Originally Posted by Afrosheen

You know what else sounds awful at idle and low speed? Porsches. The more powerful they are, the worse they sound, like broken chunks of metal are getting flung to and fro under the lid. It's like a diesel grandfather clock with all the awful racket they make.

But...wind them up on the highway or get them really hot on a track and they provide a soundtrack you can fall in love with. Sometimes there are engineering compromises and they end up with Jekyll and Hyde personalities. To me, the DI system is one such compromise. Hopefully the RC will have something newer under the hood. I know the GS-F won't sound like this.

Originally Posted by frazierwa

I'm pretty sure that they weren't going for the alluring 'click, click, click' sound on the GS. I'm sure they will fix it in later models but they wanted to stick with the schedule and budget for getting this thing on the road.

Originally Posted by Jq3

Sorry, but I do not accept it!!! If we as the consumer just accept things as they are presented to us, we'd be without some of our best technologies! In the 70's it was said that big block engines due to gas mileage restrictions weren't capable of getting good gas mileage and still put out high hp. Well people said "No we want both!". Now look at us today, V-6's putting out more hp than big blocks of the muscle car era with great gas mileage! Even though the engine is noisy as all get out, it is powerful for a V-6.

If Lexus wouldn't have built their reputation on refinement I and others probably could accept the engine's noisy nature. Lexus set the bar for themselves. I'm just trying to hold them to it! You and others should too! They can do it if you scream loud enough, but quietness is a form acceptance.

Originally Posted by SW13GS

This engine has been around, basically unchanged since 2007. Nothing on this engine has been overlooked to get the car on the road.

Its simply the nature of the direct injection system. As technology increases perhaps they will find a way to counteract the sound, or hide the sound, but its one of the drawbacks of this type of setup.

If you want to experience the engine without this technology, drive an ES. This technology gets us an additional 50hp out of this engine.

Originally Posted by jkeller

It's not the direct injection. This same type thread goes back on the ES form from the summer of 06. The ES does not have direct injection, but does have the noise. It's a characteristic of the 3.5 engine.

clublexus.com/forums/es350-2007-2012/296483-cold-start-diesel-sound-rehashed-again.html

07ES

youtube.com/watch?v=tN0VA5L1b1w

07RX

youtube.com/watch?v=eN1XHmndzgA

Originally Posted by jkeller

For the most part your right. My 07ES had it when the engine was cold, then it went away. Some ES's had it even after they warmed up. IIRC early on in 07ES production Lexus was buying back some cars if the owners complained enough.

Originally Posted by jkeller

It's not the direct injection. This same type thread goes back on the ES form from the summer of 06. The ES does not have direct injection, but does have the noise. It's a characteristic of the 3.5 engine.

Originally Posted by jkeller

Mine had the start up noise if the outside temp was below 70 degrees, when it got below freezing it was almost embarrassingly loud until it warmed up. On a couple of occasions people in my car thought something was wrong with it.