saggy321

As fas as I can remember there is no Black 'metallic' if you paid for metallic on your black car you've been had :) No...luckily I wasn't charged for it....I don't know the official name....the only reason I say metallic is that I remember reading a post where someone said that the IS220 only came in a matt black....but the black I have is definantley not matt!!

Metallic Balck...every time!! Looks mean and stylish at the same time!!

Nice one JT.... It would great if you could jot down the dealership and any technical information and reference numbers etc....I have a distinct feeling that my saleman...will try fobbing my off!! Cheers... S.

Good to know - where do you get this stuff from? I'd like to have a look....the decide whether I'll try it... Jamboo, You can get it off ebay or from netparts.co.uk Take a look. Also it might be worth searching google. I ran a search on 'anyone used Millers Diesel Additive power sport 4' and it can up with a few forum discussions. Might be worth a look.... S.

Hi guys... Thought it worth sharing that I've just had an email response from Millers oils Technical Manager regarding this additive. He says that the additive is Euro V compliant, the reason this isn't stated on the bottle is because when this was released Euro V wasn't even being talked about. S.

Thanks guys.... Although I've used it....I'm thinking it could be doing some damage, that's my only concern, so sooner or laater it will catch-up with me. Good point it being a company car, I can always blame it on the type of fuel. All fuels are different, so how will they know whether I added any additive. I'm gonna try it just with shell and see how it goes, if there is a difference I'll switch back to the additive. On matus' point, how do you do an ecu reset?

It's probably worth adding.... that I've added the Millers additive to the fuel in my last refill and over the last week (after fill-up) I've been doing 36 mpgs all urban. I have not done any motorway driving, all the driving has been local roads and roundabouts. When I first got the care my first fill up was averaging 30 mpgs, sometimes under for urban driving. The car has only done 600 miles so it's not the engine that's loosened up. It could be the change to Shell fuel, because I was on Total before. I'm now concerned that I may damage the engine after what Jamboo has said about the Eur V compliant engine!! Problem is I did see a quite a drastice imrpovement in mpgs....! To play it safe, my next fillup will probably be...Shell fuel only. It does make me think tho...I mean Miller's is only an additive, it increases the cetane rating by 4. Different diesel fuels have different detergents and addtives, so surely it can't be dong that much damage, especially when you consider the quality of super-market fuels?! Don't better fuels just have more / different additives?

You may be right......I've tqo websites.....one gives the technical specifications of the lexus and says its europ IV compliant, the other is a Toyota website and talks about the 2.2 litre diesel Avensis engine and the toyotal website says it is Euro IV compliant. Isn't this the same engine as the Lexus.... There must be some way we can find out. I'm only saying this because other drivers, BMW, Audi and Seat swear by this stuff. I spent a few hours reviewing various forums and only read good reviews about this stuff, so if it's ok to use, it would be really worth while. Rich bee - I've only used the normal shell diesel and that I felt was miles better then than total diesel. Unfortunately my Shell station doesn't yet stock V-power shell diesel and don't have a BO nearby.

Jamboo.... Another quick one....I've just read on a couple of websites that Euro V compliance will come into effect from 2009. Are you sure that the Lexus engine is E5? My understanding was that it was E4...I may be mistaken. Checked that Miller specfically states the new Power version of the additive works with all EIV compliant engines....something to think about I guess! Their exact words are... 'Recommended especially for modern Euro IV compliant vehicles with catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters' Cheers, S.

Jamboo.... Another quick one....I've just read on a couple of websites that Euro V compliance will come into effect from 2009. Are you sure that the Lexus engine is E5? My understanding was that it was E4...I may be mistaken. Checked that Miller specfically states the new Power versions of the additive works with all EIV compliant engines....something to think about I guess! Cheers, S.

