SwampDonkey

The photo's were ok, thanks. You're right, I was expecting a slightly calmer day. At least the wander along the riverbank was slightly more relaxing :D Pete

I'm afraid it was just a case of pulling me out onto the road. There was a little bit of a scrape but nothing too aggressive. Pete

Dead right Paul...maybe also add newbie Scorcher to the list of S/C possibles as well? ← Ooooo, with a superscharger I could reverse into ditches even quicker!! Pete

Yeah you're right. I hadn't thought about that :P Pete

Thankfully no damage. It was a hurried 3 point turn during a day out exploring with the camera. Just rolled the back wheels off into the ditch and beached it. I'd have cried if it wasn't so funny. Pete

Let's see if an attachment is better ....

Today's lesson was watch where you're reversing, and then take it easy. Many thanks for the RAC cover.

Mine trickles too. Not certain if this is by design or a fault. Pete

That's an excellent point. I checked on the VIN plate earlier and the code is 8N8. Have passed the info along so hopefully we can start to make some progress now. Looking forward to getting these new covers. People don't seem to be able to make out the indicators at night. Thanks for your help everyone. Pete

Excellent! Thanks for letting me know Matt. I'll check it out when I get back from work tonight. Pete

No, I'm not certain. It was advertised as Strathcaron Blue by my local Lexus dealer when I bought it but that doesn't necessarily mean much. Is there anywhere I can check on the car that would reveal the info I need? Pete

Hi All, I'm after a pair of the wing mirror covers with the indicator built in for my 2003 IS300 SportX but we're having a bit of trouble with selecting the colour for painting them. The car is a dark blue metallic that I thought was called Strathcaron Blue (paint code 8N8) but the vendor of the covers isn't recognising that as an official Lexus colour. It sounds like I've got something wrong. Bearing that in mind, what colour is my car likely to be? Pete

I have a dealer fitted Nokia CK-7W kit in my IS300 SportCross. All you see is the little silver button with the dial round it. Works a treat with my Orange SPV phone. Pete

My dealer gave me one of those when I got my IS300. I don't use it though. I find it a bit bulky. Pete

Exactly. There have been suggestions of ECU reprogramming and battery changes. With my luck, my first choice would be the wrong one so I was hoping the behaviour this morning might help to indicate that it was more likely linked to the battery. Don't want to put up with it much longer though. Kinda embarassing when you're struggling to start a nice car when the beaten-up jallopies disappear into the distance. Pete

Hi All, As I've mentioned before, I've been having starting problems with my IS300 SportCross but haven't gotten round to taking it back to the dealer just yet. I hadn't used the car since Thursday evening and got in this morning with some trepidation as to whether or not it would start. It fired up first time and the outside temperature was only 2 degrees. I was wondering if this would point to the battery being the cause of the problem? I'm not an electrical genius so I don't know if batteries work better after they've had a 'rest' for a couple of days. I'm sure there are many people here much more knowledgeable than myself on this. I'd appreciate it if someone could let me know if I'm thinking in the right direction or if I need booking in for a check-up from the neck, up. Thanks ......Pete

I got a little brush, which is quite soft, designed for use on wheels. A quick hunt around Halfords should turn up something suitable. Pete

I use the Autoglym wheel cleaning stuff. As Shahz says, spray it on, leave it for a while, give it a bit of a scrub and rinse. Job's a good 'un. Pete

If not rain, what about condensation from the roof of the car getting in to the pipe? Would there have been enough on the car for this to happen? Pete

That's it exactly - a nice touch. Nothing I need to die for.

Thanks for everyone's concern about my ability to find the gearstick - it's heartwarming but I'm pleased to say I've not had any problems so far. I'm a bit concerned about the washer lights idea. Wouldn't I then have to re-upholster the interior in Burberry check? And don't even get me started on people driving with their front fogs on!! And in my defence, I would like to point out that I didn't own, or even choose the B*W. I started work with the company, a director had recently left, and they gave me his car during my probationary period. I was planning on having an IS200. Had to wait a couple more years before that eventually happened, when I could actually afford to buy one myself :D Pete

A couple of years ago I had a 523 as a company car for a while (until the company went bust). Now I've got the IS300 I've regained some of the things that I missed, the dimming rear view mirrow, HID lights, a smooth gearbox etc. However, the Beemer had something that the Lexus doesn't - a couple of little orange lamps in the roof near the map lights that cast a subtle glow over the console and gearlever. A night, the dial and things are lit nicely but that doesn't necessarily mean you can easily see where your hand is in comparison. I thought these lights were a lovely touch. I wonder how much of a job it would be to get my grubby little mitts on a couple of these lights and to get them wired in? Pete

If you do a search and look through the archives here you'll find what you're experiencing with the IS200 manual gearbox is something of a standard 'feature'. You are certainly not alone. Whether or not anyone has ever managed to get Lexus to acknowledge the problem, I don't know. After 3 years it became very irritating for me and is part of the reason for why I don't mind driving an automatic now. Pete

Are you experiencing the VVTi effect (my term ;)) at about 4500rpm? My IS200 used to 'surge' around there. Pete

It's easily done. The engine just keeps pulling and doesn't sound stressed at all. All of a sudden, you're losing speed!! Pete