codlord

Do some searches as you will find has been covered in detail lots of times before, for example: http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/ind...6&hl=import Lots of spec/engine/performance differences plus potential differences in insurance/servicing/repair costs.

Personally, I prefer private sales. There are plenty of good vehicle check services via RAC/AA etc that will thouroughly check the vehicle for a fee and you will still save lots over any sort of dealer. If you want a warranty, again there are plenty of services available out there who will warranty (basically another insurance) your vehicle and you will still save dosh. Personally I don't see any benefit in buying used from a dealer, you just pay a hefty premium becuase obviously they are there to make a profit at the end of the day. I just use autotrader website for local (private) searches and ebay (but I would never bid on a car, just use it to find cars for sale, then go see and do it the old fashioned way).

Welcome. One thing I would say - have you driven an auto IS200 yet? Only reason is when I originally leased an IS200 back when they first appeared I tested the auto really didn't like it. Some autos just seem to be better than others or go with the weight/power of the car better than others, i.e. my FTO GPX with tiptronic gearbox I thought was superb, the GS300 auto I got lent from a Lexus dealer was sweet as. Certainly no expert on autos but the IS auto just felt wrong. Not saying don't get an auto, just saying make sure you test both the auto and the manual before you go on a proper hunt for your ideal IS.

Like the title says - has anyone here bought HID Conversion Kits from ebay? Prices seem keen and the one I been looking at (Vision Bulbs in Canada) say they offer UK support phone number, 3 year warranty on bulbs/ballasts, relay harness, brackets, plus your choice of bulb and colour temp for about £130 delivered. I know you could get stung for tax/import duty but still seems reasonable price. Just wondered if anyone else had some or something similar from flebay and wondered what they thought of them etc?

Hmmm, 385 brake sounds like it would equal some serious wonga, only really interested in getting it up to around 200, but I guess once you start with the serious mods it could be hard to stop...

Yeah, my GF loves the heated seats! More-or-less permanently on if the temp is below about 20degC! :D Yeah, if I can find the time I would be interested in a local meet - especially if someone there has a supercharged IS200 that they are willing to demo :winky:

Didn't go to any of the meets, I only recently moved to Basingstoke, but I think I used to pass through where you lived every day - the gunmetal/lowered/mongoose/17"-6-spoked GPX. Used to wave when I saw you. I noticed your FTO had gone and assumed you had moved, then I saw the Lexus a few times and see it get modded and thought it was probably yours and how weird it was if we both sold FTO's and both bought IS200's! FTO was a great car but I fancied going back to the IS (had one prior to the FTO) as I wanted something quieter/smoother/less rattly. Bought mine pre-modded tho, so not much on the cards yet as far as mods. Would like to supercharge it as it just feels somewhat slow compared to the FTO but not sure I can justfify splashing that much cash...

Welcome. Maybe a long shot but did you by any chance used to own an FTO before the Lexus?

Currently 32, but bought (well, leased) an IS200 SE when they first came out when I was about 26 I guess. Kept it for 2 years before getting something less practical, only very recently gone back to Lexus ownership - and its great to be back!

Black is always good (never, ever liked the kwak green - horrible and all too common too) but personally I would never buy a bike that did not have black wheels as they are always a bitch to keep clean. It's not like a car wheel where you can easily clean your alloys, you have chains, sprockets, and brakes in the way of cleaning motorbike wheels and its awkward to cover all surfaces, go for black and they are easy to keep looking good :winky:. Maybe i'm just lazy (no, actually I *know* I am lazy :D )

What sort of budget are you thinking? New or second-hand? What types are you thinking, super-sports, sports or sports-tourers? I have had on-road and off-road bikes for quite a while. I bought a brand new ZX-7R in 2000 as it had always been my dream bike, I knew one day I would get one so when I had the money I just went out and splashed the cash! Loved every minute of it and although by todays standards its large and relatively heavy I like it that way, its comfortable for me (6'2") and is rock solid and not at all twitchy on the road (unlike R1's and the like which you have to be more careful with). All bikes nowadays seem to be going the way of the R1 - in both power/weight and styling, which I think is a shame as the ZR is in my opinion a lovely looking bike. I am actually selling my 7R now as I do not use it enough and I have just moved house so will use it even less (due to distance to work etc.)

