Tango

I recognise the rims

Till here .... Only joking. wim centre rule number 101 tea has priori-tea No smoking area though, OK ?

Sam, I think Tony left off 'arse' as the following word

Quite a few years ago I was being shown around the Delapena facility in Cheltenham. They manufacture honing machines, honing 'stones', and cutting fluids. During the course of discussion mention was made of a process first introduced for Rolls Royce which used specific stroking speeds and feeds for three grades of honing stone. The finishing stones provided a very smooth bearing surface for the piston rings, but with an underlying cross hatch pattern made by the first and second roughing stones that retained oil for efficient lubrication and cooling. Sounds something like what you described Tony, but we're only talking in (fractions of) microns of surface finish, although the honing finish described would look 'scored' to the naked eye. A cross section of the surface finish under a microscope would look like a series of peaks and valleys, but with the peaks flattened off (it's known as a plateaued surface). This finishing technique has the ability to control the surface peak characteristics separately for the valley characteristics, such that the peak and valley distributions can be controlled to allow substantial bearing load capabilities (broad, flat areas) with well-defined lubrication, debris collecting valleys. The technique extends predictable engine life and improves the sealing of the piston ring to the bore. Looks like this if viewed (not cross section obviously), and second image is a trace of the surface finish ..your 'score' marks are around 1- 3 microns deep, the bearing surface variation is only around 0.3 micron or less.

Hit control+F5 on your keyboard this will refresh the avatar. That worked...your IT knowledge is coming along Tony

Can anyone tell me why having changed my avatar settings in 'my controls' I still have the old avatar on my posts? Ahmet???

I think they only recall if it's a safety or reliability issue, with most of the other TB's used if/when a customer has a complaint like the 'rattle' issue with the dash that seems to have effected most 220D's and even a few 250's. The seatbelt was definitely a safety issue so it should have been recalled if it was in the VIN group effected. I had a brand new set of mats in the IS200 replaced under a TB because there was a chance of the original design getting caught under the accelerator pedal. Again not a recall or a customer complaint but they changed them during a service. Depends on the dealer I guess...the cost is covered by Lexus GB so the dealer probably even makes a few £ on TB's.

No, it was a recall. I was notified by my local stealership to take mine in to have the front belts replaced. It depended on your VIN as a batch of recoils apparently had incidences of hang ups where the belt wouldn't consistently reel out or in. Didn't have a problem with mine but they changed them anyway. The new ones have a slight striped pattern to the weave of the belt material which is hardly noticable unless you compare them to the original rear belts. We discussed it on LOC a while ago. I guess some were missed. Think it was technical bulletin BO010-05 OCT 05 Restraints - Seat Belt Extenders, but the date doesn't make sense unless it takes an awful long time to get through the system. Re. Is250 Technical Service Bulletins here's a list of all the TSB's issued by Lexus for the IS250 for 2005/2006, but includes the Yank spec too so be wary. TSB Number & Issue Date TSB Title EL013R-06 DEC 06 Navigation System - Shows Vehicle In Wrong Location EL016-06 DEC 06 Starting System - Vehicle Start After Battery Depletion EL015-06 DEC 06 'Smart Key' ® - Specifications EL014-06 DEC 06 Cell Phone - Bluetooth® Compatibility NV005-06 DEC 06 Body - Upper/Lower Windshield Ticking Noise PG001R-06 NOV 06 Battery Maintenance for In-Stock Vehicles SU001-06 OCT 06 Suspension - Shock Absorber Replacement Criteria TC010-06 OCT 06 A/T - Reman A/T Serial Number Location TC009-06 OCT 06 A/T - Serial Number Locations TC008-06 SEP 06 M/T - RA62 Fluid Requirements Requirements EG019-06 AUG 06 Engine - MIL ON/Possible Multiple Misfire DTC's Set EG017-06 AUG 06 Exhaust System - Excessive Sulfur Odors NV001-06 MAY 06 Interior - Front Seat Squeaking Noise AU001-06 APR 06 Audio System - Quick Reference Troubleshooting Guide ST004R-01 APR 06 Steering - Vehicle Pulls To One Side Manual Supplement EG007-06 MAR 06 Engine Controls - MI ON/DTC's P0172/P0175 Set EG006-06 MAR 06 Engine Lubrication - ILSAC GF-4 Oil Recommendation BO007-06 MAR 06 Body/Lighting - Headlamp Support Bracket Installation EG001R-06 JAN 06 Engine - ILSAC GF-4 Engine Oil Standard EL002-06 JAN 06 Keyless Entry/Antitheft - Smart Key Supplement SS003-05 NOV 05 Audio System - CD Player Skip Verification BO012-05 NOV 05 Interior/SRS - Seat Cover Replacement Recommendations BO010-05 OCT 05 Restraints - Seat Belt Extenders Available CRIB151 OCT 05 Paint - Paint Codes PD043-05 SEP 05 Body - Power Window Initialization Procedure PD044-05 SEP 05 Tire Pressure Monitor - Sensor Activation Procedure PD040-05 SEP 05 Instruments - Compass Calibration Procedure BO004-05 JUL 05 Wipers/Washers - Wiper Blade Cleaning/Maintenance EG012R-04 JUN 05 Engine Controls - Entering VIN After PCM Replacement

