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Small update, thanks to my mate Rob at Darnley Autoworks in Strood, the Defi's now fit in the pod! Hoping to get them installed with the sensors, controller etc on Friday.

I havent done much to my Lexus for a while now and hence have not been active on the forum. Here is my latest project: I picked up a cheap second-hand 2012 f-sport bumper for £30 which needed a bit of filler work. So decided the amount of money that will go into a quality paint job, if I put a bit more on top I could embark on DIY wrapping project and fancied a colour change to Pearl white with gloss black roof, door handles and mirrors. I thought I would give the car a makeover to freshen it up. Chose to do my wrap during the summer holidays, along with this I managed to source one second-hand 2012 LED headlamp and the other I purchased brand new at a discount from Lexus Birmingham. I also installed the new mirror casings that come with turn signals. I used the Hexis brand wrap. I've wired The LED headlamps to work just like stock setup (full brightness with lights off, dim mode as soon as sidelights are turned on). Information regarding OEM ballast removal: There seems to be alot of youtube videos and guides out there that instruct you to pry open your headlamp lens just to remove the ballast. I can confirm that this is not necessary. Why would Lexus be selling headlamp units without ballasts, if you then had to pry open the sealed lens just to get the ballast installed. The ballast can be transferred simply by removing the internal connector and fishing out the wire. I am planning to have the wheels re-finished in black and paint the callipers red. Some tips for anyone wanting to do any sort of wrapping: 1. Do not wrap in extremely hot weathers, it's an absolute NO NO. 2. Do not wrap in cold weathers either, as the film won't adhere well and the adhesive will not cure properly 3. I know people say to use a heat-gun, but do not overkill it with heat-gun, try to naturally squeegee it in place, and save the heat gun method for complex curves and recesses. 4. Vinyl wrap will still be susceptible to stone chips just like paint. But advantage would be that your main paint will have an extra layer of protection. Here is a photo gallery of the summer project:

http://www.lexus-int.com/news/new-lexus-IS-to-make-world-debut-at-2016-beijing-international-automotive-exhibition.html Hope the forthcoming version takes the fight to Audi A4, the current class leader in my opinion.

The filter tool is 64.5mm and has 14 flutes. But don't buy an ordinary cup wrench with that spec - get a proper one suitable for Lexus/Toyota like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sealey-VS7112-Oil-Filter-Cap-Wrench-64-5mm-x-14-Flutes-Lexus-Toyota-/151748426037?hash=item2354e93935:g:vmQAAOSw9N1Vp8DI You''ll see it's made of alloy rather than pressed steel and has cutouts in the rim which engage with fins on the filter cover. This type of wrench is more or less essential for getting Lexus oil filter covers off.

My mechanic has seen a good few LS430's in his time and said also that suspension failure's are rare in his experience.

Congratulations ganzoom [emoji2] Trust mother and baby are well. Have you decided on a name? Tessie or Eloner maybe? [emoji2][emoji57]

These guys can strip an entire V8 engine and recondition it in just a shade under 4 mins but Lexus and other garages want 3 to 4+ hrs just to do a timing belt. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5saoYQIlh8&ebc=ANyPxKrXkzsw6orlTkSV8g_OlVcSfO3miCtfm0USRGgc91lHaC60jesMI6NDmnV5AAYCxyVrPbwN1vdykvYuNR3WidgK0Kzkmw

Back in 1908 when Henry Ford launched the Model T there was 22 million horses in US cities/streets. I'm pretty sure people had the same level concern regarding the movement away from horses to cars. In all honestly why worry about trying to predict the future of EV taxation/charging etc, change is coming, combustion car will always be with us (much like horses still are), but for the majority EVs will become the default mode of transportation. If Lexus wants to survive as a mass volume producer they need to jump on bandwagon sooner rather than later. http://www.americanequestrian.com/pdf/US-Equine-Demographics.pdf Our IS300H costs us £36K, in 12 months time a 85kWh 2 year old Model S will be under £40K - and if you buy it from Tesla your get a 4 years, 50K mile warranty......2018/19 and the Model 3 will be on UK shores, £30K, 0-60 in under 6 seconds, 200miles of real life range, £5 to recharge from 0-100%. The writing is on the wall for combustion cars, some countries are already putting legislation in place. http://metro.co.uk/2016/04/18/the-end-of-petrol-and-diesel-first-country-aims-to-ban-all-non-electric-vehicles-by-2025-5823897/ I've just became a dad over the weekend....and I honestly don't think my daughter will even know what a petrol engine is by the time she grows :).

Go for a series II RX, not a series I as the gearbox can give problems at high mileage.

I bought a 54 plate rx300 se-navigator a few weeks ago in black with cream interior for £3500 on gumtree and I love it!!! Buy one

the ls400 is a wonderful old car ,unfortunately the old word is the problem for alot of people,not so many good ones about,after all the newest ls400 is 16yrs old,the obvious choice if you want something newer ,and lets face it, to be honest,something more modern, then its the 430.im sure whilst they are more complex ,not every car has a suspension failure,we only hear of the problems,on here, there are im sure lots going along without too many problems

Hi Mike, Wish they were my gates. Actually, the gates to Warrinton Town Hall. i believe they were originally made for Buckingham Palace, but when they were cast and painted, they were deamed not pretty enough for the Palace. Quite how Warrington got them I dont know. Town Hall was originally Bank Park, owned by some super rich in the middle 1700's

I have to be honest it drives perfect. Need to replace front bottom arm rear bushes this week, I will do it myself . As for faults, I can honestly say it doesn't burn oil, water, transmission is bang on and , EVERY toy works in it...... I am running it on LS460 19 inch and it makes it look newer than it is. It's so quiet I can't hear it ticking over at the lights , smooth transmission change, in fact you don't notice it when it changes gear Its a lovely lovely car ,