That dash and door card melting, cracking issue has made me think twice on ownership. I get it that these models are moving on with age but that is something that practically all cars dont suffer from. I wouldnt want to go back to those days.
The miles are mostly highway miles not city and usually every 3 to 4 months I was changing the oil. Now however it’s not driven as much and I change the oil 2 to 3 times a year.
I have an '07 IS250 fully loaded RWD with 258,000 miles. Still looks new, in and out, always garaged. So reliable. I had the alternator go out at 170K. Coolest modification: interior headlight chrome assembly painted same color as the car. Headlamp glass looks clear like a more modern vehicle with beautiful paint within. Have not seen any other IS in my area with that look. Other owners always ask how to order. It is a carefully baked apart total disassembly.
@@lucaspetersen2069 Not a single issue. Had every fluid in the car replaced this summer. The fluids from the rear differential, brake, radiator and even the transmission fluid (only trusted the dealer to do that because they know the process for their sealed transmissions very well)
@@LensOfMartin hey man I’ve owned a 2007 Lexus sold it because of an issue it was having the transmission needed to be replaced because of the code p2757 does the same problem happen to the 2011
Go for 2010 and up is350's to avoid burning oil. The earlier 06-09 cars had different piston ring designs supposedly less friction thus more mpg. Some cars burns a ton, some don't. And like Marty said, frequent oil changes will help.
Man I know this video is kind of old, but I just recently discovered how great these cars are and I have watched almost all your videos. Thanks for making these for those of us who had no idea these cars even exsited.
I've got my IS250 for just over 7 years now from new. It's been a beauty to drive, serviced by Lexus with no complaints or motor/part failure(s). I have an occasional egg/sulphur smell when I launch the vehicle. I was warned about the water pump being troublesome on high mileage by Lexus. Thanks for a great video!
I know this video is very old but the egg smell I'm glad I'm not the only 1. Thought something was wrong. I have a 2006 is 250 with 86000 I love my car but the smell sometimes ewww.
I once had a 2008 is250 and i got it with 91k miles. It had the rotten egg smell and it didn't go away until i installed a high quality catback exhaust. Seems strange doesn't it
Tbh majority of people who complain are people who just own a car and don’t keep up with maintenance. You can’t expect to just drive and drive and drive and don’t take care of your interior or exterior or regular maintenance. I’ve had my 2006 IS 250 AWD since 2007 and it’s now at 160k+ miles still runs like I first bought it, still looks brand new. No rips or cracks on my interior or seats, no chips or scratches in and out since I detail it once every year. I also hand wash my car once every week too. Sounds like a lot of work but, if you want nice things to last you have to nurture and love and take really great care of them.
Definitely. I take care of all my builds super well and they last a long time and every one comments how clean they are. That's what happens when you are OCD lol
I recently bought a 2010 Is250. Two of these issues already popped up. Had to clean my throttle body from carbon buildup. My rpms would jump up and down when I turn on the AC. And my gears would shudder when shifting and I did a trans fluid flush. Both issues fixed. Your video is spot on.
I have a 2012 Lexus IS 350 F Sport with every F Sport accessory offered. I bought it with just under 100k miles on it. My local Lexus dealer said it's a rare car. In the last 2 years absolutely -0- issues with the car. It is Nebula Gray Pearl with Blue Big F Sport Brake Calipers, coolest car I have ever owned. Prior to this car I drove an IS 250 for one year but the performance wasn't there. Glad you like your IS 350 and thanks for the videos.
@@ysl4life383 if they are well maintained and well taken care of go ahead! Usually people take care of a car of this tier well but be sure to ask the seller of the service records and stuff like that. Good luck! Its a great car
Yoel Quevedo thanks for asking, cars out front rn. Been a smooth ride, still got a lot of life left. Gotta’ push to it as well. So far, had to swap my battery. That’s all
Thx for the info! enjoy your channel. I am the original owner of an '06 IS350 with 160K. Car has been trouble free for the most part. Car runs very smooth, pulls hard. Some things that have gone bad in mine. I did suffer from the sticky dash/panels, Lexus replaced them. The extended warranty covering the dash expired btw. No burning oil, but do use high mileage synthetic now. Did have the alternator and starter go bad a few months ago. O2 sensors went bad around 90K. Battery changed three times in the 13 plus years of ownership. Recently getting an intermittent CEL, looks like the catalytic is giving out. From reading the forums, that seems to go bad frequently as well. If i have the windows open and nail the throttle, the rotten egg smell fills the cabin, thats a tell tell, of the cat going bad. Oh the right rear shock too was a frequent issue. Mine are in their last leg, will be replacing soon. BTW, make sure your car has all the recalls done, there were a few, fuel system (two), airbag, timing chain tensioner, etc.
That’s great info! Thanks for watching. I think I am all up to date on the recalls and I did get the door card/dash replacements before they expired. Sounds like you had to do a lot of the same maintenance items!
I have an IS250 with 80k miles and what you've said about the O2 sensors and catalytic converter has got me wondering. I had an error come up about the catalytic converter, I think error code PO040. I bought a product (cataclean) to clean the catalytic converters and hopefully will pass its annual test (MOT). Around replacing the catalytic converters, at which point did you decide this was worth it? Did you get the error codes as well? I've cleared the error codes and it hasn't come up yet. I like the tip about needing to drive them quite hard to prevent carbon build up, is this to do with catalytic converters? - I only drive mine 2 miles down the road everyday, so probably the slowest driving possible. Appreciate any advice.
natetricks123 just had to replace most of the exhaust including the cat, new O2 sensors as well after getting the PO040 code. Unfortunately it wasn’t the solution and I still have a bit of an exhaust leak near the mufflers
There are some little oval plastics under the rear fenders, these go bad it's a cheap fix, most likely it's never the cats but these little pieces get brittle and fall out letting exhaust in the cabin.
You can’t beat toyota period. We have the same 3.5L in the Aurions over in Australia and it’s crazy how reliable and the power that they have. Simply the best
I've owned my 06 is250 for a year and put on 20k+ miles with no issue other than small holes in my exhaust from rust, which was easily fixed. It has 108k miles now and no other issues
I just Recently Purchased a 2007 Lexus Is 250 with 139,460 miles. The first thing I noticed was the Dash and Door Panels were damaged by something. I still wanted the Car because it was a good buy and very well kept inside and out besides what the heat did. I had a couple of Struts that needed too be replaced , I'm doing all 4 this week. I'll be Subscribing too you because you seem very knowledgable about these cars. Great video I learned alot.
I’ve had 0 issues with my 2012 is350. Basic stuff like suspension and headlights needing to be replaced at 100,000 miles. I put it on coil overs (lowered about 1.5 inches) and put in some new bulbs and haven’t had a problem since! I also added some sticker tires, so the car handles like it’s on rails. I can keep up with most cars on the back roads. I don’t think I’ll ever sell this car unless I see a chance to get an F
The clock spring is another common issue with these cars especially if they’ve been exposed to a lot of hot climates. You’ll know it’s time for a new one if one or both of your shift paddles only work at certain angles of wheel turn (if at all) and it’s a pretty easy and not too expensive repair just make sure you don’t piss off the air bag lol A lot of the LED bulbs in the dash and random controls start to all go at once with the heat situation too, especially the gauge needles. These are easy to repair and very cheap if you can soldier, otherwise the cost is kinda rediculous to have someone else fix your cluster. Make sure you roll your fenders if you decide to lower your IS, one tiny grab from the tire will crease these fenders and it looks pretty clapped out right away.. if you’re in a 250 a good way to solve the carbon buildup issue is to put a catch can in the damn thing. It’s puking the oil into the too end and clogging your headers, manifolds, entire exhaust system and even body panels when the carbon really gets malignant. Injector cleaner about 4x a year and top tier premium fuel really helps avoid the extra production of shit.. ummmmm what else… if you throw away your 2011-13 headlights for those five dollar ass vline headlights you’re gunna regret it when you realize you traded a far superior light fixture for a non-serviceable insult to the engineer who set these up. There are companies that can custom build your stock headlights to include a variety of otherworldly badass halo and party led features, it’s more expensive but BRO ITS A LEXUS! treat her well. Same thing with the cluster LEDs, lot of people out there willing to customize colors on your cluster. Oh and the condenser likes to get dirty on mine for some reason so if your air conditioner is a lazy hoe and u don’t know why I’d check that out for sure.
2013 GS350 bought it at 78k miles 6 months later at 92k miles I've done rear pads and oil changes. Absolutely love this car, plan to take it to 250k miles minimum. Also the 3.5 V6 is Direct Injected and port fuel. Port injection kicks in under load and cold starts
I have both cars and my audi and along with my wife's audi never failed and trust me I been trying to blow audi engine so I can have a reason to buy new car so far I haven't change oil in 2 yrs and I had put lots of milage and it still rides good let me know if someone is interested in seen a video of how 2 yr oil looks never changed and I beat up on audi
Bought my IS250 with 117k on it and now have a little over 149k. The only problem I had so far is the battery and alternator one time. I am suffering from the sticky dash and door panels... And had a REALLY bad experience with the lexus dealership about it. So far haven't experience carbon problems.. Thank God. For the most part, great car.
