Unregistered_User1

So do we agree that the standard IS200 SE (UK) does not come with any tinted windows..? The maximum amount of "tinting" legally allowed is 25% on the windscreen, driver, and front passenger windows. 30% "tinting" is the legal limit allowed on the back passenger and rear window. Most garages are likely *NOT* to take your window out, but a good quality "tinter" will remove the windows to ensure they do a good "tinting" job. Has anyone had any "tints" done in the UK, and about how much does it cost?

Has the goverment passed the bill yet which dictates that there is no longer a need to inform motorists of the location of a speed camera? If I remember correctly the government did try to issue a green paper to enable discussion in parliament about this issue... no idea what the outcome was though. Currently there must be signs notifying motorists of fixed camera positions... and the police cars (for the mobile camera's) must be clearly visible to other road users. Also worth noting that a vehicle must average over a certain speed across a distance (I think it's something small like 300 yards) to officially "break the speed limit"... it's not a snapshot of your speed at a certain point on the road (which is what camera's on junctions are for). Sorry for being a little bit off topic, but it is slightly relevant and extremely useful information to know.

Sometimes the retractor doesn't work correctly because there is a twist in the seat-belt around the "wrapper" (inside the door panel). Perhaps it may be worth pulling the entire seat-belt out just to make sure there is no hidden twist..? Other than that... is your car still under warranty? If so, take it into Lexus and get them to fix it... and you'll get a free valet too!

Bloody hell... eighteen foot alloys..? :o Just joking. I believe you'd want to check out black alloys on a dark grey car before purchasing though. As Fidgits mentions, perhaps someone can knock-up a photoshop image for you to see?

I filled my car to the brim with Shell Optimax last night (£47 @ 78.9p!!!). I'll be doing the "ECU Reset" myself tonight. Obviously my opinion on performance will be negligible since I have no previous usage to compare against. As long as I am happy with the performance that's all that matters to me..! Interesting discussion though. Any what does a "piggy-back ECU" do for you GRiM..? :duh:

I would probably say YES to protecting the bumper and wing-mirrors, but NO to protecting 24" of the bonnet... especially because of the ~15% discoloration and my car is black! If the film could be applied to the whole bonnet then that would be a different story, but not just for 24" (and you specifically state that 24" is the max. size). How much would a respray cost for a bonnet anyway? Knowing this cost would help people to compare wether £70 for 12" would be a worthwhile investment. To specifically answer your two questions... 1. Would people be more interested if the film extended to a maximum of 24" up the bonnet? NO, I would not be interested. 2. How much you would be willing to pay [for 24" cover if 12" cover is £70]? ~£110 for 24" cover. Hope my opinion helps you out. p.h.

Thanks for all the reassurance everyone. Parking the vehicle and leaving it on display for 5 days a week does leave me a bit worried... but at least it should still be there when I get back... in what condition I don't know but it'll still be there. I cannot find any specifications on the alarm design. I am after answers to questions such as... Will the alarm go off...? if a window is smashed? if the car is lifted level onto the back of a transporter? if the front end is lifted (for towing)? if the wheels are tampered with? I realise that if someone is going to take your car then they'll take it... I just want to stop the casual theif from taking a fancy to it. I also went to Halfords and bought two "This car is alarmed and immobilised" stickers... and have a very neat flashing L.E.D. (home built) alarm-looking air-freshener as visual deterrants. Would anyone suggest a steering-wheel lock, or is that over-the-top?

If the VVTi kicking-in gives improved performance but you have to wait until 4500 RPM, then if it was flick-switch enabled you could have selective performance increase. Would be a nice-to-have when some idiot comes flying up behind you on the motorway, so you move in one lane and then flick the switch and leave him trailing... tee, hee. On a more serious note, VVTi surely not only gives improved performance but also improved MPG / efficiency so would be nice to have "switched on" permanently... unless someone can spot a reason why you would not want this to happen?

All, I understand the Lexus IS200 SE comes with a standard fitted Thatcham category one alarm and immobiliser. With my wife being pregnant I will shortly need to bring the car (and leave it all day) outside my work place, and feel uneasy at the prospect of the vehicle being left in public view with 'just' the standard alarm / immobiliser. Has anyone heard of security problems with the standard Lexus alarm / immobiliser? It's not a thieves best friend is it? 'Standard' alarms soon become unsafe because they are installed on every vehicle... and get cracked very quickly by thieves. Tell me that's not the case with the Lexus please!! Cheers for anything... and of course any advertising for security products is more than welcome (if allowed by mods!).

