CWS

I own a Lexus IS350 2007 and it is still under 1000km, so I am still pretty new. My question is.. what is the best thing I can do to ensure I will beat my friend in a race with his Acura TL-S? Should I disable Traction control and turn the ECT to Power then just step on it? Start pressing on it in neutral then violently gear into overdrive? Or are there some other preparations I should do to get the most out of my car? First time I own an automatic, so I'm not sure what I need to do.. at all lol.

Thanks in advance!

First of all, I would recommend that you NEVER rev it and then slam it in gear. Then, other than using PWR mode, and disableing traction control, you might be sure that your A/C is turned off.

Just out of curiousity, did you inspect the vehicle carefully when it was delivered? I went over mine with a fine tooth comb before I accepted it, and I would have noticed any minor dings, scratches, or minor imperfections. There was a minor gap in the dash where the navi meets the black plastic, and I made them align it better and remove the gap.

Lexus makes a really well built car, and the dealer should do their part to deliver it with zero defects, but some of the responsibility is yours. If the paint chip on the hood was there when the car was delivered, then it really should have been brought to the dealer's attention at that time by you.

Part of the problem was that on the day I took delivery of the car I worked late. Then, by the time we completed the paperwork and the salesman brought the car out it was nearly dark. We were both inside the car and he was explaining the features (how to use the nav, etc.) when it started to rain. Had I been able to get to the dealership a little earlier I would have had a chance to inspect the car much better than I did. As is, I worked late again the following day, so it wasn't until two days after delivery that I saw the paint chip, and not until the following weekend that I spotted the dangling plastic.

But you are correct, ultimately it was my responsibility to give the vehicle a full inspection prior to taking delivery and I neglected to do so. In my desire to get the car ASAP I trusted the dealer to provide me with a "perfect" car, which he didn't do. Still, the imperfections were minor, and it is a great vehicle. I was much more POed when I made my initial post than I am now. I know that within a few months I'll get a door ding or two which will be lots worse than the small paint chip...

Not that it matters how it happened, except to prevent reoccurance, but is the hood chip where someone might have raised the hood while the wipers were in the raised position (while washing, for example)?

Hey guys,

Question, for those of you with the Lux Pkg that has the auto dimming side mirrors, do u notice they do not work properly when its cold? Under 40 degrees or so? Cause mine have definitely stopped working in the cold weather. They seemed liked they worked fine last time we had 45 degree weather, but maybe coincidence. and yes, my rear view is dimming fine, so I am assuming the dim signal is coming thru.

Any ideas? Temperature cutoff on this feature?

I haven't noticed whether it works when cold, or not. My windows have 35% tint, so it's not really that important to me if the outside ones work or not. Sorry, that's not much help.

An afterthought - try turning on the defroster, which will heat the mirrors, to see if that makes them work.

Is there any way, through personalized settings, to have the doors lock automatically after you exit the vehicle without having to push the door-handle button? I've found that since I no longer have keys in my hand when I exit the vehicle, I frequently am forgetting to lock the doors - and that's not good!

Thanks,

Russ

Nope. no way to program that one. I've had mine for ten months and it's automatic for me to push the button on the door.

I saw in the news that Sirius and XM will merge soon (if approved). Will both types of radios then work, or will some have to modify their equipment? Anyone heard anything about that?

I have a 2006 IS 350 and have a few techincal questions:

1) How do you watch a DVD? When I put one in, nothing seems to happen.

2) With voice control, is there any way to program the car to simply beep and not ALWAYS say "Please enter a voice command after the beep." ?

3) Has anyone reprogrammed their car so that ALL of the doors unlock when you approach with the SmartKey?

THANKS!!!

1)The non-Mark Levinson doesn't play DVDs.

2) Yes, it's in the menu system settings (I forgot what it's called, but it's obviously related.)

3) None of the doors unlock when "approached"; they unlock when you touch the back of the handle. No, I haven't done that; don't want the carjacker's door to open - just mine. But, I did change the way they unlock upon exiting the car. Tip: when it says to hold a button for "5 seconds", 4.9 or 5.1 is not good enough.

Personally? If you don't do the bumper the money you've spent on the rest of it is wasted.

Which is exactly the reason that the next new car (probably in August, to get the deal on the '07s, like someone suggested), the first thing I'm going to do is get that clear bra put on!!!!

What is the thought of putting the bra on the hood? My husband seems to think he doesn't want it there, but just to put it on the front bumper......

I was in Houston at the dealer on I59, and they had 3 used red ISs with clearbras. Each had it about a quarter of the way up the hood. Each looked bad to me; I could easily see the edge of them. I don't know if they ALL look like that, but 3 out of 3 is not a good average. I can see why your husband doesn't want it there. I'd recommend that you go look at someone's clearbra before you decide.

...

I was wondering if, since I bought the first-production model, getting a newer either IS350 or 250 would solve any issues?

