SpeedRacer959

Yeah, I replaced mine too w/ no problems. Bought a battery from walmart. The remote is made to use your car key to open it the remote case. FYI :)

Here's one of the front: and another... (and I made all the pics smaller for those of "us" on dialup As you can see, they are right on the line of the car. The stock rims stuck in like 1" so these make a huge difference in the front an back look. Oh, and yeah, I think they look alot like the old rims, but just UPSIZED. That's the big reason I bought them. :D

The tires are a little too big. (they rub slightly on the big bumps) They are 255/45ZR17. I'm going to put on 225's on there, but keep the 45 profile for the nicer ride than the rougher 40. Also, I noticed the rear sags on the car a little. It's more noticable now, but I've got new struts coming. I called lexus about the struts...$398 or something like that for struts only; so I found a set at a junkyard off a 1998 w/ 20k miles that are electrically adjustable for only $175 for both, w/ springs. Should take care of the sagging springs in the back and the noise that the struts are making. I feel like I'm turning into a junkyard junkie. :snoooorrrtttt:

Sorry about that, I forget that I'm on DSL, those zip right up. I'll work on making those smaller.

I've been looking for awhile, but finally I got some wheels for the Lexus. What promped me to upgrade was the chrome was pealing off the old rims and slow leaks were annoying. I was shooting for the IS300 17" chrome rims, but I couldn't find any cheap so I found this set for $475 today w/ tires. Rims cost $1599 new and tires are about 60% left. That's my kind of deal! What do you think? Before: After: or click here if the pictures don't come up: http://michalscheck.com/updates.html

I believe that you were in the wrong place at the wrong time too. I don't know what it is, but everytime I buy a car, I get 1-2 rock chips in the window w/in the first month of owning it, then nothing until I sell it a year or two later. It's crazy. I bought my wife a 1995 civic and I thought the window was paper thin. We were test driving it, and I got a chip, then the next night, we drove it to the movies, got another chip! I was like WTF??? I figured by the end of the month, it would look like we were in a hail storm, but we haven't gotten any for 2 years since. ...weird. Oh, and I'm going to put glass coverage on if possible. That's a great idea! FYI ... I have an aftermarket window in my car right now and it blows. Very wavy and distorted. Especially on the passenger side. My wife complains that it makes her sick feeling. I will go w/ a Lexus stock window next if have to replace.

Few questions for the ES owners who have owned different generations. 1. Are there some ES's that just are perfect and some that are problem cars? 2. Did previous generations ES's used to have this much trouble when they were new? I'm curious, because it's starting to appear that Lexus quality is slipping. <_<

Hello, My friend just bought a black 2000 A4 2.8 (FLAWLESS) and had a 1985 CJ7 before it, so he's never had to wash a car before, let alone a black one. What are the tried and true techniques for a black car? I know w/ white and silver cars, just wash it, but the darker colors are trickier, so any help would be much appreciated. Oh, and for those of you who say "go search"... I did. I searched: -black car -car wash black -black paint wash -wash car -etc. ... and didn't come up w/ squat. :chairshot: So if you find posts that were of this topic that I missed please advise in a nice way :P ....THANKS! -Jimi

That is awesome news. I haven't had any problems with my lexus yet, but if I do I'll be sure to use that. Thanks!

I've seen a few posts in here where people are wondering if this can be done. It looks like this guy spent some bucks to upgrade his 1997 ES to the 2001 look. He had to replace the front bumper and rear taillights along with moving the badge off the trunk and onto the taillight. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...9&category=6298 Seems like a lot of money spent to not accomplish a lot though. Oh, and I see he didn't upgrade the wheels??? Aren't those specific to the 1997-1999??? <_< Interesting though, I thought some of you might like this. -Jimi

