Hello, Getting My Lexus Through Mot

[Danny W]

hiya, new to the forum and ive just bought a 1999 lexus is200 but it failed mot last week

failure sheet was

-nsf tyre below minimum tread depth

-front brake pads below 1.5mm

-nsf brake binding

-front (joint) exhaust has major leak of exhaust gasses

-exhaust emissions lambda reading after 2nd fast idle out of specified limits

advisories

-RBT front brake imbalance 25%

-nearside rear indicator slightly discoloured

-nearside front anti roll bar linkage slightly distorted

-offside front anti roll bar linkage slightly distorted

-rear exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gasses

-front brakes only just met the front brake imbalance requirements. needs adjustment or repair

Now, im going to be ordering the parts and getting the car back upto standard and on the road, currently looking at perelli pzero tyres to match whats on the car (225/45/17) looks like im going to have to pay £100 a tyre unless you guys know anywhere thats a little cheaper?

http://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?details=Ordern&cart_id=81236193.110.23811&typ=R-128324&ranzahl=4&Breite=225&Quer=45&Felge=17&Speed=W&weiter=200&kategorie=6&Ang_pro_Seite=50&sort_by=brand&Transport=P&dsco=110&sowigan=So

front brake pads ive found mintex ones for £20 a set

rears are £18.90

I shall be giving the calipers an overhaul

the disks look perfectly fine that are on the car, so dont need to buy new.

Exhaust i shall look at this week, if it needs replacing i'll buy new.

The car has covered just over 62k, im wanting to service it and make sure its running tip top.

What oil and filter do you reccomend?

air filter?

coolant?

Also noticed one of the belts needs replacing (auxillery/alternator) could anyone tell me the size i need to replace this one?

and its missing the ribbed belt for the Air con, if anyone knows the size for that?

any help with the above would be brilliant

Cheers

Danny

[sjrainsford]

Sorry, mis-post

[Stuart Aspey]

Hi, Lexus Cardiff claimed they could beat any price of New tyres that I could find, and they did. I was looking at Hankook Ventus Prime 2 K115s on 215/45/R17 W (b rated for fuel efficiency and b rated for wet weather grip) and Lexus Cardiff quoted me £438.20 for 5 tyres, fitted! Part worns are going to be cheaper.

[jomo]

Hi mate, and welcome to the club.

For a is200 thats only done 62k thats been driven very very hard and not looked after at all, its sounds like its been driven around a field for weeks on end!

Hope you get the parts sorted and your car back on the road, just take care of her and she will love you back...

[BenIS]

For the brake, my make sure its not siezed. very common problem on the IS, may need another caliper.

[ian_w]

camskills beat mytyres by a good 20 quid a tyre when i was looking for some Falkens. A mate has used them a few times, good service.

[Danny W]

Thanks for the replies, so far ive bought pzero tyre new managed to get one @ £80

ive ordered front and back mintex pads

new front anti roll bar linkages

new auxillery belts

New genuine oil filter

Air filter

5l toyota red coolant

although i still need to get some oil (is it 5w30 i need?) and how much does the engine take?

Jomo, i got the car for £500 but it drives straight & pulls smooth through the gears it just needs a bit of TLC to get back on the road :) here she is as i bought her this weekend

my other car is a P reg corsa that ive built over a couple of years

started like this:

now looks like this: running full calibra (C20LET) engine and running gear & heated leather interior

Im hoping with a bit of time i can get the lexus back upto former glory and on the road :) its my first one but is such a nice smooth car to drive & the interior is soo comfy

Danny

[Kip]

No disrespect, but if you have done that to the corsa, can't wait to see what you do with the lexus.

[Pete Shawn]

mind as well check the timing belt while you at it.

like what you did to the corsa there tumbs***

[IHgs300]

5w30 oil will be fine, should make a nice car, Good work on the corsa looks factory fitted.

[ian_w]

According to the owners manual it should take 4.2l of oil (or 4l without the filter but not sure why you'd be filling it with no filter)

Very nice looking corsa, never thought I'd hear myself say that!

[Danny W]

thanks for the positive comments on the vauxhall :)

well today was the retest on the Lexus and im pleased to say it passed :) going to treat it to a clean tomorrow before heading off on holiday to the south coast on saturday quite looking forward to driving it and see how it goes on a long run

[petayV8]

Welcome. Im amazed someone can let a car get so bad but Im really glad you got it sorted now, what a great bargain too. Are you planning on starting a new project with the IS or just keeping it stock?

[Danny W]

Just got back from our holiday down to the south coast, we've done a total of 600 trouble free miles this past few days.

The IS is such a nice car to drive to what im used to (fords/rovers/vauxhalls) lol

Petay, id like to keep it fairly stock but when it comes to cars i cant help myself and always find ways of giving it a tidy up.

With the lexus i think i'll possibly sort the paint, wheels and lights out and keep it looking fresh

[petayV8]

Glad you had a good trip. Im driving 800 miles round trip to Paris in July and cant wait.

Glad your keeping it fresh, i was thinking you would considering youve got the Corsa for blasting about in and the Lex for cruising about in :)

[Danny W]

Thanks Petay, was a very nice trip :)

ah that sounds lush! hopefully that time of year you'll have the weather on your side too.

yup, will be using the Lex as a daily runner, where as the corsa is now primarily a show/track car.

just a quick update on the lexus, not sure how this will go down with you guys, but im not a massive fan of lexus lights .. even on a lexus :facepalm: but had seen a few of the sxe10 crew cars and altezza's with either smoked, LED or red tail lights .. which got me thinking i had some paint left over from tinting the lights on the corsa

Take a set of standard lights



scotch, mask and paint them



Lacquer and leave to cure



and fitted, looks much better imo

[IHgs300]

Nice job on the lights, would look even better if you did light smoke on the bottom.

[petayV8]

Yeah ive never been a huge fan either but being a lexus ill let it off!

This looks much better, a cheaper alternative to the LED ones with a similar style...

I think you were right to keep indicators and reverse lights clear, its a nice touch and is common on alot of cars these days so doesnt look out of place at all, a nice balance... Get a silver tipped bulb for the indicators?

Did the spoiler come with the car? not seen that style before...

[Danny W]

Thanks you two :)

yep i really liked the look of the LED ones but didnt fancy paying out for them so tried tinting the standards.

I quite like the reverse and indicators clear, not sure if i'd like them smoked.

thats a good shout Petay, i'll have a look at changing the indicator bulb

yeah spoiler was already on the car, im unsure as to it being a standard or aftermarket one?

i'd fancy getting the 'roof spoiler' too that goes on the top edge of the rear window

[petayV8]

Pretty sure its a aftermarket one, i think there were only 3 spoilers available from Lexus and that one doesnt look like any of them, but i like it

Im exactly the same, as cool as (some of) the LED ones are cant justify the cost. I was thinking recently tho if you put a LED bulb in current cluster it would look any different (LEDy) lol

[Raymond.]

Looks good I say!

Even the number plate agrees!

[Danny W]

quick update:

Had a delivery this morning, picked up a new lexus sport grille from lexus birmingham brand new and painted should get this fitted today and get a few photo's of the car overall

[BarneyTT]

Any pic updates on the now hopefully fitted grille Danny?

[Danny W]

well its been a while since i was last on here, been busy with work and re-building the corsa.

its been a trouble free year with the Lexus, such a great car. although im now in 2 minds as to what to do with it .. spend a bit of money on it or carry on saving in the hope i can pick up a newer IS250 .. hmmm :)

[ian_w]

Had the same thought (except whether to get an is300), then made my decision. Now got a supercharger sat in the workshop waiting to be fitted along with some coil overs :)