SciEntist ! I’ve had the same dash problem and I got it fixed by bothering the Lexus dealership every day or every other day on the phone or just going there
@@DezanHernandezProductions213 I've done that since I bought it from them summer of 2017... No help at all 😕 so I've found some parts at a good price... All dealers tell me my cars to old
Planning on getting an IS350 in about a year or so. Gonna be using it for a daily but also track days and canyons so I hope they’re as reliable as people say they are. Tryin to get one with less than 100k for around 15,000$. 👍🏿 great video, very useful to know.
Looking forward to getting an is350 soon. Will definitely be coming back to the channel to get some ideas for customizing and regular maintenance tips. Thanks for the useful information
Great vid and genuine advice and looking at this Lexus are still the best amongst the pack. One thing that's common with high mileage on IS250 specific is the radiator cap failure. It's best to replace when buying 2nd hand
Another common thing is rear calipers seizing. If I’m not mistaken, the left rear caliper has had more problems than the right. Mine is seized ( almost completely rusted) and I found out that I had been riding 3 sets of brakes instead of 4 this entire time.
@@LensOfMartin Sir I bought 2012 IS 250 lexus it had low miles now I just hit 75k on it. My car always put to the left and right when I hit the breaks. I went to the lexus dealership twice and they examined everything but they didn’t find anything wrong in it but I’m having the same issue idk why my car pull right and left when I hit the breaks at 20 speed can you please tell me what’s wrong with that? Thank you so much
I own a 2007 IS350 and my wife owns a 2008 IS350. 1. At roughly 100,000 miles for both cars, the water pump went out causing the engine to overheat. One I didn’t catch soon enough and had to replace the entire engine. The other one i caught sooner and was fine. 2. The hood and trunk struts go out like every year. 3. The speedometer and RPM needle LED lights go out, i have seen this A LOT and both of my cars are affected by this. There are services on eBay that charge $150 to repair this. 4. Both of my cars nav/touchscreens went out and became unresponsive, i replaced the digitizers myself for cheap, there are services on eBay for this issue that charge a couple hundred dollars. 5. In the 350 RWD models, sometimes the exhaust tips can “droop” a bit. Lots of this on clublexus forums. 6. Air recirculate solenoid can become easily broken when changing the air filter if you’re not careful. Other than those issues, not much to complain about! I still own them both and drive them daily. Both at 130,000 miles. Gotta love the 2nd gen Lexus IS!
Those are great things to point out! I actually bought mine with 130k miles, and the water pump was replaced already. I replaced the hood struts myself but haven’t done the trunk yet. The speedometer needles definitely go out, as mine are patchy too. I’ve seen the exhaust tips droop and my touchscreen hast gone out...yet. Lol. But overall they are fun cars and do well!
That melting dash is no joke, be sure you clean your interior panels pretty regularly. I just bought a 07' IS250. In my search, I went to the dealer and looked at an 06' IS350. The drivers and passenger's side had this and the entire dashboard. It doesn't just get sticky. From research what happens is the panels break down inside if sitting. So, in the dealer's lot the entire dash was sticky, the driver and rear door it looks like someone boiled part of the interior and put it back. Normal vinyl/plastic has ridges and craters. These actually had some sections that were smooth like a melted crayon.
I bought a 2010 IS250 two years ago with 35K miles on it, has just now hit 50K and I'm about to do a full on system rejuvenation. Been watching your videos, think I'll do all the 100k-150k mile maintenance this summer and use your tips and help! Thanks for the videos and info!!
The ISF 2008s had quite a bit of problems, but also account for more units than all the 2009-2014 models, I believe I bought an isf 2009 3 years ago with 100k, and it was Lexus serviced every 5k. So I’ve continued the services, at between 105=200.00 every 5k, did my own brakes, ( Lexus wants 1k) and spark plugs ( 800 at Lexus...and a weekend job for my talent). Had a few items graciously fixed well after warranty. These items had service bulletins, like the rear view mirror wobbled, and something else small. So I’d say, buy a vehicle that’s been religiously serviced, by one owner, if possible, that has had all the service bulletins done that are applicable
I had an 06 IS350 incredible car .. panels getting soft in heat true the advice on synthetic oil follow for sure I never had any trouble with oil consumption .. always used synthetic .. only other issue is the navigation screen freezes .. the fix is simple .. hard part is getting to it .. other than that when I sold it had 169k miles and still ran like a brand new Lexus .
@@unknownsource4359 it was a '12. The only place it said F-Sport was under the hood on the engine. At the time I personally only knew of the IS-F. All I know is given the chance I would buy one.
I'm hunting for a black exterior and black interior is350 f sport. Got 15k for one. The hard part is not the money the hard part is finding one in black. They are very rare for that same reason I want one. I never even drove one bro. But just the look of the is350 F sport looks sexy.
I see a lot of folks questioning a purchase, I will share my experience as one of many. I love my 2008 IS-350 and think it's a wonderfully designed car. Could not be happier across the board, fit & finish, accessories off the charts, performance, and mileage are all great. I'm a big Toyota fan having also owned Chevy's, Ford's, Mazda, Honda, VW's (trash) Porsche, and MBZ. My car had 125k miles on it when I bought it. High for a lot of nameplates but I felt good with a Toyota product. Personally I would not do a private sale with this kind of mileage, but I bought mine through CarMax. Initially the car had a lot of little things wrong with it, lots of burned out indicator lights, gas struts, cabin air filters, penny ante stuff. Also had some major things, rear defroster was shot necessitating a full replacement, and re-tint of the rear window. Headlight went out and I guess they couldn't just replace the bulb but had to replace the entire passenger side assembly. CarMax offers an initial 3 month or 4,000 mile bumper to bumper when you buy from them. I took full advantage of that and really put them through the ringer. And you know what, they stood tall. I would guess all told in three months they probably did 2 - 3 thousand dollars worth of parts and repairs to the car. Every time I went in they were friendly, they called everyday with an update, and I always got a loaner. Beyond that I purchased a three year warranty from them, and they have a variety of options depending on your budget. Now, they charge high book retail and they don't negotiate. But, given that I felt like I was really able to shake down the car during the first three months and get a lot of things fixed for FREE I didn't mind. They nicked me on the price, but I definitely nicked them back. And with the addition of the 3 year extended warranty outside of tires, gas, and oil I have a really fun, very clean little car that looks great, drives well, and at least for the next three years if something breaks it will be someone else's problem not mine. Win, place, and show.
Oh, and one other thing to add. 2008 didn't have full Bluetooth, it will synch to your phone for calls but not for music. You can purchase an aftermarket kit that will give you all those features, I think for around $250. BUT, in the center console there is an "AUX" jack that is tied to the sound system. I bought a dongle on Amazon for $25 that pugs into that and on the other end has a male connector that fits an I-Phone. I fire up my Soundcloud account and have crisp, clear digital sound pumping throughout. That and heated seats on a cold winter morning, you can stick a fork in me!
My issues so far with 3 years ownership of the 07 350 is the digitizer on the screen went out, passenger headlight needed to be fully replaced (kept turning off and eventually started turning off both headlights) and now its shifting funny into 3rd and 4th gear which I've heard you will indeed need a flush of the fluid maybe 3 times. Oh yeah and 3 alternators lol
If you don’t want to have any problems with oil and carbon I would suggest buying the IS300 3GR-FE version (no direct injection). Mine was imported from UAE. At 162000 km no oil consumption. The only thing that I had to do was cleaning the AFS indicator and changing the alternator freewheel clutch. And I use the Toyota 5w30 Premium Oil.
Just picked up my is 250. I had to change the transmission fluid and clean mass air flow sensor. I am for certain having carbon buildup issues and oil consumption. I have to add a 1/2 quart every 2.5k miles or so. On to the next throttle body clean up, spark plug replacement, and pcv replacement all thanks to you.
I own a 2012 ISF at 24,900 miles now, it was used as a show car so it sat most of the time, now it's my daily driver, only thing I changed so far is the battery, since I did that the automatic sunroof opening feature doesn't work when the open button is pressed on the key fob the windows do roll down. I just make sure that the coolant reservoir is maintained and filled, oil changes done at 6000 miles, using mobile 1 fully synthetic..
Need to reset the sun (moon) roof after a battery dis-connect, like you have to do with the one touch control with the windows. Check in your owners manual how to reset the moonroof.
I really appreciate this video I’m in the market for a 250 and I’m trying to stay 2008 or newer. From the research I’ve done I’ve gathered most of the issues mentioned here are mostly isolated to the 06-07 model years
I am thinking of purchasing one and I don’t think I will have to worry about the melting Dash. Since I live in Seattle but I am hopeful the car will last me for time to come if I end up purchasing it
Hey Marty. Australia calling. I have a 2007 IS 250 and I had oil usage issues. Changed the PCV valve. Problem solved. NO oil usage since. Been nearly 12 months now.
I love my IS 250 2007 it's such great car, I just had to replace the alternator with 140.000 Kms mileage, but it's not expensive so it's not bad at all when I compare between it and my BMW witch gave me a lot of problems.
