grantwils

How do you turn traction control off in an S2RX350 and does it help? I was looking for a button but couldn’t find one. I’m not sure it would have helped. AWD system was fine. There were a few times I though “oooops I’m stuck now” but a liberal application of right foot fixed the issue. It was just the heavy bottomed out van that it couldn’t do anything with. Front left wheel just kept spinning. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My RX350 powered through drifts over the bonnet. We’re in Bishopton which was the 2nd worst in UK with 46cm in 24 hours. The only thing which was a bit disappointing was the lack of a diff lock made it poor at towing stuck vehicles. (Managed a Vito bus and a taxi but did nothing with a British Gas van which had bottomed out on a drift) Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme S always help though. Plenty 4x4s (with diff locks) got stuck where this powered through. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme S is the winter tyre I’ve been using for about 5 years on everything from SLK280 to X-trails and a 272bhp V6 Touareg. They can be used all year round and turn any car into a beast in the snow, handle fine on warm summers day but make a huge difference to grip on snow ice and cold greasy roads. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We stay in Bishopton which was 2nd worst hit in the UK this week with 45cm of snow and deeper drifts. The RX350 might be a soft roader with no proper 4WD system but it was surprisingly good. Never got stuck once despite drifts over the bonnet. I ended up doing mercy missions for snowbound villagers getting bread, milk and medicines. Also did a few runs to local hospitals transporting staff. Obviously the Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme S helped because I passed several stuck 4x4’s including XC90s, Ravs, CRVs, X-trails, etc. Also took the GS450H out which was awesome (also has Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme S). The only thing it wasn’t great at was towing people stuck in ditches but that’s to be expected with no diff lock. This was down the sheltered bit at the side of the house. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I found a 2010 US brochure stating 17x7.5 and did a quick google to find they're also ET45. Same brochure suggests brakes are all the same. This is what it would look like: 17x7 ET50 would bring the calipers even closer to the spokes by 17.7mm... This is what I have and fronts don't fit (18x7 ET40) This is what I'm aiming for (with 17x7 ET35)

I've already asked admin to move it a few minutes ago when I checked for responses and realised there were none.

I want to run 7” winter rims on my S3 GS450h but the spare set I’ve got from her RX are ET35 which, technically, are 2.7mm closer to the calliper than ET45 8” rims which come as standard. There’s not a lot of clearance as standard so I’m nervous about going 2.7mm closer. I also don’t want to have to use spacers, even if they’re just 3mm. Has anyone else been using 7” ET35 on an S3 GS? Are S3 GS450h callipers any different to non-hybrid S3 GS? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Merc c200. Not CT200. But your point still applies! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So... lots to update but basically... the car has been back to the dealer twice for remedial works but that’s another story to be added later. In other news I’ve just been out in the snow with the winter tyres for a play. Damn this thing is a machine with the right tyres. I went for Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme S 235/55/19. I’ve used these tyres on all my 4x4s since 2010. To give you an idea here’s a pic from earlier this evening of the steep hill to get in/out our estate Sheet ice, untreated with cars abandoned and bumping into each other all over. I’ve just been out in the RX no that it’s empty. I stopped at the steepest point and floored it... a small amount of wheelspin then it accelerated well. Before I knew it I was doing over 40mph. Also, Roxy has had a little brother named Gus. I swapped my ‘14 c200 for a ‘09 GS450h (which will also be wearing Wintrac Xtreme S in the colder months). Fingers crossed Roxy won’t need any more trips back to Lexus and we can start enjoying her more. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’m not that fussy! [emoji23] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. I was the one being apologised to! My GS450h is Gus, as in Angus. It’s a boy. My wife’s RX350 is Roxy and is obviously a girl. We only started naming our cars after we bought a red SLK which had a nice note from the previous owner in the handbook explaining that he was called Manfred after Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen aka The Red Baron. My ‘15 Touareg was Rufus (numberplate started with RF). I think it’s cute but also stupid to name cars. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It’s a he not a she. His name is Gus (as in Angus). My car appears to be a collection of spare parts. I’ve got a brochure and it’s got lots of things it shouldn’t have which aren’t options. No nav or ML so it must be a base model but auto wipers, rear blind, rear side airbags, weren’t an option. Very strange. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So far it’s what I expected. The wheel ‘refurb’ they promised is a rattle can job which they’ve made an arse of which is the biggest disappointment. The bodywork isn’t as good as they said it was but I didn’t believe them anyway so it’s as I expected. So far seems to be an honest car. Alignment is out but they’ve agreed to pay for me to get it done nearer home. Got that in writing. I’ll take it to a local place with the hunter system so it will get done properly. Probably be £60-135 or so. There’s a couple of chips on the windscreen but they’ve said they’ll pay for a new windscreen if any cracks appear from the chips or the chips grow. I got that in writing as it’s a £500 windscreen AFAIK. On the plus side it has some things I didn’t think it would have such as rear blind and boot spoiler. I didn’t think they were on the base model. Heated seats aren’t very heated at all, is that normal? I’m hoping I can do some DIY improvements, nothing major just tidying up the bodywork, wheels, etc. I’m desperate to polish up the exhaust tips. The AFS seems different to the Mrs RX system. When you turn the lights on on the RX they move up/down/sideways and return to position. On the GS they just go up and down, no sideways sweep. Is that normal? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Back in Glasgow. 250miles at 75mph with a few opportunities to get the foot down. 36mpg. 14.5p/mile (brimmed the tank when I left and when I arrived home). Pleasantly surprised with the economy so far. Very comfortable car. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well. I’m at the hotel across the road. Been over for a look but can’t see the car. I assume it’s in the valet bay. Bring on tomorrow AM! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk