Help deciding on a suitable IS250

[F13N]

Hi everyone, I've recently joined to get some advice regarding choosing between two IS250's. Have been chasing IS250's for about 2 months now, seen some good finds sell quickly. 

I have to finalise a car soon since my insurance qoutes don't seem to be dropping with every 2 weeks refresh. Below is a basic comparison between the two, 

1) 2007 Lexus IS250 at 143K miles ( £ 2400 - car ) ( £ 1980 - insurance )

New alternator, Battery, exhaust box, wipers and tyres.

Paintwork looks quite good in photos,  (will see in-person tomorrow). Owner has informed that the Sat-Nav doesnt currenly work, but the other functions do.

 

 

2) 2010 Lexus IS250 at 103K miles ( £ 3200 - car ) ( £ 2300 - insurance )

Front Discs and Calipers changed, new pads and brake lines as well, alternator changed, claims the previous owner before current has changed the water pump and cam belt.

I have seen this car in person, apart from the paint its well maintained. Interior looked spot-on and dashboard didnt have any peel.

 

Any clear choices here, or any advice when it comes to carrying out paid inspections before buying these cars? Thanks in advance.

[J Henderson]

The 4GR engine in these cars is chain-driven, so talk of any cam belt being replaced is false. I guess it's possible they meant the serpentine drive belts, if the water pump was indeed replaced.

I think I would lean towards the 2007 car despite the higher miles. Looks like it could be an SE-L and appears pretty clean with previous/current owner having had it for a while. Nice price too.

The newer car would have more Bluetooth connectivity, but that's about the only real difference of note, apart from the cosmetic changes introduced in 2009.

If the screen and all other functions are still working, it could maybe just need a new map DVD to get the navigation working again. Either way, a replacement nav unit can be swapped in at a reasonable cost. Or, just replace the whole thing with one of the Chinese Android head units that are available.

[Texas]

1st car has got wood veneer trim ( and it is real wood, Highly lacquered and actually made by Yamaha, the musical instrument dept not the motorbikes😂) so is SE-L as it is only IS250 to have this and it should also have rear electric  sun-shade, not even ISF had that👍

[T man 545645]

I have a 2006 with the same leather interior and similar mileage and it looks like its in good condition inside. 

The sat nav on mine i NEVER use as the phone is so much better. you can plug a Bluetooth device into the arm rest to get your phone connected to the AUX for sound and lexus phone system works well enough for phone calls.

[F13N]

Thank you all for the comments, I think I am leaning more toward the 2007. Only concern is how problematic is the servicing for brakes and brake lines. Seems to be common issue with IS250, where the calipers can seize. I will test the car before purchase, so let me see if there any obvious pointers regarding brake wear. 

[DnG]

20 hours ago, F13N said:

Thank you all for the comments, I think I am leaning more toward the 2007. Only concern is how problematic is the servicing for brakes and brake lines. Seems to be common issue with IS250, where the calipers can seize. I will test the car before purchase, so let me see if there any obvious pointers regarding brake wear. 

I personally got my first IS250 about a month or so ago, be it I didn't really make the right choice but I'm dealing with it lol, had a ton of problems and still does, and it looks like you're more lucky than I was finding an SE-L.

Brakes isn't that big of a deal, I changed the pads and retaining pins and clips on the rear myself a week ago, for the first time and it wasn't hard. As for the slider pin that gets stuck, might need some persuading to come out but if you don't want to deal with it you can really easily take the calipers out and replace them with new ones, they go for like £150-£200 for a brand new OEM set, just make sure to really grease the slider pins.

As for the nav not working, it's not that good anyway, if you're into having youtube or carplay/android auto you might as well spend the same amount it would cost you to reaplce it with an OEM, and get an android head unit from Aliexpress (but be careful where you buy from). They're not exactly the best either, you'll have to make some compromises but hey, it's really up to what you prefer. But yeah, if you want to look for an IS250 look for an SE-L, that's the top spec, just look for the rear sunshade button, wood trim, memory seat buttons and electric steering wheel column. Ideally you'd want a facelift model, 2009 onwards but for some reason insurance is nearly double on those.

Seems like you're from the West Midlands as well, so as a word of advice, do NOT buy from Birmingham or around, these cars need a bit of extra care and people there don't do it, they run them till the tyres evaporate and have no idea about the water pump failing, oil needing changing every ~6k miles or about the slider pins and don't trust what people say they have done without receipes or actually seeing the part not rusted on the car, I got burned on every car I bought with people saying they changed this that and the other and in fact they barely changed the oil.

