steve the torque monster

I hold TTE lowering springs in stock...

can get body kits etc (check website...........)

Rear silencers from TOMs

boot liners, cubby hole thingies....

Got something for the 220d coming along shortly

Just needs someone to start :winky:

... That'll be me then Dave!

Why not wait for the original TTE chip? it's bound to come by early fall, will keep your warranty with no changes and it has better specs (at least in paper):

220HP

470Nm

It should cost about 1150€

The german forum is organizing a group-buy, I'm looking into it, but as some othere, I'd prefer to see a graph first and hear some feedback. The car is very spikey as it is (narrow powerband) so I dont want it even more spikey, I want more power on the lower rev-range

HI,

I was in contact with Florian at TTE a few weeks back who said the tuning option undfortunately won't be available until early 2007 ... needless to say, it is in my diary to pester them then!

Have just heard BMW are bringing in a 6 cylinder 325d...194BHP...and 44.1 combined MPG...

....then to add insult to injury, they have decided to bring in a new 282bhp 330d...

Both come as Auto's. I know they're only BMW's, but Lexus if you do look at these threads, an auto 220d might help, especially one with a TTE chip, else....

Arhh yes, but what about the bland interior design and as Mr Clarkson said, more 3 series were sold last year than Ford Mondeo's! I quite like not being in a common car! :D not to mention rather good VFM with the standard kit in the Lexus

VERY true - and quietly too...

I'd love to do that mod...

the thing is would you have to "up" the brakes set up of the car, is that not known yet? I'm new to potential modding like this...but would do it!!

PS - I'm happy with 177 BHP and 295lb of torque...I just wish it came in flatter between 1700 and 4500 RPM...'cos then the gearing could stay as it was and the car would go like a bullet!

The braking system on the sport (VDIM, etc) is really excellent IMHO and I cannot imagine any issues could occur, apart from a little overheating if you really hammered the car . For me, I am sure that I am more likely to cause the problem with poor judgement before the car systems begin to struggle ... the drivers judgement is required to take corners at an appropriate speed and allow sufficient stopping distance regardless to the power of the engine ... Tee Hee! :winky:

It'll be fun to find out though!

i posted that previously - it needs few more miles on it.

I read your comment on another thread about Avensis T180 - yes, its funny too, isnt it? In Autobild, Avensis's 2.2D4D engine, same as in IS220d, gets rated better than 320d, its the best engine on the market and it beats competition left/right in every test... yet when IS220d fights 320d, it is a lot worse engine... its just funny :-). Most of it has to do with the fact that Avensis is not an true competition to 320d...

I would not suggest black boxing it yet. Wait for the oficial TTE kit. If Toyota decides to warranty it themselves, it would mean it passed all of the hard tests with flying colors...

Keep in mind that diesel engines these days are all aluminium and very powerful already...

Evenin' all.

The TTE option does look very exciting, especially if warranties are left intact! :P

The engine is powerful alright and as has been said, will loosen up with mileage, but the additional flexibility the extra horses and lb's would give will make a huge difference to many, (not all admittedly) drivers, especially those of past Impreza ownership and the thought of leaving a few Beemer drivers in ones wake is also rather appealling! :D

Great Steve,

Really enjoyable car - quite different but a good compromise - torque is good if you catch it well - the car is getting livelier as it loosens now. Need to hammer lots of miles on it and keep you all updated.

Brian :)

Collected mine today ... rather frustrated though as I have more flat pack furniture to put together than Ikea! :tsktsk:

Let you know how I feel over the coming days :D

Hi Steve,

I have had it for 5 days now and done about 700 miles in it. It is VERY tight but you can feel the power is there - it is very good at overtaking on the motorway and seems as torquey in many situations as my Impreza was, just not as high revving. The box seems very good, you can use 6th gear at 70MPH no worries.

The box has just been "modded" by Lexus to stop it being as clunky/crashy in 1st and 2nd, which seems to have 90% done the job but it is a tight(ish) gearchange at the moment.

Being a "modder" at heart, if there was a good ECUTEK equivalent remap available (as available for VAG or Peugot diesel cars) then I will certainly look 100% carefully at it as an option.

Overall the car is great, cannot understand reviews like the one in "What Car" this month saying the car is "off the pace" and is poor, missed the boat etc. The quality, design and overall package is UNBEATABLE.

A friend was up today with his new Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd he picked up at lunchtime - and was seriously stunned by the IS - he was so impressed by it, the design, the space, and the quality...he left calling his a "Big Tractor" - he has just traded his V plate Grand Cherokee LTD so does like them...

REALLY good car - any gripes are totally washed away by the whole package.

