JDM-Fiend

Bump, open to offers! Need the space! 

Bump, open to offers! Need the space! 

For sale: MK3 GS300/GS430 original leather steering wheel

Item Condition: Used

Price and price conditions: £30

Extra Info: No airbag, but has controls

Pictures: 

Contact Details: Reply to this thread

Location: Herne Bay, Kent

Delivery & Conditions of Delivery: I would prefer collection, but I could post at the buyers cost. I would imagine £10. Payment on collection or via PayPal Goods and Services if postage is required.

For sale: Tanabe NF210 lowering springs for MK3 GS300 / GS430

Item Condition: Used but very good condition (only used for around 3-4 months maximum). I removed them as the car was too low for the speed bumps in the area I eventually moved to.

Price and price conditions: £150 or nearest offer

Extra Info: The model number is TNF112 (link here - https://www.tanabe-usa.com/nf210.asp?id=2) and the drop is 33mm front and 23mm rear. They are the same springs for the GS300/430/460, which is handy. They do not fit on the GS450h.

Pictures:

More details on them installed on this thread - 

Contact Details: Reply to this thread 

Location: Herne Bay, Kent

Delivery & Conditions of Delivery: I would prefer collection, but I could post at the buyers cost. I would imagine £25 due to weight. Payment on collection or via PayPal Goods and Services if postage is required.

12 minutes ago, Kahvinkeitin said:

Did you get it working? Im trying to find a good place to tap into the steering wheel buttons wire, where did you tap into?

I used one of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07JN9MD28/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Bluetooth Audio for music now built into the car and you can skip songs direct from the steering wheel.

Bump

On 1/8/2024 at 11:08 AM, ahmed24 said:

Interior still unfinished and work in progress. But finally got round to installing the Passenger side RCF seat too. Was supposed to do this ages ago but got very busy and the wiring for the passenger side seat is a lot different to the Driver seat and hence wasn't as straight-forward. Passenger seat has the occupancy detection system which involves a lot more work.

Full details on this and many of my other mods on my Instagram page.

Here are few photos of the passenger seat now in.

Looks fantastic, great job!

On 1/11/2024 at 3:41 PM, HighlandJohn said:

My MY 2008 has twin jets.

Mine too.

On 1/8/2024 at 11:39 PM, Mr Vlad said:

You should let us know how your cars MOT goes with your LED headlight bulb upgrade.

As you say they Are illegal to use but also, as you say, the pattern of the light beam doesn't cause a 'blinding' effect.

As for the 'standard' bulb being terrible I think that's harsh. I 'upgraded' to the Osram night-breakers on my beloved is250 and that I found was a very good upgrade and is a popular upgrade.

Yes, I definitely will update on this thread once it's MOT'd.

I stand by what I said, the standard bulbs are shocking! Hardly lights up in front of the car, which is exacerbated by the other roads users as they'll have Xenon/HID's/LED/Laser etc and it kind of blocks out the halogen. I did consider the Osram and Philips upgrade and they aren't ruled out as it's trial and error - I'll know more after a period of time for use. Currently, they are definitely brighter and safe.

On 1/9/2024 at 2:09 AM, LenT said:

 

Well, when I got my IS250 I occasionally- when driving at night - would flick from dip to main just to check that they were actually on!  

I thought the standard lighting was far inferior to my previous Honda Accord.

Even more of a surprise was that when I checked with the Lexus dealer if it was possible to upgrade to an HID bulb, I was told my model already had them!

So I did fit the Osram Nightbreaker laser Xenarc and they were an excellent upgrade - especially the dipped beam, which gives a brighter, better controlled light along the verges of our country lanes.

They are also road-legal in the UK.

https://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/d4s-osram-night-breaker-laser-xenarc-220-bulbs-next-generation-pair.html

That sounds more like a bulb issue in fairness, as I've had a HID IS250 previously and mine were super bright. Mine is definitely halogen, as I took the H11 bulbs out.

On 1/9/2024 at 7:29 AM, NemesisUK said:

Tha actual MoT ruling is light source incompatible with the headlamp unit. The headlamp designed for halogen bulbs cannot be used to house HiD or LED light sources.

True.

2 hours ago, Texas said:

So why are they labelled Not for Highway use?

I think it's likely to do with the red tape. Also, the MOT laws would take ages to change if they would even change. 

I think it's all pretty hypocritical at times, as you get blinded by cars all the time. Fortunately, I've checked mine myself and at a garage and mine are more than fine. 

Pending to be sold.