Oh yes - it's one of the annoyances. There is still a flat spot - which is un-nerving at roundabouts. You have to drive the car with 2-3000rpm at any time to avoid it, but the fuel economy then suffers...it's not a car to rush around in town at all...it needs a relaxed driving style. It's no sports saloon unless you're on the motorway or on fast A roads where the torque is amazing... It really does spoil the enjoyment of driving the car in town, and one of the reason's I believe why the car is not as quick as a 320d off the mark. The ECU re-map did make it a tad better, but not enough to still notice it...it's all relative... You have to crank the revs up to 3000 if you need a sharp exit. It's much worse than my old A4 (130bhp) which I am convinced was quicker 0-60 :duh: (it felt so much lighter) but not as quick when dropping the hammer and overtaking. If yours is a 07, then I doubt it'll need any mod at all. It'll be at the revised spec. Drop "The Mole" a PM... PS - mine hasn't lost power at all - in fact it seems to have loosened up nicely. Thanks Jomboo,........ Helpful as always....who's the mole?

Hi guys, Just wondering if anyone has used Miller's Power Sport 4 deisel additive. I know on other forums guys swear by it, this includes BMW, VW, Audi and Seat drivers. All have had an improvement in mpg, a quiter engine and some have noticed improvements in responsiveness. They seem to swear by using a good qualti fuel, such as shell or BP, with this additive. Just wondering whether anyone on here has used naything similiar?

Thanks Jamboo.... So far in your experience have you heard of anyone losing responsiveness in a Lexus? If not, it's probably just in my head and I've gotten used to the power. Also, do you still get that.....when you press the pedal, even at just before 2000 revs, there is about a second where nothing happens and then the power kicks in? I never notived this before....maybe it was there and I was just so imrpressived with the surge of power that I never noticed it!!

Guys, I've got an IS220d and have done around 600 miles on the clock (only had it a few weeks). When I first drove the car out of the dealership, one of the first things I noticed was that yougot the sudden rush of power at around 1900 - 2000 revs, I really felt it in second gear. So much so that I was thrown back in my seat a little and my passengers also noticed this. This happened as soon as I hit 2000 revs and felt instant. However, now it's somewhat delayed. I drove the car for the first time after a few days and though I would test if I still experienced the same power, but when I hit say 1800 revs and put my foot down suddenly, there seemed to be a bit of lag and the power wasn't at instant when it hit 2000 revs. Don't get me wrong I still felt there was a surge of power, just not as powerful and as instant as when completely new. It could just all be in my head, ie I've got used to the car. The only reason I'm questioning it because of all the posts I've read regarding the fifth injector, ecu remap etc etc, so before I contact the dealer and go through this whole laborious process I want to know if anyone else has had this with a new Lexus. Also my understanding is that the fifth injector and ecu remaps were for older cars, ie 2006 and not 2007, but I'm pretty sure it's not in my head!!! Thanks, S.

Guys, I've not been ablt to find any reviews on the internet for the IS220d Sport. The reviews I've found are all IS220d and seem to complain about the gear ratios and how this is the only slight let of the car - if this was solved then the car would be the class leader in every respect. My question is this, has anyone on here driven both the IS220d and the IS220d Sport? If so is there a real noticeable difference, ie paying the extra money for the difference in the driveability. I know you also get alsorts of extras with the Sport and that needs to be included in the cost, but you didn't get any extra, ie the technology, would you still be willing to pay extra for the sport from only a driving perspective?! Thanks, S.

A quick question guys... I'm going to make my ignorance / lack of knowledge very obvious. Does taking the VSC off make the Lexus any more responsive / quicker? Cheers...... S.

Guys..... I'm not sure if my dealer / the salesman who dealt with me is just trying to fobbing me off, but he just called me back and said he's spoken with the servicing department and they told him that all new models 07 (got mine two weeks ago) have had the ECU remapped with the new software. Do you know if all new Lexus have the new ECU or is he just fobbing me off!! Cheers, S.

I asked the same question to my dealer about my 07 plate and yes it did need re-maping. I was also informed that there was a new re-mep upgrade coming soon to improve the turbo lag! Thanks JT. That's good news. Just called my dealer in Leeds and he knew nothing about it. Said he'll look into it and call me back. Just so I have something to come back with, which Lexus dealership did you deal with. I don't want him turning around and saying there's no such thing - at least if I can give him a name of a Lexus dealership that has carried this out for someone he'll have to take it seriously. Cheers mate. S.