Coolio, nah extra pics not needed, the sworn testimony of fellow owners is enough for me :D

Yeah, could be that the Tezza dash is different finish from the UK ones? It was just the difference in colour between the dash tray and the air-con control panel that worried me, in that it does look quite different in the photo.

Anyone actually got one of the Altezza type ones? It's just that looking at this pic: The finish/colour of the unit does not seem to match the rest of the dash - i.e. it looks a bit of a bluey-black rather than a proper black. But it could just be the light/picture. Can anyone who has one confirm what the colour-match is like? Thanks. Also, just for a laugh, I have asked my local Lexus dealer for a price on the proper "sat-nav" type unit:

Cool, never seen those before. Thats the sort of thing I was after. Shame the proper sat-nav replacement housing thing is not available for a sensible price but I will have to search about for one of the cheaper Altezza ones. Thanks

Yeah, you can replace head unit with aftermarket stuff without too much trouble, you will need to get a standard DIN facia though, I have seen them on ebay or maybe you can get one from Lexus or other places - not sure. Do a search on ebay for "IS200 facia" and you will see what I mean. I thought about doing that but decided against it in the end and got an iPod adaptor instead (see the other thread already linked).

Is that a genuine lexus part or some sort of third-party thing? Any links/pics/details?

I am talking about the thing where if you had navigation, the nav screen would be, but for those of us without, its just a random sort of space that I can see no real use for - anything you put there is just going to fly around at the first bend. Anyone actually have any useful suggestions as to what it could be used for or converted to? (ignoring the "retrofit the nav screen" which I am not interested in).

Err, i'm not selling it! I just had it nicely installed in my car! I was just suggesting another option.

Personally, the only mods I would bother telling an insurance co about are ones that either change the performance/handling/saftey of the car (suspension/tuning type stuff) or change the cost of any repair/claim (styling kits/alloys etc). Anything purely cosmetic like painting the calipers I can't see them having any reason to know about.

I just got the Connects2 iConnect FM adaptor: http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_in...roducts_id=4840 (or some on ebay now and again). Same sort of thing as the Dension Ice-Link FM but cheaper and comes with an ipod dock cable instead of a cradle. The adaptor connects direct inline to the aerial on your stereo so it is not a transmitter, but you still tune the stereo to a certain frequency to get the sound. Plus it charges the ipod. I had it fitted by Lexus and the cable hidden under the centre console and coming out in the front cup-holder. Therefore a totally hidden install with the ipod sitting very nicely in the cupholder. Cost £51.70 fitting which I did not think was too bad (did not fancy dismantling my own dash to fit myself). Sound quality, although not as good as CD or probably something like the prolex aux-in, is more than acceptable and I have had no interference problems.

Cheers for that, but which is which? (if I just want to order the lenses and not the bulbs). Thanks

Yeah, I think I already have some chrome bulbs kicking about somewhere, assuming they are standard 5w capless type, like this?:

Yeah, just bought it recently, as you see it. It was advertised on ebay for a while so you prob saw it there. I have seen those crystal clear foglight lenses on ebay if you are looking for some, do search for "lexus is200 crystal fog light". The red bulbs I have in them give a crap light output tho - I got an "advisory" for them on the MOT! I think I have 19x8.5 wheels too, so prob the same offset as yours as it sounds like we both have the same issues. Actually, just seen you from southampton - my GF lives in southampton so you could well have seen me about there too. If I spot you i'll give you a wave!

I have read about swapping of the standard "milky clear" IS200 side wing repeater lenses (with the orange bit) to the properly clear LS430 ones. I am not sure what models/years there and if the lenses were always the same - so those who have already done it, do I need to just ask lexus for LS430 side repeaters or am I going to need to specify a certain year or whatever? Thanks