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Cheers Chaps. Dropping the car off tomorrow with Lee at SRD to have the PPE headers, PPE mid-pipes with race spec hi-flow cat's, and suspension raised a tad! Lol. Once that lot is done, car will be treated to it's RR-Racing performance intake and further tune from the OBD 2 hand controller. That I believe is as far as I can go for now, as the only other real performance step left is the RR-Racing supercharger kit. That'll hopefully be next year if I can save up enough dosh! Matt is a master when it comes to lighting, angles, dramatic backdrops etc. So glad he was happy to sell me the photos he took. I'm going to get them printed off and framed at some stage to hang in the garage (wife won't let me have them up in the house! Lol).

Good morning all, Well I've been a member since 07 I think and I originally had a IS Sportcross which I loved. I always wanted an LS though and have been close to buying one on a few occasions and have made various posts on here. Anyway my mind was set and I just wanted a 430. So yesterday a put a deposit down on a 06 plate silver with black leather. The car has had two owners and the dealer sold it to the second owner in 08 and has bought it back from them, which i think is good sign. 81,000 miles with full Lexus history from Edgware Road. I rang the dealer went over the history and nothing unusual came to light, just it seems a well maintained car. Also I checked the MOT history and noted it's never failed one and had few advisory's. I did pay top end at £6995, but it's the car i want in the colour I want. Also a low mileage car. Lastly I was pleased it was registered January 06 so have avoided the car tax hike to £515. To say I'm excited is an understatement and I collect the car next Thursday. Will post some pics next weekend. I have always liked and enjoyed this forum and hope to be a more active member of it. Oh and can I connect my phone to blue tooth (does it have blue tooth even?) or will i need a Parrot? All the best for the day, Nick in Sheffield

At the end of the day it is a 14 year old car and buying it now, you have no idea how often its been washed or sealed underneath etc so there's bound to be rust somewhere or other! Having said that, if the body is fine thats awesome! Take a 14 year old Merc or BMW and you may find that the arches no longer exist!

At first glance this RX looks ready equipped to deal with the sky rats ! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-56-LEXUS-RX-400H-3-3-SE-CVT-5DR-/112345156147?hash=item1a284b0a33:g:S3gAAOSwB-1Y0~P5

Hope it gets sorted soon. I was up at Kemble today. When I pulled up, I thought you were there!

Yep, plus you can flash the card at the till in Halfords for 15% off.

Disappointing Lexus turn out (4) but not too bad for a school night. Fantastic venue... @peter174 @Chetz

Wow what a car ! I'm currently in Japan on holiday and went to the Toyota factory today on a tour then to their museum where they had a LC and a LFA plus various others. Took a few pictures, you could sit in the LC but not the LFA . Awesome car .

My dash lit up like a Christmas tree yesterday while on the motorway. Traction control was disabled, check VSC & CEL were on and I was understandably worried! There is a lot of info from lexus owners about the vsc light but nothing relating to the isf. Apparently it covers a range of issues from loose fuel cap to broken ecu's 😯. It seems like most issues aren't actually related to the engine or the traction control system! Got the car to my friendly mechanic for a diagnostic and it turns out it's the oxygen sensors for the cats. There was no voltage going to either of them so he suspects it's a broken wire rather than the sensors themselves. Going back on Wednesday to get it fixed. Not really a suprise as the bottom of the car was rubbing on the track so much 😳 This is purely down to how low and soft my coilovers are, shouldn't put anyone else of track days 🖒

Guys, after much searching I'm struggling to find a definitive answer regarding whether headers can be sought with Cats or are they all without. I'm looking to change exhaust system also and am leaning towards H+S as they are UK based and have chatted to them regarding my requirements. PPE and Sikky both state they remove the cat but also state cats can be fitted. No mention of how to source the headers though. Will I have to buy and get the TIG welder out to modify myself? I know H+S systems are used by a few on here, I've looked at Borla and JoeZ also, have missed any good ones? Appreciate that the search function is there but it's sometimes easy to get confused by some of the threads Marcus