Jamboo, On that point, I got my 07 model a couple of weeks ago. Do you think at this stage there's any benefit in contacting the dealers to find out if the remap has been done or would all new 07 models come with the new software. Thanks, S.

GJD, I can assure you there is a metallic black. I'll try taking some pics this evening and posting. If not this evening then this weekend. I specifically asked for metallic black but I was told there are two types, flat / matte black and metallic black. The metallic black has got this shine to it that makes the car look about 20% better than the matte black in my opinion.

Hi ..........for what it's worth I've bought the metallic black. I didn't realised there was a difference between black and metallic until I saw the metallic black. I admit its a bugger to keep clean but looks stunning when it is. Seems to combine class and aggression perfectly!! I agree with you about the so called expert reviews. I was questioning my decision until I drove one and found out that the reviews were way off the mark.. Even my brother an Audi enthusiast agreed the reviews were no way near the mark!!

Aido, Thanks man. How do I go about finding out if an injector needs replacing? Cheers, S.

Thanks for the reply Jamboo. Obviously I can't comment on the owning a Lexus as this is my first one, but based on initial impressions. Good point about the Audi. Is the most recent model a 2000 model?? My understanding is that there was a redesign in 2005. My borther's which is an 06 model is different in styleing to my cousin's 02 model. Anyway regardless, cheap was the wrong word to use, but when compared to the Lexus interiior it does look cheaper. Finally, do you know if there have been any improvements in the 2007 lexus in terms of durability etc. Cheers....

Hi all, I'm new the world of Lexus....I acquired mine about a 1 and a half a go. Being a newbie I thought I would share my thoughts with the veterans and more importantly with those considering buying a lexus. Whilst in the process of acquiring the Lexus I read some reviews and whilst most were positive some were on the negative side and this left me a tad anxious, but I was limited for choice. My brother has a new A4, so I couldn't get that and I didn't like the BMW in terms of looks and also the image that now has gained...so Lexus it was....and guess was....I was amazingly surprised!! I driven the Audi regularly and the BMW and I can honestly say I prefer the Lexus. All these comments by journalists such as... 1) Gear ratio is too high so can feel sluggish.... Nonsense!! The power band for the lexus is between 2000 and 4000 rpm, the turbo seems to kick in just before 2000 revs. So it's quite easy to rev the car in first and hit the 2000 rpms within millisecs... Secondly, when changing gears all you have to do is change gear above 3,500 revs and the next gear will come in at about 2000 rpms, ie within the power bad and you still have that transfer of power!! The only time you may need a sruge of power and might not have it is if your driving 5th or 6th well below 2000rpms and need to accelrate, in this instance you just change down. If you drive the car as above the car is NOT sluggish at all!! I had a celica GT before and this feels faster within the power band and is definantely faster than my brothers 2.0 petrol Audi. 2) Drive is jittery.... Nonsense The drive is just different. It is as solid as an Audi or a BMW. The only difference is the feedback in the steering. Granted the Audi and BMW has better feedback ie you can feel the road and the turns through your steering wheel whereas with a Lexus you can't...but isn't that a matter of personal opinion. Some people, prefer a more refined drive and may not want to be as engaged with the car that they feel every bump, turn and road service. In summary the Lexus is a beautiful machine to look at and to sit in. It is the only car from the 3 that every time I look at it I have a smile on my face. The metallic black is truly beautiful!! I sat in my brother's Audi after a week of Lexus and it felt cheap and old!! So guys...remember when you taking this car for a test drive please remember the above....drive the car knowing that the power band is within 2000 - 4000 revs and change gears accordingly, once you have this mastered (easily enough) you will thoroughly enjoy the drive!! Anyway that's my rant / opinion...I was just tired of reading Journalist opinions that were way way off the mark!! Finally...a question for you veterans....does the car get quicker once the engine has settled down, ie after 8000 miles etc. I know mpg improves to around 40 - 42, but does it also become quicker??! Cheers, Saggy!