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After owning my ISF for a while now I've never really been happy with the suspension especially on long distances and cornering at speed, I was dedicated to go with the ohlins setup but after a few recommendations of teins I did a bit of research and decided to go with the flex z with edfc active pro and GPS which basically means I can control the damping rates manually on the control panel or set it up via GPS which allows whatever preferences you prefer such as stiffening up during acceleration and loosening when travelling at a slower rate. I've ran a lot of different suspension setups in the past on various different performance vehicles but I've always considered tein to be a bit of a cheap option however on first impressions I'm blown away by the response when changing damping rates its instant, the GPS setup is amazing you can feel the car gradually tighten up as you accelerate it corners superb I'm only two days into setting it up but I'm already over the moon with how it's transformed the ride. Had a nice three hour test drive home from fensport on Saturday using b roads all the way, was also great to meet Adrian who owns fensport a top guy with a lot of nice machinery knocking about not to mention a lot of knowledge about motors I'll definitely be using their services again.

... cleaning drain holes. They bend well and leave no fluff, and won't break. Just did mine drain hole, doors and sunroof ...

Picked it up today. Wow, I'm impressed. Just need to get used to it, played with the paddles and it nearly spat me out out changing up on a damp road. Left in auto after that. So happy being back in a rwd auto again.

In a sort of spur of the moment situation I decided that it would be a good idea to buy one of these. Was just a case of me being out shopping and saw one that reminded me that I really liked the look of them and that they IMO have aged very well. So with that I headed home and checked online. There were five (in Ireland). Two gen 4 (way to pricey for me cheapest was a 2012 with 100k on it for €21k) and three gen 3. One was a private sale 2007 with suspiciously low mileage the second was overpriced and as it turns out from a dodgy dealer. The third was a 2010 with 100k on the clock being sold by toyota with a 1 year warranty. Rang the toyota dealer to arrange a viewing but unfortunately there was someone close to doing a deal on it and had just gone home to get a buggy to see if it fit in the boot. I was thinking at this stage there was still hope as the boot is tiny, wasn’t to be though as the car was sold that day. Never found out if the buggy fit.. bit peeved at this stage as I was doing research on it and the facelift is what I wanted. Not sure on the numbers but I know very few were sold here so I’d be waiting a while for a decent one to come on the market. Only other option is having a look at cars in the uk. I did that and one immediately stood out. A 2010 se-l with 81k on the clock with full Lexus service history. The service history checked out and I did a report which came back clean. Car is mot’d only advisories were for wiper blades and one or two other small things. There’s also the end of the two year Lexus warranty and the battery covered till late July next year. Long story short I put a deposit down after getting a few quid off the price and the dealer booking it in to get the driver seat bolster refurbed as it was a bit worn. I’ve not driven one since 2007 so I hope my memory is not deceiving me cause what I remember was was a very impressive car that had as much in comon with the class above as it did it’s own class mainly down to the smoothness and and effortless exceleration. Really wanted an is 300h about 6 months ago but was so underwhelmed when I went to test drive which was a disappointment as I love the exterior looks. Anyway I’m flying over to England next Saturday to pick it up so I hope it’s everything I expect/hoped for..

@Northern isf Looks interesting Wayne and the car does look great, I’ve banged on many times in the last few years about Adrian and Fensport, the response shall we say hasn’t always been receptive on the forum which is a shame. I too have spoken with them at length a number of times and found them both knowledgeable and helpful. They list a fair few parts still for the IsF Adrian ran an isF himself for quite some time with a few mods and it’s been highlighted on here as well, someone on here may even her. They do some really impressive stuff with gt86’s as well. Big Rat

Having a 2007 Prius, and previously using it as a Taxi for 5 years, I would say yes, replace it. The inconvenience of getting into the car and seeing the 'red triangle of death' is annoying, especially if you need the vehicle for work. The only problems us drivers had seemed to revolve around the 12v battery, causing odd electrical glitches. The majority of us would replace after 3 years, or when purchasing a 'new' vehicle if the age of the battery was unknown. For about the cost of £90, the loss of a mornings takings and inconvenience was avoided. It was a small regular price to pay for the otherwise superb reliability.