I have altered the exhaust – have a bigger bore pipe from the centre resonator to the boxes and have twin boxes fitted (4 exit tailpipes) so I have improved the flow of gasses exiting the engine, albeit from the centre box. Before I done all this I fitted an oiled K&N panel filter (have done this to all the cars I have had as it does give some benefit in performance) so I have increased slightly the air into the engine also. I have not gone down the full route of converting the intake, just changed the filter to a lifetime one. If I was looking for a bigger power output (which I am not) my next step would be to have it tuned but it can’t be done on these engines anyway but I am not worried about that. The filter is expensive at first compared to replacing a normal one every year but it has been in the car that long now that its paid for itself. No noticeable difference in noise between the K&N| one to stock one. I clean it every year – it states its good for 100k before cleaning – can’t see how they can claim that as they don’t know the environment the car is being driven in. Once a year is no hassle as while the filter is drying out I put the original one back in if I know I am going to be driving it in the meantime. In doing this I can compare the differences between both filters and can say that there is a noticeable difference between them both – the K&N one makes the car more responsive and initial acceleration is better but after a while with the K&N one in you can’t tell the difference until the next time its cleaned and you can do the comparrison. Always wondered if the ECU compensates for the change immediately? I would recommend the filter – but I guess its personal preference really. As for the exhaust – I didn’t set out to make it a twin pipe but I found a set of boxes that fitted perfectly so went with them – what’s been about 6 months with it on – I have only had one issue with it in I noticed a weeping weld which I sorted. Still to put the diffuser on but have started to mod it so it can fit over the twin pipes (It was only for a single pipe exit both sides so have altered it to twin box exit on both sides) Will get it painted and placed on the car next along with a front splitter which will be painted at the same time. I must say how easy it was to do the exhaust and it worked out peanuts cost wise to an OEM or even a stainless one. Still got the stainless one which I need to clean up and may sell. I wont go down the route of stainless again as it seemed to drain a lot of the power from the can and make it uncomfortable to drive due to the drone. I can easily replace this with another mild steel one as I have the pattern for it so it wont take long and the hassle is gone from guessing what the angles are etc ...

40k service a few months back, got 15% off service and 25% off the parts used, so yes more than paid for itself in one hit 👍 Big Rat

i just smile at the Lady on the service desk and say if you don't give me 15% of ill buy a BMW that seems to work, have just paid £478 for the second year 20k service on my RC-F. should have been £545

I do run a second car, as a day to day car I have a Honda Civic 1.6 Sport , not quite sure where the Sport bit comes in, great car, cheap to run and super reliable keeping the ISF for weekends etc, but to answer your question I would consider one at the right money when I am ready to change.

ECP currently doing 30% off.. Pair of Brembp front discs and pads coming in at £214 with discount. Use code: Sale56

Hi Mark. No, no need for O2 conditioners as the tune can factor this in to avoid any CEL issues. Still need the sensors, so hoping SRD can get them off my OEM manifolds without damaging them! Fingers crossed!! Yes, special order from PPE themselves. They have to fabricate them specially for you being RHD.

Only just seen this question @Big Rat 2007 RX350 great car, colour was Champagne 2008 IS220d good but 6th gear was useless below 80mph, fuel consumption was rubbish as well. Colour was.........................................silver....................... 2010 IS250F Sport great car. looked the business, a bit underpowered, in Ultra Blue.................naturally............... As I said all 3 were used everyday and the RX and IS diesel had a lot of miles in a short space of time and not one penny had to be spent on them, not even a bulb needed replacing.

Dramatic photo's, Matt caught some good angles of your car. 👍

Well provided its green when you drive in the voltages will be up. The Jury in my brain is out as far as whether its a good thing battery wise or not - what's good in the short term isn't always good long term ? mmm leaning towards the probably ok view. I'm not schizophrenic -- are we???

I did love my GS 450h f-sport and its a car i could quite easily go back to.i only had it 4 years but did not have any issues at all, although i only covered around 12k.

You're not wrong, I wouldn't have sold it if I wasn't trying to be practical, but as being practical seems to have failed I'm back to being impractical! Drove it for the first time in nearly two weeks today, what a fine car, I think it'll have to stay after all!

Yep - a year too for me in my 2012 black ISF (have done about 3.5K miles in that time). Mind you with my previous 08 ISF I now have about five years time with the ISF and counting

@Peter P18 Got the mag tucked away, those are great pictures 👍 Big Rat

Here's a few more. Would highly recommend Matt to anyone looking to get some good photos taken.

