SpokesT

I'm only assuming mine need replacing, I read that they last 60k miles, mine have done 50k if they are the originals. Some mornings I have to have 2 attempts at firing up the engine, maybe 2 or 3 times a month is all, but the car is a 52 plate so if they are the originals, while low mileage, they are older than usual for 50k-ers. I just thought that if the airbox was off and plugs were out for the belt change, that would be a good time to get them swopped over.

Tony, my satnav tells me I'm doing 74mph when the clock tells me I'm doing 80. I stuck at 80 on the clock, the limit in France is 81, cos it's more or less top dead centre and isn't even fast enough to get a speeding fine in the UK. Please don't give me advice on how to keep my kids safe. I'm actually a professional when it comes to keeping people safe, and I mean that literally.

Yep, he offered to GIVE them to me. :D

Here are the pics I took at the roadside http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/SpokesT/TyreBlowoutAt80mph#

Cheers mate, yet again you come up trumps. I've just filled in a query for a quote on the lexuspartsdirect site, also asked re spark plugs just to see what they will charge.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260156652777&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en and do they represent decent value? I read somewhere way back of someone spending double this on new plugs. If I'm getting my cam belt done I may as well get the mechanic to fit these at the same time if they're suitable.

Can I just say how valuable this forum is please? I know it's been said by many on many occasions, but just to highlight how good the members are, when I recently moaned while I was away in France that I'd missed out on getting a set of rims that had been offered, Lexynik PM-ed me and offered them to me cos my need may have been more than his. How good is that! So it's not just the forum that's superb, but the members as well! Everyone, especially Lexynik, give yourselves a big pat on the back please. I know this sounds all corny but bollox, I'm saying it anyway :-)

I'm about to bite the bullet and get the job done in the next month or so. I'm planning to buy the parts myself and then get my tried and tested mechanic (who's never worked on a Lexus but has always served me well on other cars) to fit the bits. Would this be an adequate replacement http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LEXUS-IS200-2-0-TIMING-BELT-KIT-TENSIONER-WATER-PUMP-/300372587927?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM or should I be looking at this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LEXUS-IS200-2-0i-99-05-TIMING-CAM-BELT-TENSIONER-KIT-/400135097772 and buying a water pump to go with it, if so does anyone have any recommended dealers to provide this part? I sound a bit of a cheapskate doing it like this I know, but money is not swilling about in my house these days!

Yeah that inner tyre wear is a bguger, I try to keep on top of it. But I'm pretty confident it was a catastrophic failure on the inner tyre wall cos the tread and outer wall is still A1 which is a sickener cos there was a good 5mm of tread left so a good year's motoring for me without the expense that I could do without. And on top of that I missed out on the rims in Brighton that the prodigal son Lexynic managed to acquire :-(

I saw it done by a forum member a while back, every step photographed, but now I can't find it. Can anyone link me to it please?

Definitely not the one currently sitting in my boot with the inner wall hanging off in shreds :-)

I've done a fair bit of driver training over the years at work so maybe that helped. Doing the return journey on Monday so fingers crossed it's an uneventful trip this time :-)

I`m in France at the mo, and just thought I`d recount what happened on the way. Cruising past an artic on the toll road at an indicated 80mph (the limit here, roughly) and a previously felt vibration somewhere in the car suddenly got a whole lot worse. As I got past the front of the truck, the whole car started to shake. I`m in the outside lane, the car is fully laden with holiday luggage including my wife and kids, and the next thing it starts trying to overtake itself. I near pooped my pants, but no time for that cos I needed to get across to the hard shoulder asap. I hit the brakes as carefully as I could under the circs while steering across the front of the truck I`d just gone past, while keeping the back wheels behind me at all times as per the manual wherever possible, and came to a quivering halt in a handily placed layby. We all baled out amidst clouds of smoke coming from the nearside rear wheelwell making me think the next problem is going to be the fire apparently starting right next to the fuel tank, but luckily this wasn`t the case. The tyre, a Bridgestone Potenza, was however a shredded mass of molten black rubber on the inside, with no inner wall left at all. The outer wall and tread were intact, which makes me think I`d driven over summat sharp on the ferry deck because as I turned round on the ferry to drive off, there was a clunk as if sideslipping off a small kerb or ledge. I reckon some sort of chocking hook or similar with a sharp edge had sliced not quite but almost through the inside tyre wall, and the heat from the next hour of high speed driving on the toll route had done the rest. The rim seems to somehow be undamaged, and after a change onto the spare wheel (aaaargh, who put all that luggage on top of it!!!) we were back on the road, shaken but not stirred. Testimony to the handling of the good old IS200 :-) Change of pants needed again next day when I saw the price of tyres in France!!!! I'm gunna take my chances and wait till we get back home to buy another! Hope all is well in Blighty :-)

44, 9 yrs no claims (it's actually more but that's all they'll allow), just over £400 with Auto Trader :-o Everywhere else wanted 600 odd! Barstewards!!!

Yeah it is done. Just have to fit new alloys and then get it valeted. I would also like to lower it a bit but have been advised by Lexus Woodford's service manager not to do it as I already have some issues with the front offside tyres making contact with the arch lining. Selling any standard wheels in half decent condition by any chance? :-) And cheers for the offer of the boot lid, are you in Sussex or anywhere nearby? I'm driving to Brum in a couple of weeks and could make a detour if you're anywhere en route?

Been having a catch up in the forum and it started me mulling about my ****ty wheels and the fact that refurbing them is too much for me to spend etc. However, when I can, I wonder if I should just get a set of wheels and tyres from Halfords? I keep seeing them at superb prices stacked up in the entrance, and even their cheapest set is going to look beter than my cruddy rims and given that they come with tyres (yes, cheap ones i realise, but I ain't racing it on a track after all) it would work out cheaper than a set of tyres and refurbing my own rims. Anyone ever gone down the Halfords route and been satisfied? Anyone ever gone there and been dissatisfied? I hear there are all sorts of things to consider, offset (?) and such like, so I'm appealing to you, the experts, for advice and guidance here ;)

Halfords will have products in little bottles that you dab on and it convertds rust back into unoxidised metal (supposedly)and you then touch it up with your own paint. I can't remember what I used last time but there are several products available.

Identical ding to mine from one of the carparks we visited the other week, tesco, ASDA etc. Grrrrr!

Xlnt, my boot lid has a ding in it, if i can find a blue undinged one that's got to be cheaper than getting mine filled and sprayed. and the good thing is I'm only in Eastbourne myself which is just down the road :-)

Wotcher Nik, I grieve with you for the loss of your Lexy, but glad you've got summat you really want in its place. The plastic undercart bits you mention, are you talking about mudflaps etc? Cos mine are shot and I'd be willing to cover all your costs in getting them to me and paying you a fair price for them too if it's what I need.

Nice ad.... I DREEEEEAAM of 40mpg on a run! What's your secret? AA flatbed?

You can't fold the roof down, either...

I'm amazed you did them yourself and got that result! Surely it would take days and days to get all the lacquer off before the respray though? My wheels are so cruddy I'm embarassed by them but I can't afford to get them done :-( I did see a firm on ebay doing a wheel exchange, set of 4 for £255, you get your tyres fitted then call the courier back and he takes your old cruddy ones back to them for them to keep the cycle going for the next buyer. Anyone tried that method?

Luvverly motor mate!

I've got absolutely no advice for you whatsoever, but just wanted to compliment you on a nice looking 'stealth' Lexie :-) I see you've got an aftermarket stereo in there. You lucky man. I wish I did in mine :-/