DennisJ

Guys this wasn't a serious ad........just a tongue in cheek comment. Somebody needs to get a life. Seriously would you advertise a car this way...get real. It was as the moderator stated a big thanks to Lexus Southampton who I would heartily recommend.

Just a big thanks to Lexus Southampton. I was down that way last week when my IS220D dropped into limp home mode again (4 times in 18 months) usual engine management light and check VSC. Yes you guessed it the EGR system was banjaxed yet again. It was a Thursday afternoon and I just arrived there without appointment and in need of getting my car over 150 miles home. They said they would look at it and they did so while my wife and I were looked after in the showroom. They confirmed my diagnosis and recommended a complete EGR system replacement. Outside of warranty it is not an option as the parts prices alone would be eye watering. They didn't have the parts in stock anyway, and coming up to the Bank Holiday could only fix it the following week. Despite us not having the car repaired there they didn't charge for the inspection and diagnostics either. Top notch, they were very good to us. As we couldn't wait 'down south' that long I decided to drive around the issue.....which comprises of keeping up the revs (2500-3000 usually helps), and avoid slowing down if possible. If the car misbehaves badly then park up for 5 minutes and start again. We managed the car home and the EGR system has been cleaned again.....this time it's the last for me. After 56000 miles the car has got to go. It's not acceptable that what is a non service item needs maintenance twice a year, or else the car lets you down. The poor fuel economy and the expensive servicing regime every 10000 miles don't help either. If I had researched the car better I could and should have avoided it. Nice frock hides a dog underneath. I'm going back to Mercedes; I don't think Lexus are bad 'per se' but this model stinks, and despite Toyota having an engine deal with BMW no chance of a BMW diesel Lexus EVER. Please dont advertise items for sale unless you are a Gold member.

I'm sure you're right Normski; The SE-I and the SE-L do seem to get muddled, especially at dealers, and given their interiors look similar with the Leather it's not surprising. I think the model designations are an issue. BMW use SE as their bottom line and M Sport as the top with occasionally Sport in between. The differencies are obvious both inside and out. There are (were) only subtle differences in the SE-I ans SE-L especially when Lexus had the Multimedia pack. Do you think Lexus are serious about European sales?

There seems to be a misapprehension here that face lifted cars came with either Bluetooth or/and a USB socket. This is not so. Only the SE-L or F Sport models (depending on options) had these. SE or SE-I certainly did not, unless the car was equipped with multi thousand pound upgrades. The 2009 face lift car for all its pretensions to the junior exec market was poorly equipped compared to its rivals....even cars half the price came with Bluetooth as standard. Lexus has strange ideas about what should be included. They give you a lot of standard kit, luxury interiors but miss out what many business people would think of as essential. I was surprised to find my late 2009 Face lift SE-I had no Bluetooth, my previous Mercedes and BMW models and my colleague's Audi had this as standard. Auto folding door mirrors, auto dipping rear view mirrors all alien to the Lexus (although you do get a button to press to fold the mirrors). Cruise control on a manual gearbox, not useful if the car needs to change down gear to climb a hill (which disengages it). Ventilated seats, are they really a priority? I'm sure it's because the car is targeted at the US market hence the silly permanently on airbag light, and door warning chimes. Lexus can build great cars, but they will never crack the European market unless they pay attention to wnat their customers need. So Lexus how about a 3.0 litre diesel automatic IS Saloon (Toyota have licensed BMW diesel technology)?

I believed the facelifted 2009 on model had modified parts; however I recall someone on here has had a HG issue on a later model.

I've used Avons this time on my 18 inch wheels. I used them before on a Merc C Class. Good grip not too noisy and reasonable price.

It's time consuming and fiddly but not difficult. If you choose to remove the EGR pipe completely the rear bolts are a pain. Give yourself an hour or two and follow the guides on here.

If it's down on power and slow to pick up then check the EGR valve.....search the forum for how to do this. Make sure you disconnect the battery for a while too; it resets the ECU. What's the fuel consumption like?