Thanks to Matt Woods for these epic photos he took of my car for the Banzai feature back in October.

Anyone else have an issue with auto connecting with paired devices. My wife and I both use the car - if my wife last used the car it will not connect when I'm in the car alone and the wife's phone is well out of range. I've had the same issue with two IS300h both 2015 Exec models. Both phones are IPhone (5 & 6) with the latest updates My Vauxhall works flawlessly, it remembers the last connection, if that's not present it locks on to one that is, with the IS I have to go in and reconnect manually.. any idea?

Peter I think I'd run with the touch up this happened to me on my isF the morning after I picked it up in broadly the same place as you 😡 Now 1100 squids so far on my 'F' has covered a 40k service, spark plug change and a full second set of used genuine IsF wheels. Just a thought matey. Big Rat

Thanks for this all, just ordered pads. Don't need them yet, but nice to have a set ready to go on!

Phew that was a close call, glad you got it sorted.

Hi Mark Yes, sorry for not posting an update. I took it to a garage (turned out to be one of my neighbors) and explained issues and background and left it with them. Turns out one of my suspension mounting bushes was almost hanging off! They replaced and drive is now great. Was fuming, don't understand how the Lexus garage did not pick this up? Bloody dangerous driving around with it like that I'd imagine!!

A remarkable 53mpg from central Birmingham to home today. Wasn't rushing. Remarkable figure for a petrol-powered SUV. Weather warm today which has probably helped. I wasn't trying either, I just drove home sedately and checked the figure when I got home. 5 miles of congested city centre roads, another 5 miles of free flowing urban roads and then 20 ish miles of country A roads and dual carriageways

Nick, our excitement tends to work against us as customers when checking out a purchase because we do not really want to find faults. Have you thought of having a RAC inspection carried out on the car? I did this many years ago and yes it was expensive but the thoroughness impressed me and it was well worthwhile. With just a few days notice they will visit a garage or private seller and I know of instances where the cost has been recovered by negotiating remedial work. You are also often armed with useful information about the car going forward. If nothing else check the body along the 'chrome' door strips for rust bubbles [you may have to look very closely to see these] and do a bounce test of the suspension on all four corners with the engine running. Also that the ride height cycles as it should [very slowly] according to the button on the dash. Plenty of other lesser checks needed on this complex car and they can be found on this site and its sister site in the USA. No I do not want to ***** on your parade for if you can find a good LS430 it will be real pleasure to own.

Hi guys as for paint repair I have 2008 GS450h got a new bonnet fitted from Lexus Bolton they even painted the front wings all done for free .I Also live in Blackpool any of you guys intersted in a meet and greet ?

Hello Nick, had a similar experience 18 months ago when I bought an '04 with 82,000 miles from Lexus Hull for £7,000 with full Lexus service history and it has been a total delight to own. The agency had even bought it back from the previous owner as in your case. I have bought 3 old second hand Lexus cars from main agents and do not begrudge them their premium on the price. In fact I would not buy from any other trade source.

I would do the same - would'nt feel content and I know it evades the whole point of the deposit!

Hi Nick You've just bought the second best car ever made.

Great looking car.

I bought a 2003 RX300 in December. I have just spent £1100 on the first service and MOT. The fuel lines leading up to the filler were replaced as they leaked when the tank was filled. The cost of the parts from Lexus, I had this done by my local garage who are very good, was £220 +VAT. Their comment on the MOT inspection was rust at the front and rear subframes. The shield that covers the fuel tank is also rusted through- not what I'm used to with Lexus. I have a 2000 GS with no rust at all and traded in a 2006 IS250 which hadn't a hint of rust. I would suggest that if you are contemplating buying an RX you take a look underneath. Previous MOT's had no advisories, but in addition to the above the handbrake shoes and the rear discs needed replacing. If the previous MOT's were done properly this all should have been advised or failed. Main body is almost flawless and everything else is fine so I'm still a fan!

