PA350

Just got my IS350 a couple weeks ago and it drives nice. But I noticed the car pulling a little to the right when I'm braking. It doesn't always do it, but its noticeable when it does. I've never owned a car with lower profiles tires, so I'm just wondering if that's normal for a car with 18" wheels, because it's gripping all the grooves in the road. Or do I have a minor alignment problem. Any info would be appreciated. B)

It's not "normal" under any kind of barking. Assuming you are on a flat and level road you should brake in a straight line. It's probably one of:

* uneven wearing of pads

* indicator of a caliper issue (either side).

* brake fluid / air in line

In any case, certainly a dealer warranty issue.

I don't think the noise or whatever exists within the same model and year. I've hear the cracking sound maybe 10 times in almost 3 years and no other noises whatsoever. My entire car is as tight as it was the day I took delivery and runs even better.

I don't have any rattles in mine either after 2 years of ownership.

Perhaps you should try another Lexus dealership for the repair? That's assuming that the dealer you purchased your Lexus from is unable (or unwilling) to identify and correct the rattles. I understand dealers love doing warranty work since they're refunded for parts and labor directly from Lexus. I could be wrong, though.

I tend to think this is both dealer and "luck of the draw" with the car. I purchased a Year 1 (2006) IS350 in March 08 w/8,500 miles...I'm now close to 12,000. I found 2 rattles (center dash & moon roof), both fixed w/my first dealer visit.

I hear lots about squeaks/rattles and "quality" issues particularly w/06 cars. Now I'm not dumb enough to bet anything on the future of my 350 quality, but w/close to 4,000 personally driven miles I'm quite happy. Happier than my past Infiniti or Acura (TL).

By the way, here's a review of the PCCB brakes-

http://www.europeancarweb.com/tech/0406ec_...akes/index.html

In it they mention three things-

The PCCB brakes provided -the exact same stopping distance- as stock brakes

and

To improve stopping distance on a porsche you should use stickier tires.

and

"we can say that you'll have to use your Porsche considerably harder than we do to realize a significant benefit with PCCB."

here, let me quote their results to you-

"The car's best 60 to 0 braking distance with stock brakes rounded to 112 ft (our standard braking data procedure), and its best distance rounded to 113 ft with PCCB. In both cases, performance was consistent within a few feet over five stops, with no fade. From 80 to 0, european car's long-term car stopped in 200 ft with PCCB, exactly the same as another stock Carrera 4S tested earlier at the same location. "

Over here we have an -honest- company telling you the benefits of carbon ceramic brake kits-

http://www.gmpperformance.com/index.cfm?PG...&PID=186733

Stoptech lists the many advantages. Stopping distance improvement NOT among them.

Understood and totally agree.

When I purchased my CaymanS I looked hard into PCCB. Besides the $8k sticker, the benefits to most are little. Three major benefits to PCCB:

1) longer pad life

2) longer rotor life

3) amazing lessening of fade, and greater heat dissapation under race conditions...full on circuit racing, not autox.

Hardly a reason for the majority of owners to shell out that cash.

BillT.

There is flexibility on tire size for rims, you do not want mfg installed. Below is a chart that I found on this site that explains the upper and lower tire width for each wheel size. As you can see w/staggered wheels you can still put same rubber on. 235's would work on both the 8" and 8.5", so would several other sizes (bigger and smaller). If you did keep same size, I don't think you can rotate given wheels are still different size. Your local tire place can confirm and assist.

50 Series tires and above (215/*50-75*/)

(mm) = (Rim width)

215 = 6" - 7 1/2"

225 = 6" - 8"

235 = 6 1/2" - 8 1/2"

245 = 6 1/2" - 8 1/2"

255 = 7" - 9"

265 = 7 1/2" - 9 1/2"

275 = 7 1/2" - 9 1/2"

285 = 8" - 10"

35-45 Series tires (215/*35-45*/)

(mm) = (Rim Width)

215 = 7" - 8 1/2"

225 = 7 1/2" - 9"

235 = 8" - 9 1/2"

245 = 8" - 9 1/2"

255 = 8 1/2" - 10"

265 = 9" - 10"

275 = 9" - 11"

285 = 9 1/2" - 11"

295 = 10" - 12"

I've read people waiting until 20k or so to replace. I'm probably going to do at my 15k service.

