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No, you don't have to go to the dealer. I found the the same nuisance with the default unlocking setting setting too, and found how to change it in the main (thick) handbook - and it was very easy. I haven't got the handbook to hand at the moment, so I can't tell you exactly where to look - but I remember it wasn't hard to find. Good luck, and hope you enjoy your ISF - if you are going to keep it for a while, it is worth looking into the Lexus extended warranty (not because it is likely to go wrong, but some of the costs could be frightening if it did) and also their prepaid servicing plan, both of which are good value.

The switch is on the side of the door when you open it. You'll see it on the b pillar once the doors open. Excellent, whats the deal with repairing it? is it a replacement or can i take it out and give it a good clean? /

Agree with all about the car, but we all need to lighten up about Top Gear. It is just a car-based entertainment show, and I don't think anything they do is serious or taken that way

Over 10 - 20 years, Electronics/Technology revolutionised car diesels - equally applying to petrol engines which had a functional head-start, making improvements which more than kept pace. The reality remains: Diesel is the poor-man's petrol and transforms prestige cars into wannabe prestige cars which are comparatively rough, slow and smelly; but cheaper to run. In the IS range, the 4-cylinder IS 220D has it fans, some believing despite every bit of data that higher torque over a tiny rev range makes it swifter than the larger 6-cylinder IS250. It is widely acknowledged however, the IS250 + the superb auto box with paddle manual is supreme in smoothness and performance - but with higher fuel costs. Add MM and the bells and whistles you want and it won't disappoint. After it, the 220D seems a great car turned cheap, nasty and pretentious.

They look good, but if they are ANY colour other than red; they are illegal because they are a warning light showing to the rear of the vehicle.

Seems like you do have a problem. The Mark Levinson systems in MM versions have a sub-woofer which is the whole of the rear parcel shelf. Yours may have become disconnected/faulty/no drive from the built-in amp. A really good solid bass from the back is the norm. Take it back to your dealer after you have what I hope is a really good Christmas!

If you had a tracker fitted, you would have had to pay them to transfer it/register it in your name. Also, they are not often fitted to cars under £50K. You could try contacting them via www.tracker.com or phone them and wait 20 minutes for them to answer. Either way, I hope it all turns out OK for you.

Basically don't. If you wondered why NO car manufacturers fit this when it is so simple; it is because it is seriously illegal in the UK, EU and most of the rest of the planet. It is hard to find a way to break so many regulations without the car even moving, and it is potentially dangerous - all unless the car is used only on private ground and more than 10 meters from the highway. Even then, if it caused an accident, both driving and possibly the car could become just a fond memory for a long time. The law requires you to be in attendance of a vehicle at all times the engine is running. That is also a condition of your driving license. When you break these your insurance is invalid. Add on that it is an offence to supply, fit or cause to be fitted such devices you can see how the trouble just piles up. Not worth it to impress the easily impressed.

Yep it's on my list :winky: True, it's possible it won't take a lot of modifying to turn it into an M3 beater..... The suspension of the ISF progressively stiffens and alters in Manual, Sport and Traction-control off modes compared with the default auto mode - which is quite firm but still relaxing on reasonable roads. The M3 may cope with tight tracks better; but is so much worse on the highway because it is permanently Mr Angry, and in any case, not many people are going to buy the ISF for a few hours a year track use. Simplifying things, the M3 is maybe better in show-off mode but definitely worse in the real world and relatively slower up to speeds you are allowed to do. The maximum speed is academic, and 168 mph on the ISF is probably aimed via the gearing to realise a better fuel consumption. As far as JC's criticism of 8 gears, I don't think he has learnt to use them correctly yet, and they certainly don't keep changing maniacally as he suggests. Mainly though, the M3 & ISF are just different and there is room for both.

You can turn it off anyway

I could be wrong, but I'm not sure that the first part of that statement is correct. I had problems with the headlight levelling system on my previous car (with HIDs), they kept breaking. But the MoT seemed to only test the level of your headlamps. If the broken headlight levelling system means your lights are pointing wrong and they can't be adjusted back, then yes, that will fail the MoT. But if they're pointing the right way then I don't think it matters MoT-wise if the levelling system is broken. If you have HIDs, self-levelling is mandatory because of their higher brightness. It might pass MOT if the tester is asleep but not if the instrument panel has a dirty big warning.

