joeb427

Gaugster

Since I am in the suburbs of Chicago, what dealer are you working with?

Bredeman Lexus in Glenview.

I don't remember the size of tire they are putting on. They also said it's a one time charge, so I should be able to walk in there come spring and have my tires put back on free I think ?? Just need to pay for new tires if these go bad.

Even if I order from Tirerack though, that's just the tires & wheels & sensors, fine and dandy, but I don't know how to put tires on, so I'd have to go somewhere for that. It just seems easier if they do it and store my old ones. Seems convenient even if it is a little pricey.

I'm only concered with how much better traction I will get and if I will be able to commute to work (SAFELY) driving slow, but not tons slower than traffic, to get to work and back.

Jeff.

Tire rack can send the tires,rims and sensors to a Tire Rack installer in your area.It's easy and I've done it twice.You will have to store your own tires,though.

Whatever floats your boat.

Gangstar,I was talking about going with all four tires.

Check out tirerack.com. Even if you don't want to order your wheels/tires online, it will give you a ballpark for what price is reasonable. $2300 does not seem reasonable to me. I priced out a setup for my IS, and it came out to a little about $1400 for 4 snow tires (Blizzak), 4 aftermarket alloy wheels, 4 TPMS sensors and installation.

I wouldn't pay a $1,000 premium to go to the dealer for wheels and tires.

But he has 18" wheels.

Odd but Tirerack doesn't seem to have any 18" tires for him for a IS 350.He can go with a 17" set of Blizzaks with rwheels.

Thanks for the responses so far. I am getting the idea, Get snow tires! :)

I have an appointment for Saturday morning to get them purchased and installed for $2300 (ouch!). Well worth it to keep my car though. I just hope its enough traction, I don't expect to be doing 80 round corners, I do drive very cautiously in the winter, but I just want to feel like my car will stop given enough time and slow enough speed. If im going 5mph, I should be able to stop, easy as that.

They said a brand of tire that wasn't blizzaks tires, it was something different but the guy said they are really good... should I trust what they put on, or demand blizzaks?

One more question: I see that traction button down by my steering wheel the little picture of a car and 3 wayve lines. When I turn that on, it will eventually go off after a while, is that ok? I wasn't sure. Even when I turn it off, it still seems to turn on when I started sliding (weird, why even have a button then)

$2300 sounds like the Lexus dealer price for complete wheels as well as storage of your summer wheels. You can save at least 1000 bucks if you purchased from any other place but you have to store your own wheels. Lexus will charge full dealer price for the TPM sensors etc... so you get hosed really good.

Any snow tire should do well but Blizzaks are hard to beat. I chose Dunlops Sport 3D's based on a great deal of research. Make sure the tire you get has the snowflake / mountain icon on the tire sidewall.

I spent about 1400 for 4 snow tires with TPM sensors and aftermarket 17" rims. This includes shipping and ~$50 to have the TPM sensor ID's programmed by a Toyota dealer. Lexus wanted about 140 for the same service. Go Figure?????? There are even lower cost setups too.

The traction button you refer to defaults to the "ON" setting. You disable it when you push the button! This may explain some of your problems. Read the FM before you do something you will really regret.:chairshot:

I doubt that $2300 includes wheels.All 4 wheels alone not even without the sensors list for that.I got to believe it's just the usual Lexus service dept ripoff.

As far as Nokian being better than Blizzaks,I wouldn't know but have read that Blizzaks are the best.The Nokians are a good tire,though.

Lexus will go with the bigger profit maker.

Thanks for the responses so far. I am getting the idea, Get snow tires! :)

I have an appointment for Saturday morning to get them purchased and installed for $2300 (ouch!). Well worth it to keep my car though. I just hope its enough traction, I don't expect to be doing 80 round corners, I do drive very cautiously in the winter, but I just want to feel like my car will stop given enough time and slow enough speed. If im going 5mph, I should be able to stop, easy as that.