Cool cheers. My question still is unanswered... "Is there any way to get the VVTi to kick in any earlier than 4500RPM? Why does VVTi need to wait until 4500RPM?"

I phoned up my local Lexus garage and they told me that there is no ECU on the manual cars, just on the auto-transmission... which I think is them talking out of their @rse! The ECU "remembers" your car usage, petrol type, if you thrash your engine, etc. and adjusts your VVTi (as just one example) accordingly. I have been advised to ask for the ECU to be reset during each service, as the car components have been modified (oil, plugs, tyres, etc). You should also do it if you want to change petrol types from say 95RON to Shell Optimax 98RON... so I've been told. Someone else should be able to confirm this. You can take it into the garage and they can hook up the computer and reset it - costs about £20. You can do it yourself by disconnecting the battery for about an hour (or better still overnight) - costs nowt!!

He,he... I'm not doing it to make the car look great... it looks great already!! I ask because I have a two-year-old son and my wife is pregnant with our second child. My son keeps pulling the sun-shades off the passenger window, and then starts whinging when the sun is in his eyes..! If I got the windows tinted then there would be less light coming thru, so no more need for those sun-shades, and no more whinging from the back seats (for that anyway!).

Is this true? Does anyone else know anything about this? maybe this relates to the ECU ((the computer that remembers your driving habits))..?

What happened to this thread..? It breaks up after andyhart21 Posted: May 6 2002, 04:29 AM . Anyway, is there any way to get the VVTi to kick in any earlier than 4500RPM? Why does VVTi need to wait until 4500RPM?

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Maybe they have relaxed their "modifications" list. Since the Lexus comes as standard with tinted windows surely 10%, 20%, or 30% more tinted should make no difference to insurance? The bloke on the end of the phone definately said there would be no premium change for window tints... perhaps they'll change their mind if I actually go ahead?? Who knows... not definately getting them tinted anyway... just checking (obviously!).

Elephant.co.uk ... I didn't originally say as I thought it might be classed as advertising.

Well I don't do anywhere near 50 miles per day so I'll personally be OK with that... my choice is definately tyre weld. I've been driving for 8 years now and only ever had to change one tyre myself, and that was just because it was a pain to keep pumping it up because of a slow puncture. If you don't drive on the hard shoulder or in a field then the chances of actually needing to use your spare tyre / tyre weld are so minimal that the choice is easy for myself. p.s. Does anyone know if a Lexus IS200 SE will out-perform a BMW 318 uphill..? My mates p*ssed off that I'm getting a Lexus big-style, and is always going on about how good his 318 performs up a specific local 1-mile uphill road.

I just phoned my insurance company to ask for clarification and although they will charge a standard £6 admin fee to cover the cost of printing / sending new insurance documents, they don't actually increase the premium for tinted windows. :D Lowered suspension, bigger (than standard) alloys, spoilers etc do carry an increased premium though.

What?.. you have to actually tell your insurance company that you have tinted your windows? I didn't think you had to inform of this modification since it does not affect performance? Please can someone confirm?

Surely the best idea would be to NOT carry your spare and carry a can of tyre weld... less overall vehicle weight means faster accelleration surely?

Thanks... this is the evidence I need. Also giving the wife a good slapping will help smooth things along too! Cheers.

Cheers for the hints guys... and "Duncan", I sent you a PM. I live in NE England so you're likely to be the best person to ask for local advice. Also, nobody has really answered the question... "Lowering the suspension increases 'traction' on the road yes, and reduces the possibility of slipping?" I need to convince the wife that lowered suspension is not just because it looks good, but serves a safety purpose too (and justify the £50!).

How easy is it to get a Lexus garage to lower the suspension on an IS200 SE (52), and how much should it cost? I pick up my 9-month-old Lexus on Thursday (16:30!!). Lowering the suspension increases 'traction' on the road yes, and reduces the possibility of slipping? I need some evidence of increased safety so the wife will let me spend the cash!