What to look out for - Lexus IS250 (2007 model year)

[MartinH]

Ordered – thank you!

[New to Lexus]

Thank you very much for taking time to share your experience with us. I will print these notes and take them with me.  

[David Houghton]

thanks so much this is great!

[Mr Vlad]

Another thing to consider well 2 so far are 1 the suspension dust cover shrouds. My front ones have come apart. 14 years old so to be expected but an utter bind to find aftermarket ones. Lexus ones £65 each OUCH.

Now for the killer one. The bottom bush on the rear. The bush on the arm which the bottom of the suspension sits. That arm. One end goes to the chassis the other to the hub. That bush has a rubber boot with grease behind it. One of my boots has split. Oh and to replace that bush means a new hub. Yes a new hub. £650 please. Plus another 650 to swap. 

Oh the joys of old car ownership. (Repair jobs on the cards this week but at a fraction of the costs)

[Ozzay]

Make sure the speakers are working in the rear and woofer. You might just get the idea they are working when sitting in the front. I had that issue.

[Thelongterm]

Although my 2007 time capsule was garaged all it's life by the lady who owned it, (and never neglected) I found few things worth looking for, especially with low usage examples.

1. The boot struts gas has escaped as the boot was hardly used. This made the tailgate door very heavy to lift. £50 for a new pair and easy enough to change by most people. The change in usability is excellent.

The old boot struts look like they came yesterday from the factory.

2. The tailgate rubber seal was very dry on mine, making it brittle in one spot. I think this is easy replacement but original gasket is not easy to find. Seems to go for £20 to £30.

For now a bit of 'sticklikes** glue seems to seal the crack well.

 

3. Although my rear sliding calipers pins didn't cease completely it was hard work to release them. My garage managed to release, clean and lubricate with red grease. £80 in total.

[HoofHearted]

Had posted in the new members section asking for advice on buying a used is250.

this post is fantastic and really in depth. Thank you! 

[Morbid Valve]

A small pedantic thing maybe worth adding is - during the test drive, open all of the windows and step on it (safely of course!) for a good 5-10s, best to do uphill. Do this and see if your car fills with horrible sulphury smell especially if it's a 2005-2007 as this will indicate a worn out rubber flap in the boot vents causing smelly gasses from the exhaust to enter the cabin (potential sulphur poisoning??) - this will happen almost every time you step on it hard so to some this might not matter.

The repair is very easy but mildly costly considering it's just a piece of rubber:
https://lexuspartsdirect.co.uk/product/lexus-is-phase-2-rear-quarter-panel-vent/?utm_source=LexusOwnersClubUK&utm_medium=ForumLinks

I might add you won't find this part outside of the above website (if you do I will marry you!)

I believe post 2007 or 2008 Lexus upgraded the vents so they don't dry up and crust away letting the gasses in (supposed to be a one-way vent originally).

[Texas]

A consequence of this failed rubber flap type valve may be a damaged ML amplifier that is positioned to the right hand side in the boot. Excess water/spray may enter if flap is majorly defective and you live near a Ford for example!

[AFlex]

On 7/13/2022 at 1:41 PM, Morbid Valve said:

A small pedantic thing maybe worth adding is - during the test drive, open all of the windows and step on it (safely of course!) for a good 5-10s, best to do uphill. Do this and see if your car fills with horrible sulphury smell especially if it's a 2005-2007 as this will indicate a worn out rubber flap in the boot vents causing smelly gasses from the exhaust to enter the cabin (potential sulphur poisoning??) - this will happen almost every time you step on it hard so to some this might not matter.

The repair is very easy but mildly costly considering it's just a piece of rubber:
https://lexuspartsdirect.co.uk/product/lexus-is-phase-2-rear-quarter-panel-vent/?utm_source=LexusOwnersClubUK&utm_medium=ForumLinks

I might add you won't find this part outside of the above website (if you do I will marry you!)

I believe post 2007 or 2008 Lexus upgraded the vents so they don't dry up and crust away letting the gasses in (supposed to be a one-way vent originally).

I got mine from here

https://jp-carparts.com/lexus/partlist.php?maker=toyota&type=242120&fig=6102&part=6294024041

$19 each.

No need to marry me - I shall let you off on that one