Mates always set up mates well. Girls on the other hand, never trust their set ups. They could not chick is bat sh*t loco but will pretend they do not know.
@@contorta960 They are not money pits. If oil changed good. But head gasket will go sooner or later. Just the design on the engine. Wouln't touch the is250 either though, worst lexus engine ever made
@@chrismcgowan5180 Yeah 4GR-FSE (petrol) was so bad that Lexus kept putting it in multiple models over the span of 10 years, while they used 2AD-FHV (diesel) in only one model for 4 years. I'm obviously being sarcastic. The only reason people think 2.5 petrol was "bad" is because of Americans, who don't know how to take care of direct injection engines and because they never had diesel as an option. Hence the myth of 4GR-FSE's "unreliability". The only thing 4GR-FSE suffers from is the carbon build up, like every other direct injection only engine ever, if not maintained properly (even so, carbon build up won't blow up your engine, and you can always fix it relatively cheaply). Diesels on the other hand suffered from carbon issues too, and then some... And we are talking only engines here, not taking into account all other crap that goes wrong on a diesel. A quick look at any European used car market tells you all you need to know about the desirability of IS250 vs IS220d. In my country any petrol is gone in like 2 days, while diesels keep siting there for a year until owner doesn't drop original price by a half...
This channel is important because it offers a focus on real world motoring issues for many (the majority?) of hard pressed drivers on a limited budget.
Hi Matt, check the fuel filter again for contaminents, if so might be corrosion inside the fuel tank, usually when people only put a couple of gallons in rather than filling up.You did reckon its been run on a tight budget. Just an idea !
The VSC, engine and traction engine lights usually mean a fault with the EGR system. Also, I have a Toyota with the same engine, and the problem with lack of pull was due to faulty diesel injectors. Once they go bad, they're really expensive to replace ( here it's like 700 EUR for a brand new one ( 1 piece! ), 200 eur for a used one). However, when this diesel is well maintained, it's one of the smoother ones, and has a very good amount of torque.
@@peppermeat8059 Out of “luxury cars”, Lexus are usually the least to maintain. If you service at a dealer, they can be costly. Even then, a usual service is approximately $300 cheaper (Aud) compared to the euros.
As a retired airline pilot, I notice you use and know the phonetic alphabet well. I do enjoy your clips a lot. I live between florida and barbados and have recently bought, from my best friend, a 2007 lexus ls460L with 150k miles and in pristine condition. I simply love the car and will use it when in the USA. Keep up the good work and I wish you success in your very competitive business
Ooo, it has the Mark Levinson surround-sound hi-fi upgrade. That’s a pricey extra, sounds epic, too. Here’s a fun fact: Mark Levinson designed the sound system for the original Woodstock festival.
As a former IS220d owner I can confirm the stereo was fantastic and absolutely essential while waiting for the AA tow truck to take the car back to the dealer for each engine change.
I test drove an IS220D a few years back, all was going well until I came off the motorway and it blew black smoke all up the exit ramp. This diesel engine was not Toyota's finest hour!
I am the happy owner of an IS250. 3 years, just regular maintanance, brakepads/tyres/oil and filter/airco refill. No oil consumption MY2006 and no rust. I love this car! Not the most exciting car to drive but it has all the features you want and with CC on doing 80mph I'll manage 35mpg
Really you just show me when you bought a cheap car and made a few bob Honestly ??? This young man is a good presenter but the format is now dated He is in the trade thats why he gets cars at well lest say drop down prices and then makes a bob or two claiming this is how he got to where he is now "as always a load of bollocks " Not married no mortage etc etc and if I am wrong I am sorry for making those remarks ??
@@allanhughes7859 you okay hun? Text me xxx 😂 Personally I like the mix of flash cars and a few dogs thrown in for good measure. Unfortunately not all of us can afford those gorgeous Bentleys. I also like the older Land Rover’s, so more of those please Matt! 🙏
@@HighPeakAutos Whoops think i have hit a nerve did not mean to honest you are a good presenter but need to change tack at times some poor sod thinks they can do the same and make money when in true terms they can not because they are not you ??
Matt you did the impossible and broke down in a Lexus 😂😂😂 just absolutely shows you can’t rest on your laurels and neglect a car because it’s supposed to be reliable!
Cracking video, Matt, I really enjoy the old cars and what you have to do to them to get them sorted, it gives us mere mortals a clue as to costs and complications. Keep up the grate work.
Just a heads up, having lenses in the headlight doesn't always means they're xenon or HID. According to EU regulations, HID or xenon headlights should always have headlights washers and be self leveling. Having the little rolling dial for the headlights leveling means they're not HID
Funnily, in Iceland we have no regulation for it, which means you could slap xenon headlights onto a car not equipped with it and be totally fine as long as they are aligned lol
I hope you get it sorted Matt, alot of people just don't look after their cars, it makes me cringe when I tell people that I clean my car mostly every week and service it fully every 10,000 miles and they say I haven't cleaned my car in years or I haven't done an oil change on it for years!
Had an '06 reg SEL with electric sun blinds, blue illuminating door steps, sunroof, full leather...was a lovely spec. It's only Achilles heal was that sodding diesel engine that let the rest of great car down. Drove one day on the motorway until it suddenly switched to creep mode, could only do about 20 mph max. After inspection it was a congealed EGR valve, replaced the EGR valve for £350 and it popped a load of injector seals! Got £4000 scrappage towards a new Mazda at the time. Lesson learnt, should have got an IS250 with the silky V6.
The exhaust are known to rot out quickly on these but other than that they are solid. I've owned 2 250s and a gs430 of the same age and thats the only problem I've ever had on them. Also if it has the xenon headlights and the bulb is gone it's usually the headlight ballast which you can get for about 40 quid.
That handbrake looked well excited to see you Matt! I laughed as unusual to see a handbrake pointing to the moon. Seems that’s only the start of your problems 😂
Matt it only needs egr valve vacuumed out, it's clogged with soot. Might need done a couple of times. Fuel pump should be fine. Egr vacuum and a dpf clean fluid 3 times a year. 👍An easy job for your mechanic
This is your best video yet; very amusing but also really informative. As someone who knows nothing about cars and in the market for a used car, it's good to see how to evaluate a used car and what can happen and how to deal with issues. Have been watching for a short while now and enjoyed your vids, but will subscribe now as it's well deserved.
