RichardMD

Cracking job on the repair. Cant even see where its been done....super pleased at £40! Nice one, no probs glad to have helped. Not really sure on the value, but having 18s and stuff might help with a private sale.....although in this climate dealers are offering reasonable p/exs - prob best to try both and do whichever comes first.

My wheels been repaired for £40. Just need to go and collect it. Thanks for your help.

Yes be nice to get it sorted. Gives me the option of privately selling it (over a p/ex). Couldnt do that with odd wheels! What do you think a 99 plate SE with 153k miles will fetch :-) Was thinking approx 2k. I know the mileage will scare people off though. Got full history. Mainly Lexus. Rich

The Wheel Specialist has taken it on in nottingham. Quoted £40 to get it heat moulded and poss another £20 should it crack and need welding. Hopefully not. Fingers crossed. Hopefully collect it over the next day or two. Rich Good luck, hopefully you get an easy solution - if the balancing is not working it could be a dodgy tyre, but not worth trying to get to the bottom of if you're going to sell the car. It depends on whether the damage has twisted the wheel - if the damage has travelled as far as the spokes to distort the whole wheel then that isn't repairable, if it's just kinked the edge like mine were then it shouldn't be a problem for anyone who knows what they're doing (they use a process called hot rolling I think to straighten it)

It was a no from a local place but i reckon they are more geared up for refurbs etc... Got two other places to try who sound a bit more 'can do'. Good luck, hopefully you get an easy solution - if the balancing is not working it could be a dodgy tyre, but not worth trying to get to the bottom of if you're going to sell the car. It depends on whether the damage has twisted the wheel - if the damage has travelled as far as the spokes to distort the whole wheel then that isn't repairable, if it's just kinked the edge like mine were then it shouldn't be a problem for anyone who knows what they're doing (they use a process called hot rolling I think to straighten it)

Ive looked at the wheel again today - under slightly less stressful conditons lol and i reckon it can be repaired. Its just a small kink in the lip around the inner edge. Fingers crossed. Thanks for your help! Good luck, hopefully you get an easy solution - if the balancing is not working it could be a dodgy tyre, but not worth trying to get to the bottom of if you're going to sell the car. It depends on whether the damage has twisted the wheel - if the damage has travelled as far as the spokes to distort the whole wheel then that isn't repairable, if it's just kinked the edge like mine were then it shouldn't be a problem for anyone who knows what they're doing (they use a process called hot rolling I think to straighten it)

I just spoke to a local repairer over the phone. He said he could have a look but its sounding ominous. Doubt they want to put there name to a wheel that could let go later on! Im going to pop it over before work tmrw for them to comfirm. I emailed the wheels specialist amongst others last night. Hopefully get a few responses monday. Worse case i will chuck the old 17s back on and try to get them balanced. Had tried a few times before and they were really bad. Thanks

These chaps are near me. Will give them a call also! http://www.fleetsahead.co.uk/

Thanks. The damage is similar to the pic really from memory (maybe a bit worse). Wouldnt need it fully refurbing as such.. I do have some old 17s in the garage. They always looked quite poor/corroded and i got some bad wheel judder from them. Hence the upgrade. Its an option though. Fair point. I was looking at R32 golfs and not sure how long it will take me to buy one. Couldnt really put up with the wheel judder for too long. I had a few attempts at balancing them and i gave up. Id be happy for a c£50 fee or a 2nd hand wheel. Any nationwide companies that you know of?. Ive emailed a few but wont hear much til monday, Cheers

I did look at the ebay link thanks. Its a set of 4 unfortunately. I guess they will fetch good money. There are a couple of full sets on ebay. Its a good dent in the wheel. Having read some web sites it could be repairable. Some companies wont touch dents. Im also guessing the cost of sourcing one will be just as cheap though! Either way im embarassed to have 3x18s and 1x 17 fitted :-) Problem is i wanna get a p/ex value and cant really rock up with odd wheels. One chap has some but they wont be available until he buys a new set. Thanks for the help/posts so far!! Will keep searching. There must be an 18 lying around on this site somewhere!!!! :-) Rich

Hi, I was ironically driving out to look at a new car today and managed to pothole damage an IS200 sport 18" wheel. Unfortunately, my spare is an old 17". The 18" wheel has a big dent in it. Can these be repaired? Its caused the tyre to deflate. Failing that has anyone got an average condition spare 18" that i could buy? Its an old V reg and i dont need anything thats in mint condition. Cant really p/ex the car with odd wheels! Im located near the M1 - Junction 25 (Nottingham/Derby) - just in case this has any bearing on me collecting it. Thank in advance!! Richard (Sorry if ive posted this in the wrong place)

Thanks for the PM tony. Booked in saturday at notts 4 wheel. Hope this sorts the issue.

