Is250 Se L Auto Newby

[mikehpeel]

Hi All

I am a newbie to Lexus and am looking to buy a 2007 IS 250 SEL auto to replace my Merc E240. Has anyone out there made the transition from/to merc and Lexus and can anyone give me advice as what to look for when buying this car. I have one in mind from the dealers, 2007 model 22500 miles in what appears to be excellent condition but would like to find the problems before I part with my cash.

Thanks for any replies.

[Tango]

Hi All

I am a newbie to Lexus and am looking to buy a 2007 IS 250 SEL auto to replace my Merc E240. Has anyone out there made the transition from/to merc and Lexus and can anyone give me advice as what to look for when buying this car. I have one in mind from the dealers, 2007 model 22500 miles in what appears to be excellent condition but would like to find the problems before I part with my cash.

Thanks for any replies.

Problems? It's a IS250 SE-L!

Seriously, there were several recalls so depending on you VIN they may or not have applied to your intended purchase, but best check with the main dealer if you are not buying from them. From memory:

- Change out of the electrical steering rack

- Replacement of the high pressure fuel line (manufacturing process gave a slight risk of fatigue of the pipe)

- Replacement of front seat belt recoilers (2005 and earlier 2006 models only I think, as it was the first recall)

- Replacement of rear brake calipers (original design prone to seized pistons)

Other issues on the earlier models, some had them, some not and were not subject to recall:

- Interior trim rattles (there's a technical service information bulleting (TSIB) for this which involves replacing location pins in the dash.

- Rattle from engine on cold start up (TSIB for this one involved strip and rebuild of the top of the engine).

- Rubbing of the lower boot lid where it meets the rear bumper cover (if it suffers from this you will see areas of matt paint where the rubbing has occurred).

- Auto dip of the door mirrors when transmission put into reverse (failure of the motor drive seems to be getting common, so check this facility is working - you need to have the mirror adjusting rocker switch in either the right or left position to activate).

The other issue that is legend for all Lexus owners regardless of model is alloy wheel corrosion that Toyota/Lexus say is all down to our practice of 'salting' the roads in winter. If it's under warranty they'll change them so look for bubbling of the coating.

Hope I haven't put you off as it's a great car, and just for the record mine hasn't suffered from any of the issues above except the rear calipers, but of course it had the relevant recalls anyway :D

Do not think I've missed any, but I'm sure others will correct me if I'm wrong.

[mikehpeel]

Hi All

I am a newbie to Lexus and am looking to buy a 2007 IS 250 SEL auto to replace my Merc E240. Has anyone out there made the transition from/to merc and Lexus and can anyone give me advice as what to look for when buying this car. I have one in mind from the dealers, 2007 model 22500 miles in what appears to be excellent condition but would like to find the problems before I part with my cash.

Thanks for any replies.

Problems? It's a IS250 SE-L!

Seriously, there were several recalls so depending on you VIN they may or not have applied to your intended purchase, but best check with the main dealer if you are not buying from them. From memory:

- Change out of the electrical steering rack

- Replacement of the high pressure fuel line (manufacturing process gave a slight risk of fatigue of the pipe)

- Replacement of front seat belt recoilers (2005 and earlier 2006 models only I think, as it was the first recall)

- Replacement of rear brake calipers (original design prone to seized pistons)

Other issues on the earlier models, some had them, some not and were not subject to recall:

- Interior trim rattles (there's a technical service information bulleting (TSIB) for this which involves replacing location pins in the dash.

- Rattle from engine on cold start up (TSIB for this one involved strip and rebuild of the top of the engine).

- Rubbing of the lower boot lid where it meets the rear bumper cover (if it suffers from this you will see areas of matt paint where the rubbing has occurred).

- Auto dip of the door mirrors when transmission put into reverse (failure of the motor drive seems to be getting common, so check this facility is working - you need to have the mirror adjusting rocker switch in either the right or left position to activate).

The other issue that is legend for all Lexus owners regardless of model is alloy wheel corrosion that Toyota/Lexus say is all down to our practice of 'salting' the roads in winter. If it's under warranty they'll change them so look for bubbling of the coating.

Hope I haven't put you off as it's a great car, and just for the record mine hasn't suffered from any of the issues above except the rear calipers, but of course it had the relevant recalls anyway :D

Do not think I've missed any, but I'm sure others will correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks for the tips - it is a main dealer supplying the car so there shouldn't be any problems, supplied and serviced by them from new.