I have this same model of car with 180 000 km and it's doing great. It's not the engines fault, it actually runs very smoothly. This cars break down if they lack maintenance. Mine has all services done in time and the only thing that needs replacement is the clutch after 16 years on the road. The only other fault is the dashboard, it melts on the summer sun because Toyota didn't make them right back then, although if you knew about it and went tot the dealer back then, they could replace the dashboard and all doorpannels free of charge. (EDIT) Regarding the people who had had the engine replaced on this car and other Toyota diesel models. It was a matter of luck, a bunch of theese were faulty from factory, but if you ddin't get one from the bad bunch, it was sure to last forever.
Hi Matt, fantastic videos - well done. Some background if you're interested: I worked as a slimy salesman when these were released. As you know, Lexus were very popular in the USA but were struggling to capitalise on the UK company car market as they didn't have a diesel option. Luckily, they were able to pinch the diesel lump from the Toyota Avensis (we weren't meant to mention this to customers). It was only offered in combination with a manual transmission which we were told to tell prospective customers was because the engine produced too much torque for the auto box to cope with. I suspect the real reason was actually emissions. Similarly, emissions were the reason that you need to be doing 80mph+ for 6th gear not to bog down. Which made for some interesting discussions with geriatric test drivers....
I've taken 2 IS300h out for a drive and they're lovely cars. Super economical too for a 2.4L. On the comments you made about the 220d being a bad choice for the IS range, I agree.
Owned it since new 2006 IS250 AWD,and now my son has it. Still sharp looking front and back. Nothing major to repair, usual brake jobs, changed all spark plugs 4 years ago, transmission oil flush. That's all and if I still drive it, likely would last till 2026 before anything happens. Back in 2015, I remembered the check engine light came on after sitting out in the winter (I have another AWD SUV) I put some fresh 94 octane Shell petroleum in the tank and after a brief stop at Walmart, the light went away after I came out
Have you ever wondered why the IS220/200d were the only diesel models ever produced? I wonder why Lexus were replacing engines under extended warranty? Mind you I’m only an armchair LOC moderator but I’d limp it to the nearest scrapyard 😀
I never knew about the engine replacements. Mind you its something I have experience with JLR. My pals F Pace is currently in getting a new engine (under warranty thankfully)
@@RevLexus The engine was literally a service item. 4 engines in 3 years on mine before I managed to part ex it (they extended the warranty to 7 years but only 110k miles).
@@oldblueshirtguy In saying that I think Mclaren was the same with the mp4-12c. I have heard & seen owners on their 2nd or 3rd engine within a short period.
Also suffer from cat problems, same as Toyota d4d d cat 5th injector is fitted to trigger regen, but just creates a smokescreen when dpf is blocked, eventually leads to limp mode. That's what you're seeing. Had exactly the same symptoms on an avensis t180 same engine.
I had an IS250 and thought it was quite nice. Bought it as a backup car with 300k on the ODO and gave it some TLC ( parts aren’t cheap for these here in Aus) but ended up with quite a nice car in the end. Very nice to be in and quite ok to drive. Quickly became my daily driver.
Dont stress about the false door being open light. I had a capri who's passenger door did actually open on a right bend all the time. After a length of rope I was good to go and pick up my mate. He had to get in via the drivers door tho to get to his seat as the rope had done its job so well it was now part of the handbrake system too. Loving the cheap and cheerful vids as usual. Looked like you had a wee cut on the rear nearside tyre too.
Good video again. The Continental EU countries demanded a diesel as most competitors and 70% of segment sales were diesel. So Lexus fitted the D4D RAV 4 diesel which as you say was inferior to the Lexus 250 petrol variant.. I hope you get the fuel problem resolved.
Really liked the video, i have one myself that was gifted basically as a stop gap car. Its done nearly 200k and drives well, i had the dpf cleaned and replaced the EGR valve and really helped change the lag and gave full boost at 2k rpm. The spec is amazing especially the mark levinson audio sat nav dvd etc
Don't panic Matt, I had one of these for 4 years and all that ever went wrong is the problem you're having with this one. Hoover out the egr valve, lots of vlogs on TH-cam and add a bottle of dpf fluid every 3 or 4 months and it will run forever. These are a great workhorse but need a blast down the motorway regular.
My neighbour had a similar fault on his Volvo diesel. Changed the fuel filter & all good. Then it happened again. It turned out to be an algae in the diesel fuel which kept blocking the filter. Obviously water contaminated fuel & the algae grew in the water. A Volvo specialist told him that it’s not uncommon. Always check the simplest thing first!
My sister (we're in the US) has a 2010 IS250 AWD with under 100k miles. It absolutely chews through oil. The car is in great shape, but honestly it's pretty slow, gets pretty poor fuel economy, and just overall doesn't feel up to par with other Lexus models. She misses her 2003 ES300 quite a bit.
The last car I had was a 2008 IS 350, bought it with 80,000 Miles’s and had a blast with it for almost 2 years and 25,000 miles. 300 horsepower and RWD with that 6 speed and a fun chassis was such a great time
Love the video as always. Hope this car is ok. I recently had to get rid of an IS220d. Sadly least reliable and worst car I’ve owned. So many issues. The worst was the engine. Constant egr valve and turbo issues. AC was great though. Comfy too. Wish I’d bought the is250.
Interesting, my dad had a 2008 IS220d, bought it in 2013 and kept for 7 years the only issue was the DPF which led to us selling it other than that it was fine.
So a few years ago, I sat in an IS250 of this vintage. Honest John said it was, at the time, the most reliable car you could buy. The seats are the best seats I have ever sat in. including many c and e class, Land Rovers BMW's and Volvos. But, yours seems like a bit of a knacker. Good luck.
Get your ECU tuned to shut off the dpf system and egr. Take off the egr and clean it out really good. Intake may be carbon clogged too. Ecu tune is night and day difference.
