Jaystar77

There's two drains at the front and two at the rear of the frame. I struggled accessing the rear ones but if you open the roof fully and pour a small amount of water into the drain channel you should see it exit the vehicle at the bottom of both A-pillars (behind the front wheels) and below either side of the boot (behind the rear wheels). Bear in mind that the gradient the vehicle is sitting on will determine what flows where. To check mine were clear I used thick soldering wire and pushed it down each drain pipe. The rear ones were impossible to find inside the roof cartridge so I reversed the wire and went from the drain holes up to the roof instead. I think they are a one piece tube so there shouldn't be any connections to disrupt but be careful. Happy hunting!

Regards the rear ARB: I could swear that the genuine bushes I bought from Toyota were split to allow fitment and weren't too dear either. Diagrams and part numbers are here: http://www.japan-parts.eu/lexus/eu/2006/rx300-330-350/mcu35r-awagkw/3_521220_002_235W/powertrain-chassis/4804_rear-spring-shock-absorber#48818 One thing worth nothing is that the bolts and brackets were totally corroded so I just bought the lot to save any hassle. If I'm honest I would like to replace the rear antiroll bar as it's very rusty too. Has anyone any links to an upgraded one? I think whiteline did make them at one stage but can't find any trace online unfortunately.

From a 'good practice' viewpoint you should be replacing coilsprings in pairs so a full set might be a worthwhile option TBH. It's the same with shocks - if you have a worn one on one side and a new one on the other it can compromise handling. Best to keep things equal when it comes to suspension. I've no experience with the GS300 but it's the same with most cars so thought it worth mentioning. Good luck with the search!

Just makes me think of this..

Hi Dale - finally found someone who has gone for the BC's! Do you find them much harsher than the stock ride on our roads? I've been considering them for a while now but don't want to lose too much in terms of comfort. Just a word of advice - make sure you coat the threads in some marine grease to safeguard against the elements (if you haven't already). On my other cars I've had fun adjusting ride heights after a few winters so whilst it doesn't look great it's better to protect them at an early stage.

I'm one of those innocent owners who has had a few leaks in the same spots as yourself. Thankfully I'm in a position to tinker with such issues so it hasn't bothered me too much. I would certainly agree the body seams are substandard to say the least, a huge surprise after changing from a first gen RX. If anyone is in the same (leaky) boat I feel for them. It's put a damper on what I thought was going to be a relaxing vehicle to own. The only thing is I work in a VW dealership and see on a daily basis how easy we have it in terms of reliability overall. If you think this is an issue you should see some of the stuff I've dealt with!

BTW I found the reset sequence here: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/topic/58458-one-touch-open-or-close-for-moonroof/ Worth a punt before you buy it I reckon.

Morning Neil, my RX had the same sunroof issue when I bought it. Just needed the set-up procedure done on it (took 60 secs) and it's been fine ever since. I think they sometimes lose their calibration.

From personal experience Toyota brake calipers have plagued me across all models. I've only had two RX caliper failures so far but they all follow the same design. Once they hit a certain age the seals perish then moisture gets in then the piston or sliding pin jams and you get a sticking caliper. Currently refurbishing a Levin caliper and a Rav4 caliper as we speak! I've just learned to expect it now.

Aye, something like that appears to be your best option. Never simple is it!

On the up side we could tie a bit of string to the throttle valve and you could loop it round something when you get to the desired MPH?

I don't think it does, the other end hooks onto the throttle valve and operates the flap regulating the air into the engine. It is rather mechanical. My starlet operates the same way. The ECU would get a signal from the throttle position sensor mounted on the flap but that's more of an after-effect, they couldn't use it to regulate anything. I'm not clued up on cruise control systems but I wouldn't be overly fond of them messing about with the throttle cable.

Definitely looks mechanical to me, that's the end of a throttle cable.. After digging through the parts EPC it seems the 2.4 is definitely mechanical, the 3.0 looks to have an electronic throttle. Diagram of the 2A throttle: http://jp-carparts.com/toyota/partlist.php?maker=toyota&type=521120&cartype=6&fig=7801 Diagram of the 1M throttle: http://jp-carparts.com/toyota/partlist.php?maker=toyota&type=521120&cartype=1&fig=7801 The joys of imports eh?

Cheers Nicole, knew someone must have ventured down this path! Do you have any idea which brand they are? I'm currently weighing up some BC coilovers..

Just whilst I'm buying a few other bits I had a quick look on the auctions. Firesports do a lip kit which looks fairly subtle : http://www.firesports.co.jp/catalog/catalogdetail.php%3Fid%3D251&xid=17259,1500002,15700023,15700105,15700124,15700149,15700168,15700173,15700201&usg=ALkJrhjQMGnUW4qTRoqdg78cBeEItUVe8w That looks to be the same kit but with real world pics taken: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/c639289984 Unfortunately the shipping makes these financially unviable. Best way to access them is to get them from imported vehicles already in the country. I was quoted £800 just to ship a bumper last year!

Only things I've seen have been the Lexus optional kits in the brochures or some Japanese-based aftermarket stuff which would cost a bomb to import. She a gen2 or gen3? Managed to pick up a front lip and side skirts for my gen1 but can't seem to find a rear lip to finish it off anywhere.

After the first bad snowfall of the winter I discovered I was in the same boat (good tread but old tyres). Opted for a set of Hankook Durapro to replace the knackered set and they have performed brilliantly since. Feels much more surefooted and very little road noise too. Only question is how well they wear but I'll find that out in due course I guess!

Don't know if it's of any relevance but I see plenty of new VW's through work and the delivery mileages average around the ten mile mark. Always get the odd one that's a bit more of course. You'd expect to add a few miles on the pre-delivery inspection but that's about it.

I like that line of thinking - electrics just have a habit of going wrong. Usually expensively!

But who cares about figures when we have so much else to look at in this flashy brochure.. Check out the amount of mental optional extras Toyota can dream up!

Right, the important info you are looking is that the 2WD 160PS 2.4 litre 2AZ-FE offers 11km/litre which converts to approx. 31mpg. Compare that to the 4WD version (28mpg) and the 2WD 220PS 3.0 litre 1MZ-FE (26mpg) there's definitely a benefit to get the lightweight of the range. The 4WD 1MZ-FE gets around 25MPG apparently. Obviously manufacturers data isn't real world but it's nice that they are optimistic.

Will check it out and let you know Mark

I'd agree, so much easier to drive. Rather partial to the Japanese imports myself. Would bring a box of randomness in every few months for my other car projects. I've a tonne of Harrier showroom brochures lying here if you need any random info

Is a gathering of road dirt in the door shut areas not just a natural consequence of driving? It's something I've seen on every car no matter the price or manufacturer.

Glad to hear of the purchase. Just by coincidence I was reading up on throttle control boxes the other night and could swear there was one that, along with the usual settings, offered a form of cruise control. Might be worth investigating yourself in case they are applicable to your model code? The only names I can remember are Blitz, Apexi and Greddy but it could have been one of the more generic brands.