whofan

Hi, We just brought a kluger and i was wondering the same thing.. I have 2 phone paired to the bluetooth, do we need to manually select our phone each time you get in. I tought it would automatically pick up who is in the car??? The Kluger remembers the last pairing so what I normally do is have the Kluger pairing with my wife's phone as she uses it the most (Mon - Fri) and when I finally get a chance to drive I have to manually change the Kluger to look for and re-establish pairing with my phone. Takes about 10 seconds.... I certainly would like an easier system but this is what we've got.

I am potentially setting myself up for a fall here... but simply must ask the question. If you attach a "nudge bar" shouldn't that protect your car from "nudges" ?? With the 1cm gap I'm thinking that a "nudge" will result in a scratch, dent or both. Are they really just a platform for mounting driving lights? I acknowledge that they add some bling to your ride but idea of adding them to protect from nudges doesn't seem to be a benefit.

Looks good and what a great feeling you get from landing a bargain, well done. I'm curious, what (if anything) is between the rear of the nudge bar and the bumper paint? I'm thinking that the nudge bar would rub against the paint so that if its ever removed you'll have a nasty outline of where it used to be fitted. Or is there some kind of rubber or felt placed in there I can't see?

I realise this is creeping off topic and moving into a tyre discussion, however I'm very interested..... Did you buy the Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza tyres in Australia or import them from the US? What was the cost? If you imported them what was the cost of freight? Wouldn't they be hit with import duty/taxes?

Taka, I suspect the biggest cause of my instability was that my tyres were still inflated to 39psi for highway driving (incidentlly, this was fantastic when doing 100kmph along the M1). I read in your orignal post that you dropped the pressure to 32, I really think that would makde a big difference. Did you have an air compressor to inflate your tyres back up to 39? The track was very dry the day I drove it, most of it felt like driving on marbles and I was in a very heavy vehcile with little grip Can you tell me what the difference(s) is between the original Bridgestones and your US versions? I'm guessing that the originals are made someone other than the US and they're not as good? I'm guessing the tyre's dimensions are the same as 245/55/19?

I just did this same trek a few days ago in my KX-S FWD with balding original Bridgestone tyres inflated to 39psi. It was a little hairy as I think tyres were over inflated, road tread rather than off-road and had little tread left. Most of the journey was done at or under 40kmph. Quite a few of the bends are blind so you need to turn wide so as to avoid the unseen oncoming traffic. No dust inside the cabin, plenty outside, make sure you have the fan set to recycle rather than sucking in that dust! The dash rattle that is normally non-existent on the bitumen was quite evident during this trip. I think I would have preferred to be in an AWD with some chunkier tyres, to take it a little faster, I was driving quite cautiously as I knew I would slip and slide at higher speeds. I took my avatar photo from the old rail trestle bridge a little further down the road. Here's one from the Ada tree car park.

I've just checked my spare and discovered that it's brand new, unused with the tell-tail coloured paint on the tread So this means that the original owner never performed a tyre rotation, somewhat silly methinks. I've got 4 tyres rapidly approaching EOL with just a few mm before the depth wear indicator it met... and a brand new Bridgestone original strapped to the underbody. Has anyone just replaced two tyres for the front? I'm sort of considering buying one more Bridgestone to add to the front, move the current unused spare to the front as well giving me two new Bridgestones... this also allows me to move one of the 34,000km Bridgestones to the spare position and keep one at home as a second spare.... Future tyre rotations would mean front moved between left and right, rear could include rotation of spare and also second "at home spare". Am I kidding myself and I should just prepare for the mega purchase of 4 or 5 newies... or can this strange rotation scheme actually work?

I've taken a shot of the wedge LEDs I used to replace the front parkers. Please note that I had already changed the bulbs as I was taking this shot so the bulbs you see in the packet are NOT the LEDs, these are the incandescent bulbs taken from the Kluger (one blown). I've also taken a couple of photos to show you what the lights look like at night, one with flash one without.

