84Stoney

If its the arch liner then its easy to check

Just turn your wheels full lock and see if the tyre is catching on it

I had a scraping noise before from the front, it was my pads, they were too low and needed changing

Could just be something as simple as that

Think mine has started doing the same!

Checking when stationary won't always help, as it only happens (mine anyway) under certain loads, not every turn. Like on certain hills, bumps or with more people on board.

Sorry Janey. Don't know why I'm even getting involved anyway.

GORD: I'd go for the Samsung. (and probably will, X1 maybe?). My experience with multiple Nokia N-Series phones has not been good. Windows is not perfect, but the Nokia software is totally rubbish in my opinion. They really slow down and crash after a while.

YES, it does.

There have been loads of topics on this.

It limits the torque output and feeds it in more gently, so as to gain traction on snow, or wet grass etc.

A side effect of this is a slight increase in MPG, I believe many members, like i do, use it for long distance motorway cruising.

QUOTE FROM TONY:

Unfortunately Lexus got the settings wrong on the IS200/300/sc, by invitation from LOC Admin i re-wrote the positions to stop the wear about five years ago. these positions are available in the clubs knowledge base.

The criminal angle is the castor but it's not adjustable (directly) so i devised a change in the camber that then violated the toe that when corrected adjusted the castor (indirectly)

Although the dealers recognise a problem with the tyre wear they admit they "cannot" deviate from the OEM settings Lexus originally wrote and Lexus will not offer a revision, probably due to the liability's.

We know of one member who pushed Lexus GB on the topic and seemingly he was paid off never to be seen again.

Geometry for the customer is hard enough to understand so i designed the centre so that the owner can be as involved in what's going on as they like, some enthusiasts are so into their car i even even give them the spanners and let them adjust the angles.... The insurance to allow this is extorsionate so it's unlikely a dealer would accommodate that sort of dead money.

ONE OF MANY SATISFIED CUSTOMERS:

I had my car WIM'd by Tony soon after I got it. The change in handling was amazing, it was so much better. You won't regret it if you do make a special trip down to WIM, it's really worth it IMHO, they are a very professional outfit.

This thread may help.

Basically, it will cost around £100. It is to do with the suspension geometry. The IS is well known to have had the wrong setup as standard, and as a result, causs excess tyre wear. Especially on the front and worse if you corner at high speeds. Over time the geometry can get thrown a bit out anyway (pot holes etc.)

So...if you do not know when the geometry was set, it is always a good idea to get it done if you can. If it has been done by someone using Lexus recommended settings, it will be wrong. Tony@WIM has developed optimum settings and has been tried and tested on hundreds of IS200s now.

You should see improved tyre wear, and general better road holding and cornering.

If unsure, speak to Tony, and I'm sure he will be happy to chat to you about it and explain in more detail. He's the Pro, though i think what i have said is correct!

I will admit to not reading this whole thread, its got quite long!

Dont mean to hijack Gords topic here, but i think its a bit late for that now, and not worth starting another.

Can any of you phone bofins comment on which phone is best for TV output, mainly for in car use? (Bit optimistic to expect it to interface with my touch screen i suppose!)

Will need a phone soon and the shortlist so far is: X1, Optima, Iphone, N96.

I know the Nokia has 3.5mm jack for easy connection, i've always had Nokias, but i'm a bit put off now by the many, many problems i've had with my N95, and N73 before that.

Don't be a Geoffers. ;)

That's a bit funny.

That's funnier!

Odd question, if you have a 'S' can you add/buy the amp in and just plug it in or are the wires not installed?

In a word - NO.

The upgraded sound system of the SE and Sport, I believe, runs a different headunit and speakers (rears are certainly different). Though some of the wiring may be present, I don't think it would be that simple.

A far better option, IMO, would be to install your own after market amp and speakers. The stock amp is very good for a stock item, but it's not a great or high powered amp really.

If you're looking to upgrade your sound system on an S model, best to move away from Lexus (though amp branded Toyota!) parts.

Glad thing are heading in the right direction Vazoosh! :D Its a shame their isn't really a lot of activity on the Aristo section on LOC :(

That's because there are not that many of them around! Pity. The price you pay for having a rare car in the UK. Lovely cars though, I may have one yet, at some point.

well done Chris, you got in before me

Beat me to it too. Cos I been on that damn facebook all day!

Sound advice from the Bandit.

Some people fit bonnet lifters. Much better solution. Can be a little costly though maybe?

Look great thou.

(Image obviously not blagged from Stav.)

As far as I (and everyone else?) was aware, Autoleads DO NOT make an AMP bypass lead (they have always done one fro the non amped S model system). Unless this is very new. A couple of guys on eBay just make them up especially.

brice1ie has had issues here that most don't. Usually it just plugs into your new HU and into the stock amp (thou often tricky to access), and works!

