TimS320

Had a good feel around insider the armrest, I hadn't realised it was all open inside and with so much space. It's a shame about the design of it. I got a slimmer charger which now fits in below the storage box, but I don't like the idea of it being powered all the time when the car is in use, but hidden from sight. If I can work out how to take the armrest apart, I'll fit one underneath in the open storage area, taken of the existing ones. I just need a parts diagram really.

Yes on the 09 all I have are two sockets in the centre armrest. I was wondering about trying to get hold of the fitting for the lower one and retrofit it, but can find the part.

Found that I am going to struggle using my phone charger in the armrest power sockets as it is too large to allow the 'bin' to be reinserted with the charger in place. So I'm on the lookout for a slimline charger that will fit. However I'm not keen on leaving something like that connected permanently, but as its so difficult to access, I don't know if I have any other option? Has anyone found a solution or moved them or added an extension of some kind?

Unlike my old IS, (SEL) on the RX the footwell lights are not on at night whilst driving, now when you come to a stop and turn off do they illuminate. Is it possible to switch the footwell lights on as they really reduce the gloom for night driving?

I had this happen with my IS, one bulb going in and off. It's a sign that it's about to fail. Mine did, at 4am on the M1! With regard to the RX450h bulbs, I was wondering if there is any decrease in light over time? The car that I have just got has covered 90k over 8 years. Driving home tonight, although they work perfectly well, on dipped beam it felt decidedly dark and I was struggling to see. Maybe these are the originals?

Thanks. I have the Bosch ones fitted which ais e a big improvement over the cheap one that were on before. I'll see how they do, and may go back to the hybrid, but would have to buy the whole wiper and holder as my car has been changed over. On another note I do feel the drivers wiper doesn't come far enough up to the right on its sweep and I wonder if it sits too low down. Can anyone compare my pics of where the wipers sit with theirs?

Just collected my 'new' RX450H and very pleased with it. Although it's an older car it drives well. However the wipers were changed by the previous owner to aftermarket flat blades which do nothing to shift the water. The drivers side one drags in the centre, but the lower end flaps around, making noise but doing nothing. The passenger side is ok. I'll swap them today for Bosch Aeros as I can get these from the local Halfords. However, what is the thought about these versus the original style Lexus wipers? I had an IS250 before with the Lexus hybrid wipers and at best I'd say they were ok. Never really good in heavy rain. Any advice how to stop it dragging, but make the lower part connect?

Thanks, we're looking forward to it. Like you, I'll be glad just to get the bike in the back without roof bars, but I am planning a tow bar and demountable rack. The guys at Stockport are good and have been looking after this one for a few years, so there should be no surprises at all. One thing I couldn't find, does it have a USB port anywhere for plugging a flash drive into?

Thanks for all the advice. I've just put a deposit on this, a 2009 SE I Nav. Although it's got 90k on, it's been well looked after and fully serviced by my local dealer, so I'm hoping it will be a trouble free upgrade for the next few years. Be a shame to get rid of the IS250 though! Anyone interested?

Thanks for all the advice. I'm now off to test drive a 2009 SEI so I'll see what I think of the standard ride. I need to check that I'm not giving up anything important from the SEL spec either.

Thanks for all the advice. I'm not put off, my 125k IS drives like a two year old car and pulls like a train. Getting an older RX is not really a worry. I just have to try and find some nice ones to test drive.

Thanks for such a detailed reply. It will take some time, especially as the three I was going to look at tomorrow at Lexus Stoke have all been sold in 48 hours!

Thanks, are there problems then?

Thanks, are there problems then?

Test driving a couple of 450h's on the weekend at Lexus Stoke. Both standard suspension. As my budget is for an older car, 7 years or so, should I stay away from the SEL air suspension models? http://stoke.usedcars.lexus.co.uk/en/used-lexus/Lexus/RX-450h/35-SE-I-Navigation-Leather-r1bhtg6 Has anyone had any problems with the air suspension, or is the ride improvement worth the extra risk?

I'm considering trading the IS250 in for an 09-15 RX450 as I now need something larger, with a hatchback and able to tow. I don't want to go diesel, much as I fancy a Discovery 4, so an RX on paper looks great. My budget is around 15-18k and I'd be looking for an SEL to replace the same spec as I currently have on the IS. Ideally I'd be looking at a 2010 onwards with no more than 75k on the clock as I'd like to hang on to it for a while. I'd be using it for motorway trips abroad and want to be able to pull a small boat trailer. So could any owners tell me if there are any issues I could watch out for when buying one, especially with the hybrid power train and batteries, can I get a good one for the money, and are there any issues towing with it? What's the real world mpg? I'd appreciate any suggestions. I'm lining up a couple of test drives, but having read all the reviews I think I know what to expect handlingwise. I'm not looking to chuck it round corners, although this would be nice. I'd just like the superb quality and long distance ability I have with the IS. Is this still the same with the RX?

