Sharkman

If you go for these disks don't be mislead by the Brembo badge. Owned numurous sets of their kits and can say that brembo doesn't make these disks themselves (just like a lot of oem calipers, they only rebadge them just like trd does). Found out products from stop tech, AP and Move it are a better buy.

I heard the rumour that the Dutch importer ask lexus (but Europe is small for them and Japanese firms tend to be deaf for minorities) to have all 220D's fitted with the sport gearbox (good action since imho the normal one doesn't match the engine at all). Since I have loads of experience with OBD tuning (Revo/Jabba/Amd) on VAG products I can say I would only go for this option and never opt for piggyback..... The best remaps only adapt centain files and leave all the safety files intact, in this way damage to the motor is almost impossible. See it this way, Vag turbo motors that have a good remap will go into limp mode when pushed over the limits, badly tuned cars will just go on untill they blow/suffer an early dead.....

Remapping is possible. German tuner offers a remap for the Avensis D4 D and claims 206 bhp 445 Nm. Testdrove one a few weeks ago and it pulled like crazy (imho way too much for a front driven car but the lex. might be able to cope with it). This is the car: http://www.speurders.nl/autos/toyota/20696...age06100.101.99

DBM uses ultralite wheels on their project GS 300 with supra motor transplant. see: http://www.dbmengineering.nl/dbm/projects/lexus/lexus31.jpg I prefer the five spoke but all ultralite wheel are very well made and reduce the weight of your wheels.

250 pounds or a bit cheaper might be about right for meccatune with guarantee. Fitted over 40 sets so far and especially the audi's and volvo's are having big electrical problems with the cheaper kits. Believe me putting your Xenon lights on before starting your car will at least shorten the life expectancy off some parts by years.....

TTE chicanes are ET 50 and 225/40/18 fit perfect even with a drop of - 50 mm (at least the do on mine), in fact you might even want some spacers (5 mm in front 10-15 mm at the rear).

Imho 8300 k is much too blue (only old beamers and pre Golf 4 riders use it over here). Prolex does do Meccatune, ask him for 6500 K (stays much closer to the original xenon). Meccatune is fine but there is an issue with some of the cheaper Hid kits (the wipers of some audi's and beamers stop working once the lights are switched on). Als long as you don't start the car with lights on all will be fine, if problems do occur some alternative wiring will be needed.....

Wouldn't advice to tow a big caravan with an Is 200. Last IS owner who did fit one told me he also had to fit load adjusters (extra spring in the rear) to prevent the the rear touching the street on every bump. for towing a caravan you'll soon want a bit more torque (better get a diesel.....)

Well think it will be a 2001/2 RS4 (bi turbo not the V8) with Revo or MTM. But if mileage keeps increasing it will be a diesel (probably from VAG).

Using my third HID kit (now on IS 200 before on Golf R32 and Seat Leon Cupra R). The first set was 8500 K, followed by 6000 K and 6500 K and all came from meccatune. The last two where cosiderably better (especially during heavy rain). The 8500 looked much better at start, they are extremely bright and blue but after some time they started to irritate (they noticeably gave less usable light and only make roadsigns reflect much more). Second reason why I wouldn't use them again is the extreme blue look that is only "cool" with chavs in Mark 3 golfs or old beamers.....

Haven't driven the 220 D yet but drive an Avensis with the same motor on a regular basis. Besides it's looking extremely boring (imho) I get much better mpg values as the ones mentioned here and don't recognize all of the complaints about the gearbox Wonder if both modells share more vital parts besides the D4D motor. All I can say is that the Avensis has a ridiculously high topspeed (I had over 245 on the clock and still gaining speed) and stays stable untill it gets there. Besides that I liked the version with 140 bhp version more.

unfortunately not, since mine is lowered and I just went over a high speedbump (back slipped away since it was icey) but maybe the backside will gain speed while twisting (wasn't any more than 40 cm.). Lexus dealer looked at it and told me I found the weekspot of the car. Problem was the tire didn't take any of the impact (this would have dampened it) but the kerbstone hit the rim on one spot of about 5 cm (checked the rim and it was still true!). Dealer told me this happened earlier this winter to a Is200 sport and GS 300 whit exactly the same result! By the way subframes would have been repairable (would have costed half) but since I wanted to keep Lexus guarantee and am fully insured (and don't want to have welding on such a vital part) I choose not to go this way.....

Don't start about Lexus IS and snow......... Despite wintertyres lost the back of my car yesterday at no more than 5 mph (roads are very narrow where I live). Rear wheel touched the kerbstone (and not that hard), what seemed to a job for the refurbisher meant a slightly bigger problem after I tried to drive away the rear wheel didn't follow....... Car had to be transported and at the garage they found a bent subframe and loads of other damage (so far over 1800 pounds just on parts :tsktsk: . Thing that is most annoying is the fact that the same thing happened to me a few years ago in an Audi and even at higher speed (and at the same place ). Costed me one alloy and a bearing.......

Your wheel indeed look fine Gord but watching the pics I bet their offset is more like ET 40 think is combination 18/8j et 50 might be tricky and spacers might be needed.

7.5 j TTE wheels indeed will work fine. Anyone an idea about the requested 8j? my guess is it won't work (wheel will touch the inside of the damper).