Thanks. Thats exactly it. Quite scary at speed but reasonably solid pottering around. The MOT chap seemed quite enthusiastaic in telling me all suspension and brake components were ok. I paid kwik fit for a track and all ive got was a misaligned steering wheel for my trouble! Is there a link to some desired geo settings? If i was able to get these settings implemented would these be suitable for the lifetime of the tyres or would they need regular tweaking? Obviously waying up the trade off off premature tyre wear and alignment costs. Thanks for the information. Id be happy to come to you but for the fact i live in the midlands! Notts 4 wheel alignment look competant. Maybe worth a go. Cheers Rich

Thanks. Im sort of relieved i havent got any serious issues by the sounds of things. Hopefully £50 will sort things and save me tyres changes every 5 minutes! Will get in touch with WIM.

Thanks. Sounds like Nottingham Car 4 Wheel Alignment is the best local option. It my be useful to get some alignment settings/recomendations from LOC. My main concern is even tyre wear with having expensive 18" Michelins (and confidence in the handling!!) Can anyone suggest a setup? Most of my driving is motorway driving. Thanks for the responses.

Thks. not been on for a while....is that a user?

Hi, I have an Is200 (99 model). I have basically had a couple of symptons and wonder if anyone can point to the possible problem. At some point the car developed a steering judder under braking at around 70. Since then ive had 4 new michelin tyres and had it tracked up (cheap kwik fit job). They said it was 3mm out. The car seemed to have improved, partly because of the better tyres. The judder is much less noticeable. The car had new discs etc and i believe they are ok. Stops well. No judder on the brake pedal. The other problem which may be linked is a vagueness in the steering at approx mway speeds and slightly above. The steering feels light and quite twitchy. This is quite unnerving. I considered bushes etc but had an MOT today and it passed with no issues. The mechanic said everything including suspension, bushes, calipers etc were all fine. Could this be a geometry issue? any opinions? Many thanks Richard

Thks.....only spent about £15 on a 2nd hand set off ebay.....

Im just replacing the speakers with some standard replacements from ebay! Is it not possible to just pop the speaker covers off whilst still on the shelf, unscrew the speakers and pop the new ones in? My biggest issue is actually getting the lexus blanking covers off.

Thanks!! Jesus *****....looks like a right nightmare.....sounds like theyve blown...thought it would be a quick screwdriver job!! Here is a guide to removing them: it's more work than you think! Clicky Stav

Sorry if this is a daft question. Ive ordered some new standard speakers for the rear parcel shelf on the is200. I couldnt seem to remove the covers as i was in fear of braking them...is there an easy way? I assume the speakers actually then come up into the car. Many Thanks!

any pics or can you send a link to a pic? thanks

Do these come pre-gapped? or do they need re-gapping to suit the IS200. If so whats the setting? Thanks Richard

Im not really driving that hard. Mainly steady motorway driving. Pads are relatively inexpensive. I have stock lexus pads to go with the discs. I may get a different compound for the next set. Any recomendations? green stuff / Mintex?

Dont get me on Lexus at nottingham! Ive only been there once with a coil pack problem last year and that wasnt a great experience. They diagnosed a faulty coil pack for £50 labour - probably with an OBD diagnostic unit! They verified this by fitting a new coil pack from a forecourt lexus. They then reverted back to the original faulty coil pack and told me this could be done the next day. I patiently took another day of work to be then informed that the part would be a week. The costs £50 diagnostic £100 1 x coil pack £100 Labour ------- £250 for 1 coil pack fitted!! Did a bit of reading around to find out this could be fitted easily so i got the part and did it myself in the car park in my shirt and tie in 5 minutes! I had to endure hard sell on warranties. They told me if 1 coil pack goes it usually effects the other 5! Mmmm! I question driving the car with 1 cylinder down in relation to the cat etc and i was informed this wasnt a problem! Im not convinced this was good advice. There agenda is screw the customer for every penny! Its not there problem if the cat gets damaged....its going to be mine! So the trust just isnt there! Nice cappucinos though!! Im a bit miffed as they ring me asking why i dont take my car to them for a service etc! Its not about the cost but the value for money! Its easy to rant .....ive got it off my chest now! :)