ColinBarber

That doesn't sound correct. A single press should operate the alarm. Locking with the key does not arm the alarm. However you still have protection from the immobiliser.

is the TNS200 a turn by turn system or a full map system? If it is turn by turn it will not work. I don't know if a full map Toyota disc will work. I know some people have replaced faulty nav units with Toyota ones but I don't know if they still needed to use the Lexus disc.

Semi Synthetic is only suggested for the IS because it doesn't require any more so you would be "wasting" your money going fully synthetic. Lexus/Toyota don't recommend either type, they just publish the specs the oil must meet. Those specs are in your handbook. yea i saw the spec list in the handbook and remember 5W-30 semi-synthetic. I just wasn't sure if using fully synthetic would be detrimental to the engine in some way (but couldn't imagine why). I was alos told that with the s/c fitted to mine, fully synthetic oil would be wiser than semi - but again, not sure why?? I'm not sure the handbook states semi-synthetic but 5W-30 is certainly one of the recommended grades. With a SC I would recommend using fully synthetic oil. Synthetic oil can tolerate greater pressures and temperatures over mineral and semi-synth oil and also offers better engine protection for the same viscosity.

Semi Synthetic is only suggested for the IS because it doesn't require any more so you would be "wasting" your money going fully synthetic. Lexus/Toyota don't recommend either type, they just publish the specs the oil must meet. Those specs are in your handbook.

Colour is the same if the paint codes are the same between Toyota and Lexus and within different countries. They will have different names though.

clean the throttle body. Try and get the engine to idle so the ECU can start to just the speed correctly. It can take several minutes for it to adjust correctly.

Either take a look at the latest sat navs from Garmin/TomTom etc or change the vehicle. As has been said it would take 10's of hours labour + a donor vehicle. It just wouldn't be cost effective and after all that you end up with a sat nav which is over 10 years old, slow and lacking in features. LS430 is the way to go.

You get torque steer from the 400h which isn't great and it does feel a heavier vehicle. Also the boot is smaller.

As you have a 300 rather than a 350 then the price you paid must have been a lot less than purchasing a 400h so having to spend an extra £200-400 a year on fuel doesn't seem too bad. The 400h isn't really about better economy over the 300/350 it is more about extra performance for the same economy.

How did you check it? Normally it has to be a operating temperature and you check it with the engine running after slowly going through all the gears and back to P. You fill it up through the dipstick tube.

The recall is for Sky HD boxes, not the standard Sky+

if your vehicles in for a service then they will probably program it for free, only takes a couple of minutes. I got my dealer to only unlock the drivers door when pressing unlock on the remote, second press unlocks the other doors.

you have a PM.

You vehicle would not have come with one when new so either somebody has added it or it has had a replacement engine. Either way it isn't required, you may not want to purchase one when you find out the cost from Lexus. I'm sure it will be expensive.

to disable the auto retract you have to take it to a dealer for them to change. It isn't user configurable.

have a look here: http://www.autoworksofomaha.com/1999%20lex...20engine-02.jpg 2001 onwards: http://s47.photobucket.com/albums/f159/los...nt=IMG_6821.jpg

I thought it was from Oct 2000 that the GS had an engine cover fitted.

5 badges, L front and rear, Lexus, GS and 430. Just noticed that the Lexus is cracked in the middle of the x. You can have them for £12

no question the IS250 is quieter over the IS200 however there is noticeable road noise. Much more so than a GS or even RX.

budget £100 to get a full geometry check/adjustment done. Timing belt interval in the book is 100k but should be done at 60k. Double check to see if it has been done, if not then get £500 knocked off the price.

surprising about the gearbox. Surely the series III cannot be worse than the series II for creaks and rattles?

There is a fan in the Pace V2 boxes. I upgraded the HDD on my one and connected the 12v fan to a permanent 5v to make it run silently. 3 year+ and never had an issue with it. The hard drives also spin down a few minutes after it is put into standby and Sky introduced an auto standby feature in a recent software upgrade to reduce power consumption.

I thought the IS300 timing belt should be changed at 100k miles or 10 years (same as 2000+ GS300). Maybe is it 6 years. The IS300 is not like the IS200 where the belt wears prematurely.

all depends where you are in the country. I know there have been congestion issues around Manchester with Be/O2 recently but I normally get 80%+ of my max speed during the evening.

I have a gold badge set if you are interested. The rear model badge is GS & 430 rather than a 300 but you could just use the GS part.