Old Radiator caps fail, which can cause massive overheating problems and the car lands up needing an engine replacement, luckily I have a good friend at toyota that filled me in on that issue..the gearbox oil had to be flushed because the autobox gear changes became very hard and harsh and the flush fixed that. My catalytic converters don't work properly for some reason and the smell out the exhaust is absolutely terrible and spoils the open moon roof experience when it gets into the cabin. Bonnet shocks land up failing and cost a pretty penny. Mark levinson sub and rear speaker blew when I cranked the sound a little too much. Other than that I've only had good times with my car thus far, its a pleasure to drive
I had replaced a radiator cap recently, too. And the trans oil drain and fill did wonders! I do hate the cat smell on hard acceleration. Bonnet/hood shocks were only like $50 USD on eBay!
I have a 2010 IS 350 c with 143k. So far it’s been near perfect. I do have a sticky dash so I put a carpet dash cover (old school) on my dash. This is a beautiful car and runs very smooth. This is not my daily driver so I expect to have it forever. I’m driving it about 100 miles a month
Thanks for the info! I have a 2007 IS350 w/80k miles still like new!!! I bought it new, I LOVE my car!!! I have noticed the sticky door panels :( I will definitely call Lexus and see what they can do for me !
Testimonial: I own a 2008 Is 250 RWD. I just quit driving Uber at 3,330 trips. My IS has 350,035 miles on the odometer!!! Original engine/transmission! Repairs: Cooling fans ($56 on Amazon) 2 thermostats 1 Oxygen sensor Has no oil leaks and regularly went 10,000 miles between oil changes with synthetic oil. No melted dash/panels. Has bad passenger side headlamp plug (you have to bang the bumper to get the headlamp to turn on) LOL and the build up moisture inside the lamp casing. The staggered set up ate up tires though, about every 4-6 months. Had to switch to buying used tires A/C blower motor is bad, $80 Autozone Still runs quiet and has all the power it had when I bought it 6 years ago. AWESOME CAR!
If anybody with any pull at Lexus wants to give me another one to drive, I will gladly act as a brand ambassador! LOL As an Uber driver, can't afford another one :(
I bought a is350 with 199k miles on odometer I drove it hard for 3 months , flooring it, racing it, ended up put 10k miles on it, biggest issue on these cars are probably oil burning, it wont really cause major problems for them engine as long as you keep it topped off, but the cats may eventually get clogged due to the oil burning which was what happened to me, unfortunately I actually got into an accident recently that totaled the car and that ended up finishing the car off
My IS 350 has had a fair bit of issues when i got it. Fuel pump needed to be replaced as it stranded me on the road. New battery, *HiD headlights both go out while driving for 5 mins when warm, catalytic converter full, abs sensors go out and tpms sensors go out around 10 year mark. Make sure all this work has been taken care of. Oh and dont run runflat tires.
Oh wow! My fuel pump seems to be ok but I think there was a recall on something to do with the fuel lines. New battery here as well. I hate dealing with HID so I swapped to LED. My cat smells sometimes and I've replaced an ABS sensor cable and have new TPMS with new wheels/tires. I run cheap tires lol
Great video bro! Just a recommendation, I've used both Mobil 1 High Mileage Synthetic and Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage Full Synthetic. Each for about 3 oil changes. I have 181,XXX on my IS350 and have had a better experience with Pennzoil. Mobil 1 was great but it burned anywhere from 1.5-2 quarts between oil changes. With Pennzoil, the car seems to be a bit smoother and I only burn 0.5-1 quart in between oil changes. I also live in San Diego, where it can get pretty hot in the summer, so I think Pennzoil just has a better tolerance for the heat.
@@acrepairnearme Hi, yes I am specifically talking about Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage 5W-30 Full Synthetic. I usually get it from Walmart, because their prices are insane; www.walmart.com/ip/Pennzoil-Platinum-High-Mileage-5W-30-Full-Synthetic-Motor-Oil-5-qt/135786509
I'll add a couple things. Inner tire wire issues given dynamic toe changes under braking, can be resolved with FIGS or RR Racing Lower Rear Mount LCA bushings. Rear caliper slide pin seize, make sure to keep the rear glide pins for the floating caliper lubricated else it may seize and cause smoking/very hot rotors - replace calipers. Water pump failure at 120k - hit or miss with a lot of owners but it generally fails around 120, mine started acting up around 140. Given i had a 2007 I had to replace a lot of bushings, front lower mount, front lca, front uca's, need to do the rear in the future.
great video i just bought a couple days ago a 2012 IS 250 so far im very happy with it. I wanted the 350 but was just have a hard time finding one that was in good shape. all the ones i looked aat were pretty ragged out.
I am getting one this Saturday (2007) Desert Sage colour with double exhaust... So by now as you recommended and by seeing other videos, for sure I will upgrade all the engine parts and oil changes before doing any body mods... Thank you for helping. Your Is250 look great :D
Good idea! I’ve never seen that color here in the USA. Mine was an IS350 so it had a few less issues but mostly everything is just doing proper maintenance! And you should be fine
These cars are not meant to be beaten around. I have a 2006 is350. I actually high reved my engine and red lined it. Now it has an engine knock at 120k miles. I do not recommend pushing these engines as they are not meant for it. These engines are not bulletproof like many people claim. Yes all of my servicing was up to date. Oil full and new. I've read online about other people having the same problem.
I have an 06 250 with 170k mi and here's the problems I've had so far. Im the second owner and I don't know how well the previous owner took care of it. Water pump started leaking at about 140k and needed replacing. Trunk actuator went out at around 100k. One rear CV axle has a leak, though it's not needed replacing yet. Door panels/dash melted though lexus replaced them no questions asked. Rearview mirror digital crap flakes off over time and leaves black spotches that can't be seen though. I've replaced two of these. right front tire has a slow leak that I have not been able to fix. Just have to air it up twice as often as the other tires, annoying but hardly a big deal. Weather stripping completely disintegrated before 100k miles. lights on the speedometer and tachometer went out and would require some soddering or a complete dash replacement that I don't want to do. It had a problem with the transmission but it was replaced under recall. Other then that theres some general wear and tear that I consider excessive such as the leather on the top of the steering wheel being to thin and eventually wearing a hole straight though. The passenger leather seat has some reasonably bad cracking but it was always parked in the sun and I imagine never properly treated/cleaned. Chrome plating around the shifter flakes off and has a bunch of little sharp edge that I eventually had to take all off with a razorblade. Hood struts are a little weak. Overall I'm still happy with the car but that might only be because I got it pretty cheap from my father(about 2k less than KBB value at the time). If I had paid any sort of serious money for the car I can't say I'd be to pleased. I expect better from lexus, even if it was the first year of this new car. I can't imagine i'll get another lexus when this one eventually falls apart, and I'll probably just get a simple toyota or honda instead.
Own audi since 115 miles now its at 180 haven't replaced nothing. Really reliable and I treat it like sh1t haven't replaced oil in 2 years and I put reg gas instead of premium want it to break so I can buy new car
Spot On. I have an 08 IS350 with 293K miles and I’ve swapped out 1 alternator, 2 wheel hub assemblies, just removed and cleaned my PCV with carb cleaner, replaced the fuel pressure sensor and I am noticing oil consumption, but also oil on the spark plugs so I’m leaking oil through my valve cover gasket/ spark plug seals so that’s my next project, but even with all of that and near 300K miles on the car, she absolutely rips and runs great. If it weren’t for oil on the plugs I would have barely noticed the slight misfires. Great cars even at high mileage if maintained properly and treated as a performance vehicle. Don’t buy an IS350 and fill it with regular fuel and expect it to be there for you 300K miles later. Change your oil and educate yourself.
I had an 2006 IS250. Had it for 6 years new. I had the melting dashboard as well. Lexus did replace it for free. It took forever to clean out all the little pieces of dashboard. At the 2 year point, the steering wheel locked up on me once. Thankfully I wasn't on the highway. The issue I had most is the connectors to the battery would corrode. Other than that, the car was really reliable.
@James Bond that is weird. I didn't even ask them to replace the dash. They just told me that it is a free replacement because of a recall. I guess you can try calling another Lexus dealership if it is close enough. The one that did the replacement for me is JM Lexus in Florida.
I had my IS250 Transmission Service two times in one year and I hope I didn't screw nothing up they never told me it was a lifetime fluid or none of that
lifetime fluid my ass.... no fluid is lifetime fluid.. you should change the transmission fluid every 70-80kms... But don't flush, just drain and refill.. Slipping can occur with flushing, also slipping can occur if transmission fluid has been change for the first time when the car has high mileage (like over 200k kms). If you done a drain and refill every 80k kms it will not slip.
140K trouble free miles on my 06 IS350 when I traded it for an AWD 2015 IS350, due to a move to the snowy North. I did notice the sticky dash, which I felt was inconsequential.
Owned an 07 is250 here in hot sunny Malaysia, had the alt and water pump done at 140000m, 20k miles later the head gasket replacement and intake cleaned.... still running smooth without losing much engine oil. Using fully synthetic and changing the transmission fluid every 25000km
06 is250 200k got it with 60k only issue I had other than the dash(covered under warranty) and carbon buildup (covered under warranty) was the alternator.
