ophthdoc

Agree that the ones brought in from Japan are usually in very good condition - their auction process is pretty clear about the quality grading. NZ also gets cars from UK, Australia, and Singapore to name a few. Dodgy traders exist everywhere though, and some cars do have defects which get sold on to unsuspecting customers.

Update on Xado - took 9 months but the noise has returned. Have had the car serviced, and will stick to 6 monthly oil change I think. Love the car but not the issues!

I had my left rear brake caliper replaced by Lexus due to seized pins - and I had the right one changed to be on the safe side as got a good deal on it. a year later and the service manager (Toyota this time) tells me that the left rear pin is stuck and new caliper needed. I didn't say ok - got home, disassembled the caliper, and it was just about rotating but not sliding on the pin at all - had to hammer it gently to free it up. Cleaned and greased the pins and back to good as new. Also did the other callipers at the same time, and found the right front had a very sticky pin as well. Didn't find much grease on any of the pins. So add my vote to the regular checking brigade!

Pretty stringent on importing inspections. Not that you can tell that by looking at what's still being driven on the roads! Re importing, the shipping was paid for by employer, and it probably wouldn't have sold for much in UK. But if I had known re rust being an issue then would've treated it before bringing over. Car of similar specs and mileage would still cost more here, except ex Japan imports which I wasn't keen on. But would certainly have been less of a headache.

Don't even get me started on that. The surface rust on underneath of the car that we take so much for granted in UK was the starting point - inspector asked for interior to be stripped so he can be satisfied the rust wasn't inside the car. Once that was done, then bottom had to be sand blasted to remove rust, and sealed again. Ended up being an expensive exercise. Several other niggles have come and been sorted. Anyway, picture of front of unit attached. I managed to convert the SatNav to NZ maps by changing the Navigation ECU - sits sandwiched between the stereo and the display unit. Needed a Denso unit rather than an Aisin as no Aisin maps exist for Oz/NZ. Will upload photos on a different thread.

The BBC ran a piece on toothpaste and headlights. http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20160511-the-minty-fresh-fix-for-foggy-headlamps I tried non whitening basic toothpaste to clean a friend's car headlights - worked wonders. Doesn't make it new, but certainly much clearer. Can't comment on longevity as was quite recent, but (as mentioned above) people do recommend using a sealant.

Fixed!!! Okay - managed to get around to removing the Sat Nav/stereo and found an unplugged wire (top picture). Plugged it in and presto - fixed! There are two fibre cables on the back - one is coming from behind the glove compartment and going into the navigation part (this I think is from the GPS antenna), the second is coming from the driver side as part of three wires tied together, going into the stereo part - the other two look like audio jacks (?microphone). All wires are very conveniently colour coded so easy to plug in correctly. The middle picture shows the stereo part, the wire goes into the central blue socket.The 3rd picture shows the Nav unit - the other cable goes into the grey socket. My unit was removed as part of a very extensive import inspection in to New Zealand, and I don't think the guys were very competent. I probably didn't notice it before as didn't play a cd/dvd till some time later. I don't think the head unit should be defective as it still plays other cds, so I would suggest checking the fibre optic cable running between the amplifier and head unit.

Have put this on a different post as well - but used Xado engine oil additive when the noise resurfaced within a few weeks of an oil change. Its been nearly a year and the noise hasn't come back yet. Will keep an eye (and ear!) out and update.

Just thought to update - I have tried a different amplifier - just connected the wires to the second unit in the boot without removing the old one. Had no effect. radio and mp3 cds work fine, no sound from dvd/stock cds. Thinking of replacing the head unit - will update if I do that.

Neither can the volume be adjusted (not that it matters as there is no sound!) - I also noticed that as I was trying to get a cd to play I received a call on the hands free, and I couldn't increase the volume on that call with the steering wheel volume control switches - most strange.

Can someone with a working unit have a look in their boot to see if there is a (red) light at the end of the fibre optic cable when a cd is playing? Its the smallest connector closest to you. That would answer the question about the cable connection (or the cable itself) being at fault. Will try resetting the unit by disconnecting battery/playing DVD and update.

Tried that. Doesn't do anything. The MP3 cd works fine, as does the aux and radio. My suspicion is that it relates to the system recognising that it's a cd playing (rather than an MP3) and the using the fiber optic cable to relay the info to the amplifier in the boot. In the boot end of the cable I can't see a red light in the cable when the cd is playing. Faulty connection/damaged cable maybe? But then again I am only a doctor - so need help of electronic gurus!

Hi all Been trying to find an answer to this - lots of people have asked the question, is there a solution? The system just stopped playing sound on cd. Happened when I ejected the 6 MP3 cd's, and put in some stock cds. Radio etc works fine, but in cd mode although the screen shows track is playing, yet there is no sound, and neither can you control the sound from turning the knob or the steering controls. Exactly the same as here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nq2Q_yvWJc Any help will be appreciated!

