Crazy Harry

Thanks for the reply, that explains the damage, the work was done last week, today was the first time I’ve used it since they delivered it back, I’ve taken photos of the damage and will be contacting the service manager by e mail asap.

Hi, I’m looking for information on what is involved when the work is done by Lexus for the last airbag recall, I’ve searched the web but can’t find any specifics, I know it’s old news by now, but our 2005/6 IS250 had been parked up for a few years due to not being needed ( had a company car ) it is now back on the road again. The mod has been done at a Lexus dealership but they have caused damage to the interior, I need to know what they would have had to do to carry out the work before I go back in to complain. Thanks

My 2005/6 IS 250 could do with the sat-nav updating, anyone done it? how easy is it to do? where did you get the disc(s) from? any problems to look out for? thanks

As others have said, the manual box is very poor, i have one but only because i tow with my 250, and towing with the auto is a no-no according to Lexus. I wouldent recomed anyone to have one though.

The manual box is s---e basically, and yes i do have one unfortunatly, although some seem to be OK, most have issues which all the mods from Lexus can't sort, I belive the box is originally from a Toyota van/truck, adapted to be used in the car. it's no longer used, wonder why?

My 250 manual returns around 30 local use, up to 40 on a run, never gets used hard mind!

Appologies if this has been covered before, but does anyone know a cure for the creaks and groans that originate from the front end when turning at low speed ?, forwards or reverse. I have tried liberally coating all the suspension and anti-roll bar bushes in WD40, made no differance at all. Help!!

If thats the only noise you get then you are doing well! welcome to the appaling world of IS manual gearbox's. whoever was in charge of selecting the manual box from the Toyota range to be used in the Lexus should never be allowed near a car plant again. I believe that it originates from a Toyota Van/Truck. Mine has had all sorts of mods and repairs, and is noisy and horrible to use, and unfortunately is not uncommon. I wonder why they no-longer have a manual in the range?

I have Avon's on the rear now, seem to be wearing well and they are quiet. i got 40,000 miles from the original Bridgstones, and only changed because one of them was damaged by a deep cut.

A bit late on this thread, i have a 55 plate is250se, the o/s/r caliper was replaced under a recall a couple of years ago, then after a safety check when it went in for the master cylinder recall 3 weeks ago they said that the n/s/r caliper was seized. i moaned like hell at them because the car was only serviced 2000 miles ago, they contacted Lexus, who agreed to replace it f/o/c. it has been done today. so don't give up on complaining.

Just as a matter of interest, did the different dealers break down the cost in terms of parts and labour? and if they did , were the parts all the same cost from all the dealers, as the reply states that they should be? I am following this thread keenly, as my 55 plate 250 is due for it's 40.000 service in the next month or so.

Agree about part worns, simply not worth the risk, but as regards fitting different brands on the same axle, then as long as they are the same size and speed rating, then there is no legal reason not to, wether you would even notice any differance in driving would depend entirely on how you drive the car. My car came from the dealers with a Bridgestone/ Dunlop combination fitted, as it had had one new tyre fitted before sale, makes no differance at all.

As above, 'they all do that sir' is the standard answer from dealers about the knocking noise, the steering rack recall is down to possable failure of the rack, the rear brake recall, if yours is affected, gets you new rear calipers fitted, and yes all recalls are free regardless of the cars age.

Same here, 'they all do that sir' is the standard dealer response.

Mine does that also, but only when reversing on lock after coming to a halt,, the dealer gave the standard 'they all do that sir'

I bought my 250 after originally going to buy a 220, the useless 6th gear was one of the deciding factors, i have no complaints about the fuel consumption of my V6, never had less than 30mpg, and up to 40mpg on a long run, both measured.

I had a loan car from Lexus Milton Keynes a couple of weeks ago, it was a 250sel manual with multimedia, 10,000 miles 08 reg, they had it up for sale at £19995, so an auto should be available for £21-22,000.