I notice the IS250 has a flat spot on initial kickdown, does adding an induction kit really improve the response of the car below 4k RPM? Or is just the way the VVT is setup on these engines ?
If the car was maintained you can bank on getting at least 300k miles on the engine. Key is to change oil with only synthetic every 5000k miles or less. Oil is cheap. engines are not.
Brought Lexus IS 250 2007 manual Europe. 100,523 miles. Changed oil to Castrol 5w 30 A5 synthetic. Changed oil filter, air filter, cabin filter. Car is amazing so far. While listening to music sometimes can hear audio system make funny noises like cracking but it's all good love the car. P. S. Do you require premium gas or regular is not a problem?
My experience with my 07 IS250 Carbon build up Speedo/Tach needles stop illuminating Melting dash Premature water pump failure Navigation frozen screen Passenger Lumbar adjustment stopped working Rear view mirror spotting Front passenger wheel bearing went bad at 40k miles Bad smell when running fan after turning off AC even when replacing cabin filter Exterior trunk release button melted. Windshield side molding cracking/brittle Cam shaft rattle Luckily, everything was fixed by recall, TSIB, or from my extended warranty.
I had an LED quit working on my '07 IS350 speedometer needle, but it started working again. Water pumps also had issues with these cars. Previous owner had mine changed out at 50k miles. They overheated it and had to replace the short block. I have some oil seepage in the front of the engine, but doesn't burn any oil.
@@GODSGUNSGLORY owners of toyotas and older Lexus models are notorious for not having the condenser flushed every few years for $100 which will rid the smell.
The engine dosent "circulate" oil into the intake, the vacuum created in the intake from the engine pulls the vapor from the crank case and burns it in the engine to be compliant with emissions. The aftermarket intake will solve this but will also most likely fail emissions checks if your state has them.
Yes - I mean circulate as in it goes back into the engine and burns/dirties the intake valves. Luckily the 350 has port injection in addition to the DI. Luckily I never failed emissions
True but half the problem is people using regular gas instead of high octane gas .if you notice regular gas is a clear to almost a yellowish color if you look at high octane it's a blue color so that's a no brainier then you can an induction service at the dealer Wich we always decline cause it's to expensive or we just think we don't need to do it then there's always that mechanic from the 60s that tells you it's not necessary lol
@@jokerdejesus4756 yeah I use premium gas in my 08 es350, over regular gas I noticed it shifts A LOT smoother when I first start driving and my average MPG is around 23
Door and dash definitely an issue , happened to my is350 but just put on a dash cover and it’s fine , all the interior that wasn’t in the sun is still fantastic. And as a lube teck synthetic oil is definitely the way to go. Btw 350 , I got a 2008 and runs like brand new , synthetic oil and premium gas , basically cleans itself out .
I've had my 06 IS350 for about 7 years now and the only issues i've had was the bad aftermarket alternator and a slowly leaking water pump. My OEM Alternator died due to the badly aged OEM battery (it was 6 years old when i replaced it), went through several aftermarket alternators (130amps) that died within a year. I then ended up getting the Denso aftermarket alternator 150 amps a little over a year ago and it's holding up well so far. Water Pump cost me $150cdn for the OEM part and is a very easy DIY replacement. Also had a CEL for a leak in the mid pipe exhaust. Had a muffler shop cut out the bad part and weld in a new piece. I live in the salt belt (Toronto) so these get rusted pretty easily.
Good info. I just got a 2006 IS 250 with 76K miles on it. Looks like it was serviced at the leadership. I'll look out for the issues you talked about. Thanks.
Only thing that went wrong with my 2is was the touch screen went out. But taking the head unit out and taking the screen off, barely chip the glass where the ribbon connector is and filled the contacts with silver conductor liquid put it back together and looked like nothing happened and worked just fine.
The GS350 has a lot of the similar issues. Change to Mobil or Valvoline or whatever 5w30 synthetics you’d like and change every 5k with oil consumption issues slows it down.
Is250 170000 km and no problems at all. Cleaned the trottle body and pcv valve and did a flush of the transmission at 160000 km. I use Kroonolie Avanza 5w30 ...and use a oil catchcan. I drive once a week on the highway 130 km per hour.
I just bought one today haven't even driven it yet cause I'm at work lol I'm picking it up at 11 when I get off its an 07 is 350 and I honestly never thought I'd ever get lucky enough to buy one
You should shop around, 7k is a fair price, but if you dont have an extra 4 grand on deck than you may have a hard time with this car... 10k is what you should be paying for a good one.
@@nuke_love can you let me know how it goes as well I’m looking to get a 06 is250 for my first car but I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad for the payment stuff like is the insurance high or is it decent price for a high schooler
great car but lets not forget the dash needles going out also the navigation system went out which also operates the ac and heater. i also changed my ac compressor at 150,000.
If these are the complaints for the IS cars then these have to be some of the most reliable cars in the planet
They are. These things run for hundreds of thousands of miles
If the low end Yotas run for 300k easy what do think these bad boys can do. With proper maintenance who knows.
That dash and door card melting, cracking issue has made me think twice on ownership. I get it that these models are moving on with age but that is something that practically all cars dont suffer from. I wouldnt want to go back to those days.
Some of 🤣🙏 they are the most reliable.
Or just an average Toyota/Lexus
My 06 is350 now has 300,400 miles now and been using synthetic oil and no problems till this date!!
That’s awesome! There’s hope for me lol
That’s awesome! There’s hope for me lol
What about the transmission? Any flushes?
Thats wonderful to hear! I just bought an 06 is350 myself with 63,000 miles. I cant wait to hit 300k ;) what did you do and what were your intervals?
The miles are mostly highway miles not city and usually every 3 to 4 months I was changing the oil. Now however it’s not driven as much and I change the oil 2 to 3 times a year.
I have an '07 IS250 fully loaded RWD with 258,000 miles. Still looks new, in and out, always garaged. So reliable. I had the alternator go out at 170K. Coolest modification: interior headlight chrome assembly painted same color as the car. Headlamp glass looks clear like a more modern vehicle with beautiful paint within. Have not seen any other IS in my area with that look. Other owners always ask how to order. It is a carefully baked apart total disassembly.
Any carbon issues?
@@lucaspetersen2069 Not a single issue. Had every fluid in the car replaced this summer. The fluids from the rear differential, brake, radiator and even the transmission fluid (only trusted the dealer to do that because they know the process for their sealed transmissions very well)
I'm watching this and I dont even own a Lexus.
Information can’t hurt 👌
poncho828 dude I’m watching this and I don’t even own a car
zay cedillo same XD
@@LensOfMartin hey man I’ve owned a 2007 Lexus sold it because of an issue it was having the transmission needed to be replaced because of the code p2757 does the same problem happen to the 2011
@@Zaysav same
Go for 2010 and up is350's to avoid burning oil. The earlier 06-09 cars had different piston ring designs supposedly less friction thus more mpg. Some cars burns a ton, some don't. And like Marty said, frequent oil changes will help.
Ocean Zhu sounds legit I have 2014 IS250 and the comments began to worry me lol thanx
just make sure its dual injection or you gotta clean those valves.
Man I know this video is kind of old, but I just recently discovered how great these cars are and I have watched almost all your videos. Thanks for making these for those of us who had no idea these cars even exsited.
I've got my IS250 for just over 7 years now from new. It's been a beauty to drive, serviced by Lexus with no complaints or motor/part failure(s). I have an occasional egg/sulphur smell when I launch the vehicle. I was warned about the water pump being troublesome on high mileage by Lexus. Thanks for a great video!
I know this video is very old but the egg smell I'm glad I'm not the only 1. Thought something was wrong. I have a 2006 is 250 with 86000 I love my car but the smell sometimes ewww.
@@candicavasos4866 ok😅
I once had a 2008 is250 and i got it with 91k miles. It had the rotten egg smell and it didn't go away until i installed a high quality catback exhaust. Seems strange doesn't it
Did the smell went away? i have the same issue everytime i launch the car there's smell i believe it's coming from the vents not sure
Some say the back air vents rear bumper
Tbh majority of people who complain are people who just own a car and don’t keep up with maintenance. You can’t expect to just drive and drive and drive and don’t take care of your interior or exterior or regular maintenance. I’ve had my 2006 IS 250 AWD since 2007 and it’s now at 160k+ miles still runs like I first bought it, still looks brand new. No rips or cracks on my interior or seats, no chips or scratches in and out since I detail it once every year. I also hand wash my car once every week too. Sounds like a lot of work but, if you want nice things to last you have to nurture and love and take really great care of them.
Definitely. I take care of all my builds super well and they last a long time and every one comments how clean they are. That's what happens when you are OCD lol
I recently bought a 2010 Is250. Two of these issues already popped up. Had to clean my throttle body from carbon buildup. My rpms would jump up and down when I turn on the AC. And my gears would shudder when shifting and I did a trans fluid flush. Both issues fixed. Your video is spot on.
I have a 2012 Lexus IS 350 F Sport with every F Sport accessory offered. I bought it with just under 100k miles on it. My local Lexus dealer said it's a rare car. In the last 2 years absolutely -0- issues with the car. It is Nebula Gray Pearl with Blue Big F Sport Brake Calipers, coolest car I have ever owned. Prior to this car I drove an IS 250 for one year but the performance wasn't there. Glad you like your IS 350 and thanks for the videos.