After months of waiting i finally got a black is350 fully loaded with only 13k miles. i was wondering if anybody knows if the stock rims look good with a black powder paint on a black is. also soon to be looking into a cool air intake & exhaust system, any suggestions? thanks :D

I'll let you know in about a month about powder coating rims. I have 18" on my '06 and will be getting them coated either gloss black or gun metal (my car is tungsten pearl). I'll post pix then.

i saw an IS with gun metal color rims; slightly darker than the stock rims. is this a new color or is this custom painted? how much would it cost to paint your rims?

I live outside of Philadelphia and found a place to do my 18" wheels, $70 per wheel. Powder coating, andy color. I'm going to take them over in the next month or so. Either gloss black or gunmetal.

Quick knowledge for all considering. As stated earlier, installation just requires removing trunk panels and hook up to unit in trunk (for 06 you'll need to run an antenna to back deck). You can get the install instructions & unit from Sewell in Tx.

I went to dealer here in PA and the Service semi-manager quoted my $999...told me that wires needed to be run from trunk to Head unit and hooked up. Well I took the install instruction to the Service Manager and wanted to know deal. Needless to say he returned w/tail between legs and a price of $480 (unit and install).

Watch these guys...

I had XM in TL and loved it...particularly for the news, sports and talk stuff when I was tired of music. I will be putting XM into my car soon. I use and iPod for music too. But the choices I can get from satellite.

If you get it, suggest you negotiate a single multi year payment...you can sometimes get them to a 50% discount.

In Ebay do a search on "IS350", you'll usually find some there.

This thread has the dealer pricing sheet in .pdf form.

INVOICE/MSRP

Part only: $176/$246

Installed: $218/$299

Do not overpay for this item. ;)

• Controls the iPod through the radio buttons and steering wheel audio controls

• Displays the music text information on the radio’s display

• Has the ability to search and play back by song, artist, album, audio books, genre and even play lists

• Provides direct high quality audio connection

• Charges the iPod while the vehicle is running

• Comes with all cables necessary to get started

• Glove box location enhances security by keeping the iPod out of site

This unit only works on 2007-2008, NOT 2006.

If anyone has this installed, I'd like to know if it picks up in the middle of the song where you left off when you get back in the car.

DAMN! I just called Lexus of Wayzata (Minnesota) and the associate i talked to said the part was $299, installed it was $500. How does each dealership come up with that price? If the .pdf the other poster linked to is correct, they are marking the installation up by $200. I would really like this as i have an iPhone but i'm not willing to pay $500 for it.

Butcher:

Go to the dealer w/the dealer pricing pdf form. I was quoted $999 to install XM, told me they had to run wires all the way up to and connnect into the head unit (which is not true). I called for the Service Manager and showed him the pdf of installation instructions, he want away and came back with a price of $480.

I have not seen out right lying in a dealer service area since my 1980 Monte Carlo...unbelievable. I thought these jokers learned.

From AudiForums:

Hey guys, I've got a 98 1.8T. I've had a k04 and chip for a while and wanted to get more performance. I was recommended to port and polish the intake and exhaust. We found out they used abrasive material to do it like gritty sand. So I got with my friend that tunes Hondas and we decided to try it ourselves. We got a bag of sandblasting sand and hooked up into the intake and started the car. We had to hold the gas so it would run. He wanted to let the engine suck in the sand through the intake so it would port it out and then push it out the exhaust so it would port the exhaust manifold.

I was worried that it might cause problems but he figured it'd be OK as long as we didn't make boost and it get sucked in the turbo. After running the car and letting it suck in sand we got about half way through a 25 lb bag. The check engine light was on and the engine was bucking and kicking and sounding really weird. We stopped and hooked the car back up normal and took off the sand supply. We tried to start it again and it was really hard. Once started it couldn't idle and kept making weird noises. We took it out and drove it and it started to make scraping and knocking noises.

Help! Can anyone tell me what to do! My buddy only does Hondas so he doesn't know much about Audis.

For this owner, I couldn't do the lower HP. My other car is a Cayman S and just can't take the drop off in HP/weight ratio. Both the 2 & 3 are wonderful cars and it's personal perference...that's why they build 'em both.

