Tempted by this any thoughts is250 auto

[Shackattack]

2 minutes ago, johnatg said:

The spots are all on the bonnet, yes? If so, they aren't rust - the bonnet is aluminium. These are probably basically stone chips are are pretty easily repaired, either diy (you probably won't get them perfect) or by a chip specialist, who should.

Aluminium doesn't rust but it can show a bit of corrosion - it can be removed and if properly cleaned off won't continue to spread as iron rust usually does.

Hi John

 

The 3rd picture is on the bonnet, but the other two are on the roof?

Any reason why it would turn to rust? I know the paint on these cars is quite soft.

Thanks

[johnatg]

OK the roof is steel and that will rust if the paint is damaged down to the metal. Can still be repaired OK if it's caught early enough.

[Shackattack]

Okay, they're only small so I think easily salvagable! (I hope)

Service-wise I've grasped that these need the spark plugs changing around 60,000 miles.

Is that correct? He said it's been serviced by the main dealer up until 45,000 then a company called millers of chappenhall (up in scotland) until he acquired it about 12 months ago

May give them a call and find out what work it's had done

[Texas]

I would not lose any sleep over the fact that the plugs have gone past the 60k mark! ( Lexus service schedule actually states 60k or six years which ever comes first!) if the car is running fine at the moment then no rush to do plugs, If you let Lexus spanners do it you won't get much change out of £600!!! But if you are handy with a socket set then plugs ( X6 genuine) can be got for about £80 ( eBay No tel:183333810155 ) Not the easiest of cars to do the plugs on and prob gonna take a few hours but you do not have to break into the cooling or AC system and any gaskets you come across are silicon so should be reusable with care.

Note: over in the US plugs regularly go upto 100k before being swapped out.

As for the paint flaws then that would put me off, but you need to go and stand in front of the car and see the overall package and decide if you are willing to take it on! If you got the car for 4K say and spent a few hundred getting it sorted you could end up with one smart car that's ( God willing) gonna last you a good long while with all the toys!

paul m.

[Shackattack]

10 minutes ago, Texas said:

I would not lose any sleep over the fact that the plugs have gone past the 60k mark! ( Lexus service schedule actually states 60k or six years which ever comes first!) if the car is running fine at the moment then no rush to do plugs, If you let Lexus spanners do it you won't get much change out of £600!!! But if you are handy with a socket set then plugs ( X6 genuine) can be got for about £80 ( eBay No tel:183333810155 ) Not the easiest of cars to do the plugs on and prob gonna take a few hours but you do not have to break into the cooling or AC system and any gaskets you come across are silicon so should be reusable with care.

Note: over in the US plugs regularly go upto 100k before being swapped out.

As for the paint flaws then that would put me off, but you need to go and stand in front of the car and see the overall package and decide if you are willing to take it on! If you got the car for 4K say and spent a few hundred getting it sorted you could end up with one smart car that's ( God willing) gonna last you a good long while with all the toys!

paul m.

Thank you mate. 

 

Well, things have just taken an unexpected turn and I'm nit sure for better or worse. 

So I called the garage on the service book (you can see it faintly on the logbook) and spoke to a chap up in Glasgow. He knew the car instantly as his cousin funnily enough owned it. 

Always had top spec genuine parts etc. 

Then he tells me 'oh yeah it's also had an engine swap!' 

 

About two years ago the head gasket went (which I'm told is apparently one in a billion in these cars) and Toyota agreed to swap the whole engine out for a new one. 

I don't know whether this is a positive sign or not haha. 

Would you steer clear or if anything is this more appealing as the engine has effectively got 20k miles on it?? 

[Texas]

As my old nan used to say "plenty more fish in the sea" so if this is always gonna be niggling in the back of you head every time the car misses a beat or a rattle or creak shows up then can you live with that? You have done more homework than most people do when buying a car so you ( I think) want to be satisfied it's a good 'un. Unlike the poor soul in this thread who lost I think £5k. 

What you have uncovered is, like you say, very rare in the petrol version but if if was the DERV, well that has got a blemished history when it comes to Head Gaskets. Can only think something went drastically wrong that was prob not user error or Lexus won't have stumped up. Yes the engine might be New but you are buying the car as a whole so like I said need to stand in front of it and make a decision and at what price. But me personally I would learn by this 'research' log it and move on...

paul m.

[PCM]

I would just be thinking.... 'why'.

Why not revealed, why a 'new'(?) engine needed?

[Shackattack]

41 minutes ago, Texas said:

As my old nan used to say "plenty more fish in the sea" so if this is always gonna be niggling in the back of you head every time the car misses a beat or a rattle or creak shows up then can you live with that? You have done more homework than most people do when buying a car so you ( I think) want to be satisfied it's a good 'un. Unlike the poor soul in this thread who lost I think £5k. 

What you have uncovered is, like you say, very rare in the petrol version but if if was the DERV, well that has got a blemished history when it comes to Head Gaskets. Can only think something went drastically wrong that was prob not user error or Lexus won't have stumped up. Yes the engine might be New but you are buying the car as a whole so like I said need to stand in front of it and make a decision and at what price. But me personally I would learn by this 'research' log it and move on...

paul m.

