is200 Newbie

I had to fight to get the wheels from the car to be honest - I think they had been earmarked by someone... I just never considered the mirror kit when I went to collect the parts, have also left a few other bits I forgot about. Just don't think about these things to be honest in this situation. Never mind. I hope I can get another kit as I thought they were good. No word from Michael yet, not sure if he still does this...

Wheels on ebay - worth a question to the seller regarding condition as by the time you have paid for two tyres then it may be worth your while buying these item numbers: 222856292946 and 132520228892

No problem - a few bits in it will be different as its from an SE-L model but should cover yours well. Will get it out to you next week.

The rear discs don't take a hammering as the braking distribution is more on the front car so if the discs were border line when the last MOT was done chances are you will get a bit more out of them - around £60 to replace - the rears have pads and shoes so bear that in mind if replacement is considered - best to do the whole lot together. The front discs do wear quick as its a heavy car and you will find 3 years or so you will be replacing them again (depends ion your braking really) - front pads definitely 3 years. Both discs and pads around £100 for a good set of Brembo or Mintex. I would not be too concerned with the service history as if you are going to look after it then it and maintain it yourself it makes no difference. If you are going to maintain it yourself then keep all receipts. Resale value with another 10k on it after will be a lot lower than what you paid but at that point I reckon the car is worth more to you than the value of it and if you are maintaining it yourself then you do know its getting the proper oil etc Some posts on this forum have described having their plugs done between 60 and 100k and they are practically un worn and can probably do more. Service schedule as stated above is to have them done every 60k and the best time to do them is through Lexus during the fuel seal recall as most of the engine components around the plugs need to come off. Its either paying around £200 to have them done then or around £600 in the future. Get in the car and take it for a test drive - I am saying this as some of the cat back stainless exhausts can be noisy and ruin the driving experience of the car. Get it on the motorway and listen to the exhaust note around 70 as that's really where the "done" from the exhaust is noticed. The exhaust back box looks a bit small (tail pipes) so do check this out by getting it out for a test drive. You usually get a lifetime guarantee with a stainless exhaust not a year - check its stainless (but the guarantee will be from the manufacturer of it) Take a CD and a DVD with you to check out the function of the radio and the DVD player. (foot brake needs to be on for the DVD to work) (bargaining chip) Check the INNER edges of the tyres for wear (bargaining chip). Check for a white crust around the water pump/coolant reservoir as this could be an indication the water pump is on its way out (bargaining chip) Lastly, if you have one, take an ODB reader with you to check if theres any stored codes (bargaining chip) and also, basic stuff, check the oil is clear / coolant is pink and the brake fluid is clearish. It has a space saver tyre - check the security wheel locking key is available and while you are in the boot, check the jack and tool kit is there - if you are lucky there will also be two small screwdriver type spikes in the tool kit - these will enable you to get behind the sat nav panel to change the disc. It also has HID headlights so lastly check they are both the same colour as these can be expensive and fiddly to replace.

PM me your address and I will send you my old book out

Brilliant - thanks Paul

Does anyone know if Michael is still around on the forum Bought the PO-40 auto mirror fold system years ago - now I have lost the car I would like to fit another system to my new one - cant find his details but I am sure he was from Australia...

I bought it from the US - Rockauto I think

Steering wheel has the F badge and there are two badges on the front wings - not sure if there should be one on the back also? I am pretty sure the rear window blind was dropped from the F Sport - I quite like this feature as it stops you getting dazzled a bit at night by headlights behind you. It also has an outstanding recall - no big deal but a bit of hassle organising it if your not next to a dealer

Agree with John above MOT history looks ok - one blown headlamp and tyres. Nothing major Mark on the bumper or is that a bird deposit? 62k miles is around the major spark plug service interval - check they have been replaced if it has a service history. If it has no service history and seeing its almost half way through the MOT period I would ask the garage to check the calipers - maybe put it through an MOT before you purchase it to make sure they are ok if you are interested? 2 keys? Ask why the wheels have been changed - they were 18's as standard on the F Sport - would you need to inform your insurance company?

The owner did say he already had a few emails when I called him Will let you know what its like ....

I went with the Blue Crewe one - to be honest although its low mileage I think it will need a bit or "nursing" as its a bit too low for the age of the car but I have had one before so can look after it a bit. I was going for the Warrington one until I saw this one today. Don't be put off by the miles - also, don't be put off by the seat colour as you can easily swap these out if you keep an eye out on ebay for a good set of leathers for around 2/300£/ The only creative bit would be covering the plastics under the dash but worth while if the cars right in getting it coloured. There is an interior on ebay at the moment for £70 if that's the way you want to go or there are companies out there that will dye the leather (I know someone who can do it and may go down that route) I needed one quite quick as mines been written off and I have a bust few months coming up so couldn't really wait for one I liked to come up but happy with the one I have just bought.

Apologies Rob - I have just bought that one. The Warrington one was my next choice. Theres a White F Sports out there which I believe has been part exchanged in Cheshire - seller pulled out of the sale for me as he wanted to PX it (was quite a nice car). Might be worth hanging on a bit to see if it comes up in any search on autotrader or ebay at some point?

