Bluesman

Cheers boys. We have a Protyre in Micheldever which is only 20 mins away. Will let you know how I get on. Regards Mike

Happy New Lexus Year to you all. Can anyone recommend a 4 wheel tracking outfit to do my LS400 30 mile radius Reading/Basingstoke area Many thanks Mike

Hi Boys & Girls, Surely it defeats the whole object for its very existance. Even heavily modded cars by the manufacturer (AMG, Cosworth, BMW M's etc) look cheap and tacky after a while but original cars always look good & stylish. Happy Christmas. Mike

A Happy Crimble to you and all the Lexus owners and a Happy New Lexus Year. Mike

There is one in the United States of a Miracle that has done in excess of 500,000 miles. http://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls400/88147-500k-mile-ls400.html Wouldnt you just know they would have a world beater, still their roads are longer than ours. Mike

Don't think many object to the MOT . It's being told a pack of lies to get repairs done that were't needed, thats the objectionable bit. I bet women drivers detest it every year, If they have no knowledge of cars the MOT station can tell them anything. What people object to is the sly increases in price that no doubt these new rules will generate. Ripoff Britain as usual, anything to rob the motorist, an easy target. The money you pay for the test goes to the testing station not the government though! The fee charged is decided by each testing station provided they do not exceed the maximum laid down fee. I think that the perception that lies are told regarding unnecessary repairs, whilst certainly more prevalent a few years ago, is relatively uncommon nowadays. The solution is to find a centre that you trust and use them each year. I think it also flags up if a particular testing station has pass/fail figures which fall too far from average but no doubt one of our MOT licenced members would be able to clarify that. Well its true, you live and learn new things every day. I had always wondered how some places were able to advertise they could do a car MOT for £20. As for the paper MOTs Police forces now usung their computers on board their cars can tell instantly if you have all your documents in order so there is no need to have a piece of paper any more. Mike

Don't think many object to the MOT . It's being told a pack of lies to get repairs done that were't needed, thats the objectionable bit. I bet women drivers detest it every year, If they have no knowledge of cars the MOT station can tell them anything. What people object to is the sly increases in price that no doubt these new rules will generate. Ripoff Britain as usual, anything to rob the motorist, an easy target. The money you pay for the test goes to the testing station not the government though! The fee charged is decided by each testing station provided they do not exceed the maximum laid down fee. I think that the perception that lies are told regarding unnecessary repairs, whilst certainly more prevalent a few years ago, is relatively uncommon nowadays. The solution is to find a centre that you trust and use them each year. I think it also flags up if a particular testing station has pass/fail figures which fall too far from average but no doubt one of our MOT licenced members would be able to clarify that.

Problem is it never finds those because they are never taken for MOTs in the first place. Its just us poor law abiding motorists that get bashed again. Mike

You are so right. Have you noticed how now MOTs are just printed on what ever paper suits the MOT Station which means there are no costly security printing involved any more. The price hasnt come down though has it. Ripoffbritain. You bet your sweet bippy. Mike

or a MOT every 2 years as in france ? They are also going to introduce gas sniffers for us LPG motorists. Mike

I can answer this as some hoddie tried to remove my flat windscreen wipers last week on one of my ls's(1999 version) and ended up breaking the arm off which in turn slammed down on the windscreen and cracked it. I was annoyed to say the least as they destroy what they wanted and ended up costing me pounds and pounds for something costing £2 off ebay. I would have bought them a set too stop them causing the damage. First quote was a new wiper arm from lexus at £170 and a windscreen for £700. So phoned around my garage buddies and found a pair of front used wipers arms for £27 with postage to the house, That sorted. So tried Autoglass and they wanted £588 all in. Stuff that, So phoned around again. Phoned Auto windscreens who done the job for £266 all in next working day. I could have got one fitted for around £166 later but needed it done. Autoglass are ripoff's, But found Auto Windscreens all ok. They did say they can removed the LS windscreens intact but have to wire cut it. Does take time but you can get them out intact. All other ways will end up cracking the glass(bonded in) if you're looking for a scrap one. They took under an hour with a hours waiting for the bounding to set before driving. So my advice is too shop around for price first as I found autoglass a little steep. Baz. Autoglass are there purely to serve Insurance companies and they dont care what they get charged because we pay for it in the long run. I have a small chip on my windscxreen (its been there for 18 months) but thought I would ring them for their free service of repairing it to save all the first born within a 50 mile radius on the first night of frost. I had been warned not to tell them that the chip was smaller than the one that is shown on their advert and when they got there they didnt want to know. What they want to do is tell you that the chip is to big to repair and that you will need the screen replaced. Autocon. Mike PS no I still have the chip and no one has lost their first born.