I bough one for myself for 1500 euro, discovered later it was flooded in the past since is full of mud under the carpet and some electronics don’t work, but since I do all the work myself I fixed most of the stuff for free and now ordered some parts for the seats (they became noisy because of the flood, the electric motors we’re completely stuck and rusted) from Lithuania since they cheaper there. The check vsc is something that comes up often in this cars because of the Denso ecu and other stuff. I still think it’s a really nice car and really like it, mine needs new wheels and a service, but it has a super clean history, always serviced at a Lexus dealership by the first and only owner every 15k km, it’s what Lexus said but I think should be done every 10k tbh. Plus I don’t know if the gearbox and diff oil have been changed so I will do that aswell. After it’s all done I will insure it and will take it on a long road trip. We’ll see how it goes. Btw the door sensor is super cheap and a 5 year old can change it himself.
I had one of these for about 5yrs a few years back. It wasn't unreliable, but these are fundementally flawed vehicles. Check vsc usually means emission control issues. In mine, if you fed it anything but premium diesel, you got emission control problems and vsc+limp. The gearing is far too long or maybe the turbo is just too big. These engines simply don't pull below 2000rpm at all, but pull like a train in 3rd, once the turbo is going. The dual mass flywheels become shudder prone, 6th gear is useless below 80mph, the egr valves & dpf clog causing the symptoms you see, coolant tends to blow/leak from the expansion tank vent (head gasket, no doubt), the engine throws huge clouds of black smoke when cold and accelerating (ALL is220ds i have seen do this), clutch release bearings squeak, injector seals go. There's a 5th injector that dumps fuel in the exhaust for dpf burn off - probably what causes the ecu triggered smoke when cold. They don't do it all the time, just when the ecu decides. The LUK flywheel on these is over £1000, just for the part. The egr is easy to clean - the rear bolt is a little tricky, but it might sort the vsc code. Fuel filters are awkward to change. Unfortunately, I don't think even a perfect is220d is worth more than £1500. The engines do have a timing chain. If the head gasket is leaking, it probably needs at a new cylinder head and maybe block. They are alloy, and tend to deform/move on each other. This car should have been recalled for a whole new powertrain. It's simply unacceptable quality, even for a cheap brand. Personally i'd scrap it, but will be interested to see how it goes if you keep throwing money at it.
Such a shame that the previous owner didn’t look after the vehicle. It was clearly worth investing a little in (even with a Diesel engine). Don’t think I’ve seen you look that disappointed in a sign off Matt! Commiserations indeed. Well done for finally showing it some love. 👍💯
Check the EGR valve and the breather pipes. I had a 2006 IS220d and had to clean the EGR every 5k. I eventually gave in and bought a new valve. Keep up the good work.
@@HighPeakAutos I have no idea. I never did get to bottom of it in the end. I had the EGR value cleaned a couple of times, which improved things for a while. Eventually it got stuck in limp mode, I decided to scrap it.
Lexus and Toyota cars are so reliable. I bet you all money I have that if you replace that fuel pump and the turbocharger and that problem with the door open alarm, you'll be able to run that car at least for couple of weeks without any further problems what so ever. Anyway good TH-cam channel, one of the best educating as well as entertaining 👍
Totally agree with you, the 250 was an amazing car. You would've been a lucky man getting a 250 for £750, pity it was the dreaded diesel. I must say that you and your guys have done a cracking job rejuvenating that 220. Looks superb. I really hope you at least got a grand on your profit for all your efforts mate. As always, thoroughly enjoy your channel and it's content ..👍
I Have a Lexus 220d, imported from UK to Nam, Africa. Pulls so strong! And very light on diesel. But it was maintained well. All diesel engines will misbehave if they are mistreated.
@@RevLexus 40 mpg, that is better than what I am expecting, at around 32 mpg. Of my new job requires me to do long distance travelling, then I'm very tempted to buy one. The car is what I'm looking for; comfortable, refined, a great engine and a silky smooth auto gearbox.
@@VishalGupta-od5mf The SE-L is what you want to look for, mine was a launch spec with every single option ticked. Heated/Cooled seats, auto mirrors all round, keyless entry, electric sunshades, reversing cam etc etc.
I had the same problem with the courtesy light coming on when cornering and it was a faulty courtesy light pin switch. Mine also had to have several factory recalls for airbags I think which the dealer will replace FOC
We bought an is250 se L brand new in 07. Still going strong, auto box and engine still sweet. I drove a is220d and hated it. It was so slow and rough. If only we got the is350 because that was great
They shouldn't be either if they're running right, the 220d is faster acceleration higher top speed it has 400nm torque as opposed to 250nm in the IS250 and only 15 less hp
@@gillscorner794 For everyone that says the gearing and acceleration on the IS220d is bad, I actually thought it was pretty good. It was also (I think) the only manual Lexus at the time. Of course that acceleration was rather let down by having to stop and change the engine at every service interval, which usually meant a courtesy Yaris or something for a few weeks each time.
I’m living in Holland and I always cross reference the purchases you make vs the Dutch market and I can’t believe how ridiculously valued older cars are in the UK. Same model, year, similar mileage car here is selling for almost €6,000!!
Prices in the UK are much cheaper compared to the continent. Now that I've moved back to Germany, any decent 2nd hand car is so many thousands more here vs the exact same UK equivalent
Hi matt, sorry to disappoint you but the car didnt come with xenons, at least not from factory. All 2nd gen IS has those projector style headlamps, but the ones equipped with HID lamps will have headlamp washers as per regulations.
Matt I always watch your fantastic videos, thanks for creating them. I was wondering why your colleagues don't plug in the portable OBD Carly device to prospective part exchange vehicles, this would save you the crazy bills and show up any issues before your pockets are emptied before seeing them in the cold light of day?
A taxi firm my mate looks after brought a few of these. They didn’t stay on fleet long. He wasn’t impressed. Although he has one of his own car (not a mini cab) a 55 plate IS250 sport manual which as done just over 200k only needing routine servicing which he has owed over 10 years he’s done just over 100k in the car and has been very reliable.
Your painter strikes me as exceptional value - boot, bonnet and all the other stuff for under £500; bargain! Someone is going to get a very tidy car when the final running issue is sorted… Just the tyres let it down (but the new owner can choose to rectify that if they wish). Thanks for sharing as always 👍
I had one of these. The gear changes were sharp and notchy and it struggled to do 30 in fourth. I had to change down to third which was annoying. To cruise on the motorway in 6th gear was only possible if one was doing around 75plus. Anything less you had to change down to 5th. The gearbox was awful and I got rid of it immediately I expected better
im another owner of this car, and i know exactly what you mean, everyones is the same, this diesel engine is the worst, turbo lag, 6th gear is useless, constant dpf regen, the list goes on, i took out my dpf and blanked egr, had a remap from LETO and its a bit better now with (stated) 220bhp, but for a diesel, it sucks
I got shafted a couple of times on cars that were too cheap to be true. I should have known better but you get cocky when you've had a good run & been lucky in the past. My run was so good I never even realised the vibration on the clutch pedal spelt disaster. Best car I ever got for a bargain price was a 96 2.0i Calibra automatic in mercury silver with lexus lights, stainless steel exhaust etc £650 in perfect condition. I got that in 2003, didn't spend a penny on it in 2 years other than the cost of an mot.. I still think about that kick when you floored it. Sold it for £1500.
Used car vertical when buying car for daughter spent about £80 on checking a few cars as people were lying about the cars past found car vertical very good 👍
Had one of these a few years back, had the exact same fault. I ended up removing the EGR and cleaning it with oven cleaner. Worked like a dream for another 50k miles
It would be interesting to check the date of manufacture (DOT) of the tyres when you do your walk around. When all fixed and with private plates on would be a great ageless car
If they are cheap that could be a reason. Even with better tyres there can be an issue if the car doesn't do many miles as they take so long to wear out.
As always the cheap cars are always my favourite. I love your total distain for cheap tyres! I remember detailing one of these when I was young, was very impressed, it stacked up well against my mums e90 3 series. Car looks ageless now, great job on it
Matt going on a date: “Before we go any further let me do a vehicle history check”
😂😂😂💙
And lift the bonnet and check the dipstick
@@josephwoolley685 if she has a dipstick it aint a she
@@thedandy6765They can be whatever they want to be identified as 😅😅
The chassis and rear end need a refurb
“I had a Lexus IS for 37 years and all I had to replace was the fluffy dice hanging from the mirror”
Love your work 👍
I went on a blind date once set up by my mate, when I asked what she looked like he said she was just 'ok'. I married her 2 years later...
Better to under promise , and suprise with the outcome
I hope you thanked your mate and bought him a drink, unless you are now divorced, bitter and penniless
@@curtisj2165 Still married and she's still amazing!
Mates always set up mates well. Girls on the other hand, never trust their set ups. They could not chick is bat sh*t loco but will pretend they do not know.
Glad she didn't have lots of problems like the car 😆
My friend worked in a Lexus service department when these were new. His job became much more stressful when they stated fitting the 220d engines
This looks like a car that would end up being rewarding for the person that eventually buys it. You are giving it the love it desperately needed.
Looks like a nice car. Most cars made in the mid 2000s still look good especially premuim/luxury cars
If it were petrol yes. It's a diesel turbo = money pit.
@@TB1M1how so? I mean specifically how so?
@@contorta960 They are not money pits. If oil changed good. But head gasket will go sooner or later. Just the design on the engine.
Wouln't touch the is250 either though, worst lexus engine ever made
@@chrismcgowan5180 Yeah 4GR-FSE (petrol) was so bad that Lexus kept putting it in multiple models over the span of 10 years, while they used 2AD-FHV (diesel) in only one model for 4 years. I'm obviously being sarcastic. The only reason people think 2.5 petrol was "bad" is because of Americans, who don't know how to take care of direct injection engines and because they never had diesel as an option. Hence the myth of 4GR-FSE's "unreliability". The only thing 4GR-FSE suffers from is the carbon build up, like every other direct injection only engine ever, if not maintained properly (even so, carbon build up won't blow up your engine, and you can always fix it relatively cheaply). Diesels on the other hand suffered from carbon issues too, and then some... And we are talking only engines here, not taking into account all other crap that goes wrong on a diesel. A quick look at any European used car market tells you all you need to know about the desirability of IS250 vs IS220d. In my country any petrol is gone in like 2 days, while diesels keep siting there for a year until owner doesn't drop original price by a half...
This channel is important because it offers a focus on real world motoring issues for many (the majority?) of hard pressed drivers on a limited budget.
Correct❤🎉🎉
Hi Matt, check the fuel filter again for contaminents, if so might be corrosion inside the fuel tank, usually when people only put a couple of gallons in rather than filling up.You did reckon its been run on a tight budget. Just an idea !
The VSC, engine and traction engine lights usually mean a fault with the EGR system. Also, I have a Toyota with the same engine, and the problem with lack of pull was due to faulty diesel injectors. Once they go bad, they're really expensive to replace ( here it's like 700 EUR for a brand new one ( 1 piece! ), 200 eur for a used one). However, when this diesel is well maintained, it's one of the smoother ones, and has a very good amount of torque.
Less lack of maintenance on this one for sure
Best route with that is have them refurbished for a fraction of the price.
It's a junk, horrible from day one rattler.
Hope to see a follow up on this. Interested to see if the fault was eventually fixed and what your overall costs were.
I have a 2.2 T180 Avensis 2008. Just do oil and filters change every year and my only concern is turn the key and put fuel. No problems at all.
Hope you get it sorted Matt. It's such a shame when people have nice motors but don't look after them 😔
expensive to maintain?
@@peppermeat8059 don't buy it then. Buy something you can maintain.
@@peppermeat8059 Out of “luxury cars”, Lexus are usually the least to maintain. If you service at a dealer, they can be costly.
Even then, a usual service is approximately $300 cheaper (Aud) compared to the euros.
Champagne lifestyle with lemonade money
@@sks6763 That's a problem with some toyota/lexus owners, they just buy them and never maintain since theyre lexuses and toyotas.
As a retired airline pilot, I notice you use and know the phonetic alphabet well. I do enjoy your clips a lot. I live between florida and barbados and have recently bought, from my best friend, a 2007 lexus ls460L with 150k miles and in pristine condition. I simply love the car and will use it when in the USA. Keep up the good work and I wish you success in your very competitive business
Thanks for watching. Nice Lexus
Thank you for your response. My son also has a Lexus I S350 about five years old and loves it. 305 hp and it flies!
Ooo, it has the Mark Levinson surround-sound hi-fi upgrade. That’s a pricey extra, sounds epic, too.
Here’s a fun fact: Mark Levinson designed the sound system for the original Woodstock festival.
They are great, until the amp goes and you have to pay £££ to replace it. It went in mine.
As a former IS220d owner I can confirm the stereo was fantastic and absolutely essential while waiting for the AA tow truck to take the car back to the dealer for each engine change.
@@oldblueshirtguy oh yeah, ML sound system is great!
I test drove an IS220D a few years back, all was going well until I came off the motorway and it blew black smoke all up the exit ramp. This diesel engine was not Toyota's finest hour!
Toyota's finest hr ,that would be in the 70s
Looking forward to another follow up on this one. Car looks superb after its clean up Fingers crossed it works out well for you.
Matt, not sure if you spotted the irony in the Andy Williams song: the first sentence of the song goes….
“You're just too good to be true”
The diesel never saw the light here. Must be similar to Avensis 2.2D engine. The 350 is brilliant though. Very smooth, nippy and sounds excellent!
I am the happy owner of an IS250. 3 years, just regular maintanance, brakepads/tyres/oil and filter/airco refill. No oil consumption MY2006 and no rust. I love this car! Not the most exciting car to drive but it has all the features you want and with CC on doing 80mph I'll manage 35mpg
Love these cheap car videos. Keep 'em coming.
Glad you like them!
Really you just show me when you bought a cheap car and made a few bob Honestly ??? This young man is a good presenter but the format is now dated He is in the trade thats why he gets cars at well lest say drop down prices and then makes a bob or two claiming this is how he got to where he is now "as always a load of bollocks " Not married no mortage etc etc and if I am wrong I am sorry for making those remarks ??
@@allanhughes7859 two mortgages actually but I don’t see how that is relevant
@@allanhughes7859 you okay hun? Text me xxx 😂
Personally I like the mix of flash cars and a few dogs thrown in for good measure. Unfortunately not all of us can afford those gorgeous Bentleys. I also like the older Land Rover’s, so more of those please Matt! 🙏
@@HighPeakAutos Whoops think i have hit a nerve did not mean to honest you are a good presenter but need to change tack at times some poor sod thinks they can do the same and make money when in true terms they can not because they are not you ??
Matt you did the impossible and broke down in a Lexus 😂😂😂 just absolutely shows you can’t rest on your laurels and neglect a car because it’s supposed to be reliable!
Cracking video, Matt, I really enjoy the old cars and what you have to do to them to get them sorted, it gives us mere mortals a clue as to costs and complications. Keep up the grate work.
Just a heads up, having lenses in the headlight doesn't always means they're xenon or HID.
According to EU regulations, HID or xenon headlights should always have headlights washers and be self leveling. Having the little rolling dial for the headlights leveling means they're not HID
Funnily, in Iceland we have no regulation for it, which means you could slap xenon headlights onto a car not equipped with it and be totally fine as long as they are aligned lol
On recent laws, Xenon or HID no longer need headlightwashers.
@@x6land really????
Lexus legendary reliability. You shot that myth Matt. Looks great after your work so far.
Its their weakest model/engine.
I hope you get it sorted Matt, alot of people just don't look after their cars, it makes me cringe when I tell people that I clean my car mostly every week and service it fully every 10,000 miles and they say I haven't cleaned my car in years or I haven't done an oil change on it for years!
Yeah. People's priorities aren't straight. Lets be real, people wake up and get up without making their beds or sorting their rooms out
@@WavScorn259 we usually hvae stuff to do. Cleaning every week is stupidly timewasting. Changing oil, do mine every 8k.
not changing the fuel filter every 2nd oil service is probably what bricked the fuel pump, by time you changed it damage was already done.
Or at some point it’s had some petrol.
Had an '06 reg SEL with electric sun blinds, blue illuminating door steps, sunroof, full leather...was a lovely spec. It's only Achilles heal was that sodding diesel engine that let the rest of great car down. Drove one day on the motorway until it suddenly switched to creep mode, could only do about 20 mph max. After inspection it was a congealed EGR valve, replaced the EGR valve for £350 and it popped a load of injector seals! Got £4000 scrappage towards a new Mazda at the time. Lesson learnt, should have got an IS250 with the silky V6.
The exhaust are known to rot out quickly on these but other than that they are solid. I've owned 2 250s and a gs430 of the same age and thats the only problem I've ever had on them.
Also if it has the xenon headlights and the bulb is gone it's usually the headlight ballast which you can get for about 40 quid.
Anyone who’s looking for a used car should go to you. So much honesty and you’d never rip anyone off.
My mate had one of these- I'll bet my bottom dollar the check VSC light is the EGR valve.
Hi ya, did cleaning it help or did you get a new EGR valve ?
@@musicpipeclean the egr, the pipe and new gaskets every year or two
That handbrake looked well excited to see you Matt! I laughed as unusual to see a handbrake pointing to the moon. Seems that’s only the start of your problems 😂
Paint job looks great - to my eye the colour matches perfectly. Nice wheels too. I like these machines !
I don’t like the beep sounds when you press the buttons sounds like a nissan almera i had years back! Loved the car secretly haha
My great gran had a 2001 Lexus GS that outlasted her. Those cars are so dependable
Matt it only needs egr valve vacuumed out, it's clogged with soot. Might need done a couple of times. Fuel pump should be fine. Egr vacuum and a dpf clean fluid 3 times a year. 👍An easy job for your mechanic
That interior is just classy. It's got the silvers and Grey's that make it look great.
This is your best video yet; very amusing but also really informative. As someone who knows nothing about cars and in the market for a used car, it's good to see how to evaluate a used car and what can happen and how to deal with issues. Have been watching for a short while now and enjoyed your vids, but will subscribe now as it's well deserved.
Thanks!
You always go above and beyond getting g things sorted.
I have this same model of car with 180 000 km and it's doing great. It's not the engines fault, it actually runs very smoothly. This cars break down if they lack maintenance. Mine has all services done in time and the only thing that needs replacement is the clutch after 16 years on the road. The only other fault is the dashboard, it melts on the summer sun because Toyota didn't make them right back then, although if you knew about it and went tot the dealer back then, they could replace the dashboard and all doorpannels free of charge.
(EDIT) Regarding the people who had had the engine replaced on this car and other Toyota diesel models. It was a matter of luck, a bunch of theese were faulty from factory, but if you ddin't get one from the bad bunch, it was sure to last forever.
Hi Matt, fantastic videos - well done. Some background if you're interested:
I worked as a slimy salesman when these were released. As you know, Lexus were very popular in the USA but were struggling to capitalise on the UK company car market as they didn't have a diesel option. Luckily, they were able to pinch the diesel lump from the Toyota Avensis (we weren't meant to mention this to customers). It was only offered in combination with a manual transmission which we were told to tell prospective customers was because the engine produced too much torque for the auto box to cope with. I suspect the real reason was actually emissions.
Similarly, emissions were the reason that you need to be doing 80mph+ for 6th gear not to bog down. Which made for some interesting discussions with geriatric test drivers....
I've taken 2 IS300h out for a drive and they're lovely cars. Super economical too for a 2.4L. On the comments you made about the 220d being a bad choice for the IS range, I agree.
What specs of IS 300h where you looking at?
As long as you go for the gasoline, you'll be fine. In France almost all of that generation is equipped with the 2.2 d4d, which is a nightmare.
@@notme-y1m that is!
@@notme-y1m I was just about to get a diesel one here in France. Now I'm not so sure
could be a split boost pipe matt. we get similar thing on our buses, whistle from the turbo, lack of power, usually a split turbo pipe
When you showed the ‘no dumping’ sign I really expected you to say, ‘tempting’.
It’ll be worth the effort (hopefully) Matt,it’s a well specked car and someone will love it 👍🏻
Don't know how Brittain generaly faces Diesels, but here you couldn't sell a Diesel if you give it away for free.
Owned it since new 2006 IS250 AWD,and now my son has it. Still sharp looking front and back. Nothing major to repair, usual brake jobs, changed all spark plugs 4 years ago, transmission oil flush. That's all and if I still drive it, likely would last till 2026 before anything happens. Back in 2015, I remembered the check engine light came on after sitting out in the winter (I have another AWD SUV) I put some fresh 94 octane Shell petroleum in the tank and after a brief stop at Walmart, the light went away after I came out
Have you ever wondered why the IS220/200d were the only diesel models ever produced? I wonder why Lexus were replacing engines under extended warranty? Mind you I’m only an armchair LOC moderator but I’d limp it to the nearest scrapyard 😀
@@lexrus7786 That is true!
I never knew about the engine replacements. Mind you its something I have experience with JLR. My pals F Pace is currently in getting a new engine (under warranty thankfully)
@@RevLexus The engine was literally a service item. 4 engines in 3 years on mine before I managed to part ex it (they extended the warranty to 7 years but only 110k miles).
@@oldblueshirtguy that is nuts, it is know that this engine was their worst product.
@@oldblueshirtguy In saying that I think Mclaren was the same with the mp4-12c. I have heard & seen owners on their 2nd or 3rd engine within a short period.
Also suffer from cat problems, same as Toyota d4d d cat 5th injector is fitted to trigger regen, but just creates a smokescreen when dpf is blocked, eventually leads to limp mode. That's what you're seeing. Had exactly the same symptoms on an avensis t180 same engine.
I had an IS250 and thought it was quite nice. Bought it as a backup car with 300k on the ODO and gave it some TLC ( parts aren’t cheap for these here in Aus) but ended up with quite a nice car in the end. Very nice to be in and quite ok to drive. Quickly became my daily driver.
was it a diesel?
@@wolvestribe6435 the is250 is the 2.5 v6 petrol. The only diesel model they offered is the is220d as shown in the video
Dont stress about the false door being open light. I had a capri who's passenger door did actually open on a right bend all the time. After a length of rope I was good to go and pick up my mate. He had to get in via the drivers door tho to get to his seat as the rope had done its job so well it was now part of the handbrake system too.
Loving the cheap and cheerful vids as usual. Looked like you had a wee cut on the rear nearside tyre too.
Good video again. The Continental EU countries demanded a diesel as most competitors and 70% of segment sales were diesel. So Lexus fitted the D4D RAV 4 diesel which as you say was inferior to the Lexus 250 petrol variant.. I hope you get the fuel problem resolved.
At that time, here in italy, diesel sells were massive, even in small cars like polo, punto, 207 etc
Really liked the video, i have one myself that was gifted basically as a stop gap car. Its done nearly 200k and drives well, i had the dpf cleaned and replaced the EGR valve and really helped change the lag and gave full boost at 2k rpm. The spec is amazing especially the mark levinson audio sat nav dvd etc
Very nice!
Don't panic Matt, I had one of these for 4 years and all that ever went wrong is the problem you're having with this one. Hoover out the egr valve, lots of vlogs on TH-cam and add a bottle of dpf fluid every 3 or 4 months and it will run forever. These are a great workhorse but need a blast down the motorway regular.
We call that an “Italian tune up”.😂
@@cindybetten7573the motorway blast? 😂
My neighbour had a similar fault on his Volvo diesel. Changed the fuel filter & all good. Then it happened again. It turned out to be an algae in the diesel fuel which kept blocking the filter. Obviously water contaminated fuel & the algae grew in the water. A Volvo specialist told him that it’s not uncommon. Always check the simplest thing first!
My sister (we're in the US) has a 2010 IS250 AWD with under 100k miles. It absolutely chews through oil. The car is in great shape, but honestly it's pretty slow, gets pretty poor fuel economy, and just overall doesn't feel up to par with other Lexus models. She misses her 2003 ES300 quite a bit.
The last car I had was a 2008 IS 350, bought it with 80,000 Miles’s and had a blast with it for almost 2 years and 25,000 miles. 300 horsepower and RWD with that 6 speed and a fun chassis was such a great time
Yeah, for a manufacturer that made the legendary 1.4 D4D, the 2.2 is a bit..different; not so frugal, not so quiet and not so bulletproof.
It is good you show the tricky side and as well as the good times, when dealing with cars. Hopefully the views on this vid make up for it.