29 minutes ago, Linas.P said:

Interesting solution, because standard halogens on IS250 is awful to the point where I think they are dangerous. 

Does the LED headlights actually illuminate better at night? Because I know some of the bulbs claims more lumens, they seems to be brighter when looking at them, but they don't illuminate any better/further at night. So the question - how is the actual experience? 

They still look kind of bluish, despite being 6000K, but maybe that is just how camera captures the shade, in theory 6000K should be totally white. That said I remember having 6000K xenons, 6000K LED for side-lights and 6000K halogens for high-beam... all were Osram, all were 6000K, but the shade was different on all of them. Xenon and LED was close, LED slightly bluer, but halogen was still kind of pinkish. So I guess it is more like ~6000K and actual light technology also matters. 

I also believe they should be fine for MOT, pattern looks identical before and after, not sure why they would pick-on it. Sure they have more lumens, but I doubt they have as much as cars with factory LED or Lasers, so as long as pattern is right I assume they should be ok.

No doubt, the standard ones are terrible. In bad rain, I'm afraid of driving with them. 

Yep, a decent proper white I'd call them. As mentioned above, the camera just picks it up that way. It's difficult to show, perhaps I'll take a pic when I'm out later. 

It will not be as much as factory fitted stuff, but I assure you it's a world of difference! 

1 minute ago, Linas.P said:

I know - your car is just bizzare, rear camera, but no sensors. Heated/cooled seats, but no memory? Is steering column electric? 

Bizarre in a good way!

No memory and no electric steering column. Luckily, the ML system, rear camera and heated/cooled leathers were my main criteria. Perhaps the best specced SE ever haha

5 minutes ago, Linas.P said:

Whole car available (except of what is already listed as gone and the frame), so anything you wish.

On the serious note - I don't know if there is much of "upgrades" that can be easily retrofitted or that matter. If you had regular SE, then obvious one would be leather, but you already have leather right? Not sure if you also have memory, but that would be heck of a job to retrofit. Rear curtain - kind of minor thing, but would be absolute nightmare to fit. Electric steering column? I mean it could be done, but without memory function it kind of adds little value. Do you have parking sensors? As far as I know you needs sensors and body control module (I have all of them) and I would assume they would work with the rest of the computers, but you can never be sure and if it doesn't then you would be in deep pain trying to match all the modules (on positive side I have them all, on negative side - cost of replacing all computers for just parking sensors just wouldn't make sense). Wood trim? As far as I know most people hate it, but in theory it can be done easily and it is available.

That's OK, only if anything simple was available. Nothing there for me really apart from what I've already mentioned. No parking sensors  (but have the rear camera) on mine, but I do have heated/cooled leathers too. Wood trim isn't for me haha

Thanks.

I recently bought an IS250 again, as they are such good all round cars. My only gripe with my recent purchase was the very dim Halogen bulbs due to having the SE version of the IS250.

I did a lot of research and opted for some Philips Ultinon Pro3021 H11 LED bulbs that are 6000k colour temp, a decent white without being overpowering or 'bluish' which I've never liked. They cost £39.80 for the pair, which is fairly reasonable to me. They did have the 5000 series and the 9000 series, but you are looking at around £80 to £115 respectively. The lumens rating is higher on the model I've bought apparently, so that's the key reason for change and a proper beam pattern.

The main thing is it's got a decent beam pattern with the step down and I'll be surprised if it doesn't pass the MOT (as they are technically not road legal).

Overall, I'm extremely happy with them and I feel much safer driving with the newer bulbs in.

Pics below:

Wall pattern and brightness in the day time with one side done:

Comparison of each side:

Doesn't look blue at all in reality, it's just how the camera picked it up:

Comparison of before and after:

The night shots were too difficult to capture and make a comparison, but I'll see if there's some captures on my dashcam eventually.

Pic for anyone interested, the car was not clean:

1 hour ago, Linas.P said:

@JDM-Fiend Yeah - all SE-L sills are available (as a set, rear ones are also little bit nicer with brushed metal, not just plain plastic), vents available - not sure about condition thought from memory they are good, but need to check. Can't remember if I took rear view mirror, will need to check. I will check and let you know prices in PM. 

Great, thanks - let me know prices with pics etc if possible. Any other SE-L upgrades I should consider? 😀

For sale: Genuine MK3 GS300/GS430 Boot mat in Black

Item Condition: Used, but in fairly good condition.

Price and price conditions: £20

Pictures:

Contact Details: Message on here please

Location: Herne Bay, Kent

Delivery & Conditions of Delivery: I'm unsure of postage costs, but I'm guessing around £10 due to size. I'm happy to quote when a buyer has been found.

