jasons

Tell me about it, my IS300 is in exactly the same boat! Looking to change to an RX but undecided whether to go same/similar in terms of reg/mileage, or push the boat out and get something considerably newer (even considering a hybrid as well) but knowing that when the time comes to to change again, it will be exactly the same story again.

If you are chopping in your current RX against a hybrid I'd be interested in what you are offered for it.. J

Only to get an RX..... Hybrid most probably.

I live in Surrey and in terms of pricing somewhere in between (after checking P'heads, autotrader and ebay) where the lower milage top money sit, and the doggier high milage are.- Ebay is a good example to understand where expectations sit currently. In terms of the car itself: 100k, Registered 31.12.2004. Full history, in the last 10 weeks its had an aircon service and the autobox fluid replaced- cost just shy of £375, plus cambelt, water pump, geometery, 100k service, £730- so nothing needs doing. Leather is unmarked and also comes with hands free bluetooth kit and Ipod kit. Totally standard aside from the K&N Filter, Sony Sat Nav Unit and the TRD Front lip. Its just had a new bonnet and front end paint courtesy of Lexus' 12year paint warranty- some stone chips on the leading edge of bonnet had gone scabby and rusted- as they couldnt determine if it was from the outside in, or the inside out so in the bodyshop it went at no cost to me. Taxed and the MOT is until the 20th May 2013 (no advisories). I'm getting the Aero's refurbed this weekend so have put the original wheels on so I may sell those seperately depending on what I can get for the car. I'll let you know when I put the ad' together. J

Medium of choice is normally Pistonheads. However, If I wanted to spend my day rebuffing offers of £20 and a packet of crisps, I'd use Ebay....

Hi fella, At that age, I be prepared to go indy rather than main dealer... I've just had my IS300 serviced at Toyotec down in between Redhill and Crawley. Guy knows his stuff and their labour rate is £65p/h so much better thn main dealer rates. J

I did an update at 12 months and after having my 100k service today I though I'd update again.- This was a biggie--100k Service, Cambelt, Water Pump and Goeometry as the fronts were wearing on the inside. Just shy of £730.. (and the water pump was £145+vat!!) They did say that it was one of the best/cleanest that they had seen so that lightened the load (but not by much!). I've decided that I will be selling it in September (after our holiday) but thought it would be best to get it all done before selling- I know I wont get the money back on it, but I'd like to think that it shows how well the car has been looked after and wanted for nothing during my ownership.. Some gratuitous shots after it had a machine polish recently: http://s206.photobucket.com/albums/b...69jason/IS300/ J

I'm sure you would have covered it, but make sure you get the money before getting the work done- I wouldnt be keen on letting her settle the bill once its been done... (in case she changes her mind and then you are left to foot it and denies it was her- 'if you havent told your insurance co already' you mighthave ajob getting it sorted). J

I'd disagree on the warranty front- I've recently had a bonnet replaced on my IS300 for rusting stone chips- no drama whatsoever.

You are pushing the button at the end and not pulling the stalk towards you? (from experience!) J

Steve, Cheers, not actively selling, merely responding to a wanted request!

Hadn't thought about price-throw a number over to me and we can go from there. J

Hi fella, I have a set of 4, 11 Spoke in the garage- they are the LE ones in Silver, not Anthracite.- like this one: Shod with Dunlop Sports- all about 4mm tread all round and centre caps. J

Its a 30 minute job to do it yourself- seriously..

The LE version is the most fully equipped but isn't lowered and comes in one colour only - Granite Sky, a darkish metallic silver. Its Kodiak Sky, a dark metallic blue colour. J

Sorry mate, disagree there, my experience from last April: For all those that may have read recently I had some issues coding a 2nd key to my new (to me) purchase last week. The car was taken to Lexus guildford for coding where I was told that my master key was actually a sub key and that they couldnt code my spare key. they did however give me the details of an auto locksmith who said that he could copy the key so it would be a spare, but neither would be the master key. The cost of this was £105 plus vat. I had a look around where I work and found one literally round the corner from where I work in Gatwick and had a chat with him yesterday and booked it in for this morning. The result?? I now have 2 coded master keys, with the spare also programmed for door unlocking as well. The cost?? £150 inc.vat.. The imobiliser was removed and reflashed so that it recognised both keys as Master keys. He went through and showed me that the car actually had 5 keys coded for it!! Anyway, its all sorted, for a relatively small amount- especially if you take into account people and dealers saying you need new keys and an ECU- you dont. you just need a decent auto locksmith who knows what they are doing

All Toyota/Lexus head office cars are used by staff for less than 1 year / 10k miles. They'll go back earlier if they need to push reg numbers up for the month with the staff getting new cars sooner. They are standard PCP contacts for the staff at a reduced rate- alllthough over the last few years cost has gone up considerably, and coupled with the fact the car has to be perfect when it goes back means that it isnt the good deal it once was..

Cam belt change for a 300 is 100k miles, not 60k like the 200. When I got mine last year I paid £3000 for a 54 plate with 80k. Tax was £143 for 6 months (bought in March) J

Check out ebay-that would be my choice rather than halfords. Recently bought the Lexus some Granite Sky and some Alfa silver and both were spot on in terms of colour match.

Holy thread resurection Batman!

I've got a set of 4 (but possibly 5) 11 Spoke Wheels from my LE IS300. They are the Silver not Anthracite that was standard from the 2004 model revision. I thought I'd offer them up here before going on Ebay, and am happy to accept offers by PM only. I've currently got Aeros on the car and I buckled one, however if i can source another then it will be a set of 5 for sale. Rubber all round is matching Dunlop SP Sports with around 4mm of tread all round. One of the wheels has a little curbing around the edge and another has a little scrape on one of the spokes near the centre of the wheel. The other 2 (potentialy 3) are all in v good condition. Photo's below, any questions or further photo's, please ask. Wheels are located in Epsom Downs, Surrey, but I also work between LGW and LHR so could meet there to view, or deliver. Wheel 1 Wheel 2 Wheel 3 Wheel 4 Willing to take offers, but I'm not going to let them go for silly money, not when the tyres are in good condition in a premium brand. Collection is welcome, or am more than happy to arrange a courier for around £45 next day delivered. J

Hi fella, did you ever find any?

Head unit is easy to remove. Step 1: Tray/Sat nav unit- remove plastic strip from the front of the tray- cross head screw driver or 8mm socket takes care of the fixing holding it it. Plull towards you and up. Place to one side. Step 2: Remove the 2 10mm bolts. Step 3: Masking tape/duct tape along the sides of the stereo/dash area- the stereo has sharp edges and the surrounding area is soft plastic and WILL scratch. Step 4: Heated Seats/Traction button- hold this and pull towards you. Disconnect the switches. Step 5: Remove the 2 10mm bolts. Step 6: Raise the unit slightly and pull towards you. Disconnect the plugs at the back and the job is done. J

Can confirm- belt (easy to check yourself) +100k replacement. J

I wouldnt touch that car and demand your deposit back- dealer's approach sounds very poor and not to the standard you'd expect from a Lexus 'direct' car. From memory (having come from BMW) to be an approved used car for BMW have to have documented SH (all Dealer- no indy)- I would expect the same from a used Lex. Any trouble from the dealer in getting deposit back and I'd be straight onto Lexus GB to get it sorted. As mentioned above, if rear tyres were missed and a (potentialy) knackered diff for a car going out on a test drive along with poor SH records, that could be the least of your worries. Its a buyers market out there- look elsewhere...