Update, just done 300 miles with the new Avons on the back and it is a huge improvement. Really increased the confidence level again in driving the car. Comment by the tyre fitters was that the Evergreens have a thin layer of good rubber when new which quickly wears away leaving mainly very hard compound which wears well but gives no grip at all. As I found!

Sorry to bring back an old topic, but I'm just about to try a set of the Denso blades from ECP as I've recently found mine are next to useless. The problem is I have newish OEM blades, about 6 months old fitted by the local dealer. But they miss large parts of the screen and don't clear well on the down stroke. No amount of tweaking or flexing the wiper arm or holder can seem to get them to work effectively. So the next option is to fit whole units rather than just using the replacement rubber and see if that helps. But has anyone come across problems with needing to replace the wiper arm itself? Could they be worn out? http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Lexus_IS_2.5_2006/p/car-parts/wipers/car-body-parts-and-car-exhaust/wiper-blades/?485778226&1&f973ec1b0769c274e68e2251331a088f6f84e4ca&000604

Big improvement now with rear end grip. Looking at the tread pattern as well, there is a lot more edge tread compared to the Evergreen. If there hadn't been a new set of these on the car when I bought it, I certainly would not have fitted them, usually I go for the Continentals or Michelin. However I've got 8.5k out of these tyres, all motorway mainly, with careful driving in the wet. Now I can start replacing them, the difference is noticeable, but also it highlighted how much grip the Evergreen lost very quickly as the top surface wire down to this harder compound. Looking at some of these tyre reviews, I'm of the opinion that the evergreen ones must be "paid for" reviews.

Just fitted two new Avon ZV7s to the back. Despite 4mm of tread left on the Evergreens, there was no grip at all as the compound must be so hard. Fronts getting done in two weeks when I can afford it. Had them done at National, as I don't have a Halfords Autocentre near me, they price matched Halfords as well!

Oddly, I have the wifes car on winter tyres (front wheel drive) as the go anywhere car if it snows up here. Just didnt have the budget to get them for the Lexus as well.

Was driving carefully in the rain yesterday through Manchester. Stopped at the traffic lights, to right filter in two lanes turning right. As I pulled out and turned right the back end broke away and spun violently thru 270 degrees. I managed to catch it and bring it back in. Luckily traffic in the other lane was light and managed to avoid us. Now I had the family in the car and the weather was dreadful so was being as careful as possible. No idea why the back stepped out so hard and fast as I didn't see any trace of oil on the road. I'm always more careful as well in rearwheel drive cars. The traction control was beeping frantically but could do nothing. I have had the back twitch a couple of times over the past year, but usually when exiting a wet roundabout. However never at such a low speed. I've currently got the tyres on about 38-40psi as I'm more motorway driving and it seems to sharpen the steering up a bit, but I'm wondering if it might be worth dropping the rears a couple of psi? I have the standard 225/45/17 on the front and 245/45/17 on the rear. The only other thought is that I still have the tyres on that came on the car when I bought it. Evergreen EU72 tyres. I've just done 8k on them in the last 6 months and they were OK but I wouldn't say they inspire confidence. So I'm now looking at getting a new set of Avons all round. Has anyone had anything similar happen and any thoughts on what might be the cause? Overinflation, rubbish tyres?

Yes, it was the main dealer who quoted 1k. Bit worried if I pressure test it, it may make it worse.

Interesting discussion. I had quite a twitchy drive home today in the wet with the TC coming on and off at some junctions (wet road,lots of leaves, etc). I'm still running the Evergreen EU72's that were on the car when I bought it 6 months ago. They have just done 7k of motorway miles this summer but the rear ones have started to wear on the inner shoulder for some reason. and are not giving me great confidence in the wet. So I've been looking for replacements. Will have a good look at Avon's as the other stuff I usually have, like the Continentals are a bit dearer. BTW For the last 5 years I've had winter tyres on one of the family cars - all FWD, as some days it would have been the only way I got to work and back. This year I might have to go begging for the wifes Megane now I've sold my Golf GTi and put my winter tyre on hers! I used to enjoy watching the neighbour slide his 3 series into my hedge every winter as he discovered they don't go up hills with summer tyres on. National Tyres has the Avons for 71.03 fully fitted.

Just had my car in for a 10 year service, although due to its mileage, some major items were done early last year. However the coolant hadn't been and I asked the local dealer to do it. They didn't and showed me a video inspection of the car which, although difficult to see seemed to show slight seepage around the bottom of the rad and in the area of the water pump. They 'recommend' replacing both as they think replacing the coolant will blow the radiator! (presumably they want to pressure test in some way). Car has only done 200 miles since the service and I can't yet see any real change to the coolant level, so I'm not inclined to do this, as they want nearly 1000! 3 hours labour for each item. Even if I went to an indy and sourced the parts, it would still cost 500. So has anyone else come across this problem?