They said a brand of tire that wasn't blizzaks tires, it was something different but the guy said they are really good... should I trust what they put on, or demand blizzaks?

One more question: I see that traction button down by my steering wheel the little picture of a car and 3 wayve lines. When I turn that on, it will eventually go off after a while, is that ok? I wasn't sure. Even when I turn it off, it still seems to turn on when I started sliding (weird, why even have a button then)

$2300 is outrageous for tires...unless you're getting rims too.

Do it right and get Blizzaks.

Both are great cars but I like the style of the Lexus better.The A4 just doesn't have that $35K look to me.

Take off the summer tires.Summer tires harden in cold weather and lose grip on dry roads let alone snow and cold rain,tires wear faster and have longer panic stops.

Get a set of snows for the rear or Blizaks all around.

I go with Amsoil and change it once a year which is usually around 7K miles.I'd go 12K on Amsoil if I did the mileage.

I go 12K on the wife's RAV4.

Rattles: TSIB #NV003-06. NV50148 06IS250 and IS350

Parts: 08231-00801 Noise Kit

08231-00810 Wind Noise Kit

Labor: TSIB NV003-06 NV5014 A 2.20. Removed instrument panel and insulated panel clips, HVAC ducts, and defroster nozzle.

YES that is what they are doing...I should note however that my car is an 2007 and that TSB (saw that posted by Barkat) was for 2006 - which means the factory didn't fix in in subsequent models. Heck I think I hear that rattle in the new loaner which is an 08.....

I didn't have this done.A guy on another IS forum with a '07 IS 350 had it done along with the brake pad TSB.

Rattles: TSIB #NV003-06. NV50148 06IS250 and IS350

Parts: 08231-00801 Noise Kit

08231-00810 Wind Noise Kit

Labor: TSIB NV003-06 NV5014 A 2.20. Removed instrument panel and insulated panel clips, HVAC ducts, and defroster nozzle.

Sounds like it could be just for models made before 1/06.I have a 6/06 late build and hate leaving my car at the dealer.

"n Japan, a total of 215,020 cars, including Crown, Mark X and several Lexus models, built between December 2003 and December 2005 will also be called back for the fix."

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/stor...7572194F2CA%7D

Let us know how it goes. The guys with XenonDepot kits are also happy with them.

Will do and thanks again for your imput.

Your "The HID bulb lines up with the stock projectors and makes a cut off beam just like stock but with much more light output." statement helped in my decision to go with a kit.I was afraid of a blinding oncoming traffic issue.Although I did read that before but you verified that and when I ordered the kit,Steve at Xenondepot said the same thing.

You can wire either kit with a relay, but MTEC doesn't include one. It does have the schematic for a relay installation though.

If you go on Ebay and go to "make offer" on the MTEC you can get it for less than the buy it now. I think I offered $200 and they accepted that price.

.

Thanks Bartkat but I bought the Xtreme by Xenondepot for $251 delivered.I talked directly to Steve at XenonDepot and had questions answered by email from Stanley at Onspire.

On another popular Lexus forum,he is well liked and is a sponsor.The kits are popular there and have no problems and Xenondepot has a great customer service policy according to people there.

Not a deal breaker but the Xtreme kit has the extra relay and wire for the battery which is recommended by Steve and by others I've found through some net researching.

Thanks again,though.

The MTEC HID kits work just fine. The HID bulb lines up with the stock projectors and makes a cut off beam just like stock but with much more light output. If you get the newer model MTEC, it comes with a compact ignitor/ballast that's easier to install.

I got mine from Onspire, who sells the genuine Japanese made MTEC's.

http://www.onspire.com/

I was very interested in the genuine made in Japan MTEC HID kit and was going to buy it from onspire.com which is the same guy on Ebay but I read that the kit will blind oncoming vehicles.

Man,I'm so confused over this.I did some research and didn't find anything really positive.Especially on this site which is a respected site by many.

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bu...onversions.html

I want to do the MTEC conversion but an nervous about the projectors not working well with the kit.You have the kit and have no problems...

