is200 Newbie

The dash cam is a Nextbase 112 - nothing fancy and it does the job. Small enough to just hide behind the mirror (although a bit does stick out). Plugged into the armrest socket as I don't use it for anything and the camera plug just fits with the armrest down. It served the purpose when I was hit from behind recently as it showed I was stationery waiting to enter a roundabout queue before I was hit. The only wires showing are where it connects to the dash cam but this is routed around the mirror so its minimal. Have had it for a year or so with no issue, so can say its reliable - have used the footage a few times and the quality is good. It has a knock sensor that automatically activates itself when the car is hit (auto records when it detects the cars been hit). Set to medium it is sensitive to turn itself on when you open / close the boot or the car doors. Not faulted it yet. Not expensive, Halfords have these for £49 at the moment. I did have it disconnected a few times when I collected it from airport parking after holidays which I thought strange but no mileage issues and no damage so I don't know what goes on there. If its just a no frills functional camera you are after then I can recommend this one...

I have used Dot 4 and looking back its been around a 2 year replacement. I fitted a K&N oiled filter when I bought the last car (5 years ago) but having looked at the current prices at around £50 each I think I will stick to the paper ones for the time being as I will not get the cost back if replacing it with an oiled one anymore. I am sure the last one I fitted cost me around £20 which was well worth the money - cant believe the price increase on these ...!

The calipers are not featured on the service schedule if you are enrolled on one. You need to specify them to be serviced either by Lexus or an indie garage or do them yourself (not a hard job at all) Neglecting them will surely set you back at least £300 per caliper if replacing with an OEM part. I do mine every 6 months although this can be done on an annual basis. The grease is an important factor and I use the Toyota Red Rubber Grease which is the correct grease to use for "lubeing" the slide pins of the calipers

Thanks Keith Must admit its a nice one - taking it on a good run next weekend to Cardiff through mid Wales/ Hereford etc and back - had the first chance today to use it now the hire car has gone back and it feels so new .... strangely enough I find myself tip toeing around it not wanting to break it (if that makes any sense) .... guess it will take a few months to gain confidence in it and get used to it. Dash cam and all other small bits have been re-fitted... Greased the caliper pins last weekend and waxed the alloys I had rescued from my old murdered one and put back on it - i must say the rear pins needed doing as there was very little grease on them and what was there it was black but the seals were all good - goes to show they do need a bit of TLC !! I have ordered two spoilers that were on my old car in the 8R6 paint code and these will be delivered by the end of this month and put back on. I will do the front grille to match that of the murdered one and that will be it. The sunroof is a brilliant addition (I prefer this to the AC option) I must admit that the difference between the BMW 320i M Xdrive is unbelievable (I had an estate loaner) - the Lexus is miles better that the BMW and the BM was a 2016 model while the Lex is a 2006 model - The Lex is smoother / quieter and the pickup from a standing start is a whole load better. The BM had a few nice options but the drive was not as good as the Lex .... noisier and heavy on petrol which I could not get my head around as the BM is a 2.0 yet the Lex is a 2.5 ...?? I usually get up to Dundee, Scotland with 140 miles left on the range from my old Lex yet the BM done it with a top up required when I got there. Disappointed in this but consolation it was only a hire car.... Nice to be back in a Lex !! - Loads more of enjoyment ahead .........

No problem - I would like to think that's what the forum is all about in helping fellow owners....

There is one in Farnborough at the moment which I spotted yesterday - I think its around 50k miles and up for 5kish, (2006 or 2007 in silver) not sure if it has a service history (think it was mentioned but not sure) Black leather / auto and an SE-L. Will you be self maintaining it? Had mine for 5 years and it was only the exhaust and sensor that gave me jip.... bought mine at 60k miles and it was murdered at 107k miles and there was nothing wrong with the car with years of life left in it. One thing I will say, don't buy one of these if you are not going to look after it as they do need maintaining (oil service / brake calipers) if you keep it in good nick it will look after you. You have seen the market for these...the SE-L's always shift, especially the low mileage ones as the buyers genuinely know they are a reliable car. Unless you are surfing the web 24 hours a day, chances are that you will miss the good ones that come up as they sell very well which it a testament to their reliability. 50k miles is decent for this car - look through the adds and you will see them being sold at 150, even 170k miles for decent prices. Have you driven one? You may not like it after all of the searching you are doing....?

