SKM

2008 ES350 Ultra-Lux. Recently my rear sunshade got stuck. Replacement costs approx $1,600 + installation. I didn't have the dealership try to take it apart as yet to determine if it can be repaired. Has anyone else have this issue and resolved? The fuse is good.

I was also thinking about upgrading the wheels! Here are a few questions... 1) Did you purchase the rims from a Lexus dealer? 2) Does this affect the precision of the speedometer? 3) Will changing to this rim & tire configuration void the warranty? Please post some pictures...

I believe that most (if not all) recent model phones with Bluetooth technology should work. I am just not able to send my address book over to the car automatically, so I just add into the car's phone book only the numbers that are frequently dialed. Perhaps you could try connecting with a friend's phone that you may consider purchasing. The settings could always be removed. :)

So... just as I feared, the Lexus hands free system doesn't work with ANY Rogers cell phone in Canada. At least based on responses through this forum. Darn. Hard to believe that could be possible. Hello Appleton, I use an HP iPAQ 6950 on the Rogers network and have had no issues. However, this phone is similar in size to the BlackBerry.

Hmm...stainless steel chrome trim package. Now this sounds a bit classy. Where did you see this? :)

I have notice about a dozen around the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) over the last 6mts. Mine is a 08 Obsidian/Cashmere/UL/spoiler/ML/... B)

Not sure if they are also still offering the feature where the financing interest rate gets reduced by 0.10 for each $1,000 in the down payment. There website still behaves this way in the 'estimate payments' section (button available after selecting options and colour combinations).

That's too bad about the loaner. I purchased my car from an out-of-town dealership and the dealer in town is servicing my vehicle - and providing the loaner. I thought that the loaner car was part of the Lexus ownership service experience...

I used Car Cost Canada at www.carcostcanada.com. I believe that the cost was approx. $40 and you are able to view wholesale prices on up to five different vehicles. I used a Broker that was affiliated with them to complete the purchase as it was the best price I could get. I never did actually meet the Broker in person, we did the deal over the phone and through emails - he was located in Mississauga. The car was delivered via truck from Windsor to my front door. The actual purchase experience was good with the only drawback being that I had to wait 1.5 months to get the vehicle with options I wanted; it was on a vessel to Vancouver, then by rail to Toronto, and this was over the Christmas holidays. You can also join the APA at www.apa.ca. It's the same concept as the above.

I am around the Toronto/Canada area. Can anyone recommend a location, either a store or online that is in my neck-of-the-woods. Also, for cleaning the leather (cashmere/tan) I read in this group to use Woolite that was diluted. I have checked and can only find 'Zero' by Woolite, and I don't think this is what was recommended - is there something else with similar results?

It sounds to me like your issue is more with the dealership than the car... Unfortunately the dealers are all independently owned and Lexus doesn't have much control over the way the dealers are run. I would get my issue dealt with there and then take the car to a different dealer. My dealer is wonderful. They put a very tiny mark in the rear bumper of my car (something most people would not have noticed) the last time it was in and they agreed to take care of it to my satisfaction at my own repair shop. Lexus Canada did respond to an email that I sent yesterday and indicated exactly what you mentioned - that they have no control and that this dealership has a good history. Well, the dealership agreed today to fix their damage to the seats and inspect the nav system next week. Hopefully this bad situation will go away. Update...I received my car back last Friday. 1) The navigation system was the GPS antenna not attached properly (claimed that it was a wire in the harness problem). 2) The calendar not working...this was part of number 1 - the GPS antenna. 3) The seats were repaired. They claimed that the area of leather that was damaged was replaced. This is possible for the driver's seat, however, a closer look at the passenger’s seat indicate that some type of filler was used (I will have to monitor this). I had noticed that the strip of material (I think plastic) between the passenger doors, front and back is not glued down properly; it has become lose. They did not damage this but forgot to complete the repairs, it's related to fit and finish with the manufacturer.

Is the 'servicing' dealer Northwest Lexus in Brampton? I don't want to disclose the servicing dealer as they are attempting to correct the situation (at least I hope that everything gets corrected - and without further damage). As for the NAV system, I am leaning towards the GPS antenna not working, turned on, or connected to the unit based on the response to my posting on the Navigation thread. I have also noticed that the calendar on the NAV is not working. I cannot change or select the days,months, etc.. Perhaps there is a setting to turn on that I have not become familiar with as yet. I will be happy to post the status of the repairs when the car is returned, it goes into the dealer next Wednesday.

Thats a defect in the 2007 ES350 Navigation system. Your dealer will have to order a special navigation DVD for you. Its just a firmware update that will fix the problem. Sorry, forgot to mention, I have a 2008 ES350 so I believe that there may not be a firmware update. A earlier post (today) recommended that I take it back to the dealer and have them fix this as the GPS should start automatically. Am I correct to state that a 'GPS' symbol should be displayed on the screen if it is working?

How can I turn on the GPS receiver for the navigation system, or is this just something that has to be done by the dealership? I believe that it is turned off as I cannot see the GPS symbol on the screen and my position on the map is completely wrong.

It sounds to me like your issue is more with the dealership than the car... Unfortunately the dealers are all independently owned and Lexus doesn't have much control over the way the dealers are run. I would get my issue dealt with there and then take the car to a different dealer. My dealer is wonderful. They put a very tiny mark in the rear bumper of my car (something most people would not have noticed) the last time it was in and they agreed to take care of it to my satisfaction at my own repair shop. Lexus Canada did respond to an email that I sent yesterday and indicated exactly what you mentioned - that they have no control and that this dealership has a good history. Well, the dealership agreed today to fix their damage to the seats and inspect the nav system next week. Hopefully this bad situation will go away.

SKM, What dealership did you buy your ES 350 from? Welcome to the club btw. I should have mentioned that the vehicle was purchased at a different dealership than the one completing the service. My experience with the selling dealership was EXCELLENT - Lexus of Windsor. Today my local dealership called and said that they would repair the damaged seats (I was surprised) and that they will check out the NAV system. Let's see if everything gets set right next week.

To each his/her own experience. I have never been so disappointed with a vehicle and dealership service. My 2008 ES 350, ultra premium package, was delivered on Jan 07, 2008, it felt great. Then it was sent for repairs on Jan 29th where it had spent 8 days at the dealership after the computer/navigation system did not load. There was no access to any features controlled by this unit, most heater controls, stereo, bluetooth, etc.. To add insult onto injury, the vehicle was returned on the eve of Feb 6th, the dealership damaged my leather seats - there were cuts and scrapes to both front seats (the center console had to be removed to replace the unit) that were noticed later that night and the car was returned first thing in the morning when the dealership opened for their inspection. I was told that they would get back to me as to whether the manager would accept responsibility and repair the damage (yes - can you believe this). Now the navigation system cannot seem to position my car correctly on the maps, it becomes out of sync (sometimes placing me in a different city), I have reset my current position following the instruction in the owners manual on several occasions; each time it becomes out of sync again. It's now Feb 10th, and no reply from the dealership on whether they will repair the damage they created - I am sure that they will eventually let me know their decision. Guess what I believe they will say? Touché – The Lexus Experience… ‘Pursue the moment’, ‘The Pursuit of Perfection’