Navsafe

The axle problem sounds bad and $$$$$. Of late I am starting to have issues with my 2007 ES350 with 125,000 miles. Air Conditioning compressor, rear brakes. Love the car, still rides great with no rattles. However, it could be a money pit. Lexus parts are not cheap. 

Don't want to beat a dead horse but my point is that Lexus should incorporate a premier NAV package that compliments their premier brand badge. Future Lexus buyers deserve a better navigating system then the one now available. My next Lexus will be minus the Nav and I will have one installed by a top rated installer.

Just my 2cents.

Any decision made to preserve the navigation system is a waste. The Lexus ES-350 navigation system in my opinion is poorly designed and highly ineffective. A 250.00 Garmin system can beat it hands down. i asked about the NAV system when I bought the car and was told, "it's a Lexus". If I follow that logic after what I know about the NAV system I would have a poor opinion of this car. However, I like the car. My two biggest gripes are the poor interior lighting especially on the upper console and the worthless NAV system.

Navsafe

The blue tooth phone system, the sound system and the climate control all work through the navigation screen. For a discussion of Garmin vs Lexus, go to my April 4, 2010 post now found on page 6 of this board. After ten months of living with the Lexus Navigation system, my opinion of it has softened somewhat. It's nice to have everything built in and no wires showing that go to the cigarette lighter. If you can afford it, it is probably worth it. I especially like the bluetooth feature and the back up camera.

It's too bad that a company that can build a car as nice at they can will fall short with the navigation unit. I have a Tom-Tom and find it very good. Not perfect but amazingly reliable. I also like the idea of not having wires hanging all over. Still undecided and will have to think on it. I've driven big trucks and had backup cameras on them but the car I test drove was the first time. I liked that also. So we'll have to see. They're offering 1.9% financing until 5 Oct. So if I want to take advantage of that I have to make a decision very soon.

Thanks for the input.

Roger in NJ

Curious to hear what warranty work you are having performed. I have an 07 ES-350 and the only thing I have had done under warranty after 38,000 miles is the key fob batteries replaced. Since my warranty will be up soon what items should I have checked?

I wanted to start this thread to talk about the Lexus premium sound and how people have setup to get a good audio experience.

Please post your concerns, what can be done to get the best possible sound out of it and how you feel about it

What mods/adjustments can be done to make it better.

I did not opt for the ML as the word 'premium' made me think the base itself is good enough for my listening. I ma not an audiophile.

Even though the dealer said its got 8 speakers and all, I did not get a chance to test it thoroughly and i am not so happy with the base sound.

You shouldn't be, the speakers are crap. It is the old adage that more is better rather than a quality speaker. Even the mark Levinson speakers are of poor quality. I am planning on a Dyn Audio speaker complement with Zapco reference or competition amps. The Lexus has a great stage for great sound and with the right audio engineer you may never want to leave your car.

I meant to add that a sub woofer needs to be added and by the way do not even consider Bose. I had Bose in my other car and swapped them out . . . . the difference is unbelievable.

I wanted to start this thread to talk about the Lexus premium sound and how people have setup to get a good audio experience.

Please post your concerns, what can be done to get the best possible sound out of it and how you feel about it

What mods/adjustments can be done to make it better.

I did not opt for the ML as the word 'premium' made me think the base itself is good enough for my listening. I ma not an audiophile.

Even though the dealer said its got 8 speakers and all, I did not get a chance to test it thoroughly and i am not so happy with the base sound.

You shouldn't be, the speakers are crap. It is the old adage that more is better rather than a quality speaker. Even the mark Levinson speakers are of poor quality. I am planning on a Dyn Audio speaker complement with Zapco reference or competition amps. The Lexus has a great stage for great sound and with the right audio engineer you may never want to leave your car.

Has anybody ever saw one of these clear bras that go over the front bumper and lower part of the hood. I have seen the black ones but don't like the way they look, and they leave a mark on the hood. Thanks for the help!!

