hawk77

Again I need your help. One of my parking lights (passenger side) doesn't work anymore. It was quite sudden with no warning or anything. I've investigated and everything seems to be fine. I was wordering if there is a relay or a fuse that controls the parking light ONLY on passenger side or driving side,. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The IS-F would be cheaper to run though, I doubt it would cost considerably more than the IS250............the GT-R on the other hand sounds like a right pain, very highly strung, and very expensive to repair. Also read something recently about how it has one of those pop up bonnets to be softer on passengers, someone had this fire in a very minor impact, just some small damage to the bumper but because this system fired the repair cost was £11k! Over here the IS-F loses a lot of its value in the first year, so a 1 yr old IS-F is quite a good buy. But on looks alone the 3 coupe is my favourite, a 335i coupe would have all bases covered imho :) Well, me too thinks that BMW coupe looks really nice but still undecided. I don't think I will go as far as ISF as I think is a bit overpriced but so BMW's. We'll see.

The coupe I have to agree is really nice. Altough there is a bit of extra money involved I still think it looks better than all 3 series coupes. I haven't driven one but I think it's quite nice to drive. The look of it on the road is very scary and menacing which I really like. I will have to think about reliability and cost involved in maintaining it as well so I think there could be different cars out there that would fancy me. On the other hand I wouldn't be stupid enough to buy an IS-F. I've been in one of those but for that money I could get the latest GTR for God's sake and get the extreme machine. Too bad I can't afford it ..yet. IS250 looks nice and I assume that it has a lot of things that would make me happy but still ..I am doing my research. Also, I think it could be quite silly to ask :whice one is better as most of us here will be biased but I could be wrong. Few days ago I've been in a Cobra 427 replica V8 with all the little goodies in it ..man what a ride. It feels like you can trow that car around the corners like crazy. Very nice car and very nice sound. Wouldn't mind one of those but I think my wife will kill me while I sleep with burning oil. Thanks for your adivces and keep them coming.

Well, when I asked if they could pop I meant if you drive could they pop out...No worries though as today I had the most hectic day of this year. I had a very important meeting this morning and guess what....the front ball joint from the passenger side poped out and the whole segment dropped on the internal side of the rim. I was very lucky to have this happening in front of my garage so I drove the car in, took the wheel off and investigate. YEP...the ball joint was off so I had to run to a place where i can rent a car for couple of days (they rip you off big time here). I put an order to have them here at a very good price as the guys from Lexus Of Brisbane wanted me to "bend over" for the ball joints. 500AUD for one side when you can get it genuine from Toyota UK for much less than that. 80AUD me thinks. So, my advice to anyone...have your ball joints inspected and changed if necessary ASAP. i don't want to think of the massive accident that I could've have on motorway at around 110km/h. Mercer I got the ball joints today and they will go in tonight. I will keep you updated. A wheel alignments is required (as a must) or it coud go with out it?

Right, I'll try again, for what it's worth. 1. Are there any known problems with the car (i.e IS200 - ball joints etc) I've had my SE-L 250 from new in late 2005 and have had no problems whatsoever except for a number of formal recalls on TSIB's (Technical Service Information Bulletins) from Lexus (front seat belt recoilers, steering rack, fuel hp delivery line and rear caliper replacement), although I hasten to add all were preventative measures except for the rear caliper issue which had caused the pistons to seize on both my rear calipers. Some cars have suffered from various interior trim rattles, and although Lexus have a fix for all of them, my car hasn't suffered from the problem. Some cars, including mine, have had a rattle which appears to be from the central pillar seatbelt attachment area. The source of the (slight) rattle is not the belt, but the door catch, and the fix is to put a few winds of tape (I used electrical insulation tape) around the static door catch bar. Some cars have suffered from a rattle on cold start-up and Lexus have a TSIB to rebuild the top end of the engine if this occurs. Again, my car hasn't had the problem. Regarding ball joints etc. my car has had its geometry monitored from new by WIM and has required NO corrective adjustments over 41K miles. This seems to indicate there are no adverse suspension wear issues and a very stable chassis. 2. Manual or automatic gearbox? I would like to get a manual but depends Auto without a doubt. It's a superb box and believe it or not the auto is more economic in mpg terms than the manual. Also has the flappy paddles and stick sport mode if you want to play in manual. 3. Is it cheap to run? by comarison with IS200 is it better or worse? I still have my IS200 Sport and believe me the 250 is cheaper to run. 4. Sport or prestige version I wanted a Sport but also wanted leather etc. so modified my SE-L to a "Sport +" (see my car in the Registry). 5. If I buy second hand, what should I look for in terms of possible faults All the items in 1. depending on the age of the car, ensure the recalls have been actioned and ask if any additional TSIB work has been done. The paint is a bit "soft" so expect some road rash on any car with a few miles on it. 6. Is there enough power to put a smile on my face (well that's just silly to ask considering that you don't know the amount of power that would make me smile). It's not a rocket, but no slouch either. Quicker than the IS200 and on a par with the IS300 if my experience is anything to go by. If you want the same car but a lot quicker, import the IS350 from Japan or buy an IS-F. 7. Is it easy to modify? Any basic modifications? Available engine mods are confined to intake and exhaust systems so far. The ECU is alleged to be bullet proof so no re-chipping available as yet. Loads of non OEM body kits and the OEM 'ground effects' body kit is easy to fit. Alternative brake kits, grills, chassis stiffeners (doesn't need them), intakes, air filters and exhaust systems are all available. Lexus also market their 'F-Sport' range of intake, exhaust, wheels and suspension mods. Lots of non OEM wheel options. 8. Doesit fell big and heavy or light and agile It feels bigger than the 200 because it is albeit not a lot and the seating position is lower. It doesn't handle 'heavy', is more stable and has better roadholding than the IS200. 9. Would you consider it a high maintainance car? In comparison to what? Generally I would say no it is not compared to most others in similar class. Thanks a lot guys. I will lok into it slightly more serious. I am making a comparison with the 3 series (2005 onwards) and I am still undecided. I love the IS200 but I think is time to let her go. If you would choose between IS250 or 320i, 323I (coupe or sedan) which one of these two would you get?

