si_is300

PM sent mate You the man!

Bingo! Type B's matey, looks like I'll have to get the full centre cap complete with emblem then. They'll just need taking to the wheel shop to be sprayed to match the wheels. Thanks

Hi all The story goes like this.......... Gave the 300 a good detail over Friday and Saturday, lent the car to my missus on Sunday, thought I'd give it a quick wipe over in the afternoon and noticed one of the chrome 'L' badges has fallen off one of the wheels. The wheels were refurbed about 4 months ago and by the looks of it, these badges only pop in and are held by three lugs/pins. Does anybody have a part number for these bagdes (thinking I may as well buy 4) or know if they are available with or without the actual centre cap? Thanks in advance :winky:

My standard head unit has started playing up and I am well aware that they are expensive to fix / replace with a genuine item. My car is also equipped with the amp behind the glovebox, but dont fancy taking everything out to answer what is hopefully two simple questions............. Does anybody know the power handling/rating and impedance of the standard speakers?? and Are the crossovers for the fronts built into the amp (ie seperate outputs for all four fronts) or an in-line / crossover built into the speakers (ie a pair of wires in and a pair out for the tweeters or woofers)?? The plan is to replace the head unit with double-din one (not decided on the actual model yet) and hard wire the standard speakers in (not using the standard amp with aftermarket adapters). These can then be replaced as time goes by with better quality component speakers. I studied audio engineering at uni and have had great set ups in my previous cars but times change and I am happy enough with the sound the IS provides out of the box (for now!).

Better products out there than megs matey, especially with internet stores. can get good prices/deal on the megs stuff, like you say with Halfords 3 for 2's I personally use cleanyourcar.co.uk. I have a platinum ice IS300 and use a selection of other makes to get that swirl free, wet look. I use poorboys 'white diamond' and dodo juice 'lime prime lite' after polishing and top with collinite 476s in the winter and dodo juie 'supernatural' in the summer. Then use either dodo juice 'red mist' or chemical guys 'quick detailer' to keep it spick and span til the next wash. I cannot recommend 'glazing' before polishing enough. For darker colours like yours try poorboys 'blackhole'.

best of luck with your claim mate. I tried to claim a few years back when I hammered a pot hole in my celica. (unavoidable, doing 30 mph, round a bend and a bus coming the other way so went straight over the hole) Hole was about 2 foot across and about 8 inches deep. The hole was just round the corner from my house and my old man had reported it only a week earlier. I tried claiming and got nowhere. Apparently the road was 'inspected' only six months earlier (on two yearly inspections = yeah right!) and showed no signs of disrepair (the council obviously don't realise that thiese holes can appear in a matter of days). At the time i worked for Tarmac as a highways inspector. I wrote my letter in the way i would report surfaces for my job and i think this was the problem. There was loads of technical jargon in there and the photographs showed all the specialist equipment used for measuring/recording defects. The wheel was badly damaged and i wrecked the tyre. Tried to get the wheel repaired but everyone said it was knackered. Tried to get one new one but the wheel was discontinued!! I had written statements from numerous places stating that the wheel was beyond repair and that the wheel was not available any more. Ended up having to buy 4 new rims and two tyres. Councils reply was basically 'look where your're going' Still makes me mad now!

the 300's thirst for fuel (i knew it would be thirsty when i bought it but with constant rising fuel costs, i dont go as far as i used to :( ) the annoying issue with the front pads moving around waiting for the stereo to pack in

The only pics I've got of my two previous cars are good old fashioned photgraphs Not got any digital ones to upload and show off (may have to scan them in at work and upload) Bought a very early mk3 8v golf gti for my first car (aged 21, fresh out of college), wish id never sold this and would love to have it back. was a 3 door in a very dark blue/purple flip factory paint and was absolutely immaculate. Kept that fairly standard except for mk4 style lights, bonrath badgeless grille, some spax springs, 17" oz supertourismos with toyo proxes, k&n filter, janspeed full stainless with de cat (car was a late J so didnt need the cat for mot) and an awesome stereo (studied music tech and audio design at college and uni so this was a must!) Then got me st205 celica GT4 at 23. Nowt too crazy here except blitz induction and full stainless, big BOV, rally style mudflaps, trd corner spats and a few tastefull graphics. Most of the stereo from the golf ended up in this. Didnt go over the top with either of them tbh, prefer to keep em looking spanking and just a few tastefull bits to make them different. The current is300 is completely standard but immaculate in every way (dont have the cash for mods, petrol is too expensive!) I had planned on a few goodies, but gotta pay for my wedding next, and I'll be after something new by then.

