normski2

Here ya go Steve .... just found this on my 'puter at work. One of the reservoirs near Rhayader. The one the Top Gear boys winched a Landrover up the face of.

Ah memories eh Geoff! Not what they used to be are they!! I do recall places like Manorbier ( want to say there was some lily ponds there, but not sure) and Sal actually lived in Kilgetty ... but no one had ever heard of that so Stepaside was used (although that didn't help that much either!!!). Used to go to Pendine ... and drive on the beach ....not quite the same in a 1600E Mk2 Cortina!!! The Green Monster (Art Arfons??)was down there one time when we were down there ...what a beast and what a racket. Then there was Wisemans Bridge, Freshwater, Bosherston (maybe thats where the ponds were) I dunno, it was back around 1974.

Don't forget you can just slide the stick back over to D and return to full auto at any time of your choosing as you drive along. If you've not been there ... divert off and have a quick detour around some of those reservoirs, they are quite stunning. Nice part of the world. My best man came from Llandrindod Wells so I used to know that area quite well. Weirdly, my (then girlfriend ... now wife) hailed from Stepaside (another lovely part of this planet) near Saundersfoot. I must have been keen as thats a 4.5 hour drive from Bournemouth. Most of the run was boring motorway but the bit from other side of Port Talbot (Cross Hands? Red Roses? maybe, recall the name can't place where it was exactly) via Carmarthen to Stepaside was quite an enjoyable stretch. Apart from the time we got snowed in at Easter!! Mind you I was driving a Morris 1000 then!!!

Aye ... Just don't end up in one of them lakes near Rhayader! Only kidding! Defo try it .. Think you'll find it most enjoyable.

Steve, from your avatar, it looks like you have the facelift model. I'd guess your gearbox is same as mine.

Yep, my car is 2010 and I can use the paddles in D. i don't think you will bugger anything up. But you will probably find you don't have access to 6th gear unless you slide the stick over to S. You could take a read of the manual that came with the car ... But it takes a few reads to get it on board.

Just nudge the gear stick over to the right from D. Then it's very much like driving in manual, you just don't need to be thinking about any depressing of a clutch pedal. It's really good once you've grasped how it all works.

I could not agree more. I'm surprised more folk haven't got into using the paddles.

Sorry ...only just saw this question. When I had my 220d I used to use the BG244 every 8000 miles or so. Wait until you are going to do fuel fill up. When you get to the petrol station ...pour in a whole can and then put say, 50 litres of fuel on top so that it mixes in well. Then drive around as normal and include a couple of 'spirited' runs. I also used the AR6200 additive at 5ml per 50 litres at pretty much every fill up. It is designed to reduce the flashpoint temp of diesel and give a cleaner burn. Opinions are divided as to its effectiveness. Al I can say is I found both to work very well for me. Every time I checked my EGR I would only find a light dusting of carbon inside the unit. Take the EGR right off the car to reveal the intake port. There can be crud in there to clean out too ... chip it loose (screwdriver blade works)and suck it out with an old hoover and a piece of tube gaffer-taped onto the hoover tube. Also ...keep that MAF sensor clean ...don't touch it but use a solvent cleaner. Plenty of vids on Youtube as to how to do it.

Might be wrong ... but I think it can relate to a somewhat smokey exhaust on the 250. Not hugely smokey but just a bit more than usual.

I've been following this thread for some time. blimey, .... I really hope you have this one licked now. It can be incredibly frustrating trying to find a solution to an unknown. I can fully empathise with anyone who has problems with the Diesel engine. I had one, briefly, and my head gasket went within 4 months of ownership. It was sorted by Lexus, but initially help was not forthcoming. Fingers crossed for you.

Yes, thats about it. She's just a little more eager ... if you like. Snow Mode just strangles and restricts to stop you spinning the wheels. TBH when it has snowed I just take over and use the paddles in manual mode ...seems to work very well. You can hold back the gear changes that way.

Yep, I leave mine in Power mode all the time. Just seems to go much better ... No real impact on mpg in all honesty.

My Wife has one, MX-5 Mk2.5. Fantastic little car. We even went to Lake Annecy and Chamonix in it. Up in the mountains with the roof down ... it was utterly brilliant. We have a Hard Top for the winter months (she's on now) and the Mohair for the summer. Avoid Vinyl roofs IMHO ... they tend to crack on the seems and last a lot less than Mohair. Just about to start looking for a MY2010/11/12 to replace with.

