LEXUS IS A BIG HIT
► I was pleased to read that your new project car was going to be the same car as mine – aLexus IS 250. I have a 2005 SE-L (very early model), so has all the options like the Mark Levinson (ML) sound system (which you asked in your article whether anyone had this option). I would certainly recommend this option to any music lovers out there, as it is a fantastic system, and I am so pleased that I managed to find one with this extra!
My IS 250 I picked up three years ago with just 27,000 miles. It had one previous owner who garaged it and had it serviced every year at the supplying Lexus dealer in Reading. Not sure I’ll be parting company with this one for a while yet – as you can in the above picture, it is pretty good for a 17-year-old motor!
Look forward to reading more about your IS project in the upcoming issues.
Davy Arthurs
Martyn Knowles responds: That does look like a new car Davy. I would like to hear the Mark Levinson system in action against the non-ML version. The MINI cabriolet I bought (early model) has a Harman Kardon system fitted from new – the sound is in a different league to the normal MINI head unit.
LEXUS OIL FILTER
►The filter cartridge fits various models in the Lexus range and some, such as my GS 300h, have a vertically mounted oil filter. These have a drain plug fitted – you remove the plug then push the ‘spout’ supplied with the filter into the exposed valve. This drains the oil from the filter in a steady stream. You will perhaps have noticed that you did not need the smaller O-ring supplied – that is the seal for the plug. Unfortunately, in my experience, the plug usually tightens in service even when replaced with the correct torque. Then when you try and undo the plug, the whole filter housing unscrews, and the oil goes everywhere as usual!
