Gruntfuggly

Thanks for the responses guys... How much did you guys pay for the projector lamps from spyderauto? They look pretty cool, but I couldn't find prices on their website - and they look a tad expensive... I'm tempted by some of those PIAA bulbs, but I'm going to email Flux first. Depending how that goes, I might just get some HIDs off eBay and see how they go...

I got used to having HIDs on my last car, and after driving a couple of times in the dark recently I'm pining for some on my IS200. What's the generally accepted best option? - xenon bulbs (tried them once and didn't seem to make any difference) - retrofit HID kit off ebay for headlamps (Pros: cheap, easy to fit, Cons: Dazzles everybody else?) - as above, but in the front fog lights? - fit IS300 kit (expensive and difficult) something else?

Just replaced the grille on the front of my car with a sport grille (thanks Sam) - looks brilliant, I don't know why they didn't fit the sport grille as standard - it looks so much better that the standard one!? There were only two original clips (both on one side bizarrely) so I've put one on each side now. Does anybody know if you can buy replacements online? ebay has 'push' clips, but the ones on the car have crosshead so they can be removed and replaced.

If I use the normal 'full' view of the forums, the favicon is just the standard IPB blue one (I assume it's IPB anyway). However, if I use the 'text only' view, I get a nice Lexus badge for the favicon! Any chance of fixing this? Would look much nicer in my Chrome tabs...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151140895324

My daughter accidentally pulled the handbrake on this morning while I was doing about 15 mph - no drama and it didn't really apply the brake, but the bizarre thing is an audible alarm went off - a bit like the reversing 'bong'. Is this a feature? I don't remember reading anything about it in the manual. I tried it again myself to make sure...

There used to be one of those 30mph LED smiley face signs at one point on my journey to work - in a clearly marked 40mph zone...

Hi Dan/VLM - you've basically just summed me up too - bought mine about 3 months ago, with exactly the same scenario (had a Calibra before)... I'm in love with mine - great drive, smooth and quiet, great sound system and very comfortable. You're right about the gear ratios - I tend to get into 6th as soon as possible (5th seems pointless) - and there's enough power to stay in 6th at fairly low speeds, so it keeps the mpg gauge as high as possible. The only niggles I have are: - it 'clunks' when changing from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd, which is apparently normal. - sometimes at speeds over 70 (not too often honestly) there is a low 'hum' which I assume is wear in the prop shaft or something - I get an odd noise when turning left at 20+, which sounds like the pads rubbing on the discs. Note - they're all noises! So I just keep the stereo turned up and theres no problems! You should upload some pics of your car - I need to upload some of mine too...

When you try to remove the amp, you'll find it a lot easier if you first remove the kick panel below it - you can then get up to it from underneath. If you're lucky you can undo the bolts and pull it out completely. I couldn't get mine totally out but I managed to move it far enough forwards to get to the plug on the back. It was still a totally bitch to remove, and I took half the skin off the back of my hand, but once I was sitting in the car listening to some top tunes (and bleeding a bit) it was worth it...

After getting 3rd degree burns on my hand a couple of times a few weeks ago (when it was hot and sunny - seems like a long time now) I ordered a replacement gear knob... What do you think? It's a matt black delrin ball - a bit bigger than the original, and feels a bit more comfortable in the hand (fnarr). I expect it will still get hot in the summer, but should definitely stay a bit warmer in the winter. Now I sound like a complete wuss...

I just drove down the road with my window open (nice as the weather has been miserable for a few weeks) and when turning left, I noticed there's a pulsing whooshing sound - like when brake pads are rubbing against slightly warped discs. It's only when turning left and at speeds of 20is and above. I can't see anything under the wheelarch that could be rubbing the tyre or the wheel, so I'm assuming it's the brakes. Does this sound like the sticking pins problem that I've read about? The car brakes strongly and straight so it doesn't seem like an immediate problem - I assume the real effect will be uneven pad wear?

