rjt65

Not too concerned myself. #1 is to prevent you from locking yourself out of the car with the keys in it... I like this... I always try to keep my key si n pockets but have at times left them in the cupholdet than get out and the dang noises start than i realise i am leaving my keys in the car! #2 - the car (my understanding I am sure someone will give u the 100% detail soon here) will operate for 20-30?? seconds than stop... so if someone drove away the car would die on them, without the key FOB. As with all cars take proper precautions leaving or entering the vehicle and you should be fine cheers!

I agree with the last few posters here---if u r spending that much go for new.... with the ul etc.. probably can get a gr8 deal on a new 08....with the economy tanking all are slow... As far as noise my 08 350 with ul pana roof et al... no noise... in addition 07 was the first year of the redesign for this ES line, so on this site it seems that the 07 has a lot more quirky issues than the 08,,, dunno about 09, but remember 07 was the first year of the redesign... So iwould advise 08 or 09 so good luck either way... and welcome to the Lexus club MB! PS whatever you get test everything before accepting it...

As I bought the car I took the maintenance costs into account before I purchased. (Looked at other cars as well)-- so i bought the discounted 3 year plan and extended warranty. the oil chg prices are nutty... Steve: How did you find this mechanic? trying to ggogle for an independent Lexux mechanic in the long island area redirects to mostly lexus dealers and other sites not wanted.. good to have an independent on the side in case something nutty occurs or for after my 3rd year!

dealer check it out yet? should close..was it always liek this or was it hit broken etc.... g'luck

I have no issues with either my former LG 8600 choc flip nor new Choc 3 flip. the BT system works excellent as far as quality, no echo etc....

Would be interested! thanks Gregg!

Following DDOC and others advise i started using FK-425 spray detailer http://fk1usa.com/products-consumer.htm#express it is easy on and really gives a very deep shine to the car. Using it for about 5 months now...gr8 stuff! I always try to wash first if not to dirty ok to quik detail it with spray, but beware for scratching. As I have the soft non clearcoat obsidian (black) I am becoming very anal on scratches--trying to instruct wife and 2 gals how to open and close doors is a task! dang rings! I love Ulitma UPGP, interior guard, and car wash, but the quick detailing spray IMO stunk. I relegated that to getting off birds and bug crap. Worked gr8 for that! ran out when i spilled the dang bottle Love the Sonus fx 2 and 3 Polish, the Sonus interior cockpit cleaner kit and leather conditioner cleaner. Have not tried the spritz spray.... cheers

CCS---- sorry did not get a note seeing this thread updated.... weird....

I lived thru this with my previous new cars...and the cleaning difference is immense! my wife has a Expedition ..uggh... playing onto the fact she is a tank lover suv person.... I am proud to say she only took it once when her truck was in for service.... I will ahve to trust her for a day as i plan to detail my wifes ride in the near future...so i wlll have to trust her.... Take the keys away and hide them! to go from ur clean detailed 350 to a 96 truck .....arggh!

Sorry to hear your issues! What is holding you back from washing yourself? If you want to outsource find a good pro to polish out the scratches and set up some kind of maintenance schedule... good luck!

Someone left a bike in the wrong plac just a little and my door hit it and mine came off 2! I found it in my garage..to put back on you hold the handle out than click it into place.... I might suggest calling service and seeing if yu can get it for free? how old is the car/when did u get it? good luck--I ma unaware of any other place to procure

hey AZ---- someone accidentally stopped their front headlights from moving and I found this out on the inet... when the turn (safety feature the head lites move when u turn) if you fish around under your steering wheel column there is one of 2 buttons hidden under there-one turns this feature on off. Y it is not in the manual, dunno---so if you notice this feature stops working maybe someone hit the button. cheers

