Blue Thunder

Attached is a photo

Just thought I would update, I emailed several Lexus dealers in Germany to see if they could help, didnt get one reply!! Finally tracked down Auto Fashion in US http://store.yahoo.com/lexusparts despite the fact they say on web site they will only ship to US they will ship to UK if you mention you are Member of Owners Club. They are supplying me with chrome rings and clear rear fog lights.:D

Just to say I have just taken delivery of a rear wing for my IS. It is a GS type and I bought it on Ebay and it was very reasonable in price. It was fully painted and the quality was great. The guy who sells them can supply 3 types of wing for the IS ( the sport type flip up, the GS type and the tall Altezza type) as well as other model Lexus. (He also does BMWs but you cant hold that against him) I have no involvement with the Company, nor any financial Interst if anyone contacts him ,but I wanted to pass this on as I know it can be hit and miss buying of the net etc. If you check E BAY, the photo he is using for the GS spoiler is actually my car!! Thats how happy I was. Alternatively Omar can be contacted at OFerna@aol.com for that personnal touch. If you contact him mention me as he might do a deal. :)

Can any one help. I remember a while ago a link was posted to a company who could supply chrome rings to bit around the rear fog lights of an IS. I have spent 30 mins trying to find the posting without success can anyone point me in the right direction? There does seem to be a huge gap in the UK market for Lexus Accessories. I have found a lot in the US with either not ship to the UK or will not accept UK credit cards or pay pal. I assume there are some good Japanese sites out there as well, but has anyone had any experience of buying in Japan etc etc. Thanks

I bought a set called Park Boy IV. This was after Lexus said they wouldnt fit the standard items as mycar is a manual and there would be a conflict with all the buzzers. It is a 4 sensor set with a visual display ( both lights and distance display) mind you it also has a buzzer and the pitch is so much higher than the reverse buzzer so it wouldnt have been a problem. I had intended to fit the system myself but bottled it!! After a number of calls and emails to Lexus and my dealer I final ground them down and had Lexus fit it for me. They charged 3 hous labour and did a brilliant job, and it took all the worry of drilling the bumper ( the only bit that worried me) away. Cowards way out I know but ................

Had a similar problem somewhere behind the dash, and as you say it got more and more annoying as time went on. Lexus had the car back and remounted the dash (OH ERR MRS!!) Got the car back and its no better, so I am still on their case about this bless em! I know they did try really hard to help as when I got the car back, I had no panel lights as they had forgotten to reconnect the wiring!!

Yup, mine does that too. Total mind of its own. You could understand it if we all drove BMs as they dont have indicators at all, I understand its a huge extra cost option to have working lights fitted!!

Should have done, but I felt sorry for the guy...........he was driving a Mazda 626 Estate!!! If he spent money on a car like that you can accept his excuse about the ladder!! A real no brainer. If I had sent him down theh embankement he might still be there, as he didnt have a ladder to climb out with.:D

Has anybody wondered what the 2 metal plates are under the car in front of theh wheels are for on your IS? Well sorry you are all wrong!The are ladder protectors!!! I was driving home last night, following a Mazda with a ladder on the roof. As the Mazda tried to speed off, the ladder flew off the roof and came "flying" towards me. I couldnt believe the way it picked up speed as it skidded down the road. Homebase must tune their ladders for optimum 0-60 speeds!! In that split second my wallet groaned as the ladder went under the car, and guess what hit the plates and shot out the front of the car..............no damage!!! After 5 mins when the clown in the Mazda returned he told me he had forgotten he had put the ladder on the roof!! and so it wasnt tied down. Not many cars would have survived that without any marks at all. Sadly the ladder was killed, not sure if as a result of the impact or me throwing down a small embankement next to the road! Clever people these Japanese, fancy designing that into the car!

I have also been using one of these for a while now. I got mine from the firm who clean my bosses car each week ( how the other half live!!) He offered one word of caution. Never use it after washing the car if it is a very hot day or the car is in strong sunlight as he says the car dries too quickly and then their is a risk of scratching as their is not enough water to remove. Also he told me to wash it after every use to ensure no dirt gets caught on the blade. Probably common sense stuff, but I thought I should pass it on.