James ... do you still have this issue? I may have the old good sensor in my garage which I replaced when I done both banks - only one failed but I replaced both. Its the original one but definitely an OEM sensor. If you want me to send it out to you I can do which will bottom out the issue of the sensor being fake etc I need to see if I still have it but let me know Cheers

True The sensors I bought for mine fitted either side and that was an 07 model. Length of wire was sufficient to reach both ports.

Rob - have you seen this one ? https://www.gumtree.com/p/lexus/lexus-is-250-se-l-auto-2007-in-silver-low-mileage-mot-october-2018/1288511333

Thanks guys - found it

Sorry - misquoted on the refurb cost of the wheels - would be around £200 to £300 not 5 !!

Paint code is 8R6 which is apparently "Breakwater Blue" Intererior colour code is LC11 (no idea what that is) Some pictures below The wheels are spotless ... like new but I will be putting the spider 18's alloys back on that I bought last year. The picture of the arm rest is a very good representation of the colour of the leather. I like the fact that the carpets are black and not grey as per the leather I like the contrasting colours on the front and back doors

Plus the wheels are shot - dont just consider the corrosion you can see - it gets between the tyre and the wheel inside also and causes air leaks like slow punctures. You will spend about £500 on a refurb

I know about the exhaust issue - I may have been one of the first ones on the forum with the problem. But as Ken says above, the parts are becoming easier to find now. When mine went it was only available from Lexus at £3k unless you had a stainless one done.

Thats a different one judging by the registration - I will know it if I seen it again

Its a while since I done this but where can I find the paint code from on the car to determine the exact colour ?

If the sat nav is DVD based then its around £30 to update .... not sure on the HDD version. Unless you are there to see them actually service the car I woud not rely on this being a bargaining point, maybe for the stamp in the book then buy it and do the service yourself to be sure but that I guess is false economy. How often have you bought a car with a full MOT on it from the dealer that has been done to the "book".... selling tactic to sweeten a deal??

Took it as is Would have been nice though ... with the amount of interest in it they said they should have considered asking a higher price for it Theres plenty of others out there, i think its a question of timing. Theres a nice Cheshire White 2010 F sport coming up as a P.Ex that people looking should watch out for....

Even the auto tilt mirrors work faultlessly after 12 years Everything I done on my old car to get it back in shape is working from scratch on this one

That's the one - there was quite a lot of interest on it to be honest and to be fair the dealer did honour his word in keeping the deposit secured on the car. He did say there were two callers interested in it this morning. I put the deposit on it on Monday this week but could not get to it until today due to work and weather. Don't want to rub it in anymore but the car is as new ...

The Warrington one was my next choice, mileage at that level is irrelevant. Lots of ways you can bargain down. I bought my first one at 60k and had it until recently at 107k. Looked after they will last a lot longer if no one decides they want to take it out. Save the grand and put it towards a service on the car (done yourself) and some improvements.

Yup - it was me. Not ashamed to say that the car is spotless as it should be for the miles it has done - will put some pics up when the snows gone +1 to Rob on the above post .... anyone knowing these cars knows what they are like and can appreciate a good one when it comes along. A bit hard for new owners to take the word of previous owners but "once owned - never forgotten" I had a black leather interior one before and liked it - I never wanted a cream one but could live with it but the one I have bought is a light grey with black carpets and to be honest its quite nice. Coupled with the sunroof its a nice car. Anyone runs into the back of this one better run the other way !!!

Its getting close to a foot of snow at the moment - will put pictures up when I can, especially of the interior as I think its quite smart (grows on you). I want to put the new alloy wheels I bought at the end of last year back on (that were "rescued" from my old car) it as they will look good against the car colour so will post one with them on.... something to remember my old car by !!! In the pictures before I bought the car, the interior looked cream (trick of the light I guess) but it is actually a light grey which I quite like. Whats better is that the carpet and the gear box centre column is black and it makes the grey stand out a bit. I quite like it ... will post some pics when the weather is better to show what I mean. Had the sun roof cracked open on the way home today - much prefer this to the air con.

Sent book out today - you should get it next week at some point.

Collected the new (old) car today What a difference - its practically new (although its 12 years old) Absolutely spotless, cant find a mark on it whatsoever. The owner has only had to refurb the wheels and even they have been done really well. 25k on the clock and it feels new - quiet and pulls like a tractor. Sunroof is a very nice option and I have already got used to the leather seats - I thought that they were cream but they are a dusky grey which is quite unique and goes well with the colour of the car which is a light blue colour. Loving it so far