Anyone used Xado additives in their cars? I have used it thrice - once for a CVT judder (transmission oil additive) in a Honda Jazz, once in an A-Class Mercedes, and once as oil additive to fix the start up engine rattle on my 2006 IS250. The Honda's CVT judder went away within a minute of driving (!) and didn't return till I sold the car some months later. There was no particular problem with the Merc so can't comment if it made any difference. And as for the start up rattle in IS250 it used to go away after an oil change to return some time later. The last oil change was with a 5W30 fully synthetic but not my usual preferred Shell. The noise was happening pretty much straight after the oil change, so decided to give Xado a try. Car made one noise the next day or so, but 4 months later and with the same oil no more noise was heard. I have now just had the car serviced, and although the effect is supposed to last for 100k miles, am thinking of using the stuff again (though no rattle so far). Can only vouch based on my experience that the stuff works - but has anyone else used it?

Mentioned before on the forum by Johnatg The rear calipers especially are a known issue. Lexus brought out updated warranty parts, do them for free on cars under warranty, but for those out of warranty they will sell them to you cheaply I.e. between £59-62 (depending upon model) + VAT. That is good value. Maybe someone can point to a post detailing how to change them? Lexus/Toyota will not help you if you are out of warranty unless there is a recall issue - so that is a lost cause (believe me I have tried!).

Found this on the US Lexus owners forum - posted by a Lexus master tech - may explain why there's a recall on IS350 and not on IS250 though both have the same problem. Quote: I'm not sure why they only decided to recall only the 350s (2gr) cam gears. I do know that it is a different cam gear than the 250 (4gr). The camshafts and valve springs are also not designed the same. So that being said, this would be my best guess as to why: They both rattle- YES Is the rattle violent enough to cause bolts to back out on the 350(2gr) - YES there are reported cases Is the rattle violent enough to cause bolts to back out of the 250(4gr) - Unknown - I haven't read or heard anything as of yet. Factor in the corporate bean counter liability math = only 350 can be dangerous?. I truly hope they decide to include the 250s in this recall regardless because a vehicle shouldn't have a death rattle. If I hear any changes you guys will be first to know. Read more: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-second-generation/713117-cam-gear-recall-released-5.html#ixzz3GFrcvSnv

That's the plan for now. Don't think I am quite ready to spend 1800 quids. But will see if I can find a way and report back. On the engine flush, is there anything recommended? Do you use an addititive?

I understand the argument about the warranty period. But if a manufacturer finds out that a component is faulty by design and hence issues guidance to correct it then there should be a bit of ownership even if it fails outside the warranty period. But that's my opinion! And it also doesn't explain why it's a safety recall on one engine and not on the other. Perhaps the more mechanically inclined can shed some light? There are some recurring issues like seizing calipers, and headlamp condensation etc and I think I have been unlucky to get them in my car despite low mileage and FSH. Paid over 500 for a new headlamp (xenon) and then the other one did the same thing (periodically not working in rain). That one I took out and just changed the seal (gasket) on the underside. Fixed in £13 (plus a couple of hours in manual labour as my helper refused to help out - but he is only 11!)

Thanks for the replies guys. My take on this is that it is a bit market driven, which seems unfair. The issue is the same for is350 and is250; as are the symptoms and the repairs. To call one a safety recall and the other as not doesn't make sense. As for the TSB it seems like pot luck. If your car develops a problem before the warranty is up then lexus fixes it, otherwise they don't. But the fact remains that it is a design fault, and affects lots of models including FJ Cruiser, Scions etc. and toyota has changed the design since. As for the time limit of 7 years, recent recalls (including the one out today) go back to many years (the one for SC430 I think applied to 13 years but not sure). Any suggestions on who we contact if the manufacturer is refusing to help?

Okay. Here goes. My car is a 2006 Lexus IS 250 done 41000 miles with full Lexus service history. The car has recently developed a rattle on occasional start up (doesn't happen every time). The Local branch of Lexus has said it needs new Cam gears at a cost of nearly 1800GBP. I have searched the issue and there are many owners with this problem on both UK and US forums. A toyota TSB was issued in 2007 to address the issue EG017-07 (link here https://www.dropbox.com/s/60xeccyat39id8t/EG017-07.pdf?dl=0). More recently in Sep 2013 a recall has been issued in US, Australia, and New Zealand to address this issue on this engine (for IS350 in US and Australia, but all IS in NZ) - this applies to all cars irrespective of age (link here http://www.lexus.co.nz/en/servicing-support/recall-information.html#). I have asked Lexus GB and they will not pay anything as goodwill due to age of car neither are they issuing a recall as it's not a safety issue (yet it is in other countries!). My reading says that it is an issue known to Lexus and affects many Toyota and Lexus vehicles, and I cannot understand why a recall has been issued elsewhere in the world but nothing has been done in the UK. My question to the forum is can we get enough people on board to get something done by Lexus GB? Are there any other avenues to explore?