We just started noticing this sound from the engine. We wanted to see if it is something to worry about, we were going to bring it to Lexus for an oil change in 1000 miles. Drives normally, just makes the rapid ticking sound.

Here is a video

http://vid13.photobucket.com/albums/...psa73dz8cq.mp4

 

That's ur direct injectors noise. Mine has it too, it's normal.

 

It is just weird that we couldn't hear it before, and we can hear it inside the car which is kind of annoying. Is there a way to reduce it/prevent the noise?

 

Nope, u can also hear it when ur waiting on a drive-thru next to a wall.

I think now that ur aware of the noise, u'll be hearing it more and more.

 

Ugh, my first complaint about the car >_<. Still love the car overall, but for a $60,000 luxury vehicle that is a bit disappointing. Not even my 1990 Nissan 300zx Turbo makes any abnormal engine noises at 24 years old...

 

Now that u mentioned u can hear it from the inside, the next time I sit in my car I'll be looking for the noise. Thanks Tony Carson!!! lol

Better put that Mark Levinson to good use!

 

The engine ticks? I couldn't hear it over my cat back.
But seriously, the direct injectors on the GS are serious. No more ticking was one of the pleasant side effects of getting an exhaust.

 

I'm not hating on my GS but I have actually had several people comment on how this car kind of sounds like crap when idling.

 

^^That was my first impression, not Lexus like in the past. I guess direct engine make a big different. However, the end of the day this GS 350 is amazing overall.

 

Yea it sounds like an angry grandma working a sewing machine lol.

 

My experience was virtually the same as yours. After owning several other Lexus, I was very surprised the day after I bought the car to hear such a loud mechanical noise from within the car with all the windows rolled up. After all, isn't a trademark of a Lexus to have a quiet, smooth, high performing car? I took mine back to the dealer to see what was wrong and I was educated about the source of the noise. Frankly, I don't care what causes the noise, I care about what Lexus isn't doing to keep the noise out of the passenger compartment.

You can find other threads here where people will say that "it's the price you pay for higher performance and better gas mileage". That is setting the bar too low in my opinion. When you pay a premium price, I think we have the right to expect BOTH luxury features AND performance.

I was not able to hear the sound when I did the test drive because the ambient noise level was so high that it was masked. I don't think I would have bought the car if I knew how distracting and pervasive the noise is. It's just not the Lexus characteristic that I have come to know and love over the years.

 

I was told by an independent mechanic that all of the direct injected cars make the ticking noise. The ones that tick louder are actually higher quality injectors. The ones that don't tick at all eventually develop problems, something with fuel leaking (I can't remember everything he told me).

 

You should hear my BMW with the engine cover off it sounds hideous from the DI but its totally normal I hate it too on my GS.