SW03ES

It doesn't work very well. Basically all you do is set the stalk to the AUTO function and increase/decrease the sensitivity, even on maximum sensitivity I have to make the wipers wipe if its just misting/not actively raining. They work great when its raining hard but thats about the only time.

My guess is it'll remain starting around 30k.

Nice, I like it. This car should have MUCh wider appeal than the rather niche oriented and boy racerish IS that we have right now.

That hurts doesn't it? Still hurts me when it happens, I always head right off to my PDR guy and get it fixed the next day... For the scuff use any kind of paint cleaner, something like Meguiars ScratchX will probably work by hand. As for the ding, find yourself a good PDR tech and get it taken out, well worth it as I think dings are horribly ugly on cars, especially dark colored ones.

And I know my dad had to but ball joints on his LS400 at around 80k and an A/C compressor around the same time. People put motor mounts on ES's all the time well well before 360,000 miles. Rear main seals are also very common on the V6 cars. 360k on struts/shocks? No way, thats not even physically possible. I've never seen a strut that lived past 150k with meaningful life left. Scheduled lives are all well and good, but like most other things real live variables will shorten them dramatically. I wouldn't put much stock in most of those numbers as we have real live examples of them being proved wrong all over this site. Look at the pics of Josh's rack and pinion and blake's tie rod ends and ball joints, well before the mileage you posted and unquestionably dead and had been dead for some time.

Car salesmen man, they can be real sharks.

Thats a damn shame that they gave you all that trouble and it didnt match in the end. I've heard that from another member that just had his leather done and unfortunately now he's having issues with the leather coming apart. I feel really bad about that because I reccomend American Stitches all the time. I guess its better to find a used wheel on ebay (they're all over). Looks good though! I like the kit, I'm thinking about getting some kit peices and doing my window switchplates and maybe my overhead console.

You can also upload them to our gallery. If you can't get it to work email them to me at swithrow03@yahoo.com and I'll size them and upload them for you ;)

Who uses dent resistant panels though? Not most manufacturers because there are drawbacks to them. Mercedes just came out with a new paint called ceramiclear which is much more resistant to scratching and to etching from fallout. Seems to be pretty good although its harder to polish out when problems do occur.

Yeah I've never cared for the gauges on the 98-05 GS where the whole background lights up, the normal optitron gauges found on all the other Lexus models where just the numerals and needles light up are much easier to read and better looking if you ask me. The new GS' gauges are better in this respect I think.

jrag- So sorry to hear that happened, glad you're not hurt. Rear engings like that can be nasty business. Basically the way those estimates are working is that each successive shop is using a different method for estimating, some shops will grab you for the low estimate and then find things once they tear the car down and charge you more while some companies will try and make the estimate as thorough as possible to avoid problems with the insurance company when it comes time to pay. The equipment that they have makes a difference too. Don't ALWAYS assume that the shop reccomended by your lexus dealer is going to give you the best work, a lot of times they will (My body shop does work for a Lexus dealer but thats not how I found them) but sometimes that arrangement is just a financial one and the dealer has selected a shop that will pay them the highest referral fee. I say tour the shop, get a good feel for it. Is it clean? Do they let you enter the service area? What kind of cars do they do? Are these independent contacts or do they contract with dealerships to get them (a shop that does lots of BMWs from word of mouth is better than one that does lots of BMWs through referrals from a dealer) inspect some of the cars they've just completed, ask them to point out where the work was done, is it smooth and unnoticable? Do they have sophisticated paint matching systems or do they blend paint to match? When you find the right shop you'll know. Be sure to tell them that you don't have a body shop and if they do good work they'll earn your future business and your referrals to your colleagues. Tell them you are extremely picky (even if you aren't) and wont accept anything but perfection. If its a good shop they should be happy to meet the challenge. One big thing nowadays is the paint matching. MOST shops blend paint across adjacent panels to give the appearance of paint that matches. The truth is paint won't match, even on a brand new car. Think about painting your house, you can't just go buy another can of the same color and paint a portion of a wall, it won't match. Some shops are using expensive paint matching machines that analyze the paint on your car from many angles and lighting conditions and computer tint the new paint so it matches perfectly. This is the way to go but it can increase the cost of painting 2-300% because the machines are very expensive to purchase. Since you're going through insurance take your time and get plenty of estimates. A good shop will also work with you on getting the insurance to cover it. The one main thing is it won't be right the first time, it never is. Let them know that upfront if you have issues you want them to take the car back and fix them before you take delivery. This is a huge PITA I know... Can you post some pictures?

Thats what the smilies are for, to let people know that you're kidding.

It just makes the car seem more responsive. It seems lazy in the normal setting to me.

No, it doesn't improve acceleration times at all, but it does add to the "seat of the pants" feeling and at least IMHO makes the car seem lighter and more responsive to throttle input.

LOL, thats true you never know.

Its not just Lexus, its car paint in general. Bird crap is highly acidic. You'd have to talk to a ornithologist to be sure as to why but birds eat all kinds of things, fruits and berries, environmental fallout etc plus the acids they have inside their bodies to digest those things. It may be 2005 but we can still be killed, scarred, die from the flu, etc why is it so hard to beleive that car paint is susceptible to damage by bird crap? If you clean it off within a few hours you won't have a problem. All kinds of stuff stains car paint like that, its very delicate.

Oh geez. Its a school prank, everybody go clean your dentures or something. What I would have been afraid of is my car getting damaged. :o

Not much more I can add here as these 2 pretty much summed it up. Bird crap is nasty stuff and can etch into the paint in short order. Waxes generally won't help, sealants will but only to a point. I carry around a bottle of QD and a MF towel for cleaning up bird crap the second I see it. That good news is black Lexus paint has no clearcoat and its very soft making it easier to remove things like this.

They why do they continue to sell upgraded power Explorers, Trail Blazers, ML series SUVs, X5s, Jeep Grand Cherokees and the multitudes of other vehicles that have engine upgrades without them going unsold? Just because someone wants more power doesn't make them a boy racer or a child, I think my ES300 is vastly underpowered as is the RX330. Acceleration is "adequate" sure but you can feel the engine strain when you have a full load of passengers, when you're pulling hard to try and pass a truck, when you get up in the speeds towards 80-90MPH and trying to pass someone on the highway the car just doesn't have the power. To a lot of people (including me) part of driving a luxury vehicle is effortless power. Thats one thing I love about the LS, the power is effortless, it does anything you want to to do without even showing any strain where my ES has to work sometimes. Long 7% grade? LS doesn't even downshift the ES has to work for example ESPECIALLY if you have a load. I don't want power for the acceleration or red light racing aspect, I want it for the "effortlessness" it brings to common everyday driving. The ES and the RX aren't effortless in the power department by a long shot.

NOW you're getting there...

No, the dealer just wants you to buy a 330.

LexKid- Thats a new one, I believe its a 300AWD. As for the gauges, they are different than the normal optitron gauges, the facing is a machined alluminum and when the car is off you can faintly make it out in the gauge housing, the numbers and needles aren't illuminated until the vehicle is started.

Electronically Controlled Transmission

VGR- When the previous owner drilled a hole in the exhaust to make it pass emissions, I'd say you can be pretty assured that it wasn't maintained properly LOL. Lookin good! Don't pay people attention that don't understand your desire to restore the car, as long as its your money and you have it, its your decision. Your dad just worries about you.

No the type of gas shouldn't effect the emissions rating...