Try taking it apart & cleaning it up. If its dead you can't make it any worse. Or try the breakers. You have to do something though because that is a MOT failure if your version has HID lights, and if you haven't got HIDs its still a failure if the lights are aimed too high :( Hi thanks for the reply. I have taken it apart and have found one of the 3 pins has snaped so really needs a new sensor just a case of finding one at sensible money. Does anyone know a good lexus braker??? Find a mate with a soldering iron & make up a wire link/pin so that its joined in again and it may well work

Try taking it apart & cleaning it up. If its dead you can't make it any worse. Or try the breakers. You have to do something though because that is a MOT failure if your version has HID lights, and if you haven't got HIDs its still a failure if the lights are aimed too high :(

When I bought my IS200LE in Nov 2003, the illuminated plates were a catalogued Lexus accessory and were £250 a pair fitted. It took three sets before they worked for more than 2 days, but those are still fine. Only front sets were available, and the word Lexus on them is too big to allow you to cut them down for the rear. The electronics (invertor) live at the bottom of the front door pillar, and if you search back a long way on this site, there are instructions and pictures how to fit them. Lexus apparently still have some :D

I've had mine since April and its still a pleasure every time I drive it. I have no real criticisms but would comment that the all black interior is a bit funeral-parlour. The looks are quite a subtle enhancement of the IS250, but the airflow along the side means that the car gets dirty very quickly. I was thinking of a black one, but glad I didn't because to keep it looking good I would have to spend my time washing it instead of driving it. RADAR DISTANCE - this is adjustable from the wheel and has 3 settings. The furthest is the default and is chosen to comply with international standards for safe braking distances. The other settings rely on the ISF's better than average brakes. Overall, if you need to reduce the distance you are possibly too close to the car in front to avoid hitting him in poor conditions if an incident ahead happens. FUEL CONSUMPTION - Will probably reach the mid 20's mpg when it really loosens up for ordinary road driving, although the right foot, sports mode and driving in manual or just having fun can really drag it down well below the 14mpg you are getting. I rarely use the manual mode except for the heck of it because the auto is so very good and makes you lazy. Hope you continue to enjoy yours as much as I do mine. And thanks to Lexus for filling a niche that I didn't think existed :D

All the prices are on the Lexus UK site for comparison. I thought I would never want an Auto but now I'm sold. Yes, they are in a lower tax band but would not allow that to make the difference, because £200 more is a nuisance and unjustifiable, but is a drop in the ocean of overall car expenses, and well worth it for the car you want - especially if there are "recession" bargains around. With the IS 250, I think the auto is a better car but the real deal is the MM version either way although I would never consider a diesel - but only because a lumpy, sluggish four cylinder diesel just doesn't cut it. Although diesel technology has come a long way, so has petrol and the diesel IS remains the car for those who need to do high mileage, want the badge, but don't like cars - or whose companies lease the base version for a sort of down-market prestige.

no neons the fiveaxis lex is one sweet motor B) There is something about the IS family - particularly 1st generation and now creeping into the newer variants - that attracts throwbacks to the 1970's (the time that taste forgot) to make their cars look like they belong to Ronald MacDonald on acid. I wonder what it is? Any ideas ;)

They didn't give me an advisory, but didn't have a problem with the aftermarket lights themselves, just that the beam wasn't legal. She actually said I can put them back as soon as I leave the dealership (unofficially of course ) As the guys at Lexus are decent (and probably want to hang on to my service business) I doubt they'd kick up a fuss over some bulbs, but even so might be an idea to just stick the standard bulbs in for future tests. In terms of emissions, how much are they going to crack down? The emissions report I got shows my car well within the limits prescribed, and technically I'm all for it if it gets those stinky bangers off the road :shutit: From what he was saying, its all down to the new emission based tax system so they have to be more acurate with the readings? The garage owner wasnt too happy as its just cost him £6000 for a new machine Mine was very low on the emissions so had no need to worry :D The HIDs failing MOT seems a bit odd. They are fitted as standard to the IS300, the IS200LE and to the upper end late models 200's anyway. One of the things that distinguishes them is a brighter, more accurate beam pattern on dip because the actual lamps have a better defined point source for the light. If the after-market lights use them on high beam, there could be a problem. But since there is virtually no circumstance where it is legal to use main beam for more than a few seconds except on dark empty roads where HID mains wouldn't be needed anyway; just dip is fine.

That's probably because what you saw wasn't an ISF because they are only available in one RHD spec which includes leather, an all black interior (including headlining), a shark fin antenna, only 2 rear seats and all the IS250 toys. There are a few IS 250s that have been boyed up to look a bit like the ISF, or it could have been a IS 250SR which is an entry level IS250 with a partial body kit. See the Lexus UK site. PS The other way you could tell is that if it was moving you wouldn't have seen it for long.

Stop going around the houses, get it off your chest, tell us what you really think. Well here goes. I've driven the 220D as a courtesy car when my IS200LE was being serviced. I thought it was a typical diesel - awful, and was always delighted to get the far superior IS200 back. But, and it is a big but, the 220D is the rock bottom entry level of the Lexus chain and essentially for people who need to be seen to have a decent car but but don't want to pay for it; so what do they expect? Every marque has at least one car in that category and nearly all of them are the equivalent of steerage class on a luxury liner. Having said that, buyers are entitled to cars that do what they say on the tin, are reliable and don't have nagging faults that the dealers try to ignore. In the end though, the 220D may well not be a very good car, and as such will quietly fade away, and fed-up owners will do what they have always done - get shot and buy something better, grumbling every inch of the way!