Ah that's a bummer. It is quite an expensive service that one. But at least you know for sure ... which is a good thing. Yeah ... mine had that recall too. Once you have the car it would be worth putting new batteries in the key fobs. There are 1 of CR1632 Lithium 3v in each fob. Ebay will get them to you at sensible cost.

J . What you need to ask at the local Lexus dealer is " Has the big service with the spark plug change been done". My gut feeling is it has probably been done at year 6 on its timeline ie circa 2014. They should be able to tell you all you need to know at the dealership. There are a few good tutorials to read through here. Its worth getting to know a few things so this is a very useful source. Its just a bit screwed up after the site update. If i could get in I'd edit my own posts to get them looking right. http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/tutorials/category/6-lexus-is-2005-onwards/ This link below is to a very good article by Noobie relating to those slide pins in the brake calipers.

Not wishing to dis Noobie ... Cos he's a good'un. But I have good reason to think that your big service with spark plugs has probably been done 2 yrs ago. See if you can find any detail in the service book. lexus take the standpoint of 60,000 mls or 6 years ... Whichever comes first. So, a six year old vehicle with ,say, 45,000 on the clock will likely have had the big service done.

Two ways of checking headlamp wash. On first start up ... Pull the wiper stick toward yourself. This activates wash/wipe procedure ... Importantly, on the first activation the headlight spray system will operate. You are likely to notice 2 sprays of water at the front of the bonnet. Or, you can use the switch on the dash. In the uk its at knee level to the right of the steering wheel. The reversing camera should fire up when you put the gearbox to reverse gear. pics look good matey ... She's a beaut. Where are you on this planet? In the UK it's a MOT requirement that headlamp washers must work. incidentally this is sounding like the SEL variant.

Here ya go ... i found it for you. Have a read through this ... it may give you some pointers.

I had an IS200 Sport for quite a few years. I made the mistake of the 220d before I settled into my present 250 Auto. I still see my old IS200 and sat in it about 3 weeks back. Kid who has it is not looking after it particularly well, but, for me the 250 is such a superior place to sit. The seats are much improved. The side pillars - front and back - will seem large to start with. The front pillar and door mirror combined are a sizeable impact on vision. Watch out for cyclists/motorbikes at junctions!!! The door windows are shorter in height. Rear vision is not brill...... camera takes care of that though! These are all things you will adapt to over a short passage of time. From your wording I'm guessing you're looking at this at an independent dealer, ie not from the original owner and not from Lexus dealership. Can they fix the rear blind? The Auto box is a dream. When you have had the car a while....you are going to aren't you? Explore the paddles.. they are great for a quick turn of speed. I use my rear shade quite a lot. The obvious occasions when the sun is beating down ... but also at night ... very effective at muzzling bright headlights. Someone on here had a similar problem (the only other reference I have seen), so try a search of the forum. If I remember correctly, I think it was revealed that the motor/controller was behind the rear seat. If the calipers are seized at all then I'd expect you to feel a distinct pull to one side upon breaking and the wheels will be really quite hot to touch. Just get those slide pins greased (and do it every year) and all will be good. There are some reports of sat nav screen failures. But you can source a replacement from the far east .... ebay will help you. It's not a bold step ... its inevitability. You won't regret it. I'm hesitant to say the 250 is bullet proof ... but it's not far off it! Enjoy PS... good colour!!

Just a thought. is the vertical connector pipe located correctly? Maybe it was removed for a bulb change? have you been overfilling the reservoir ... ie so much that liquid is visible in this vertical pipe? The way it connects makes it not a particularly water tight connection and I'm thinking liquid is likely to leak from around this joint until the level drops sufficiently. As I say ... Just a thought.

Go to the post above and scroll down to post no 8 ... its from Ashpoint in Australia ... he can sort you out with the kit you will need.

Read this too

Here is how you resync/initialise the windows

Have to admit I always enter the site via my saved link into the 250 section. Then navigate elsewhere if i desire. Apart from being 'banned' when I first logged in (could not get in for 2 weeks....weird!!!!) I have found all to be fine in all honesty. Perhaps I'd best not venture in at the front end then!!