AZ08LexusES

I assume that your BB has a button that starts the voice prompt, correct? If so, while in your car and connected to BT, hit the button and see what happens. My guess is that the voice prompt will play over the speakers and you can say who you want to call. Let us know if that works. My initial experience using the voice recognition on phones over BT headphones was not very good. It worked well not using BT. But that was a couple of years ago and BT and voice recognition have improved a great deal since. I just never used it since that originally bad experience. It would call anybody except the person I was trying to call!

The forgot to plug in something? Take it back...

I seriously doubt that you will have the internet display, but what a great idea! There are some serious technical obstacles to overcome in order to make that work though.

Bluetooth tech has not been totally standardized. Yes it can route calls to the connect system, but transferring phonebook data, call logs, signal strength, etc still have yet to be standardized. Yes, true. But the primary function of most phones that have BT is to route the voice input and output to the connected device. That standard has to exist in order for a phone to have the BT logo on it. And that is what works on the Lexus system. There is also a standard for file transmission and music transmission, but many phones do not have this developed. Also, the Lexus system would have to have the latest BT software version installed and some programming in the head unit (plus a place to store things like music such as a hard drive) to make use of all this. The time will come when you can have music stored on your phone that will play through the speakers with out using wires, and you'll be able to take calls, pausing the music. And the phones, such as PDA phones and smartphones will be better at this (some are already capable of this such as the latest iteration of the Motorola Q). And the iPhone, of course, will do this after all the other ones and claim that they invented it... But one thing will be for sure, the iPhone will be the easiest to use!

BT is a standard for communication that if it has a BT logo then it "should" work per the manufacturer of the device. It may not be on the Lexus list because they have not had a chance to test it to make sure and have an out if it doesn't work. I know that none of the phones that I have had were on that list but they all have worked. Nowadays there are more phones with BT than they can keep up with. I give it a 98% chance that it will work. But if it doesn't work, don't blame me, I said 98%, not 100%...

I had my rear bumper replaced and painted for < $900 by a Lexus certified body shop. The glass, think about how careful you have to be about shipping, handling and installation. And, I am sure the part itself, with motors, and servos, I am sure it is not cheap. Then comes the labor...

Did you get the UL or the Premium Plus package? The UL (ultra Luxury) package comes with the ML (Mark Levinson) system that plays DVDs. The Premiun Plus does not take DVDs. If you want to play videos you would have to buy an iPOD interface and store your videos in the iPOD...

Here's another adapter that can be installed in your car for $159! They also provide a cradle that includes a video output to connect to any monitor you may have... Check it out! Has anybody tried this one? http://www.diceelectronics.com/Merchant/me...ICE_IPOD_TOYOTA

John, just for clarification, you do not have the NAV? How was reassembly? Did the parts just come back together without much tweaking, bending, forcing?

Yeah, let us know how it works, show us pictures etc. I would probably be looking to get two of them but am dreading the installaiton part. I hate it when I take things apart and then they don't quite fit right when I put it back together.

Not all the time, I need to be on a fairly bumpy road, which all roads here happen to be!

The VAIS module can be ourchased from their web site, http://www.vaistech.com/ , the SL2Vi seems to be the one I would want because it would play videos that you may have stored in your iPOD. But seriously, if it didn't cost $350-400 I would have had one already... Now, on the Lexus site for your ES under accessories there is this Toyota part that can be installed for half the price. Still expensive though... Here's the link: http://www.lexus.com/models/ES/accessories...t_for_iPod.html . You can get it for about $200 if you google it, I think the Toyota Parts site, TRDparts4u.com has it. My dealership said they didn't do it and reffered me to the people who do the window tinting (they are auto audio specialists) for them. http://www.trdparts4u.com/PD-PT545-00082.aspx

You take it to the dealer and let them fix it under warranty. They had my car for over a week to fix all the different noises and one of them was like the one you are describing. They did just that, removed the seat and put insulation, plus b-pillars, head liner, dash, etc. It's a lot eassier for them to keep your car when they give you a loaner I know, but it is warranty work that needs to get done by them.