Yep, finally got it all up and running last night using the username and bluetooth. Thank you very much for the help & tips! Finally have traffic updates :) Some thing that seemed strange - when adding the Bluetooth communication you have to enter your Username & Password for the portal, yet you also have to add the same credentials under Nav (strangely the password on the Nav section gets * out but not under the Bluetooth section) Also got the following response from Lexus so they might have had an issue at first launch which they fixed:

Lexus seem to be omitting headlights from the newer cars. The new cars with LED headlights don't really need them as they're extremely bright anyway. Not sure why the GS doesn't have them though as it had xenons but I presume its because they're not needed - tbf Ive only used my foglights once in 5 years There's only 1 GS450h that particularly stands out to me on the Lexus website: https://usedcars.lexus.co.uk/en/used-lexus/Lexus/GS-450h/35-F-Sport-Premium-Navigation-kmbdtx2 Crimson Red with Ivory Leather - very rare combo!

So I cleaned the MAF sensor tonight. This is the first time I have ever done it from owning the car at 60k miles - its now about to turn over to the big 100k. So that's 40k miles without a definite clean and I doubt it would have been done before unless its part of any service schedule so I am presuming its gone from new to 100k without a clean... Picture below is of the location of the sensor - 2 screws to undo and the electrical connection to release (as well as the drivers side engine cover to remove to get to it. Picture below with the electrical connection removed Picture below of the actual sensor before cleaning The cleaning agent I used is below So .... any difference ... I cleaned the sensor - noticed the liquid change colour slightly when I was doing this (went a bit cloudy) but not too bad. Gave the sensor a good clean inside and out - let it dry for 10 minutes then placed it back into the air intake. I left if tor a further 20 mins or so (went in for tea !!) Took it for a 5 minute drive and there is a definite difference - I would not say wow what a change but its definitely smoother and it seems to accelerate better. Definitely not a placebo effect. I will make this a part of the annual service I do on the car.

The 4th Generation GS450h is a great bit of kit. From earlier models, the boot is bigger as they have indeed repositioned the batteries. Having said that, its about the size of the IS-F boot from memory. It's certainly a rare car so a good example might be hard to find and you may be looking for a while. I believe the F-Sport and Premier models also got Lexus Dynamic Handling which steers the rear wheels slightly. Its definitely worth experiencing - it defies physics in the way it actually changes lanes on these models. The 4GS doesn't suffer from any major problems. Even the leaky shocks of the older models hasn't resurfaced as the 4GS has completely new shocks. Any particular spec you're looking for and what budget?

Great pics but all those exhaust fumes must have effected the fellow drivers perception of the best colour 😉

I can see that it is a claim to be of the Toyota spec but that is highly unlikely as it is not made for Toyota and they will be the the only people with the spec requirements. It is after all your car and if you feel safe using a non designated product there is nothing stopping you but personally I would stick with the OEM product, not a claim to be.

Thanks for the info I will definitely give it a go & I won't forget the ahem Lube!!

Shes a beaut! Thats some nice looking paint you got there! Wheels really set if off!

Ha, even that's silver!

I also have an IS220d, owned for about 8 months now and the only issue I have had is the rear ceased brake calipers. Mine is an 07 plate with 86k miles on the clock, it is the sport model. I do 90 miles a day and haven't had a single issue, couldn't fault the car. From the 8 months experience I have had I am a very happy Lexus owner and I will keep with the brand. Probably upgrade to the 300h in a few years. I do suffer from low MPG, very lucky to get over 35mpg and that is driving no more than 80mph on a dual carriageway.Then again the comfort and luxuries make up for it!! If you know how to drive and maintain a diesel car then you wouldn't have any issues with it. I dont understand why people buy a diesel if they drive 10 miles down the road and then moan when they get a blocked DPF.

To me this sounds like deteriorating suspension rubber bushes. Loading each bush in turn with a suitable bar should show any that are worn or going soft. John

The manufacturer's recommended pressures take the heat expansion into account. It would be impossible for Joe Public to inflate their tyres to the operational temperature. It's well known underinflation is the more dangerous scenario as tyre sidewall flexes excessively and overheats the tyre with possible disastrous consequences. Over inflated tyres will simply wear prematurely and give a hard ride. Because they are harder the tyre wall won't flex so much so overheating isn't a problem. Tyre pressure is a function of axle weight so it is recommended to maintain the front to rear differential or handling could be compromised. Bottom line, I'll stick with the pressure recommended by the manufacturer and listed in the handbook. It's stood me in good stead this last 40+ years....