bkchig

I have an ES330 04'. The transmission was fixed for this year from the pervious 02-03 models. Other than that, the only problems I've had are with the steering knuckle and a minor dash problem. Both were fixed under my extended warranty. I've put 57K miles and it still runs strong. The paint is known for chipping but most people know that about Toyota and Lexus vehicles.

Hey guys, Actually, my car did not not come factory HID's. I have the premium package (the middle one). Everything but Nav. and HID's. I would like to get a conversion kit for my car...but don't know which type or how hard it would be to install it. The searches I done only really show posts that talk about someone who has them in their cars. I want to know which kits people have and if they are happy with them. Also, how hard it would be to do it yourself. I'm a moderate mechanical incline person. I've only installed my Sirius Sat. radio on my own that's a plug n' play.

Hey guys, I'm looking at getting a HID conversion kit for my es330 04. A few people I know have used kit with their stock OEM housing and have told me that they are not that hard to install them. There are quite a few kits out there...I don't know if it's worth it to pay an extra 150-250 for Phillips or Sylviania. Which ones do you think are worth it and how difficult are they to install? Thanks.

Look at my forum posts...do a search on bkchig. I had pics of my Xact in my car. and also where my ant.

I have the Xact Sirius receiver. I think it's great...even with the FM Mod. Truly, the FM isn't that bad (as long as you're not in a too populated area such as Houston) I'm in Austin and it's fine from SA to WACO...but for some reason...when I take Business trips to Houston I have to re-adjust the settings every 20 miles...there are like 100 different stations there in that town. It's worth the purchase. I had XM...but couldn't stand the programming. I'll put up with the FM MOD for better programming.

Perhaps on a trade in if they are willing to take it. Heck, I wouldn't even trade it in...I would sell it privately to a mechanic or something for parts. If money is the 'only' issue and this car doesn't have any real sentimental value...a used honda accord or toyota camery may be a better choice now (like juan1 said...get a lexus down the road).

I have an 04' with only 7K on it and have the same issue. It's been like that since I bought it. It seem that the fuel gauge "estimator" always reads 286 on it every time I fill up. The estimate gauge is completely off on my car. I've actually go betwen 340-400 miles on one tank. When my Empty light comes on...the fuel estimate gauge usually at zero. Maybe that's what it does...so you don't run out of gas. Of course, I have about another 5 gallons left in the tank.

You bought a CAR from ebay???!!!! I feel bad for you...I truly do...but buying your vehicle (and it seems to be your only car from the email replies) online is not the best thing to do. Did you get screwed...no...I don't think so...you are too trusting. Like in the last few replies..."Buy Beware" is a smart thing to realize if you ever buy things online. Get it fixed and keep the car. total of 8200 bucks spent is not too bad for that year car and the miles on it... If it breaks down again...get rid of it. my two cents

aim the driverside headlight 2-5 degrees lower to avoid blinding oncoming traffic. Most people I know that got their xenons (xenondepot.com is where they got them) do just that.

anybody have an opinion on the setup?

Here is where I put the ant.

So, quite a bit of people I know with Lexus' and Toyotas are all debating on getting the expensive xm intergrated kit (if you have nav.) or a plug-n-play from sirius. Well, I have sirius (also, I don't have the nav system) and the programming is by none...far superior. I had a pnp xm commander in my old VW, but man, the selection was nowhere near the selection from Sirius. I enclosed some pics of my setup that took me a whopping 15 minutes to go from shipped box to the enjoyment of sat. music. Also, I for the same price as the xm convertion kit without a subscription, I got the receiver and 1 years subscription to sirius. Here are the pics.

Well, On my ES330 04', I have a emerg. trunk release on the inside of the trunk door...it's a glow in the dark handle. How do I know??? Trust me...I know!

Wow..didn't think people would actually reply. Let's hear from some more members!!!

I had the sportster for about 2 weeks...now I just purchased the XACT on HSN (use the HSN code " 4101 " for a 20 buck discount). I'm selling my sportster to my friend for cheap. I was debating with another guy on an earlier post between getting the intergrated XM tuner for the Lexus's with Nav and just a PNP Sirius player. I'm all about Sirius because of their variety of music and programming...way better than XM (I had XM first last year). Just take a look at Xact's Stream Jockey and tell me that having a PNP like this...with those options...is better than a static intergrated tuner....It's the size of a palm...and portable. It'll sit in front of the ash tray, head of the shifter. Micro ant. will be stick between the dash and front windshield. It works for my sportster. Let me know what you guys think on the sat. radio race. Not only did I buy the product...I've own shares of it for the last month...bought at 2.23...now it's 3 buck.

Oh yeah...I agree with Trod23...I'm actually single. Why did I pick the ES330...because I'm crazy like that...it's actually my first full-size car (the Jetta VR6 was my first 4 door). Oh...I also tote around clients to lunch meeting about twice a week. It was quite some adventure trying to fit a guy and other backseat passenger that are over 5'10'' in the back seat. the IS is fun...but he's right...the trunk is the size of a small wood crate that you ship fruit in and the back seats are great for golf clubs.

