amf1932

Basically all Lexus Levinson systems have the same low distortion characteristics. They all use the same high quality loudspeakers. When they design a system for an ES, LS, or whatever they bring in all types of test equipment to make adjustments for that particular vehicle so you get the best, smoothest frequency response possible. You won't get the sound like some aftermarket boom boxs which might appeal to some people, but it will be sound comparable to the best sound systems that you might have in your home.

Keyhole.

I would say a job like this would cost you over $4000.00. I doubt whether a Lexus dealer would even attempt doing this. The Mark Levinson system also uses special speakers, so all these would have to be replaced also. Like SK said, it probably would be better to see if you could trade in your car. It's a pretty massive job!

A full passive alarm will automatically arm itself by just closing the door. Lexus alarms don't work that way. You have to lock the door with either the remote on your key or the lock button on the armrest and than it'll arm itself in about 30 seconds.

The factory alarm is NOT 100% passive. It normally takes about 30 seconds to arm itself after you lock the doors. If you lock the doors and then unlock the doors and you don't open it, it will automatically re-arm itself. I'm not sure whether the operation of this alarm can be changed though. I would contact your dealer and ask them. I told my insurance company that it was a passive alarm so they would give me the discount. ;)

If you read my first post it explains why I posted it.

The tire speed rating "H" or "V" has absolutely nothing to do with balancing a tire. Don't let them con you into that BS story. I think the problem might be the quality of the mechanics who are doing this balancing job.

m2pc, Funny, I thought I asked the exact same question in the post above yours. :chairshot:

My suggestion is to go to a tire shop that has the newest type of wheel balancing equipment. There they'll do what is called, Dynamic balancing of your tires. It's not necessary to go to a Lexus dealer to do this type of job. When you got your new tires didn't the shop that mounted the tires do the wheel balancing? If they did then ask them to recheck the balancing because of this vibration. Any responsible company would be happy to do it.

Are you Sirius?

It's not only the Nav/Lev options package that includes Chrome Wheels.....It's on ALL 6 options packages that Lexus offers for the '04 ES on the East Coast! It looks like Chrome Wheels ain't so special anymore. haha :D P.S. When I went to Lexus.com I put in zip codes from various parts of the USA and the prices for the same packages varied a bit.

Did you also notice on the '02-'03 there's no keyhole in the Right Passenger door either? I wonder whether that's such a good idea in the dead of winter when the door lock is frozen and the battery is dead on your remote key. At least you could have tried opening the passenger door using that keyhole, if only they had one. heeheehee <_<

Ohhh yes......Congratulations on the new car.:) On my previous posts I was just trying to make comparisons between ES's that have different options depending on where you're located. Here are the differences between the East Coast and the West coast. I thought that the top option package included chrome wheels, but I guess it's different in California. Therein lies the difference. East Coast Navigation System/Mark Levinson® Audio Package with Additional Options $5,611.00 - Navigation System/Mark Levinson® Audio Package - High-Intensity Discharge Headlamps (HID) with Rain Sensing Wipers - Heated Front Seats - Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) - Wood and Leather Steering Wheel - All-Season Tires with Chrome Wheels - Power Rear Sun Shade - Preferred Accessory Package (includes Trunk Mat, Cargo Net and Wheel Locks) West Coast Navigation System/Mark Levinson® Audio Package with Additional Options $6,344.00 - Navigation System/Mark Levinson® Audio Package - Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) - High-Intensity Discharge Headlamps (HID) with Rain Sensing Wipers - Heated Front Seats - Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) - Power Adjustable Accelerator and Brake Pedals - Wood and Leather Steering Wheel - Power Rear Sun Shade - Cargo Net - Trunk Mat - Wheel Locks

Personally, I think I could have made a much better deal.:)

It seems that the East Coast does not offer the options of AVS or Adjustable Pedals. The most expensive option package for the East is $5611.00 and $6344.00 for the West.(MSRP) So if you want to get ALL the options that Lexus has to offer, that's where you gotta go. ;) The MSRP w/ALL options in California for a 2004 ES330 is: $38,694.00 The MSRP w/ALL options in New York for a 2004 ES330 is: $37961.00 All this information was taken from Lexus.com website! Actually all you saved off the list price was: $1657.00.

I received this in an email and I thought it was pretty interesting: It seems that car thieves have found another way to steal your car or truck without any effort at all. The car thieves peer through the windshield of your car or truck, write down the VIN number from the label on the dash, go to a local car dealership and request a duplicate key based on the VIN number. The car dealer's parts dept will make a duplicate key from the VIN number and collect payment from the thief who will return to your car. He doesn't have to break in, do any damage to the vehicle, or draw attention to himself. All he has to do is to walk up to your car, insert the key and off he goes to a local chop shop with your vehicle. You don't believe it? It IS that easy To avoid this from happening to you, simply put some tape (electrical tape, duct tape or medical tape) across the VIN label located on the dash board. By law, you cannot remove the VIN number, but you can cover it so it can't be viewed through the windshield by a car thief.

Sometimes all it takes to fix that is to add more refrigerant to the system. I'm not too sure of the lexus systems, but the shutting down of the compressor is a safety feature so it doesn't destroy it when low a low refrigerant situation is sensed.

olezip, I don't mean to mislead you, but the Consumers Reports writeup about oil filters was published years ago. Maybe around 1995. I'm sure there must have been improvements in the other manufacturers products since that time. ;)

Ohhh.....I thought that was a picture of an RX300. Yeah, definitely take it to a pro! I wouldn't want an inexperienced guy to screw around with the wiring on my car. ;)

It sounds like something inside the Catalytic Converter broke loose and when it heats up the expansion of the internal parts stops rattling. I hope I'm wrong for your sake 'cause it's a pretty expensive part.

That depends on what pulley is making the noise. Each of the components that is driven by the belt(s) costs different amounts. I don't know what the costs are but I'm sure that the water pump would cost less than the alternator or the power steering pump. If a bearing is shot on any one of these components it's doubtful that any mechanic in this day and age will disassemble it and replace just a bearing. They'd replace the whole unit. It was a lot different years ago.

Isn't the depth of the Pioneer unit too deep to put it there? The picture is an installation on an RX which I think affords more room than the ES. Just a thought???

After my first 2 dealer free oil changes on my '94 ES I decided to do this service work myself. I remember reading Consumers Reports Magazine when they tested oil filters. The top rated oil filter was the Fram filter. So that's what I used until I traded this car in, in '03. No problems at all using this brand filter for over 9 years.:)

In 2002 when Lexus released their newest generation model they called it, "Electronically Controlled Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i)" This is exactly what they call the '04 transmission. The change in gear ratios(wider ratios) is because of the increased HP. I have a feeling, and I hope that I'm wrong, is the newest transmission will exhibit the same idiosyncrasies as the previous models. Only time will tell. <_<

Corrected link: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/