 

30 minutes ago, PCM said:

I would just be thinking.... 'why'.

Why not revealed, why a 'new'(?) engine needed?

I know, there's too many things now which are putting doubts in my mind, bits of bodywork here and there I could deal with.

But the whole engine swap etc is very strange, although I only have a random garages word for it in Scotland, the seller is completely unaware it's had anything done.

This is also coupled up with the fact the VIN number on the V5 doesn't match the one on the car?

Sounds dodgy

[rich1068]

Walk away.

[Shackattack]

2 minutes ago, rich1068 said:

Walk away.

Yep I think that's done it 🙂

Onto the next one, anyone got anything for sale? 🙂

[Shackattack]

On 12/4/2018 at 1:49 AM, Scouselexus said:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201811052151058?postcode=l360sl&radius=1500&aggregatedTrim=SE-L&sort=sponsored&make=LEXUS&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&model=IS 250&advertising-location=at_cars&page=4

looking for an is250, any input be appreciated, tempted by it. Thought run it past more knowledgeable people. Can’t be any worse than my is220d lol.

I've seen this one still for sale on autotrader - Did you go and view it in the end?

[leelacey17]

Yep I think that's done it [emoji846]
Onto the next one, anyone got anything for sale? [emoji846]

I wouldn't touch it to be honest. Maybe the water pump leaked and the coolant fell out and they carried on driving it, damaging the engine.

I had mine up for sale but took it off. Want an estate but it can wait for the time being.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[Shackattack]

2 minutes ago, leelacey17 said:

I wouldn't touch it to be honest. Maybe the water pump leaked and the coolant fell out and they carried on driving it, damaging the engine.

I had mine up for sale but took it off. Want an estate but it can wait for the time being.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
 

Sounds plausible - Lexus have no record of it having any services there which sounds dodgy

[leelacey17]

Sounds plausible - Lexus have no record of it having any services there which sounds dodgy

How much do you want to spend?

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[Shackattack]

This one on the other hand looks classy

Recent spark plugs / brake pads. Full dealer service history.

Just need to check the exhaust

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-IS-250-SE-L-Multimedia-2006-06-SAT-NAV-FULL-Lexus-Toyota-SERVICE-HISTORY/223308275237?hash=item33fe35de25:g:QncAAOSw5cZcLN7l:rk:2:pf:1&frcectupt=true

[steveledzep]

No obvious red flags.  If all is well, I'd be asking the seller to put a new mot on it. 

[Shackattack]

My budget can stretch for the right car up to £6k. 

Ideally around 4-5 though as then I can pay road tax and insurance in one go

[Shackattack]

20 minutes ago, leelacey17 said:

How much do you want to spend?

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
 

My budget can stretch for the right car up to £6k. 

Ideally around 4-5 though as then I can pay road tax and insurance in one go

[leelacey17]

This one on the other hand looks classy
Recent spark plugs / brake pads. Full dealer service history.
Just need to check the exhaust
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-IS-250-SE-L-Multimedia-2006-06-SAT-NAV-FULL-Lexus-Toyota-SERVICE-HISTORY/223308275237?hash=item33fe35de25:g:QncAAOSw5cZcLN7l:rk:2:pf:1&frcectupt=true

That looks nice. Those wheels do look good but the ride may not be as soft. Front lights are starting to yellow but that's a simple fix.

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[leelacey17]

My budget can stretch for the right car up to £6k. 

Ideally around 4-5 though as then I can pay road tax and insurance in one go

There's a few around at those prices to be honest. Not had a close look at them but like mine seem to be low mileage ones.

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[is200 Newbie]

A couple of things .... check the rear screen demister wires are all intact. The wheels are not standard for the car. It should be on 17's and placing 18's on it will mean the tracking may need doing so check the inner of the tyres for wear (don't know when the wheels were added)

One last thing that looks odd are the last two stamps in the book - is this a foreign car as the stamps seem to be foreign?

[PCM]

1 minute ago, is200 Newbie said:

 

One last thing that looks odd are the last two stamps in the book - is this a foreign car as the stamps seem to be foreign?

The sellers eBay 'location' is abroad...

[Shackattack]

Hes based in Slough but said he goes back to visit family in Bulgaria and gets it serviced there! 

[KenMavor]

20 minutes ago, Shackattack said:

Hes based in Slough but said he goes back to visit family in Bulgaria and gets it serviced there! 

Probably a damn sight cheaper as well!

I always keep an eye on Gumtree as many people can't be arsed doing eBay and/or Autotrader.  Whilst they may not be very local pretty usre there will be a few peeps on here who wuill be.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/lexus/2008-lexus-is-250-2.5-sr-4dr/1321034382

Can see inside to see what spec it is.

 

[Texas]

You do seem to find some irregular cars/sellers. I know buying a car is a minefield and you don't want to fritter away your hard earned but again I would not be comfortable with this, dunno why, just wouldn't, gotta be a normal car/seller out there for you!!

paul m.