Daniel Stern has his own axe to grind you know, since he sells lights too. The lights that have problems are when someone puts D2s bulbs in reflector housings. Those bulbs were meant for projectors and when put in reflector housings they scatter light.

Our cars have projectors that really don't care what kind of bulb is in it as long as the filament or gas capsule is centered. The MTEC kits work fine. I know of at least 3 other installations and none have problems. The main thing to watch is that you make sure you seal around the wires with silicone so no moisture gets into the headlights.

I've got marks on my garage wall to Lexus headlight aiming specs. I had set my halogen lights by the specs. After installing the MTEC H11 HID kit, I have exactly the same alignment and beam pattern as before, but I now have a much whiter light.

Thanks so much for the info,Bartkat.

I'm going to order a kit today.I'm going to choose between MTEC and Xenondepot's Xteme kit.

I;m leaning toward Xenondepot because I like having a relay and wire going to the battery.I've read after many startups the OEM light harness may have an issue down the road without a battery line.

The jury is still out,though.

The MTEC HID kits work just fine. The HID bulb lines up with the stock projectors and makes a cut off beam just like stock but with much more light output. If you get the newer model MTEC, it comes with a compact ignitor/ballast that's easier to install.

I got mine from Onspire, who sells the genuine Japanese made MTEC's.

http://www.onspire.com/

I was very interested in the genuine made in Japan MTEC HID kit and was going to buy it from onspire.com which is the same guy on Ebay but I read that the kit will blind oncoming vehicles.

Man,I'm so confused over this.I did some research and didn't find anything really positive.Especially on this site which is a respected site by many.

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bu...onversions.html

I want to do the MTEC conversion but an nervous about the projectors not working well with the kit.You have the kit and have no problems...

hey i was wondering if anyone has replaced their stock H11 bulbs with anything good on the aftermarket. I have tried a few different lights but nothing comes close to the output of the stock bulbs. I see other cars with bright aftermarket that are not HID and want to know where to get bulbs that are bright and close to the 5000K-6000K output.

I went with MTEC super white in my lows,highs,fogs and parking lights.

They're rated a 4350K but they fall a bit short on road illumination versus stock but on the plus side do look bright white instead of that ugly stock yellow.

I was thinking about a MTEC or Xenondepot conversion kit but I've read HID conversion kits stink.You need proper projectors.You must go for the genuine HID set up for the big bucks to do it right.

I'll stay with the MTECS.

Anyone know where to buy sets of stainless steel braided brake lines for the IS250/350? All I can find is sets for the IS300.

Techna-Fit Dot Certified Brake Lines

They have a color choice of sleeve and lifetime warranty.I was going to go with these but I read too many posts on other forums on how SS lines are overkill for street use.You will only feel a slight,if at all difference in firmness of the brake pedal so I passed.

http://www.techna-fit.com/lexus.html

http://www.raptorracing.com/Products/BrakeLine2.jpg

Yeah, to be honest, I'm gonna stick with the mountain of research by people who track used car prices for a living over "what you see in used car prices"

How you "don't see the value" in realtime traffic, especially living near some of the worst traffic on earth, I guess we will indeed have to agree to disagree there.... it certain has a lot more value than the backup camera, which is the only thing on the Lexus nav that isn't measurable WORSE than an aftermarket unit.

In short-

Lexus unit (in the IS):

No realtime traffic

Expensive map updates

Cripples itself while in motion

Costs 2000-2500 extra

Significantly higher depreciation than non-nav car according to all factual research

Aftermarket unit:

Realtime traffic (and weather and nearby fuel prices in some cases)

Inexpensive map updates

Can be moved to rental vehicles or other cars you own, or keep it if you sell your IS

costs 300-500 bucks for more features than 2000=2500 unit

Can even be loaded with european maps if traveling overseas with it

Can upgrade to unit with even more new features for again fraction of cost of lexus unit

Can be used as media station (to hold pictures, audiobooks, mp3s, etc)

Can be used fully while car is in motion (hopefully by passenger for safety)

Both choices can have dead reckoning, bluetooth, work through the factory stereo, etc....