I have just ordered 4 replacement headlight bulbs for my IS from the States. They are Xenon Plama Optima SuperWhite xenon bulbs. The packaging says the dipped are up to 80w the mains to 100w. Has anyone bought and fitted these to their cars. I assume they are direct replacements ie the wiring etc doenst need upgrading etc. I bought them on E Bay and they cost £22 for 4 including shipping ( plus duty I guess when they arrive in the UK)

Hi Zee Thanks!! I am really pleased with it. I have had it in the car for 8 months or so. It is comfortable, and when fitting ,as it screws to the car you can actually decide how high, far back ,far forward you would like it to suit you driving position. If I can be of further help mail me.

The last picture

And the next!!

And another (2 more to go)

Here is another ( Sorry couldnt work out how to put them all in 1 message.

As promised here are some photos of the armrest. It is not as sexy as the Lexus fit, but costs 1/4 of the price, takes 10 mins to fit, and can be easily removed and no one will know it has been there. If anyone does go the same route, remember to put a foam pad between the bottom of the armrest and the top of the existing cover as it scratches ( I learned from my mistake!!)

This seems to be a standard Lexus paragraph!! I too was told it was because of the way I drove it but I have been very gentle so far with the car ( sad I know!!) I was told it was something to do with my car having toes on the front wheels (should I buy it socks for the winter?)!! It has been set up in such a way as to [i quote]"promote the feel and handling characteristics of the car". I was told that if the settings were changed to a more conservertive set up, I wouldnt enjoy driving it. It does seem the Bridgestones are soft, and it is interesting that the majority of your postings suggest alternative replacement tyres rather that the original Bridgestones. This is clearly the price we pay to be different, its a burden but we were destined to carry it otherwise we would all have Beemers (Am I allowed to say that here!! I will go and wash my mouth out immediatly)

Will get some posted next week.

I hope the photo has come out. This is from the D and W catalogue. The fitment for the IS is a Type B code 271363 Black with Black Leather and costs 121.95 euros

Hi Zee Mine is very similar to the photos posted above, but only cost £80 plus P and P from Germany. I will dig out the part number tonight and let you know. Check out www.dundw.de. Its all in German (obviously) and I dont speak the language but I was still able to find what I wanted and order. The staff at D and W are great and speak English!! I will also post a photo tomorrow.

Thanks for the thoughts. They did put the old rears on the front and fitted the new tyres to the rear (Michelin Pilots). I wonder from what you have said if that was the cause. Certainly in the last 1500 miles there has been little wear on the fronts so I will just have to watch. At the moment I am envious of all you guys getting 20000+ miles Interesting to see another owner "worried" about the service at Guildford. They rate C- at the moment, I am sure they can do better. I have a choice of Reading or Southampton for the next service and have heard good things about both.

Exactly what I thought, but the guys at Guildford used an Independent for the tyres, and I think I remember they came recommended by other Club Member. I guess the fact that the steering wheel was moved suggests they did something. I just dont understand what was going on as I didnt expect a dodgy shock absorber to affect the tyres.

Wonder if anyone has had a similar problem. I had a new set of wheels fitted recently (by Lexus under warrenty)as the originals had pitted (sound familiar). When refitting the tyres they (Lexus)found I had scrubbed out the front tyres which were now illegal. (Bridgestones)The car had only done 10000 miles, and has not been driven hard ( the rears still had 5mms!!) I was told by Lexus that there was nothing wrong with the car and this was normal wear rate!! When I got the car back the steering wheel was no longer straight which I queried and was again told nothing had been done to the tracking, and it must have been like that when it went in. I have to say I was a little annoyed!!!! 2 weeks before I had had a new shock absorber fitted to the front under warrenty. Anybody have any views? Currently Lexus tell me nothing is wrong but I should moniter the front tyres for wear, but they maintain nothing was done to the stearing when the shock and wheels were changed, They say I might have hit the front (NO WAY) and or the steering wheel was like that!! At this rate I will have an additional £300 tyre bill every 10 months!!

Hi JOHNNY- BOY The car lives in Basingstoke. I ordered with my credit card, and the pen arrived by good old Post Office, in a padded envelope. Cant fault the service. On a deep scratch or chip they say it needs a number of applications but so far so good. The colour match is good, and the pen is soooooooooooooo easy to use. Its better that using the coctail stick method. I will be reapplying this week end and will post an update next week.