[Texas]

The reason the brake Caliper pins seize is because it’s a poor design but more so because it is not in the Lexus service schedule to be inspected/lubricated, Lexus  will just wait til they seize and want to fit new! so I highly recommend that any owner weather they do their own servicing or not ensure that the brakes are inspected yearly and the pins suitably greased up👍, future problems solved, after all this is one hell of a low maintenance car apart from that😀

[Thelongterm]

In 2024, I wouldn't insist on looking for an SEL; there were few of these, so you reduce your choices of buying quality cars for a few gimmicks.

It is better, IMHO, to look for an SE in the best condition/service history; they are out there.

Regarding the calipers, ensure you service the sliding pins with some red grease that doesn't interact with the rubber parts seals. 

Regarding head units, the SE had no satnav screen, but as you noticed, a 2024 phone is light years ahead. The basic head unit hardly ever goes wrong, and you get a real volume knob! Invest in a sturdy phone holder will be my choice.

 

 

[F13N]

23 hours ago, DnG said:

I personally got my first IS250 about a month or so ago, be it I didn't really make the right choice but I'm dealing with it lol, had a ton of problems and still does, and it looks like you're more lucky than I was finding an SE-L.

Brakes isn't that big of a deal, I changed the pads and retaining pins and clips on the rear myself a week ago, for the first time and it wasn't hard. As for the slider pin that gets stuck, might need some persuading to come out but if you don't want to deal with it you can really easily take the calipers out and replace them with new ones, they go for like £150-£200 for a brand new OEM set, just make sure to really grease the slider pins.

As for the nav not working, it's not that good anyway, if you're into having youtube or carplay/android auto you might as well spend the same amount it would cost you to reaplce it with an OEM, and get an android head unit from Aliexpress (but be careful where you buy from). They're not exactly the best either, you'll have to make some compromises but hey, it's really up to what you prefer. But yeah, if you want to look for an IS250 look for an SE-L, that's the top spec, just look for the rear sunshade button, wood trim, memory seat buttons and electric steering wheel column. Ideally you'd want a facelift model, 2009 onwards but for some reason insurance is nearly double on those.

Seems like you're from the West Midlands as well, so as a word of advice, do NOT buy from Birmingham or around, these cars need a bit of extra care and people there don't do it, they run them till the tyres evaporate and have no idea about the water pump failing, oil needing changing every ~6k miles or about the slider pins and don't trust what people say they have done without receipes or actually seeing the part not rusted on the car, I got burned on every car I bought with people saying they changed this that and the other and in fact they barely changed the oil.

Yes I indeed have come across your Lexus when it was up for sale, didn’t feel comfortable with the suspension situation but it did look like a beautiful car imo. Hope it’s all better now. 
Did see a couple cars in Birmingham, Cov area and when I did see them in person, I could tell they have been driving the cars to the limit (balding tyres, scuffed rims etc etc). Good to know I was right in not pursuing those cars.

[F13N]

18 hours ago, Texas said:

The reason the brake Caliper pins seize is because it’s a poor design but more so because it is not in the Lexus service schedule to be inspected/lubricated, Lexus  will just wait til they seize and want to fit new! so I highly recommend that any owner weather they do their own servicing or not ensure that the brakes are inspected yearly and the pins suitably greased up👍, future problems solved, after all this is one hell of a low maintenance car apart from that😀

So I have purchased the above 2007 IS250 and it drove great with no issues, good idle etc etc.

The owner did inform me that the car has been used quite sparingly since March, since he not able to drive the car on a daily basis. Few fuel and grocery runs here and there but pretty much that’s it. When we checked the oil levels they looked good (not black but a typical dark shade I would say).

Im wondering if I should have an oil change done before I regularly start using the car for long drives or wait for a few days, see how it runs and change over the following weekend.

any thoughts on this plan?

[F13N]

4 hours ago, Thelongterm said:

In 2024, I wouldn't insist on looking for an SEL; there were few of these, so you reduce your choices of buying quality cars for a few gimmicks.

It is better, IMHO, to look for an SE in the best condition/service history; they are out there.

Regarding the calipers, ensure you service the sliding pins with some red grease that doesn't interact with the rubber parts seals. 

Regarding head units, the SE had no satnav screen, but as you noticed, a 2024 phone is light years ahead. The basic head unit hardly ever goes wrong, and you get a real volume knob! Invest in a sturdy phone holder will be my choice.

 

 

Yeah this example of an SE-L was quite well maintained I believe, hence the choice to buy it. 

Don’t know how the AUX works on this car, will take some time to sort out the phone holder as well 😅.

[F13N]

Any recommendations/ suggestions for a Lexus specialist in Milton Keynes or Coventry would be highly helpful, thanks again :)

[GMB]

4 minutes ago, F13N said:

I should have an oil change done before I regularly start using the car

If you have a few quid spare I would get the oil and filter changed ASAP. It will do no harm but could do a lot of good.

[DnG]

39 minutes ago, F13N said:

Yes I indeed have come across your Lexus when it was up for sale, didn’t feel comfortable with the suspension situation but it did look like a beautiful car imo. Hope it’s all better now.

