kev dood

damn it, should have read it better. Ho hum.

cheers, have mailed them and will see what they say. Pain when buying them online (non ebay) as you have to return old ones if you want the rebate, which can't be cheap bearing in mind the weight of them!

Probably true enough, the Lexus ones seems to be prone to sticking!! Can people show price paid for any OEM spec ones such as ADL Blueprint etc? Thanks

new jazz - very practical. My wife has a VW Polo and I would never buy another VW in my life. Load of crap

I get - or should say used to, havent' had one in a while, the Lexus magazine and my dad gets the lexus and Daimler (merc) mag. To be honest, the Lexus mag is just to much of an upper market (BA first class) content/lifestyle magazine. While it occasionally contains some interesting stuff, even the decent articles bang on too much about the scenery here and life there etc and not about the cars/technology etc. When you think about Lexus and the way it has grown - now that would be an interesting story to read about! - then its surprising that they don;t talk about their features in detail much. The Daimler Tech report (ok name gives a clue) contains loads of really interesting reports on the work they do on future models/technology etc and show where they are looking as manufacturers. Rarely do they talk about the colour flowers that they passed on road testing a new model in Poland or something. I know Lexus want to sell/create a lifestyle but maybe they could also acknowledge that there are many people out there that would be very interested in finding out about what went into building their cars or developing them/new ones. The other half of the mag can then be about £100k designer tables that no one can afford and stuff like that.

this is common. If you drop cameras etc then it can crack the LCD screen due to the shock. Its an arse, but you can get replacement screens for parts places etc. Thoguh usually cheaper to get a new camera!! If you got it on Visa you might be insured under that?

Whats people thoughts on replacing calipers? Is it best to go for the Lexus ones or any old OEM, and are some makes better than others? Also, would it be a better option to rebuild caliper with the kit or replace with an OEM spec caliper (as price is similar)! Are OEM spec'd parts just as good as the original parts - I know some pattern parts can be pants!!

seems a tad expensive. Lexus will do the cambelt for £299 all in. nominal service (what mileage service is this?) is not that high, even at lexus sometimes? Cambelt at private garage is around the £230-250 mark usually, though some people here have found less. The parts are about £120 as can get a kit.

No, just part. Dealers here do a cambelt at £299 fixed at mo. Ouch, not cheap when you do have to spend out on them, but at least its no every year!

Front brake caliper from Lexus UK is £260+VAT (15%). Or they can rebuild it with new seals etc for much less - thats what I am gonna do to mine, once I get a free weekend to do it - and find the guide on here which appears to have disappeared!! :-(

That converter doesn't mention anything about HDMI - maybe wrong link? If your V+ box does work directly then it should work through the Bose switcher. As you say, means the issue could be on the mediabox. Which in your case you could ditch and then hook it all up as you wanted - job done. Even with PS3 on HDMI? Though, saying that, you may have an issue with HDCP at some point as most things that use it will always use it - there are issues with turning it on/off on channel change to pay per view channels or films etc, so Sky for example always use it. To be clear, the V+ box through component didn't work though yes? But does on scart and HDMI? You can get plenty of VGA to component cables. Shouldnt be an issue. Post an image of the PS3 fuzzy pic. From memory, did you say its fine when HDMI connected to screen directly but not when put through Bose? Or was it component that was OK but HDMI not? When you got the fuzz, did you have any other video connection as well as HDMI connected? Home time now.

The panel/screen will not accept 50Hz though. Thats 60Hz only it seems. The mediabox will take in 50Hz but just not HD. Yeah scalers will not be cheap!! Regarding the Bose and picture processing, thats fine for things like edge enhancement and block noise reduction (from say freeview/sky where you can see the edges of the small macroblocks) but it will not be able to compensate for panel fundamentals which is what the mediabox will do. Pioneer will know the characteristics of the panel (over time, temp etc) and any non linearities and be able to compensate for these in the image processing. Each individual set will have been setup and matched on the production line where they will do picture tests to program final settings. Arguably its easier on a panel as you don't get convergance/geometry issues like you did on CRT but there will still be contrast issues and backlight problems etc. Its always a pain when you have spent a considerable amount of money on what was a decent TV, only to find that time and standards have shafted you. Regarding OLED, don't hold your breath. Will be a very long time before anything like 50" or so come out and even then, they may look superb but they suffer really badly from screenburn etc at the mo (due to Blue apparently!). They will also be mega money. My view would be to spend a bit on a decent 50" now (if thats the size you are after) and then wait another 5-7 yrs for OLED etc. Your only choice would be, do you wait a few years (1/2) then get a Freesat TV so you can get BBC HD etc or just jump now. Are you after an HD setup then or just wanting to get the Virgin you pay for and use your PS3? If latter, then try using SCART from the V+ box and if there is a setting then set it SD not HD. Same with PS3, though for this you have no issues with 720p60 HD so thats fine (component). You could then either use the s-video for VCR or scart or even scart loopthrough the V+ if you have 2 scarts on V+ box. What people seem to forget is that good (i.e. very high bit rate) SD looks damned good anyway, so the upping to HD is not so great. Its just a shame that people like ITV don't use a good bit rate much. Though now they simulcast some football on their HD channel, I have noticed that their SD football on ITV1 looks better! Just a note, when you go HDMI to DVI - what do you intend to use that for? The final HDMI from Bose to screen? This will only work for things that don't use HDCP unless you strip it off.

Thinking about it a bit and doing some digging, I don;t think it will ever work in any decent picture type way. TV is 60Hz, V+ box is 50Hz. Not a huge amount you can do about that and keep good picture quality. Plus, to overcome this, and the HDCP issue etc - you may as well just buy a new TV! Not a massive amount more money and will get a bigger benefit in picture quality.

