McLean

Yes, you're dead right. Time to act big and pay up (again)! :)

Out of cover I'm afraid Anyone used this service? http://www.sgs-engineering.com/gas-struts/ I've asked for costs so we can compare with dealer prices.

Hello :D .......from customer feed-back, here is my opinion.... Goodyear: Has more grip then the wife on payday.... is as quite as the kids when you ask 'who nicked' a fiver out of your wallet and lasts as long as wire socks in your slippers. Dunlop:Extremely noisy, average grip, average mileage... in summary average. Yokohama: Excellent grip, average harmonics < :D prone to 'tram lining' and as soft as pencil rubber. I still have the original Dunlops on and at 22K am close to needing a set for my IS300, and need grip(dry/wet) with low noise. I wondered why the the Michelin Pilot Sport tyre never seems to figure for Lexus since they get good evaluation reports . Good question - I've read good reviews on them too, but spotted there seems to have been a tread design change to the Michelin PS. Got confused at that point 'cos I wasn't sure whether the reviews were about the original patterned tyre or the new one. (Centre band + V pattern became more conventional asymetrical multi-band design around 2003?). And they come at a 20-50% premium. Tony - what do your customers say about the Michelin PS2? P.S. Anyone know what are the differences on the four variants of the PS2 listed on MyTyres and YourTyres?

Will be needing a new set in a few weeks so have started to do my tyre homework. The steering on the SC could do with a bit more feel when on-centre so I've shortlisted three possibles with a more significant centre band than the present SP9000s: Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 Dunlop SP Sport 01 Yokohama ADVAN Sport Not much in it in price terms: £97 - £105 for 245/40/18 sizes on Blackwall. Any feedback on these or other recommends for an old f*rt who's more interested in comfort, low noise and improved handling than out-and-out performance?

Why not keep one of those little plactic specimen bottles in the glove box so if there is a next time you could maybe say "thanks for a perfect DNA specimen" and make as if you're collecting it for analysis. Should give the perpetrator a few uncomfortable nights as they wait for a knock from the boys in blue .... :D :D :D

Likewise - guess it's the same team in Reading! :D Looks like we experience a wide range of customer service across UK - maybe time for Lexus GB to intro the "Mystery Shopper" to help the failing dealerships improve their customer service performance.

Thanks for that. Was this independent or Lexus garage? Bit more than I remembered - must be my age! Got the invoice out and found the mast was ~£29 inc VAT less disc, and fitting was £19. As recall (???) to do it yourself you need to press a particular combo of buttons on the radio unit to get the old mast core to over-extend so you can remove "the remains" of the old pole and then fit the new one. Thought it was better to pay up and act big by getting the local Lex dealer to fit it. Doesn't stop you feeling a right pr*t though!

Last time I did this it was ~£35 incl. fitting new mast, and less Gold discount.

The tailgate on my '02 SC430 won't stay up in the open position while I'm accessing the boot. Banged me on the head a couple of times into the bargain! Is there an adjustment I can do, or do you reckon it's replacement struts time? Anyone else had this on an SC?

Sounds like you're all set for another smooth 50k's worth! You mentioned the tyres - what's fitted to the new model? Did your previous car have all the suspension mods done when you switched from the original run-flats? Just interested to know what the comparison of the new versus the old actually involves! :)

Put my SC through Tony's fine tune today and drove off with a great big :D on my face! Not only was the tyre wear even and down to acceptable levels - should be good for a total of 20-24,000ml on SP9000s - but he fixed the steering offset issue at the same time. Got to be the best deal going. So if you're due a fine tune too, don't put it off any longer. Get your a**e over to Watford and get it seen to. He such a nice man too

In case any of your guys haven't read it in the mag yet, here's the link to AutoExpress 2005 Tyre Review: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/website/?ae_d...s/tyretest2005/ Some interesting results from premium and economy brands.

Had this on my SC430 back in 2002. My local dealer had to open up the roof liner and side panels to get at the cause of the offending rattle - loose control cable to the roof locking mechanism. Can only suggest you either tell them you want them to do the same - or you try to contact my dealer's service dept in Reading, UK for a quick chat on the specifics. They have a "rattle" expert technician! Good luck!

I get between 25-26 mpg for mixed motorway/local driving. It's been pretty constant over the 40k miles I've driven it. But I'd be the first to admit that the car can encourage generous use of the right foot !

UPDATE: Took the car along to Tony at Watforford last Saturday and got him to do his usual 4 wheel alignment magic and set it up to factory figures. Obvious improvements afterwards: better handling, reduced oversteer into corners, no sideways leaps from the backend over speed bumps, and unless I'm mistaken, reduced tyre noise too. Not bad for a couple of hours work - eh? Keep asking myself why did I put up with it as it was for sooo long? Tony says it was his first SC430, so come on guys, get along there and see what he can do for yours. Fine job Tony, see you in 2000ml for the fine tuning!

Good questions Tony. I've dropped you a PM to follow up. Cheers.

Wow! Thanks for all that Tony. Yes, it's a std UK model with Lexus revised suspension kit fitted when I switched from run flats to conventional tyres. Use is mainly driver only, with mixed motorway and local rural roads. Anything else you need to know?

Sorry Tony, Inc Angle RT should have been 8deg 59' - but I guess you've worked that out already!

Hi Tony, thanks for following up. Basically, I've got the printout from the geometry check done a year ago at 20,000ml - on a Corghi machine - and was wanting to know the standard figures so I could compare before taking it in again this year. After adjustment, the final values last year were: FRONT Total Toe 1.0mm Partial Toe LT 0.5mm Partial Toe RT 0.5mm Camber LT -1deg 11' Camber RT -0deg 40' Caster LT 7deg 12' Caster RT 8deg 8' King Pin LT 11deg 46' King Pin RT 9deg 40' Inc Angle LT 10deg 35' Inc Angle RT 9deg 40' Set Back -0deg 22' Track Dif 0deg 00' REAR Total Toe 1.4mm Partial Toe LT 0.7mm Partial Toe RT 0.7mm Camber LT -1deg 10' Camber RT -1deg 00' Set Back -0deg 33' Tyre wear has been pretty even on the SP9000s fitted at the moment - slightly more wear on inside shoulder of all four, and in centre tread of the two rears (my right foot!). How do the figs compare to the standard figs? Any cause for concern do you reckon?

Thx - I'll get right on to it!

Loooking to get a 4 wheel alignment done soon so just spent the evening searching for the standard alignment settings for the SC430 - failed miserably! Can anyone point me in the right direction please? (I recall a post with the figures a couple of years ago, but think it was before the board had its major revamp ) Thanks!

I've got some lifting of the laquer on the replacement set of alloys on my IS - well out of warranty I'm afraid. It's pretty minor so I'm thinking about just re-sealing it with some touch-up clear varnish. Question is : which one do I use?

Watch this: http://www.tomsracing.co.jp/comp/z382/movie.html Could be you!

SCs come with Dunlop SP2030 regular tyres here fitted as OEM. Dunlop tell me that this is a special version of the SP2000 series for the SC, that counters road camber pull you might get. So there are LHD and RHD versions. They perform pretty well in all respects except in snow - which shouldn't be much of a problem in GA! I've got Dunlop SP9000 on the car at the moment. Seem to have marginally better performance but slightly noisier than the SP2030s. Wear rate is similar too.

Have you had a look at the TTE items for SC pinned here? http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/ind...?showtopic=8106 I'd be interested to track your progress with this as I'm considering a similar set of mods too.