Lexus Nerd

No, I'm not a mechanic, but ... When getting my last two cars serviced - both Toyotas - I used to get the offer for a fuel injector or other form of engine clean every time. I wonder if Toyota Australia (including Lexus) service consultants are trained ask if you want fries with that - or, should I say, "You NEED fries with that!" Since buying my second Toyota, I resolved never to accept the offer to clean such build-up; instead, if I continue using premium fuel with added cleaners, that should be enough. According to Caltex, you just need two consecutive full tanks of Vortex to significantly clean your engine. Seeing that I almost always used 95-98 RON fuel on my engine (even though it could take 91 RON), I got good power and a clean engine to boot, without needing cleaners or additives at servicing - at least, that's the theory ... Nowadays, all premium fuels sold in Australia contain cleaners (as well as Shell 91 Unleaded). Question is, have you always been using premium unleaded in your IS, as recommended? If so, then either the Lexus service rep is lying, or my theory doesn't (always) work. As for the aircon re-gassing - not sure there. I've never had problems with Denso aircon over 13 years. Cheers

From what Duff is suggesting (and from my own experience with V16), it's not that you can't obtain guidance from the sat nav while driving; for (good) safety reasons, you just can't perform certain types of searches - such as typing in a street name - unless the car is standing still. You can, however, request guidance to favourite destinations like your home.

A$295: http://www.whereismaps.com/buy-map-updates_built-in-car-navigation_product.aspx?view=13&country=AU&device=88 :)

it is possible. the wiring diagram makes sense to me im an electrician tho, is this something you can buy?.. BUT!! im not sure it will really be worth the time it takes to do it. depends how bad you want it really. but its would take a few good hours or more at an auto electrician and probably longer to diy. BUT!!!! if you can get IS250 wiring diagrams somehow. it will half the time to do it. It helps, but it would be nice to compare it with a diagram of that for an IS model variant that has the auto folding mirrors as standard :D Without it, my guess is you'll need an SPST Normally Closed automotive relay switch. The relay coil goes across the orange cable (pin 8). One of the relay contacts are connected to the power supply for the power windows, and the other to the green cable (pin 9). When the power to the accessories is turned off, but the power to the windows is still available - as is the case when you have just switched off the engine - the relay switch will close, causing the mirror's retracting motor to fold the mirror. This is just my guess, but I hope it helps.

The process for accessing the reverse camera in my '09 Upgrade IS250 Prestige is slightly different. The following process will presumably work for all MY10 vehicles and MY09 vehicles with the '09 upgrade: After After Step 2 above, two menu options will appear. Then: 3. Choose the second of the two menu options. You will now see another menu with numerous options. 4. Choose the menu item that refers to the camera (“Camera Check” or similar words). You will see a low-resolution menu, again with two options. (Note: This menu is not accessible in ACCESSORY mode.) 5. Choose the second of the two menu options, but press and HOLD the button until you see the screen change. You will see a camera diagnostics screen. 6. Choose the Next button on the bottom right-hand corner. You will see the video image from the camera, plus a number of buttons to allow you to adjust the guidance lines. Since much of the video image initially shown is obscured with buttons, and it’s risky to leave this screen open, press the NEXT button in the bottom right-hand corner. You will see the video image from the camera, together with the guidance lines and just a couple of buttons on the bottom. You will now be able to drive around while continuing to view the video image on the screen. To access the camera with one less step/screen: 1. While the engine is running, press and hold DISP (instead of INFO). 2. Whilst holding the button turn the lights from off to on (not auto) and back to off 4 times until a diagnostics screen appears. 3. Press the “Camera Check” button on the top right-hand corner of the screen. You will see a low-resolution menu with two options. 5. Follow steps 5 and 6 as above. A number of people on the Internet have said that changing the Bluetooth mic sensitivity (accessible through the first method) works really well.

Ah, that rings a bell now. Thanks!

I see Bartek wrote his posting over seven months ago, but I noticed something that warranted clarification, and I was wondering if anyone would know the answer for certain. Bartek writes that he bought an IS250 Prestige with EMV and moonroof, and that he absolutely loves the Mark Levinson sound system. Now, nothing I've read in any advertisement or car review would suggest that the 13-speaker system in the Prestige model is a Mark Levinson-designed sound system, nor can I find anything to suggest that the ML 14-speaker system is available as an option in the Prestige (even in series prior to the '09 upgrade). Can anyone tell me to the contrary? Are the speaker cones in the 13-speaker system also made using the same wafer-thin paper as those in the ML 14-speaker system, using water sourced from a 200-year-old spring also used to make premium sake?

Hi Everyone, I'm a proud owner of a brand new IS250 Prestige and this is my first post to these forums. I can't tell you about modding, but I can hopefully share my insurance experience. I'm 36, live in Sydney's north west and pay $1073 with CommInsure. This was a significantly better deal than Lexus insurance, Allianz or NRMA (all between $1200 and $1400). NRMA wanted to charge me so much, even after a 10% Years of Insurance discount and a 12.5% Multi-Policy discount. Be aware that NRMA is far more agressive in their move into Queensland so, LEX51S, don't expect them to do the "match or beat by 10%" like they did with col in Brisbane. AAMI also came close to - perhaps even slightly beat - CommInsure's premium, but AAMI doesn't give you a choice of repairer. That means that Lexus genuine parts may not be used. That was a deal-breaker for me. The main downside of CommInsure is that they don't have a "maximum no-claim discount for life" reward. So I paid an extra $100 or so (included in the $1073) to preserve my maximum no-claim bonus. I hope this helps most readers. As for LEX51S, I'm not sure if CommInsure will be the cheapest. I created some hypothetical quotes on CommInsure's Website for you. I assumed DOB 1/1/87. Judging by your photo, I guessed 2008 IS250 Prestige, $2k for the non-standard wheels, $8k for the other accessories. I was quoted a premium of about $2200 if you lived in NW Sydney, but $3000 if you lived in Fairfield! NRMA was around $2200 to $2700 depending on location, assuming you had CTP with them too. A final thought - I have my doubts as to whether companies like youi can help save the average person $$ on car insurance, but maybe they could help you save if you have suburb location and age working against you? Cheers Post Script: I now see LEX51S has already sorted out insurance, but I hope someone's found this post useful anyway.