dchar

This whole ordeal sounds like a nightmare and ridiculous! Maybe take the other one out for a test drive to make sure it isn't having the same problem. They must've taken delivery of the other care after you took yours. I would've insited on that one if the one I picked up had a curb scratch on the bumper.

ThomasGS4

iTrader: (19)

Time for a replacement; all of this trouble at the beginning could be just a peek of what's to come. Wouldn't want a lemon on your hands.

SW17LS

They had that one too, but I prefer the grey interior over the flaxen with the nebula. The curb thing was minor, and its fixed now.

I have a theory about the nav. I was getting an intermittent "Unable to read SD Card" message, and I got that again when I tried to pick it up after the repair. I wonder if the issue is the SD card? I can absolutely see them replacing the whole nav unit and re-using the same SD card. I brought this up to the manager and the service manager this morning and we'll see.

Still not sure what I want to do. I like the flaxen, but something about the combo of nebula and flaxen doesn't do it for me (my GS loaner is that combo now). Assuming they can fix my LS today I may just stay in that, if its not today I'm going to push for them to put me in that flaxen one today. One way or the other I want to be driving one of them by tonight.

SW17LS

So here's where we're at.

They did indeed use the same SD card in the new navigation unit. They are now in the process of trying to get Lexus to "authorize" replacement of the card and they will have to send a replacement card which will take "a couple of days". They aren't 100% certain the SD card will fix the issue, and it was me who suggested they even consider that. If its that thats fracking hilarious because they replaced the entire nav unit and we waited all that time for nothing, and a bonus they damaged the console...for nothing. Why they would replace the unit first instead of the SD card when part of the issue was the system displaying a warning "Unable to read SD card". I mean...when you put a disk in your computer and the computer says "unable to read disk" what is your first assumption, that the disk is bad or that the computer is bad? Ridiculous.

I've told them that I want the situation resolved today one way or the other, whether that car is delivered to me repaired and operational or I would accept another car. Apparently their title person is off today (of course) and he is trying to find out if the title documents and all have been filed. If they haven't then its fairly straightforward to swap out the car. If they have, then its more complicated. I'm promised "compensation" for my hassle but as I told them, I don't need or want their money I just want my car.

So...I continue to wait. I told them to expect a call every 1.5 hours from me and I expect meaningful updates and progress to be made between each call. This is day 8 in the shop.

Mike728

Are the SD cards married to the nav's they ship with? You would think it would be an easy swap, if not.

SW17LS

Apparently. Once an SD card is installed into a car it cannot be installed into another car. Thats consistent with how Lexus has been about nav updates so I buy that. Plus they are planning on swapping the console with another car on the lot, so they are willing to do that if necessary obviously.

That makes an interesting point though...how can they reuse the old SD card in the replacement nav unit if thats the case? Perhaps because the nav unit was programmed to the same specific car? Never considered that...

rominl

iTrader: (4)

very sorry to hear that man. couple of things (and my opinions)

1) the dealership is bad. how can they scratch the console, that only shows me how careless they are. i have taken apart quite a few new LS interior and i have never scratched one piece (any piece). as a dealership with the whole TIS behind them, this is horrible

2) you'd be surprised to see some of their repair procedure. while each dealership has their own foreman and diagnostic specialist, a lot of times they just "follow the book" like a flow chart. if A goes wrong, then B, if B goes wrong, then C.

3) what you mentioned on the conflict on SD drives makes me wonder too. i highly doubt lexus has the new nav unit configured with whatever ID on this SD card. plus if today a LS is out of warranty and the nav unit dies, owner should be allowed to purchase a replacement unit (even used), how is the owner going to get the SD card to work then? very weird.

but as soon as you said the second unit didn't work i thought of the SD card too. i hope that's the ultimate problem...

bclexus

So, are they pulling the NAV unit from the other LS that you will settle for and installing it in your LS in hopes that will work? That shouldn't take long to do. But, if that doesn't work and you can workout taking the other LS - the NAV unit will have to be put back into the car. Geez - that's a lot of messing around that most owners would prefer not to be done to their brand new car. Maybe there is a 3rd LS they are pulling the working NAV from... Are they going to replace the damaged trim by robbing that from another car? (I would hate to buy the new car that had the NAV unit robbed to fix your car.)

I suspect enough days have passed by now that your title paperwork has been entered. But, that does not mean that the dealership cannot accept your current LS as a 'full value' trade-in on the other LS that you will settle for. They will sell it at a slight discount and probably tell the new owner that there was a mix-up with title paperwork...

Good luck with it all. I know you are very frustrated. I too would be very frustrated.

PS - I hope they actually check the NAV unit in the car that they are robbing the NAV from to make damn sure it works properly before they pull it out and put it into your car!

ItzFilyO

Just get the 4GS back and come back to us!!!

Once u mess with the dash there will always be scratches or dents.

1111GS

I think you should push for a new one. Make them order the one you want. You 're paying enough not to get an imperfect car. I wouldn't buy into the idea the SD is married to the car either. If it were Lexus wouldn't make it so accessible. What is it for? The one I had didn't even have one there. Is it just for initiation?

jjscsix

I would not take the flaxen interior. Our GS has the Gray interior and I looked closely at an LS with a Gray interior. The Gray is incredible looking. The flaxen looks as bad as its name. Don't do it.

SW17LS

Well, its resolved!

Ultimately they stole the nav headunit, and the console top from the other LS. The small imperfection I thought was in the bumper turned out to be sap or something, so the repair is 100%. What frustrates me is they should have swapped the headunits a week ago and it would have been fine.

The car is back, and 100%. Its covered in hard water spots, but I can remove those. They are also going to work out something of value ~$1,000 for my trouble. They're going to try and make a lease payment for me, or we're going to do some sort of maintenance agreement, etc. I will update you.

So, all is well. Folks at the dealer were very apologetic and said all the right things, but the urgency and the actions weren't there. Oh well...

I really like the flaxen with the right exterior. Liked it a lot with the LP GS, but don't care for it with the nebula.

I also think on the LS the wood doesn't go as well with the flaxen, the GS Luxury has a brown espresso tone to the wood, the LS' shimamoku wood is black/grey with no brown.

bclexus

Glad it all worked out and you're happy. Hope they take care of you for all the aggravation and frustration with at least what you mentioned. That's the very least they should do.

SW17LS

Oh not to worry, I'll get mine lol

MEAHT

iTrader: (1)

damn I missed all of this. Didnt even realize your HU was not working properly. Glad you got it sorted out man.

BTW I consider myself to be an experienced IT person and never heard of a removable piece of media (SD Card) being tied to one single system, car or not.

MEAHT