Love the video as always. Hope this car is ok. I recently had to get rid of an IS220d. Sadly least reliable and worst car I’ve owned. So many issues. The worst was the engine. Constant egr valve and turbo issues. AC was great though. Comfy too. Wish I’d bought the is250.
Interesting, my dad had a 2008 IS220d, bought it in 2013 and kept for 7 years the only issue was the DPF which led to us selling it other than that it was fine.
@Scimmia i suspect fuel economy?
Mine was great I did have to do the head gasket and I blanked egr as that was a nightmare
what have you replaced it with?
@@RevLexus 2009 BMW 325i convertible. Pretty different. Absolutely love it.
I had an Audi A6 1.9 diesel with similar turbo issues. It was the N75 valve. It would go into limp mode above 3000rpm to protect itself.
So a few years ago, I sat in an IS250 of this vintage. Honest John said it was, at the time, the most reliable car you could buy. The seats are the best seats I have ever sat in. including many c and e class, Land Rovers BMW's and Volvos. But, yours seems like a bit of a knacker. Good luck.
I’ve had a few issues with the 250 but generally they’re pretty good
Get your ECU tuned to shut off the dpf system and egr. Take off the egr and clean it out really good. Intake may be carbon clogged too. Ecu tune is night and day difference.
Just subscribed Matt. I’m really enjoying your videos. From the cheap to the very expensive cars. Great work 👍
I like his variety too
I bough one for myself for 1500 euro, discovered later it was flooded in the past since is full of mud under the carpet and some electronics don’t work, but since I do all the work myself I fixed most of the stuff for free and now ordered some parts for the seats (they became noisy because of the flood, the electric motors we’re completely stuck and rusted) from Lithuania since they cheaper there. The check vsc is something that comes up often in this cars because of the Denso ecu and other stuff. I still think it’s a really nice car and really like it, mine needs new wheels and a service, but it has a super clean history, always serviced at a Lexus dealership by the first and only owner every 15k km, it’s what Lexus said but I think should be done every 10k tbh. Plus I don’t know if the gearbox and diff oil have been changed so I will do that aswell. After it’s all done I will insure it and will take it on a long road trip. We’ll see how it goes.
Btw the door sensor is super cheap and a 5 year old can change it himself.
You should do a review of an IS-F, would love to get your thoughts on it!
that would be cool!! you should see the Lexus cars I film :)
I had one of these for about 5yrs a few years back. It wasn't unreliable, but these are fundementally flawed vehicles. Check vsc usually means emission control issues. In mine, if you fed it anything but premium diesel, you got emission control problems and vsc+limp. The gearing is far too long or maybe the turbo is just too big. These engines simply don't pull below 2000rpm at all, but pull like a train in 3rd, once the turbo is going. The dual mass flywheels become shudder prone, 6th gear is useless below 80mph, the egr valves & dpf clog causing the symptoms you see, coolant tends to blow/leak from the expansion tank vent (head gasket, no doubt), the engine throws huge clouds of black smoke when cold and accelerating (ALL is220ds i have seen do this), clutch release bearings squeak, injector seals go. There's a 5th injector that dumps fuel in the exhaust for dpf burn off - probably what causes the ecu triggered smoke when cold. They don't do it all the time, just when the ecu decides. The LUK flywheel on these is over £1000, just for the part. The egr is easy to clean - the rear bolt is a little tricky, but it might sort the vsc code. Fuel filters are awkward to change. Unfortunately, I don't think even a perfect is220d is worth more than £1500. The engines do have a timing chain. If the head gasket is leaking, it probably needs at a new cylinder head and maybe block. They are alloy, and tend to deform/move on each other. This car should have been recalled for a whole new powertrain. It's simply unacceptable quality, even for a cheap brand. Personally i'd scrap it, but will be interested to see how it goes if you keep throwing money at it.
Such a shame that the previous owner didn’t look after the vehicle. It was clearly worth investing a little in (even with a Diesel engine). Don’t think I’ve seen you look that disappointed in a sign off Matt! Commiserations indeed. Well done for finally showing it some love. 👍💯
I owned the is250. Great cars and drive forever.
The VSC light comes on for a lot of different issues.
Check the EGR valve and the breather pipes. I had a 2006 IS220d and had to clean the EGR every 5k. I eventually gave in and bought a new valve. Keep up the good work.
Thanks!
I had that exact same issues with my IS220d.
@@themightywrighty what was it in the end?
@@HighPeakAutos I have no idea. I never did get to bottom of it in the end. I had the EGR value cleaned a couple of times, which improved things for a while. Eventually it got stuck in limp mode, I decided to scrap it.
@@themightywrighty Me too. After it happened 3 times after being cleaned I replaced it. Strange combo of lights but definitely EGR
Lexus and Toyota cars are so reliable. I bet you all money I have that if you replace that fuel pump and the turbocharger and that problem with the door open alarm, you'll be able to run that car at least for couple of weeks without any further problems what so ever. Anyway good TH-cam channel, one of the best educating as well as entertaining 👍
Landsail tires are awful, even my local tyre fitter doesn't recommend them, even when he's got Landsail promotional signage on his walls.
Don’t need a sunroof when it’s not sunny in Stockport. Even better Romiley cricket club probably a few buyers there
Totally agree with you, the 250 was an amazing car. You would've been a lucky man getting a 250 for £750, pity it was the dreaded diesel. I must say that you and your guys have done a cracking job rejuvenating that 220. Looks superb. I really hope you at least got a grand on your profit for all your efforts mate. As always, thoroughly enjoy your channel and it's content ..👍
250 the worst lexus engine hands down, they said it themselves
I Have a Lexus 220d, imported from UK to Nam, Africa. Pulls so strong! And very light on diesel. But it was maintained well. All diesel engines will misbehave if they are mistreated.
As you know yourself Matt, the V6 petrol is the engine to go for with the auto gearbox. It's reliable and silky smooth.
I used to own a 2007 IS 250 auto and it would easily get 40mpg. So smooth and filled with gadgets such as keyless entry, cooled seats and a camera.
@@RevLexus 40 mpg, that is better than what I am expecting, at around 32 mpg. Of my new job requires me to do long distance travelling, then I'm very tempted to buy one. The car is what I'm looking for; comfortable, refined, a great engine and a silky smooth auto gearbox.