Thanks Guys Impressed with the insurance so far - re-insured next one tonight and ready to go when I collect it. I am not happy in losing the car but happy its turned out ok - always wanted a sunroof so its a bonus I guess but the wrong way to go around it. Guess I got more from the accident than I would have done on the part ex, plus a months worth of a hire car ...

Insurance came back last week with a settlement figure – due to the mileage and age of the car I had only expected between 3.5 and 4k with an argument so I got myself fed up for a week or so. I managed to settle on a figure of £5.2k !! I also managed to rescue my new alloys and tyres that I bought at the end of last year so I have a good spare set now that I can use or sell on. I have taken no hit on my NCB and my premium has not been affected as I have effectively started a new policy. Well chuffed with the service from Admiral. I still have the hire car for another week – 2016 BMW 320i X Drive. When I went to the holding compound to rescue my wheels I drove my car out of the compound and what a difference in the drive between the cars. I had been driving the BMW for 2 weeks by then but when I got in my own what a difference in the feel of mine – quicker and quieter. Felt smoother but I didn’t drive it that far. The BM however is an estate so that may be why its noisy but does not detract from the feel of the drive in the Lexus and considering mine is (was) 11 years old compared to almost 2 years for the BM…. There, to me, is no comparison between them both. A few nice touches in the BM – speed limiter and the DAB radio and the cruise button felt better to control but I can say that was it. The dash was in red which made it uncomfortable to read it, especially at night, and the wind noise was terrible on the motorway – it had only done 10k so its not been hammered. Think I will stick to my Lex. So… after searching literally everyday for 2 weeks through the obvious channels (autotrader/ebay/web etc), hoping something new and local would come up, I initially found a White F Sport which I liked but the owner pulled out of the sale. So back to the drawing board. Lunch time today, after checking yesterday, I just happened to open auto trader up again and found a 2006 localish to me (first one on the search), Silver 250 SE-L model low low miles (25k) FSH and a recent Lexus health check AND with the sunroof option in immaculate condition. I don’t usually go for low miles on a car but the sunroof and FSH tempted me on this one. I am going back a year as my last one was a 2007 model and was hoping for a 2010 or so model but as I only do approx. 6k a year, this will see me for a good few years now. The only think with it is that it has the cream leather rather than the black that I am used to. A lot of the cars I have looked at had this and I have found it very hard to find a black leather option in the SE-L spec, even further away from home. But its no deal breaker… it could be swapped out I suppose if I cant live with it. 5 years is the longest I have managed to keep these cars – the first IS200 was drowned in a flood after owning for 5 years / more recent one was murdered in an accident after 5 years ownership. This one, well, lets see. At one years difference I cant see there being much difference in the spec – it has the ML system etc so hoping it drives well. Have put a deposit on it an going to view / pick up this week – will put pics up when its back home in the “cradle” One thing I did find when I was looking was that there were a few manual IS’s (250) with sunroofs but no auto’s – I found one with the full moonroof but the owner wanted too much for that one (excessive miles) but I thought that one was unique. Pics to follow

Have been looking for a few days for another 250 - have seen a few ... Does anyone know any history on this one - whether its a previous owners? WU60 0WC - White IS250 F Sport?

Its a gonner £5200 to repair !! Shame as I looked after that car. Not long serviced and just taxed !! Hoping to get the wheels back tomorrow though as they were brand new !!

Does this have the same spec as the SE-L? Just looks a bit "sporty" with the wheels and spoliers?

Does anyone know what the difference is in the spec of a 2010 250 SE-L and a 2010 250 F Sport I know the seats are not full leather in a lot of cases in the F Sport (suppose that depends on the initial buyers choice) but whats the benefit or not between the two models?

Yes you should If the insurer recommended you take it to one of their repair centres then you should go through the insurer, also, doesn't insurance work have a guarantee period? Although its fit for purpose its not repaired to spec and the insurer should take some flack for this and deal with the repair centre themselves.

Well, so far so good... car collected today and a hire car dropped off (2016 BMW 3) Will find out about mine on Friday / Monday regarding the inspection recommendation for repair or write off. The guys that collected it were sure it would be repaired as its not as bad in the pictures - bumper / boot lid and the panel behind the bumper was lightly bent in - hoping for it to be repaired but its in the back of my mind that its going to the metal yard ! Been looking around for something similar just in case - found 2 but the SE-L is quite scarce at a pre 100k mileage but hope I wont need to go down this road. Early days but the insurer has been fantastic - I carefully say "early days" I have a dash cam pointing forwards - no witnesses.

Who is the insurer and do you have legal cover?

Was thinking that - at least no one was injured. The other car had bald tyres ... !!!! Insurance going through ok so far - hire car Lexus CT coming tomorrow. Will keep informed on how things go with the insurance co. I liked the car although 11 years old now and at 107k miles. Might be time to upgrade ?

Lexus v Skoda Think I came off the better for this one !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stationary at a junction in a 30 mph zone - smacked in the back by someone, speeding? or in a hell of a hurry to move on? Damage - to mine: Bumper / boot lid / boot floor / underside panels / exhaust diffusers both knocked off - not bad considering damage to the other No damage to the exhaust or light which is very surprising considering. The driver of the other car could not even open the drivers door it took that big a hit Any ideas on costs ?

Do you keep having to top up the air in the tyres?