Rear lip spoiler is standard on the ISF, and I think the boot-lid is otherwise the same as the IS250. So you could try Lexus for one, but it's bound to be expensive.

Thank you! Yes, they did say the colour choices are quite limited on the car. I am surprised they have not released the blue and keep it unique to the IS-F. The M3 had that Dakar Yellow and the blue that only the M power cars had. The colours available are Arctic Pearl, Palladio Silver, Cadoxton Slate, Velvet Black & Mesa Pearl. All these colours are used on other Lexus UK models and can be found on the Lexus UK site for these models. What you can't find on the site is the full ISF spec. I attach the Product Bulletin Nov 2007 which is correct except for OTR prices which have risen by £100 due to Vehicle Excise Duty increases since, and the new Car Tax for next year. Also the ISF doesn't have Tyre Pressure Warning System. I also wanted the Ultrasonic Blue because after using Photoshop to show the ISF in the other available colours, the blue did the body shape the most favours. Now I'm not so sure because, although the blue is great, it is the colour of a chav's car. ViewDocumentServlet.pdf

Sorry?? What's pointless about the IS350? It's a great car as it has the looks of the second generation IS without the unsightly mods to make it 'look different' or to accomodate the V8 for which the original design didn't take into consideration. It's got useable and more than enough power for the public roads...damn shame it isn't in the UK as that's what I'd be driving instead of the 250...and yes I've driven them in the USA many times. The last IS-F I took for a drive belonged to the dealership manager...it had 12,000 miles on it so I hope it was loose enough. If you want to be accurate, the 250 has 204 bhp at the fly, and the IS-F has 420 bhp at the fly so do the math, it's 216 bhp more not 250+. Even so it's slightly more than double, but how often are you able to use it in todays traffic...totally pointless. Best compromise in the IS range is the 350...see above comment...306 bhp so still 114 bhp less than the IS-F, but 0-60 mph time of 5.1 seconds compared to the IS-F 0-62 mph time of 4.8 seconds. Hardly worth the effort. You obviously think so, but I do not. Sorry about the 250+ BHP - keyslip, should have been 200+. Also reiterate that ISF has 4 pipes & visible tips. Mine is 6 feet away so I think I'm right here. The IS350 seems pointless because the V6 power delivery is not in the same league as the V8, and its fuel economy is scarcely better, and most of all it doesn't have the ISF wonder gearbox which makes it so useable in traffic situations and on the open road. As to styling: I had an ISF 200LE whose styling had poise and presence. When the technically superior IS250 appeared it looked an up-to-date great lumpen pudding by comparison. The ISF is by no means perfect, but makes the best of its dull style origins.

I agree. Fake or not, I still think they look sh%te and is by far the worst part of the car. Two side by side would look fine, the stacked arrangement just unticks all the boxes for me. Horrid. They are fake..I've test driven a couple of the production models this year and can vouch for the fact that the quad tips are not connected to anything apart from the rear bumper panel. If they were connected to the exhaust system the rear panel couldn't take the small but constant movement. The ends of the two true exhaust pipes end just before the inner quad pipes, so theres a significant gap between the exhaust and the mainly cosmetic quads (they do allow the gases to exit from behind the bumper panel). As for the test drives, as I've said before, most of the time you may as well be in a IS250 SE-L, as apart from the seats there's little difference. The only real difference, is when you plant the loud pedal, so sorry Lexus it's not worth the extra £20,000 ....unless I'm going to be taking it to a track every week-end, and then I'd have to be stripping all that excess weight and stuff.....nope, the GTR makes a lot more sense for the money. Lets put the Exhaust thing to bed. the FOUR pipes coming out of the rear silencers poke into the FOUR trims on the rear bumper & and as said are not hard joined because the heat & vibration would wreck the bumper - just like the Lamborghini & for the same reasons. They are not to everyone's taste. They are probably there just to help the rear end look different from the IS250 and the pointless IS350. The differences that set the ISF apart: The fast 8 speed gearbox is so much better than the IS250 as you would expect from a greatly more matured technology. The ISF ride is much less comfortable than the IS250 on bumpy roads, but the reason for this becomes apparent if you push it - when by comparison the excellent IS250 sways and lurches round corners. ISF brakes - people will probably want to fit these to the IS250 for the solid, fade-free assurance. Then there is the ISF engine. Probably the test drive cars had not done enough miles to loosen up to show their true colours. The extra 250+ BHP and mountains of torque above the IS 250 are pretty obvious. So, is it worth the extra - probably not. Is the GTR going to be better? Probably yes, even if it is a bit unsubtle in appearance; probably not if you want a powerful 4 door saloon that drives well in any situation - even a traffic jam.