RNUK

So I've had my IS250 SE-L Auto coming up 2 years. It's 55 plate and covered 110k and although I love everything about the car, it's really starting to clock up some bills now. So far I have had a water pump go just over a year ago, so a new pump and rad were installed. The head gasket went just before Xmas this year, leading to a donor engine being installed. I've now have 2 new problems. 1. Whenever it starts from cold, it sounds like a diesel whilst it fires up. Only when it's cold and once the engine is running, it sounds perfectly fine. I'm told it could be an oil pump (speculation, it hasn't been looked at as yet) 2. Only very intermittently, when accelerating up an incline, there is a horrendous sound similar to a slipping aux belt but more metallic (Awful description I know, sorry). If i immediately take my foot off the gas the noise goes and when I put it back on, the noise does not return. This off/on can be done with no delay. Any ideas what either of the above can be? - I can try and get a video of my Diesel start up later if that helps? This car has wanted for nothing over the last 2 years and I refuse to believe that the shelf life of this car is 110k. My 1st Gen IS did around 180k before it even visited a garage outside of general maintenance and that was only because the bottom of the rad had corroded.

Hoping to get a sensible offer from the insurance. Already had to token ridiculous first offer. Spoke to Nippon (who I bought the engine from) and they have agreed to buy the car from me for more than the insurance buy back price so I'm happy with that.

After all that it's all immaterial. Insurance came back today with a verdict of total loss on my car so my beloved SE-L, now Cat D, will be moving on. Time to go car shopping. Although I will be buying back from the insurance company to try and recoup at least some of the money I've just paid out on it.

Yeah, 6 month warranty on the engine

Diagnostic is coming back with a Timing Chain Issue. Clearly related to the engine replacement but not sure if it's the engine or the fitting. Time to get it to the insurance assessors and see if they'll fix it or just write it off. never rains but it pours

Not holding my breath

hahaha that was my first thought Sadly, the VSC issue persisted

Starting to think this car is cursed now! Driving it back to garage to get diagnostic done this morning and someone drove into the side of me 😡

So a quick update on my car... it's back! 😁 Got a donor engine from Nippon in Derby. It's running absolutely fine however the dashboard is lit up like a xmas tree (see attached) with Check VSC. I've read a few threads and some say not to drive it, some say that a good run will cure it. Its sat and not run for over 3 weeks so could it just need a run? I'm more than happy to give it an hour or so on a run this evening, but want to make sure I'm not going to do any damage by doing so?

Anyone used Nippon Auto Spares in Derby? They are offering the 42k donor I mentioned above. They are offering it, in the car with a 3 month guarantee for around £2000, including picking up the car from here and taking it up to Derby!. Seems to good to be true to me considering the fitting cost from them is a third what I have been quoted elsewhere. But, I've looked and can't find a bad word about them! Just wondered if anyone had any dealing with them?

I think that's the best bet. Middle of the road labour costs and piece of mind that someone like that had worked on it. Just gotta get the right engine now.

No. the 42k one is on the shelf at a specific Japanese breakers up in Derby. It's the cheaper option with longer warranty, but I have to get the car up the Derby, about 2.5 hours up the road. Third option is sourced from a breakers down the road from me and will be delivered for fitting at the indi. The Motorsport company is Datam Motorsport, just down the road from me. They will only get involved in the fit if they can fit it as really busy after trace season and I can source an engine.

Yeah that's where I am. Forgot about the 2nd one as soon as I hung the phone up. Shame because on the face of it it was spot on. There's about £500 between the two (option one being cheaper due to cheaper labour cost) Waiting on the motorsport company to come back with a price and if they can do it. As I'd be a lot happier having someone that builds these things for a living doing it. I know I'll get a vehicle back that is as good as it can be.

Ok, so update. Got 3 donor engines lined up. Spoke to a local race company I know and they have advised that a donor engine is the way to go. So, 1 with 42k, but it's on the shelf and can't be seen running. However they will fit and offer 3 month warranty 1 with 70k on, but, full Lexus history (last serviced at 64k), however little red flags going up. The engine is out of the car and they "can't find" either the video of the engine running OR the service documentation... that's convenient! 1 that's just down the road with 69k on, currently in the car and can be seen running. The indi are happy to fit it and will offer 2 months.

Not an option unfortunately. There is a large sentimental/emotional attachment to this car

There are a few low mile engines on ebay but I am a bit wary of buying if i'm honest.

Just spoken to garage. Looking at > 3k now and that without skimming etc. They are talking finding reconditioned engine and dropping that in. Anyone in the community that I can speak to about a recon'd engine or even that can do an engine swap for me? I am not parting with this car unless I absolutely have to.

I have asked the garage why it has and she said it wasn't really possible to say... If the bill is not too distressing then I'll ask them to go over it thoroughly and ensure that there is no other issues that could have caused this. Temp gauge didn't rise above the normal midpoint.

Just spoken to Lexus and he said that there will definitely be a reason for it as he has never seen one just go on the 250. So hopefully that's of some comfort?

Cheaper and less fuss to do an engine swap?

Confirmed. Head gasket blown. Waiting on a price for parts, but it's £1500 labour I have been quoted

Thanks. Will do.

Yes, definitely pink coolant went in.

Didn't notice anything abnormal from the exhaust, but then again I was more concerned with what was happening at the front. I only ran it for a few minutes and there was no noticeable drop in coolant level. But, it's not the easiest place to check