Vyker

So how can you tell a 2018 facelift if the headlights are an optional extra? The rest of the car looks identical to the 2014 facelift. 🤔

Thanks for confirming. I guess they really struggled to shift the last few cars before production ended. Looking forward to picking the car up. 

I have a BMW where I've been able to install the technical diagnostic tools used by the dealers, it's very handy to have that sort of access. Is there such a downloadable community supported tool for Lexus/Toyota? 

Hi there,

Looking to buy a facelifted CT. 

In 2018 they facelifted the car again and gave it new headlights, where the DRLs sat at the top of the headlight versus the older one being at the bottom. 

Does anyone know if that update was standard? Or did you have to spec the new lights at time of purchase? 

As I've seen many 2019+ cars with the older headlights, are those cars still the facelifted cars just without the option for new headlights? Or are they old stock unsold? 

Thanks

Count me in :)

I really like it, much nicer then your older one.

Although, I'd prefer the menu follow correct grammer and have the first letter of each menu item capitalised, could just be the OCD in me though :P

The only reason why I'm still here?! maybe!

Top man!

Just worried you will get a tug, and the copper has a razor blade to make a mess of your front tints

Other than that looking good mate, though am still unsure on the black wheels :duh:

You can even bring your car to a meet (so long as you park it round the corner) :winky:

Thanks Wozza, I did pick the lightest tint for the fronts, and in daylight, I do question whether its even there! So I hope that it wont get me into trouble. fingers crossed.

I'll hopefully see you all on the 20th! I still owe you that fiver too ;)

I really like the black wheel, esp with the centre caps out.

Interesting, I was thinking of getting him some black centre caps, but looking at the pictures again, I might even just hammerite the rust bits in the middle, might look good!

Very nice. I don't like the black wheels or the de-chroming on the newer one very much and I think the grey one looks much nicer. Out of the two I'd have the grey one without hesitation.

Thanks, I'll mention that to him ;) "mines better then yours!"

Love both cars mate the E46 is tasty, i was looking into buying one before the Lex, you got the best colour too, red leather for me though!

Love the new shape too and i guess you either love the wheels or hate the wheels.

Fine motors indeed.

As for the tints don't they also heat them on the outside too to get the curve of the glass, shrink it to shape?

Thanks mate!

Yeah, he heated them on the outside aswell as the inside, seemed like alot of work for what I thought was "just stick it on the inside, easy!"

Both cars look great mate,

Stav

Thanks Stav

what was the damage to the wallet

You don't want to know lol!!

All the work on both cars, came in at £690!

Your car looks really good, where are these guys based and how much did they charge for that?

I'm gonna sound like a proper novice here, but I always thought tint film was applied to the inside of the windscreen!

Not too keen on the other one though, I really like the E92 coupe, especially with those wheels, but don't like them at all in black, nor the dechromed grille - just my opinion though.

Thanks, I like that its subtly done, nothing OTT in my world!

They are based in Slough, although ValetMagic are mobile, he works out of his van.

Thanks for the comments guys,

As Aaron says, they put it on the outside to get early measurements, for later refinement. :)

The black rims are hit or miss, but I think, it just about pulls it off, in the flesh at night, its very stealthy, impressive :)

All done, and dark!

A big thanks to Harry and Robbie for doing the work, they were both very accommodating!

Hope you all like it...

All comments welcome :)

No centre caps..

Why.. cos its ugly

Need to buy some new black ones...

As you can probably see, the car needs a wash...

So Robbie was back to work..

All washed!

A sealant next, of the Megs kind!

And let them dry..

Robbie working on the callipers now..

Done!

And now all done!

^^^ Look at the state of the paint work! :o ^^^^

I'm still trying to teach him about looking after it!

He had a cracked alloy that couldn't be repaired...

The state of the cracks..

5 cracks in one wheel... madness

Anyhow, he bought a new one from BMW..

Here's a before and after of the paint stripped

And here's the finished product

Robbie working on it..

Some more shots

Tints after..

A reminder of the before shot..

And now..

Hope you like.....