First Congrats! I too have a black car, an eS350. Been having my own issues after taking it to a car wash-first month rain every day and huge pollen this spring and I had not yuet cleaned out my garage to get it in. -never will do that again and I had lexus put in my profile at service center to never wash-and I always reenforce when i bring it in! and in the garage now. Found out (at least for my 350 I assume it same with all black Lexus but confirm) than my LEx has no clear coat and Lexus uses soft paint which shines well but scratches easily. mine had a thousand fine surface scratches from that supposed boars hair car wash... ;-( I suggest you get some wine(assume you are 21 +) or some Hot chocolate and read all 23 pages of this thread JGT Lexus started it has so much gr8 info on how to take care aof your Lexus! http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...showtopic=45222 If you look one post below in the detailing section of forum you will see that just this weekend I used a flex machine to buff out the scratches. I got all my info from gr8 experienced guys like detail doc. I suggest a few things that I was told about and have been using for 6 months plus, the links are below as well Put the DWG and UPGP on and you will outshine every other black car on the road! Ultima Paint Guard Plus - sealant apply very little product! as u will not do this (virtually impossible your first time to believe how little u need to put on the applicator) puts on a gr8 shine-in 5 mins or less--needs 12 hours to cure but you can drive around in car after an hour. http://www.autopia-carcare.com/ult-1004-100.html last for months. I do put on each month though, as it takes 5 mins--y not? For the deepest depth shine! - Danase wet Glaze - Put on 2 coats before UPGP (30 mins curing between coat and UPGP) and gloss and smells like grape! DWG – 17$ Danase Wet Glaze http://www.danase.com/daspgl1pi.html (join detailing forums website for discount at danase) Wash - Optimum no rinse - I got this for winter---go to coin op or find way to hose off any big buildup if not to dirty u just get bucket and add this and u do not have to rinse off-wipe off with few MF towels--the towels take off dirt so will get dirty. ~16$ 32 oz http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-no-rinse.html wash - Ultima Paint Guard Wash - Washing soap 20$ autopia.com for use as regular wash---works great prevent scratches by it's lubrication but need hose to rinse--I put this hear because I was told to never use Dish soap or household soap as this will strip sealants wax's off your car--washs like ultima or onr will leave them on. wash - A GRIT bucket - GEt a grit bucket (about 10-20$) has a grid 2 -3 inches off bottom that traps grit at the Bottom of the bucket or use the 2 bucket method to wash. Micro-Fiber (MF) Mitt - I will never use a sponge again the MF mitt is gentler and less worry on trapping things in the sponge that will scratch! that is just the exterior--You should seal up the interior too- Ultima INTERIOR guard plus will help seal the interior from the harsh winter stuff I like to use Sonus Cockpit kit - cleaner and UV protection to clean and protect than seal it with UIGP--- both these are on the Autopia site. For other products and how to's alternative (ie woolite with water to clean leather) read that 23 page link above! congrats Suggest you stay away from using conventional sponge, getMF mitt and a grit bucket, and the only car wash u should ever use is one where you do it and just to use a touchless spray one... with this soft black paint car wash will always swirl mark scratch it...

thanks! DWG 30 minutes to cure and than UPGP. Honestly get the DWG... if u just order that get 2 or more bottles to defray the shipping cost. smells like grape when applying, but after u put it on (I did by hand for few months before getting the flex) it will so increase the depth of the shine..I love this stuff! very easy on and off. cheers

Today (and hey I read the user guide when I bought it cover to cover) I hit my side mirror switch to L from the usual neutral middle and noticed that the mirrors will tilt down when in reverse to help u get in the lines! so I thought to start a thread for the less known tips on Lexus 350's suggest you state the year of your lexus and packages u have as there is differences in the lines. So my 3 tips: 2008 es350 with ultra Lux-ML stereo with Nav 1-) side mirror auto tilt - Place the side mirror adjustment switch off the neutral setting so leave in left setting , when reversing the mirrors will tilt down automatically to let u see the lines u r backing into---they will move up when u go forward--gr8 for parking in reverse like i do when i go into my garage! 2-) how to remove carpet mats - trying to take off from the back is a hassle-so i found by rolling the carpet from the top in a roll, the bottom will easily come off the hooks with no fighting! try it! 3-) headlight tilt switch - Lexus hid the shut-off switch under the steering wheel column so be careful u do not hit it when cleaning etc.. for some reason they chose to leave this out of the manual ;-( Add any more tips trix here! ;)

here are my after pix, my one before shot is to hard to see scratches on..the Danase wet glaze and UPGP, wax etc. really covered em up nice... only at angles and with proper lighting could you see the many many scratches--especially on trunk and the hood... So a bad thing (bringing to carwash) worked out in getting me into doing it myself--now I will clean up my wifes truck and others. and should I get a future scratch..no problem ..cause I ahve the Flex!

