PA350

For all my cars I use "Girot's Garage". Great catalog of all sorts of high quality car care stuff. Check it out...other than wax, I buy all my products from them.

Other than looking kind of cool...why do people really want to drift? It doesn't help get from Pt A to Pt B. It churns rubber. It's not a great open road practice. Don't even pay for a driving class...just go to a local Auto Cross that has a 1 hour How To session. You'll learn the best and right way to get through a curve. My .02c!!

My parking strategy: * Park out as far as practical (depends on how busy lot is) * End spot * Back in * Put side closest to curb as close as possible to curb Strategy as worked good for last few years. I agree with not using the "two spot" tactic. I've seen people go out of their way to show their displeasure with someone taking 2 spots (as stupid as that is!)

Smooth1...thanks so much. Will do w/8's all around and be able to rotate when I get new tires (current ones diff sizes). Maybe get these puppies to last a few k more. Thanks again.

Thanks and really good point on the spacers....even better point on the rotation capability. Any idea if 9.5's will fit on rear? BTW, since I live in PA I'll take the stock rims and fit 'em w/Blizzaks. I'll put them from Dec 1 - Feb 28...it'll be a nice change of pace and I can do it myself.

TSW Jarama Black Gloss http://www.wheelsnext.com/wheels-tires-pac...ck%20Gloss.html

Question.... I have the 18" upgraded wheels on my 06 350. The factory upgraded wheels are 18 x 8 front and 18 x 8.5 rear (staggered). The wheels I found are 18 x 8 all around. Local tire guys all say the ride and wheels will be no problem and even the current rubber will work. Going larger, say 18 x 9's may cause rubbing. I like the wheels and want to move ahead. But are there any issues? Do I lose anything in performance? Should I get a 1/2" spacer for the rears to push the wheels out close to the well? If so who sells 1/2" spacers. Final monkey wrench. If I go the 18x9.5 on rear only, will they fit w/o rubbing on wheel well? And will my current rubber (255/40) fit? Thanks in advance for help, advice and education... BillT.

How about a "bumper ding...self inflicted". On Saturday I was running errands and in a hurry (mistake 1). I pulled into the the Wawa my nose towards the nose of a pickup truck that was about 6' feet infront. I stopped the car and jumped out...jumped out w/o either putting the car in park or pushing the off button (mistakes 2 & 3). As I shut the door I couldn't imagine why the pickup truck was moving...oh sh*t I was moving. I moved in what felt like ultra-slow motion to open the door and jump in the car. I got the door open, in and pushed the brake milli-seconds after car stopped because the pickup's tow ring was creating a softball size dimple in my front bumper. I waited for the owner and we exchanged numbers....luckily I'm the only one w/damage. Going on Thur for an estimate. What can I say other than, "I am a dumb a**!" :cries:

Girot's Garage Leather care. Great smell and works great.

So...want to hear the end of the story? Went today to pickup my car for my 10k service. Service manager came over to me and told me he would sell me the XM unit and install for $480. Far cry from close to a grand, and a lot more reasonable. Pays to do your homework.

ALL....sorry TITLE is wrong..should say "Dealer XM Story..." Sorry!! Recently I've looked into putting XM into my 06 IS350. From all you great folks, I found I can get the unit for about $270 (Sewell). The accompanying Lexus installation directions seems right, and from all the posts I expect about 2 hours of work. So I went to my local dealer is see what they would charge....I got a number of $998!!!! Some Manager dude told me that they have to run a wire harness all the way from the trunk to the head unit. So, I went back today armed w/all the material from this site and asked the Service Manger "what's the story"? To say the least he was dumbstruck and told me the other guy "was misinformed". He's supposed to call me back w/a more realistic estimate. I can't wait to go back tonight and have a little conversation w/the dealership GM. I haven't had a dealership try to fleece me like this since I was a kid!!

as my 12 y/o daughter says..."Dad, you always park in no man's land"...there's a reason... Anyway I used one of those "dent services" (not mobile, but at my body shop) to repair 3 seperate either door dings or rock dings. All were fixed incredibly. About $100 each time and can't see at all. I even had a dent removed in a rounded edge.

IMO, Extended warranties are not worth the money. My last two cars (Inifniti & Acura) I purchased extended warranties and did not utilize at all. Problems started to occur over 100k on both vehicles. My plan is to keep maintenance up, take care of it inside and out and keep my $$ in the bank. In the end it ends up being a personal decision. I purchased my 06 350 2 months ago and declined the extended, bumper to bumper deal. Good luck in any choice.