For sale: Genuine MK3 GS300/GS430 floor mats in Black

Item Condition: Used

Price and price conditions: £30 plus postage - Collection preferred

Extra Info: These mats are from my GS430 and are in pretty good condition overall. I think a shampoo would make them like new!

Pictures:

Contact Details: Message on here please

Location: Herne Bay, Kent

Delivery & Conditions of Delivery: I'm unsure of postage costs, but I'm guessing around £10 due to size. I'm happy to quote when a buyer has been found.

Don't suppose your IS250 had the illuminated front sills? If so, I'd be interested! Also, how much for the front centre vents above the stereo?

I was interested in the rear view mirror if it was available, but I know it's not an easy retrofit to my SE!

As per title, would need postage as can pay via PayPal Goods and Services if necessary. 

17 minutes ago, Spark plug said:

Older is better and less complicated. like normal lights that don't blind everyone coming the other way instead of LEDs that cost an arm and a leg when they blow. I will keep my older one until something serious goes wrong...

Yeah, I agree. The only challenge is the older halogens, but I may consider testing out Philips Ultinon's despite them not being road legal. Every other tw*t seems to have road legal lights that blind everyone, makes you wonder why laws even exist. Don't even get me started about what happened with my GS, the Police in this country are diabolical. So, I personally see the law as 'malleable' as long as I don't harm others.

17 hours ago, scudney said:

Welcome back Chan enjoy and all the best 👍 

Thanks!

3 hours ago, Linas.P said:

Congrats.... these bloody IS250s... they are so good that it is hard to replace them!

It is funny indeed, because I did similar thing 2012 F-Sport > 2010 Premium (it was US AWD, but specs wise like SE-L, but without wood grain), then 2008 SE-L and now 2006 SE-L. So spec. wise I didn't go backward, but age wise older an older.

To be fair it kind of makes sense - second generation Lexus IS250 where pretty much the same throughout the years, fundamentally the same engine, gearbox, power, fuel consumption etc. What changes was only infotainment system, minor things like indicators on mirrors, DLRs, things that honestly do not matter. Infotainment is shaite either way, even back when it was new it was outdated and now it is basically irrelevant whenever it is first or last car that rolled of the line, it would be considered outdated. So it kind of makes sense to go for older model all else (vehicle condition) being equal. 

ML in SE is indeed very unusual and weird, so if memory serves to get ML you had to buy Navigation for £1995 and only then you could put ML option for £1000 (or am I mistaken this for MK3?) So somebody saved £3,000 on SE-L, to then spend them on ML, which to be fair in MK2 makes minor difference considering standard car had 13 speakers and ML only adds 1 speaker in the centre. Sure it goes from something like 375W to 795W in power and clarity is much improved, but apart of that it is not like MK3 that has poverty line 6 speaker stereo which is awful by default. In MK2 ML is really a marginal improvement.

As for less stuff to go wrong - probably not, Lexus are not known as far as stuff going wrong is concerned. Certainly not memory seats, not wheel column - but every little helps I guess!

Yeah, I know! Tempted when we sell my wife's Accord which has been outstanding to replace it for an IS250 too!

I have also had a GS300 and a GS430 (last car) which were great, but they just didn't seem as good an overall package but I do prefer the seats in the GS. I have told myself you can't have it all, again especially with the current market and an unfortunate lower budget currently. 

I was actually dead set on getting a GS250, but I refused to take on more debt when the IS250 is largely the same for perhaps half or less than half the money. If I had the budget, it would have been a different matter! I literally think of the GS250 as the closest only step up from an IS250.

It is very strange re ML, because I have the Nav / ML and rear camera - but no parking sensors front and rear, no memory seats and no electronic telescopic steering (which I know is typical in an SE)!

I guess I was just saying figuratively, I know Lexus is solid hence me having around 5 different ones in the last 4-5 years!

Hi all, 

I'm back again with my 3rd ever IS250! My first was an 2010 IS250 F Sport, then I had a 2008 IS250 SE-L and now I've got a IS250 SE!

It's weird as I've gone a bit backwards in spec, but I'm happy this one at least has the Mark Levinson stereo which I'm unsure of it being common or standard in this lower spec model. I do miss the memory function, xenon's and the electrically adjustable steering adjustment but less to go wrong (making myself feel better!).

Happy to be back in a Lexus, especially in the current market and with my current limited budget!

I'll run the car for a little while and see what needs doing.