matt-c

Yes. You need to know your tyre size (for example, 235/40/18) and weight/speed rating (for example 93V or 91Y). Once you have these, you can find winter tyres from a variety of manufacturers (Avon, Goodyear, Continental, Yokohama, Dunlop, Uniroyal, Bridgestone, among others)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEXUS-GS-300-SPORT-1991-1997-model-C-ORIGINAL-TTE-BORBET-8-5J-18-ALLOY-WHEEL-/150915849625?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Trims_Car_Rims_ET&hash=item2323491d99 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEXUS-GS-300-SPORT-1991-1997-model-D-ORIGINAL-TTE-BORBET-8-5J-18-ALLOY-WHEEL-/150915849765?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Trims_Car_Rims_ET&hash=item2323491e25

Well with an inch of snow on the ground and the entrance to my estate compacted to ice already, as per usual, and two beemers and a merc already failed and abandoned, I warmed the car up, cleared the snow off to bonnet and windows, jumped in and tried to pull off my drive. No wheelspin, no trc light - just pulled away. Turned the 90deg turned and began the ascent up the hill. No wheelspin, no trc light. Got to the top and stopped. Then turned 90deg and pulled onto the main road. No wheelspin and no trc light. Down the road and up another hill. A 5 series halfway up the hill had got stuck, but I just steered round and carried on. Now I'm on the main road, covered with black ice - it's tramping a little off camber, but otherwise it's perfect. Good tyres

I'd still leave any car at least 30 seconds before driving away, if just to allow the oil to circulate fully

Personally, unless it offers DRAMATIC savings, I can't see the point. and I don't think it will : as it stands with normal insurance, you pay a premium for the car, the area, and the driver (age, years driving, amount of convictions if any). Yes you are judged at the time of taking out your policy, but you are only judged at that time - with this scheme, you are constantly judged, and I can only see that to mean you pay more for it. I cannot see that they'd end up charging you less (ie, you pay a premium, and then for being a good driver, you get money back, reducing the cost) I can only see this as a way to charge you more. With the "normal" way, if you speed you don't get charged more by your insurance (provided you avoid a ticket). If you drive like a **** you don't get charged more, provided you don't get involved in an accident, etc I have this telematics system in my work van, and it is VERY comprehensive. It monitors everything the ECU does; how long the engine has been running, how long you've been driving, how long you've been in x gear, how much you used the brakes, and at what force, how aggressive you are with the steering wheel, when you turned your lights on, if you indicated, etc etc. And thanks to Google maps, it knows what road you're on at any given time. Even if you've been donuting in Tesco's carpark!

If I'd have had the option, I'd have gone for the Harrier wheels too (ideally with 205/55/16 Continental ContiWinterContact's), but try finding a set of those for sensible money! So I went for standard issue 17's, albeit a little grotty and scabby, for £50 (£78 inc p&p) and wrapped them in 205/50/17 Uniroyal Plus 66's

205/50 17's, and am running them at 30psi - at least for the time being anyway.

Interesting! Didn't know that about the locks. I've been double tapping the remote all the time (force of habit as everything is double tap nowadays) but might think twice about it now. On the one had it'd be nice to have the deadlocks on, just in case someone tries to break in, on the other hand, I don't fancy being locked out of it if the battery dies! All I know is the red light has 'Security' written next to it - I just presumed, possibly wrongly, it's to show the alarm is on...

Can't the deadlocks be deactivated with the key? So if the battery goes flat, you can still physically unlock the drivers door with the key, unlocking both the deadlock and regular lock on that door? Or does it need battery power to disengage the deadlocks? Also, are you sure the double press disables the alarm? Because I double press mine all the time, but the alarm light still flashes inside? Why would your HID kit have any affect on the full beams? Our cars have separate bulbs for dipped and main, so unless you fitted two sets (one for dipped and one for main) you should still have halogen main beams (I have HID in the dipped beam, and standard halogen bulbs in the fogs and main beam)

It's still in there! Tried everything; shaking it, telescopic magnet tool - still can't get it out! Short of taking the boot lid off, it looks like it's staying in there!

^ That's the one I was thinking of too.

The other option might be this one : http://www.rearviewcamerashop.com/ReversingcamerasUK/index.php?seo_path=black-mini-dome-cmos-reversing-camera-cam071b&PHPSESSID=26bb648cec728b3ecb41d7ed85d03fe5 And maybe it's possible to mount it so just the dome part sticks out the bottom of the trim panel. However, I'm not sure if the angle is sufficient?

Couldn't tell you - I've only had it since July, but I'm sure the previous owner said it was fairly new.

