SW03ES

I've warned you repeatedly Jon to keep your combative attitude to yourself. I sent you a long PM from which I got no response. This thread is closed I have issued a formal warning against your account. Three warnings and banning becomes a possibility. Every thread cannot be turned into your own personal war with Lexus. We know you're upset, we know you're frustrated, we're sick of hearing about it constantly. Continued posting in this manner will result in more warnings.

Woah Woah Woah. Before he calls and raises hell, the dealership says theres no sludging. If thats the case any number of other things could have caused the engine to fail. We dont know what type of oil he uses, filter, how often he changes the oil, or why it happened RIGHT after the oil change. He needs a second opinion first, then if it is sludging it'll make his position that much stronger.

Trust me, the dealership hardly has the be all knowledge on detailing. In fact I dont let the dealership touch my car, took me weeks to buff out all the damage they did when they detailed it before I took delivery. I've seen and heard FAR too many dealership detailing horror stories. Thats another thing, dont EVER let the dealership wash or detail the car. When I get my car serviced I make them sign a paper stating they do not wash the vehicle. As for Simoniz, there are much better products out there. Simoniz and Turltle Wax are in the same arena ;) Couple things I wanted to add. Pick up some GOOD microfiber towels. You can buy them here or at www.pakshak.com get at least one waffle weave towel for drying after you swipe with the CWB. I'm thinking maybe Blackfire or Platium paint protection for your car. Gives you a carnuaba look but a good bit of the polymer protection. Might want to look into Collinite 476 also, check out my posts on it in this forum.

I reccomend Clay Magic or Mothers clay over Meguiars but yes, he should clay. If you're comfortable using a rotary buffer then thats great, lots of different products that should do that job, Meguiars #83 or something from the 3M line. Check out the how tos here and on Autopia (we're partnered with them) to pick whats best for you. If you only wash monthly, then I reccomend something more durable than a carnuaba to protect the paint.

Doesnt the Nav screen have the DTE readout? It does on the GS because it doesnt have the readout anywhere else.

Black is a real pain in the neck, but its gorgeous when its cared for properly. Lexus has most of the bases covered up there but I want to add a couple things: 1. Things you should buy (that Lexus didnt mention, he's right on) a good sheepskin or chanille wash mitt, two 5 gallon buckets. 2. The california duster isn't that bad as long as you're careful with it. I've used it for years and never scratched a car with it. Sometimes you'll get what looks like scratching, but they're actually parafin streaks that wipe off with a QD. 3. Nothing wrong with washing at home. In fact, depending on what type of wax you use the high pressure spray can spray it right off. If you keep the car waxed well, and wash weekly you usually wont encounter anything crusted on so hard that it can't be mostly sprayed off with a garden hose 4. Machine buffing. Since its black and its used it may be worth the $$ to have a good detailer machine buff the surface with a rotary to give you a good starting point. Then you can maintain it by hand or with an orbital polisher. 5. Woolite. Woolite can clean any surface inside the car, headliner, seats, dash, carpet. Just make sure not to soak the headliner or the carpeting. 6. Waxes/sealants I personally feel that carnuabas look best on black, but you have a lot of options here. Best to read around and get some ideas, look through our detailing store, read the how tos. 7. Enjoy it!

Yeah, not good. I use one at a gas station that is just a sit still deal and the wand moves around the car but we have one like that one here too. Nothing dries the car at the one I use but air, its totally self serve.

Again Jon, thats your opinion. Plenty of people (most) on this board get great pleasure out of modifying their vehicles. I'm not one of them, but its their car and whatever makes them enjoy it the most. Does because you dont need, want, or like it doesn't make it junk.

That may be a normal characteristic of the V6, mine doesn't idle steady all of the time when in gear, and its brand new.

I fully agree that its inexcusable, but that doesn't mean that Lexus can do anything about it other than phase it out in their future models. Owners of a $40,000 vehicle should not have to use the throttle like walking on eggshells. Owners of $40,000 Acuras shouldn't have the transmissions leave them stranded either. I'm just saying that the issue with the Lexus isn't nearly what other car owners have to deal with. You can bet Lexus has done a complete analysis of the situation... As for the jerky transmission upshifts, I think you're feeling the computer hold the gear when the engine is cold to help faster warm up the engine. This is totally normal and goes away for me within 3-5 miles when the engine is fully warm. This is a deliberate Toyota characteristic.

Any type of car wash where someone other than you (including machines) touches your car is a definite nono. Was this a touchless wash (only high pressure water) or a full tunnel brushless wash? Touchless washes are fine as long as you dont dry the car without a QD first.

Its not a real drastic change, but the car is significantly stiffer, has more road noise. I wouldnt get them on the LS, but thats me.

Personally, I think this is a rediculous comparison. Might as well compare a Civic and a F150 truck. The two cars are so different they just can't be compared.

If I were you I'd take the money spent on the speed upgrades and put it towards some defensive driving courses for you and your buddy. Glad you two are okay.

Oh no, don't tell me you found out about......the incident (insert spooky music here) :D

I've never heard of the V6 failing unless it had sludged up. I agree, get a second opinion. You say it happened right after the oil change. Dare I suggest that maybe the dealership is responsible and thats why they're behaving this way? Why else would it fail right after the oil change? The sludging is a gradual problem. Have you always had regular oil changes done? Did you do the oil change this time? If so, what brand, viscosity, oil filter did you use?

I think he means upgrade from his 99s red housing to the 01s clear housing. This is a direct bolton replacement. If you can find the lamps somewhere from Lexus, a wrecking yard, whatever they'll bolt right on in place of yours.

I Personally would never buy another VW product, but I realize that my experience is not the norm, and that the majority of people have great experiences with their VWs. I dont know what more Lexus can do. They've extended the warranty on the transmission. Have come out with several reprogrammed ECUs, they put a brand new one in your vehicle. I dont see what else they can do. The V6 has a problem with oil sludging that only happens when customers dont change their oil often enough, yet Lexus STILL extended the warranty on the engine and will pay to have the engine replaced if the customer can come up with evidence that oil had been changed YEARLY (not nearly as often as they say it should be changed) I dont see what more Lexus can do...

I think its meant more for aftermarket style gauges that are illuminated around the rim...

Its standard 5 lug, I think they're 145mm...

dont see how this type of replacement would do anything on the optitron gauges...

I didnt do stuff like that when I was a kid though. I think more and more people get too caught up in the "they're just kids" mentality. If they don't learn whats right and wrong when they're kids then they wont know when they become adults. I firmly believe that if parents dont teach kids these things, society will. That kids just lucky he learned this way as opposed to another much more unpleasant one. Steal the caps off the wrong guy's car and you can wind up dead...

What do you mean you can't change the address for your home? Of course it can be changed... As for disabling the suspension of functions, it can be done but it involves wiring a switch to disable the nav system's speed sensor. You'd have to flip the switch, do the address and flip it back on...

You have to get it down to the right size, I think its 150x150 pixels? I'd resave it as a bitmap it tends to work better.

HAHAHAHAHAHA Thats so mean! Taught him a lesson though. If the parents wont teach him to respect other people's property then society will. HAHAHAHA, good stuff.