Is250 Prepurchase Inspection

[turtle33]

Hi all,

I just put a deposit over the weekend for a 2008 IS250 from Werribee Nissan over the wkend. Looking forward to it but the condition I put was that it had to go for a RACV inspection first as I noticed there was a ticking noise from the engine. Apparently it just needs an oil change and they will do the 90K service for me. Has anyone had experience with that?

The other concern is that there is a problem with the key remotes, you can't get in the car without manually using the key and they said they would fix that too. But when I started the car the exclaimation warning light was coming up on the dash and the dealer said it was due to the key's. So has anyone used RACV inspection before, I can't seem to find anything on a search. Now I'm getting worried I bought a car that has probs. Any advice would be great.

Thanks.

[Iggy]

its a good thing you're getting it from a dealer, I think you're entitled to a 3 month/5,000 km warranty. The ticking noise may be from a low oil level or the injectors, just remember that direct injection cars normally have a little louder injectors that normal injection.

Can't offer any advice on keys, the only thing I ever did was replacing the battery, however the car did display "remote battery low".

[ilv1004s]

IS250 engines do make abit of ticks and such etc

post a vid for us if u can

did it say anything on the dash y the red mark came up?

it can be due to various things

-key not in the car

-no water in washer bottle

-trunk open

-low oil etc

[Lexus Nerd]

The exclamaion mark in a red triangle can appear for a number of reasons, but it is meant to be accompanied with a description of the problem in the multi-information display above it. So the good news is, if you read "KEY BATTERY LOW" or "REMOTE BATTERY LOW" (thanks Iggy) in the display, there should be just one known issue and it should be a simple fix by the dealer. They need to either (i) replace the key battery, (ii) recharge the car battery or (iii) follow the correct initialisation procedure after recharging/re-connecting the battery.

A search for "engine noise" in this forum found a number of results. The noise you're hearing could could mean a number of things. If heard only on cold startup, it could be a problem on earlier models that can be fixed by Lexus. If it's a mild noise heard during driving, it could be the oil level but, if it sounds really awful, it could be the drive belt - see http://au.lexusowner...showtopic=10157 (don't be alarmed; if it's the drive belt, it has to sound as bad as what you hear in the video clip). Or, it could be normal - see http://au.lexusowner...?showtopic=8617.

Unless the previous owner somehow voided the warranty, there should still be a manufacturer's warranty until sometime next year, or when you reach 100,000 km. In short, the Nissan dealer could be right about the causes and remedies for the two problems; if they unexpectedly reappear after you've driven the car away, the Lexus warranty should give you a chance to iron out any further problems over the next several months.

Edited July 18, 2011 by Lexus Nerd
Mentioned possibility of drive belt

[334mm]

If the engine ticking noise you are referring is somewhat like a diesel engine that would be normal. That is caused from the direct injection type engine. Hence the diesel like sound.

[melchels]

When I bought my Lexus, I arranged for the dealer to take it to a Lexus dealership for a pre-purchase inspection. Much cheaper than the RACV and I felt more comfortable with Lexus specialists looking over it.

The ticking noise freaked me out at first, Lexus assured me that it was fine as it is just the high pressure fuel pump and injectors. You can only really hear it outside the car.

How many keys does the car have? if only one then you will have to fork out around $700 for another. I wouldn't take the risk of only having one key, if you lose it, you are looking at a $3k bill!

Does the car have a Lexus service history? if it does, I would really think twice about letting a Nissan dealership perform a service, unless you have no intention of Lexus maintaining the vehicle after purchase.

[turtle33]

Hi guys, many thanks for all the replies. Makes me feel more re-assured now that the warning light is likely just a issue with the remote/keys, Iggy and Lexus Nerd unfortuantely I didn't notice any text there, but the car does come with two keys. But both don't work, so must be something wrong but they said they will fix it. As with the ticking noise that is also reassuring as I could hear it outside the car.

How long is the standard warranty, its an Jan 08 model so if its 3years then it is out of warranty. It does have a full Lexus service history. The service from Nissan was part of the bargaining, as the car guy said the ticking was due to oil, I said then service the car before you sell it as I wanted to check to see if it still had the ticking noise after they have done the service. I plan to take it back to Lexus for future services, I do wonder how much a 90K service is so I will ring up to ask.

