I Love My New Es300

[tonka2711]

I just bought my first Lexus! '98 es300 Diamond Pearl 72,000 miles and runs like new. I've only had her a week but I'm already in love. It's by far the smoothest car I've ever driven. The power far exceeded my expectations.

I was driving an Audi A4. The electrical gremlins got the best of me. I don't have and extra $100.00/hour to take it to a specialist and then have them tell me to take it to the dealer!!!

I replaced the PCV valve, just as a precaution. I need to get it on my hoist this weekend, I've got a slight clunk from the front end, I'm thinking struts. I ordered a new LCD screen from Pioneer, (thanks for all the great posts on replacing that!)

This might sound silly but I can't seem to find the FAQ section. I hate to post for simple questions. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Also any recommended sites for replacement parts? Ex: struts, brake pads and rotors, etc.

This forum has been a wealth of info.

Thanks :D

[gbhrps]

Congratulations on your new ride! My wife loved her first ES in 97, but is even more love struck with her present 04. Lexus sure knows how to make a car. As for parts, keep in mind that many are shared with the Camry, and its usually cheaper to purchase pads, rotors, oil filters, etc., for the same year, whether you get them from Toyota or another source.

[Firewalker]

yes, congrats with your lexus, just last week I had my 2002 ES300 for sale, lots of calls, thought I would sell it and buy a corvette. I took my lexus out for a long drive and you know, there is no way....so I canceled my sales ad, and I have been telling everyone that I sold it! Lexus vehicles are fantastic, I don't want to part with mine just yet, I may just drive her until she finally dies on me....about 400,000 miles from now!

[Lexlogic]

Also any recommended sites for replacement parts? Ex: struts, brake pads and rotors, etc.

This forum has been a wealth of info.

Thanks :D

Here is a link to OEM Lexus Parts Lexus parts

[Toysrme]

well good for you. if the suspension is clunking it's probably sway bar bushings. start there & move on to end-links, strut mounts+struts+springs later on.

the dog bone mount on the engine is probably about time to get replaced too. might wanna pick one of those up...

[R.Holmes]

Add my congrats to your NEW old '98 ES 300 I also have a '98 ES 300, Pearl White which I bought two years ago with 65,000. Now has 135,00 and still runs great. Have little maintainence done except normal maintainence,(tires, oil change, brakes etc.) The only major repair was that I replaced my struts a couple of weeks ago which I think was an error on the mechanic's misdiagnoses. Put new tires on and had a poor ride above 70 MPH. After several re-balancing of the tires, mechanic recommended replacing the struts. Replaced them and had the same problem. (even created a new one) We found out that the tires were improperly balanced. Corrected the balance problem and the car rides like I'm on a cushion of air. Also corrected the problem with the new struts. Addressing your clunking in the front end, I also had that clunk and I was thinking all sorts of things as to the cause of the problem. Thanks to the Lexus Forum and their help, I found the cure. (This was before I replaced the struts) A few squirts of lubricant on the top of the struts mount, (enough to adiquately lub it and get the oil into the mount). Simple but a great fix. This is not saying that you might not have other problems with the suspension. This fixed mine. GOOD LUCK!! and enjoy your Lexus.

See my post on my strut replacement problem.

[OceanView]

Congrats on the new ride.

These cars are fantastic for the money and they will last a long time provided that you take good care of them.

I bought my 98 ES300 new and it has been a very reliable car.

Only a few things that are problematic with these cars but you will find most DIY's on this and other forums.

My car has 234K miles on it now and it still drives like new.

I can't sell mine cause it's not worth much and I don't think there is really any valid reason to sell it.

Just going to drive it till she dies, which might be a long time from now.

Good luck with your ride.