You've been bitten by the detailing 'Bug'. It really is downhill from now on. All those jobs around the house will be put on hold, your wife will be complaining to family and friends that "He's out there cleaning that bl**** car again'. But; no matter. There really is no nicer feeling than walking away, looking back, and thinking 'I did that' You'll start parking under the lights in Tesco's car park. You'll drive past large shop windows trying to catch the reflection. You'll upgrade your phone for one with a better camera. No? just me then. Everything you've bought will do the job perfectly. The only thing missing is a large jar of Elbow Grease (not available to purchase). Thousands of products out there but none will work if you don't put the effort in. The next stage is thinking 'That looks brilliant' I must post some photos on the LOC. Good luck. I await the first album. Graham.

It’s been around a year since I purchased my GS450h. I figured it might be useful to others to do a review of what a year of owning one of these cars is like. My Car It’s 2008 (MKIII) GS450h SE-L, with ACC (adaptive cruise control), PCS (pre-collision system), and a sunroof. This means it’s the top model, with every option ticked. It’s black with light grey leather, and piano black wood including wood inserts on the steering wheel. At the time I bought the car it had approximately 58,000 miles on the clock. It’s now on about 72,000. I bought it from Lexus Edgware Road. Driving Experience I’ll get to the point, it’s fast. When the battery has charge and the 3.5 V6 is warmed up it’s very quick, especially above 50 mph. The rate at which you can gain speed when you floor it once you’re already moving is incredible. Off the line it’s quick without being ridiculous, and if you find yourself in a situation where the battery is depleted (say, having crawled through slow traffic for a mile or two), outright full bore acceleration is blunted as you’re relying purely on the V6 to haul 1900 KG of car and driver up the road. While undeniably quick, I wouldn’t describe the GS as ‘fun’ to drive on a twisty road. It’s certainly competent, and between point A to point B is probably just as rapid as the obvious competition, but I do have the sense that you’d be having more fun in a BMW 5 Series. The handling is predictable, grip is good, but you do get the sense the car would rather you stopped being silly and drove properly. The flip side of this is that it’s outstandingly comfortable when driving at 7/10ths, and is quiet, comfortable, and competent. So, it’s fast, but it’s not sporty. I also find myself missing the soundtrack of a car accelerating through the gears, but that’s mostly because I’m immature. The rest of the time when you’re not driving like you're qualifying it’s a very smooth and comfortable drive. The radar cruise control is absolutely excellent, as is the stereo and infotainment system. Following a few weeks of driving brand new Lexus courtesy cars I was glad to leave their garish graphics and contrived menus behind and get back to the simplicity and elegance of my decade old GS450. I’m half considering a GROM VLINE to bring connected apps into the car, but at £500 there are more pressing uses for my money. I do with the car had a bigger fuel tank. With my fuel consumption (see below) I'm generally needing to refuel after about 320 miles. An 80 litre tank would make my trips to the forecourt far less frequent. The silent running when stuck in traffic (as I frequently am in Cambridge) is really enjoyable, as is the feeling of cruising along burning no fuel. This is an addictive quality of hybrids that is hard to appreciate if you’ve never driven one before. Obviously subjective, but in terms of looks I think it looks best from the rear three quarter view, and overall it’s not as good looking as a Mercedes CLS or properly specced BMW 5 Series. Maintenance Since I bought my car from Lexus, it came with a 12 month warranty. In the 12 months I’ve owned the car the following things have been replaced under warranty (remember this is a relatively low mileage car with a full Lexus service history, bought from a Lexus dealer). TPMS sensor Water pump Offside rear shock absorber Driver side washer jet Passenger side washer jet Driver’s door mirror Front passenger seatbelt and mechanism I’m not quite sure what this lot would have cost had I been paying myself, and to be honest I probably would have sorted the easy ones myself, but I’d say it’s comfortably in the £1,200 to £1,500 range. I had an issue with my brake light switch which was resolved by the AA (cover included as part of the Lexus warranty). I’ve had the car serviced once in my ownership, that was relatively cheap at around £250, including the Lexus Owners Club discount. My next service at 80,000 miles will be a bit chunkier at around £500 but that’s some months away. Last October I bought four new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres to replace the budget tyres Lexus sold it with. The Michelin PS4s were around £650. Tyre wear is predictable and I expect the Michelins to last about 15,000 to 18,000 miles. I’m perfectly happy with this as this as the PS4 is a high performance tyre and they’ve barely lost traction in the entire time they’ve been fitted – money well spent. I’ve had one wheel refurbed following a close encounter with a kerb, which was £85 from Lexus. I bought a front wiper blade at around £20. I’ve not spent anything on the brakes since ownership, though I will need new discs and pads front and back in the next few thousand miles, for which I’m looking at £700 ish. I’ve taken the two year Lexus warranty which is £1095, which I’m paying off at 0% over 12 months. This seemed like a no-brainer given the relatively high number of issues thus far, plus for peace of mind. You don't need much to go wrong on a decade old £50K Lexus before you comfortably cover the warranty outlay. Fuel Consumption This is where Fuelly comes into its own. Every time I’ve refuelled the car I’ve (very anally) entered the details into the app. Screen shots below. In terms of outright fuel consumption it’s not what you’d call economical, but it is pretty good relative to its size, weight, comfort and especially performance. To put the 28 mpg of my GS450 in context, over the same sort of use in my BMW E46 330i I was getting 23 mpg, in a Toyota Prius 1.8 I get 46 mpg, and in a Volvo S80 D5 I was getting 38 mpg. It seems I have a heavy right foot, or I’m just a rubbish driver, or maybe both. As stated above I wish it had a bigger fuel tank. 320 miles between fill ups isn't ideal. Owning my Lexus My local Lexus dealer - Cambridge - is also essentially the same as my local Toyota dealer so I see them a lot between warranty claims on my Lexus and regular servicing on my 20,000 miles per year Prius. I’d say they are pretty good, but hardly exemplary. The staff are lovely when you’re there, the coffee is good, and they have the option of collecting my cars from my office and dropping back, which is really convenient. I have needed to escalate and push to get things done in a reasonable time, and I’m not sure they are really that switched on when it comes to customer retention. I’ll carry on using them but I’m not sure I’d chose a car because of them… Will I keep my Lexus? In short, yes. I certainly plan to run my GS450 for at least another two years while it’s still under warranty and potentially more if it seems to be holding up well. I’m not entirely sure on what to replace it with anyway. My experience of modern Lexuses have left me a bit cold, and aside from a MKIV GS450h not much else appeals. I’ve looked with interest at the Infiniti M35h but an E Class convertible appeals despite the diesel engine. Thoughts on Lexus as a brand I’m not sure I necessarily see myself as a dyed in the wool Lexus owner. I really like my car and appreciate its virtues but the current range of Lexus cars doesn’t really stir me, and the absence of non-SUV Lexus estate means when I need to replace my family transport Toyota Prius with something bigger I’ll end up looking at E Classes and 5 Series which is annoying as something like a GS300h Estate would be ideal. As a Lexus driver there is a slight feeling of being in a Toyota with better quality materials and finish, which isn’t really surprising but may not be what everyone wants from their luxury motoring. Would I recommend a GS450? Hell yes! Brilliant car and if you buy well/have a warranty/are lucky then it’s also very cheap to run. In my view I’m running a £50K car with almost all the peace of mind of a new car but at a far reduced cost. Thanks for reading.

