A couple of newbie questions for you

microgerry · August 31

Hi. Hope to be collecting my 2002 SC next week. Did cars of this era have Bluetooth connection for phone calls (as standard)? Also, this car has non OEM wheels fitted by a previous owner. Tyres are 19", how would I find out the correct tyre pressures for them please?

Glyn Jennings · August 31

17 minutes ago, microgerry said:

Hi. Hope to be collecting my 2002 SC next week. Did cars of this era have bluetooth connection for phone calls (as standard)? Also, this car has non OEM wheels fitted by a previous owner. Tyres are 19", how would I find out the correct tyre pressures for them please?

Wellcome to the group and well done for buying a rather exclusive car.

Bluetooth was never fitted in the early cars but aftermarket mods are available. I personally have the SC430mods.com one which works well. I have aftermarket 19” wheels on mine and use 33psi all round.

Bob King · August 31

Has Glyn has said not fitted as standard. I had a parrot one fitted in my previous 2003 vehicle and that worked well.

No idea if the amazon type cheapies that plug into the ciggy lighter work, other options would be replacement audio head unit with Bluetooth and reverse camera 👍🏻

microgerry · September 1

I don't want to change the head unit, I like original stereos in old cars. Just want to add Bluetooth for phone calls to be safe. I listen to CDs and Cassettes in my MR2 at the mo and they really do sound good, although I am hoping the Mark Levinson system will blow my socks off in the SC.

Are there any independant Lexus specialists around the country or do we have to pay dealer prices for servicing and repairs? Tbf, there is a local family run Toyota dealer within 2 miles of home who could probably look after it for me, at a push.

Glyn Jennings · September 1

1 hour ago, microgerry said:

I don't want to change the head unit, I like original stereos in old cars. Just want to add bluetooth for phone calls to be safe. I listen to CDs and Cassettes in my MR2 at the mo and they really do sound good, although I am hoping the Mark Levinson system will blow my socks off in the SC.

Are there any independant Lexus specialists around the country or do we have to pay dealer prices for servicing and repairs? Tbf, there is a local family run Toyota dealer within 2 miles of home who could probably look after it for me, at a push.

The Bluetooth adapter I have uses the CD function to work so you can’t have a CD playing at the same time but you might do with a cassettes but I don’t know as I haven’t used them for years. I stream music directly from my phone. If your speakers don’t need refoaming the sound will be great. Often the 6 x 9 speakers in the doors need refoaming for which you can buy a kit from the USA quite cheaply and it is fairly easy to do. You will know if that is the case as the sound will be terrible. You can refoam all the speakers if necessary. People don’t tend to go the main dealers now due to cost and age of the cars. They are quite rare so the average Lexus mechanic won’t have had much experience of the SC especially if they are young so will have to rely on the Techstream system. A good independent Toyota dealer will be the best alternative and will probably use the same system and be cheaper. Personally a good friend of mine runs his own small garage and he is very experienced and can repair just about any make of car. Most small garages now have electronic diagnostic readers for all makes and at the end of the day most cars are very similar to work on if you know what you are doing.

microgerry · September 3

Do any of you fill up with E10 unleaded?

I always buy E5 for my MR2 as I feel it runs better and fuel economy is improved. However, I never see it cheap anywhere. For example, the usual price for E10 locally is about £1.45.

There is an independant garage I sometimes fill up at when in the area (although its over 20 miles away from home) as they are always cheaper. I went last week when their E10 was at £1.30 per litre and so was the diesel. Of course I bought my usual E5 and was horrified to be charged £1.45!

Now with getting an SC and the fuel consumption being what it is with the V8, do I continue to go for decent fuel?

Bob King · September 3

1 hour ago, microgerry said:

Do any of you fill up with E10 unleaded?

I always buy E5 for my MR2 as I feel it runs better and fuel economy is improved. However, I never see it cheap anywhere. For example, the usual price for E10 locally is about £1.45.

There is an independant garage I sometimes fill up at when in the area (although its over 20 miles away from home) as they are always cheaper. I went last week when their E10 was at £1.30 per litre and so was the diesel. Of course I bought my usual E5 and was horrified to be charged £1.45!

Now with getting an SC and the fuel consumption being what it is with the V8, do I continue to go for decent fuel?

I only put E5 super unleaded in my cars as the E10 has a higher ethanol content and attracts more moisture/water.

I’ve done two 300 mile trips this year in my car to shows and the SC returned 31.4 mpg which I find amazing for a 4.3lt V8 😎

Bob King · September 3

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Niskus · September 4

On 9/1/2024 at 1:51 PM, microgerry said:

Are there any independant Lexus specialists around the country or do we have to pay dealer prices for servicing and repairs?

There is one in Sheffield and he’s very good, but might be quite far for you. I got him to do my timing belt and water pump, and he (Dave) diagnosed another problem with the car (needs an ABS ring) so I’ll use him to get that sorted but then I might go with a more local Toyota garage.

https://www.yell.com/biz/lex-tek-autos-ltd-sheffield-8221079/

Dave is a former Lexus Dealer mechanic but from the SC430 era.

Mossypossy · September 4

Only E5 here as well. And I have done over 7000 miles this year.

Like Bob, averaged 31.5 over those miles.

And it is pretty much £100 to fill up the tank atm.

scythe · September 5

On 8/31/2024 at 1:07 PM, microgerry said:

Tyres are 19", how would I find out the correct tyre pressures for them please?

Open the driver's door. This information should be on the now-exposed B pillar.

: o )

Jonny Smith · September 5

My speakers are awful and I was about to replace them. Refoam??? What is this please? Sounds interesting! Please explain

RONNIE W HODGEKINSON · September 5

15 hours ago, scythe said:

Open the driver's door. This information should be on the now-exposed B pillar.

: o )

Yes.. you will find all this information on the door Pillar..Tyre pressures Etc..

Bob King · September 5

3 hours ago, Jonny Smith said:

My speakers are awful and I was about to replace them. Refoam??? What is this please? Sounds interesting! Please explain

Here is a 6x9 Lexus speaker being reformed.

https://youtu.be/KX96j6pWtw4?si=Hm-P7gbzuZxuSn4Q

I’ve just bought the kit to do my SC430 door speakers....little project for the winter .

microgerry · October 1

On 9/5/2024 at 2:57 AM, scythe said:

Open the driver's door. This information should be on the now-exposed B pillar.

: o )

On 9/5/2024 at 6:29 PM, RONNIE W HODGEKINSON said:

Yes.. you will find all this information on the door Pillar..Tyre pressures Etc..

I looked, and as I suspected they show only the pressures for the standard 18" wheels and tyres. Mine has 19" wheels with 245/35 fronts and 265/35 rears - that is why I was asking!

Bob King · October 1

27 minutes ago, microgerry said:

I looked, and as I suspected they show only the pressures for the standard 18" wheels and tyres. Mine has 19" wheels with 245/35 fronts and 265/35 rears - that is why I was asking!

There is no formula to pressures and increase in rim size, looking around the internet some say..

"For every inch larger than standard, i increase pressure by 2-3psi."