Is220D Gone To H.g. Heaven..time For A '12 Is250...is250 Pros And

[WIGZIE]

HI ALL,

First post here..NEWBIE!

SO....AFTER 170K MILES, MY 06 IS220D SE-L FINALLY BIT THE DUST THIS WEEK. COMPLETE HEAD GASKET FAILURE.

I CAN'T COMPLAIN. BOUGHT IT ONE YEAR OLD WITH 10K ON THE CLOCK. AT 60K, THE HG WENT - FULL ENGINE REPLACED BY LEXUS CHESTER.

LAST WEEK, I OPENED THE BONNET WHEN THE TELL TALE HEATER FAILED - COOLANT EVERYWHERE - LEXUS CONFIRMING THAT IT HAD ANOTHER HG FAILURE.

THE ORIGINAL HG WORK IS ONLY GUARANTEED FOR 10K / ONE YEAR, SO THERE WAS NOWHERE TO GO.

AN 06 PLATE, WITH 170K, FULL LSH..WOULD HAVE BEN WORTH ONLY £3K AT BEST.

WITH A POTENTIAL REPAIR BILL OF £5-£6K - THE CAR WAS A RIGHT OFF :-)

STILL, HATS OFF TO LEXUS. THEY SAID, THEY WILL HONOUR ITS £3K PRE HG FAILURE VALUE, AGAINST A TRADE IN.

SO....I AM NOW IN THE MARKET FOR A SECOND GEN '12 IS250 ADVANCE.

LOTS OF PEOPLE ON HERE HAVE ONE.

IS250 2012 PROS AND CONS PLEASE?

ANY FEEDBACK MOST WELCOME

ROY

[johnatg]

Welcome - but easy on the caps please!

In short - all the good things about a IS220D and none of the bad things! (Well - except look out for seized brake caliper pins)

Lovely engine, Get an auto - imperceptible gear changes, paddles, power, silence!

What more do you want!

[dazed]

Spec-wise the IS250 Advance is somewhere between an SE and an SE-L with SatNav as standard (but no Mark Levinson).

Only available as an auto and with no paddles or cooled seats.

Basically a lot of car for a good price. Very reliable and a pleasure to drive.

[blackcts]

To be fair the 220ds fuel economy is bound to be better than the 250s tho, mine will see 48mpg all day sitting at 70mph motorway driving - no way will would a 2.5 v6 touch that - IS250s are definitely more reliable, but they aren't without their issues either, like drinking oil after 90k or so.

[WIGZIE]

[@dazed: Agreed about the SE-L / SE, except that in 2012, the IS250 ADVANCE was the highest derivative they did (the 250 SE-L was phased out in '09, and the SE AND SE-i phased out in 2010 / 2011.). Its a 2012 i want for sure.

@blackcts - noted / agreed. However, whether we like it or not, with the IS220D, sooner, or later the Head Gasket WILL GO - FOR SURE. Minimum £3k repair out of warranty, can rise to £6k, depending on the

All the complaints over the HEAD GASKET issues on the diesels, and the differing levels of service folk receive across the Lexus group have contributed to Lexus losing the JD Power customer service award, 2years on the trot to Jaguar. They gained it back this year, and jointly hold it currently with Jaguar. The HG issues, also contributed to the fact that Lexus no longer make diesels, and have no intentions to in the near future.

4 dealers over the last 5 days have told me in person:

1) If you currently own a lexus diesel IS220D, if the HG has not yet gone - SELL IT BEFORE IT DOES, because go it will.

2) Consequently, do not ever buy a used IS220D therefore.

Its common knowledge, on this forum, and in the general public domain, avoid IS DIESELS at all costs, unless you want just that (costs!)

I am aware of the consumption on the IS250, but thats not a concern for me.

I nailed my new car yesterday at Chester Lexus,...an '12 ADVANCE....17K MILES....SWEET.

Here she is:

[WIGZIE]

......forgot to add...the techie where my '06 plate 220D was recently diagnosed with he second HG failure, advised me, not to even bother wight the 200 - 220D variant engine, as some of those ALSO have had HG Failures at approx 140k miles :-(

[blackcts]

Firstly that's a lovely car, really like the colour and wheels.