Hey whofan If you want to pay around 148k for an X5 to get all the memory seats and extras you could but believe me it still wouldn't be as smooth a ride as the new Kluger or as quiet. On recently test driving various SUVs for the price the Kluger faired very well and the X5s sound system couldn't go loud enough to drown out the engine noise. Now I know why there were so many second hand X5s on the market when I was looking. Now if you put the BMs styling together with Klugers handling and quietness threw in the memory seats you'd have a kick **** car Like most other people posting message here I really love the Kluger, it's hard to get me out, every excuse for a drive.... however I do thirst for perfection and all I've noted above are those things preventing perfection.... You don't have to look too far to get electronic adjustable leather seats with memory, Mazda 6 comes to mind, yes I know it's not a SUV, also costs a lot less than $148K. Considering there are 8 different adjustments in the Kluger seat, whacking in a memory button (or two) is really only a short stretch. So Ryoncer, in keeping with the message thread, what do you dislike with your new Kluger?

I got them from TireRack. They are pretty fast shipping so I just order 4. Finger cross. Will report. Taka, Surely these have arrived by now, what are they like? Did you get slapped with import/customs duty purchasing these? What was the cost of shipping?

Holmesie, I've only got a few thousand kms left in the original Bridgestone tyres (done 33000km) so I'm doing some research now, just in case.... I don't like making decisions under pressure ;) My brother-in-law works from a tyre retailer and he has suggested the Goodyear HP AW, he said RRP is $525. Of course there would be room to negotiate on this, just thought I'd post the info so others have a "measure" to start from. These tyres are 255/55/19 111V. I've been offered the tyres at a greatly reduced price from RRP but still want to make sure I get the right thing rather than something that is just cheap and opportunistic.... not everything that falls into your lap is a pleasurable experience I've started a spreadsheet. It took me 6 weeks to research the purchase of the Kluger so I'm going to spend some time looking at tyres too. This is a real step up from my previous car, the Commodore had so many options and you could start sub $100 and fly to the moon.... the Kluger is already at the moon and has kept going :o

When I was recently in the middle of my car hunting I had a look at the CX-9, read a lot of internet reviews and saw one at a dealership. The reviews all mentioned how the CX-9 underestimated the fuel consumption in their marketing... in reality it was around 15lt/100km. I directly asked one salesman at the local dealership and he admitted a figure of 17 :o The difference between 12 for Kluger and 15 for CX-9 over a year means the fuel bill difference is quite significant. So not only a more expensive car to purchase but much more expensive to run. I do however like the looks, I think it's quite striking, bold and very contemporary, but what price fashion

Hado, thanks for the reply, I was wondering if you were going to return to the forums, very glad you did. Another follow-up question regarding the microphone if I may... You say that you installed it on the driver's A pillar as sound quality is better, less echo from the speakers. I've not had that reported to me yet from other people I've spoken to using the standard setup. So you have simply disconnected the mic located in the overhead light and fed another mic cable (presumably came with the purchase of your E7548NAVI?) to the A pillar location? Regarding the GPS and maps... you mentioned in your original messages that it took some time to get these working, have you uploaded any updates since your original install? All of the images I've seen (from FlyAudio China and US) show the volume knob on the left hand side as I guess it is being fitted to a US Highlander which is left-hand drive. Did you unit come with the volume knob on the left? Not that this is a "deal breaker" but I imagine it would be a little awkward for the driver to reach for this when ideally it should be closer to the steering wheel.

I bought mine second hand so had no choice in colour. Having said that I'd not buy black again after having an VS Commodore in panther mica (black) for the past 13 years, yes it's a bugger to keep clean and I needed a change of scenery. Our Kluger's colour is Glacier. I wouldn't say I'm thrilled with it but certainly don't dislike it either, the wife likes it and if that was one of the reasons that enabled me to purchase the car, I'm happy too ;) I'd prefer either the dark browny grey (is that the what everyone is referring to as Graphite?) or the hot electric blue which to me looks very Subaru.

