Bluebeard

If you would care to go to this UK site you will find that they stock 9005 9006 bulbs for the IS200 in Xenon under the Phillips name. (5 star rating in Auto express) They are direct replacements to the standard ones. UK Xenon bulb supplier They are UV protected so that it wil not effect the lens or lamp housings, they are the correct fittings and wattage and they offer 30% more light. I ordered them at around 4pm online and they arrived in the first post NEXT DAY post free. They may not be blue. They may not be HID. They may not 'look' as cool but they are going to be a lot better and more efficent than the halogens that are standard factory fit and they were not expensive. I have yet to try them out but I am confident that they are exactly what I have been looking for. They are available in both dip and main beam fittings and I will replace all my front lamps with them. Thanks to everyone who had contributed to my search in the numerous forums - but these are the ones for me. :arrrggg-matey:

I think this lot might be worth a look: Uk Xenon bulbs

Have you seen this guys and gals: Xenon Bulbs

Im looking here at the moment: Xenon Bulbs

Just fitted some Bosch, and binned the orginals. I have always had Bosch on all me motors never a problem. Ive had some Champions and others which come apart and put the dreaded scratch in an arc on the screen. Couldnt remove it even with jewellers rouge and much polishing. By the way are the IS's different lengths - my are drivers 21" passenger 19" wierd

Stand back - patented cure coming through. S'called a bucket full of water and sponge

You may remember the saga of my waterfilled fog lights? Well I had them replaced yesterday under the second hand warranty of the car. (Took them 5 weeks to get the parts - but thats a whole other story) I had tried to remove them as per the owners manual in any case. THEY ARE A PIG ! The conclusion is having observed the procedure is that it aint a simple driveway job on a Sunday morning despite what the owners manual says. I was allowed to observe the procedure and the only way is a garage ramp, removal of the under engine splash tray and the peeling back of the underwheel arch tray. In respect of the water problem the garage have fitted a plasric bag heath robinson affair to try and keep any excess water off the back of the units. I'll keep you guys informed to see how successful it is. :D Looks like this is an obvious design fault as I have seen another auto with misted lights on the forecourt. The only good thing to come out of it was an unoffical agreement which ended with the service mamager saying "If one goes bring the car in and we'll replace it on the ramp" (FOC?) I have fitted the units with blue vision bulbs. Mind you for what use they are in fog you might as well drive around with them on all the time. Not that any does of course except when they are allowed to (In fog and falling snow lamps fitted below 24" from the ground cannot be displayed) :shruriken:

Yep - the very thing - a trifle expensive perhaps - but they are exactly what I have been rabbiting about... Thanks all.....

Im still NOT confused - I understand the difference between the systems I want to locate Xenon gas filled bulbs in the fittings I described, in the UK, to replace the Halogen filled bulbs that are fitted as standard. Thanks

There is no confusion. Vehicle bulb replacements are available in both halogen and xenon gas filled BULBS. In some case there are bulbs advertised in the states with Krypton and Xenon gases. It just appears to me that the are not readily available in HB3 and HB4 fittings in the UK It appears that the confusion arises in the thinking that I am talking about replacing the whole headlamp assembly with an HID setup. That is no the case. Xenon bulbs have been available for a number of years and I had them in my last car, a Saab, in H1 types. These are a direct replacement for the halogen fitted bulbs, often known as premium and advertising that they give out between 30% and 50% more light. They are merely filled with Xenon and are the same wattage as the orginals but are far brighter and more efficent, than Halogen. They give a clean white light without any need for blue tinting or anything else. They have no detrimental effect on wiring and as they are the same wattage they do not damage any of the plastics in the light units. It is true that they do not last as long as halogen bulbs however they are worth it. I imagine that they would cost around £10 to £15 per bulb. I hope that clears up any confusion

I for one could be interested. But they must be Xenon gas filled bulbs. Not the 'high performance' halogens or blue tinted or any other bulb that claims to be near XID

I have found that you are able to use the auto box as a semi manual if that makes sense. In town if you use 2 and 3 you get more braking so that the car does not roll on when you take your foot off and the car behaves as a manual. I have also found that using the 'snow' button allows a smoother take off when in a start /stop situation, as the throttle is very sensitive otherwise The auto box is very sophisticated and forgiving. In D on the open road you alos get an 'overdrive'. Watch your rev counter when you have reached a cruisng speed you will see it drop when in D as the overdrive cuts in :shruriken:

Ive got a pair of Vision types in dips and they are a cleaner light but not much brighter. Ive had sets of H1 Xenons in the old Saab and they were the dogs ********

Has anyone yet found Xenon bulbs in the 9005 and 9006 (HB3 HB4) fittings. Not the blue vision types, or the complete headlamp assembly, but the ones that claim 30% or 50% more light, which are straight replacements. They are often labelled premium etc. Theres any amount in H1 and H4 fittings. But other than 80 and 100 watt types from the states I havnt seen any from the UK yet. Any ideas guys

Come on people - drive according to the conditions and let gizzmos do their jobs. It is possible to drive the IS easily in most conditons, its no different to any other car. The snow button will make the throttle response more sedate in slippery condtions. The TC is there as an aid it dont make you a better driver The secret is to take your time, plan your manouveur in time and do it gently. ADJUST to the conditions dont expect the car to work it out for you. Yeah yeah I know what you are thinking - so I dont need enlightening thanks

Ive only had the car about two weeks and have done two tank full checks and mine has worked out at 29.1 mpg. Mixture of town and country driving - slightly weighted right foot, (on the ocassional - "lets see what this baby can do") type runs.... :arrrggg-matey:

Just swapped from Saab 9000 CSE 2 litre LPT which was costing £277 per year fully comp to the Lexus (bloody good move actually) :D This might not what you want to hear but when you arrive at my grand old age of 50 like what I am my company tell me that on renewal at todays price it will cost another £2 for the Lexus making it around £279 ish. Thats all with full NCB and comprehensive with my lady as a named driver The company well thats Hastings Direct tel: 0800 0 1066 - oh and if you do any good please mention my name ;) Cos I think they might lower my premium even more next time

OK heres the plan - when the new units arrive and are fitted I am going to coat the back of them with clear silicon bathroom sealer. The vents in the splash guards are there for a reason and it wouldnt do to cover them, I dont think. The sealant will be waterproof and able to be peeled off to for new bulbs (blue vision me thinks) in the future. I will careful not to cover the vent holes so they can breath and then hopfully will keep the condensation out of the units. Ive only been on here for 4 days and have learnt more about the ups and downs of Lexus ownership than from any other sourse. I am very gratful for all the comments and suggestions and will be going gold in the not too distant future. This is probably the best site I have come across for help from folks in the same boat. Thanks all for your help :shruriken:

From the Google search engine

Thanks for that - Yes its an auto. Can the vents be covered up or can the splash guards be replaced or modded then?

I have recently purchased an IS200 (99 on a 'V') There seems to be a lot of tyre noise from the fronts. Is it the 45's on Michelin pilots ? I have been reading that a certain amount is to be expected

I have recently purchased an IS200 (99 on a 'V') and the front offside fog light was out. Both foglights were full of a substantial amount of water. The offside light was a pig to get out because the clip was so filthy it would not come out. Got it out by remving the wheel arch splash guard partailly to find that the bulb housing was seriously corroded and the lamp will have to be written off and replaced as will the nearside one. There are vents in the splash guard which are allowing water to cover the lamps from behind and ruin them in time. Lexus say 'DO NOT COVER THEM THEY ARE FOR BRAKE COOLING' Any suggestions for prevention when the new ones are eventually fitted would be helpful THANKS