So, I'm almost done with the 1st phase of the honeymoon period on my new IS350... It's truly an awesome piece of machinery, and I'm looking forward to a loooong 2nd phase honeymoon period...

Got a few questions, though, so hook a new owner/brutha up...

1. Is everyone getting a pungent engine or brake odor during the break-in period? This is after the vehicle is stopped and parked...I'm not pushing it too much (respecting the break-in period), but it still smells like something is burning after I'm parked...
2. What kind of cable do I need to use my Ipod with the Aux port? Is it a cable that came with the Ipod or do I need to purchase something after the fact?
3. Does anyone have any ideas for a headrest cover (matching color of course)? I use a lot of hair gel and I don't want my leather getting all greasy...
4. For those of you with the Cashmere interior, what strategies are you using to keep the leather clean? Just a standard leather cleaner, or something more industrial, perhaps?

Thanks!

Ed

 

1. No... haven't experienced that smell, sorry.

2. I think all you need is the standard Ipod cable.

3. No clue.

4. I have black interior.

 

A standard Ipod cable is the Ipod connector on one end and USB on the other...I don't think USB will squeeze into the little mini-plug connector...

 

Just buy a regular audio cable, just one to one. They should carry them at radioshack. I know they have the one footer cables and that should be enough to connect the ipod to the aux outlet. If you want the more luxury brand, ask for monster audio cable. I hear it affects the sound from the ipod, I'm guessing the better the connection and cable, the better the sound output. However, I think Monster audio cable come in 4 feet and higher. Let me know which you choose and how the quality is, I'm planning to get one soon too.

 

My car is two days old and 120 miles as of right now. The car does have that odor you're talking about after parked.

 

Lexus cars across the spectrum seem to have this for some reason. Even well after the break-in period, if you really get on the gas you will catch a wiff of it. Sometimes even riding behind one you can get it. I've experienced this on the 1IS as well as the ES. It makes for an uncomfortable feeling when you have a date in the car and are trying to explain it. haha

 

Sweet. I thought it was just me...

The smell does seem normal enough, since it's a new vehicle and all. But I'd be worried if it remained for a long time (several years)? That's annoying...

I got my info on the Ipod connector...found a stereo mini-plug (like a headphone connector on both ends)...works great, but I'm without text and controls, it's not as nice. I'm looking forward to hearing the results from the DICE installation in the another post...

 

I think they but some type of coating on the underside when they ship them overseas

 

I know the smell you are talking about. I had it with my last car and it was super annoying. I never got it with this car tho so I am happy.

 

all the connection is for the aux is a wire that has a headphone plug on both ends, unless you want to charge the ipod in the car youll have to have a ground loop isolator with it to prevent alternator noise from making the sound quality bad

 

1. What you are smelling is cosmoline, a corrosion preventative applied at the factory, burning off.

2. I strongly disagree with kloh7 on the iPod hookup. Using a cable that connects to the headphone jack on the iPod, whether it be the cheap one from Radio Shack, or a more expensive one from Monster, will give much worse sound than using one that connects to the dock connector on the bottom of the iPod. With the dock connector you are getting a line level output, bypassing the extra (uneeded) headphone amplifier circuit. The Sik RamDin is a good choice: http://store.sik.com/merchant.mv?Scr...ry_Code=CABLES

 

I had that same smell for the first 200 miles or so on my car. It is not as strong right now (but still there) at 390 miles. I noticed that smell on all new cars I have owned for the first hundred miles. Very normal.

 

Thanks for the info! Does this RamDin device do anything to post information on the display or am I out of luck on that, as well (that is, unless I go with DICE of Vaitech)?

Ed

 

Unfortunately, no. You'll need an iPod integration solution like the Dice or VAIS for that. The ram din is just a cable, but by bypassing the headphone amp in the iPod, it sounds better.