I have the clear bra on my 2003 Corvette and am going to have it installed on my 2007 Lexus ES-350. A great system if you are careful to pick the right material and have a qualified person install. Make sure you use a good product like 3M's. SOme material blocks UV. Peelit off after a few years and you will have a two tone car. Even with the right product, the installer can make all the difference. It should be applied so that there are no bubbles or dust and unless you look very close you can not tell you even have it. However, this will protect you car from chipped paint. My Vette is extremely susceptible to chipping on the nose. The product has been on since new and after 32,000 miles the paint is perfect. Ask around and look at others work. I have a great guy in the St Louis area. Good Luck. :D

I do not have an answer to your problem because I also am experiencing the same issue. My old phone is a Motorola and my new phone is a Motorola. Interested to hear about a fix to the problem. Sorry I couldn't help but am all ears.

Navsafe

Ok, I posted this message last night - it erroneously got posted twice, I guess that is why they were deleted. Here goes again:

Hi folks,

as I continue to love my lexus experience, there are some small things that I want to see if I can 'tweak' to my satisfaction. To that extent, I'd love to hear ideas on what, if anything can be done, and where I can get these customizations:

a) Has anyone managed to add a little more light inside the lexus? There are times when I can't even see basic things like where my garage opener switch is (since it has no lights etc.). Alternately, can I add some glow-spots (or whatever they are called) on certain areas which I'd like a guidance on when it is dark?

Ideally, I'd like it connected to the car power source

B) I liked the fact that in the trunk of my camry, the provided a small storage space where I could keep bottles, paper towels etc. The lexus es 350 trunk is completely empty - no place to keep rainx bottles etc. If I just keep it lying, it is going to roll around. What innovation can I do in my trunk? Some sort of Organizer? How does one fix it to the trunk?

c) Is it at all possible to add some 'blinker' lights to my side mirrors - whenenver I hit my indicators, those lights should blink. Are there any clipon varieties that look nice ? IF so, where can I get it, and have it installed?

d) What other customizations have you done ?

thanks

I could not agree more and feel the same frustrations with the Lexus ES-350 interior lighting. I am all ears for any modification that can improve the interior lighting. Am all Ears!

Rocketmatt,

Sorry to hear that you have had so many troubles. I have had the ES-3350 for nine months now and though I have had few mechanical problems I do have some design complaints:

- The navigation system is cumbersome to operate and the many times it can not find an address, Took a trip to Chicago and did a sise by side comparison with the Lexus system and my son in laws new Garmin Nueve. The Garmin not only programed faster but never failed to find the location. The Garmin cost 800.00. Going to inquire if Lexus will update the discs, mine act like they are 1970 circa.

- Plastic mud flaps and front wheel well covers are cheap. I live in ST Louis with very little snow and I notice that these faciers are deteriating.

- Interior lighting is poor. Especialy overhead controls. It is very difficult to find the garage door buttons at night.

- The ride is to soft. Drove my buddies 2006 Cadilac SRT. What a great drive! The Lexus is to soft but my wife likes it.

Overall I like the car but if I could convince my wife I would shop for a different brand when this lease is up. My honest opinion.

Navsafe

Dear Newbie,

The ES350 is a nice machine. Adding a Sirius radio can be done but get a a good installar that does fabrication. Do not let the boys at Circuit city or Best Buy hack up your new car. We have a guy here in ST Louis I could recommend but do not know of any where you are.

Good Luck and Enjoy.

PS How is the car in the snow?

I have seen this problem with the ES 350...what dealer are you taking it to???? They should be trying something....like a reflash for the ECM, or I have heard rumors about replacing the valve body....or even the tranny to fix this!!! What ever they do, if they replace the valve body, make sure they reset the memory for the tranny, or the problem may still occur. These kind of dealers that "cannot duplicate problem" give Lexus a bad name....Good Luck...

Thanks M.T., took it in again for the 5000 mile check and the technician experienced the reverse problem. He then drove other ES-350's and said the problem is common to the 350. He suggested an "adequate" warm up time prior to putting car in reverse.

I don't think this is the end of it. Time will tell. Thanks Again, I am all ears.

ES-350 with 4000 miles on it. All these problems are intermittent. First, sometimes, engine surges when decellerating. Foot off the gas and the RPM will surge from 800 to 1800. Applying brakes to come to a stop and the car lurches forward as the RPM increases.

Second, in reverse the RPM surges and you have to apply a lot of brake to stop the car from running away. DANGEROUS!

Third, between third and fourth gear under heavy acceleration the RPM increases rapidly to 6000 RPM with no torque and slow accleration.

Visited dealer twice and they can not duplicate. This is my wife's car and she is afraid to drive it. Any one else experiencing this?

Thanks :( :( :( :(