Gareth Rose

My car has the mysterious wobble about 50 that I know a few other people have had, could this be caused by the ball joint being worn but not badly enough to fail an MOT, it past 2 months ago, but has been doing the wobble for 6 months or so. Sorry to here about the car mate, how you get it fixed up and back on the road asap. Gareth

My mates dad used to have a Ford Probe, and he got stopped for having his 'fogs' on. He said "come here some, let me give you a lesson in Ford technology, mains on, no fogs, full beam, fogs come on, thats cos they're DRVING LIGHTS". He got off with the lights part, but had to go down the station for a chat about being mouthy, he ended up waiting all morning for the Super Indendant to see him, but then demanded an apology for making him wait, which he got in the post a day later in writing, signed by the Super Intendant.lol. And all because a plod who didn't know what he was talking about tried to up his numbers. lol. So if you get pulled, stay calm and explain they're set up as driving lamps. Gareth

Hi guys, Don't suppose any ones got a set of headlight washers hanging about. I've got a dealer fitter TTE kit on my car, so they didn't refit the washers. My dads just bought a 2000 IS200 with them on, and I quite like them. Im hopefully getting my front bumper resprayed in the next few weeks, so could get it all done at the same time. Think Is I don't know how much they take out when they fit the TTE kit, so don't know what I need. Anyone retro fitted them? Cheers Gareth

I think If I can get hold of another OEM bacl box, then I can try and see where it fits before chopping up my rear skirt. Although if I can get hold of another one cheaply i could try it on that. Gareth

Heres a quick mockup I done in paint (no photoshop on my laptop). Its not the best pic, but I think it looks good. Think I'll ask my mate in work whos good at fibreglassing what he thinks about modifying the skirt. Gareth

Thanks for the replies guys, I was just looking at the back of my car, and I think it would look good, but as said would be a nightmare to make it look OEM. I don't think the OEM exhausts would look too small tho. Its a OEM subtle look Im after. Don't suppose anyones got a battered old TTE rear skirt I could have a place with? I think if Its nice over the weekend I may take a photo, and try a bit of photoshopping. Thanks again Gareth

I just had my 80k service, and had my cambelt done. Had the waterpump done at the same time. They also rang me while it was, and said my AC was overdue a service so had that done aswell. Was a great way to spend an obsene ammount of money. But at least I got to borrow an IS220d for 24 hours. Gareth

I can't believe Im not the only one still up, Im on hols, but hows everyone else up this late on a school night? lol. Had 6 views already. Thanks for the reply, we'll see what pics pop up. Gareth

Hi guys, Been looking at pics of the IS250, and I'd love twins on the back of my car, but only really for the looks rather than the noise, so another stock exhaust would suit me the most. I've seen a few pics of twins, but havn't seen any with the TTE rear lip. I guess its probably a case of get another rear lip, then shopping at joining it to form the recess, but thats expensive, thats if I can find one, and will be a nightmare with the little groove that runs across the middle of the lip. It may just be a pipe dream if its gonna cost too much, but If anyones got any pics I'd appreciate it. Regards Gareth

I've had 2 MOTs on my sport, and I don't think they tried it on the road. But the guy I use has really old equipment with big analogue gauges to display the brake force. Don't know if its any different with newer equipment. Gareth

In my gf's fiesta, if yu brake hard (emergancy stop kinda hard) above about 40-50 the hazards flash, but never got off at any other time. I don't know how they work, but I suspect some way that can't be retro fitted. Gareth

My cars going in for its 6yr 80k service in a fortnight, Im having the cambelt done aswell, so its gonna be 698 quid but at least I know its sorted then. When I booked it I asked them could I have a 250 so they've got me one, and cos I work an hour away from the dealer so wouldn't be able to drop my car off, and get to work on time, they're letting me pick the loan car up the evening before, so I've got a nice 24 hr test drive in a 250, I just hope it doesn't make me want one over my 200. lol Gareth