Sorry, a little confused. I have the operating manual for that TV http://www.service.pioneer-eur.com/peeserv..._PDP-503HDE.pdf Can you tell me, the 2 cables between the mediabox and the screen, what type are these 2? Is one DVI/HDMI and other?? Control maybe? I would presume DVI as the mediabox has no HDMI inputs so would have thought they wouldn't have used it for output to screen but maybe?? Personally (hard to tell without seeing it) but I would have presumed that it would be better to use the mediabox in the loop as the software settings for picture control etc for the panel could have been done in there. So the video processing may (I say may) be done in the mediabox and not in the panel. Not always though. And if the image is good direct then could be ok. A question though, without the mediabox, do you still get on screen menus etc? Not that these get used much? But without the box, this could be the cause of the black and white lines you get - can you post a pic? Problem with this is that the media box has no HDMI so thats a bummer. To be honest, I would get a new TV which does full HD (i.e. 1080p panel etc). That TV is only a 720p panel and plasmas will suffer screenburn after a while - that tv is a few years old now I think. But, saving spending dosh to do this and if the omission of the mediabox is ok then... you could use HDMI and/or component (RGB) for the PS3 as I think they output HD for gaming on the component (would have to check). Or just HDMI for it all as keep things tidy and easy. No point getting a super HDMI cable as you wont be passing 1080p down it, only 720p. When you tried V+ box, did you go into mediabox or into screen? If into screen and didn't work, does it work ok into mediabox? Older panels were 60Hz and wouldn't support 50Hz from input - which yours doesn't - possibly for component only though)! Are there any options on the V+ box for the video output? If you use HDMI then shouldn't be a problem, but thinking about it you don't have HDMI the other end.............. Basically the mdeiabox will (or indicates it will) support PAL (i.e. 50hz) inputs - as the VCR/SCART inputs will be this format. What I think is happening is that inside the mediabox the chips will be converting all the different input types into the one output type (i.e. 1270x768 progressive DVI or ??) which will drive the panel. (BTW - All panels are progressive scan). Without the mediabox you might be limited in what you can input (i.e. 60Hz only and fixed res). Your issue is being able to support PAL60 on your V+ box. PAL/NTSC are different colour formats. US is also different frequency to EU, theirs is crap :-) How about setting the V+ box to 576 interlaced output? Can you get any pic? It sounds like you have, or are looking to get a decent setup, maybe it would be worth just getting a newer TV which will support all the HD formats etc. The V+ box set at 720p on HD channels may cause you an issue anyway with HDCP (copy protection) as your TV wont have HDMI the other end. Unless you have an HDCP stripper? Sorry for the long and possibly confusing mail, but have been jumping about this thread trying to remember bits and pieces. If you go for a new TV ( can always tell the missus you wanted to treat her and put the plasma in the dining room or bedroom!) - PM me.

Good news. Can you list all the equipment you have showing the types of AV outputs they have or that you would like to use (such as PS3 - Component or HDMI etc) and then all the AV inputs your TV has? For me it would help me to get an idea of your system and how best to set it up. I presume the cable you bought was DVI-I as standard DVI does not include audio. Or are you using seperate audio outputs?

check all the tyres incase any are down to the wire. Failing that, when you checked for a loose wheel, did you also check to see if they all spinned freely? When I had my caliper stick it was ok driving round town etc, but when I got on the motorway after a bit I had the same thing! Sped up a bit after a while and got better - which I put down to increased airflow cooling it a bit and also the fact that as it wasn't entirely seized just overcoming the resistance in it.

PS3 will be 60Hz output generally though will support most if not all the formats. Some of the older panels will only accept a 60Hz input. I work for Sony in TV group so know a little about these things ;-) Is there a setting on the V+ box to change the output type to either 60Hz or NTSC etc or PAL60? You also sure the settings for the video output of the V+ box are correct? You should still get a crappy CVBS output I would have thought so can see menu setups on that?

ahhhh poor sod. My little one loves the lex and it always saying daddys car and preferring that over my wifes. So much so that she borrowed it for a week and has now said she actually does like the car!!

oh yeah, absolutely. Thats what they are there for!! Just saying that if you tinned the tip after you last use it and leave a nice blob of solder on it when its off, it protects the tip! :-)

think will just go for the original thanks. only a bit more. Cheers anyway

tis exactly what I said!! :-)

Also used ABM and can recommend them. Honest people and very helpful.

I use ABM and can say they are good. They are around £235 though for cambelt etc. Still cheaper than Lex but no as cheap as the above.

Is he selling it though - in which case if not then whats the harm in leaving it if the belt has been checked and looks ok. With such low mileage the wear on the belt through use will be minimal. And rubber compounds not exposed to sunlight etc shouldn't really degrade that much in 6 yrs and with some use. Fair enough if its been sat for 6 years. I know and agree that its an important and costly job should it go but theres too much panic and mystery surrounding these things. Thats what garages play on and how they make their money - just take brakes as an example. The reason it was brought forward was because they found some that had worn early due to the idler issue. So fair enough they played on the side of caution and brought it forward, but that doesn't mean every car and every belt is gonna do the same.

are they all the same keys for the nuts? If so, find another lexus owner! If not, you can knock them off using a chisel - thats the way people used to do it years ago never tried it myself on an IS though. Put a small cold chisel or similar into one of the holes and try to knock the nut round that way. Takes a while and hit and miss and whill damage the nut but should get it off.