I'm going to carry this on from my post in the 'new members area'..... Hi and good evening I wanted to join the forum and introduce myself, my name is Michael, 33 from North Lincolnshire. I have just become the 3rd owner of this very very tidy IS250 SE-L that I bought from my local Marshall's Honda garage in Hull. For an old motor, wow has this got some kit! I have recently learned that it is the top spec model or very close to, it has every gadget I could possibly ask for and more. This car was bought as a 'stop gap' between other cars and I had planned on selling it after approx 4-5 months, but after under a week of ownership I think I'll hang on to this gem 😁 A few details and spec: 42K miles 2 previous owners Full and comprehensive Lexus service history Sat Nav Reversing camera ML premium sound system Electric everything Xenon's etc etc The very first thing I did was give the exhaust trims a sorting out and polish, they clearly hadn't been cleaned since new 😳🙊 I am fitting a new pollen filter tomorrow as I suspect that needs doing, I have also just ordered a set of boot gas struts as mine are clearly worn with the effort it takes to open the boot 🤣 I am also on the lookout for an updated sat nav disc. The dealers photos: And I took these when I went to view the car The car was faultless on the test drive and I was immediately impressed with it, would silver have been my first choice....no not really, but the car does look well in it and with the car's history, mileage, condition and spec there was no way I was going to let it go. I am a professional detailer by trade so please forgive how ridiculous I am with the cleanliness of my cars 🙈 but it's my hobby, passion and business and thoroughly enjoy making my cars beyond immaculate. Ok so the car is home, there are a few surface scratches here and there I need to take care of, paint correction and ceramic coating to be carried out but these will happen once I've moved house and have my own garage in a couple of months. First job, sort out the awfully kept exhaust tips 😳 Before and after There was some staining around the tips also which I have now removed. The first thing I actually bought for the car was a new genuine pollen filter, fitted today and took less than 5 minutes Before / after Not too bad but worthwhile replacing it. I gave the housing a clean up too while it was out I have been on a buying spree today, my first jobs are to ensure the car has everything it should have from factory, in my case it does apart from its missing the fabric wallet with the tools in which is kept with the spare wheel, I've now got one on order so that's that sorted, it is also missing the polystyrene holder that sits on top of the spare wheel, struggling to locate one of those. Apart from that the other parts I've ordered are as follows: • Upgraded xenon bulbs to 8000k • Boot liner to protect original boot fabrics • Complete LED interior light kit • New number plates • 2 new batteries for both remote fobs • Genuine Lexus first aid kit • x2 new rear boot struts I will be removing the 'Lexus' and 'IS250' badges from the boot, just personal preference really I prefer the less cluttered look, I'll be updating every bulb on the exterior too to LED. That's it for now, I'll keep this up to date as things happen 😁 Michael.