Hi Suga400t... All of the reading and research I've done says that when you're unlucky enough to loose or break all of your master keys you're in trouble as the ECU (under the bonnet) will need to be replaced. I would really like to be wrong here as it's an expensive proposition. Just like Holmesie says, I created another message thread just a few days ago becuase I had a good win getting a key duplicated. I was only given one key by the dealership so got that copied (key of ebay) and then reprogrammed by the dealer. I'm pretty sure that when I took the one good master key into the dealer they used that to "copy to clipboard" and then inserted the blank into the same "machine" and "copied from clipboard". I'd visit your local dealer and see what they recommend. Whofan Hi Whofan, Yeah i was preparing myself for the worst, but I think i'll go with the ebay dude on that one. I can get the 2 keys (One with the 2 button case for the remote module and other without; proly have that as a spare) for $30 and with the cutting and shipping it will turn to about $45 odd. I'll transfer the module from my old key to the new and i'm set. Thanks once again. G'day I suspect you're lucky to have a key with the remote built-in? Therefore you can pry it apart and move the module, good one. I must have an older style key (Kluger is late 07 build but current shape) and my key has a moulded head that can't be removed. I can confirm that my ebay purchased and cut key is still going strong after a week

I'm pretty usre this unit supports downloading and displaying of your phone's phonebook, happy to be proven wrong by others (plugnplay?) Have a look at the link here it shows the features: http://www.flyaudio.us/7500-series/53-for-...ander-e7548navi Hi , yes this has been made available for the overseas market but we in Australia will receive in April next Month Regards George Can you shed any light on other new features that may be of interest? Will this update cause a new model number that we should all look out for? Price difference over the existing model?

I'm pretty usre this unit supports downloading and displaying of your phone's phonebook, happy to be proven wrong by others (plugnplay?) Have a look at the link here it shows the features: http://www.flyaudio.us/7500-series/53-for-...ander-e7548navi

I'm sort of doing the same hunt, just not yet applying myself. I sent an email to FlyAudio in China asking for an Australian distributor of their products, they gave me the following details: VMS AUSTRALIA 2/84-90 Lakewood Blvd Braeside Victoria 3195 Tel: 03 9017 5568 Fax: 03 9587 8047 www.vms4x4.com I called them and asked for a retailer/installer near me and they gave the details for Prestiege Sunroofs, I called them and the bloke I spoke to didn't seem to know about the FlyAudio E7548NAVI, he took down my details and said he'd call back, that has not happened, sort of lowers my opinion of this mob. So I'm still hunting. I'd suggest you call the number above tell them you're after a retailer and give them your suburb they'll put you in contact with one or more companies. Just remember that VMS is the importer distributor and not a retailer/installer. I hope that helps. If you find a retailer and you go ahead with the purchase/install I'd be very keen to learn how this went for you.

I noticed this when my wife paired her Nokia 6230 with the Kluger's bluetooth... the pairing worked but there's no signal strength shown on the radio display whereas as my Nokia 6233 pairs AND displays signal strength.

Hi Suga400t... All of the reading and research I've done says that when you're unlucky enough to loose or break all of your master keys you're in trouble as the ECU (under the bonnet) will need to be replaced. I would really like to be wrong here as it's an expensive proposition. Just like Holmesie says, I created another message thread just a few days ago becuase I had a good win getting a key duplicated. I was only given one key by the dealership so got that copied (key of ebay) and then reprogrammed by the dealer. I'm pretty sure that when I took the one good master key into the dealer they used that to "copy to clipboard" and then inserted the blank into the same "machine" and "copied from clipboard". I'd visit your local dealer and see what they recommend. Whofan

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but the Kluger KX-S with 19" rims and standard Bridgestone 245/55/19 tyres shows a speedo that is slightly faster than actual speed? So if your speedo says 60 you're more likely be travelling at 58-59? So you're suggesting that fitting the 255/50/19 Michellin tyres (2% faster) would help bring the speedo back to real world, more closley reporting the actual speed? This would also mean that fitting the 255/55/19 tyres listed in the chart above (1.4% slower) would make the current difference in speedo/actual even worse?