What people forget is that the head gasket problem affects Toyota AD D4D Diesel engines, Avensis, RAV4, Auris, Verso- But there are so many of these AD D4D engines made that all the HG's certainly don't all go, but I agree they are a weak point, but name me a used modern diesel out there is isn't a risk? At least you got to 170k without paying for a new engine.

The IS250 is no doubt more reliable, but for a petrol engine they aren't totally infallible either - carbon build up and high oil consumption are known issues at the 80k+ mark.

That said, if you aren't doing huge miles, the IS250 is a lovely car, but there's no chance it can match the 200/220ds fuel economy on long runs and there's the higher tax.

[blackcts]

The reason that lexus stopped making diesels is because they believe that hybrids are the future and match/beat diesels in fuel economy and emissions. Diesel hasn't really caught on in the USA and Europe is such a small market for Lexus - that's the reason why they don't bother with diesels, nothing to do with the AD engines

[WIGZIE]

@blackcts - Concur completely, re all points - I had no real issues, with the IS220D - I mean @ 170k, who can complain as you say?

No car, petrol, or diesel, is free from weaknesses, thats a fact. You just choose your weapon, and accept what may be.

Agree too, the consumption issue - y'know there were times I would do huge miles regularly for my work...at times, I could get 60mpg out of that IS220D....say on a return trip in one day from Liverpool to Glasgow....not much out there that can match that, for 2.2 TD!!

I just can't see how Lexus can completely wash their hands of the HG issue, beyond its 7yr warranty. Some lovely cars are about to go "pop", and thats a shame. fact is, if you walk into a dealer today with a mint 120K miles 06 diesel....with a blown HG issue - they will not support you, and you are left to pick up the fall-out. Given its a known issue, and has been for a while,....i think we deserve more. All those Diesels should have been recalled.

I am now woudering - for anyone who knows - what additives I will need to add to my IS250 to minimise build up - anyone know?? Please advise.

[bluenose1940]

Have a read of this thread.......

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/79916-carbon-build-up/

My own contribution is shown in post #3

New car looks a real treat................enjoy

[johnatg]

My take on this - use Vpower and change the oil every 5000 miles (with an engine flush additive every time). I think it will work and will be cheaper than constant use of fuel additives.

[bobbyc]

I completely agree with John's comments use good petrol and regularly change the oil and the likelihood is all will be well. Although there are reports of carbon build up it is far worse in the US because of the lower octane fuel. The IS250 IMHO runs far better on premium fuel than standard unleaded and the chemicals in the premium fuel should also keep the engine cleaner to a certain extent.

[Carl911]

My is250 is in the 90,000 mileage now and to be honest has had high oil consumption since 70,000. All quite normal according to Lexus who carried out several tests on my engine. That said, it's the only minor complaint I have as the car has run faultless since the day I bought it. I just accept a little more oil consumption is a small price to pay.

By comparison my neighbours have a BMW 5 series 4 years newer than my Lexus and its always got one sensor or another failing and then the 19" tyres cost some £250 plus each and it goes through them at some rate. Overal, my Lexus only cost me in services twice a year which I think is pretty good.

Carl

[dave32]

What is220d do people have as I have the sport version and when I see people saying they 45+ mpg I honestly believe you're talking pony. I get on average 32-35 mpg sometimes 30mpg . The fuel consumption on these cars is terrible

[blackcts]

SE model, it has different gearing than the sport but I can assure you it's not bad on fuel on long runs - 45-48mpg (indicated anyway). That's sitting at motorway speed limits with a bit of boost now and then. A lot lower in town, early 30s maybe. A clean EGR valve makes all the difference. Those figures aren't particularly great for a diesel, but there is something not right if you are averaging 30mpg on longer runs.

[dave32]

It's had its head gasket done and a new Egr valve fitted. I would say on average I get 33mpg. It does got up to 35-36mpg when I pick my daughter up which is 45 mins away but that's still pants for a modern diesel

[Steve_L]

Wigzie - that diesel must have been a real enjoyable workhorse. Best of luck with the 250.

This wasn't the original theme of this thread but I can concur with blackcts; there is something wrong when average is only 32-35 on runs. I had 3 diesels before moving to hybrid and all were similar in consumption - 36 local journeys and up to 50 on long motorway and A road trips. 300h giving about same but still learning driving tricks or trying to find them!

[dave32]

I know the sport has a different rear diff but shorely it shouldn't make that much a difference