I like the parking sensors, I use them all the time. That, in combination with the rear-view camera works great. As for mechanically, if you have test-driven the 350, you would have noticed the big difference in engine power. That coupled with MPG in the high 20s for highway (I actually get it in the 30s when on the highway) and ULEV II (Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) rating, it is a fairly "green" car. I was considering a 330 myself and thought that these and other features were worth the jump into a new 350.

Just know that people's main headache with the NAV is that it locks out many functions while in motion. Although sometimes it bothers me, most of the time it is a blessing. I find myself doing more than what I should already with what functions are available, I can't imagine if it were "unlocked". And having the passenger doing it while in motion, I would still want to watch what they were doing because I don't think they know how to use it "correctly." It's just that "do this, then do that" type of control I like to have... My wife would have to say to me, "Let me do it, keep your eyes on the road." So, lock her out too! It does compensate that with voice recognition, but some commands are recognized better than others, for instance, if you say "Lower," or "Higher," for the temperature it may understand a different thing every time. But if you say, "Seventy four degress," it gets it every time (whichever temperature you say)! Today I said, "Gas station," or "Nearest gas station," and it worked, so that one I can be confident about. You can also say addresses and it understands them very well. And phone numbers, when doing, "Dial by number," it works extremely well. The dial by name works well too, but you have to record a voice tag for each one. If you say "Home," and you have that programmed in the Nav, it will work and it will direct you home. But, who doesn't know how to get home? I use it when in another city and coming home, it calculates how long it should take me and I try to beat that.

No defects that I know of in the 08 that does not seem to have been fixed from the 07. And so far this year we have not heard of anything new on the 08s, so I really don't know what you should keep an eye out for. Just buy and drive! It's a fun experience!

It could be something different, but since it happens when you apply the brakes it sounds unlikely it would be something else. Take it to the dealership, defective brake pads are not out of the question, but at least they can check if there is a mechanical issue that may have caused premature wear of the breaks. Don't worry about what some people say about their dealerships, most of them will give you the right and complete treatment that you deserve. Give them a chance to win your future business! Plus, this stuff might all be under warranty! After you take it to the dealer, let us know what it was and how the dealer treated you.

I definitely agree with # 3 from nharish, I mentioned NR but it is more like he says, it's cancellation. Echo cancellation is a very likely culprit. Good suggestion, turn the in call volume down before anything else, make sure you are not driving, so there is no other noise and check it out. I know it is hard for some people to get trial phones from the cell phone companies, but if you can get your hands on a different make and model, it will help you elliminate that variable. ES3502007 put the link on how to get to the service screen, but I'd try the volume and the other phone before going that route.

I am assuming that you have confirmed by saying "regardless of the area I am in," that it is the BT and not the cell signal on the phone. So, some people on this site have found that they have been having issues and actually found a way of increasing the sensitivity of the mic in the service menus. Also, I suggest that you make sure your windows are closed and that no air is hitting the mic area, it could be the noise reduction cutting off what it thinks might be unnecessary noise. Also, place the phone somewhere different, something may be causing interference with the BT signal. My money is with the mic NR, so increasing the sensitivity might make it worse, perhaps decreasing it may help... Good luck, and search for a thread on mic volume, or service screen in nav, or something like that. There was something fairly recent. If not, have the dealership check it out. Get the most out of your warranty!

