is200 Newbie

Well ---- had a quote from Lexus on this part = holy crap £705 fitted. I like the car but for a consumable item that's a bit steep - cant imagine what a full system would cost (well I can but not going to) Seriously considering getting rid. 1st bill and with tyres and brakes all round to do then its going to cost a small car to get all this done and with this part of the exhaust gone I wouldn't be surprised if the rest is on the way out. Hello smart car !!

Took car to ATS today (its only around the corner from where I work) so I thought I would get a quote on a new exhaust. They do not stock the exhaust (didn't think they would) but asked them anyway - also asked if they could weld the hole, don't do that either. They would contact their supplier and call me back to let me know if they could source one. I left there, leaving my phone number for a call back from the garage to let me know if they could get hold of one from their suppliers. I had the call about 20 minutes later and was told they cannot supply the exhaust. Its a Lexus supply only but they also said that their supplier told them that all the searches for the exhaust was coming up that it was a stainless steel one so should be under an extended warranty??!! I am pretty sure its not stainless (my last is200 had one but don't think this one does) How can I tell? Also, for future reference, has anyone managed to buy an exhaust from one of these types of fitting centres? I have bought some exhaust repair putty and will get under the car at the weekend to see what's what but I don't really want to apply this if its under warranty

Its the original exhaust - car has just turned over 72k so I am expecting it to go. Might be worth looking at a repair for the time being. Don't know if its the cat section that's gone - not too sure where that's located without getting it on a ramp

Does anyone know what the stock price of a new exhaust is? Mine is blowing just after the first joint (just on the first box) looking down from the tail pipes so I guess if there's a centre piece available that's what I would be looking at ?

Took a trip to Scotland at the weekend and thought I would just see what I could get out of the tank on the way back. Filled up at ASDA as I thought I would get through the full tank in the journey and I don't mind filling up now and then with supermarket juice. Trip started of with the range stating 360 miles on a full tank - windscreen wipers and lights were used off and on for most of the journey and with the radio/CD on. Cruise set to 70 for most of the journey. Picture shows distance travelled at 329 with the remaining range in the tank left at 133, total = 462 but I reckon on a longer trip then this could stretch to almost 500 miles. Thought that was pretty good for the car. Might put Shell fuel in next time to compare the results

Quite right - should have checked before posting the question ... they do look deceptively smaller than the fronts though

Just took a chance and bought a spoiler from ebay from seller in China - arrived yesterday (took 5 days from ordering to delivery) Spoiler is spot on - has fixings for screws and / or adhesive - have used the adhesive for now to see how it lasts. Colour is spot on. Cant fault for £79

Anyone know why the rear wheels / tyres are smaller than the front on the 250?

Thanks Dazed - when I done the change I could have sworn that there was a difference with the car feeling smoother - I didn't know whether I put it down to my imagination as I knew it had been done so presumed there was a change.but it did feel different to me.

Hi Mouser I got it done - when I first tried it was on absolutely solid as if it had been welded on ! - could not move it even by tapping it with a hammer. I managed to get it on the ramps at a local garage, tried it again and it came loose quite easy. Engine was hot so I think that may have helped a bit and also the extra leverage by standing under the car while trying to get it off also helped. Got it loose / drove it home and changed the oil - only had one 4 litre tub of new oil though which was not enough as it took around 6 litres. Made a bit of a mess though as the catch can I used (which I have always used) overflowed so will be looking for a bigger one next time I change the oil. All in all a lot easier to change the oil and the filter than the old is200 I used to have. Do you think an oil change makes a noticeable difference in how the car drives?

Thanks Upsidedown - makes sense By the way - looking at the emergency spare tyre, now I know where all of the Citroen 2CV wheel/tyres went !!

Does anyone know what this small black box is that's mounted in the boot to the left of the spare tyre?

Tried to do an oil change today - got the proper tool / oil / filter - sun was out, sorted .... Was first going to run through some Wynn's engine flush also but I thought it would be a good idea to see if I could move the oil filter cap as I didn't want to put the flush in and not be able to change the oil - turns out it was a good idea as I could not budge the oil filter cap at all - after trying for 20mins I gave up - will need to take to a garage for them to put it on the lift to get some proper access to it Are these caps torqued up and will applying quite a bit of force do any damage ? (I am guessing so!)

Thanks - I will reduce the pressures a bit tomorrow Normski2 - I have tried changing the info against the avatar but system does not save anything I put into it.

I have topped up the air in my tyres today - fronts at 45 and rears at 48 psi. I have used the table on the inner drivers door to find out this info. Tyres on the car are standard 17's. Do these values sound a bit high to anyone - its whats on the table so I no reason to doubt really, just seems a bit high. Can anyone confirm these are correct pressures? Also while doing this I noticed the wheel rotation is wrong - I guess someone at some point has rotated the wheels so I need to put these back - other than not having the best grip in the wet is there anything else that would be off with the set up at the moment (road noise etc...) thanks

I need to take the cover off mine to check really but does the walkthrough on the previous posts apply to the IS250 also or is the valve in another position?

I bought mine a few months ago - 2007 is250 SE-L with 70k on the clock. I bought my last IS200 2004 LE with 60k on the clock and put a further 40k on it before I bought this latest one. Problems with both of these - none other than looking after them. I wouldn't be put off by looking for a low mileage one as these are reliable cars. In some respects (would need someone to verify this) buying a low miler car can give trouble as it shows it hasn't been driven as its been intended ie if a 2005 car having 20k on the clock then that would indicate to me that it had been used for short runs (school and shopping runs) and probably not looked after that well. If you consider that the value and desirability of the car, I think almost any car, drops after 50k then consider that when looking - if you plan to keep the low mileage car you were looking at for a few years and you will take it over 50k then look at the advantages of buying a high miler. What I am trying to say is don't be put off by the high mileage ones out there - they will be a lot cheaper than the low ones and more value for money - just look for a full service history.

Filled up last week for the first time since using the BG additive. The "shiver" I experienced with the car has not come back since and the car does feel a lot more responsive than it was.. There is no hesitation when accelerating anymore or pulling away at lights - I will treat it again for good measure the next time I fill up and see how it goes from there Will be servicing next month so will get it done then. Just on the same subject as additives - I have always ran a tin of Wynns through the engine before changing oils - had no trouble with this but is this the best one to use Thanks for recommendation on the BG44.

Do these (is250's) have a stainless exhaust like the old is200 had?

Is it a sharp vinegary smell?

Its a mobile phone antenna that connects into the phone cradle - i had one the same in an old car - it boosts (or supposed to) the signal for a phone in the cradle and its usually stuck to the window with adhesive tape

Thought about carbon wrapping the silver on your grille ?

Thanks Dess

Where on the car, 2007 IS250, can you pick up the paint code for the car and actually decipher it into the actual colour?

Go for the repair - everyone will go for a bargain car if you sell it cheap enough - Having lost my old IS - was written off in local flooding last year - i was offerred next to nothing for it by the insurance company - looking back i should have kept it and not claimed - hind sight is a wonderful thing. If you look after a car for years then its worth more to you than the actual value of it, you will know its "quirks" and how reliable it is. Like Steve said above - shop around for the parts and it will get done in time at a fraction of the cost.