I think the suspension was the only thing good going for it 😂, being Tein and not some cheap £100 ones. Yeah it's mostly good now, just small age and stupidity related things like dashboard craks, small seat tear and bumper alignments.

 

30 minutes ago, F13N said:

Don’t know how the AUX works on this car, will take some time to sort out the phone holder as well 😅.

Congrats on the SE-L! You should have the AUX port in the centre console. Press the "AUX" button on the nav and it should switch to it.

33 minutes ago, F13N said:

Im wondering if I should have an oil change done before I regularly start using the car for long drives or wait for a few days, see how it runs and change over the following weekend.

Might be able to drive it without changing the oil for now but do check the oil level regularly. If it starts going down then you need to change it. Also, you might know this already but to check the oil you have to bring the car to temp, then wait 15 minutes to let the oil settle and then check it, otherwise it will look like a smear all over the dipstick.

Also, just noticed that you sat-nav doesn't work? I took mine out 2 days ago to replace it with an android screen, if you have ML (the Mark & Levinson sound system) and reverse camera I can give you mine for half of what it goes for, if you come and pick it up.

4 hours ago, Thelongterm said:

Regarding head units, the SE had no satnav screen

I have a 2007 SE with a satnav screen (ML & reverse cam)..?

[F13N]

5 hours ago, DnG said:

I think the suspension was the only thing good going for it 😂, being Tein and not some cheap £100 ones. Yeah it's mostly good now, just small age and stupidity related things like dashboard craks, small seat tear and bumper alignments.

 

Congrats on the SE-L! You should have the AUX port in the centre console. Press the "AUX" button on the nav and it should switch to it.

Might be able to drive it without changing the oil for now but do check the oil level regularly. If it starts going down then you need to change it. Also, you might know this already but to check the oil you have to bring the car to temp, then wait 15 minutes to let the oil settle and then check it, otherwise it will look like a smear all over the dipstick.

Also, just noticed that you sat-nav doesn't work? I took mine out 2 days ago to replace it with an android screen, if you have ML (the Mark & Levinson sound system) and reverse camera I can give you mine for half of what it goes for, if you come and pick it up.

I have a 2007 SE with a satnav screen (ML & reverse cam)..?

I think I would also like to switch to an android headset unit like yourself because reinstalling OEM just for the outdated Satellite maps is not worth it imo. 
Do share me a link for the android head unit if you don’t mind. 
At this moment I think I will change the oil and filters as soon as possible. 

[DnG]

1 hour ago, F13N said:

I think I would also like to switch to an android headset unit like yourself because reinstalling OEM just for the outdated Satellite maps is not worth it imo. 
Do share me a link for the android head unit if you don’t mind. 
At this moment I think I will change the oil and filters as soon as possible. 

Fair enough, though bare in mind that the android head unit is far from perfect and imo not worth the effort and price if you want to keep the car OEM (or OEM+) and in good condition. Mine is already a project so I really don't care too much about it for now, I would have loved to have a stock, clean example like yours.

Seems like you can't really save the dashboard when you try and take it out, it always seems to crack. The temp controls are reversed since all head units are made for LHD vehicles. The climate controls are a PITA it seems to pop up at random and I just came home from driving to a town I've never been in and I had to slow down in the middle of 7 exit roundabouts because the bloody climate control panel was over my gps... Also, on the pre-facelifts like ours, you have to modify the bottom lip of the head unit (cut it with a dremel) since they were all made for the facelift 2009+ models. You also have to change the centre vent with the 2009+ vent otherwise you'll have a big gap between the vent and the head unit, and the vent is like £200-£300 IF you can find it. And lets not forget that you have to fidget with different size washers that you have to add to push the head unit a bit more forward so it's flush with the rest of the dashboard. Oh and they don't work with the OEM reverse camera, some do some don't, it's hit or miss so you might have to wire the aftermarket reverse camera which is again a pain in the a** especially in today's weather. And you lose all the car's original menus and settings.

I might just be that I'm not used to it or I might have gotten the wrong unit but it looks like no matter where you buy from (Aliexpress or Teyes) they're all the same hardware and software just different names and a big difference in price.

Up to you really and what your skills and preferences are. I got mine just because I like watching stuff when parked up and being a project car, I installed a few gimmicky lights that I like to control from the headunit using apps. Installing it was a bit of a pain but it's not the first car I'm tinkering with or the first headunit. I bought mine from this Aliexpress link, seems like a lot of people on youtube point to the same link so I thought I might as well buy from a reputable source . I got the 6GB Ram + 128GB memory version just because I got it on sale and wanted to have the best spec but then again, can't really feel it. If you decide to buy it from there, message the seller beforehand and tell them to declare less so you avoid extra import fees.