Hi all had such a great response from my last post thought I would try my luck again. My drivers seat bolster has worn and starting to crack I would imagine a common problem being a beige colour it really notices, I have tried cleaning and conditioner but if anything it has made it worse. I think what it needs is a leather dye product. Has anyone used a dye on there seats and if so what results did you have and what product did you use. Dell.

I hate having to check after a main dealer service but can anyone explain why they wouldn't fill it to the maximum mark. Does that also look a bit dirty to you for fully synthetic oil? After the previous two services it was basically transparent although having serviced cars for 35 years I'm aware that running it down the road can alter that. I'm even struggling to locate the oil filter to determine if its new (which is a decent indicator of an oil change having taken place) . I'm feeling slightly cynical as on the service check list they ticked having done a hybrid health check on a non hybrid car

@Northern isf Adrian is a top bloke he prepped the gt86 that the Tim Huxley the DP at Lexus Cheltenham raced, and they supply the TRD parts from japan for many of the Lexus line up. I had a gt86 for a couple of weeks whilst mine was in for some work loved it....... Big Rat

They look like the correct alloys for the car, but painted grey rather than the usual silver. The chrome strips are still chrome I note. [emoji846] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks paul, yes I must have been there over an hour chatting about cars Im seriously thinking about getting a gt86 as a another toy to add to my list they had a nice selection there, he was on about the ISF he used to own said he was trying to evolve parts for the car but there wasn't enough interest,shame really as the stuff he was showing me that they'd developed was top notch would be interesting to see what could have been done.

It said Maru 18 inch on autotrader. They may be painted? I will probably look to get them refurbished but not for a while.

Nice one. Like the subtle touches to the car. Looks great.

It appears the oil filter is an element that fits inside a housing so no chance of confirming if that's been changed. I'll pop down tomorrow.

Bizarre if that is what really happened. Only other alternative is they did not fill up to the max. In both cases i would be on the phone tomorrowmorning! When i bring my car in for service i always top up fluids before and last time the BMW dealer invoiced me 2 ltr of windowfluid. When i asked they apologized and when i continued asking how this could happen they said sorry sir but we always put that on the invoice??? Anyway in your case maybe not deliberate but not sure what is worse, thinking you are working on a hybrid while it clearly isnt or trying to squeeze the last penny out of you?

I know how it feels way to well! I waited for mine to pick up for a week and half! Wasn't even enjoying the food, concentrating on work! Like falling in love! lol! Keep us updated Andrew. Good Luck!

...Removing the plastic 'fir tree' type fasteners that hold the lining on the inside of the boot lid on my 250. It is quite awkward as the clips are recessed into the 'boot card' but they have a slot running through them which when a suitable size cable tie is fed through allows you to yank the blighters out!! paul m.

I haven't seen this story reported in the UK: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-jury-finds-evidence-of-gross-negligence-by-toyota-seatback-collision/ Edit: I found that the video didn't play from that link but I think it's the ad blocker on my browser that was blocking the video. When I turn off the ad blocker the video plays correctly.

If that had been the place I've had previous cars serviced and tested, they would have changed the blade and only charged for parts. The same with bulbs. My Lexus isn't due a service and MOT until next year.