Great deal.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11234538

$299.99 After $150 Off

Garmin Nüvi 650 GPS

4.3" Touch Screen Display

Turn-by-Turn Directions

Speaks Street Names

$299.99 $8 shipping

Item # 232311

Plus Shipping & Handling

: Includes:

Nüvi 650 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator® NT street maps, including a hefty points of interest (POIs) database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply touch the sunlight-readable color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. It even announces the name of exits and streets so you never have to take your eyes off the road. In addition, nüvi 650 accepts custom points of interest, such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs.

Display: 3.81"W x 2.25"H; 4.3" diag WQVGA color TFT with white backlight

Unit dimensions: 4.9"W x 2.9"H x .9"D

Weight: 6.2 oz

Preloaded maps: City Navigator® NT for North America

Lithium-ion Battery life: Up to 7 hours

Voice prompts: Turn right in 500ft.

Speaks street names: Turn right On Elm Street in 500ft.

2D & 3D Map Perspective

Auto re-route: Fast off-route & Detour Recalculation

Choice of route setup: Faster time, Shorter distance, Off road

Route Avoidance: Avoid highways, tolls etc

Custom POIs: Add additional points of interest

FM traffic Compatible

Accepts data cards: SD Card Not Included

MP3 player, Audio book player, Picture viewer

Configurable Vehicle Icons: Select car-shaped icons for map navigation

World travel clock, currency & measurement converter, calculator

Garmin Lock™ Anti-Theft feature

I've read that article and disagree. I see a big difference in value on the used market in favor of the nav, .

Do a work up on KBB.com of your car with and without NAV.

That $2550+tax and interest if financed option becomes a paulty $500 on a trade in and if you think you'll get anything close to that $2550+ extra selling it yourself,I think you'll be in for a big surprise.

I will say it's a plus to a potential buyer,though.

Bluetooth is available on the aftermarket NAV units- They can even pipe your calls through the factory stereo system, so no real loss there.

DVD? It only works in park at a dead stop, unless you're willing to hack up the wiring and void your warranty. Likewise you have to be stopped to input a lot of things, while with an aftermarket unit your passenger can safely do this while in motion.

Which seems more useful? Being able to watch movies while the vehicle is in park, or being auto-routed around accidents and construction like an aftermarket unit can do? Some aftermarket units will also download realtime data on the cheapest price of gas near you, current weather conditions where you're traveling, and a lot more.

Oh, and there are aftermarket units that do dead reckoning too (working if you lose sat. signal)

Like I said, I've used built in nav. It SUCKS compared to a good aftermarket unit that's a lot cheaper and does a lot more... plus is cheaper to update, is portable between vehicles, and if even more new features the OEM unit can't ever do become available I can upgrade to a new unit for again massively less money than I'd have paid for the OEM unit.

I guess if you want to pay $2500 extra to get a less-functional unit that "looks" slightly nicer by being built in, well, that's your choice... but it's certainly not "better" in any objective sense.

So true.

The only advantage of the Lexus unit is the backup camera which is nice but not a big deal to me.

Ahem (add ML), DVD's anyone?

This guy is right, some people do buy it for status but less common is buying a Lex for status generally it's the German "Badge" that attracts buyers.

Well if you ask me the Nav. is worth it. It's just the convenience more than anything else added with the fact that comparing to some portable units it is also more accurate. Pair that with wheel tracking and you've got a setup that will work without satellite coverage.

Now i'm sure it's not just the Nav. either, bluetooth and the mentioned backup camera.

Let me mention the bluetooth however, how does one answer the call via the portable unit?

Steering wheel buttons are a LOT easier and safer. Also think about the Lexus market, with the IS in mind, think of all the "executives" with their Blackberry's - They probably wish it'd shut up.