Thanks...I grabbed the instructions off Sewell's site and mentions nothing about wiring to the head unit. I was just checking. Thanks...buying it for $280 and doing the install myself seems the way to go. If anyone has any info to the contrary regarding "wiring up to the head unit" please let me know. I'll be doing this in May sometime.

All: I took my car to Thompson Lexus in Doylestown PA today and they told that it would be $999 for XM in an '06 IS350. Something about needing to run wiring from unit in trunk all the way back to head unit and connect. I have'nt heard that before..what gives? Am I getting a bit line of BS??

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Lexus-OEM-I...sspagenameZWDVW

I added the factory XM to my car. Pretty easy to do. I ordered it from Sewell Lexus from their eBay site. It was 20 bucks cheaper than buying it from their online site. A lot cheaper than having the dealer do it. I put the XM antenna on the rear deck up next to the glass. This was the most work. To route the antenna cable correctly I decided to pull out the back seat. I pulled both the back and bottom. It just made it easier to run the cable through the access home already there. The unit works fine with no problem. I am very pleased with its operation. I have had XM for about 4 years now in another vehicle. I love my XM. Norman p.s. My only issue was with the windows after disconneting the battery. Once I learned I needed to re-program the windows all was right in the world again. Thanks! So following the instructions that you can get from Sewell was spot on huh? And no problems w/either reception throuhg the window or the antenna moving around? Also, please send me the window reprogram info. I will order and do this myself. Thanks for the information and experience. Oh...and also I assume the controls are via the factory head unit and all works as if from factory? BillT.

In PA recently: 06 350 w/8500 miles Luxury package and Nav Mint $34,800

Has anyone added the factory XM and installed the shark fin? I assume it requires a small drill hole...do you have to take down the headliner?

just curious, i thought all of the IS that has a nav came WITH mark levinson sound system? No...not the case. I just purchased an 06 350 w/Nav and prem pacakge...no ML. Only missing option I wanted, but w/8500 miles I couldn't pass it up.

In my experience it's not the engine/drive train that will be the issue. It'll be all the other items that will p*ss you off and aren't cheap. Items such as.... Seats (springs, cushions, motors) Electronics (this car is largely electronic) Altenator Starter Calipers Rears Suspension ...

Just purchased an '06 350 w/8,500 miles. Had an Infiniti I30t that was nickel and diming me to death. She had 160k and no payments for 6 years so I'm satisfied. Purchased at "Car Sense", fair price, no major issues yet. Some rattles & creaks, but handling them day by day. Silver w/Grey interior, luxury package w/Nav. Just tinted the windows. Mods to come: * Suspension (front end feels a bit jumpy) * Cat back exhaust * Ram air (maybe?) * K&N air filter Slow but sure... My past and present car list below is a wide array. I like the drive and interior fit & finish on this car. Nice solid quality and materials, leather not German quality but nice. Love having RWD instead of FW with the TL. I loved the TL, but way too much torque steer and skittish in the curves. The Lexus is a bit nicer and classier inside (but smaller). · ’64 Willy Jeep CJ-5 (Brown/Tan) · ’67 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme (White/Black) · ’62 Ford Thunderbird (Turquoise/Turquoise) · ’71 Chevy Caprice Classic (Rust/Black) · ’77 Subaru 2dr something or other (Tan/Tan) · ’79 BMW 733i (Blue/Black) · ’81 BMW 528e (Charcoal/Burgundy) · ’89 Ford Taurus SHO (Red/Grey) · ’91 Chrysler Conquest Turbo (Silver/Burgundy) · ’93 Jeep Grand Cherokee (Green/Grey) · ’97 Infiniti I30t (Gold/Parchment) · ’04 Acura TL (Silver/Ebony) · ’01 Porsche 911 C4 (Black/Black) · ’06 Porsche Cayman S (Lapis Blue/Stone Grey) - still own

After a clean and degrease I initially painted mine black with chrome Lexus ldecals but as the calipers are aluminium I polished the flat section, applied black decals with a couple of coats of clear laquer, which is how they are now. I did mine off the car, but on my previous IS I painted them in situ..just needs more care. See before and after pic. I also have stainless steel braided brake lines. Wow...both look real nice. How did you polish the aluminum? Where did you get decals and any paint mfg you recommend?

Oopps...new owner...'06!

Has only painted their calipers? Is so how did you prep, how did you paint (and what kind) and how did they hold up? Just picked up a used '04 350 w/8500miles. Car looks real nice, but painted calipers would really be fine. My Porsche and TL have them and they look real good. Any experience?