@@RevLexus Which model did you have which had the cooled seats?
@@VishalGupta-od5mf The SE-L is what you want to look for, mine was a launch spec with every single option ticked. Heated/Cooled seats, auto mirrors all round, keyless entry, electric sunshades, reversing cam etc etc.
@@JamesClimbs Thank you James. I was looking at the Advance spec but will also look at the SE-L too.
Your right about head gasket failure Toyota and lexus had with the 2.2 d4d engine
I had the same problem with the courtesy light coming on when cornering and it was a faulty courtesy light pin switch. Mine also had to have several factory recalls for airbags I think which the dealer will replace FOC
For a split second, I was disappointed you turned that song off - then I recoiled at my own sadness and tried to pretend the thought never happened!
We bought an is250 se L brand new in 07. Still going strong, auto box and engine still sweet. I drove a is220d and hated it. It was so slow and rough. If only we got the is350 because that was great
It is a shame we never really got any 350 models, ES, GS, last 2 RX models etc. The UK really do get a limited model and engine range from Lexus.
They shouldn't be either if they're running right, the 220d is faster acceleration higher top speed it has 400nm torque as opposed to 250nm in the IS250 and only 15 less hp
@@gillscorner794 For everyone that says the gearing and acceleration on the IS220d is bad, I actually thought it was pretty good. It was also (I think) the only manual Lexus at the time. Of course that acceleration was rather let down by having to stop and change the engine at every service interval, which usually meant a courtesy Yaris or something for a few weeks each time.
It would be great to film a conclusion video Matt to let us all know how you finally sorted the fuelling issue
I’m living in Holland and I always cross reference the purchases you make vs the Dutch market and I can’t believe how ridiculously valued older cars are in the UK. Same model, year, similar mileage car here is selling for almost €6,000!!
Aaaaaand now that I’ve seen the video fully I understand why 😂 unlucky Matt
Prices in the UK are much cheaper compared to the continent. Now that I've moved back to Germany, any decent 2nd hand car is so many thousands more here vs the exact same UK equivalent
@@Gunzberg Mostly because there are more LHD countries.
Same in the US our prices are usually over double the equivalent in the UK
Hi matt, sorry to disappoint you but the car didnt come with xenons, at least not from factory. All 2nd gen IS has those projector style headlamps, but the ones equipped with HID lamps will have headlamp washers as per regulations.
Matt I always watch your fantastic videos, thanks for creating them. I was wondering why your colleagues don't plug in the portable OBD Carly device to prospective part exchange vehicles, this would save you the crazy bills and show up any issues before your pockets are emptied before seeing them in the cold light of day?
Occasionally deals are done in desperation
A taxi firm my mate looks after brought a few of these.
They didn’t stay on fleet long.
He wasn’t impressed.
Although he has one of his own car (not a mini cab) a 55 plate IS250 sport manual which as done just over 200k only needing routine servicing which he has owed over 10 years he’s done just over 100k in the car and has been very reliable.
Your painter strikes me as exceptional value - boot, bonnet and all the other stuff for under £500; bargain!
Someone is going to get a very tidy car when the final running issue is sorted… Just the tyres let it down (but the new owner can choose to rectify that if they wish).
Thanks for sharing as always 👍
I like this video as every other one you do makes it look too easy. This is more like reality of buying cheap cars for most people.
I had one of these. The gear changes were sharp and notchy and it struggled to do 30 in fourth. I had to change down to third which was annoying. To cruise on the motorway in 6th gear was only possible if one was doing around 75plus. Anything less you had to change down to 5th.
The gearbox was awful and I got rid of it immediately
I expected better
Mate most cars you need to be in third gear for 20-30mph, that could have been the reason, unless I’m mistaken ofcourse
Surprisingly the is200 is way better when it comes to having a nice linear power band.
im another owner of this car, and i know exactly what you mean, everyones is the same, this diesel engine is the worst, turbo lag, 6th gear is useless, constant dpf regen, the list goes on, i took out my dpf and blanked egr, had a remap from LETO and its a bit better now with (stated) 220bhp, but for a diesel, it sucks
Petrol is cooler with things like that. Diesel are much more touchy, gear specific to speed.
I got shafted a couple of times on cars that were too cheap to be true. I should have known better but you get cocky when you've had a good run & been lucky in the past. My run was so good I never even realised the vibration on the clutch pedal spelt disaster. Best car I ever got for a bargain price was a 96 2.0i Calibra automatic in mercury silver with lexus lights, stainless steel exhaust etc £650 in perfect condition. I got that in 2003, didn't spend a penny on it in 2 years other than the cost of an mot.. I still think about that kick when you floored it. Sold it for £1500.
Your car taste is improving. 😉😉
Fascinating.
I was amazed that running a Lexus IS for 2 months could do that to your hair.
Loving the series on bargain cars 🚗 keep up the good work
Used car vertical when buying car for daughter spent about £80 on checking a few cars as people were lying about the cars past found car vertical very good 👍
Love this content Matt - real down to earth content for us peasants!
Had one of these a few years back, had the exact same fault. I ended up removing the EGR and cleaning it with oven cleaner. Worked like a dream for another 50k miles
Well done so far Matt - really hope the issue is not fuel pump as I fear it will cost a lot more than £200-£300 to fix 😳
I admire your patience.
It would be interesting to check the date of manufacture (DOT) of the tyres when you do your walk around.
When all fixed and with private plates on would be a great ageless car
Another great video Matt. Let’s hope the fuel pump resolves the issues. Let us know the outcome.
rears are 1319, so not that old and already cracking
@@alangodsman338, you know this is not THE Matt, Don’t you?
If they are cheap that could be a reason. Even with better tyres there can be an issue if the car doesn't do many miles as they take so long to wear out.
Love the styling of this model. Best shape in class in my opinion.
As always the cheap cars are always my favourite. I love your total distain for cheap tyres!
I remember detailing one of these when I was young, was very impressed, it stacked up well against my mums e90 3 series.
Car looks ageless now, great job on it
Just finished the episode, hilarious!! Love it! 🫡
12:30 that sounds like a canal boat! 😂
🚤 😂
The clue was in the first line of the Andy Williams tune - You're just too good to be true. You couldn't make this stuff up. Wonderful.