As secondhand car from Lexus, it will come with 12 months warranty anyway, which includes full uk & european breakdown cover, i have a 250se with MM, it is a fabulous car, my manual gets 30mpg most days, and up to 38 on a long run, the auto is supposed to be more economical. just make sure you dont get one that has interior rattles, i had a sport for a short while, it was bloody awful.

The car has been to Lexus MK, They collected it on a trailer yesterday and returned it at tea time, the steering rack is now secured properly, i got it back with some goodies on the back seat and a promise of a discount on the next service, all the technicians have apparently been 'spoken to'! It is due to go in again soon for the gearbox noise to be sorted.

Why don't you try fitting the 16" OEM wheels then? I think the 16's look a little 'lost' in the wheel arches, the 17's are standard on the se, and i would like to keep them!

I have a is250se with multimedia, 30,000 miles, just over 3 yrs old, i was last week offered £10500 in part ex for it against another is, at £20,000, by a Lexus dealer, the car was on the forcourt less than 10 months ago for £19950, allthough i did'nt pay that for it, it has still depreciated at approx £1000 a month whilst i have had it, residuals!, what residuals?

I just paid £206 for a 30,000 service on my 250se, the oil was £80!, i think it contains gold particles and ground up diamonds, with a smattering of unobtainium as a lubricant.

Has anyone tried fitting tyres of a higher profile to 'soften' the suspension a little? my is250se has the 17' wheels, & i would like the ride to be a little bit more pliant, i don't mind any loss in handling etc as i dont drive the car hard, it is used as a long distance cruiser.

I've had repairs done to my gearbox without any hassle or argument. A modified selector fork has been fitted to improve the change from 2nd to 3rd. It was "catching" and the new fork has improved it. This was done as a "satisfaction" issue under warranty. Unfortunately the re-assembly of the box seems not to have been done properly which caused further problems. The car is at the dealer at the moment and they are swapping the box for another one, without any argument. I just hope the replacement is not worse than what I had :o . I think what it probably boils down to is which dealer you use, some will be pretty good about it, others will try & fob you off. Get it seen to under warranty while you can. You ought not to have any problem with the dealer - when all is said & done the cost doesn't fall on them, Lexus pay them, but may be not as much as you would get charged outside warranty. Having said that, it might just be that Lexus are leaning on them to keep the number of warranty repairs down - it might be costing them too much . Collected my car from the dealer today. They tell me that the gearbox has been swapped nd it certainly seemed on the 45 mile run home to be better. 1st & 2nd gear were far easier to select and third also seems better. Time will, (of course), tell, particularly when starting up first thing on a cold morning. BTW - I've never had a problem with it slipping out of 2nd. I have a is250, the gearbox is pretty rough to be honest, noisy and arkward, it has had the selctor mods and is going back in for internal replacements next week

I've had repairs done to my gearbox without any hassle or argument. A modified selector fork has been fitted to improve the change from 2nd to 3rd. It was "catching" and the new fork has improved it. This was done as a "satisfaction" issue under warranty. Unfortunately the re-assembly of the box seems not to have been done properly which caused further problems. The car is at the dealer at the moment and they are swapping the box for another one, without any argument. I just hope the replacement is not worse than what I had :o . I think what it probably boils down to is which dealer you use, some will be pretty good about it, others will try & fob you off. Get it seen to under warranty while you can. You ought not to have any problem with the dealer - when all is said & done the cost doesn't fall on them, Lexus pay them, but may be not as much as you would get charged outside warranty. Having said that, it might just be that Lexus are leaning on them to keep the number of warranty repairs down - it might be costing them too much . Collected my car from the dealer today. They tell me that the gearbox has been swapped nd it certainly seemed on the 45 mile run home to be better. 1st & 2nd gear were far easier to select and third also seems better. Time will, (of course), tell, particularly when starting up first thing on a cold morning. BTW - I've never had a problem with it slipping out of 2nd.