JamesG

Thanks , inno and I can still compare it to my friends' newer cars and I still have more features . I would like bluetooth steaming tho I'd like a pair of 18"s but I'm too tight lol and I dont mind the 17"s, they just corrode terribly, even my last Lexus had bad wheels. I'm looking at getting them refurbed in Shadow Chrome. Not sure what colour to do the calipers

Thanks, I'm sure it'll look great black looks great after a detail, it has the best reflections, hard to keep clean tho. I nearly bought a set of those rims for £500 , they look good.

Cheers fella, I got it off fleabay, from the states. I can't remember the type though.

Thanks guys, Yes I do need some 18"s, I lost a nice set on fleabay a while back, they would've been nice. I should have another look. James

Hey guys, Hope everyone is well, sorry haven't been on in a while. Clayed my car 2 weeks ago and then decided to have some spoilers that I've had for a couple of years, sprayed and fitted. After that I spent some the weekend doing a Meguiars 3 step cleanse, polish and wax and it came out looking great. Just need the wheels refurbing now, next month maybe, anyone know a good place near Croydon? Cheers for looking, James

Well I'll wade in... I had a IS200 Sport with 6spd man, it was a beautiful car to drive, gearbox was smooth and like a rifle action, I didn't ever think of driving an auto for 8 years. Eventually the I could afford a sec gen SE-L. I had tested the new manual diesel, as a courtesy car, found the power a bit strange, nothing, nothing, then all at once and the gearbox wasn't as smooth as the IS200's. I haven't tested the sec gen petrol manual but by most accounts the auto is better, beautifully sooth, and cheaper to tax. For normal day to day driving, a few miles to work and back, the Auto is King, if you are regularly travelling a long distance then the diesel might suit you, for fuel consumption, it need longs runs, and doesn't do well if you drive it short distances alot. If you are not bothered by fuel consumption, stick with an auto and choose which model and how many toys you want, good luck hunting. J.

Yeah, sorry, the pedals are the same. The gearknob is cool, not as cold in the mornings as well. I would love a super charger but my budget doesn't stretch that far, induction kit is the best I can do, until the chip is hacked. Here's the induction kit, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191467410439?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT check the sellers other parts as well. Nice rear end you got, I been thinking about that, I bought the spoiler, similar to this, not carbon fibre tho: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Carbon-Fiber-Trunk-Spoiler-Boot-Wing-Lip-W-Type-Fits-For-Lexus-IS250-IS300-IS350-/261930724350?hash=item3cfc49abfe:g:7iUAAOSwzrxUxycZ Also got a front spoiler, similar to this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/11-12-13-Lexus-IS250-IS350-WD-Style-Front-Bumper-Lip-Spoiler-Poly-Urethane-/281439121625?hash=item41871430d9:g:7j0AAOSw9N1Vps4c I have yet to find somewhere to spray and fit them, everywhere I been too seem to only want to do insurance jobs :(

Are you in South Africa mate, I can see by the sunshine, ahhh I miss it so, nice job :)

I left mine Power on for a while, didn't really notice any difference to the fuel figures. What I did notice when I switched it off after a few months, it does use more engine braking and tries to gear down to the correct gear, ie on my way to work I have long flowing windy downhill section which I like cruising down with no accelerator input at about 40-50 mph. When entering the hill I have too brake from 60ish, with the power on, the car gears down to third and i have a jerky ride down the hill until it dicides to change up. With the Sport off, it stays in 6th and a nice smooth cruise down the hill.

Thanks nice advice, the F-Sport induction looks great and will be nice and OEM I seem to have alloy pedals anyway being an F Sport from factory, any chance you could send a picture of your pedals and gear knob? Thanks and yeah loving my car Sent from my E6883 using Tapatalk

Hi Mate, car look great, always liked the Ultra blue. I got the F-sport induction kit off ebay from a dealer in the states, about £260, they getting rid of the parts, checked the price here, it was over 600. I fitted it, pretty easy, just new filter and filter box bottom with a big hole in it and the steel pipe to cool the air. It looks cool under the cover, and the noise over 3k is definitely grin inducing. Not sure there is any power increase, altho it did seem to pickup a little smoother. Got the Alloy pedals and gear knob at the same time. Beware the US foot rest doesn't fit, typically £100 here tho. Good luck, enjoy the car. Sent from my E6883 using Tapatalk

Hi mate, there is no AFS light on or flashing, I tried switching the AFS off and on but no joy. The drivers side works fine, only seems to be one fuse for both so I don't think its that. Only noticed the other day that the beam was pointing down, and had used the lights the night before, it was all ok. Seen some used motors on US fleabay for $30, the part number is 85661-48030, my local Toyota Parts dept want £130+VAT A youtuber shows it just twisting and popping off a similar Lexus headlight, after being removed from the vehicle. I have tried getting to it by moving the windscreen fluid pipe, but I can't get any purchase to turn it or pull it out. Did someone you can get to via the wheel arch? Anyone know of any scrappers near South London? Cheers, J.

Hi Guys, My passenger headlight has stopped auto levelling when switched on and is pointing down below the drivers beam on my '56 IS250 SE-L I assume it will fail the MOT so do you think I need to get a second hand unit from a scrapper? Or could I get to the motor to clean it possibly? Do I need to remove the bumper? I suppose Lexus would want to replace the whole headlamp cluster unit. Thanks for any advice, Cheers, James

As long as it doesn't already have HIDs (ballast inside headlight unit) and you have the correct bulb fitting, you should be fine, although I think you have to drill holes through the covers and use grommits with the cables. Not sure about the connector tho. Saw a video on utube.

I found I used the snow button in icy or slippery conditions, it doesn't have to be snowing. I used it because the rear wheels would spin very easily near any round-abouts and the snow button reduced that possibility, slightly, when its not dry.