Brian :)

Us ex Impreza people need to stick together :D - Classic plus Ecutek 1 & 2, STI bugeye followed by a Prodrive Bugeye 5 door - fun, but expensive to run and hardly refined :D ... time to grow up I 'spose ...

Glad to hear your pleased and I will keep an eye out for the overly tight 1st to 2nd change that you mention.

The reviews confused me a little too ... I had a car for two days and whilst the engine is not as flexible as an Audi (max torque 2k plus as opposed 1.4k.etc,) the refinement and kudos of the car are far ahead IMHO. The total package really does seem exceptional. Mine will be on a contract hire, the residuals meaning a rental which is lower than an Audi with a retail of 2k less and the Lexus has many more features and technology - it really is great VFM!

Let you know how I get on ... due next week :o

Steve

I look forward to hearing on the gearbox too Brian. I would guess that Lexus will have to change the box really in the short term until a revision to the 220D is offered - they are in the business of offering products which are so very, very good in ALL areas

Hi Brian,

Has yours arrived yet and what do you think now ... need a remap? :D ?

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.....

Nicely put Sharkman! The brain in the engine is there for a reason after all! AMD for my Audi were very good and ECUTEK on the Subaru was very impressive, especially in bringing the torque in earlier by encouraging the turbo to spool up sooner. I would expect that these are the types of issue that TTE, etc will address as time goes on ... and no doubt Lexus with their next incarnation of the diesel powerplant. :D

I look forward to hearing on the gearbox too Brian. I would guess that Lexus will have to change the box really in the short term until a revision to the 220D is offered - they are in the business of offering products which are so very, very good in ALL areas

Is anyone going to try this plug-in unit - has 28 day money back gaurantee?

Brian :)

I'd consider it if I could see the traces of the power/torque curves. The power band at the moment is fairly narrow and there is nothing below 1800rpm, if this chip makes it more spikey then no chance, but if it can ease the power in from a lower rev I'd have it even if the overall figures didn't change. The engine isn't underpowered by any stretch of the imagination, it's just the delivery characteristics along with the ridiculous gearing need sorting - this may be the cheaper way to do just that.

My thoughts too - power delivery is the issue, not amounts of power ... :winky:

JiberJaber,

I wouild still prefer a remap as opposed to a piggy back unit, perhaps the TTE option may have moved forward a little now - I will be in contact with them and let you know. :)

Diesel

The Sport is noticable better for ratios I'm told. A good friend drive both and was very impressed with the difference. He is an ex Evo driver ...

Does anyone know if there are UK tuners active yet then?

I've absolutely no idea if they're any good but I did find this a while back:

Diesel Tuning

HI,

Attractive indeed ...

In the past when tuning other vehicles (Subaru Impreza and Audi A4 130 Tdi), it was suggested that a remap of the ECU was a safer way to increase output. The remap allows for fuelling issues, etc. to maintain the engine ... I have no idea if this is relevant for diesels too as their construction and tolerances seem quite different to Petrol engines ..?

Thanks to you all ... this is really encouraging! Comfort, gizzmo's and even better performance, what more could a man want! :D

The order is with the Lease company ...

JAMBOO

Fair point on the insurance issue and of course the warranty ... I have gone down this route in the past with previous cars and have always let my insurers know. Though Remapping is 'Stealthy', you just never know what an insurance company may find out if an accident were to happen!

SPWOLFX

The test car had 2,500 miles, but I know that my Alfa didn't really loosen up for 8,000, though of course the engine characteristics (when the torque/power kicks in within the rev range) don't alter, just all gets a little quicker

SHARKMAN

200BHP plus all that torque going to the front is a handful I'm sure - previously ran a Saab 9000 2.3 Turbo 210 BHP and the softest suspension in the world on a car that was quicker from 30 - 50 in 2nd the a Ferrari 355 apparenetly - if you could keep the tyres on the ground! The Lexus being rear wheel and having significant rea tyres though should handle it I would guess!

JIBERJABER

Your thoughts seem to suggest that Lexus may be willing to endorse tuning of the 220 in the future then ..?

Does anyone know if there are UK tuners active yet then?

HI,

Newbie here!

I am so close to buying a 220d sport, but I wondered if any of you knowledgeable people are aware if there is the possibility to remap the ECU. I love the smooth and cosseted refinement of the Lexus, but just wished there was more low down torque. I have an Alfa 156 2.4 JTD currently which has serious grunt from 1400 RPM where as the lexus is closer to 2,200 realistically before it starts pulling swiftly.

Any thoughts, very gratefully recieved!

Thanks to all in advance. B)