whysub

I can highly recommend Jay at Andersons Ind Est, Lower Park Rd WICKFORD, Essex SS12 9EJ (01268 762 212)-he has done lots of painting on my VW. Give him a ring and by sending him the photo of the damage he'll be able to quote you. Tell him Colin with the two tone VW T4 van recommended him to you. Opposite his workshop is Craig Bradbrook's garage-Craig is a fully trained Lexus mechanic and apart from his excellent knowledge of our cars, he offers good workmanship but NOT at Lexus prices. my heart goes out to you, but it's all repairable.

What 5 pence piece?

If someone organises a southern meet I would come down to that-maybe that's part way between us for the wheels? Only need them for a few weeks whilst I sort out my wheels-but whether to paint, powder coat or polish will be my dilemma! Whilst I've no spares to put on, I'm not being forced to make a choice.

I'd be up for a meet up-gives me an excuse to go out and drive somewhere. I'd be interested in how the MeisterR's affect the ride quality, even though it's the drop in height that I want on mine, and just by this much. Can they be adjusted to drop even lower? My VW T4 van is dropped 80mm but interestingly (for me at least) the ride comfort hasn't changed, but the handling has improved massively.

If you don't use the image box, then simply write paste link here amd Bobs your uncle

You had too many http's and no space between and which probably wouldn't show them.

In reply look ar the top and there is a box (5th from the right) which says "Insert image" then simply paste you photobucket link into that then press enter. Look very nice-I'd have your old wheels if you weren't so far away, as I neede to refurn my DHP wheels.

I have no idea what a melf resistor is, let alone how to fit one. I really don't know how you work out why what goes wrong goes wrong, sut so grateful that you do. I just wish I had a skill I could bring to the forum members.

Andy-that looks just the drop I'm looking for on my LS. I have been in contact with MeisterR (who has been very helpful) and hope to be able to buy a set from him soon (just had the expense of new lowered shocks for my VW T4 van, and also that of a Wilbers shock to replace the stock one on my Aprilia DD). Did you fit them yourself or get them fitted? Were they difficult to do, bearing in mind I did my 4 VW shocks in an hour (no springs on the front), and the Aprilia about 10 minutes. I've the DHP wheels which I like as they don't show much of the brakes, but then some do like exposing all that. Each to their own, but the drop looks great.

I look forward to hearing that your fix works permanantly. Thanks for trying to devise a repair

Are you and Benfur going to offer this fix to us MkIII owners with this problem at some time soon? It's the one thing that drives me mental about my car, and MkIII radio's don't come up for sale that often, whichg seems to be the only fix for shaky handed solderers like myself! I'm just glad there are owners like you that identify how to fix problems like this.

There are some really nice ones out there with no faults, or maybe just one or two niggly ones that aren;t the end of the world (MkIII radio backlighting anyone?). Mine is immaculte inside and out, and runs beautifully, and cost less than the 190E it replaced-and it has that same "hewn from granite" build quality of the Merc. I've looked around at other cars but none gave me the same pleasure that the LS does. Good luck with your hunting

My brake pipes (back to front) were perforated badly, as was thye cross piece. Independant garage (owner is a fully trained Lexus mechanic) charged me £100 parts and labour (copper pipes used).

The "missing" backlights on my radio is my cars only fault, and as such, it niggles me immensley. Thanks for the BBA link Ruud, and I have sent them an e-mail. However, if someone here has devised a fix, I'd rather give them my business than anyone else. It's people like them that allow us to keep our cars as they should be.

I didn't use mine for a few months during the summer due to a brake problem (misdiagnosed as as servo/master cylinder problem, when it was simply rusted pipes). In that period I was looking at getting a replacement car and looked at 5 and 7 series BMW;s, variuos Mercs before settling on an Audi S8. Took my car to be fixed (£100 all in) and on the drive home put all thoughts of selling out of my mind-it just does everything I want a car to do. The radio backlight has been out on my car since getting it, but I can put up with that. If I could find someone to repair it I would get it done as it is the only fault with the car.