Awesome to hear Barry! Thanks for watching and sounds like you have a fun car 🔥 Enjoy 😎
i just got my first ever is250 im madly in love with her she drives great
Baribor Intergrated bro I’m looking for one now smh, should I care if they all around 130k mileage
@@ysl4life383 if they are well maintained and well taken care of go ahead! Usually people take care of a car of this tier well but be sure to ask the seller of the service records and stuff like that. Good luck! Its a great car
Just purchased my first car. 2008 is250, 200k miles, $3,000. Wish me luck, so far I’m amped. Exceeded my expectations.
@@KSUBIKAYY howd it go
Yoel Quevedo thanks for asking, cars out front rn. Been a smooth ride, still got a lot of life left. Gotta’ push to it as well. So far, had to swap my battery. That’s all
Thx for the info! enjoy your channel. I am the original owner of an '06 IS350 with 160K. Car has been trouble free for the most part. Car runs very smooth, pulls hard. Some things that have gone bad in mine. I did suffer from the sticky dash/panels, Lexus replaced them. The extended warranty covering the dash expired btw. No burning oil, but do use high mileage synthetic now. Did have the alternator and starter go bad a few months ago. O2 sensors went bad around 90K. Battery changed three times in the 13 plus years of ownership. Recently getting an intermittent CEL, looks like the catalytic is giving out. From reading the forums, that seems to go bad frequently as well. If i have the windows open and nail the throttle, the rotten egg smell fills the cabin, thats a tell tell, of the cat going bad. Oh the right rear shock too was a frequent issue. Mine are in their last leg, will be replacing soon. BTW, make sure your car has all the recalls done, there were a few, fuel system (two), airbag, timing chain tensioner, etc.
That’s great info! Thanks for watching. I think I am all up to date on the recalls and I did get the door card/dash replacements before they expired. Sounds like you had to do a lot of the same maintenance items!
I have an IS250 with 80k miles and what you've said about the O2 sensors and catalytic converter has got me wondering. I had an error come up about the catalytic converter, I think error code PO040. I bought a product (cataclean) to clean the catalytic converters and hopefully will pass its annual test (MOT). Around replacing the catalytic converters, at which point did you decide this was worth it? Did you get the error codes as well? I've cleared the error codes and it hasn't come up yet. I like the tip about needing to drive them quite hard to prevent carbon build up, is this to do with catalytic converters? - I only drive mine 2 miles down the road everyday, so probably the slowest driving possible.
Appreciate any advice.
natetricks123 just had to replace most of the exhaust including the cat, new O2 sensors as well after getting the PO040 code. Unfortunately it wasn’t the solution and I still have a bit of an exhaust leak near the mufflers
I'm looking to buy a 350 so I'm commenting to come back to your comment 😅 thanks!
There are some little oval plastics under the rear fenders, these go bad it's a cheap fix, most likely it's never the cats but these little pieces get brittle and fall out letting exhaust in the cabin.
You can’t beat toyota period. We have the same 3.5L in the Aurions over in Australia and it’s crazy how reliable and the power that they have. Simply the best
I've owned my 06 is250 for a year and put on 20k+ miles with no issue other than small holes in my exhaust from rust, which was easily fixed. It has 108k miles now and no other issues
I just Recently Purchased a 2007 Lexus Is 250 with 139,460 miles. The first thing I noticed was the Dash and Door Panels were damaged by something. I still wanted the Car because it was a good buy and very well kept inside and out besides what the heat did. I had a couple of Struts that needed too be replaced , I'm doing all 4 this week. I'll be Subscribing too you because you seem very knowledgable about these cars. Great video I learned alot.
I’ve had 0 issues with my 2012 is350. Basic stuff like suspension and headlights needing to be replaced at 100,000 miles. I put it on coil overs (lowered about 1.5 inches) and put in some new bulbs and haven’t had a problem since! I also added some sticker tires, so the car handles like it’s on rails. I can keep up with most cars on the back roads. I don’t think I’ll ever sell this car unless I see a chance to get an F
The clock spring is another common issue with these cars especially if they’ve been exposed to a lot of hot climates. You’ll know it’s time for a new one if one or both of your shift paddles only work at certain angles of wheel turn (if at all) and it’s a pretty easy and not too expensive repair just make sure you don’t piss off the air bag lol
A lot of the LED bulbs in the dash and random controls start to all go at once with the heat situation too, especially the gauge needles. These are easy to repair and very cheap if you can soldier, otherwise the cost is kinda rediculous to have someone else fix your cluster. Make sure you roll your fenders if you decide to lower your IS, one tiny grab from the tire will crease these fenders and it looks pretty clapped out right away.. if you’re in a 250 a good way to solve the carbon buildup issue is to put a catch can in the damn thing. It’s puking the oil into the too end and clogging your headers, manifolds, entire exhaust system and even body panels when the carbon really gets malignant. Injector cleaner about 4x a year and top tier premium fuel really helps avoid the extra production of shit.. ummmmm what else… if you throw away your 2011-13 headlights for those five dollar ass vline headlights you’re gunna regret it when you realize you traded a far superior light fixture for a non-serviceable insult to the engineer who set these up. There are companies that can custom build your stock headlights to include a variety of otherworldly badass halo and party led features, it’s more expensive but BRO ITS A LEXUS! treat her well.
Same thing with the cluster LEDs, lot of people out there willing to customize colors on your cluster.
Oh and the condenser likes to get dirty on mine for some reason so if your air conditioner is a lazy hoe and u don’t know why I’d check that out for sure.
Great info. Thanks! I have an 07 IS350 with the 'sticky panels' issue. No help at all from Lexus Canada. It's very disappointing.
2013 GS350 bought it at 78k miles 6 months later at 92k miles I've done rear pads and oil changes. Absolutely love this car, plan to take it to 250k miles minimum.
Also the 3.5 V6 is Direct Injected and port fuel.
Port injection kicks in under load and cold starts
Awesome stuff! I do love the port and direct injected V6s!
Try to say something about German cars, it would be 3 hours video :D
Lexus is the best :)
I have both cars and my audi and along with my wife's audi never failed and trust me I been trying to blow audi engine so I can have a reason to buy new car so far I haven't change oil in 2 yrs and I had put lots of milage and it still rides good let me know if someone is interested in seen a video of how 2 yr oil looks never changed and I beat up on audi
I have a s5 but im looking at the 07 is250 212k miles as a beater daily instead of the s5 which is Manual vs Auto is250 awd
I love my 06 250. She’s got 136,500 mi and still running strong! Just be sure to change your oil religiously as you’ve stated. Great video!
Bought my IS250 with 117k on it and now have a little over 149k. The only problem I had so far is the battery and alternator one time. I am suffering from the sticky dash and door panels... And had a REALLY bad experience with the lexus dealership about it.
So far haven't experience carbon problems.. Thank God. For the most part, great car.
SciEntist ! I’ve had the same dash problem and I got it fixed by bothering the Lexus dealership every day or every other day on the phone or just going there
@@DezanHernandezProductions213 I've done that since I bought it from them summer of 2017... No help at all 😕 so I've found some parts at a good price... All dealers tell me my cars to old
SciEntist ! That sucks bc mine is 2006 and got it done but i guess it’s different depending on where your dealer is and how long the list is
@@tm55555 I just went in multiple times and called, then the scheduled me an appointment and now its all fixed lol lmk how the lawsuit goes.
@@DezanHernandezProductions213 it was San Diego Lexus... Smh 😕
Planning on getting an IS350 in about a year or so. Gonna be using it for a daily but also track days and canyons so I hope they’re as reliable as people say they are. Tryin to get one with less than 100k for around 15,000$. 👍🏿 great video, very useful to know.
Did you get one
Looking forward to getting an is350 soon. Will definitely be coming back to the channel to get some ideas for customizing and regular maintenance tips. Thanks for the useful information
Great vid and genuine advice and looking at this Lexus are still the best amongst the pack. One thing that's common with high mileage on IS250 specific is the radiator cap failure. It's best to replace when buying 2nd hand
UN MODEL RACING ?
Thank you for that tip
I got a IS250 2011 and it is so good with only 102,000km. Would definitely recommend!!
I’m changing my engine and transmission on my IS 350 that’s how I bought it. $2400 for both. Installation $1000.
Another common thing is rear calipers seizing. If I’m not mistaken, the left rear caliper has had more problems than the right. Mine is seized ( almost completely rusted) and I found out that I had been riding 3 sets of brakes instead of 4 this entire time.
I just had same seize issue on rear driver side caliper. I replaced both rear calipers myself and will check/lubricate them more frequently.
Previous owner of my '07 IS350 had rear caliper issues.
Mine did have that issue in the past, almost forgot
@@LensOfMartin Sir I bought 2012 IS 250 lexus it had low miles now I just hit 75k on it. My car always put to the left and right when I hit the breaks. I went to the lexus dealership twice and they examined everything but they didn’t find anything wrong in it but I’m having the same issue idk why my car pull right and left when I hit the breaks at 20 speed can you please tell me what’s wrong with that? Thank you so much
I own a 2007 IS350 and my wife owns a 2008 IS350.