If you are running a full system with external amps (full range, with aftermarket speakers, not just sub) then you only need the lead for the power connections, which can be achieved another way if you know how.

while it may be "fun" engaging in this dialogue with Mark you are wasting your time left on this planet..............you will never have the last word....move on have a pint and take your business wherever you want.

LOL

You two could dance around each other all day.

Neither of you is gonna give in, and neither is gonna win!

Something to read and keep me entertained on a Saturday at work thou, cheers.

That reminds me, I must check my pollen filter. I made one attempt to get the glovebox out but failed. Think I probably wasn't pressing the sides in hard enough.

Don't be afraid to give it bit of force. The sides just unclip, then pull the pins out from the hinges at the bottom and it'll come off in yer hand mate.

As with any statistics - You can make them portray pretty much anything you want if you pick the right things.

I have studied statistics, and you can do wonderful things with them, wrapped up the right (or wrong?) way!

Thou I believe twelvety-four percent of all statistics are just made up.

he said mines was quite abit out, ie maybe skelped a kerb or two at some point. Iv'e to take the car back next week and he'll check over it to make sure it has settled ok, The bloke was sound.

Or maybe they have just always been that far out! (Would not have ever been at Tony's settings before!)

Welcome to LOC, I've got an '02' as well and just had my cambelt done at Lexus, cost £695.....

That is steep. Can be done for half that, I'd have thought (though admittedly probably not by Lexus.)

I have just sold my Merc and have decided to get a real car

Good man.

Welcome.

I've always prefered to be in control of what gear im in! The manual (IS) with short shift fitted is just great.

Could just be a Battery issue in the key fob. Think i have heard it mentioned though, one of the GS boys will know.

would have thought the GS needs wider wheels?

Checking the offset and width would be a good idea, to confirm they sit well in the arches before you spend your money on them. Though I'd say will "probably" be OK.

As for lowering, coilovers are the better option, and are more adjustable, but will cost more. Check Tein website for some good kits. You should be able to do shocks and springs for that budget, though the coilovers (especially if ure factoring the price of fitting) may be a bit over it.

EDIT: Tein offer an S.Tech kit (may just be for newer GS) that only costs £199 (plus fitting) but as far as i can gather, it will lower the car but give no particular handling gains! The higher range kits are £600 plus. Shocks and springs may be your best bet mate.

I heard about this a couple of weeks i am hoping that will restructure and bounce back stronger then ever,

I'd say this was likely. They will either "restructure" and survive, or someone else will just buy them out, capital injection, and business as usual.

Here we go again...

LMAO

AMEN TO THAT!!!!!

In addition - do people really think that the chips in the phone cams are anything but bargain basement variety?!

Also Google "focal length"...

Don't be fooled by Big Numbers.

I must say the Carl Zeiss lense (5.0 or 3.2) used by Sony Ericsson and Nokia is pretty good, prob the best I've seen. Though the speed the phone focuses and processes the images lets it down.

WIM are great. Very highly recommended. You do hear that a lot, but if you do not know what "WIM" is then I guess it makes no sense!

WIM is Wheels in Motion, www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk, run by Tony, who is also a member on here. Basically they are suspension specialists. There is a well know common fault on the IS200 of the suspension geometry being wrong. This causes excessive wear on the tyres, particularly the inside of the fronts, and worse if you drive hard. The settings issued by Lexus are wrong, so if the geometry has been set by someone else since, there's still at least a 90% change it is still wrong.

Tony@WIM has developed optimum settings and has correctly literally hundreds of IS200 in the last few years, and I'd probably be right in saying they are all more than happy! Cost around £100, I think, and will improve tyre life and general handling and road holding.

If you don't know if your car has been "WIM'd" then you should get it done, IMO!

No idea cost of cam belt, but someone who does will be along soon, I can guarantee it!

EDIT: Checking your location, it would be quite a trek to WIM for you. Tony is a nice guy, and will supply the settings so as you can get it done more locally, maybe even recommend somewhere.

Having looked at it online - seems a blatent copy of the iPhone - only it wont be as good - cant see anyone ever actually using the pull out keyboard either.

That makes all the difference for me. Wide qwerty keyboard? Brilliant. Hate touch screen keyboards.

Only thing I don't like is how large these phones are all getting, for a while they were a really good size (like the HTC touch) but now thanks to the stupid iPhone they're all getting bigger and bigger.............also wish they'd stuck the 5MP camera in rather than the 3.2 but that isn't a huge issue :)

I have had pics printed onto A4 and the quality is faultless. This is from my old 3.2meg Nokia.

3.2m is all the pixels you need in a phone! 8-10meg cameras on phones is pointless, its just numbers game! If you really need quality prints bigger than A4, BUY A CAMERA!

Unlucky, but im sure you will sort it soon enough.

much easier to buy the guaranteed to work bypass lead from E-bay Item number: 280269933796 IMO

I would tend to agree with Woz on these.

But if you really wanna make your own, and feel you have the skills, you can probably also work out what needs to go where with a little trial and error and a multi meter!