The thing you must always remember is that if you get there quicker you also have to get out of your Lexus quicker and that can never be a good thing. Mike

Your insurance company will be rubbing their hands with glee I doubt that they will insure a standard Ls400 with this mod. My beautiful Lexie LS400 1998 MkIV is fast enough. Mike

You really dont want to know just be thankful its gone. Mike

Well done Mark, Yet another happy LPGer. And think how much of the planet you have saved. Mike

What a fantastic car 1998 LS400 she is, 115462 miles no advisories. Happy as a pig in **** Mike

Yes I've watched it several times and I have grown to enjoy the titles going up at the end. I really wish that they would just do a programme that doesn't ape our home grown programme because you are never ever going to find 3 blokes that marry together the way our one does. Mike.

Hi Mike. I had to go down to Cardiff today from Reading so about 240 mile round journey. 10 Miles of the journey was not motorway and driving on the Mway I cruise 70mph going by my dedicated Sat Nav. My average for the whole journey is 29 MPG. So talking in petrol terms thats 58mpg I'm as happyy as a pig in **** Mike

It sounds like you are doing lots of short journeys and that is going to be low on MPG in any car and on any fuel. Mike

I am now convinced it's worse than that John. Your figure of 20% is not one any of the installers will quote as they tend to suggest 10-15%. But if you look up the science, LPG has 30% less energy in it than petrol, If the designers and installers of LPG can turn that 30% into only 20% worse mpg, why can't the car manufacturers make similar improvements in their petrol engines. My figures measured over about 8000 miles so far are showing - guess what - 30% worse on LPG than petrol. Mike Hi Mike, Have you managed to get your system sorted? Mike

Stevie The main difference between systems is that some work faultlessly and others give endless problems. The difference is not always the LPG systems fault as there is also a great variation in the quality of the installers, their work,and their technical knowledge. If you look back through the past posts on LPG you will see plenty of problems people have experienced, but you don't tend to find many posts from satisfied LPG users they just get on with saving money. Whatever make or type of system you choose it is more important to find an experienced installer with a good record of faultless conversions. The last two cars I had were both converted to LPG, and both saved me money, but they gave endless problems, and in both cases it was down to the installers. I spent a lot of time finding the right installer to convert my current LS430, and I finally chose Worsley Autogas http://www.worsleyautogascentre.co.uk/ they are not the cheapest or the fastest, but they do a neat clean job that should work without problems. A word of warning on fuel savings, you will get 20% less mpg from gas than petrol, this means that although LPG is half the price of petrol you will only make a 33% on your fuel costs, not the 50% the installers claim. Remember you only get what you pay for, and there is always someone who will do a rough job cheaper! John N Should have said that I and my wife are and have been very happy LPG users for the last 15 years. All our cars were converted over the years by either Dualfuel in Woking Surrey or Profess gas in South Wales. Its all about doing your homework. Mike

I cant recommend anyone up in your neck of the woods but my advice is that you go to someone who has Lexus experience and dont just take their word for it ask them for a name or two and go and see the car if at all possible. Search well on the internet for any bad things written about your chosen supplier. At this stage you can never ask to many LPG installers to many questions and do your groundwork with them then it will be smiles all the way rather than tears. Mike

Hi Gen, Thanks for the info. So far things are OK we have had some frosty nights already this year so would expect a dodgy battery to have started sahowing signs of not holding a charge. Just keep me fingers crossed. Will definately look at the Bosch avenue but there is still 2 years warranty to go on the Lexus battery. Regards Mike

OK settle down again, just went on their web site to see extra pics which dont exist and the car has done 110K Oh well dream on. Mike

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3420068.htm What a fantastic car. Got to be the steal of the year. Mike