air con would of been nice.

[JamesIS220]

I have a 2006 IS 220d and the AC never worked. Had it re gassed and worked great until, leaked out 7 weeks later.

Got a mobile AC man out and condenser leaking. Ordered new nissens condenser for £171.00 on eBay.

Yesterday took the old one out and bolted new one in then re fitted the 2 ac pipes to the condenser. Got the bolt mostly in and bolt snapped off leaving the bolt in the thread!

Took it all out again and managed to drill the rest of the bolt but some thread damage but bolt still tightened up well!

Found some better, shorter bolts and noticed once all done up the inlet stub on the condenser had bent and looks like it would leak. Just cheaply soldered, with a tack weld top and bottom!

Found a garage today who also does AC and 40 minutes later it failed the leak test! Don't know where leaking but suspect the spilt condenser stub. At least no charge!

Moral of the story get new shorter bolts for the ac pipes. Or not bother! I'm not bothering as by the time I bought another condenser and regas I would of spent £430.  Car cost £1,475 Opening the window is a lot cheaper. Would of been nice but only use the Lexus as 2nd car.

At least I have AC in my old 1996 Volvo! The Volvo cost £300 to get the AC working but the condenser was only £64.

James

 

[The-Acre]

What a bummer.  Did they put the dye in to see where the leak is from?  I remember the air con in my Volvo 740 GLE, I tried to see how cold I could get it and it was to the point of seeing my breath on a summers day!  A great car that was, built to carry huge loads and last for years.

[JamesIS220]

5 hours ago, The-Acre said:

What a bummer.  Did they put the dye in to see where the leak is from?  I remember the air con in my Volvo 740 GLE, I tried to see how cold I could get it and it was to the point of seeing my breath on a summers day!  A great car that was, built to carry huge loads and last for years.

No, used nitrogen apparently or something that is ozone friendly and do a leak test before putting in the refrigerant gas. This wasn't an AC specialist, just a garage with machine. I'm sure the problem is the condenser as mobile AC man put some gas in system and used a sniffer tool on all ac pipework etc and at condenser the sniffer tools alarm went mental, hence why I put a new one in but not worked out.

I had a 1986 740GLE with B230K Carb engine with red interior! I liked it and my first car in 2003 which cost me £425. Kept it for 5 years. AC is rare in a 740 as quite an expensive option then, or possibly a turbo model?

James

[The-Acre]

7 hours ago, JamesIS220 said:

No, used nitrogen apparently or something that is ozone friendly and do a leak test before putting in the refrigerant gas. This wasn't an AC specialist, just a garage with machine. I'm sure the problem is the condenser as mobile AC man put some gas in system and used a sniffer tool on all ac pipework etc and at condenser the sniffer tools alarm went mental, hence why I put a new one in but not worked out.

I had a 1986 740GLE with B230K Carb engine with red interior! I liked it and my first car in 2003 which cost me £425. Kept it for 5 years. AC is rare in a 740 as quite an expensive option then, or possibly a turbo model?

James

I did wonder why most that I saw at the time didn't have it. Mine was an 87, silver with black leather.  After that I got the "Wentworth" still a fab car. Now a 2008 V70 SE Sport, still a fab car but I've had electrical issues, nothing serious, just annoying. 

[JamesIS220]

I like the older Volvos.

Had 1986 340 for 5 years. My Nans

1986 740GLE estate. My very first car I bought in 2002/3. £425.

1989 240 GLT auto estate. Owned 10 years. £350

940 SE LPT auto estate daily driver. Owned 18 months. £250, but spent 1k on general repairs/ maintenance.

All good cars.

2006 Lexus 220d.

Like the comfort and style of the 220 but prefer auto. Like the economy though and so far in 1200 miles no issues apart from AC.

You get a lot of car for the money. Mine is high mileage at 176,000.

Next car may go for a LS 430! Looks great and auto.

Or a Toyota landcruiser Colorado.

James

[The-Acre]

1 hour ago, JamesIS220 said:

I like the older Volvos.

Had 1986 340 for 5 years. My Nans

1986 740GLE estate. My very first car I bought in 2002/3. £425.

1989 240 GLT auto estate. Owned 10 years. £350

940 SE LPT auto estate daily driver. Owned 18 months. £250, but spent 1k on general repairs/ maintenance.

All good cars.

2006 Lexus 220d.

Like the comfort and style of the 220 but prefer auto. Like the economy though and so far in 1200 miles no issues apart from AC.

You get a lot of car for the money. Mine is high mileage at 176,000.

Next car may go for a LS 430! Looks great and auto.

Or a Toyota landcruiser Colorado.

James

The LS430 is by far the best, quietest and smoothest car I've ever owned, much better than anything I've been in that was made even in the last few years. I have to say though the Volvo is a pleasure to drive, safe, comfortable and surprisingly nippy, the cooled front seats are the best ever!

[JamesIS220]

I would like a hybrid Lexus estate, what with ULEZ, ultra low emissions zones coming to Birmingham soon but don't think they did any?

The Ls 430 looks really comfy and lots of kit. Cooled seats would be great in this weather.

James

[Wisty]

21 hours ago, JamesIS220 said:

I would like a hybrid Lexus estate, what with ULEZ, ultra low emissions zones coming to Birmingham soon but don't think they did any?

The Ls 430 looks really comfy and lots of kit. Cooled seats would be great in this weather.

James

Second that.  I'd love a Lexus estate as I don't really like the whole 'crossover' thing.

[The-Acre]

51 minutes ago, Wisty said:

Second that.  I'd love a Lexus estate as I don't really like the whole 'crossover' thing.

It's something that's been discussed many times and it still baffles me why Lexus didn't make a car like the E class estate, so popular, but Lexus would have been better, more reliable for sure.

[royoftherovers]

On 7/1/2018 at 10:23 PM, JamesIS220 said:

I would like a hybrid Lexus estate, what with ULEZ, ultra low emissions zones coming to Birmingham soon but don't think they did any?

The Ls 430 looks really comfy and lots of kit. Cooled seats would be great in this weather.

James

James, you can still see the odd Toyota Camry Estate for sale if you look hard enough. Enough carrying capacity for most families. 

Might be reintroduced when the Camry is reintroduced to UK soon ??

[The-Acre]

17 minutes ago, royoftherovers said:

James, you can still see the odd Toyota Camry Estate for sale if you look hard enough. Enough carrying capacity for most families. 

Might be reintroduced when the Camry is reintroduced to UK soon ??

A fantastic car the Camry, I once drove one (hire car) from Vancouver to Calgary, just superb.

[royoftherovers]

5 minutes ago, The-Acre said:

A fantastic car the Camry, I once drove one (hire car) from Vancouver to Calgary, just superb.

And I once flew from Vancouver to Calgary Phil and I think that we passed you en-route !!

[Normski]

1 hour ago, The-Acre said:

A fantastic car the Camry, I once drove one (hire car) from Vancouver to Calgary, just superb.

One of the coolest thinsg about the last generation (in the UK) Camry were the twin rear wipers :)

[The-Acre]

2 hours ago, royoftherovers said:

And I once flew from Vancouver to Calgary Phil and I think that we passed you en-route !!

I knew it was you, I said to my wife, "you know who that is don't you?"

[royoftherovers]

18 minutes ago, The-Acre said:

I knew it was you, I said to my wife, "you know who that is don't you?"

"my first boyfriend?" she sighed.    :):):)

[JamesIS220]

I like estates as I'm self employed and use my Volvo 940 for it's load lugging ability. The good bits is it's very reliable, easy engine bay access for DIY, comfortable, automatic, got a reasonable kit like heated seats, electric glass sunroof, electric windows x4, heated mirrors, AC, ABS, Drivers Airbag, and half grey leather. Above all though cheap to buy.

The only thing against it is when Birmingham gets its ULEZ charges as go into Brum every Sat to visit family.

I will try to find a new route to avoid the charge. I really wouldn't know what to buy to avoid the charge that costs less than 3k. Don't have big cash to splash on a new car or 5 year old one. I like the IS300H as very much, if not the same IS220 styling. More rear legroom would be nice though.

I don't know why hybrid manufacturers don't incorporate LPG into the mix. Cheap LPG costs backed up with electric sounds great. LPG seems to be forgotten about.

James

[The-Acre]

17 minutes ago, JamesIS220 said:

I like estates as I'm self employed and use my Volvo 940 for it's load lugging ability. The good bits is it's very reliable, easy engine bay access for DIY, comfortable, automatic, got a reasonable kit like heated seats, electric glass sunroof, electric windows x4, heated mirrors, AC, ABS, Drivers Airbag, and half grey leather. Above all though cheap to buy.

The only thing against it is when Birmingham gets its ULEZ charges as go into Brum every Sat to visit family.

I will try to find a new route to avoid the charge. I really wouldn't know what to buy to avoid the charge that costs less than 3k. Don't have big cash to splash on a new car or 5 year old one. I like the IS300H as very much, if not the same IS220 styling. More rear legroom would be nice though.

I don't know why hybrid manufacturers don't incorporate LPG into the mix. Cheap LPG costs backed up with electric sounds great. LPG seems to be forgotten about.

James

Same with me, I'm a self employed carpenter but I don't need a van very often so I use an estate car. It's worked for me for 30 years!

[JamesIS220]

12 minutes ago, The-Acre said:

Same with me, I'm a self employed carpenter but I don't need a van very often so I use an estate car. It's worked for me for 30 years!

What I like about estates is if you need extra room just fold down the back seats. Mine also split 70/30. I also like the fact I can then get 4 adults in when visiting family and not have more than one vehicle. My tools stay hidden in the boot by a load cover. Saying that I have 3 cars!

I like the landcruiser Colorado from the late 90's but looking at them not any more room than a 940 and unless you go for amazon spec not as much kit as my 940.

I'm not keen on the poor visibility and unless pretty new well used and knackered. My estate cost £250 and spent another 1k in 18 months on service items, aircon, and general age related items.

What estate have you got?

James

[The-Acre]

46 minutes ago, JamesIS220 said:

What I like about estates is if you need extra room just fold down the back seats. Mine also split 70/30. I also like the fact I can then get 4 adults in when visiting family and not have more than one vehicle. My tools stay hidden in the boot by a load cover. Saying that I have 3 cars!

I like the landcruiser Colorado from the late 90's but looking at them not any more room than a 940 and unless you go for amazon spec not as much kit as my 940.

I'm not keen on the poor visibility and unless pretty new well used and knackered. My estate cost £250 and spent another 1k in 18 months on service items, aircon, and general age related items.

What estate have you got?

James

V70. I bought it nearly 3 years ago for 9k, still only done 53k, not bad for a 10 year old!

[JamesIS220]

25 minutes ago, The-Acre said:

V70. I bought it nearly 3 years ago for 9k, still only done 53k, not bad for a 10 year old!

Very low mileage for the year. Should do another 200k easily especially if a D5.

Mine on 195k

James

[The-Acre]

22 minutes ago, JamesIS220 said:

Very low mileage for the year. Should do another 200k easily especially if a D5.

Mine on 195k

James

Yes, a D5 with 185 bph, it does pull well and a great cruiser. It's always the car of choice when we drive down to Cornwall with the dog.