jainla

I've seen power rear sunshades a couple places on the internet; but I don't know if you'd be able to find a place to put the switch. These guys have a couple different sizes: http://www.autoshades.com/miva/merchant.mv...Category_Code=R and this guy is on myspace but it looks easy to install, and the remote is wireless: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseacti...ideoid=20490513 and then there is the old manual solution http://www.autosunshades.net/ I might pick up one of these for my other car since it spends more time on the street now. Rear sunshades seem to be impossible to find in stores these days. Good luck!

Supposedly coming to the LS for 2010. If it does happen it's stupendous. http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...showtopic=55227

Just got back from the Lexus Inspired event. Lexus really knows how to throw a party; i stepped into the room and was immediately offered a glass of champagne. Fantastic! The reason I was there was to drool over the new RX 350/450 but more important to play with it's new Gen 6 Nav system. The product specialist confirmed the system will be coming to the new HS, RX and the LS for 2010. I wouldn't be surprised to see it on most of the Lexus and Toyota models this fall. In a word it's amazing; easy to use and I think at this point the most advanced car infotainment system I've ever seen. The Infiniti music box is probably a close second; the new system in the BMW 7 series might be comparable but I haven't seen it yet. The big upgrades from the Gen 5 system currently in Lexus/Toyota products: Haptic Controller (Remote Touch): The Lexus version of iDrive; this is actually a misnomer as it's much more like a computer mouse. You click between existing buttons on the touch screen; and you hold the enter button and move the controller to scroll the map. It's surprisingly quick to flick through the menu choices as the mouse pointer jumps from button to button with the feedback (you don't have to hit it exactly) and there is an up/down scroll rocker (like a scroll wheel on a mouse). After suffering with iDrive here and there this system is head and shoulders above it and Mercedes Command; it's probably the best out there today next to the standard touch screen. Bluetooth Audio Streaming: Ever since I saw the BT tab in the preview photos for the RX and HS I was wondering about this and it's true. You have to pair your phone (in my case a Blackberry 8300) for the phone portion and then connect to it as a bluetooth player in the audio section(it comes up as Car Multimedia instead of Handsfree in the current system). My phone says the car supports Hands Free unit, AV Remote control and Audio Sink profiles. Then you get play/pause buttons on the screen and the track up/down buttons work on the radio. It went through the contents of whatever playlist I was playing. It didn't show information as to what was playing on the screen; I'm not sure if it would have done better with a different phone but it was surprisingly cool and it sounded great. Bluetooth Telephony: a complete rework from the G4 and G5 systems. It's much easier to add and delete phones as well as select them; and the phone isn't buried in the information screen like it is in the current system. It's also now possible to have a car-initiated download of the phone address book (I don't know if you can make it automatic or not). The Parrot kits claim their similar address book download functionality works with the iPhone so in theory this might work with the G6 nav system; this would be big news for iPhone owners as currently there's no way to send the address book to another device. From what I can tell each phone has a separate address book (when I deleted my phone the address book button greyed out) instead of the 1 or 2 books you were previously limited to. Ipod/USB jack: the product specialist reports that plugging her ipod into the USB port allows her to scroll through the ipod menus as she's driving down the freeway at 70 mph; I didn't have an iPod so I couldn't confirm that. I also don't know if a hard drive or thumb drive plugged into the port would show up like a n MP3 CD but I'm guessing it might work; I don't know if other music players will be supported or not. Natural Voice Command: I'm not sure if the system in the RX has this; I didn't get to test it out that much because of time and noise constraints. But what is nice now is that when you click the voice command button you get a list of possible categories on the Nav screen (Phone, Audio, climate, etc) and then the system will prompt you through the menus. It's a nice touch as I never know exactly what commands the system will respond to and what they won't. The system also has XM Nav/Traffic and I it's HD based so you probably can use it to rip music to like the LS 460/600. All in all it's a very impressive system that provides a major feature upgrade while retaining the ease of use Lexus is famous for. Lexus inspired is having 2 more nights at the Beverly Hilton and I think 2 nights in Chicago; not sure if there is still space but checkut www.lexusinspired.com

I suspect there is voodoo involved somewhere: my dad reports that the turbo-4 Forrester he uses for work guzzles more gas than my LS; which I find amazing. My mother even reports 26+ mpg in her Camry...with the 3.5L V6. I predict that for '10 Toyota will drop it's new Valvematic technology into the LS; giving the LS 460 420+ HP with a 10% FE boost.

I doubt they'll sell the V-6 here. The V8 already gets (for it's class) pretty good fuel economy; and I'm sure they fear a V6 LS might cannibalize GS sales; unless the price drop is small (in which case one could argue spend a little more and go for the V8). The V6 also doesn't have nearly as much torque as the 4.6 (or 4.3) V8s so it's probably going to feel strained moving a 4,200 pound car. In other markets Audi, BMW and Mercedes all have 6 cylinder (and diesel) versions of their large cars but they haven't been sold here for at least 10 years. MB dropped the S430 (which I think is now the 450) from the US market for 2007; and very briefly sold the S350 here at the end of the W210 run (I think it was for like 4-5 months). So I think an LS 350 is probably a lock for Europe; they need it there. Most of those cars are sold primarily because the taxes on large engines are very high in some parts of the world. Japan for years had a huge tax on anything larger than 3 liters which is why it was so rare to see anything larger than that in an Japanese car. In other parts of Asia and Europe the taxes can be as much as half of the MSRP of the car itself; these are partially driven by engine size. Never say never though; the BMW 740Li (with a twin turbo 6) looks very interesting and should gas top $4 a gallon again they might bring it stateside; ditto the Audi V8 diesel. I'm not sure if the S400 hybrid diesel will come to the US or not. I might buy it if I was looking for a new S class. Both BMW and MB have great CDI V-8 diesels in Europe (450+ lb/ft of torque) but we've never seen them here in sedans. I still think a really cool option would be to drop a V-6 hybrid powertrain into the LS and create an LS 400h. It would still get pretty good (if not great) performance and probably see a combined FE rating in the high 20s. Again though query as to if the additional cost of the hybrid powertrain gets you back to the 460. I still think that the cost of fuel for anybody considering a $90k car is immaterial; unless you're a very high mileage driver. I'm far more excited about the Generation 6 Nav system; finally a real ipod jack and possibly A2DP bluetooth streaming.

I don't know if you can update the HDD system with the DVD. I think the dealer has to do it. When I was playing around with the HDD nav system a couple years ago I found a CDDB update option; I'm guessing the dealer can update that at the same time they do the nav.

I completely agree. If I had to do it all over again I'd pick one of the Parrot models with a separate remote control and mount it on the steering wheel; these days I hardly use the display at all (I keep the phone in the cup holder and whip it out to see who's calling). I'm still not sure where I'd put the display though; I like that it can be quickly hidden when I leave the car. Some models now read out the name of who's calling. Very true. The kits are always getting better and BT implementations seem to be more uniform. The latest Blackberry BT implementation (along with I'm sure Parrot firmware updates) solves all the issues I had when the kit first went in. If you can find the wiring diagram you might be able to figure out where the leads for the controls go; unfortunately you'll probably have to splice into the wire behind the dash (if you can find it) as the termination point for most of those phone wires is most likely in the trunk somewhere. Also most Lexus phone systems have a single button for picking up and hanging up calls while most Bluetooth systems have 2 buttons. I don't remember techinfo having anything on the early LS phone installs but somewhere like alldatadiy might; or your library might have a Chilton manual for the LS. 2 of the Parrot kits (and a couple other makes) have RF remotes that can be mounted on or near the steering wheel. Bury also makes some cool touch screen models but I'm not sure who sells them here in the US. Another option is to pick up a Navigation system with the Bluetooth built in; some of those also come with remotes. As for the original phones; I seem them periodically on ebay. This company called Cartel also makes a bluetooth car kit that looks like an original 80's/90's car phone. Very cool but not cheap. http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/29/cartels...-the-car-phone/

I usually fold them in if I've parked in the street. My brother and mom have both had errant cyclists (or who knows what) smash open mirrors in NJ or NY when they've parked their cars there. Periodically I'll fold them in just because; I'm sure operating them every once in a while keeps the mechanics lubricated. Also cleaning the plastic pads between the mirrors and the mounts keeps them moving; you'd be surprised how much yuck accumulates there.

In my digging around I found out that some of the connectors and fasteners are the same; as they are across many car brands (for a while Mercedes had the same knob for headlights and for some seat adjustments; odd). The fuses and bulbs, small consumables like that are likely similar. To my knowledge the LS platform is unique to that car. That caused a big problem during the first recall in 1989 because most of the parts were made exclusively for the LS. However aside from that I doubt there's much similarity with Toyota branded cars in the US; there isn't a car of similar size sold here that would make sense to share parts with. The drivetrain is probably where most of the parts commonality would be; the transmission may be shared with or related to some of the Toyota trucks, and the engine is related to the 4.7L engine in the Tundra/Sequoia. I think the 4.0 and 4.3L engines were sold in one of the Crown Majesta variants in Japan. I've had the chance to drive the last 3 Camry generations and pretty much every Lexus model on the market on the last couple years and in my mind the LS still stands head and shoulders above every Toyota and Lexus product; the interior fitments; the quality of the construction, the quietness and solidity of the ride. It's also made at Tahara which I think now is pretty much restricted to making Lexus cars; also Toyota has more stringent requirements for parts suppliers (number of defects, longevity) for Lexus parts vs. Toyota parts.

You will be too. There's much to learn about these cars; and the people here are great. I put in the Vaistech unit a couple years ago; it's fantastic. Fortunately you don't have to remove the screen to install it; you just have to remove the CD/Tape player part of the radio. The connector you are looking for is in the back center of the tape deck/volume controls part; you'll have to disconnect the existing cable and then connect it to the Vaistech wiring harness. There's not much clearance behind it so make sure it's seated properly before you put it back; you may have to dangle the rest of the connectors underneath it and behind the CD changer. Here's a link to my bluetooth instructions; download part 2 for the disassembly instructions (there are photos). Right underneath the CD player are 2 10mm hexnut bolts; remove those (don't drop them) and then the face of the CD player is held in place by clips; just wiggle it gently and it should pop out as a unit. My '01 has a different glovebox than the 05 does so I was able to wiggle the connector through the stack into the lower glove box which is where I put the box and the ipod itself; I"m not sure where you can put the wire for an 05. When you get it in let us know if the Vaistech automatic "I Agree" works? Mine hasn't worked but there is a new version of the firmware that supposedly makes this feature really more robust; I'm wondering if it's worth the upgrade. Good luck!

I must say if I didn't already have the sunshades I'd be tempted by those curtains. I like the neckpads; Tom's racing also has some that look nice. I have been wanting neck pillows for my rear seats; the Maybach comes with really nice suede cushions but I haven't been able to find anything similar.

Yeah the CC system takes a while to completely reset; something like 5 or 6 minutes; the light will flash the whole time. I too freaked out the first time I disconnected the battery but eventually it stops grinding and air starts blowing again. Also your throttle response might seem a bit more crisp; I think it dumps out the settings for the transmission and fly by wire throttle so the system has to 'relearn' your driving style. Remember the LS (at least the 95+ on models and I bet the LS 430 as well) does not have physical air flaps; instead there are vents etched in mylar and then the whole bit is on rollers; supposedly this makes the system lighter and more compact but I bet it takes forever for all those things to completely cycle through all their settings. No worries! It's hard to know what's going on sometimes when the car is this smart! I think I interrupted it by freaking out and removing the key from the ignition.

There are no clips. They are held in place with a series of 10mm bolts; you have to remove all the wood trim in the center stack to get to them. I know I've seen the instructions here; do a search for install or nav removal and you should be able to find them. You can search for my post on installing the parrot bluetooth for instructions on how to remove the wood trim. Removing the nav screen itself is a huge pain as the top bolts are behind the switches for the climate control temperature settings.

It's most likely the traction control or the VSC kicking in. Are you doing these activities in the rain? Every once in a while if I try to pull out suddenly on a wet surface I can light up the traction control. Are the tires old? Do you feel a reduction in power when the light flashes?

It's possible it could be the sunroof; I've noticed a little bit more noise if I leave the sunshade open vs. leaving it closed. Based on the reviews I've read a little wind noise is normal; also the lack of engine sound and tire noise I think makes what noise there is sound that much louder. I just chalk the lubrication up to maintenance like waxing and changing the oil; if that's what it takes to keep the LS running like a top I'm happy to oblige it. Also cleaning and conditioning the leather is worth the 10 minutes it takes; especially on the steering wheel-- makes a big difference. You'll be amazed how much gunk comes off the wood and the leather when you clean it. i think you will be much happier with the sonus. i tried the silicone spray and wasn't as happy with it. when using the sonus spray i get about 2 good months of creaky-less driving. :) i live in socal and the drier the weather the creakier the windows. i've got it down to a pretty good/quick appplication now. i use a rag w/ sonus around the door panels and on/around the rubber on the door seals. also, i use a foam-wedge-on-a-stick w/ sonus to get up into where the window sits when its up. i really love this car and the creakiness is my only complaint - which i can live with. :) Yes, so far I'm loving my car too. It really makes a huge difference to have it quiet in the cabin. I do notice some wind noise which may simply be that because the car is so quiet, you kind of hear every little pin drop. I guess the 04s may have had a problem with the windshield, but the whooshing in mine seems to come more from around the front driver door. It makes me wonder if that, combined with the creaks from around the seals, may mean it's time to replace the seals. I wonder if anyone has had success there?

I have to agree; the LS series all in is probably the most reliable car on the planet. I think a couple years ago CU said a 9 year old LS was more reliable than a new Mercedes M class; and at the LS460 intro Lexus claims that a 5 year old LS is more reliable than a new S Class or BMW 7 series. I also find the parts and labor costs when you do need something done to be substantially less than MB parts; aside from a couple taillamp bulbs burning out I've had virtually zero problems in the last 3 years. The list of awards these cars have won is staggering; in 2002 AMCI declared the LS430 the "Finest Sedan in America" and this was against the likes of then Bentley and Rolls Royce cars. Check out a more through list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_LS_awards_list. The LS 430 has also beaten the Jag XJ in every comparo test I've read since 2001. The LS is not a sports car; many drivers bemoan the lack of steering feel and soft ride; but in day to day use these issues are more than made up for with it's quietness, friendliness, and exquisite build quality. And while it may not drive like a Corvette you won't be that far behind one at a stoplight; the V8 is surprisingly powerful. I've owned exactly 2 cars since I started driving 19 years ago, I'm about to pay the CA registration fees on both of them next month. The Mercedes just hit 200,000 miles; I have no reason to believe the LS won't join it in a few years.

There is supposedly a secret bluetooth menu somewhere in the G5 navigation system...I think if you search either this forum or the electronics forum you'll find out how to access it.

The Sonus seems to last longer than anything else I've tried..I think the silicone doesn't do as good a job. The Aero 303 is probably just as good. I am so thankful to you guys coz my 05 LS430 developed the same creaking sound and it was so annoying. The cabin used to be so quiet but the sanctuary was lost after rear left door/window seemed to be creaking. I bought some silicone spray yesterday and geneously applied to the door rubber and window seals and the creaking is all gone. I am so :) . Now i wonder was it the door or the window or both. I suspect it was the window. Will see if it develops again and try to narrow it down to door or window. Thanks once again. Hi all, I just bought an '05 LS 430 and notice that when the car is dry, there is some pretty noticeable popping and creaking coming from around the doors and/or windows. Based on what I read here, I shot the door seals with a dry silicone lubricant last night. It helped some but not completely. I'm going to try the window seals and frames tonight. I'm glad I'm not the only one with this problem. Does the Sonus Total Eclipse really help more than anything else? If so, I'll pick up a bottle. Thanks for your input. P.S. I just drove the car around at lunch and tried lowering the windows a tiny bit and that indeed made the noise go away almost entirely. So I suspect the rubber window seals. This seems to be what other people are finding, too. What an annoyance.

