Brechin Slate

Hi all Had the lovely Check VSC warning come up a few times recently but cleared it by disconnecting the battery to see if it was just spurious. It wasn't and returned after 2 days each time. I bought the Techstream kit from eBay (TaggyTech, excellent) and ran a test this morning. Only one fault code, P0172, system too rich Bank 1. I can make adjustments to all kinds of things using Techstream but what should I be looking at first? On my old cars I'd have been using a Colourtune and screwdriver! Please see attached pic from laptop. Regards to all.

Wow, I thought my job was bad! New side trims and clips are part of the replacement procedure and they've almost certainly been charged to the insurer. It should look immaculate when it's done properly. Like the other guys say, get them back, ask for a different fitter and ask why the side trims and clips weren't changed. When he arrives, watch him remove the bodged screen and check the new one has the element for the heated wipers. Let us know how you get on and good luck.

Thanks guys. I'm still considering the is convertible but the interior of the 450SC with that wood and white leather is pure automotive porn! My is250 is a great car and the change is not imminent but keeping my options open. So impressed with the Lexus quality and service that I won't be looking in any other direction. I miss a V8, the last one I had was in my Triumph Stag, the opposite end of the reliability scale!

Hi all, I'm a member of the is250 forum and am currently toying with the idea of downsizing to an SC430. I have to sell the idea to management so what are the top 5 reasons I should give her apart from the car being a thing of refinement and beauty? Regards to all Mike

Agree 100%, Phil. I checked that the replacement screen had the filament and wiring and watched as it was connected. The switch light comes on but it does nothing. I'm not getting it replaced again simply because I'd only use it probably twice in 5 years where I live. Trying to convince management that we need a new car now...

Hi folks Just thought I'd share a recent experience I had with Autoglass. My windscreen had a big chip in one corner and when driving towards the sun I noticed hundreds of tiny chips which had probably accumulated over the years. Some of them were so small I thought it was tree sap so I tried cleaning the screen with IPA and then a clay bar but no improvement. Time for a change, it was worth the £75 insurance excess to see where I was going. Booked the fitter to come to my home and was given a six hour window on a Saturday. When the day came, the fitter called and said that because of the snow, he'd have trouble getting to me so could I go to him instead. I was going to go into a monologue about if he couldn't drive to me because of the snow, surely it worked both ways but, I wanted the job done and figured that a warm dry workshop was better than the job being done under a gazebo. I drove 17 miles to Poole, handed the car over and went for a coffee while the job was being done. I got a call an hour later telling me all was good, checked that it was ok to drive and set off for home. A few miles down the road and both my wife and I noticed that there was a lot of noise in the car and there was a big draught coming from between the screen and the dash on the passenger side. Then the creaking started around the area of the rear view mirror. Then I noticed that the side trim was loose. I was tempted to turn round and go back but not only did I doubt there was another Lexus screen in stock but the fitter had told me he was going straght on to another job. I guess that driver refused to come to him. When I got home, I noticed that the trim and the clips hadn't been changed, see pic, (the receipt said that they had been) so I contacted Autoglass to tell them I wanted the whole job done again. The fitter came to my work today (I asked them not to send the same one) and he had no intention of changing the screen until I insisted, he said he only needed to do the trim. When he took the trim off, I felt around the bottom of the screen where the draught was coming from and pulled gently on the screen, there was easily 8-10 mm of movement. In the end, the screen, trim and clips were changed and I waited a few hours befor driving the car. Pleased to report that all is now good, the car is quiet and draught free again and everything looks neat. In a chat I had with the fitter, I picked up that they were demotivated by their T's and C's and very few of them had pride in their work or were inclined to deliver good customer service. Sounds like a rant but I'm happier now and wanted to let you guys know to be wary if you're in the same situation. Regards to all. Mike

Perfect for this time of year. You don' want your wipers trying to go if they'e stuck to the screen. Ensure they'e off when you start up and then hit this button. They should be thawed out in a couple of minutes.

