Is the IS350 DIY-friendly?
12-02-18, 08:22 PM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Is the IS350 DIY-friendly?
Currently a GS400 owner. I really love the car, but also feeling an itch for something a little more fuel efficient and more exciting to drive.
The GS400 is a real winner for DIY mechanics though. I've done alternator, power steering pump, pulley brackets, spark plugs, intake manifold, ball joints, brake lines, etc. It's surprisingly easy to work on.
How does the IS350 compare? Is anyone around here brave enough to wrench on their own whip?
I see the starter is under the exhaust manifold though... I'm gonna have to take a few points off for that.
The GS400 is a real winner for DIY mechanics though. I've done alternator, power steering pump, pulley brackets, spark plugs, intake manifold, ball joints, brake lines, etc. It's surprisingly easy to work on.
How does the IS350 compare? Is anyone around here brave enough to wrench on their own whip?
I see the starter is under the exhaust manifold though... I'm gonna have to take a few points off for that.
12-03-18, 07:33 AM
#2
I'm coming from a GS400 also alot of room to work with. Except for the exhaust manifolds.
The 350 should be just as easy for the starter. As the GS400 you still need to pull the intake manifold to remove the starter.
Here's all the info you can view for the ISx50
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...iy-thread.html
The 350 should be just as easy for the starter. As the GS400 you still need to pull the intake manifold to remove the starter.
Here's all the info you can view for the ISx50
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...iy-thread.html
12-03-18, 09:14 AM
#3
I come from the LS400 world, same engine as the GS400, 1UZFE.
I find that all lexus cars are pretty much very DIY friendly (all Japanese cars really), but it always depends on your aptitude with a wrench.
suspensions slightly differ but the basics are the same. the starter on the v8 is much harder to change than the v6 in the ISx50 as mike pointed out.
btw, i don't get that much better mileage on my is250 (25mpg) vs the LS400 (24mpg).
I find that all lexus cars are pretty much very DIY friendly (all Japanese cars really), but it always depends on your aptitude with a wrench.
suspensions slightly differ but the basics are the same. the starter on the v8 is much harder to change than the v6 in the ISx50 as mike pointed out.
btw, i don't get that much better mileage on my is250 (25mpg) vs the LS400 (24mpg).
12-03-18, 10:36 AM
#4
I've done 100% of the work on my IS350 (minus recalls and dash/door panels) and I can say that everything went well and was as difficult as one could imagine. But not bad at all really. 2IS members don't mention (yet) having much in the way of having starter issues; so hopefully these Denso units will withstand the life of the vehicle. My most difficult DIY was the PPE headers I installed; but obviously this was an upgrade, not a necessity.
12-03-18, 03:54 PM
#5
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Good to hear. The 2GR looks like a visual mess compared to the 1UZ but I imagine getting familiar with it makes it easier to fix things.
Personally I’d rather deal with pulling a UZ intake manifold than the possibility of stuck exhaust bolts... But from the threads it sounds like the 2GR manifolds are not hard to loosen. Hopefully time keeps it that way.
Personally I’d rather deal with pulling a UZ intake manifold than the possibility of stuck exhaust bolts... But from the threads it sounds like the 2GR manifolds are not hard to loosen. Hopefully time keeps it that way.
12-03-18, 06:03 PM
#6
I agree, the 350 is very diy friendly. Compared to a German car, there are virtually no special tools required. Hacked software is available but isn’t even needed. The engine bay is tight but serviceable. The best part is that these cars are pretty darn reliable except for a few items like water pump and alternator.
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