...

Sure, that might be a fix, but it sounds like an expensive one. Maybe your IS was built on a Monday morning! Sorry, but I, and probably many others, can't really relate to all of this, because I got my 350 back in April 06, and I've had ZERO issues with it. If you have had your dealer attempt to fix any of the problems, and they failed, you can probably contact an area-wide customer rep, who may have the clout with the dealer to be able to get all of them fixed properly. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

If the tops of the headlight units look like the one in the attached diagram, then you can manually adjust the height. Use a standard phillips screwdriver to turn the little cogs.

I adjusted mine about 1/2 inch above the line called for in the PDF.

Interesting pdf! Was that 1/2 inch at 9.84 feet, or 25 feet? Did you notice a great improvement on the road, afterward? How many turns do you estimate it took to move it 1/2 inch?

I'm definitely going to mess with mine; my low beams are pretty bad.

Thanks.

"It's not that difficult.

http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...ite=lock+itself

One might expect that a long time lurker would have seen these threads. Now then, do you have any questions or anything of substance to add to the forum?"

Bartkat - Thanks for asking! However, the topics keep magically locking... (Oh the mere struggles of a mortal against a demi-god.)

However, your link was absolutely useless. As was your post. Also your choice to close the topics so that someone else might post something of substance. Good decision, "Gold Moderator"!!!

Well, let me summarize: Your link brought up 4 items. The first two were SJG86 and myself and will never see any answers since being closed. The third only briefly referenced a "lock" but mostly covered the old popping dash syndrome. Lastly, the fourth was from some other soul about locking doors... What was the answer? Well, we don't really know, do we. Some people said yes, others said no. No where was there any instructions on how to get the feature to work.

Does that resolve the issue in your mind?? Good thing we both have lots of time on our hands!

That last found post was correct, even though they were unsure. No walkaway-locking feature exists. If you unlock and do not open the door within 30 seconds, it will relock. That's all.

OK. I'm aware of that, but I thought he found some other button, since that one has nothing to do with the doors. So, I guess we still don't know "the only way this could happen", do we?

2. OK, that's probably what I saw 8 months ago, and misinterpreted what it would do for me/you. I haven't looked again, yet.

2 Questions:

1. When talking on the hands-free phone, my music silences. The music doesn't silence or even decrease in volume, however, when the system is saying route guidance information. This sometimes makes the guidance hard to hear. In my Acura, the music volume decreases automatically when the system is speaking. Is this an option?

2. When using Voice-dialing, I find that I have to use several steps to dial a name tag - 'dial by name" (the lady talks and she has to finish in order to continue), "say the name" (the lady talks and has to finish), push the dial button. With the lady talking in between each of these steps, this becomes a longer process than if I just pulled over to a payphone (including the time of locating one!). Is there any shortcut for this?

Thanks,

Russ

1. It sounds to me like the voice guidance replaces the music in the front left speaker. I agree, it's hard to hear if the music is loud in the voice-tone, mid-ranges. Not a resolution, but a simple work-around is to simply press the "map" button, and the voice guidance will be repeated. (I usually turn the music down, prior to doing that.)

2. I remember seeing an optional setting in the Nav that I inferred would eliminate some of the mundane repetitive announcements. Might be called 'advanced mode', or 'expert mode' - something like that. I did not try it, because I was unfamiliar with the system at the time. That setting might help you out. If you find it, and try it, please post the results for our information. I don't use voice dialing, but might try it myself for the other times when Miss Nav decides she needs to state the perfectly obvious!

It should not be possible to lock the key inside the car...

The only way this could happen is if the car wash guy accidentally hit the smart key disable button when he was cleaning. Even then the doors should have unlocked with a push of the unlock button on the other key.

Thats bizarre.

What/where is the "smart key disable button", please?

Sorry . the last post got messed up.

my question is can you make a copy of the mechanical key at home depot or is it a special key that only lexus can cut. i like to have an extra key in my case just in case the valet locks the remote in the car or whatever.

Don't know about copies, but when you leave your car with a valet, you should keep the mechanical key, and give the valet only the remote. (First, lock the trunk release with the button in the glove box, then lock the glove box with the mechanical key.) Also, I don't think the valet (or you) can lock the remote in the vehicle. The car will beep at you, and won't lock the door. (Salesman tried to lock mine while the second remote was inside. I suppose it may be possible to lock it some other way, though.)

I wouldn't take them up on this. Most dealers idea of a "detailer" is a kid with a big stiff brush and a bucket. I never let the dealer wash mine.

Exactly! Almost told them to not bother when they said they were "getting my wifes IS ready for delivery". That entailed a kid with a dirty rag "cleaning" the inside windows and washing the exterior. Was too late to stop them. Oh well.

Now, if you do wax it yourself, what do you use?

Wouldn't dream of taking mine anywhere but the 'spray it yourself' carwash. I've waxed mine only once, and used "Black Magic Wet Shine" liquid wax, sponge-cloth applicator, and microfiber towels. They're both cheap, at WalMart, and that wax is one of the top rated ones by Consumer Reports. It's easy on and easy off.

I think it will keep running til someone shuts it off or it runs out of gas.

The car will run until someone shuts it off. Also, the only warning is on the message center in the dash; no audible warning signal.

My car starts beeping anytime the key leaves it. Funny I didn't hear it that one day........

Wow this is so inconsistent! :) So does it beeps or no beeps?

I often leave my '06 350 running when I get out to check my mail. It definitely beeps 3 times. Doesn't seem a lot louder to me, than other beeps, but by then I'm out of the car. I can hear them, and my hearing has seen better years.

You'll be more likely to wash it to clean the brake dust off the front wheels than because the body looks dirty. Second, it reflects heat better so it's cooler in the summer. I also agree, it shows off the lines better too.

I couldn't agree more. I end up washing my silver IS 350 once a week simply because my front rims are black from brake dust. I've never owned a car that has this much terrible brake dust.

I opted for the chromed stock wheels, and they don't show the brake dust near as much, and look great with Tungsten Pearl (Silver).

They are Lexus wheels that were chrome dipped . Meaning they didn't come from the factory that way. The dealer probably did not have the center caps dipped as well.

I don't have chromed wheels, but the IS350 near me in the parking lot does, and it has the Lexus center piece. Interesing thing is that the center piece is only chromed on the symbol, like the standard wheels: the background is the usual paint. I can't decide it I like that or not, but it's clear they didn't get those pieces chromed at all.

Thanks for that info. Apparently, it is strictly dealer-dependent. I'm glad that mine has at least the chromed center piece, and I've grown to apreciate the "mirror look" as opposed to the symbol there.

My stock chromed wheels don't have an L logo in the center. Do yours?

a picture of my wheel

So, is the sharkfin for only the XM radio, or is it for bluetooth, also? (Looks nice, just like mine, except for the fin.)

It's for Sat Radio only

What would a Bluetooth antenna on the roof be used for?

Do you make a lot of calls from up there?

Good point, I reckon! I'm an old !Removed! with my first cell phone, and thought maybe the cell phone signal could come/go through an antenna when using a BT connection. Probably illogical... but, I didn't think he got an XM radio, so I guess they put it on all of 'em. Thanks for making me think! :chairshot:

So my car is arriving tonight at sixish and I cannot get it till tomorrow morning first thing. The truck driver is arriving tonight but they have to inspect it and the inspectors leave around six. I was told I was told i have to wait til the morning. 2007 Silver/Black, Navigation, Premium, 18s, HIDs. So so so so stoked. I will let you guys know when I pick it up tomorrow and post pictures.

Later :D

So, is the sharkfin for only the XM radio, or is it for bluetooth, also? (Looks nice, just like mine, except for the fin.)

Pretty nice video and information, if a bit on the sparse side. Looks darn cool with those bigger wheels and cross-drilled rotors. Of course that's assuming they don't actually release it with those ridiculous gold-colored wheels.

I hope I hate it, when it arrive$.

'06 IS 350 w/premium pack, 18'' wheels for $37,300. I am suppose to take delivery tomorrow. Tried Dallas but was a few hundred $$ more, yet that was with Nav. Dealer here already went all the way to Louisiana and kept reminding me that it's costing him $700, which he did not pass on to me.

Nav for a few hundred more? Nav should be about 2500 more, shouldn't it? Sounds like he's passing the 700 on to you, but not calling it 'shipping' or whatever. What's the sticker on the car? i.e. 37,300 is how much off the sticker?

$1000 off sticker. Let me clarify, the Dallas dealer wanted only 500-600 bucks more with one that had nav. just to get me down there, yet he realy never comitted on an end price. I just didn't want to drive all that way and get hooked for several $100 more.

I bought my IS350 at Sewell in Ft. Worth in April, and they offered me 1800 off sticker to get me to come up. I live about 100 miles south. Of course, it was a bigger sticker - like 42,8xx I think, with the Lux pkg, etc. But, it seems like Lexus has been advertisiing some end of year type event lately, so I would have thought you'd get better than 1000 off of a 2006. Maybe not.

'06 IS 350 w/premium pack, 18'' wheels for $37,300. I am suppose to take delivery tomorrow. Tried Dallas but was a few hundred $$ more, yet that was with Nav. Dealer here already went all the way to Louisiana and kept reminding me that it's costing him $700, which he did not pass on to me.

Nav for a few hundred more? Nav should be about 2500 more, shouldn't it? Sounds like he's passing the 700 on to you, but not calling it 'shipping' or whatever. What's the sticker on the car? i.e. 37,300 is how much off the sticker?