I just put a single din unit in - and there was plenty of room. Because the upper tray/sat nav comes out so easily you can get to the back to move wires around too. Easiest fit I've ever done.

I found a mirror from an IS300 on eBay, but it seems to have some sort of 7 segment LED display built into it - what's that all about?

Headlights sounds like a non-starter then I have a sunroof, so i could try the mirror...

Thanks for the mirror link - I'll have a look. Do you know if anybody has done that mod? Is the wiring already in the roof lining or would I have to run a new cable up? I fitted some aftermarket HIDs to my Calibra - simple job and the improvement was amazing, however, the Calibra has 'projector' lights with a defined cut off by the bonnet, so they didn't dazzle oncoming traffic. I'm not sure that the IS200 lights would do the same? They were also dead simple to remove again for the MOT, although I know of plenty of people who have had their cars pass an MOT with them fitted.

Sorry - incoming questionfest: According to wikipedia, the IS300 in the states had an automatic dipping rear view mirror (amongst other goodies). Has anybody managed to get hold of one of these, or was it an option in the UK? It also mentions HID headlights - has anybody managed to get hold of a set of these and fit them? How are they different from the standard headlights?

I was thinking it might be the safety protection - but wouldn't it do the opposite? I thought it would re-open the roof if there was something in the way when it was closing?

Thanks for the input chaps - think I'll try hammerite on the discs and treat the rust on the chip and paint it.

Anybody have surface rust on their rear discs like this? It's not the end of the world, but it makes the car look a bit crap. Any idea how to remove it? Will it just come back? The next one is more worrying, but very small (about 1mm diameter): I was thinking of treating it with a T-cut rust 'pen' and then touching it up over the top, but maybe it's not even worth worrying about? Any thoughts much appreciated...

Sounds like you might be stuck in the same 'ensemble'? DAB stations seem to come in groups (that they call an ensemble for some reason). There is one with all the BBC stations, and another with stuff like TalkSport, Absolute 80s and 90s (but not 00s?), Planet Rock, etc. plus some others. There are lists of the available ensembles here: http://www.wohnort.org/DAB/ Does your selection of stations match one of them? I'm not sure how you change the ensemble on the Lexus head unit though - I've got an aftermarket Pioneer in my car. I had a blaupunkt unit before, and that had seperate up/down controls to change ensemble...

This strikes me as totally nuts. If it's true then surely something has been wired up incorrectly?! To be honest, a camera and screen aren't exactly expensive when you consider the cost of a commercial vehicle, so I would definitely support a move to make them mandatory, but when you consider that the government are pointlessly trying to bring in legislation against middle lane drivers (which in my opinion would be completely unenforceable) I doubt they would do something as sensible as making commercial vehicles fit reversing cameras.

Well it all went in OK eventually. Took plenty of skin off the back of my hands getting the plug out of the back of the OEM amp, but managed it eventually. The single din adaptor isn't fantastic, but it seems to work OK once it's glued together and in place. For a few days it creaked and rattled a bit, but it seems to have settled down now - back to the quiet comfort that I'm really enjoying with this car! I ended up buying the cheaper autoleads connector, and to be fair it seems to work fine.

You hear of people being killed in incidents like this, so it sounds like you were lucky! Personally, I don't think a camera would have made much difference - if the guy was prepared to do what he did, I can't see that he'd be particularly bothered about checking the reversing camera either...

Have to say I've been impressed with the standard speakers too...

Got it! Cheers Ian - FM and MW restored :D and I just fitted a DAB antenna for good measure! @Pete - it was getting a bit dark to take a photo, but I can take one tomorrow if you like. To be honest, it's pretty obvious which wire it is, once you know what to look for. The head unit I installed was a Pioneer DEH-X6500DAB - absolute bargain considering features, power, etc. we're so spoiled when I think back to the head units I was installing 20 years ago!