Early last year I took my 1998 ES300 into the dealer for 60,000 mile service. Lo and behold he found additional work that my car needed. Among them was to replace the lower arm bushings for $891. I passed and was informed that failure to do so would lead to other problems. The car makes a cluncking noise sometimes when it drive. I recently had to have the car in the shop and asked them to check the lower arm bushings. I was informed by my independent mechanic that they were fine! What was causing the clucking noise was a broken engine mount and warn out strut. Having both repaired cost me $220 and the noise is gone. I asked my mechanic about the bushings, and he said they were fine.
I hesitate EVER to go back to the Lexus dealer.