Yes I too have noticed that the prices for used LS's (and Lexus in general) seem to be the best from dealers; even Lexus dealers! Lex of SM had a couple CPO cars for around $30k; this was unheard of when I bought my LS a couple years ago. There were a couple minor problems with the '01 LS (groaning steering column, trunk striker plate adjustment, noisy windshield gasket) but nothing serious; my car is a late '01 model and had the steering column and striker plate issues resolved under warranty. I've had no serious problems in the 3 years I've owned it. The engine and transmission at this point I believe to be no only bulletproof but grenade resistant provided maintenance (timing belt) is provided in a timely manner. It's worth mentioning that the LS430 design is an evolution of the design that stretches back all the way to the original LS; it's supposedly 90% changed from the '00 which was 75% changed from the original design; so I bet there is a fair amount of intellectual carryover. The LS 460 however is an entirely clean sheet design and this seems to explain the multitude of TSBs that are out for it; I'm not sure I would buy a first year 460 unless the price was really compelling. That all said the '04+ has some nice features (back up camera, bluetooth, smartaccess) that might make it worth spending the extra bucks; and some people are more partial to the styling. Good luck let us know what you end up with!

The Lexus Link system has a separate amplifier so your main amp could be dead and the "Your Lexus Link system is not active" message could still be heard. There could be something awry in the Lexus system that is not releasing the muting signal properly; you can disconnect it if you remove the right side floorboard in the trunk; you'll see a white connector that's zip tied to the floor with another one next to it. Disconnecting the connectors would tell you if the LL system is muting your amp. The Amp itself is on the right side of the trunk behind the liner. If you need to replace the amp check out fleabay; also there is someone here (DCFISH) I think who can source replacement components.

You can try lubricating the rubber pad underneath the mirrors; every once in a while it seems it gets clogged with yuck. I blast it with the Sonus spray and all kinds of nast comes out of it...then let it sit overnight and the next day it seems to be ok. Also it it's stuck have someone hit the mirror switch and GENTLY assist the motor as it tries to put the mirror back into position. So far I've had to do it twice in the last 3 years; maybe it dries out and restricts the mirror movement? I can't see any gaps or any other way to get in to lubricate the gears or whatnot. I've seen a bunch of mirrors on ebay and that seems to be the way to go; the mirror part itself is about $700 from the dealer.

Not that i know of, but if the lights might be burning out; replacing them might fix you problem.

http://vaistech.com/vml.php Saw this on the Vaistech site yesterday; you can optionally order a HD and I think it loads files from a usb drive. MP3s and WAVs only unfortunately but it might work for you.

Saw this on the Vaistech site yesterday: http://vaistech.com/vml.php basically lets you plug a USB HD, thumb drive, iPod etc into the stereo system and play it as a CD or MD changer (like their other components). There is also an internal HD option; I think you can copy from the thumbdrive onto the HD. I'm happy with the ipod solution I have but I know some people have been asking about this....well here it is!

Is it continuous or just when the AC turns on? I had a problem like this when the AC would turn off or on there was a musty smell for a couple minutes; and this was during a hot and humid (for us) summer. It's the HVAC condensate drain pipe most likely; it gets full of nast and then the water backs up and won't drain properly; I've heard of this problem happening on other toyotas. Usually I just run the CC system with the AC off for the last 5 minutes of my drive and the problem hasn't recurred; but if you want to dig around on this forum you'll find instructions for finding the pipe (it's on the firewall on the passenger side I think) and how to clean it. There is also a cleaning kit available from Toyota; I think it has some kind of disinfectant to kill the bacteria that lives up in there.