Different tires. The tires on your Passat were probably MXV4+, the tires on your ES are MXV4 S8, the S8s seem to be shorter lived. The tires on your Passat may have been H rated too, the ones on your Lexus are V rated. Michelin has already replaced the S8s with the Primacy MXV4 tire, so soon after their launch I'm sure treadlife is a reason why. People have been complaining about tire wear on these cars forever, they ship with soft rubber quiet tires which are a bummer for tire life. Has nothing to do with the car. Just went to NHTSA's website to view the number of issues against the 07 ES350 and the 08. 08's have 3 and 07's have 30 times as many. The one that scared me was about the "automatic" acceleration (this is not related to the all-weather mats although the dealers insist so or say they were no "codes" that indicated mal-function!). General belief now is the fact that 07 (and afar less number of 08s) have a problem that Lexus chose to hide under the all-weather mat saga. I went back and checked ES models from different years and do not see as many issues (even first-year models). It seems like Toyota really dropped the ball on this one. I'm sorry, I don't understand what you are saying. Are you saying that for 08's there were 3 complaints and the 07's had 90 about the automatic acceleration? And all 93 of these were not an issue with all-weather matts although the dealer denied it by saying that there was no error code in the cars system?

It is great, the ride is fantastic and the same engine as the ES350, plenty of HP with great mileage. I was surprised, as close to a Lexus as can be, and the new ones look great too! My wife is extremely happy! My boss has an 07 Hybrid HL, never heard a single complaint about it. And as you know, when it is running on batteries, you can't hear a thing!

If I were looking to attack you, I would have to know you were there and direct it to you. My first two posts were not directed at anybody personally, yours were directed at me. I said it, last thing I expected was to find an Infiniti owner on this site! If I had not purchased a Lexus I was somewhere between an Infiniti and a Mercedes, I do not have this rivalry where Chevy and Ford people can't even be friends. I have mentioned it before, I think the Infiniti is a fine automobile and would not at all hesitate to own one. I don't see the need to have Steve show you the door or delete your profile, just as Steve said, we are writing about cars and our opinions of them, not about people and their potential lack of sense of humor or ability to grasp intent and/or concepts. BTW, a couple of weeks ago, we got my wife an 08 Toyota Highlander Limited with Nav! Happy to see it on top of the list as well, so far I am loving it! The only downfall is going to the Toyota dealership for service, no loaner, etc..

I may have mis-interpreted your post as having been hostile, tone is not something that can be expressed very well in writing. And, anybody else who reads that post will take the tone as being, if anything, challenging. The facts are obvious, you are the Infiniti owner in a Lexus owner's forum calling one of its members as talking smack. Just like that Giants fan in Texas stadium, he may be kidding but the remark would not be well received. I was not aiming to bash another car brand and actually complemented your G35, one of the nicest looking vehicles on the road. And, had the Infiniti owner not been here, nobody would have taken insult or think there was any bashing going on. I was not making any inferences as to comparing the quality of Fords with Infiniti. I have had Fords and think they have a great line as well. Your laughing out loud "clearly states your opinion of" Ford "as being inferior to" Infiniti. And the rule you imposed upon me to "not bash other vehicles that you do not own," is very hypocritical. And you are right, technically, Infiniti tied for 14th with Ford, so it is not inferior... I will say it again, I was addressing what people have posted in the past about similar rankings saying that quality and reliability were a thing of the past with Toyota/Lexus. Also, the JD Powers is not a survey that gets sent out to you. It takes all the complaints the car owners in the first 3 years have and formulate a value of complaints per 100 vehicles. So you did your job by not taking your car in with a complaint. I have complaints of rattling with my dealership, so I was part of the negative side. I think the ranking is great in giving me confidence that I chose a quality vehicle but that doesn't fix my issues. BTW banker, thanks for the hand holding, it takes a big person to extend oneself in such an unselfish manner. This is not the first time your posts may have come across as rude, always when people speak of that car line that I cannot mention. Oh, let me put at least one :D .

Last thing I expect to find in a forum for Lexus owners is an Infiniti owner. All I was addressing was what people had written in the past about the same and other rankings. It's obvious you don't believe in those rankings, you bought an Infiniti G35, which I agree is a great and beautiful car. BTW, talking smack would be me going to the Infiniti owner's forum and posting something about this ranking. Kind of like going into Texas Stadium in the middle of all the hometown fans wearing NY Giants gear and yelling, "Tony who???" So, what is your purpose here?

Answer to the Infiniti question, 15th, right after Ford... Here is how they ranked: http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ratings/depen...ge-#page-anchor