1. At roughly 100,000 miles for both cars, the water pump went out causing the engine to overheat. One I didn’t catch soon enough and had to replace the entire engine. The other one i caught sooner and was fine.
2. The hood and trunk struts go out like every year.
3. The speedometer and RPM needle LED lights go out, i have seen this A LOT and both of my cars are affected by this. There are services on eBay that charge $150 to repair this.
4. Both of my cars nav/touchscreens went out and became unresponsive, i replaced the digitizers myself for cheap, there are services on eBay for this issue that charge a couple hundred dollars.
5. In the 350 RWD models, sometimes the exhaust tips can “droop” a bit. Lots of this on clublexus forums.
6. Air recirculate solenoid can become easily broken when changing the air filter if you’re not careful.
Other than those issues, not much to complain about! I still own them both and drive them daily. Both at 130,000 miles. Gotta love the 2nd gen Lexus IS!
Those are great things to point out! I
actually bought mine with 130k miles, and the water pump was replaced already. I replaced the hood struts myself but haven’t done the trunk yet.
The speedometer needles definitely go out, as mine are patchy too.
I’ve seen the exhaust tips droop and my touchscreen hast gone out...yet. Lol.
But overall they are fun cars and do well!
Being you have a 2007 and 2008, does the 2008 have better handling or steering feel? I read that it was improved for 2008...
Hey! How much did it cost to have the entire engine replaced?
Thanks!
Me too i got one for 5500$ and 136k miles!
I have a 2007 is250 and tha nav screen went out. How do I fix it for cheap?
That melting dash is no joke, be sure you clean your interior panels pretty regularly. I just bought a 07' IS250. In my search, I went to the dealer and looked at an 06' IS350. The drivers and passenger's side had this and the entire dashboard. It doesn't just get sticky. From research what happens is the panels break down inside if sitting. So, in the dealer's lot the entire dash was sticky, the driver and rear door it looks like someone boiled part of the interior and put it back. Normal vinyl/plastic has ridges and craters. These actually had some sections that were smooth like a melted crayon.
My mate’s car IS250 2010 has done 230.000kms but it hasn’t had problems
I bought a 2010 IS250 two years ago with 35K miles on it, has just now hit 50K and I'm about to do a full on system rejuvenation. Been watching your videos, think I'll do all the 100k-150k mile maintenance this summer and use your tips and help! Thanks for the videos and info!!
The ISF 2008s had quite a bit of problems, but also account for more units than all the 2009-2014 models, I believe
I bought an isf 2009 3 years ago with 100k, and it was Lexus serviced every 5k. So I’ve continued the services, at between 105=200.00 every 5k, did my own brakes, ( Lexus wants 1k) and spark plugs ( 800 at Lexus...and a weekend job for my talent). Had a few items graciously fixed well after warranty. These items had service bulletins, like the rear view mirror wobbled, and something else small. So I’d say, buy a vehicle that’s been religiously serviced, by one owner, if possible, that has had all the service bulletins done that are applicable
Going to testdrive couple 08 is250 upcoming weekend, seems like a good car!
I had an 06 IS350 incredible car .. panels getting soft in heat true the advice on synthetic oil follow for sure I never had any trouble with oil consumption .. always used synthetic .. only other issue is the navigation screen freezes .. the fix is simple .. hard part is getting to it .. other than that when I sold it had 169k miles and still ran like a brand new Lexus .
I want a IS350 F Sport. Drove one when I worked at a used car lot and was hooked
What year was the lexus that you drove? 2006-2012?
@@unknownsource4359 it was a '12. The only place it said F-Sport was under the hood on the engine. At the time I personally only knew of the IS-F. All I know is given the chance I would buy one.
I'm hunting for a black exterior and black interior is350 f sport. Got 15k for one. The hard part is not the money the hard part is finding one in black. They are very rare for that same reason I want one. I never even drove one bro. But just the look of the is350 F sport looks sexy.
I see a lot of folks questioning a purchase, I will share my experience as one of many. I love my 2008 IS-350 and think it's a wonderfully designed car. Could not be happier across the board, fit & finish, accessories off the charts, performance, and mileage are all great. I'm a big Toyota fan having also owned Chevy's, Ford's, Mazda, Honda, VW's (trash) Porsche, and MBZ. My car had 125k miles on it when I bought it. High for a lot of nameplates but I felt good with a Toyota product. Personally I would not do a private sale with this kind of mileage, but I bought mine through CarMax. Initially the car had a lot of little things wrong with it, lots of burned out indicator lights, gas struts, cabin air filters, penny ante stuff. Also had some major things, rear defroster was shot necessitating a full replacement, and re-tint of the rear window. Headlight went out and I guess they couldn't just replace the bulb but had to replace the entire passenger side assembly. CarMax offers an initial 3 month or 4,000 mile bumper to bumper when you buy from them. I took full advantage of that and really put them through the ringer. And you know what, they stood tall. I would guess all told in three months they probably did 2 - 3 thousand dollars worth of parts and repairs to the car. Every time I went in they were friendly, they called everyday with an update, and I always got a loaner. Beyond that I purchased a three year warranty from them, and they have a variety of options depending on your budget. Now, they charge high book retail and they don't negotiate. But, given that I felt like I was really able to shake down the car during the first three months and get a lot of things fixed for FREE I didn't mind. They nicked me on the price, but I definitely nicked them back. And with the addition of the 3 year extended warranty outside of tires, gas, and oil I have a really fun, very clean little car that looks great, drives well, and at least for the next three years if something breaks it will be someone else's problem not mine. Win, place, and show.
Oh, and one other thing to add. 2008 didn't have full Bluetooth, it will synch to your phone for calls but not for music. You can purchase an aftermarket kit that will give you all those features, I think for around $250. BUT, in the center console there is an "AUX" jack that is tied to the sound system. I bought a dongle on Amazon for $25 that pugs into that and on the other end has a male connector that fits an I-Phone. I fire up my Soundcloud account and have crisp, clear digital sound pumping throughout. That and heated seats on a cold winter morning, you can stick a fork in me!
My issues so far with 3 years ownership of the 07 350 is the digitizer on the screen went out, passenger headlight needed to be fully replaced (kept turning off and eventually started turning off both headlights) and now its shifting funny into 3rd and 4th gear which I've heard you will indeed need a flush of the fluid maybe 3 times. Oh yeah and 3 alternators lol
If you don’t want to have any problems with oil and carbon I would suggest buying the IS300 3GR-FE version (no direct injection). Mine was imported from UAE. At 162000 km no oil consumption. The only thing that I had to do was cleaning the AFS indicator and changing the alternator freewheel clutch. And I use the Toyota 5w30 Premium Oil.
Still great in 2019? Comment below!
I did end up draining my transmission fluid and more this year. Car is currently at 178,000 miles.
Just picked up my is 250. I had to change the transmission fluid and clean mass air flow sensor. I am for certain having carbon buildup issues and oil consumption. I have to add a 1/2 quart every 2.5k miles or so. On to the next throttle body clean up, spark plug replacement, and pcv replacement all thanks to you.
Definitely going to be waiting for a video on how to a transmission fluid change. :)
Keep up the great work bro!! :)
I own a 2012 ISF at 24,900 miles now, it was used as a show car so it sat most of the time, now it's my daily driver, only thing I changed so far is the battery, since I did that the automatic sunroof opening feature doesn't work when the open button is pressed on the key fob the windows do roll down. I just make sure that the coolant reservoir is maintained and filled, oil changes done at 6000 miles, using mobile 1 fully synthetic..
Need to reset the sun (moon) roof after a battery dis-connect, like you have to do with the one touch control with the windows. Check in your owners manual how to reset the moonroof.
I have the 2010 is 250 convertible with 60,000 miles, so far none of these problems, but thanks for the heads up :)
I really appreciate this video I’m in the market for a 250 and I’m trying to stay 2008 or newer. From the research I’ve done I’ve gathered most of the issues mentioned here are mostly isolated to the 06-07 model years
Yes that's true, however the 2008 model still had the sticky dash. I would say try for at least a 2009
Moving to the US for graduate school in September, and looking to acquire an IS 350 or an ES 350. Thanks for sharing.
Bought my 06 is250 back in January, 120,000k and the thing runs like it just came off the lot best first car ever💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
I am thinking of purchasing one and I don’t think I will have to worry about the melting Dash. Since I live in Seattle but I am hopeful the car will last me for time to come if I end up purchasing it
Hey Marty. Australia calling. I have a 2007 IS 250 and I had oil usage issues. Changed the PCV valve. Problem solved. NO oil usage since. Been nearly 12 months now.
I love my IS 250 2007 it's such great car, I just had to replace the alternator with 140.000 Kms mileage, but it's not expensive so it's not bad at all when I compare between it and my BMW witch gave me a lot of problems.
Neighbor has a 2004 Audi. Cost him $1600 to change an alternator!!!!