Personally I've found C2v3 the best of its type that I've used, but only marginally better than CarPro Reload. The finish is very impressive, especially the depth - on my paintwork anyway. What I would add is that my NX has the GTechniq ceramic coating applied, which may make a difference. Having been 'into' Detailing for some years - and having shown Minis for a few of those years - my advice is simple. Try a couple of products of each type that fit with your budget. When you find something that works for you, stick with it. Try not to get caught up in the discussions about the next 'wonder product' on places like Detailing World as it is mostly opinion based on preferences, with associated impacts for colour, paint condition, and preparation. For everyday products I have found the Bilt-Hamber ranges hard to beat over the years. I find myself returning to them, and that's the best sign that they suit my preferences.

What a lovely example! Welcome to the LOC! How was your drive all the way home from England, as good as you remember?

Thank you 😊 I will be posting updates as soon as they happen, and especially once parts begin to arrive next week 🤗

Mike, that was a very neat car you’ve got for yourself am sure it would even be better looking once you finish the project. I will be interested in how you install the interior lights - is it going to be one of those that could change colours according to one’s moods?

Hey Michael, its good to see you starting a build thread so soon. Such a good looking car. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for updates.

Criminal damage is amazingly difficult to prove ... ask me how I know.. I had dashcam footage of guy hitting my car and Magistrates still told me there are no way to prove he actually dented i.e. suggesting the dent was there before or "appeared" there next day. The only hope, considering it is company... they might not take chances and just settle out of court. @Comedian - yeah that is what I thought, but checked my service plan papers several times and no free MOT for me... It states that "essential care" service plans includes 2 MOTs, but mine was "special deal" for half price and is neither essential care, nor includes the MOTs.

Few more pictures

Problem is once they touch the car its arguably criminal damage and you could sue the hell out of them even if there is no damage but you could argue that they've been reckless by moving it without keys

Speedos have to be within a certain accuracy for European law. Lexus could certainly make it more accurate, but why have that expense added to a vehicle if it isn't needed. On the IS for example there are three tyre/wheel sizes across the different grades - all have a different circumference but have the same speedo calibration, each one could be calibrated differently to improve accuracy but would add to manufacturing costs. There are two threads on this topic at the moment. I posted the actual allowable speed tolerances that Lexus deem acceptable on the other one, if your speedo reads 70 mph when you are going 70 mph then it is faulty and should be replaced: https://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/117015-lc500-speedo-accuracy/

Similar situation happened to me just with anti-roll bar link rubber. Previous to that car had perfect history all the way to 179500 miles. Surely, could gave me advisory, but decided to fail instead and then asked £200 to change single link (£120 part +£80 labour). Got both new links for £36 and paid £40 for changing them. It is funny they can fail mot for optional part like anti-roll bar (the only check it if fitted and there are plenty older car without them), and not only that anti-roll bar was fine, links were fine and only the rubber had small hole in it... cannot see it as a major issue anyhow. Yes eventually over ~100k miles the rubber will let water and dirt to the joint and eventually it will dry-up and brake.

I'd report that to be honest. They're getting overly anal about a wiper blade if its not torn or split. If that happened to me, I would royally take the mick. In other words, leave the car in front of the entrance to the ramps, take the keys and go "looking" for a wiper blade somewhere else and come back 2 hours later.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/complain-about-an-mot 👍

I think the new mot is not good for the centres. There is to many variables as to a pass a fail an advisory. Was it your usual mot station you go to.

:( sounds like the tester is a bit keen there, not even flagged as an advisory. As it's a major fail, under the new rules doesn't that mean it not legal to drive away and fix?

And I am Satan’s apprentice!😂

So I must be Satan himself?! Lol.

Had a poster of this on my wall at uni. Amongst... ahem... others!

I made a guide a few years back in pdf form. Here's the thread The clay lube was an unnecessary purchase. Bilt hamber clay is designed to be used with water. Additionally, car shampoo in a spray bottle mixed with water would make a clay lube. UHD wax and BH cleanser polish, not really sure on. It's certainly not a tried combo but should be ok in theory. Personally would have gone for BH double speed wax instead, cheaper, longer durability and known compatibility. Furthermore, would argue that BH cleanser and Poorboys glaze are doing the same thing. In fact, BH cleanser is so good that poorboys glaze is somewhat useless. Bilberry wheel cleaner is OK but on darker finish wheels leaves white marks behind. Worth bearing in mind. Rinse wheel immediately don't let it sit. Clean seats once a year or if seat is shiny. Doesnt need anymore than that. Nothing needed on dash and plastics apart from damp cloth soaked in mild apc solution. I prefer not to dress the dash anymore as i prefer the original matt finish. Can get mass dressings but they look the same as factory fresh so why bother?