Melchels do you remember how much it was to check and which dealer you took it to? I didn't realise that Lexus did that, and yes after googling RACV inspections I wish I didn't mention RACV as it is written in the contract subject to RACV inspection. I would prefer to go State Roads or someone who is knowledegable about Lexus.

[turtle33]

Great site by the way, good to have, fingers crossed the car checks out ok and I can contribute too!

[Lexus Nerd]

How long is the standard warranty, its an Jan 08 model so if its 3years then it is out of warranty. It does have a full Lexus service history. The service from Nissan was part of the bargaining, as the car guy said the ticking was due to oil, I said then service the car before you sell it as I wanted to check to see if it still had the ticking noise after they have done the service. I plan to take it back to Lexus for future services, I do wonder how much a 90K service is so I will ring up to ask.

Lexus vehicles have a four-year, 100 000 km warranty. If the vehicle hasn't quite clocked up 90 000 km yet, you may be able to purchase an extended warranty from Lexus: http://www.lexus.com.au/services/finance/warranty (Although the original warranty is transferable, I'm not sure whether the second owner is eligible to extend the warranty.)

Not many of us here would have had a 90K service to inform you of the typical price; but, in any case, the best result would be for Nissan to get a 90K service done for you according to the logbook.

Edited July 18, 2011 by Lexus Nerd

[Sapphire Cam]

I use 'Melbourne Auto Check' (for Melb: (03) 9850 8000 for all my pre-purchase inspections. I think these guys ARE 'State Roads' as you say - but that is misleading, they aren't affiliated with any agency. They aren't the cheapest, but I find the most rigorous. I think you may find that dealers typically use "Subject to RACV inspection" as a generic phrase. Call up the dealer and say the provider will be 'State Roads'. Shouldn't be a problem - if the dealer has a problem with that, then that should be a warning for you!!

The guy Ive used from Melb Auto Cehck is actually a Lexus owner too! Even though I was buying through a Lexus dealership I got him along and he did a 90min inspection, drive test and compression test too. About $200-220, and he picked up a couple of minor things which I got rectified before getting hold of the keys. Its a good bargaining tool also - one thing picked up was that one panel had been resprayed (no accident, was a 'keying' incident). They check paint thickness as well. I could see it had and wasn't overly fussed, but because it was picked up independently and was 'in writing', I went back to my sales consultant and said I was annoyed at that and therefore wanted some 'sweetening of the deal'. I got another $2k off the purchase price!

These guys are very good - after they've inspected the car, they'll have a chat on the phone with you about their findings and then e-mail through their report. They also sometimes deliberately come early, so they can do a 'cold start' test - as they've found a number of dealerships (of all makes) will warm the car up before the inspector arrives!!! Oldest trick in the book!

Highly recommended. I was set on this Forester for my wife 2 years ago, and it looked and drove good - all service history etc. - ready to buy, until the inspection showed it had had a major rear ender a while back (current owner was shocked and upset that he wasn't aware from the owner before him) and some questionable welds and repair work done, and was strongly advised by Melb Auto Check not to purchase. Next Forester we looked at, the inspector couldn't get on the phone quick enough to say 'buy buy buy!' - as the seller had the price at an absolute steal given the great mech condition of the car.

[turtle33]

I use 'Melbourne Auto Check' (for Melb: (03) 9850 8000 for all my pre-purchase inspections. I think these guys ARE 'State Roads' as you say - but that is misleading, they aren't affiliated with any agency. They aren't the cheapest, but I find the most rigorous. I think you may find that dealers typically use "Subject to RACV inspection" as a generic phrase. Call up the dealer and say the provider will be 'State Roads'. Shouldn't be a problem - if the dealer has a problem with that, then that should be a warning for you!!

The guy Ive used from Melb Auto Cehck is actually a Lexus owner too! Even though I was buying through a Lexus dealership I got him along and he did a 90min inspection, drive test and compression test too. About $200-220, and he picked up a couple of minor things which I got rectified before getting hold of the keys. Its a good bargaining tool also - one thing picked up was that one panel had been resprayed (no accident, was a 'keying' incident). They check paint thickness as well. I could see it had and wasn't overly fussed, but because it was picked up independently and was 'in writing', I went back to my sales consultant and said I was annoyed at that and therefore wanted some 'sweetening of the deal'. I got another $2k off the purchase price!