Old Radiator caps fail, which can cause massive overheating problems and the car lands up needing an engine replacement, luckily I have a good friend at toyota that filled me in on that issue..the gearbox oil had to be flushed because the autobox gear changes became very hard and harsh and the flush fixed that. My catalytic converters don't work properly for some reason and the smell out the exhaust is absolutely terrible and spoils the open moon roof experience when it gets into the cabin. Bonnet shocks land up failing and cost a pretty penny. Mark levinson sub and rear speaker blew when I cranked the sound a little too much. Other than that I've only had good times with my car thus far, its a pleasure to drive
I had replaced a radiator cap recently, too. And the trans oil drain and fill did wonders! I do hate the cat smell on hard acceleration. Bonnet/hood shocks were only like $50 USD on eBay!
should also mention the hydraulics in the trunk and hood...seems to be common for them to fail
Yes, but an easy fix thankfully!
Steven Chew the trunk is supposed to have hydraulics?
liminalexpression yes there hidden
Sorry. The gas struts* not hydraulics
14$ fix just go to orreilly or your favorite parts store
I have a 2010 IS 350 c with 143k. So far it’s been near perfect. I do have a sticky dash so I put a carpet dash cover (old school) on my dash. This is a beautiful car and runs very smooth. This is not my daily driver so I expect to have it forever. I’m driving it about 100 miles a month
Thanks for the info! I have a 2007 IS350 w/80k miles still like new!!! I bought it new, I LOVE my car!!! I have noticed the sticky door panels :( I will definitely call Lexus and see what they can do for me !
Kristen McLaughlin were they able to help you out?
Testimonial:
I own a 2008 Is 250 RWD. I just quit driving Uber at 3,330 trips. My IS has 350,035 miles on the odometer!!! Original engine/transmission!
Repairs:
Cooling fans ($56 on Amazon)
2 thermostats
1 Oxygen sensor
Has no oil leaks and regularly went 10,000 miles between oil changes with synthetic oil. No melted dash/panels.
Has bad passenger side headlamp plug (you have to bang the bumper to get the headlamp to turn on) LOL and the build up moisture inside the lamp casing.
The staggered set up ate up tires though, about every 4-6 months. Had to switch to buying used tires
A/C blower motor is bad, $80 Autozone
Still runs quiet and has all the power it had when I bought it 6 years ago. AWESOME CAR!
If anybody with any pull at Lexus wants to give me another one to drive, I will gladly act as a brand ambassador! LOL As an Uber driver, can't afford another one :(
@@UncleBuckRodgers You didn't have any carbon buildup?
I bought a is350 with 199k miles on odometer I drove it hard for 3 months , flooring it, racing it, ended up put 10k miles on it, biggest issue on these cars are probably oil burning, it wont really cause major problems for them engine as long as you keep it topped off, but the cats may eventually get clogged due to the oil burning which was what happened to me, unfortunately I actually got into an accident recently that totaled the car and that ended up finishing the car off
My IS 350 has had a fair bit of issues when i got it. Fuel pump needed to be replaced as it stranded me on the road. New battery, *HiD headlights both go out while driving for 5 mins when warm, catalytic converter full, abs sensors go out and tpms sensors go out around 10 year mark. Make sure all this work has been taken care of. Oh and dont run runflat tires.
Ours has about the same amount of problems as well
Oh wow! My fuel pump seems to be ok but I think there was a recall on something to do with the fuel lines. New battery here as well. I hate dealing with HID so I swapped to LED. My cat smells sometimes and I've replaced an ABS sensor cable and have new TPMS with new wheels/tires. I run cheap tires lol
Omg a lexus? Thought they were extremely reliable, shocked
James Myers They are very reliable - top brand the world - but every car can have its small issues
@@LensOfMartin op issues are not common. My tl only needed oil changes.
Great video bro! Just a recommendation, I've used both Mobil 1 High Mileage Synthetic and Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage Full Synthetic. Each for about 3 oil changes. I have 181,XXX on my IS350 and have had a better experience with Pennzoil. Mobil 1 was great but it burned anywhere from 1.5-2 quarts between oil changes. With Pennzoil, the car seems to be a bit smoother and I only burn 0.5-1 quart in between oil changes. I also live in San Diego, where it can get pretty hot in the summer, so I think Pennzoil just has a better tolerance for the heat.
That’s awesome to know. I’ve heard good things about Pennzoil and would be curious to try it! I only went Mobil 1 because it was Toyota recommended
Hi! Are you talking about 5W30 Pennzoil? Have the same oil consume with Mobil 1 High mil. 1 quart per 1k mil. is 350 2006
@@acrepairnearme Hi, yes I am specifically talking about Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage 5W-30 Full Synthetic. I usually get it from Walmart, because their prices are insane; www.walmart.com/ip/Pennzoil-Platinum-High-Mileage-5W-30-Full-Synthetic-Motor-Oil-5-qt/135786509
I'll add a couple things. Inner tire wire issues given dynamic toe changes under braking, can be resolved with FIGS or RR Racing Lower Rear Mount LCA bushings. Rear caliper slide pin seize, make sure to keep the rear glide pins for the floating caliper lubricated else it may seize and cause smoking/very hot rotors - replace calipers. Water pump failure at 120k - hit or miss with a lot of owners but it generally fails around 120, mine started acting up around 140. Given i had a 2007 I had to replace a lot of bushings, front lower mount, front lca, front uca's, need to do the rear in the future.
Good info!! I need to do those bushings badly
That's why I am in the habit of regreasing those pins when I have the wheels off to do a rotation or swapping between summer and winter wheels.
great video i just bought a couple days ago a 2012 IS 250 so far im very happy with it. I wanted the 350 but was just have a hard time finding one that was in good shape. all the ones i looked aat were pretty ragged out.
I am getting one this Saturday (2007) Desert Sage colour with double exhaust... So by now as you recommended and by seeing other videos, for sure I will upgrade all the engine parts and oil changes before doing any body mods... Thank you for helping. Your Is250 look great :D
Good idea! I’ve never seen that color here in the USA. Mine was an IS350 so it had a few less issues but mostly everything is just doing proper maintenance! And you should be fine
I own a 2012 IS 250 and it's a fast, wonderfully reliable car. Couldn't be happier with it. Sleek ass ride
These cars are not meant to be beaten around. I have a 2006 is350. I actually high reved my engine and red lined it. Now it has an engine knock at 120k miles. I do not recommend pushing these engines as they are not meant for it. These engines are not bulletproof like many people claim. Yes all of my servicing was up to date. Oil full and new. I've read online about other people having the same problem.
I have an 06 250 with 170k mi and here's the problems I've had so far. Im the second owner and I don't know how well the previous owner took care of it.
Water pump started leaking at about 140k and needed replacing.
Trunk actuator went out at around 100k.
One rear CV axle has a leak, though it's not needed replacing yet.
Door panels/dash melted though lexus replaced them no questions asked.
Rearview mirror digital crap flakes off over time and leaves black spotches that can't be seen though. I've replaced two of these.
right front tire has a slow leak that I have not been able to fix. Just have to air it up twice as often as the other tires, annoying but hardly a big deal.
Weather stripping completely disintegrated before 100k miles.
lights on the speedometer and tachometer went out and would require some soddering or a complete dash replacement that I don't want to do.
It had a problem with the transmission but it was replaced under recall.
Other then that theres some general wear and tear that I consider excessive such as the leather on the top of the steering wheel being to thin and eventually wearing a hole straight though. The passenger leather seat has some reasonably bad cracking but it was always parked in the sun and I imagine never properly treated/cleaned. Chrome plating around the shifter flakes off and has a bunch of little sharp edge that I eventually had to take all off with a razorblade. Hood struts are a little weak.
Overall I'm still happy with the car but that might only be because I got it pretty cheap from my father(about 2k less than KBB value at the time). If I had paid any sort of serious money for the car I can't say I'd be to pleased. I expect better from lexus, even if it was the first year of this new car. I can't imagine i'll get another lexus when this one eventually falls apart, and I'll probably just get a simple toyota or honda instead.
So the first owner who treated the car inappropriate is your father ? LOL
Own audi since 115 miles now its at 180 haven't replaced nothing. Really reliable and I treat it like sh1t haven't replaced oil in 2 years and I put reg gas instead of premium want it to break so I can buy new car
I saw you were by the Kennedy at the shipyard, I have a 2006 IS250, very similar issues. Good video.
I have a huge complain at my bmw, it doesn t have lexus reliability :(
Well we don't have a manual gearbox. So you win some you lose some
@Roddy Rod your mom is a posh Toyota...
Roddy Rod you’re fucking stupid.
Roddy Rod “drivers cars “ lol yeah good luck with those repair bills mr driver
Sure BMWs are driver's cars. Drive you right into bankruptcy
Spot On. I have an 08 IS350 with 293K miles and I’ve swapped out 1 alternator, 2 wheel hub assemblies, just removed and cleaned my PCV with carb cleaner, replaced the fuel pressure sensor and I am noticing oil consumption, but also oil on the spark plugs so I’m leaking oil through my valve cover gasket/ spark plug seals so that’s my next project, but even with all of that and near 300K miles on the car, she absolutely rips and runs great. If it weren’t for oil on the plugs I would have barely noticed the slight misfires. Great cars even at high mileage if maintained properly and treated as a performance vehicle. Don’t buy an IS350 and fill it with regular fuel and expect it to be there for you 300K miles later. Change your oil and educate yourself.