I do, but don't have a problem. However, this may be because I have the American spec Eibachs so my front end is lower than the back by 10mm. My back end is slightly higher than yours (by 4.6mm) but the negative camber was still noticable after the drop. After the geometry check and minor toe adjustment it drives a lot better and the tyres appear to be wearing evenly from the checks we have made. Will know more after Saturday :king_right:

It's a convincing argument... Like most things though it boils down to cost. With our ever warmer winters how committed are you to invest in "cold weather" tyres.... In an ideal world we all would but in reality most will just make do. It only means you have a spare set of rims (usually steel) with winter tyres on. The bonus is you don't get salt all over your summer alloys and if you prevent one minor bump it will have saved you more than the cost of your spare boots. Doesn't stop those who haven't got winter tyres from bumping into you though and we'll end up crawling with the rest of the traffic at the first sign of a heavy frost.

cant say i have ever been asked i know in germany it is a big thing and maybe even law to use winter tyres i remember visiting TTE when england was under a blanket of snow and we had endured consistant snow in germany, when they realised i was using summer tyres they all had horrified looks on their faces Having lived in Norway and found the benefits of driving on winter tyres (compulsory) during the cold months, I'm seriously considering using a spare set of rims with winter tyres for the UK. The only downside is they wear a lot quicker, but if it prevents only one minor accident due to icy roads it'd be worth it. Before the latest developments in rubber compounds and tread design the Norwegians used to use studded tyres...some still do but they have to pay higher road tax to use them (as it wears out the roads, especially in tunnels ). ...and Tony I know to my cost ABS is totally useless on ice with summer tyres as they don't have sufficient traction so the ABS releases the brakes and you may as well have left the brake pedal alone (not good when you're approaching the rear of a Peugot 205 stopped at a junction even at 15 mph.

Centred round and about Nottingham which is where most of the Ultrajap crew are located.

The IS350 Calipers and discs are going to be fine for my IS250 at £370.00 in total. What spec were you looking at for a grand + VAT? Brembo??

I don't know Pip. I haven't seen him on LOC for a while either. It will be a shame if Mikes expectations were not met. Unfortunately this industry is infested with incapable "companies" that over promise and under deliver, so the unwary can easily fall victim. It is crystal clear that Mike has been aggressively antagonistic towards myself and people that I respect in the past, but I bear no grudges and hope that it works out well for him He's put up his own website....www.ultrajap.com/forum Something of a "Ghost town" unfortunately. Seems to be 'Nottscentric'

Got a quote from Lexus Westside in Houston today for the IS350 calipers and rotors....$717 (approx 370 quid). Don't think you're going to match that Tony?

I don't know Pip. I haven't seen him on LOC for a while either. It will be a shame if Mikes expectations were not met. Unfortunately this industry is infested with incapable "companies" that over promise and under deliver, so the unwary can easily fall victim. It is crystal clear that Mike has been agressively antagonistic towards myself and people that I respect in the past, but I bear no grudges and hope that it works out well for him He's put up his own website....www.ultrajap.com/forum

Here you go Tony...think it improved his looks actually. He's certainly got a big enough air intake ...and I think he caught a bug on his teeth.

Would have thought that with oil on the clutch plate it would slip very well without any assistance from your left foot Yeah and judder like a "bronco" but would slipping the clutch regain the surface? It'll depend on how much oil is on the plate,,and you'd have to ask yourself 'where from'. If it wasn't a lot then I daresay you could burn it off by slipping the clutch, but you'd glaze the plate and if the cause of the leak wasn't determined and corrected you'd only be delaying the inevitable. I ran an idler gear bearing on my Mini Cooper 'S' (the Leyland one, not BMW) which resulted in putting a hole in the aluminium clutch housing from the well lubricated timing chain housing....clutch plates don't work well in an oil bath, and rapid forward motion on the M4 was soon curtailed

OK, you have my attention....OEM or other??? Other... I am sure i can locate the up-grade. Any progress? Or will I be carrying a very heavy suitcase back from Houston? Actually, if I just get the calipers it will not be that heavy and I can get the discs shipped from DBA

Would have thought that with oil on the clutch plate it would slip very well without any assistance from your left foot

OK, you have my attention....OEM or other???

Yes, I do, as may need the extra stopping power in the near future . I asked TK Chan if he had part numbers for the IS350 calipers and discs, but he got his from Tom's and they wouldn't release the part numbers...said they'd be happy to supply me from Hong Kong :heart: don't think so. Then tried a Lexus/Toyota parts department but they said had no access to IS350 parts database in the UK.... ...but guess where I'm going next week ye-hah

Thought you'd already seen it Scorps, I'm not shy at posting pics of it :heart: These are the last ones I have taken after it was tinted. Resolution is a bit is low as they were taken with my mobile phone.

Sorry...edited with the answer. Just mailed Andy that I couldn't get the gallery on his site to work. The website sort of contradicts itself..at one point says something about 'efficiency of service' and then ' We will not promise the quickest turn around in the business, we like to prepare our work thoroughly and guarantee the quality of finish'. Well the last one is quite true, although to be fair I didn't push him on delivery as I didn't really need the wheels.

Small outfit in Iron Acton near Bristol, run by Andy Styles (hence the name) http://www.wheelstyles.co.uk/pages/about.htm. It was £60 a wheel, which I thought was well worth it knowing the amount of work that went into the refurb, including alloy welding two of the rims. The hours spent re-polishing the rims probably exceeded his original estimate for the complete re-furb.