These guys are very good - after they've inspected the car, they'll have a chat on the phone with you about their findings and then e-mail through their report. They also sometimes deliberately come early, so they can do a 'cold start' test - as they've found a number of dealerships (of all makes) will warm the car up before the inspector arrives!!! Oldest trick in the book!

Highly recommended. I was set on this Forester for my wife 2 years ago, and it looked and drove good - all service history etc. - ready to buy, until the inspection showed it had had a major rear ender a while back (current owner was shocked and upset that he wasn't aware from the owner before him) and some questionable welds and repair work done, and was strongly advised by Melb Auto Check not to purchase. Next Forester we looked at, the inspector couldn't get on the phone quick enough to say 'buy buy buy!' - as the seller had the price at an absolute steal given the great mech condition of the car.

Thanks Sapphire Cam. I couldn't find much on Melbourne Auto Check but you're right, they are actually State Roads as the number is the same. I've tried State Roads many years ago and was happy with the report they provided. This reinforces my opinion on them, so will definitely use them this time. I rang up RACV to find out exactly what they inspect with their "Pre-purchase" inspection and "Comprehensive" inspection, there was no sample report or a list they could provide me with. The guy who they put me through to said they check the usual stuff, I asked whether they checked paint thickness and they don't do that either. Their comprehensive inspection just includes removing the wheels, otherwise its the same as their pre-purchase. Plus, they can't provide a time for when the person will arrive on site either, its from 8.30am until the sometime in the afternoon. So definitely not going with RACV.

Lexus Nerd Thanks for the link, looks like warranty is over as it only covers up to 90,000k. Hopefully they do the service according to the book.

[turtle33]

Booked in the State Roads inspection for tomorrow 10.00am, is quite expensive now at $289, plus the car is in Werribee so drive out fee is $40 so total of $329 but will be worth it and better than being stuck with a car thats a lemon. Will share how it goes.

[Lexus Nerd]

Lexus Nerd Thanks for the link, looks like warranty is over as it only covers up to 90,000k. Hopefully they do the service according to the book.

http://lexus.com.au/services/parts-and-services/

You can only extend the warranty in the first 90 000 km, but you should have the balance of the original 100 000 km warranty.

[Lexus Nerd]

Booked in the State Roads inspection for tomorrow 10.00am ... Will share how it goes.

How did it go?

[turtle33]

All good, there was some dampness on the rear diff which I should monitor but theres no obvious signs of leaking. The guy reckons the ticking noise is the injectors, so is normal. I don't think they take the wheels off anymore to check whereas RACV do, but its a pretty comprehensive report, received good for all areas so I'm happy with that. There is a bit of damage to the wheels but its just cosmetics I guess. Its good to just have a peace of mind when buying a used car.

Final thing is for them to do the cut and polish which should happen tomorrow, so at latest I should have the car by Saturday, can't wait!!! Will need to get insurance, Coles quoted the cheapest.

Thanks for everyones input.

[ilv1004s]

coles has insurance?

[Lexus Nerd]

coles has insurance?

Yep. It's actually underwritten by Wesfarmers. Not only the premium is pretty cheap, but the features are a little better than other cut-price insurers. Unlike some (like NRMA or AAMI), they will always use OEM parts (new if car under warranty; new or reconditioned if outside of warranty; excludes windscreens). Choice of repairer is also available, as long as your quoted cost is no more than theirs.

They also have a special deal for Sydney North Shore residents this month, but it only covers cars left overnight in postcodes 2060 to 2126.

It's not for everyone, though. Does $2388 sound good to insure your IS F?

[Atlantis]

OMG $2388... I'm so happy I insure a "normal" car these days.

[Lexus Nerd]

OMG $2388... I'm so happy I insure a "normal" car these days.

ilv's age may also have to do with the not-so-normal premium.

[turtle33]

I paid $750 for the insurance, but obviously it depends on your age, history, where you park the car at night etc.

Good news is I have picked up the car, bad news is that when they replaced the windscreen they broke the guards on the left and right so that the clips are not holding them in and when I drove on the freeway they came off and flapped so I have had to tape them up for now :( I'm trying to have them fix and ideally just replace that now, hopefully they do. Else I'm not sure how much it costs.

Also waiting for the other remote, apparently they only replaced the battery in one. Once these two items are done I can finally enjoy the car and not stress.