Yeah the 190 is inc parts, labour and vat. It probably not worth running about trying to get a cheaper one then if they're only 100 quid, at least Il know the def genuine parts. Thanks for the replies. Gareth

Hi guys, My car is going in for its 80k/6yr service, and im having the timing belt changed at the same time. Should I get the water pump change as well. Lexus want 190 quid for one, is that about right, or can I get one cheaper else where and just get them to fit it. Regards Gareth

Thanks for the positive feedback guys. I had a look in Halfords today trying to find a colour somewhere between silver and the grey here, but none of them caught my eye, so I think Il stick with the VX smoke Grey. As for the centers, I think il try it with them silver, and if I don't like it, Il try them grey. As for the head/tail lights, Il have to try and find some. I don't mind sticking them in the oven and painting them the same colour, but I don't fancy doing it with my only set. New ones are too expensive, so I don't suppose anyones got a set of normal ones, or smoked ones, they want shot of for not much money? Thanks again Gareth

Marvolous, another one on the 'for' side. Im having a week off in a fortnight, so Il try and get my 2 spare ones done by then, so I can swap 2 tyres over, then do another 2, then get tyres put on the. Anyone know of any reason I shouldn'e have tyres from one set of wheels to another? Should be ok as long as they are balanced again yeah? Thanks for the opinions Gareth

They're not laquered yet, and the mettalic wasn't showing very much, buts it my first time spraying mettalic. I think when they're laquered they should be nice. Anyone got a set of smoked head/tail lights hanging about for little money. Somehow don't the missus would see them as 'nessasary maintainance'.lol Thanks for the opinions, keep them coming. Gareth

Anyone know what colour the later multispoke anthracite wheels are? Il have a wander round halfords later on and see if I can find something a bit lighter. Looks like I have to get the thinners out and wipe the wheel down again.lol. Thanks for all the replies, If anyones got any pics of grey/dark wheels on a silver lex i could do with te inspiration. Gareth

Glad someone else does, I was beginning to think it was just me, my gf does, but my mate doesn't. I'l have another look at it today for somemore inspiration. Il wait for more votes. Gareth Oh, and what about the standard silver wheel centers, I think it breaks the colour up nicely. And maybe some lightly smoked repeaters and head/tail lights would continue the theme.

Hi guys, Got round to dusting over my spare wheel with Vx Astra Smoke Grey yesterday to see what it looked like before I did the rest. Sorry about all the pics, it just looks a bit different from different angles. Your opinions would are welcome. I quite like it from most an angles, but in the shade it looks a bit dark. So maybe a lighter shade? Regards Gareth

Thanks for the reply mate, I think I may see if I can pick some up off ebay to have a play. Can anyone confirm if the center caps of the 18" styling kit alloys are the same as the standard wheels, Thanks again Gareth

Hi guys, Following on from my thread about what colour to do my alloys, I've pretty muh decided on Vx Astra Spoke Grey, which my missus bought to spray a candlabra, but I stole a bit and gave one of my spare alloys a dusting with it and it seems quite nice, havn't put it up against the car yet, but its kind of the colour the front wheels go with a hundred miles of brake dust on it, but obviously shiny. Problem is the center caps are still silver. Does the 'L' emblem come off rather than trying to mask around it? Il try and get some pics up of the first one at some point. Then I've just got to properly refurb my other wheels, but at my rate of work it could be a while. Cheers Gareth

My grills turned up today. They look great, can't wait to get them on when i get my bumper sprayed. Is there anything i can do to protect them a bit more? Maybe a couple of coats of laquer or something. Gazza

Yeah I just had a reply off 'her'. They're in her shop now. Item number 230346920738. I've just ordered a set. Im getting my bumper resprayed in the next few weeks, and new grills will finish it off a treat. Thanks for the good find. Gazza

I've just dropped the guy an email as well. Only yesterday I was trying to find someone to powdercoat my originals cos mine are all stone chipped. But a brand new set for similar money would be even better. Il wait and see what he says. Gareth