To be honest I think Lexus have dropped the ball again with the IS. It looks great and the new 2 door coupe really does look the business. The Lexus theory works in the USA but tey don't seem interested in European buyers at all anymore. BMW and Toyota signed a technology agreement where Toyota would share Hybrid Tech and BMW Diesel Tech. What happens is that BMW bring out a hybrid that kills any Toyota or Lexus hybrid stone dead.....what do Toyota do...keep producing thirsty petrol engines in the Junior exec market for the US. Lexus do interiors well but for the European market they aren't trying on performance or economy....and I include hybrids in that too. Look at the published MPG for Mercedes Diesels too. Go drive one and you CAN achieve the figures......try that in any Lexus Hybrid or Petrol......you won't get anywhere near. It grieves me as a Lexus driver but the facts support it.

I can understand the sentiment of the lure of that BMW engine (my wife has an earlier 2.8 litre 6 cylinder). Interior plastics though I'm not so sure. I've just driven a new 5 series and the air vents and other bits and pieces are very low rent indeed.

Ok in order: I believe they have a cam chain The gear boxes may be notchy but that's all The 220D engine may be the worst of the bunch and it has (on earlier examples) been known to suffer with Head Gasket issues. It is NOT unreliable though. Keep the EGR valve and system clean and service the car regularly. The trouble with Forums is that you do see a disproportionate amount of negatives assembled in one place. It is a variant of the D4D engine The gear box and engine are poorly matched (although the F sport is better), with a very long 6th gear and some strange choices of gear ratios. As a result although the car will bumble along at 60mph in 6th if you hit a hill or want to overtake you will have to shift down the box. Fuel economy is not it's strong point and very few can reach anywhere near the Lexus claimed figures. The German diesels are much better. Now for the good stuff: Although the engine is gruff and clattery outside the car, inside it is quiet and refined. The build quality is impeccable and the interiors are luxurious, comfortable, and well equipped. Find an SE-L (not an SE-I) or an F Sport and you won't be disappointed. If they had made an automatic diesel it could have been a winner.

Touche, are you sure they put the Lexus engine in when they changed it. Either that or you must be getting a tow off someone, or your computer is off somehow. My tank average (2009 facelift at 44000 miles) is usually around 36MPG or if the car is fuelled when warm then taken on a long motorway journey 44MPG. Believe me I coast down hills and use the throttle like it's made of glass. Had I done that with BMW's or Mercedes I've owned then I would easily achieve 50-60MPG. Seriously if you want fuel economy then Lexus should not be your choice...I love the interior on mine but engines are poor compared to German rivals (diesels)

If you haven't already found out, it should just pull apart quite readily. Squeeze the tab near where the cables attach and pull up. Incidentally it is better to remove the battery and tray to get the EGR assembly off, as the back bolts are a real pain if you don't. The bonus is that this will reset the ECU. If you don't disconnect the battery expect the car to take a few turns to restart after the cleaning process. Downside is your electric windows may need a reset,which is easily done, and a guide is on here somewhere. But If I recall, if the windows aren't working properly the switch LED's will flash; go to each door in turn (don't use the drivers door master control) and press and hold each switch down until the window drops and hold it there for a few seconds. Then up and again hold the switch up. The LED on the window switch will stop flashing and the window will now operate normally.

The GPS symbol missing indicates that the antenna is not locking on, or that the antenna connection is broken or disconnected. The antenna sits behind the unit in the dash though, so before you start dismantling to check, read up on the correct way to do it....on here somewhere. If it is the antenna (and they don't often go wrong) they are cheap (as long as you buy generic and NOT Lexus) If it's not that then it will be some electronic malfunction within the unit which is going to be costly.

Sourcing the parts required and the cost of doing so make this an upgrade only for those wanting to keep the car long term. You'd be better off with a £100 Tom Tom. The Sat Nav on the Lexus isn't that great (like most OEM kits). In fact why not check out the prices to do the job, then look at swapping your car for one with it already installed. My guess is there won't be much difference in price to change and you'd get lots more goodies too.