malkv

Re the B pillar rattles. I have had the same prob on both the RX300 and the IS250 we have. Eventually I discovered a quite simple cause. When the seat belt retracts on the passenger side, it will tend to rotate a little and the buckle will sit at an angle between the seat and the B pillar which in both is of hard plastic. The buckle then irritatingly rattles unless you undo the slight twist to the belt and allow the buckle to hang loose of both the seat and the B pillar. I regularly need to do this in both cars when I use them and then usually get a completely rattle free ride (other than all the family crap thet rattles around in the RX!)

Thanks for clearing up the issue about the sunglasses holder, folks! On the issue of mats, Oakham Beige must be a recurring problem. Congrats to the Aberdeen dealership though - they throw in a set of heavy duty clear over mats from Halfords when I took delivery. Very helpful! In the RX (Oakham Beige too!) we use black mats.... and it doesn't look just right......

Hi I'm getting dashmount to put in a kit on Monday including the leatherette console. Cost is £269 - but that includes stereo muting, using the existing speakers, screen mounted antenna etc. I'll report in next week on the outcome. I had a sniff at www.spcommunications.co.uk but they were quoting £299. Both companies come to you and fit at work or home. Dashmount have been very helpful in arranging exact imings etc so good news so far. I went for the console as I think the dashmount 'no drill' bracket and where it would sit would not look quite so good. Hope this helps! Malkv

In the overhead console (look up!) - in front of the reading light switches. Don't tell me the SE-L just has the blanking panel too! Maybe there is a SE-XLTGSI out there that has the true full spec!

Just got my IS250 SE and it is a great car compared to the E240 A/G it was replacing. I will miss (not) the frequent trips back to the Merc shop to replace / repair bits falling off or going crunch - like the gearbox and other assorted vital elements of a car that you assume will last. However, it is a little step back in terms of the equipment levels. SE trim and you don't get electrophotochromic mirrors? No headlamp wash? A flimsy plastic blanking panel where the sunglasses holder should be? Gosh, its like going back to basics! Good fun car though!

Hi Colin Yes, it doesn'y matter if you rotate the switch down or fully rotate it up, as soon as the rear washer is activated, the front wipers start to sweep. The middle two positions (rear wipe intermittent and rear wipe on) are OK, so there is clearly an erroneous connection with whatever part of the electrics (switch, wiring, relay) that activates the rear washer. It has done this since we got the car. I can't check it out with the previous owner - but the fault would explain the scratches on the screen. Tuesday's experience was pretty scary though - the front screen suddenly being totally wiped out by the smearing of that salt mix that you get off of roads in the winter - whilst driving into low sunshine.

Has anyone else had a problem with the rear wash wipe switch also activating the front wipers? On a year 2001 model, recently acquired second hand (single owner, serviced by Lexus), whenever I activate the rear wash wipe, the front wipers go on. This has been occurring since I got the car 6 weeks ago. I was going to have it checked at the next service in the Summer. I think it has been going on for some time - possibly since new - but I can't confirm this. The reason I suspect this is the case is that the front screen is etched with the wiper arcs from all these dry wipes! Yesterday, driving south, into low sunshine on roads that had been salted, I activated the rear wash wipe. The front wipers came on. There was just sufficient moisture on the screen to turn the whole thing into that white mess that you get in winter. This caught the sun, I lost sight of the road and nearly ended up in a ditch. The car is now booked in with the local lexus people to get it sorted out. It doesn't strike me that this could happen as an acquired fault. It really sounds like a primary error in the wiring when the vehicle was built. Does anyone have any comments?