gordo

Hi, Melbourne owners,

I'm really getting sick of this oil sipping problem & the fact that they use semi synthetic at Lexus dealers.

Please advise if any Lexus dealers allow you to bring your own full synthetic oil for service and how much did they end up charging you?

Thank you

I only topped up with about 1.5L-2L with the Valvoline, and if anything it was quieter, especially on start-up (on the fact that it just had more oil in it!). Didn't really notice any changes to running volume once the car had warmed up.

maybe i should try valvoline next time, what kinda oil does Lexus service use? does anyone know?

Lexus uses Castrol 10W40.

I would change engine oil + oil filter every 5,000 - 7,500 kms (I do 7,500 kms myself).

Even Lexus states this under "Additional Service" or other manufacturers call it "Serve Conditions".

Best Recommendation to all is to provide your own oil when servicing and to use Full Synthetic Engine Oil.

eg. Motul, Mobil 1, etc

wow, marvin!

Your ride in Japan must be exciting :) Lots of JDM goodness, hey?

any luck? how did you go, Marvin? :)

hi, everyone. Just spent 15 mins and replaced the parkers cause one of them was already blown.

Here's a quick pic/documentation i put together which I hope could be of a good reference.

The LED bulbs were purchased from ebay and they matched perfectly with my 5000K HIDs. Couldn't be happier.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=161147774472&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:AU:1123

the driver's side should be easy but the passenger side should be a challenge... :(

hahah cheers, champ :)

i tried to remove the parkers' wire but could not get it out.

Bear in mind, i did not take the air filter box out.

i tried twisting it anti-clockwise but it does not come loose.

That's the wire right below the high beam right?

hi akuma

Your pics are really good.

I just bought some LEDs and as I opened the panels up, I noticed that there were 2 pairs of light connectors in total. So, 1 pair each side ( the T10 parker and HB3).

Did you change your LEDs only and left the high beams (as in the HB3 bulb ones) alone?

I'm a bit confused.

thank you :)

Does anyone know what is the bulb type for the fog lamps in the bumper?

Some Ebay merchants are selling 4 T10s so I was wondering if i should get it or not.

With the ones for ebay, are they direct replacements?

I have also looked at http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-T10-LED-Super-Intensity-White-Bulbs-Front-Light-Parking-Super-Flux-Globe-SMD-/320782466921?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4ab01fff69&_uhb=1 and it does mention about the OBC.

It says, 'as OBC) that bulb out message will appear on your dash board. If your car has OBC that you will need a pair of relay harness to cancel out error message (additional cost applied).'.

Do our Lexus IS250 have the OBC?

Hi everyone

I'm due to have my tyres changed. Running the stock IS 250 rims and currently, they are 225/45/17 up front and 245/45/17 in the rear.

Would like to run 245/45/17 in front just like the rear tyres (please ignore the dimension as stated in the title as I can't seem to change it).

Doing so would allow me to do tyre rotations.

One thing I wonder is that would the front wheels scrub on full lock should they be 245/45/17?

Any past experience to share?

Thank you :)

I've used Mobil 10w40 and the problem did persist.

Honestly, which authority (ie. motoring association, etc) can we go to lodge a case and have Lexus Australia do a batch rectification (since the IS250 is one of its breadwinners)?

If there is one, perhaps it's worth our time doing something there?

Don't use Penright, it's average at best. Try something like Mobil1 0w40 (or if you want something a bit cheaper Shell Helix Ultra 5w40) next service & see if the problem persist. These engine require decent oil, something with a low NOACK

How much did they charge him or did they rebuild the engine on their costs (which I doubt)?

My mate just had his engine rebuilt by Lexus for this exact reason.

Does anyone know who is the OEM company behind the engine oil that the lexus dealers used?

You mentioned mineral oil. Hmmm.... I thought these things were extinct. Please don't tell me Lexus is using them in their service? I will seriously be crossed.

I see plenty of Toyotas that have oil usage issues. It all come down to what oil you're using. Google NOACK >> http://www.1st-in-synthetics.com/what_is_the_noack_volatility_test.htm

If you're experiencing evaporation loss then you need to look for an oil with low NOACK & a high base number. 10w30 were generally good for this but I'm finding mineral 10w30 struggles in late model VVTi engines. I'd try an oil like Motul 8100 X-clean 5w30 & see if that sorts the problem, if not then Motul 8100 X-cess 5w40 will

Well, how old is your IS250?

I asked the mechanic at the Lexus service centre and he said they burn up a little more oil as they age.

Like you, this came as a surprise to me as my other cars which were a good 7-13 yrs old never really had this issue. Perhaps it was because i had always used fully synthetic oil.

quite odd topic this. i have never heard of a lexus or toyota engine ever chewing through oil. I give my cars a real hard time both in my 2 is200's and my is250 and the oil level does not budge!!

Gordo, your car is one of the shiniest and wettest looking car I have ever seen. What is the secret of deep wet look? Love it.

hi there,

sorry have not been checking this thread often.

Thanks for that :)

she gets claybared every 8 months along a few coats of CM Jet Seal 109 (with 12 hour bonding/curing time each coat) followed by Japanese boutique wax for black coloured cars every two months. Each time the car is detailed, she sits in the garage for the weekend :) Went to Japan and my friend spoke to the guys at the counter in Super Auto Bacs and they got me the local Japanese boutique wax :)

Same thing here. Was always with Lexus Brighton but picked up the phone to get a quote from BlackBurn and found that both minor and major services were cheaper in Blackburn. For a major 90k service, Brighton wanted $150 more.

Even though Lexus Blackburn is much more convenient for me, have been using Lexus Brighton since buying the car from there in April 2010....found them pretty good at fixing things and NOT giving excuses!! And like Blacky, they seem quite good at finding and fixing issues during the servicing process.

Recently got my 90K service done there - their initial estimate sounded high - Lexus Blackburn quoted about $100 less and Brighton matched that!!

As a matter of interest, do all dealers provide a free courtesy car even after the warranty period has expired? Brighton does, and I wasn't sure if this was their own initiative or is a standard Lexus dealer practice.

the "low oil level" light came up for me today too.

Had a look and the oil level was dangerously low.

Not pleased considering that we sent our IS250 in for her 90,000km service to the usual Lexus dealer here in Melbourne about 8 months ago and she has only travelled about 9,000km since.

I'm going to have to squeeze time to bring her into Lexus tomorrow (being a monday, time is tight). Has anyone had the same experience and brought their IS250 into Lexus? Did Lexus do a top up for free or did they charge extra for it?

I'm suspecting either the engine burnt a little too much oil, OR they short filled the car (requires 6 litres but perhaps significanty less than that was filled in).

So, have you gone ahead to change the fuel filter for the IS250 which is in your stable?

Interested to know. Thank you :)

very interesting 334mm

i didn;t know the filter would get blocked so quickly

but I don't worry too much as basically every survey says that the IS250 is one of the most reliable cars (well basically any lexus) hahaha

and our IS250 hasn't given us any problems with just regular Lexus services, neither has our old RX330 or LS430

my dad's old 330ci was another story tho, HAHAHA

Hmmmm My IS250 is due for a fuel filter change soon.

What are the prices for fuel filter changes alone in dealers around Melbourne?

I have yet to enquire with my usual dealer, Lexus Brighton.

Oh, yeah, here's a handy link to a DIY to those of you guys who like DIY :)

Rung around a few places for prices today for the fuel filter itself:

1) LEXUS Brighton wanted $117.20

2) Burson $90 for a RYCO Z682

3) Repco $140 for a RYCO Z682

4) this site quoted $58.18 with $6.60 delivery for a RYCO Z682

Called up Lexus Brighton and got the following for labour:

• duration: about 1.5 hours
  
• $240 for labour itself
  

So, it's about $360 for lexus to do it. Might just send the car there and have them do it with genuine parts :)

Nothing special. Just constantly cared for (waxed, detailed myself and sent for oil changes) every few months :)

Cheers :)

Well, at the end of the day, HID is better than halogen so I am not complaining :)

My other car comes stock with HID and it's perfect but at least when I jump into the IS 250, I get HID as well now :)

Well I paid $135 for it :(

then again, a lot of stores that sell on their own websites also sell on ebay these days...

Perfect ones are stock from lexus but that means having to open up the headlight seals to access the ballast :(

hello St87,

yes, I have reposted the video link.

For some reason, youtube's not happy with the background japanese music I was using...

Levelling the headlights to stop glare

-I believe we all share the same roads and the car is for our enjoyment without the expense of others :)

About the 'U' shape

Oh, my...

I hope the bulbs were not crooked because I have been very careful inserting them (hence it took such a long time).

After each unsuccessful attempt, I slowly take it out and check the condition visually.

Anyway, I will await to hear from my ebay seller.

The important thing is that the HID kit is in and I don't want to touch it LOL

cheers, Shaun :)

Everyone, a big 'thank you' for your help (especially st87, LEX51S, coconut2001) as I managed to get the xenon conversion done last night.

Didn't rush through the process. Took it slowly after I investigated and planned the process the past nights :)

Comparison

Process

A quick video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE3ZvWInQVA

Hello, Shaun (st87)!

thanks for the document. It's good but I have actually done the installation last night. The excitement was killing me. Now, all cars in the garage are on HID. The other car came with HID from the factory :)

1) the two nuts which I found hard to remove were actually quite easily removed when I did it.

The plastic pieces were like caps :) A little patience in looking at the parts and I got it done :)

2) what I meant by adjustments was the question on whether our headlamps' heights needed to be readjusted to stop any potential glare on the road. Since the swap over from halogen to HID was just a bulb change, I figured we did not have to and confirmed it at the end. This is because:

a) at the start of the installation,

• I got a hard card board and shined the lights onto it
  
• I then marked the levels (with painter's tape and a marker pen) and where each headlight's centre was on the board
  
• backed the car up about 8 feet away and remarked on the board with different marker pen colour and painter's tape
  

B) at the end of the installation,

• I checked the levels (close range and 8 feet away) and no changes were observed :)
  

3) I did notice that the driver's side low beam has some sort of 'U' shape being projected out.

This is weird. Any comment? I have emailed the ebay seller asking what's the story.