How are your interior panels holding up? And cracking? Any mushiness?
I had an 2006 IS250. Had it for 6 years new. I had the melting dashboard as well. Lexus did replace it for free. It took forever to clean out all the little pieces of dashboard.
At the 2 year point, the steering wheel locked up on me once. Thankfully I wasn't on the highway.
The issue I had most is the connectors to the battery would corrode.
Other than that, the car was really reliable.
@James Bond It was a known recall. So I believe they should replace it for free. Best way to know is call a Lexus dealership.
@James Bond that is weird. I didn't even ask them to replace the dash. They just told me that it is a free replacement because of a recall. I guess you can try calling another Lexus dealership if it is close enough.
The one that did the replacement for me is JM Lexus in Florida.
why did the steering wheel lock up? did you find the cause?
@@keviinkins The mechanic told me it was because when they went from the IS300 to the IS250, they went from hydraulic steering to electronic steering.
@@squalllfviii thanks for the reply, is the electronic steering giving you any problems besides that one time?
This guy needs good own show. He has such a great speaking voice.
11 isf with 120k only issue was the cooling fan motor bushings. fixed it for 10 bucks.
I just purchased a 2011 is350 with 33,000. I am in love with it.
I had my IS250 Transmission Service two times in one year and I hope I didn't screw nothing up they never told me it was a lifetime fluid or none of that
lifetime fluid my ass.... no fluid is lifetime fluid.. you should change the transmission fluid every 70-80kms... But don't flush, just drain and refill.. Slipping can occur with flushing, also slipping can occur if transmission fluid has been change for the first time when the car has high mileage (like over 200k kms). If you done a drain and refill every 80k kms it will not slip.
140K trouble free miles on my 06 IS350 when I traded it for an AWD 2015 IS350, due to a move to the snowy North. I did notice the sticky dash, which I felt was inconsequential.
Not many issues with the IS-F, it will eat the front tires fairly quickly. The stock exhaust manifolds (headers) tend to crack.
The starter on ours failed, apparently that's also a fairly common thing as where it's positioned it gets really hot
Owned an 07 is250 here in hot sunny Malaysia, had the alt and water pump done at 140000m, 20k miles later the head gasket replacement and intake cleaned.... still running smooth without losing much engine oil. Using fully synthetic and changing the transmission fluid every 25000km
06 is250 200k got it with 60k only issue I had other than the dash(covered under warranty) and carbon buildup (covered under warranty) was the alternator.
It was a great and very helpful video bro! Especially because it was easy and brief! Thanks!
I notice the IS250 has a flat spot on initial kickdown, does adding an induction kit really improve the response of the car below 4k RPM?
Or is just the way the VVT is setup on these engines ?
Forgot mention the mark levinson amplifier that gets wet where it's factory installed in the wheel well and goes bad
Great video I’m looking at buying one and you video helped me out I was kind of nervous buying a high mileage is 250
Same here the one im thinking has 150 miles on it
If the car was maintained you can bank on getting at least 300k miles on the engine. Key is to change oil with only synthetic every 5000k miles or less. Oil is cheap. engines are not.
Brought Lexus IS 250 2007 manual Europe. 100,523 miles. Changed oil to Castrol 5w 30 A5 synthetic. Changed oil filter, air filter, cabin filter. Car is amazing so far. While listening to music sometimes can hear audio system make funny noises like cracking but it's all good love the car.
P. S. Do you require premium gas or regular is not a problem?
@@MD-gu9nt Thank you will keep that in mind.
My experience with my 07 IS250
Carbon build up
Speedo/Tach needles stop illuminating
Melting dash
Premature water pump failure
Navigation frozen screen
Passenger Lumbar adjustment stopped working
Rear view mirror spotting
Front passenger wheel bearing went bad at 40k miles
Bad smell when running fan after turning off AC even when replacing cabin filter
Exterior trunk release button melted.
Windshield side molding cracking/brittle
Cam shaft rattle
Luckily, everything was fixed by recall, TSIB, or from my extended warranty.
I had an LED quit working on my '07 IS350 speedometer needle, but it started working again.
Water pumps also had issues with these cars. Previous owner had mine changed out at 50k miles. They overheated it and had to replace the short block.
I have some oil seepage in the front of the engine, but doesn't burn any oil.
aspect D I’ve had some of these!
toyota is notorious for the bad ac smell. i get it too in my 09 is250 and my dads 09 tundra and his 99 avalon. all smell the same.
@@GODSGUNSGLORY owners of toyotas and older Lexus models are notorious for not having the condenser flushed every few years for $100 which will rid the smell.
The engine dosent "circulate" oil into the intake, the vacuum created in the intake from the engine pulls the vapor from the crank case and burns it in the engine to be compliant with emissions. The aftermarket intake will solve this but will also most likely fail emissions checks if your state has them.
Yes - I mean circulate as in it goes back into the engine and burns/dirties the intake valves. Luckily the 350 has port injection in addition to the DI. Luckily I never failed emissions
You have to drive the IS250 hard if you don’t want excess carbon build up.
Drove mine hard everyday hope I’m not hurting the engine
And use quality gas.
True but half the problem is people using regular gas instead of high octane gas .if you notice regular gas is a clear to almost a yellowish color if you look at high octane it's a blue color so that's a no brainier then you can an induction service at the dealer Wich we always decline cause it's to expensive or we just think we don't need to do it then there's always that mechanic from the 60s that tells you it's not necessary lol
I find the views very helpful to a new owner
@@jokerdejesus4756 yeah I use premium gas in my 08 es350, over regular gas I noticed it shifts A LOT smoother when I first start driving and my average MPG is around 23
Thanks for the oil recommendation because I’m having issues on oil shortage
Yikes!
I thank you for this video. Now I will definately buy it tomorrow.
Door and dash definitely an issue , happened to my is350 but just put on a dash cover and it’s fine , all the interior that wasn’t in the sun is still fantastic. And as a lube teck synthetic oil is definitely the way to go. Btw 350 , I got a 2008 and runs like brand new , synthetic oil and premium gas , basically cleans itself out .
CASTROL ET MOBIL FONT PAS LE TRAVAIL ???
I plan on buying one soon, that is how I found this channel cause I wanted to know more on it
Great car even with these little issues
Spend more on a one owner car..once its been passed down a couple times to a small used car lot, you can count on it having been poorly maintained
I have a 03 is300 for about 5 years Only a few problems since I got it nothing serious. I’m planning on buying a ISF for my next car.
I'm upgrading from a Chevy Cobalt to a is 250 2009 I'm excited still lol
get the 350
Get the isF ftw
I've had my 06 IS350 for about 7 years now and the only issues i've had was the bad aftermarket alternator and a slowly leaking water pump.
My OEM Alternator died due to the badly aged OEM battery (it was 6 years old when i replaced it), went through several aftermarket alternators (130amps) that died within a year. I then ended up getting the Denso aftermarket alternator 150 amps a little over a year ago and it's holding up well so far.
Water Pump cost me $150cdn for the OEM part and is a very easy DIY replacement.
Also had a CEL for a leak in the mid pipe exhaust. Had a muffler shop cut out the bad part and weld in a new piece. I live in the salt belt (Toronto) so these get rusted pretty easily.
Good info. I just got a 2006 IS 250 with 76K miles on it. Looks like it was serviced at the leadership. I'll look out for the issues you talked about. Thanks.
Only thing that went wrong with my 2is was the touch screen went out. But taking the head unit out and taking the screen off, barely chip the glass where the ribbon connector is and filled the contacts with silver conductor liquid put it back together and looked like nothing happened and worked just fine.
The GS350 has a lot of the similar issues. Change to Mobil or Valvoline or whatever 5w30 synthetics you’d like and change every 5k with oil consumption issues slows it down.
I bought one on 49000 five years ago it now has 149000 on it never had an issue regular services tires and brakes.most reliable car I've ever owned
Timing cover sealant failure(oil leak)is common.
Is250 170000 km and no problems at all.
Cleaned the trottle body and pcv valve and did a flush of the transmission at 160000 km. I use Kroonolie Avanza 5w30 ...and use a oil catchcan. I drive once a week on the highway 130 km per hour.
Why are is350s so hard to find 🤬
Facts
I just bought one today haven't even driven it yet cause I'm at work lol I'm picking it up at 11 when I get off its an 07 is 350 and I honestly never thought I'd ever get lucky enough to buy one
Should I get an 07 Is250 for 7k, it has 130k on it for the mileage? Should I even worry about the mileage when the cars are built so well
You should shop around, 7k is a fair price, but if you dont have an extra 4 grand on deck than you may have a hard time with this car... 10k is what you should be paying for a good one.
Bro tbh. I JUST bought an 07 IS250 TODAY for my first car for 6K w/ 120k miles on it. We should stay in touch abkut how our cars seem to compare 😁
@@nuke_love can you let me know how it goes as well I’m looking to get a 06 is250 for my first car but I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad for the payment stuff like is the insurance high or is it decent price for a high schooler
great car but lets not forget the dash needles going out also the navigation system went out which also operates the ac and heater. i also changed my ac compressor at 150,000.