Yeah my asda is a big 24hr one. Kent microfibres are always on offer, the turtle wash shampoo is usually a good price for the big bottle too. I got most of my brushes from poundstretcher/instore, theres some good bargains about without paying top prices for the big named products. Plus getting used to applying polish/glaze/wax with foam applicators (i pay a quid apiece) is a good idea. Ive noticed you use a lot less product with far better results. still buff off with a MF and then wash em. Missus gets a bit annoyed when there are circa 20 cloths to wash! Plus the mandatory magic tree at 88p from asda with the weekly shop :winky: My neighbours look at me a bit funny, especially after i've finished washing and drying (after claying) and the big tub comes out with all my cloths, pads, brushes and different bottles! See some looking when they go out about 9am ish, come back late afternoon and I'm still on it. Always worth it tho, that soft sunlight about a hour before it sets always brings out the best in any freshly polished/waxed motor.

Theres more to cleaning car products than megs and halfrauds peeps! although my neighbour does work for halfords and still gets discount even on the 3 for 2's! Billbery for the wheels (about a tenner a litre, diluted aprox 4:1) APC for the awkward bits (about a quid a bottle from supermarkets, various dilutions) Megs hyper wash (2 bucket method) with a lambswool mitt. Sonus Green clay (less than 20 quid for two) Demon shine as quick drying aid (on offer in asda, 2 litres for a fiver) SRP (fifiteen quid for the big bottle, lasts ages) Poorboys 'white diamond' (tenner a bottle, will last me about 2 years) AG fast glass spray AG vinyl and rubber care (halfords 3 for 2 :winky: ) couple of coats of colly 476s (15 quid a tub, cant see me rnning out, it goes a long way!) tyre dress (free from the missus's work :winky: ) chemical guys quick detailer spray (a tenner ish, for the guaranteed bird ***** when you've finished) Got a small karcher pressure washer, could do with a foam lance next for some snowfoam action! polish, glaze and wax applied with foam hand applicators (couple of quid each) loads of brushes and microfibres (cheap as cheaps from supermarkets) Stay away from wonder wheels unless your wheels are very bad, this stuff is lethal is any paint or laquer is suspect, and eats your hands too (ive had bad dermatitus for 6 years plus caused by washing WW off, even with gloves on!)

yep indeedy, only yesterday lunchtime on the way to pick the missus up from work. I was sat at the front of the lights in the left hand lane of the dual garageway, windows down, tunes on (not too loud tho) and sunroof open, freshly polished and waxed, enjoying the sun and saw a car going really slow behind me. Was an 05 plate saab drop top (the one thats based on the vectra), the reason this chap (i'd say about 25/26 y/o, same as me) was off so slow was he had two mates in the car and he was puttin the roof down. Then just as he got close he changed lanes and gave me 'the look'. Hence manual mode and PWR button down (it was the turbo one so wasn't taking any chances :winky: ) and proper smoked him, loved the look on his face when he was nailing thru the gears and then pulled in the left lane and aventually caught up. mines not a particularly fast car but i dont mind the odd traffic light drag race to show some toss pots that the 3 litre six and auto box can still do a bit of damage. Get loads of people try it at roundabouts and dual garageways when they come up real close behind you then pull out to overtake, if i'm in racing mode too usually just drop it a cog or two and disappear! Lets not get started on the saxo/corsa/fiesta drivers that always think they've got a nailed on 'win' too?!!! seriously tho, the 300 brings out the worst of them, I used to get some try it when i had the golf gti, and only serios contenders would have a go with the gt4. Must be something about 'blowing a lexus away' that sounds good to their mates.

Mines on it, just round the corner from my house but dont know how to do a screen dump to put the pic on here. I remember seeing the google camera car coming the other way while driving down to my mums. Also saw the camera come past work side entrance, checked that and its caught me and a couple of the guys sat down having a brew!!

Gotta admit I dont go OTT with tyres but currently run Avon ZZ3's all round. I get my tyres at cost price and free fitting so usually get good prices. I ran my mk3 golf gti on toyo proxes (seem to be getting more and more expensive nowadays), when i picked the gt4 up it was on brand new nangkangs. These were rubbish in all conditions and terrible squeel round every mini roundabout (even at near walking pace) and terrible front end slide when trying to accellerate out of corners or a bit af late braking. Needless to say these came off after a fortnight and replaced with Goodyear eagle f1's (great tyre but too soft, relaced/worn out after 4 months) Avons/Falkens/Federals/Toyo all good enough for me (I dont like seeing good cars on nasty tyres) and always plump for tyres with a reinforced sidewall. Although I had my dads 3.2 TT at the weekend and had a full set of Potena's put on (225/45 ZR 18s) for 280 bucks, bargain.

i had mine done last year, just rubbed down, cleaned up and painted. 12 months on they're bubbling well bad again. my advice would be get them done properly, sandblasted back to bare metal and started from scratch. Mine are going in today, all four wheels (no kerb marks just bubbling paint/laquer) going back to brilliant silver (from gunmetal) for 200 quid. would only be 160 if i wanted standard flat silver.