Whofan Did you say you replaced the 'park-lights' (the duller small globes near the headlight globe proper) with LEDs? If so, which ones did you use pls - I'd be interested in doing the same with mine. Also, did you do the same with your rear park/brake light globes? Cheers Roger. G'day yes park lights.... front only. I did this out of necessaity as I noticed one had blown, just after a service too, doh! :o So I went into an Autobarn on the way home from work to perform some essential beer shopping ;) and as I was walking in the store I was greeted by a salesman. He took me immediately to the globe section, looked up and down the carosel (sp?) and coulnd't see them there, I was a little deflated at this... so then he goes behind the counter and pulls a package off the wall hanger and hands them to me. He said these are LEDs and should last longer than the incandescent bulbs. Cost me $9 for the pair. I'll try and take some photos tonight if I remember and post them here, both of the Kluger after install (I'm very happy) and of the packet so you see what to look for on the shelves. I was a little scared that the LEDs would not look great with the existing headlights which are still factory bulbs but to be honest I quite like the contrast in yellow headlights and white parkers....

Hey! That's great info.... the Hancook tyres reducing circumference from the current Bstone tyres even further by almost 2% can't be good for speedo accuracy. Makes me wish I had run into the driver and asked him about them. Will the Kluger actually fit 275 width tyres on existing 19" factory rims? That's way wide.... would look like a bl00dy BMW M5 with tyres that wide B) I'm very curious to know if anyone has fitted the Yoks and noticed any positive effect in correcting speedo accuracy. My Kluger has only just ticked over 33,000km and the factory tyres are close to gawn, I'd say 4-5mm left, I don't have to look hard to see the low ware indicators :(

I couldn't wait for a response any longer so I had a crack.... The result was quite disasterous.... when re-fitting the globes into the socket they fell out and were lying (floating) inside the housing like a fish in a tank with no water I tried poking a long screwdriver into the socket and wiggling it about, sure it moved the bulbs but they were not coming out... I then tried magnetising the screwdriver but the globes were not showing any attraction to that... hmmm then I got some double sided tape and wrapped that around the screwdriver and poked that in.... stuck the globe but it was too awkward to reverse back out of the hole with globe still attached, sheesh! Then a brainstorm I got a straw, one of those bendy ones that seem to impress the kids with the ability to drink around corners. I threaded some cotton up through the straw and taped it to the top leaving a little loop at the top and a length poking out the bottom of the straw. Poke straw in, nudge globe, twist straw, retract cotton, remove straw with globe attached you little beauty. I had saved some face... yes I know, still very embarrassing. When attaching the new LED globes to the housing I used black electrical tape, two winds. I did a 100km round trip today and they're still in there :) I thought I'd share this so that anyone else who's planning this knows to take a little extra care. There was one stage during this ordeal that I thought I'd need to make a trip to the dealership, local garage etc... that would have made a $4 x 2 globe replacement turn into an expensive mistake.

Just wanted to add a thanks for this message thread. When I purchased my Kluger (second hand) it had a Hayman Reece towbar fitted which I was quite happy about. I'd never considered theft until I read this thread. I went to the Caravan and Camping show in Melb last week and bought a Hayman and Reece long hitch lock, they were discounted but I suspect the may have even got the price wrong at the cheackout as I was charged only $21. I took my change and walked briskly to the exit As the hitch lock is not a really tight fit I thought it would move about and make all kinds of racket, this hasn't been the case so pleasantly surprised there. I too like to have the tow ball on even when not towing as a deterant to other ef-knuckles who can't park properly.