As it doesn't end there... oh no!!!

There's more..

As I was doing this work, My mate wanted in on the act..

He owns a BMW E92 325i SE Coupé which looks/ed like this

What he wanted done is to also paint the callipers, but also refurb and repaint his 19" alloys, from BMW silver to Matt Black! :o

A bold move I'm sure you're all thinking, but he likes to be different with E92's now littered all over the place, bold action was needed.

Him and I together, changed his front grilles and badges from this..

To this..

Good transformation I thought, for the little cost involved..

So the work started...

jack up

And wheels off

Dunk the alloys in acid, and wait a bit..

Pressure wash off... Harry at work ;)

Greg at it..

Rear before

And After...

Front After [not clear]

Back onto the tints... 50/50

The passenger side all done... tints and callipers

The only decent "after" shots I have :(

Rear window

As most of you know, I sold my Lexus about 3months ago, and bought a BMW E46 330Ci M Sport Coupé.

I've been wanting to get my windows tinted and callipers painted, so I did :D

Just thought I'd post here in case anyone was interested in it.

Gloss Black callipers, and medium smoke tints was the target.....

After getting in contact with Robbie at ValetMagic, and with the help of Harry from The AutoWerks... the work can be done!

To start off, some pictures I have of my car in my library, not the best.. but it just about shows the car in its "before" state.

From BMW AUC site..

After my only wash of it, back in September..

The alloy before, with the unpainted calliper, not very clear I know..

So off to The AutoWerks, workshop, and parked up inside...

A before shot of the doors open without any tints..

A before side view..

Some WIP shots with Greg, Harry's man!

Passenger door complete..

While Greg was cracking on with the tints...

Robbie started on the callipers,

Jacking the car up

I'm going to put my hand up and embarrassingly admit that I thought this was Thursday night!

It was perfectly convenient as I was passing that way at around 7ish, pulled up and all I saw was Mazda's!

Called my mate, to tell him to log onto here and check where everyone is, he just laughed down the phone at me!

Sorry to let you down guys!

Hindsight, I should have ticked that little box "Enable email notification of replies" for this thread!

Thanks for the PM Wozza

In the BMW now, and would like to come... is that ok?

Anyone want to lend me their manual IS200 ;)

I'll be good, honest

Come down to Exeter and ya can take a spin in mine (charged) and I'll cruise out in the BM, just make sure you have plenty of rear tyre tread, I'll be good too, honest.

Haha.. at £178 a tyre on the BM, tread is like gold dust to me now lol

I missed my IS200 when it first went, but now I would never go back to it again. Just too slow considering the fuel economy you have to put up with. I will admit I never had a supercharged one however which I still do regret........

I would only go back to it as a second car.... I too, would not go back for its running costs.. no way

It cost me too much to run... in fuel, insurance, servicing was a killer and it depreciated pretty badly!

I don't miss owning one, I just miss driving one, they are great to drive!

You lucky lucky man!!!

Love Estoril Blue, great colour.

That's a nice IS too... always liked the TTE bumper!

To be fair, your BM looks sweet!

Thanks :) , its great..... but its not an IS :(

Don't get me wrong, I wont be going back to the IS, the BM is just great...

I know what you mean about the steering wheel :winky:

But.....I just want to drive it again!!!

Anyone want to lend me their manual IS200 ;)

I'll be good, honest

I sold my IS200 last week..... finally!

It went for £2995, originally had it for sale at £3995, but I needed the drive way space for my sisters civic, so i had to rush it out the door for a cut price.

As I'm sure some of you might remember me buying a BMW E46 330Ci and its a great car.....

But I miss my IS! :(

When the chap who came round to buy it, wanted to test drive it, I took it out for a spin for him first, and it was so much fun!! the red line, the gear box, the swift gear changes, the TINY!!! steering wheel in comparison to the BMW, that felt like a go-kart!

I just wish I can own 2 cars.... I hate the government for making it so hard for you to own 2 cars!!!

Anyway, just thought I'd vent out my miss for the IS

Comments welcome

Vyker

A good read!

*Vyker learnt something new!