this before. My concerns are on (i) the paint peeling off in parts; (ii) the glue of the 3M PPC getting stuck on the paint and needing to be removed (iii) the two - PPC first, ceramic later may not be compatible. Lexus said they have not encountered this before. Either I'm a fool or a high risk taker or both. I'm talking to the experts at Lexus to see what is feasible if at all. Inputs will be deeply appreciated.

I had to get the front bumper painted due to slight misjudgement when merging into traffic. PPF did protect 97% of the paint, but still in the end there were two places where paint was stripped off from the bumper. I used rattle can white spray paint to cover the marks till i gave it for the repaint. Xpel PPF was 3 year old at this point, but still i was able to remove it without any heatgun application. The damage was minimal but an eyesore.
Gave it to Lexus for complete PPF removal of front bumper and repaint, then to detailer for PPF application. Costed me about 24K in total.

That incident made me think twice about putting PPF on white colored car. First, you'll have to tackle matching the pearl white with other panels of the car, which are already under yellowing PPF. You don't have any reference to match the paint. Secondly, New PPF will be clearer than old yellowed PPF. There will always be two different shades of white, even if the paint underneath is matching original paint unless you go for full PPF replacement which is not at all feasible.
If PPF is slightly tore and even if the paint is saved from damage, the PPF will collect dust and ruin the look of the panel. Again, the cost of replacement of PPF is same as repainting the panel maybe much more sometimes.
I'll remove the PPF next year when it'll cross 5 year mark, and get some panels repainted which were repaired by dry denting because over all cost of PPF+Repaint would've been exorbitant. I won't install PPF again most probably, as the car would be 5 year old at that time.
PPF does provide peace of mind and hides the swirl marks pretty good. But it's a double edged sword.

Sometimes it feels we are protecting the PPF itself.

If PPF is removed from repainted panel, then there are really high chances that paint will also come off along with the film. You'll have to factor it during removal. I got 7 year old rear bumper PPF removed from a E250 when we were selling it due to 10 Year old NGT rule. It came out in one piece as the paint underneath was factory, revealing shiny paint underneath without stripping the paint using heat gun. But on other repainted part of front bumper, it pulled off the paint and had to be repainted.

Ceramic is better option once you remove the PPF from old car since the new car novelty factor has worn off.