is200 Newbie

Managed to remove the grill and surround this morning - put new grill in to test if it fitted and it did. Assembly came off quite easy - will post pictures up on how to remove it once I have completed the paint job for the surround.

Its a shame really as the cars are relatively easy to work on ... Part numbers are so helpful. Makes you wonder if Lexus monitor the forums..?

Long shot ... Have you reset the ECU since the work has been done?

All good points One big part which could be considered as a part you WILL need to replace at some point of ownership (it stung me and almost made me get rid of the car) is a new exhaust - fitted for a 2007 is250 I was quoted 2700 from a dealer. Back boxes and centre section. Its not available anywhere else. that's a ridiculous price for a "consumable" part but last year when I was looking for suppliers, there were a few in the states but shipping was horrendous.

Steve ... That's a good link to a bit of info for people experiencing loss of oil All cars should use a bit of oil and this explains it in laymans terms.

Have a look around the water pump for a white staining - bit like chalk marks which will indicate that the water pump has a leak - usual checks for "mayonnaise" around the oil cap and opening - this isn't an issue with the petrol engines but its not impossible. Like you said, its worth your while monitoring it - especially now the cold weather is here !

Check your coolant level, you will probably find its very low. More importantly find out why it is low…..

Bet its on the same tyres as well

The car likes new oil ....! It shouldn't rattle on start up tho no matter what the temperature is - The injectors are noisy and you will hear them under normal operation. If the rattle is persistent (loud) I would check the oil level - it may need a top up or a change. There are people on here that have experienced the rattles - it seems the oil reservoir within the engine does not hold sufficient oil to lubricate the valves on start up and hence the rattle which is only apparent for a very short time until the oil is circulated on turn over. I have found it hard at few times to get a good reading on the dip stick - maybe it just needs topping up a bit - try to the max level and see how quiet it goes then

Hi Steve Don't confuse the injectors with the rattle - the injectors are quite noisy on these engines - just keep an eye on the "rattle" as it does come and go, theres no pattern to it. If it becomes noisier then it maybe time to give it an oil change - I would use the flush also when changing the oil - It has cured the noise on mine along with the oil change - I haven't had any issue connected with the rattle

Hi Steve, 5w/30 is the recommended grade - there are quite a few post on the forum about the oil. When I was initially monitoring the oil I did notice a drop in oil twice that corresponded with giving the car a bit of a "thrashing" using it with the paddle shifts - noticing this twice I would say that's not a coincidence I am not worried about the loss of oil as its the only time in owning the car I have noticed the drop in the level. I am going to monitor the different type of oil against this one to see if there's any differences with this type. I have always flushed the engine on the last few cars I have had - there is an issue with this engine that it will produce a rattle on start up from the VVTI which is not reported to be a big problem. I have had the issue a few times and it corresponds on mine to when an oil change is due ... the noise disappears after an oil change and whether its the fact that I have done an oil change or the engine flush I don't know but it cures the noise.

6 months on from the last oil change I have done the next change now. I have used Magnatec this time. I will compare the readings / oil colours "off line" to see if there's any noticeable differences. I changed it on Sunday but have already noticed a difference in the noise of the engine - with the Castrol Edge on the last change there was a slight rattle - sounded like the old cam lifters / valves you used to have in older engines - it was not loud (practibly un-noticeable) but when you are used to driving a car you do notice small things like this. After this oil change the rattle has disappeared - there's no other differences to the oil change as to what was done last time. Possibly? the engine flush is starting to have an effect on it. Its not a "Placeedo" effect as the noise has definitely disappeared.

Its the grill and surround I want to remove I think? the bottom (of the grill surround) is secured by tabs but could not figure it out. I didn't want to force it. Will have a go next weekend as the rains started now ! Any help appreciated - when I sus it out I will post pictures on how to do it as a reference

Does anyone know how the front grill on an is250 can be removed ... I have taken all the top "poppers" off and removed the centre screw and this releases the top of the grill and with a bit of jiggling the sides come free. I cannot see a way of removing the last bottom side of the grill - I don't want to force it - does anyone know how it comes off? picture shows the points removed (after taking the rubber seal off) which frees off the top and sides

MPG definitely depends how it is driven and how the car is maintained

The best honest review about a car can be found from drivers themselves from forums like this where you will get all the good and bad points from owning and running a car - owning being the key word here - how can a review of a car done over a week or a day in some cases be an accurate reflection of how you can "live" with the car. Most of these magazines are there for their entertainment value more than anything - dig a bit deeper and you will find some interesting details of who sponsors these magazines!

I am with you on that one I had to order two sensors from the USA as they weren't available over here except from the dealer.

I used to buy my parts from Japarts but just tried tonight and they don't have the sump washer and when paying for the oil filter their site crashed... Where does every one else get their parts from? Looking for oil filter and sump washer

Are these the ones you have used? Ebay item number 231217852306

If that's the case and you do have the front and back parking sensors fitted (which is the same as mine) then I have an option for adjusting the range the sensors activate on the main console unit amoungst other sensor settings (through the touchscreen) along with the driving distance sensor you can adjust the settings here. Not sure what menu its under but its definitely on there (I would go have a look but its raining at the moment ... will get my hair wet !!!) Have a look through your manual for the option.

I have "modded" the front grill - grill was an isf replica. Originally supplied grey - it has been painted black and an insert applied to hold a black pearl colour badge. I intend to get the grill frame painted to match the car colour, probably next week. I need some opinions on the badge on the front - is it too small? I have the option of putting a bigger one on but its chromed but to get the effect I am looking for I could get it painted...

Have you checked the electrical connections under the seat - I haven't heard of it on the forum before but it may be a loose connection - also check for anything that's caught UNDER the car in that area

With John on this one 2007 seems to be a facelift year - mine has the 4 fitted but I have noticed when looking for parts for the car from this year that there are a couple of options especially for parts for the braking system. Do the pre 2007 models have the reversing camera fitted which links to the rear sensors?

Hi Mark Seem quite a lot brighter to the stock ones fitted on the car - are they (the Phillips ones) easy to fit - any need to take half the car apart to change them over ?!

What size of wheels / tyres do you have? Have they recently been changed or upgraded? M56 in Cheshire has a bad stretch of road where it seems there are two "lines" what looks like the road has sunk a bit from constant heavy vehicles driving on the same spot - a lot of the cars I have had when driving on a road like have tended to be a bit vague when on the effected stretch but once clear of it is fine, I think its a combination of the camber of the road and the effected road itself.. It could also be a sticking caliper - the rubber washer on the inner caliper piston bore may be starting to perish causing more friction on the piston when the brake is applied, the rubber brake parts on the caliper assembly slowly degrade, even quicker if the wrong type of brake fluid is used, the rubber will expand and lose shape to the point where it has no effect on the purpose its there to do ...- another symptom you would experience would be a "shake" in the steering wheel when braking and if you have just started to notice the pulling then it may not be that noticeable yet. As noted above - wheel alignment and also wheel pressure have a big effect Me, I would take a look at the calipers, get them greased up and take it from there - its good practise anyway to regularly grease the pins on these calipers as they are prone to seizing as everyone will say.. I do mine every 6 months - not a big job (half an hour to an hour max for all 4 corners)