If it is as desribed then you've a bargain there. Wheels aren't to my taste eoither, but as they need a refurb I'd personally be tempted just to spray them matt black until I could find the wheels I liked. But them you may like these so why listen to me? And if the rattle is still there, get it up on the ramp to see what it is-if it's the heat shield rip it off or secure it with some self tappers. My 1996 model has done over 225k miles and runs perfectly-the only fault with mine being the radio backight doesn't work

I have mine isnsured as a second car (my van and bikes are my main form of transport) with RH Specialist Insurance (www.rhclassicinsurance.co.uk) and couldn't get a better deal anywhere.

My 1996 LS has 225,000 miles on the clock and yesterday it sailed through the MOT with no advisories. It has been reliable and only gets an annual service by an independant mechanic, but he has been Lexus trained. The only trouble I have had have both been winter related-a broken front suspension spring (OEM part £150 fitted) and rotten brake pipes (£100 fitted). I did have trouble with the handbrake seizing last year, but sorted with liberal applications of WD40. I had been looking at getting a newer, lower mileage model but nothing drives or looks to be in as good a condition as mine. cruises silently at anything between 60 and 110 mph, returns upto 32 mpg (but then the fuel consumption isn't why I purchased the car) but it's calming drive make my average cruise speed around 65mph-it chills me out driving this car. If I covered up the milometer, I'd defy anyone to guess at it's mileage from the condition of the interior and exterior, and how it drives. I've owned Audi's, BMW's, Sabb's, Merc's and VW's and this is the best build car I have ever owned (only my Merc 190 came remotely close).

Not my car Malc-"borrowed" the photo from clublexus.com Everything I do here to mine will have to be subtle-there is little choice in suspension changes UNLESS stuff is imported from Japan or USA, although looking for other options. I think lowering the car, even a little, makes the car look nicer, but to each his own. Wheels are easier to find with more choice, but finding something that looks right is making the choice hard (I have DHP wheels on at moment which I like). I can get so much for my VW T4 van (huge choice of suspension, wheels, interior and exterior)-which I have made subtle changes on to make it a bit more individual. Looks like everyone in the US modifies their LS at some point. I hate the way they seem to all stretch tyres by fitting undersized ones. And puddle lights? they are the lights in the bottom of the doors that illuminate the puddles (and seemingly more often, dog poo!) when you open the doors in the dark.

Today my 15 year old, 225k mile LS passed the MOT with no advisories. I was looking to buy a newer MkIV but found nothing that drives as well as mine, or has such an unblemished exterior and interior. So some of the money I've saved by not getting a newer car I will spend on mine. Maybe some deeper dished wheels, the front bumper repaired (hit something in the road a week after purchase!)and lowering the supension 25mm or 40mm. Modify is the way to go, but subtle......

I know that Nissan 350Z and Skyline GTR wheels will fit my MkIII, as will Mazda RX8 wheels. I know this as I have tried them all to see what looks best. I currently have the 17 inch DHP wheels on my car, and think they suit the car best of these four wheels. I like some of the wheels fiited to the cars on www.clublexus.com but on checking nearly all of them are only available in the US. Importing them is just too expensive when I add VAT, duty and carriage. There are some aftermarket wheels avsailable in the UK, but very few float my boat or fit my finances. I do like the Wolfrace Sharks though......... My hunt continues

My radio backlight has not worked since I purchased my car, although the display is fine. The gearlever light has never worked neither. i now notice that the aircon backlighting is dim for a while, then it comes up bright as it should. Now I have decided to keep the car, I want to get these irritants (the only ones I have with my car) fixed. Anyone know anyone or a company that can repair these backlights?

My car had a Scorpion fitted from new, but had been removed when I got the car. Couldn't do without remote locking, so had a Cobra alarm with remote locking fitted for about £120 if i remember correctly. The alarm isn't that basic as it has motion sensors inside (which look factory fit) but I got it purely for the remote locking. But good luck in getting yours sorted.

I have thought about this for a couple of days now, and have decided to stick with my MkIII. The money I would have had to find to buy it as well as the hassel of selling mine I have decided against it. I'll be spending a few hundred getting the front bumper repaired and both of them painted, and the one tiny little ding in the door pulled out. It will do me for another 250,000 miles I am sure.