2003 Lexus RX300 3.0L Petrol · VX53 FFO

The most recent MOT, conducted on 20 December 2021 at 96,303 miles, resulted in a pass, but the outcome was far from clean. The tester flagged corroded rear brake discs and slight binding in the rear service brakes, both of which point to a caliper or slide-pin issue rather than simple wear. A headlamp defect was also noted, described as a product on the light source reducing output. Critically, the recorded mileage has not moved since that test, meaning the vehicle has sat unused for nearly five years. The maintenance trend is therefore impossible to assess beyond a point of long-term storage, which introduces its own risks. The mileage profile is unusually static. Between September 2018 and September 2020, the vehicle covered roughly 14,681 miles in two years, averaging around 7,340 miles annually. Yet in the six years since the September 2020 pass at 85,331 miles, the odometer has advanced only 10,972 miles, and the last 10,972 of those were completed before December 2021. No MOT record exists after that date, so there is no verified evidence of any use or servicing since. A vehicle sitting idle for extended periods suffers dried-out seals, flat-spotted tyres, moisture ingress in brake fluid, and accelerated corrosion of brake components and exposed metalwork. The 2021 failure, dated 6 December 2021 at 96,301 miles, is the most revealing snapshot of the car's mechanical condition. Rear brake pads were below 1.5mm, both rear discs were corroded, and the rear parking brake was inoperative on both sides with efficiency below 50 percent of the required value. That combination suggests the handbrake mechanism, likely a drum-in-disc setup common on the RX300, has seized or corroded. Combined with the binding service brake flagged in the subsequent pass, the entire rear braking assembly demands close inspection. Previous advisories on front brake disc wear and pitting, recurring from 2019 through 2021, confirm that braking components have been a persistent weak point across multiple test cycles. A buyer should prioritise a thorough inspection of the rear brake calipers, handbrake shoes, and disc condition, along with a check for seized parking brake linkages. The nearside rear wheel bearing, flagged as slightly noisy and with slight play in September 2020, warrants attention given the vehicle has remained stationary since. Tyre condition across all four corners must be verified, as cracking and perishing were noted in 2018, 2020, and 2021, and rubber degrades rapidly during prolonged storage. Suspension bushes and anti-roll bar linkages, previously flagged for slight play on the nearside front, should be examined for deterioration. Given the extended period without use, a full brake fluid change, inspection of flexible hoses for perishing, and assessment of fuel system integrity are essential before any road use.