I did a junkyard search w/ www.car-part.com for you. Try these places below. They are junkyards that have Nakamichi radios from 1998-2000 Lexus ES-300's. Some of them look like they come w/ the CD changer for that price, so you could probably sell it separately on ebay to recoupe some cost. The LCD went out on mine awhile back and I bought a new radio for $100 and replaced my old one....good as new now. -Jimi 2000 Radio Lexus ES300 AN FM,CASS,N017 17437 $450 All Foreign Auto Parts, Inc. - PRP USA-VA(Fredericksburg) E-mail 1-800-533-4091 1998 Radio Lexus ES300 rcver, Nakamichi- 8792 $450 Mitch's Auto USA-MI(Detroit) E-mail 1-800-283-3634 1998 Radio Lexus ES300 rcver, Nakamichi- 9719 $450 Mitch's Auto USA-MI(Detroit) E-mail 1-800-283-3634 1998 Radio Lexus ES300 B8872 $400 Barger Mattson - Boise USA-ID(Boise) E-mail 1-208-853-2002 1998 Radio Lexus ES300 86120-33210 200784 $400 Miami Parts USA-FL(Opa-Locka) E-mail 1-800-644-4788 1999 Radio Lexus ES300 w/cd changer Old ticket:000002 GM336 $250 Foss Auto Greenville - PRP USA-NC(Greenville) E-mail 1-800-446-8564 Let me know how it goes...

Is you transmission a manual or automatic? I was under the impression it is an automatic. In which case it's going to need to be taken out and serviced. You're talking big bucks for that. My guess is $500 minimum to have it repaired. -Jimi

Looks very nice! I especially like the colors! :D

If the car is unlocked w/out the key, when the alarm is set, it will go off. So if someone uses a slim-jim to open your car, picks your lock, or "reaches in", it will go off. To my knowledge this is the only way to set it off. Let me know if you find another way. -Jimi

Probably, knowing lexus, they wouldn't have changed the mounts just to "freshen" the bumper cover. Be careful though, your car will start to look like the ones on eBay where It's got a 2001 front end, 1998 body, and 2001 rear end, etc. :D

I'm definately guilty of using my shirt to spot clean. As for babying, it doesn't need a lot for maintenance, but it does keep a nice coat of wax and gets it's oil changed before the 3k mark. Oh, probably the most spoiling it gets is when I'm on this LOC board spending my time finding new ways to spoild it. :D Future spoilings to come... 17" IS wheels, 1" lowering springs, new struts all around (non-adjustable of course...I'm not rich) I'll just pretend that that "sport or comfort" switch in my car is for the imagination. :whistles:

Your waterpump is probably going out, it would explain the overheating in traffic, but ability still remaining to get home. I just had one replaced in my wife's Civic not to long ago as a preventive measure. It's a wear item that will go bad eventually...shouldn't be more than a couple hundred to fix with labor. (not Lexus labor though of course, then you'de be talking $7420.32 down and $299 a month for 60 months....plus parts cost.) I'm sure others can testify to that. Let me know how much it is to fix when you find out, I'm curious to know. -Jimi

This will probably fix your problem: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...item=2425643557 Only $12 too, that's probably the cheapest think you'll ever buy for your Lexus. :D (aside from the LOC sticker of course.) Good Luck, Jimi

Don't worry, you can find spacers on ebay. They are cheap too. I'll look and post some on here if I find some. -Jimi

I only paid $8k for my car. $2100 difference I know, but still it's two generations newer and will probably last a lot longer.

Well my fav. color/car is whatever has the best perportion of niceness to price...while maintaining a low level of price. This graph will sum it aaaalllll up for everyone:

I now hate you. and your future IS! Better start studying.

Trust me ... failing adjustable struts aren't fun. I'm going to replace the $400 ea. struts w/ normal ones and just disconnect the button. If Lexus builds them like they used to, they should last you up to 119,208 miles then go out. Sell the car now, while you can! :D

I'de like to retract my statement "Porsche Blows" and replace it w/ "Boxster Blows" Common, I've read all the articles, the boxster looks good on paper, but I've driven it...nothing special. B) Aaaand, I'd have to agree w/ bbsal, the Lexus looks way better than the Box.

Tornado things? Sounds like a "rice" part to me. Something that costs money, but adds no benifit whatsoever and may in some time decrease performance. Unless you're talking about turbo, supercharger, or something proven, most parts will make your car slower, less reliable, or less drivable. Leave performance up to the professional Lexus engineers. If you want performance, put 93 octane it in and keep the car maintained well. As I see it, you have two options for modifying a car. 1. All out engine mod where you have a plan and expect to pay big money. 2. Leave the engine as it is. I opt for option 2, as it it much more affordable. of course, I may be wrong and that "tornado thing" might be an inexpensive part that Lexus didn't think about... Oh, and racing a stock Lexus ES is one thing...trying to make it a sports car is another. I would save your money for a down payment on a GS or and IS. Something born to be sporty. again though....just my 2 cents :whistles: