Lex-aholic

I've just had the same problem with mine. The rear driver's side wheel - and front passenger wheel had the problem of the tyre deflating. I took mine to a tyre place and they said that the tyres hadn't been sealed good enough, so they painted that molten rubber stuff on the inside and resealed the tyres. Touch wood I haven't had any problems since. PS. I was told the cause of the problem was that I've got new tyres fitted (but not sealed properly).

They're not yours are they ????!?!??

Good imagination, but cheap looking ! (sounds like firking Simon Cowell)

Nice to have someone's opinions from the other side of the pond, although we'll probably have fun with the difference in response times to messages. Welcome aboard.

But we're not bitter ! (haha)

After getting my first IS in 2003 I used to have trouble starting it. I'd jump in and just wind the key round and find that it needed a good two or three turns before it started. The advise I got from this board was to get the ignition on and leave it there for a couple of seconds, wait for some of the pre-start checks to finish and then start. No problems after that. Now I have an IS300 I find on cold mornings, (below freezing) it needs three or four cranks before the engine starts. I have mentioned it to the dealer who asked me to monitor it for the next few days to see how I get on. ← Hmmm.....I suppose that's the reason I'm not getting any probs at the mo. I had a diesel before this Lexus, and you have to leave the ignition on for the glow plugs to warm up, so out of habit I do that anyway.

I don't know if I should say this, as it might be tempting fate, but I haven't had any probs with cold starts YET. It was 0deg this morning and it started fine. I don't suppose you have a low battery ?

My mate got an Audi A4 1.8T Quattro - an X reg. He reckons it's a brilliant motor, really fast (0-60 is somewhere around 7-8 seconds) AND economical. I previously owned a veedub, and German cars are built to a stronger standard than any other I have driven. Although, as AltezzaScott said - you won't be in Lex Lex Land anymore. (hehe)

Thanks for the info.

Spiral cable under the airbag ? That doesn't sound good.

Thanks for the reply. I'll have to try that the weekend - you know how it is with dark nights and long days at the mo. It does sound though as if the noise is coming from just beneath the steering wheel. Would there be anything there if I took the plastic cover off to have a look ? (as you may have noticed, I have no clue about cars mechanically)

I've just been back out to the car during my lunch break and have discovered that it's not necessarily a clicky/springy sound, but more of a rubbing sound. When you turn the steering wheel slowly you can hear a faint rubbing coming from the steering column (kinda rubber rubbing sound). It's when you turn the wheel more quickly that you tend to hear a series of rubbing sounds together which generates the "clicky/springy" sound. Any ideas what this could be ?

Hi, I don't know if any of you have had this prob, but it's only this morning when I got in the car that it's started happening. When I am parked, and turn the wheel to the right (clockwise) I get this kinda clicking/springing sound from around the steering column. It sounds like when you disengage the indicator stalk by turning the wheel ? Please help, it's driving me nuts.

Yeah, the one over Pioneer Park, Whitby Road. Really good service.

Wow, that really is bad luck ! Sorry to hear about all that crap, but NO I wouldn't sell such a mint car for a crappy little run-around. Just remember, if you do that the smug git at work would have won ! Drive your car with pride, it must be tons better than that :tsktsk: !

Same thing happened to me. I got a 51 plate IS200, and Lexus told me there is a 5 year extended warranty on it, asked me if I'd like to wait while it's fitted, would I prefer to bring it in and have a courtesy car, and when would I like it done ?? Where else would you find that kind of service. Not to mention the interior and exterior valet they done as well !?!?! AND they done a mini service on car, just like a checklist to make sure everything is okay - which was reeeeally necessary for me as I only bought the car 2 weeks ago.

You can pick up an Orbital polisher from Halfords, or Motaman for about £30-£40. I bought the Meguiars one for £100, cuz I ain't anywhere near a plug socket. It comes in handy when you don't have to worry about where that lead is lying (especially when doing the other side of the car). The other thing to remember when buying these things is that you need a brand name as you might have to replace the polishing pads in the future. That's another reason why I spent the extra and went for Meguiar's.

Okay, here goes. As Claire put, Meguiars Scratch-X is good stuff for removing minor scratches (it's about £8.99, but does last a lonnnnng time). Check the scratch first by rubbing the tip of your nail against the length of the scratch....if your nail catches in the scratch, it has gone beneath the coat of the lacquer and would be impossible to remove....if your nail just glides over the top, Meguiar's Scratch-X should cure it. When attempting to remove any scratch, polish across the scratch, and not along - this makes it easier to remove. If the scratch is deeper than the lacquer you will still be able to minimalize it by using an abrasive polish like Scratch-X - it will then look more like a hairline mark. If you do have the cash, go and buy a buffer. The rotation of the heads of buffers make the job alot easier than by hand - if you can imagine what 3500rpms by hand is like you will understand why it's a good idea to use a buffer. Dump the chamois. For how much they cost nowadays, they are not worth it. Go and buy some microfibre terry towels. You can actually buy them from a couple of quid to around £10. They are much more durable than a chamois, and you won't get those irritating little bits of leather sticking to your car in the summer ! Bird muck can be a bitch to get off especially if it dries. The only way I know is keep an eye on your car - as soon as it lands on the paint, get it off !! If the bird has been eating berries, it will be dumping acid on your paint. If you remove the crap and there is a mark left behind, try polishing it out first. If it doesn't come off, you will need to use a claybar (again, Meguiar's do a claybar "kit"). If you do have quite a few of these scratches on your car, a good method is to use a claybar over the entire car. I've tried and tested it on my black car, and it comes up a treat - you can run your hand over it and it just feels like glass. Just one last pointer - remember that whenever you use a polish or scratch remover, you are actually removing any wax protection that was on your paintwork. So always wax the car after you have done your repair / polishing work. This will prevent further scratches and paint chips. Ahhhhh (deep breath). That's about it. It probably sounds like I'm a sales rep for Meguiar's, but I can ensure you I'm not - it's just that I have used their polishes/waxes/cleaners/buffers.....and am totally impressed with the outcome. Happy cleaning !

I've got the Oxigin 3's on my Veedub at the mo. They are a very hot brand of wheel - the lacquer on them is tough, so if you take care of them they will last you for ever. I have seen this design of wheel on both a BMW 3 series and a Vauxhall Cavalier, and it suits both. I would have to say go for it. As for the size of the wheel without lowering the car, I would be tempted to say stick with a 17". However, there isn't going to be alot of difference between your current 17's, and these 18's. You also need to make sure that the Lexus is going to be street legal with 18's. I know that sounds a bit daft but when I upgraded my Veedub's wheels from a 16 to a 17" I was surprised that the front wheels were right on the edge of legal (ie, they are in a straight line with the wheel arch). Check it out before you buy them if you can, unless anybody else out there has 18's ? The tyre sizes ? Hmmm.....the 215's are going to look more low profile, but you may find that the tyre wall on the 225's fill out the wheel arch a bit better. To each their own I guess. Good luck, and let us know how they look when you've put them on.

Hey, thanks for all the info guys. That will definitely come in handy when checking out used Lex's. Sorry Mitch but I know this sounds sad, I can't afford 15k - the other problem being that I have to sell my car as well (which I will probably end up part-exchanging). How come there's this problem with the wheels corroding ? What are they made off to make them corrode so bad ? I'll probably change the wheels when I get the car anyway (not that I don't like the ones on them - it's just to be a touch different). I have a set of Oxigin 3's on my Veedub Bora at the moment which will have to be either sold with the car or separate - something else I'll have to think about. Roll on about two months (hopefully) when I can be the proud owner of an IS200 (SE or Sport going by the comments above). Thanks again. :)

Hello all, I'm new to this site and hope you can give me some helpful hints. At present I don't own a Lexus, but will be looking into buying a second hand one (IS200) in a few months time. I am being drawn towards the SE, or the Sport (from what I have seen in the Lexus brochure). Are there any particular things I should be looking out for when buying an IS200, ie. are there any regular problems, or faults ? How do you all get along with your IS200's ? Any input is appreciated.