mrbutz1

Before I run afoul of any rules here, may I ask the Moderator(s): can I post for sale our old Lexus here? I plan to list it on eBay and/or Craigslist but thought I would give the offer first to those who've helped me with many questions over the past few years first. If not okay, I won't put it up, thanks.

Fair enough. My experience with this company over 25 years of driving and taking cars there starting when I was 16 with my parents' cars has been nothing but good, spanning franchises in three states and multiple cars. Additionally, unlike at most places, I stand directly next to my car and watch as they drain oil, replace the filter and fill it. That way, as you might imagine, I ensure quality control. On the other hand, the number of times I've been screwed (and found out about it) at small shops...whew. You have valid points, certainly, but my personal experience is what I rely on. Google ANY company and you will find horror stories, as you all know. Ironically, a couple days after I had the oil changed I got a reminder card from the dealership saying my first oil change on my CPO car was on them! For my 65,000 service I WILL be taking it to the dealership. But an oil change, we'll just have to agree to disagree. Welp, turns out 65K service is basically an oil change! ;-)

Fair enough. My experience with this company over 25 years of driving and taking cars there starting when I was 16 with my parents' cars has been nothing but good, spanning franchises in three states and multiple cars. Additionally, unlike at most places, I stand directly next to my car and watch as they drain oil, replace the filter and fill it. That way, as you might imagine, I ensure quality control. On the other hand, the number of times I've been screwed (and found out about it) at small shops...whew. You have valid points, certainly, but my personal experience is what I rely on. Google ANY company and you will find horror stories, as you all know. Ironically, a couple days after I had the oil changed I got a reminder card from the dealership saying my first oil change on my CPO car was on them! For my 65,000 service I WILL be taking it to the dealership. But an oil change, we'll just have to agree to disagree.

It's also funny what people choose to overspend on, isn't it? If you have a Lexus and a BMW, then congratulations, perhaps you don't need to worry about a few bucks. As I mentioned, the savings is much more than just dollars. I live 5 miles from the Jiffy Lube. I live 25 miles from the dealership...in traffic that is 90 minutes each way at least - look where I live. I have to make an appointment with the dealership, I can't just show up when I have a half hour. These are real costs, just not in paper money. But, to each his own. And, the 07 ES has a sealed transmission I believe; Jiffy doesn't work on those and I was referring to actual work on the tranny as an example - but pick any other more complicated procedure than perhaps the most simple, changing oil, not lubing it, for comparison's sake. Cheers.

Cheap, huh? I should pay double for the same oil? Ridiculous. I didn't save the $$ in my bank over many years to buy this car by paying more for things just because one is Jiffy Lube and one is a Lexus dealership. Oooooh. Oil change I would do myself if I had ramps...it's not rocket science! It's not a transmission. Let me give you an example, from when I took the car just a few weeks ago: Service light was on to replace oil...it had been about 5,000 miles since we bought the car which had a fresh change at that time. They drive the car in, take my info (didn't take long as I've been taking our Honda and older Lexus there for 10 years straight with nary an issue), and before I can sit down the "tech" as you called him comes in with the dipstick, shows it to me and says, your oil is crystal clear (I agreed, it was transparent and fully clean) do you still want us to change it? I said yeah, if only so the light goes off and it's been 5,000 miles - clearly they were trying to scam me! He says, okay and ten minutes later my car is vacuumed, tires filled, washer fluid replenished, windows washed and driven out waiting for me - all while I watched from 8 feet away. Even gave me $5 off bringing a new car to their shop. Out the door in 20' from when I pulled up, cost $38, and home 10' later. Yeah, I should have driven the 55 mile round trip to the dealership, paid more for the exact same service, and spent hours of my life. What was I thinking?! Are there bad Jiffy Lubes? Sure. But at least they're a national company with some accountability. An indi shop? A dealership? They, like any business, can be bad too (and regularly are). You pick your poison...I just prefer to pay less for mine - and I have two cars with well over 125,000 miles on them running very well after having been serviced by this company for their lifetimes. If you've got money to burn then go for it. Capitalism provides many choices for the same thing, thankfully, you are free to over-spend!

Okay, that got a giggle out of me. Like I'm going to pay 2x more for the same oil and the same filter at the dealership? Tranny...dealership? Oil...Jiffy Lube. Come on.

Agreed, but do you think the air is drawn from the inside of the cabin or from outside the car? It's gotta be from inside I would think...so installing it with the cotton DOWN and the reinforcements UP is correct. It probably makes no difference but it drives me crazy to not know. Ridiculous. Thanks for the reply.

Don't think that's right. We bought an 07 ES a few months ago. Does not have Nav. Does have BT. The phone buttons on the right front of the steering wheel indicate BT. First car with BT and I have to admit, it's pretty cool but the voice command system bites.

We bought an 07 ES a few months ago. Yes, the light comes on way too soon IMO. Once it comes on I usually have a Range of 0 miles, but I can drive another day to work no problem which is a 30 mile round trip. Basically, once the light comes on I re-fill within a day or so, better to not drain the tank too low. But it comes on ridiculously early when the needle still have a few millimeters to go to E.

Sorry for this surely dumb question, but... Jiffy Lube wanted $40 (!) to replace the cabin air filter in my 07ES. I immediately bought one for $13 made by STP I believe. Replacing it no problem. However, there is no THIS SIDE UP marking on the new filter and one side is the pure cotton and the other is like a reinforcement material over the cotton. I know the air should flow directionally over the cotton part not the backing part. I can't find the answer in the owner's manual... Thus...am I right to assume the air taken in by the ventilation system on Recirculate that passes over the filter comes from the passenger foot well, and NOT the outside of the car body? Meaning...the filter should be installed with the cotton side DOWN and the reinforced side UP (towards the dashboard)? Thanks.

I have a ignition module I'm not using. i'm in florida. For the 1994 ES300? If so, and the mechanic hasn't been able to locate one, I may be interested! I've been out of the country for awhile so just seeing your reply, and thanks for being in touch about it. Will let you know as soon as I reach the shop, thanks again BMan.

Looking for a used igniter/ignition module for a 1994 ES300. Live in Chicago. Mechanic can't seem to find one at the local junk yards. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

The battery isn't that old at all, should not be dead. I'm more worried that the water has shorted out a wire that runs along the right side of the car.

Well after buying a beautiful 2007 ES350 a couple months ago I delayed and delayed getting my 94 ES300 fixed since the new car, well, occupied my time and interest. In the meantime the tiny crack in the sunroof has apparently turned into a bigger crack and I went out to get the car ready to drive to the repair shop and the right rear seat's footwell is full of about 1.5" of water (it's been raining non-stop in Chicago for weeks it seems). The car battery was DEAD...meaning not even enough juice to unlock all four doors when the key is turned to the left twice. I tried to jump with the new Lexus and got just a split second of power until everything went dead again...and I mean FULLY dead, everything. Aside from having it towed to the repair shop (it will not even go into Neutral to be pushed...stuck in Park), is it possible that the water has shorted something out? Right rear footwell, so water under the front passenger seat. Any advice appreciated.

THANK YOU to all who provided opinions. We bought a black '07 ES350 with 59K miles and the full CPO yesterday for a couple grand under blue book. Rides great, beautiful, I'm thrilled. Thanks again everyone.