Don't worry about 2 or 3, just enjoy what you have.

I recently lowered my IS350 with Espelir springs..looks very nice and lower than the upgrade eibach springs. I recommend them!

How much were they? How long did it take to install (or cost)?

Any before/after pix?

Nice, congrats, good luck...now go forth and drive!

BTW...I have Tunsten Pearl w/Grey and I really like the Grey and black. My TL is Silver & Black and IMO gets a bit monotonous inside.

No sense in punishing yourself for not getting nav. It will detract from your enjoyment of the car. Get a Garmin and be done with it. Move on. Life's to short to get an ulcer over this. Enjoy the car, and laugh in everyones face when you get hit with 30cm of snow.

Yeah, couldn't agree more. Six pages of the mertis, demerits, issues, problems and concerns of OEM Nav is about 5 1/2 pages too much...

Good luck w/your car. Let yourself enjoy...it's a great car.

I so wish I could get the 350 but with gas $4.10 for premium (I use about 110 gallons a month with the IS 250) and the crappy weather of New England (I need AWD) I guess I am stuck. with less Horsepower :(

When I was in Miami Beach Full Service Premium was $4.99 9/10 on 41st Street...yipee

I am in NE and still got the 350. :)

I don't drive too often (once/twice a week) but will be using winter tires when the time comes.

I am loving the power, but not loving the gas price lately.

I hear ya'....I couldn't do the 250...nice car but I wanted the extra juice. I'm in the process of getting new wheels...will keep the old ones and mount Blizzaks on them. I'll switch wheels for probably Dec, Jan & Feb....

Just for kicks, I stopped at the BMW dealer today after driving an IS AWD, with no NAV. When I told the BMW dealer I was considering a Lexus, he told me I might as well save money and buy an Toyota. He was serious.

He may have been serious but he didn't know much about cars.

...or being a salesman.

I would think this guy is just doing his job as a sales person...that line probably works w/lots of uneducated buyers. Let's face it the Lexus is a great car, but is usually a few % points below the BMW in car rags. If you read all the rags of the new M vs the F, the F comes in 2nd because of very minor points...points that the majority of drivers would never be able to notice.

We also all know that a Lexus is not a Toyota. Ignorance is a common sales tool!

I painted mine black...hand painted each, then applied sticker, final spray w/clear coat.

Front and rear pix and 2 closeups.

Front Close up

Rear

Rear Close up

Front

Very nice...just picked up an 06 myself...same exterior color, but grey inside. I tinted the windows, looks nice w/silver. Good luck and enjoy. Keep an eye on that oil leak...

I just painted mine black, put on white stickers and clear coated. They look really good...understanded but noticable. My Cayman has red and it looks good on that car, but it seems to showy for this one. Any will post pix if interested.

ALL options are a matter of personal need and taste. Do you really need ML audio? really need Nav, 18" wheels?, spoiler, XM, leather, paddle shifters, floor mats, whatever....

You need to make the decision for your values, your desires, your likes, your dislikes. I happen to like the factory Nav...not as concerned about potential issues w/resale, map versions, software capabilities. But that's me and my decision. It's your money, make your own choice that makes you happy. Whatever you do someone will want your car in the future.

People will always be on both sides of this argument. I've done both...had cars w/integrated Nav and also used portable Navs. I am now a firm proponent of built in Nav. I hate cords, I hate crap on my windshield, I never have it with me when I need it and finally I really like the integration w/phone and stereo.

My Cayman doesn't have Nav, and I keep a portable in the car's storage just in case I get lost. My other cars (06 IS350 & 04 TL) both have integrated Nav.

Now YOU need to decide the cost to your wallet.

I'm putting Blizzaks on the IS for winter.

But your right about the Cayman...if I HEAR of snow it won't go!!

Good luck and enjoy...great car

Welcome...this place has great info for us owners. Tell your brother to check out caymanclub.net.

Oddly enough my two cars are a CaymanS (Lapis Blue) and an IS350 (Silver). For the IS I've tinted and put on new 18"s (black)... I'm not a real fan of the IS body kits, don't like the angular design of the nose pieces (but that's me).

BTW...what color is your IS?