Fully endorse this. Fitted it last year on my car. 30 minutes work, no regrets. Smooth as a buttered banister!

Silly question but is your A/C set to Dual?

Buy an is250. You will have no regrets!

The car needs a clean but this is what they look like fitted:

Photos and details attached of the ones I fitted a few months ago. No pics of them on the car as my wife has nicked it for the day. I'll post some when she returns. I'm happy with the weight and quality of the chrome but the method of attachment is a bit crude. Basically they clamp on to the tailpipe with 4xAllen headed screws which seem way too long. I guess there's nothing wrong with setting the lenghth to get a good grip and then removing them and cutting off the excess from the inside leaving the allen head intact. I've done over a thousand miles since fitting and have had no issues. Hope his helps. I have no affiliation etc. etc.

I recently changed mine after replacing the exhaust. I'll send you the link (ebay) and a photo this afternoon when I have access to my laptop. Regards Mike

Sounds like it could be wear on suspension joints. Worth jacking the car up and checking ball joints and look for damaged bushes

Agreed re the drone but there is a fairly hefty anti drone damper fitted to the n/S silencer box. The fibre bushes broke when I removed mine but plumbers fibre washers were a good substitute

Sort of relevant, hopefully helpful: 2 weeks ago I noticed a blow from my exhaust so got the local garage to put it on the ramp. The weld had started to go around where the rear pipe divides before entering the 2 back boxes. Apparently I was looking at £700 for a stainless steel replacement. I paid £179 from an online company to supply the rear section from the 2 bolt flange backwards. The one that came off was original (Jan 2007) and the weld and adjacent pipework were rusted through so assuming either mild steel or low grade stainless. Having said that, 10 years from an exhaust system seems ok to me.

Screenshots from ebay attached

This colour works for Brechin Slate - toyota Lexus 8R6 Breakwater Blue Metallic paint touch up brush scratch I bought touch up pen and spray can on ebay. Let me know if you want details.

Full Lexus service schedule followed and ticked off by line item. Carried out by local independent using genuine parts. Detailed breakdown of all work done. Saving of over £200 on Lexus quotation. Could have done it myself but presently cash rich and time poor (unusually) so the decision was easy. I'll do the 180,000 service myself...

Did mine a couple of months ago as old one was overheating. Straightforward job, 10 mins max. Nice tight terminals and then reset the windows and key/seat memory. Engine may sound strange for a couple of minutes after you start it for first time.

Following good advice on this forum, I have now forgone the Lexus dealership service in favour of my local independent saving a good deal of cash. In for full service includes spark plugs and greasing brake pins today, the quote is below: Good morning Here as follows is a quote for a 120,000 mile service. Included in the service is oil and filter change, air filter change and spark plug change. We will remove wheels, inspect brakes, check all suspension joints and bushes, check all under bonnet levels and tyre pressures, top up and adjust where necessary. We will use genuine parts and 5/30 fully synthetic oil. The price for all the above is £385.34 inc vat. If there are any further questions you would like to ask please do not hesitate to give me a call.

Thanks for this, very helpful

I have an IS250, petrol on a 56 plate, Feb 2007 with 120,000 on the clock. The car's in great condition and drives beautifully, in short, I love it. It's due for a service and my options are: 1. Minor service £200 quid 2. Major service £350 3. Spark plug change £200 These are rounded up/down main dealer prices. The car value is about £4.5k. Thinking of minor service and spark plug change, never had a garage change my plugs for me in the past. Something inside me rails against spending £550 on servicing, is there a voice of reason out there? Thanks

Radio's fine but you will need to reset the seat memory function on your keys. Also open and close all windows on their 'local' switches before you're able to operate them from the drivers position. Reset the clock of course and the engine may seem a bit lumpy for a couple of minutes after initial starting.

All sorted. Like an idiot I didn't have the courtesy light set to auto. Thanks for the help and tips, just going to give myself a good talking to....