Here in Australia, I'm the one that get's to point the finger and laugh at people that went and spent the same amount of AU$$ on a BMW 320i that got half what we got (engine size, reliabilty, features etc.).

Lastly, it's one of those things you won't rely on until you actually have it installed. So it's really up to you but I can almost assure you that if you get it installed you won't look back.

You have made some very good points about NAV and BMW's..

Bluetooth is available on some Garmin models like the Nuvi 360.I have the 350 without Bluetooth.It would be much easier to answer a call on the steering wheel than on the portable unit unless somehow the call comes through automatically.

The backup camera and DVD are plusses too and the look of NAV is great also.I don't have factory NAV but do read posts on other Lexus forums on the shortcomings of the Lexus unit versus portable NAV units and at $2500 is a travesty along with a $250 update disc issue.My son in law has a '04 LX 470 with NAV,ML and backup camera.The unit isn't too good but it is now 4 years old.Newer units have to be be better functioning.

By the time I'm ready for a new car,NAV systems should much cheaper and even better.Then I'll pretty up my dash with a factory one.

It's more a status thing than function thing for most.

Um...like driving a Lexus?

Not really.

The 250 is the cheapest model.

Sort of like buying a C class Benz. :)

I bought it for the reliability and look not the so called Lexus status.

If I wanted status,I'd buy a more expensive Lexus model.

$35K is not big bucks for a vehicle today.

But SOME people buy a Lexus (any Lexus) or an MB (any MB) for status. And some don't.

And some people get factory nav for status. And some don't. Until a scientific poll is conducted, I don't think it's really fair to say "most" people buying factory nav do it for status. I didn't want dealing with a portable unit. I know you'll tell me it's no hassle, but just as I won't convince you factory is better, you won't convince me that the hassle of portable nav is no big deal.

You won't see a scientific poll.You will see articles like the one above on how buying a manufacturers NAV(at this point anyway) is a bad investment.

Unless you're in sales or travel a lot,a $2500 NAV option is a waste but it looks nice.

You may use it often but according to articles I've read and seen on TV and people I know,most people rarely use NAV but it does look nice.

It's more a status thing than function thing for most.

Um...like driving a Lexus?

Not really.

The 250 is the cheapest model.

Sort of like buying a C class Benz. :)

I bought it for the reliability and look not the so called Lexus status.

If I wanted status,I'd buy a more expensive Lexus model.

$35K is not big bucks for a vehicle today.

I have the Toyota nav in two cars and have been using it for nearly 5 years. I'm 100% satisfied and would never purchase another car without built in nav.

Sure aftermarket systems might have more functions, but I've never needed more functions and the sheer ugliness of aftermarket units in a brand new $40k car would keep me from ever considering it. I think the people who are complaining about the system are used to using portable and aftermarket systems. If you've never used one then you'll never miss any of the functionality.

I also see a BIG difference in value on the used market in cars without nav...

NAV in my '06 was a over a$2K option.

Trade in value on my '06 with NAV is $500 more.So you lost over $1500 + tax and interest if financed and the NAV doesn't do what the Garmin Nuve 350 I have does.Let alone the ability to move from vehicle to vehicle.I'd bet 80% of people don't even use their built in NAV much.They just like the look.

It's more a status thing than function thing for most.

Another negative thing about factory NAV is the uipdate disc.I hear through Lexus it'ss over $250.

Garmin a $75 download.

This from another Lexus forum on the Lexus Nav system

"yep the NAV looks nice and all but is very disappointing in its

functionality. Maps are freakin old and the user interface is crap. For

$2000+ extra I would think it would work as good as a garmin or similar

unit."

This from another Lexus forum on the Lexus Nav system

"yep the NAV looks nice and all but is very disappointing in its

functionality. Maps are freakin old and the user interface is crap. For

$2000+ extra I would think it would work as good as a garmin or similar

unit."

Did you post this in the wrong thread?

I ues I did,Tex.