SW03ES

Every nav before 2001 is hard drive based, thats the first generation nav. You CAN update the harddrive but its about $500 due to the labor required. There is no way to update it to the DVD system. The DVD system, the second generation debuted in 2001. The 2004 systems have the third generation DVD nav which is different from the one found in 2001-2003 cars and early 2004 RX330s. The hard drive systems are also limited to how much data they can hold and I believe after next year Lexus is going to stop offering updates because they have no room. The 2003 version of the nav (which all 2004 cars have, the version is a year behind. My Lexus is 2003 and I have the 2002 nav) has 5 million POIs, whereas the 2003 hard drive version only has 1.4 million due to the space limitation. DVD updates are about $280 and they're availiable at www.lexus-parts.com (hard drives are too) and you can do that yourself. I'f expect if you're reasonably tech savy you could do the hard drive system yourself too.

I don't think its that Lexus has slipped really, after reading the report, its just that these other companies have drastically improved. Lincoln, for example, was up 17 points. Another thing is the advent of free maintenance. Everyone is happier with maintenance when they don't have to pay for it, and Lincoln's maintenance is free. BMW and Mercedes though have free maint also and they haven't improved. Eventually Lexus will have to follow suit. I have to make appointments a week in advance, but I always request a loaner car.

Yes, but I wouldn't pay them for the oil. My dealer charges almost $20 a quart for synthetic oil (Mobil one which is about $5.30 a quart in the stores) so thats an extra $100 just for the oil. I always bring my own synthetic oil and they don't have a problem with that.

The muffler should last probably 15 or more years providing you don't live in a really corrosive environment. As for the lifetime brakes I was wondering about that too. The question is what kind of pads they use, generally the longer lasting the pad the harder and louder it is...*-

Lincoln won?!?!?!? Wow, my guess is this comes from the ES transmission concern and new vehicle issues with the RX330 and the GX470. It'll be back up next year.

The power doors debuted in 2001 in the Ultra Luxury package ;)

My guess is this car has 120-150k on it and may not have the wood/HID option. Even so, if its been maintained and is in good working order it should be a great car. Look for a car that has had strut replacement as it will have needed it by now...

Weird, I agree a throttle body cleaning could be the issue...

No, as the problem is UV induced and the paint protection films don't have any UV protection. The paint would just delaminate underneath the film. Just wax them every couple months.

Wax as U Dry works very well, I use it after every wash. It doesn't at all replace waxing, but it makes the car easier to dry and leaves a nice finish. Keeps me from having to quick detail the car after a wash and keeps me from having to clean the outside of the windows. Stay away from gas station carwashes as they're rarely well maintained. Touchless spray washes are fine but can leave waterspotting and use harsh soaps that remove wax coatings. I use them but only in the winter, and only if its *really* cold, otherwise I hand wash the car anyways. Depending on the color of the car you may be able to get away with a good tunnel wash if you keep them from drying it afterwards. I'd be skeptical of anyone that will wash your car for $5-$10. A good hand wash takes at least 30 minutes on a small car, it takes me about 45 on your average sedan. Detailers run their prices anywhere between $30-$70 an hour (I charge $60 an hour usually) I charge $30 for a carwash, which is typical of detailers around here. If a detailer is only charging $10 for a wash he's losing money, or not very skilled.

Wow, even bigger change, and LS to a 3 series... Good luck, keep us posted!

Sorry man, can't ask this here. Carfax is a business and they are very clear that they feel sharing of carfax accounts is theft...

All Lexus have this hesitation and it is 100% normal, its an operating condition of the throttle by wire system. I wouldn't be concerned.

Thats very common on all cars. The best way to keep them nice? Wax them often, more often than the car. I have a 97 Explorer and they always have faded peeling B pillars and d pillars, I waxed mine once every couple months since it was new and mine still look fine.

Look for a thread here "Real 05 Refresh Pics". The 05 gets a slight restyle (new headlights and front bumper, new taillamps and a chrome applique above the license plate, new wood color choices depending on interior color and a new finish to some interior fitments, thats it. Expect a complete refresh in 06 or 07 alongside the Camry.

Your Lexus should have come with a maintenance schedule that outlines the oil change intervals, mine did, as did my father's 98 LS400 and his new 04 LS430. That is what Lexus goes back to if you experience a gelling concern. I haven't heard anything from Lexus as to what you need either, but I do know people and have seen members here try and get Lexus to cover a gelling concern and know that they were asked for oil change reciepts or reciepts for purchased oil if they did it themselves. No reciepts equalled no warranty coverage. As for 5W 30 vs 10W30, Lexus reccomends 5W 30, so I use 5W 30. The dealership uses whatever they got the best deal on in bulk, not what operates the best. I always furnish my own oil anyways.

I like it, very nice work!`

Make sure to get a car with good maintenance records, the ES needs regular oil changes, especially if you get a 97. Welcome to the club!

Yeah you're fine, HIDs very rarely burn out.

I just buffed out a black GS300 (or am in the process of doing, it was too hot to do the vertical surfaces) for an LOC member. Black Lexus paint is very easy to correct because its so soft, and so thick. All the info you need is in the article David posted ;)

No brush is good. Brushes by their very nature are simply too abrasive to be safe for a modern paint finish. Using a brush on your car is one of the worst things you can do to it. I reccomend a high quality sheepskin, chenile, or microfiber wash mitt. We sell several at the Lexuscarcare.com store ;)

Cool! keep us posted!

There will be very few, if any changes to the 05 LS. It will be 2007 before we see a change to this car, it will be exactly as it is until then. 2008 is when I'm buying one, or a late model 2006 if I don't like the restyle. The only thing I know is the laser cruise has switched to a radar system that is supposed to work better and the 18 inch wheels are either standard or availiable without the sport package. I'm sure the 18s will stay the same, the 17s if they're availiable may change depending on customer reaction, I've heard some people don't care for them. Between 01 and 02 they changed the look of the 16 inch wheels for the same reason. Don't worry about service, lexus dealers don't really care where you bought the car, they treat all customers the same. If you can find a car out of state go for it. Interesting you were able to go from your 98 LS400 to a S Type. I looked at the S Types when I was shopping for my ES and it seemed really small inside to me...

I know my dad looked at the 745Li, the S500, the A8 and the Jag XJ...

According to our resident lexus tech JPI who tears these things down regularly synthetic oil will not stop the gelling. The problem is in the design of the engine itself. Only 97-01 ES' are effected.