I have had the cover off, to change a number plate bulb, but at that time I wasn't aware of reverse camera mods for the IS, so didn't pay attention to it. I was focusing on the fact I'd just dropped one of the 8mm nuts inside the boot lid because of the ludicrous design, haha! This, of course, all hinges on the 7" LCD thing I've bought actually having an input I can use for a reverse cam and auto input switching (so it auto switches when I select reverse) Lets hope so, or no reverse cam for me!

That's kinda the route I was/am going to take, probably using one of these; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271004037453?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 Then cut out the trim panel, mount the camera inside it, so it's poking out just enough to see, like this; http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=54196entry592893 http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=54196entry599522

Don't suppose you got any better pics Geoff? Being a black car, and a black camera, kinda hard to see! ;)

Yeah must admit, the universal ones don't look great. Might be fine functionally, but looks wise, not good....

Two black keys will be fine. The valet key is nice to have, but mine just lives in a drawer just in case I should lose or break both black keys, and need it. (also worth noting, the keys break very often - the plastic cracks around the base of the blade, usually from them constantly being in jean pockets and getting stressed. You can buy replacement casings with new blades, get the blade cut for a few quid at a local place, and then simply swap the button pack, which has the immob chip embedded, into the new key, so no need to get a brand new key with electrics from Lexus. Price difference, about a £10-£15 getting an ebay blank bought and cut, or £140ish for Lexus to supply and code) All IS' (except the S model, that came with 16's) came with the wheels you see on mine (17x7 5 spoke). 18's were an option, in a couple of different designs. On the subject of wheels, Lexus alloys, in general, corrode quite badly, and the paint flakes off very easily. Mine have been refurbed (by the previous owner), but I have a spare set with winter tyres on, that are pretty grotty and flakey. As standard, they are silver, with the faces of the spokes and the rim edge diamond cut and polished. Many that have been refurbed, like mine, are just silver all over, with no diamond cutting/polishing (since it's cheaper, and personally, I think it looks better too - the highly polished face edge can scratch very easily and dull) Back to sat nav - it's your call of course, but I really wouldn't bother. It's a far better idea to get the motorised dash unit, rip it apart, and fit in an after market stand alone nav unit (like a Sony, Garmin or TomTom)

They did come in cream as well as black. There is a guy on here selling a cream one, I'll have a look for the thread, and you could shoot him a PM to see if he still has it? Edit - thread here : http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=76609

I'm amazed. 8 years as a windscreen fitter, and I've never ever seen that.

I was going to mention about the keys. Originally they came with three keys (two black 3-button keys, which are both master keys, and a grey 2-button key which is the valet key - the valet key only does the ignition and drivers door lock, and won't open the boot or glovebox, and it won't let you code a new key with it. So as Chris said, the bare minimum is 1 black master key) In regard to the sat nag, seriously don't bother. Firstly, nothing is in the car to hook it up with - it's not like other manufacturers that put the same loom in all the cars then just plug different things in according to spec; Lexus didn't bother with that, and if it didn't come with sat nav, then there is no loom, and nothing to connect up to. Secondly, for the time and money involved, it's just not worth it, for what is an antiquated and sub-par technology system. It runs on discs, which isn't as good as flash memory (and is susceptible to water damage since it lives in the boot which often get wet and damp), it's not touch screen, and even though it has remotes, they are fiddly and is like using a 10 year old Nokia phone instead of todays smartphones. I really wanted it in mine too, and was looking for one with it, but decided a better car without it was worth buying over a lesser car with it. I've bought the dash unit for it, and and going to attempt to gut it, and fit a 7" touchscreen Windows CE based LCD, and hopefully run TomTom Navigator on it, and if it all works, I'll also try to plumb in a reverse cam too. However, I'm absolutely useless with wiring and electricals, so I'll probably fail!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SOT-913-LEXUS-IS-200-IS-300-Parrot-Bluetooth-ISO-Lead-/350399822205?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item519574f97d

Same here, but keep looking and one will come available at the right price for you.

Exactly. I fully agree - £100+ is too much for an armrest. But that's the price they are, and that's the price you/we have to pay if you/we want one. Originally when I was looking for one, I found a breaker on ebay that had a few, and he was trying to sell the armrest complete with full lower console for £280 - I asked him how much for just the armrest on it's own, and even offered to do a part exchange with my cubby hole (so his console was still complete) and he still wanted £220! I just laughed!

Just thought I'd let everyone know, I fitted my spare wheels with winter tyres today, and just came back from setting the tyres pressures at the petrol station - and I didn't get stuck once! Amazing tyres! :D