Yeah mate, the LOC OZ one is almost dead..if I post a question I might get an answer in a year, where is here I get something in couple of days. or couple of weeks or months

Yeah mate, the LOC OZ one is almost dead..if I post a question I might get an answer in a year, where is here I get something in couple of days.

Hi all, I am looking to get a Lexus IS250 and I would like to do my research first. So here we go: 1. Are there any known problems with the car (i.e IS200 - ball joints etc) 2. Manual or automatic gearbox? I would like to get a manual but depends 3. Is it cheap to run? by comarison with IS200 is it better or worse? 4. Sport or prestige version 5. If I buy second hand, what should I look for in terms of possible faults 6. Is there enough power to put a smile on my face (well that's just silly to ask considering that you don't know the amount of power that would make me smile). 7. Is it easy to modify? Any basic modifications? 8. Doesit fell big and heavy or light and agile 9. Would you consider it a high maintainance car? Grateful if I could get an answer from all Lexus Is250 owners.

Well, when I asked if they could pop I meant if you drive could they pop out...No worries though as today I had the most hectic day of this year. I had a very important meeting this morning and guess what....the front ball joint from the passenger side poped out and the whole segment dropped on the internal side of the rim. I was very lucky to have this happening in front of my garage so I drove the car in, took the wheel off and investigate. YEP...the ball joint was off so I had to run to a place where i can rent a car for couple of days (they rip you off big time here). I put an order to have them here at a very good price as the guys from Lexus Of Brisbane wanted me to "bend over" for the ball joints. 500AUD for one side when you can get it genuine from Toyota UK for much less than that. 80AUD me thinks. So, my advice to anyone...have your ball joints inspected and changed if necessary ASAP. i don't want to think of the massive accident that I could've have on motorway at around 110km/h. Mercer

Yep , you guys are right. Aparently, there is a lot of play in the ball joints so I need to sort this out quite quickly. I've heard that the ball joints are designed that way so they cannot pop out. Is that true? Cheers

Wow, really good deal right there mate. Here Lexus wanted me to pay 450AUD whic comes up to 200 pounds for one side. I said F#$%^ck that...

Hi there, As the title says I am after the front lower ball joint for a Lexus IS200. I found the in UK and US(only for Lexus IS300) and I was wondering if they fit. How much would be a resonable price to pay for a front lower ball joint in UK? Thanks in advance Mercer

I had a quick test before the WOF (MOT in UK) and I've been told that the steering wheel doesn't self centres. Well, I realised that only after he mentioned it. Is this normal for Lexus IS200 or is there something faulty? It might be simple as thing for somebody who knows these sort of things. Mercer

how are your ball joints ?????? hve they been checked Well, the mechanic had a quick look this morning and said that they look ok. The rear ones said that will require some atention. Do yu know how easy it would be change the top and bottom ball joints?

I had some problems with my sunroof and I paid only AUD50 to get it fixed. It can be a miriad of issue with the sunroof, but I would recommend to get it to a place that's specialising in sunroofs and they might be able to investigate further. With my one the little mechanism wasn't aligned corectly. You (or someone else) can take the roff linning off, unscrew all the little bolts in there and you can investigate your self, unless you want to get someone specialised to look at. Sometimes the sunroofs only require a reset to work properly but only someone with experience will know. My advice? Get someone who knwo a thing or two about sunroofs and get them to look at. My sunroof was driving me mad and I was just about to replace the whole thing ...:(. lucky I came accross this guy from Gold Coast who knew some stuff about them. Good luck

Right, so couple of days ago my car started to develop a stupid noise from the front wheels and steering. I put the car on jack and investigate the wheels and suspension. Everything seemed fine. After I put the car down the noise went away. After I've taken a tight corner, same noise came back but not for long. Few turns and it was fine again. Any idea what that might be? Any help would be grately appreciated. Mercer

I went to see my mechanic today and he reckons that is the bottom ball joints on the right hand side even if I mentioned to him that the noise comes from left hand side. he wasn't really sure as he told me that he is going to pull the suspension apart and investigate further. After further investigation on my own I fell that the noise comes from the inside of the rear brake discs. Me thinks that I will need to replace the rear brake discs and brake shoes hopping for the noise to go away. Has anyone done the same thing before?

BOSCH all the way mate. Had replace the original ones and got the BOSCH BBA550 and BBA450 or something like that and I am very happy with them.

MR2 mate...all the way. Quick off the mark and very very reliable. I would sell my Lex and get one of those if I would've been single.

Done that mate...Santa's still in there.

i have the same issue. I've taken the wheel and brakes off but could not find anything. My mechanic had a quick look and said that it might be the suspension bushes. I booked the car in for Wednesday morning to have a better look at what might be the cause of it. When I got the car it had that stupid annoying noise there but it got worse and sounds like Santa's coming.

They don't sell this kit new in UK or Europe mate. As I told it is very hard to find a used kit. Only in Japan or Australia. Not Australia mate....New Zealand. In Australia is quite hard to get your hands in one of those unfortunately, but not imposible. Where in NZ is very easy to find.

which women mate?

Or OP style (Japan description)

yeah well...if you're good with electronic stuff, you can get one of those USB's with fingerprint recognition and somehow attach it to the button and voila ...you will be the only one who is going to start the car. Alot of work though but it will be a first. :)