is350Speed

Hello all, new member here. I recently purchased a 2012 Lexus IS350 and was hoping to get some advice on service. The car has about 50K miles and is 7 years old. As a new owner, should I do a major fluid change to establish a baseline for the car? The car had its break calipers changed at 40k and a new alternator installed at 30k. It was a two owner car, with the second owner buying it from a Lexus dealership as CPO. Do folks recommend Lexus dealerships, or independent mechanics. If independent mechanics, where can I find one?

I was was thinking of doing the following maintenance when I get the car this weekend:

Change:

Oil

Oil Filter

Transmission Fluid (Flush)?

Radiator Fluid

Power Steering Fluid

Differential Fluid

Brake Fluid

Coolant Fluid

Wiper Fluid


Are are there any other things owners recommend to do to this car? I drive about 30-40k miles per year and intend to keep the car for several years. Lexus recommended changing spark plugs at 100k - same for so called lifetime trans fluid. Thank you!!

bbaugher47

Can’t really flush the tranny. You can do a drain and fill a few times or drop the pan and change it.

MikeFig82

iTrader: (13)

Oil change maybe if unknown miles.
Transmission flush maybe. At 50k mine was pretty black. Again color means nothing.

Radiator fluid if Toyota pink is good up to 100k miles.

Diff fluid I swapped mine at 50k. Again mine looked good OEM. 100k is probably good time to change.

We have electric power steering no fluid needed.

Brake fluid if it's not clear. Probably get it redone. Change every 2 years.

Wiper fluid just use it all up, and add some rain X .

Plug change is every 60K.

tbdxb

Hi,
I also got a 2012 IS (250 in my case) with 53k mls a few days ago. I bought from private and since I don't know how they actually maintained the car I decided to take as little chances as possible. The last dealership service had been done at 21k, the last free maintenance (oil srvice I suppose) at about 40k.
So I brought it for major 50k service, throw in new brake pads front and rear and a new cabin filter (both necessary)
The service center and one of my (non-Lexus) car mechanic friends both told me independently that the car is in great shape. So I don't have any worries for now

2013FSport

iTrader: (2)

Tbd... you should still extract and replace the brake fluid. Pressure bleed when done. 3 years max.
IIRC the yoda pink coolant is good for 10 years.

For both of you; log on to lexus site download the pdf Warranty and Services Guide for your year. The 350 covers the 350C and ISF. The document tells you what to inspect/service and when. Print the sheets and fill them out. It is what they were made for.

2013 document 00505-13WSG-IS350

tbdxb

[QUOTE=2013FSport;10503432
For both of you; log on to lexus site download the pdf Warranty and Services Guide for your year. The 350 covers the 350C and ISF. The document tells you what to inspect/service and when. Print the sheets and fill them out. It is what they were made for.
[/QUOTE]

Many thanks for your advice. I actually did that before and went through the list. Decided then to do a major service at certified dealership.

is350Speed

Thank you for the input. I contacted Lexus yesterday and they quoted a whopping $1400 to replace the oil + trans/diff/brake and coolant. Oil change runs about $120 with full synthetic. These prices seem high to me, what are others thoughts?

2013FSport

iTrader: (2)

Seems a bit steep to me but I've never paid for any labor. Always DIY.

Trans fluid dump is $300/$350. That said you are looking at 3 qts of the 9 being replaced. If they drop the pan and filter, still less than 1/2 the fluid volume.

Those other fluids are waaaaaay over priced! Find someone else.

Lexyaaaas

iTrader: (2)

Probably echoing some of the replies here but doesn't hurt to have some consistent replies-

Brake calipers and alternator were previously replaced probably because of some sort of failure. Fyi, if you ever have issues with your alternator make sure its OEM brand Denso. I've heard of issues when using other brands of alternators (Some Lexus cars are sensitive to this for some reason)

Transmission Fluid (Flush) - cannot flush this, and I wouldn't worry until you're closer to 80,000 miles (would be just a drain and fill not flush)
Radiator Fluid - same as coolant
Power Steering Fluid - depends on color
Differential Fluid - change the fluid, its due 60,000 miles most car i think
Brake Fluid - depending on color exchange the fluid like others suggested (brake fluid absorbs moisture, so if pedal feels really soft could be air or bad fluid)
Coolant Fluid - 10 years (change this when you reach 80,000 miles thats when water pump is due)
Wiper Fluid ..? just add washer fluid

Bichon

The IS has electric power steering; there is no power steering fluid.

Lexyaaaas

iTrader: (2)

You're right, good point I forgot which IS gen I was talking about lol