I had the same issue back in early August. They had a IS300 Sports Edition and man was it nice. Fun, nimble, quick, and sporty...and then there was the ES330. Large, comfortable, quiet, and logical for my needs. It Oozed "Responsible!!" Ok, to make this short, I choose the ES330 because in reality...if I really wanted a sports sedan...I would get one that isn't that expensive and that small. It's the size of a VW Jetta VR6 (which was what I traded in for the Lexus), cost as much as an Audi A4, and has had the same body style for the last 4 years. Get the 330 my man...And if you want something sporty that will really be a head-turner, cruise around in a 68' Camaro RS Clone like I do.

Come man...intergrated system over quality of programming??? My plug and play is the size of a pocket pc...in a cradle...and the sportster has a wireless remote...doesn't yours? It sits right in front of the ash tray in the cradle...and the micro ant. is sitting on the dash (stuffed between the front of the dash and the front windshield). Also, I just take it inside and put it in my house cradle without paying another sub. Take a look at the new Xact...it's sold out on HSN. My friend got one...and WOW...has build in head phone jack and a built in lith. battery. My friend just double sticks the micro ant. to the back of the Xact and it works fine when he takes it as a portable...(though the built-in battery doesn't last that long) I'll stop blabbing on about Sirius...try it...and I'm pretty sure you'll switch. Oh, my XM was the Delphi...great PNP...PNP does just fine...(programming is worth the change)

return it...get a plug and play Sirius player and you'll be much happier. I had XM for awhile...heard my friend's Sirius (big 80's fan and I love the Houston Texans...being in Austin, I don't get to hear it or see it when I'm on the road Sundays for work) and man...what a difference. Cancelled my XM, got the sportester and an extra home adapter for 50 bucks... Anyway, this is just my opinion...Listen to both...and you make the decision.

Well...it's not really true. since it's just a coverter and coverts a signal and not amp current from the sub, there really isn't a reason why you couldn't just splice. I did that with my VW and it had a Monsoon system in it...also in my old 300ZX and it had the Bose. I used the orginal headunits for both...but the signal wasn't great. I did what I should of done in the beginning and just changed out the headunit. (First thing you should actually do) I guess if you're that worried about all of this...have it professionally installed. I suggest using an aftermarket headunit (like in above)...since there wouldn't be any real issue with RCA and signal hookup...have them run lines for you for the sub-amp on the way back to the trunk. Again, if you are that worried about installing it yourself or if you're a novice in mobile systems...have a professional install it.

1. yes there is a hole in the firewall to use (rubber bushing near the steering housing (I'm not sure about the 97's)...run power and remote 12V on driver side, RCA's on the passanger side...or switch...as long as they are not on the same side. 2. You can use the relay for the remote 12V ...but most people just "splice" into either the radio 12V power wire or the constant 12V ignition fuse (a bad rig, but it works) 3. you can screw into the back seats I guess...a custom box usually doesn't move...on my 12 inch in my (just traded in for a lexus) VW, I had a custom box and I used blankets and stuffed them between the spaces on each end of the box to hold it in place. 4. Always have the front of the sub facing away from the passengers unless there are no restrictions (such as a back seat). SUV's, front of sub facing the passengers; cars with trunks, magnet facing the passengers; Hatchbacks, sub facing down. Bass is not directional. 5. If you're using the stock headunit, you can use a RCA converter (about 25 bucks for a good one) and splice into both speaker lines...Or just the rear sub (8') line if it has one. I'm not sure if the 97's have one or not. Quality is not the same as going straight from the headunit...but hey...life's a b#tch right?? I hoped this helped...

I won't give you a hard time. If you want mods, just look at the TRD SE '04 Camary. Basically, the 3.3 liter and the exhaust design are the same in the new Camaries and the ES's. There are mods for this engine. Easiest is the ECU ($400+ for a re-flashed chip) then intake-to-catback exhaust. That'll probably give you about 15-20 more hp and 20 lbs of torque. There are companies that do that...just look up the Camary stuff.

260 is on a 16 gallon fill up. Actually, I don't "gun" the throttle at all. It's a brand new car, I bought it with 8 miles on it. Now it has a little over 2000 miles on it. The light comes on at about 260 miles (that's 1/4above the E-line). I can go another about 40 miles until it gets to the "e-line." Now, I do like to go fast. I probably average 85mph on the highway and I'm fast in-and-around town. On the trip-meter, it's always says I average 48 mph. I'm guessing I average about 18.5 mpg. That's not good. What could be the issue?

Hi, I have the same issue. I bought a new es330...now with 2K on it...and I average 300 miles per tank. Now, the 'Empty' light comes on early (way early in my opinion) at 260 miles, but at 300 miles it's below the E-line. I was told it had a 18.5 gallon tank, but everytime I fill up, it's only 16 gallons...that's going from below the E-line to topping it off. Do any of you any idea what's going on??? Also, I drive 50/50 city/highway

Oh...my fault for the miscommunication.