jfungy

Hi, I'm interested in purchasing a 2007 IS250 AWD that the seller has informed me that the pistons were replaced by Lexus Canada in 2015 @ approximately 160,000 KMs. The car now is at 200,000 KMs (~40,000KMs on new pistons). The price is fairly low $8500 CAD and the seller is telling me they are willing to lower the price even more if I am truly interested in purchasing the car.

Regarding cleaning the carbon buildup (if it does occur again), would removing the intake and scrubbing the valves with a pipe cleaner be feasible? Media vacuum seems to be the more common way of cleaning the intake valves, but this methods seems fairly simple as well.
There are a few things that I am worried about.

With the updated pistons, is the carbon build up issue mostly remedied? I don't have long commutes as I typically drive 10km per trip in the city, so I won't be able to rev the engine up to burn the carbon away as most people say to do. I do drive aggressively, does this aid in removing the carbon?

This will be my second car (first car I will buy myself). I have a fairly conservative father regarding automobiles, as he believes anything over 100,000KMs is pretty much near the end of life cycle for a USED car. Aside from the rebuilt engine, everything is at 200,000KM, is that considered high and nearing the mileage where maintenance will be costly?

Thank you!

DickH

If you have to get an is250, you should look into getting a catch can for it. The carbon build up on the valves is a result of fuel not cleaning them as the car has direct injection. Using a catch can should help reduce the rate of the buildup.

Aspect

The updated piston designs are supposed to remedy it but if you look at what you just said, there is about 160,000kms of carbon buildup before the fact. There's a video on youtube from TokenSolutions oil catch can showing that there is still a lot of blowby even with the updated piston designs. In regards to maintenance it depends on how well the owner kept up with it. According to Lexus at 192,000km he shouldve replaced transmission fluid, brake fluid, cabin and engine air filter, front and rear differential fluid, and the coolant. You can check to make sure the water pump is still fine and just the usual wear and tear - suspension, brakes and rotors, etc