Had some up at the back end of summer, but will remember to do some before and after shots this time around :winky:

Had a full set of Avon ZZ3's fitted just after new year at the missus's work with no major issues other than one of the young uns there being a bit upset cos two of the wheels had chipped paint. Over the last week my front tyres have been losing pressure something silly. Had the tyres off and outer edges of the wheels cleaned, new valves and still losing pressure (around 15psi in two days). Took the wheels off myself over the weekend after giving the 300 a quick rinse off and noticed the paint peeling on the inside edge of the rim, this is where the sods were leaking from!! Now, ive had my car 18 months and about a month after I bought it I noticed the wheels were a bit scabby between the spokes and the rim so decided to get them sorted and painted a different colour. The wheels looked great (had them finished in a Honda colour, dark metallic silver with a blue ish tint) when my contact finished them (i was assured they'd be done properly at the time) but now it turns out that all he did was give them a good rub down, clean and paint. Anyway its a bit difficult for me to kick off, it was a cash job and dont wanna make thing difficult so the cars going somewhere else on Thursday for full wheel refurbishment, only this time I've insisted on the wheels being sandblasted and acid dipped (if necessary) to take them back to bare metal and started again. This time they'll be powder coated and going to choose another different colour when i drop the car off, probs be something dark again cos this suits the car (its a platinum ice with factory tints) So new tyres, just had oil and filter service, refurbed rims, got friday booked off so the car can be washed, clayed, washed, polished, waxed, and interior/engine valet on saturday!! Got a trd carbon grille on the radar for pay day, and possibly an exhaust instead of an easter egg. Struggling a bit with exhausts tbh, dont want anything loud just somehting which looks better than the standard pipe, any ideas people???

I have seen this car in scunny too. Got to agree it does look pretty good with the bab stickers all over it, Saw it with the evo10 that scunny police are running too. Add these to their STI8 and 330msport and thats a nice fleet! I know not all traffic/armed response drivers get the chance to drive the top cars, there were cases round here where inexperienced cop drivers had to have extra training when the scooby got wanged a few times cos it was being driven by people who THOUGHT they knew how to drive it. My missus works for a garage where some of the traffic/rapid respone police cars go for service and gotta say the kit list and spec is rather impressive!

Are the front fog lights any different on the various models of 200 compared to those on a 300 saloon?? Mine have the orange lens over the bulbs and not to keen on the look of them with the standard HID headlamps. I have seen a few 200's around town with clear fogs in and rather hoping they will fit (i understand the bumpers are slightly different????) and i'm sure i've read on here that the inside of the lens is actually coated in orange and not a removable film. Juat want some clear ones with blue-ish HID bulbs in to match the headlights. Not much about on ebay either without paying daft money for stuff from japan. Cheers in advance :winky:

wise choice matey I have a 300, and yeah its a bit thirsty but by far the best car i've owned. Gotta agree on getting the geo done, the handling is pretty good for a big car with that weight over the front, and in manual mode with the pwr button down ond traction off it can be quite good fun!

i miss a proper manual gear shift when i'm out for a thrash. i have a is300 (with the push button steering wheel change) and in PWR mode the downshifts are fast enough, still not the same as a proper downshift with a blip of the throttle tho! great in traffic tho, and as i had a knee replacement only 6 months ago its been a very good idea to have an auto. my old man has the 3.2 quattro TT with the DSG box and Ive driven plenty of m3's with the SMG. Not sayin all my future cars will be solely auto's or solely manuals but if its an auto its gotta have the manual override choice too (toyin with the idea of MR evo8 or m3 CSL in the summer)

forgive me if this is a daft question. as i understand the standard bumpers on a 300 differ from the 200? I know the headlights are slightly different too. Will a 200 sport grille go straight into my 300?

pm sent about the grille matey

ignore above post chaps, I've found em on the WIM website

I've been struggling with uneven tyre wear for a while, has a few bits replaced under warranty and then some adjustments but this is the final straw, I need to sort this properly now! Can anyone recommend anywhere that can sort this in lincs/humberside area? Alternatively, my missus works for Honda and a quick chat with one of the technicians confirmed they also use the Hunter machine, is anyone willing to share the settings required????

count me in too