Yes, I did as well knowing, it was most likely wrong, I did test it but foot brake was in the way, altho it was probably On, which hampered efforts. Does it actually fit? Seems slightly thinner than the old one. Altho the reminents of the last one are still there, the white plugs. I tried pulling them off, but no luck. Thx, J.

I just got an F-Sport Cold Air Intake kit from the States, fitted it the other night before a drive up to Nottingham. Wow it does make a notable difference. Not sure the power has changed much, but the uptake seems a bit smoother and it definitely has a lovely improved throaty growl over 4000 revs, which may be dangerous as I now like to rev it a bit to hear it more. Also got some Sport pedals and an F-Sport Gear knob :D , I can't change the accelerator pedal tho, need a mounted vice grip to remove the pin It all cost less than the same kit is here by half even from a Lexus dealer on fleabay. J.

I upgraded from my '200 Sport last year to a '56 SE-L, I haven't looked back. The only options on the SE-L were Sunroof, Sat-Nav and ACC-PSC? (I think, anti-crash radar stuff), everything else is standard. SE looses, seat memory stuff, stainless trim, rear blind, etc. SR and or Sport models go for the bigger 18" wheels and exterior trim, but basically SE interior trim. (no 18's on the SE-L cuz its for comfort) The F-Sport is basically the SE-L, with extra F-Sport trim but you couldn't get the sunroof, I asked. Take your time, find the right one, look for a low mileage SE-L with sunroof and Sat-Nav, you won't regret it. J.

30mins should be fine to reset the ECU by disconnecting the battery. The only thing to worry about is the auto windows. They won't work from the doors straight away, you need to open and close each one fully from the drivers door, then they should be fine. And any memory like radio, seats, steering and mirrors will need resetting, although I don't remember doing the seats after the last battery change... J.

I have a similar problem with my autobox trying to use a higher ratio when I get to a steep hill and don't have a run up. I suppose this is it's attempt at fuel saving. What I tend to do is just put it into sport before the hill and it automatically gears down to 4th so I don't have to pump the gas to get to change down for the hill then I change back to D once I'm over the crest. I also have an small issue going downhills, on my travels I go down a sweepish slighty twisty lane, I go into the downhill at about 40mph and then don't need to accelerate until the bottom, which was quite fun in my '200 manual for the twisty bits. The '250 is a bit more scary, when I'm braking from 60 to 40, to go down the hill, the box gears down to 4th or so, for engine braking. This is fine, but I like to free wheel down the lane, and in a small dip the '200 would make it through without more gas, but I find I need to touch the gas on the '250, to get it over the rise, then the gearbox thinks its time to change up a gear and this in turn causes a burst of acceleration which I then have to brake for which can be a bit frighting. Anyway I think it is the gearbox trying to be too fuel efficient, drop it into sport occasionally, it gives me a more of a feeling of actually being in control. J.

That's cool, been look for something like that, the others I have seen replace the whole sat nav unit. I would be interested in the getting hold of the iVIC. Never even thought of using a ChromeCast! Looked at a iMac years ago in the '200, too much work tho. Nice one. :hocus-pokus:

Hi Doog, I had my IS200 Sport for 8 years and loved it. I always lusted after the IS250, looked at one in 2010 even, still a bit expensive then. This year was feeling a bit better financially and took the plunge. I found a lovely '56 IS250 SE-L with all the bits, (except the sunglasses holder :P) an low mileage for around 8k, and fell in love on the test drive. It rides smoother and you have more of wafting along ride, altho sporty enuff, the old 1 was the sport so a little harder, but i do love the extra toys. A beemer of this age I wouldn't touch and the mercs look dull and aged. Try not to go for less than SE-L auto and Sat Nav, you won't regret it. The '250 has been a little heavier on fuel than the '200, but that's to be expected, about 300 miles per tank, got around 360 with the '200. Hope that helps. James

Well I just took it to Lexus Croydon, explained that there was a Check VSC on the dash, showed him the ODB error on my phone. He called the workshop and they said it would be 25mins or so, FOC. When I got it back, the workshop had said the engine ECU was 2 versions behind the current firmware and the gearbox ECU was 3 versions behind! They updated it and is now all sorted. The car even feels a little better to drive although that could just be me. Another happy customer! Thanks all. James

Cheers mate, I will take it round to Lexus and see what they say. Also found this online which may backup your story of updating the ECU. Check Engine LIght With Code(s) P0751, P2714, or P0894 The may illuminate on vehicles with an automatic transmission, with codes P0751, P2714, or P0894 stored. Our technicians tell us these may be "false" codes. Revised(PCM) is available to correct this concern.

Hey guys, Well the dreaded Check VSC recently appeared on screen along with the Engine management light and red hazard light and the Traction control light. Plugged in my ODBII reader and I got this error: P2714 Pressure Control Solenoid "D" Performance or Stuck Off I did the obligitory Google search and found the following: The Linear Solenoid Valve (SLT) control the transmission line pressure for smooth transmission operation based on signals from the throttle position sensor and the vehicle speed sensor. The Engine Control Module (ECM) adjusts the duty ratio of the SLT solenoid valve to control the hydraulic line pressure coming from the primary regulator valve. Appropriate line pressure assures smooth shifting with varying engine outputs. - Faulty Shift Solenoid Valve SLT - Shift Solenoid Valve SLT harness is open or shorted - Shift Solenoid Valve SLT circuit poor electrical connection I was wondering if anyone had seen this before? Should I take it in to Lexus? It only just had the 60K service 2 months ago. If it means changing a part, Lexus may have to look at it, but if there's a simple check/fix I would be willing to take a look, altho I not sure what I'm looking for. Thanks in advance, James