Ok I am in love with the Flex. 1st time using and here is a summary of what i did. took me over 6 hours (10-25 mins in eating breaks, some more time waiting for glaze and sealent to cure) Note: After getting my Obsidian(black) Lexus es350 Ultra lux with nav-ML stereo etc at the end april I brought it to a car wash (supposedly boars head brush only -BS) they scratched the hell out of it with shallow surface scratches. using DWG and UPGP, ps21 carnuba wax the scratches were well hidden and the car shined. but to my eye at the right angle i could see them!!! The flex took off 99.999995% (one scratch left in an awkward small area above door handle from kids ring i assumeI will use orange pad to remove in a week or so) of these scratches swirls etc...... And I am happy to say my only hurt is my back, no hand issues with vibrations-which i heard a PC might do--i used flex on 3 passes in total I was trying to capture pix of scratches but the car was to shiny from past apps of dwg and upgp i used a pc shade to cut down reflection and will post pix in the future in my albums... thanks to detail doc and all for the guidance on polishing! Wash: Grid bucket Ultima wash MF mitt--dry with MF der wunder towel Clay: sonus green clay blue magic lubricant (will use the blue clay for wifes truck in a week or 2) Polish: Taped up with 3M tape Sonus SFX2 with LC white pad Flex on setting 6 to polish--2x2 areas with dime size product Merzena TOp inspection to wipe off polish residue Sonus FX3 -Flex on setting 4- with Lake C blue pad Glaze-Seal: DWG - I luv this stuff!!! flex on 3 with LC black pad Ultima PGP - one coat by hand mf applicator Wheels - Z16 by zaino Inside - Vacuumed with metro vac n blo-and used damp MF cloth to clean dash seats etc--plan to use sonus cockpit and ultima interior guard plus on Monday to finish interior

Sonus Cockpit detalers- leather and vinyl protectorant and UV protectorant. Also Ultima interior Guard the Sonus stuff leaves matte finish and keeps my car smelling great like new. I also go over the wood with it. slightly Damp MF cloth for the plastics...

Zaino z-16 ---I used to use armor all for years tried others., Black MAgic, bunch others....... Really Like the Z---more matte finish than ultra wet... lasts better than the armorall IMO

Dont do it! I have Obsidian Black. after picked up in early april I had 3 weeks rain and severe pollen...as my garage was not yet cleaned out i took it to a car wash (supposedly use only boars hair etc) they surface scratched the hell out of it. just took it in for the 5k checkup oil chg and told them no wash! PS - Iam ordering a flex orbital polisher to remove the scratches!

I just upgraded to a LG chocolate 3. But when looking at many options used this link to ensure compatibility. cheers http://lexusbluetooth.letstalk.com/brands/...mp;passedPaIds=

I disagree and speak from experience. A top notch repaint up here approved by insurance cost me (well the insurance paid ) about $1,200-2k on my 99 maxima ...If I remember the last one was in 2002/4 or so... so with inflation ... maybe a little under today but still close to 2K... had it done 2 X to me with the maxima one front and one back..... both other peoples fault----one guy who backed up in the middle of a turning lane and hit me tried to default on the payment---'cause it was so much... too bad for him...he was persuaded to pay... Other person hit my car when parked. cheers Well, thats not really true. A top notch bumper repaint will run you $500...but I think $2700 for the glass roof installed is okay... I bet glass went everywhere...or is that roof laminated like the windshield...I bet it is...

Agree with all above--check out insurance, and $2.7K sounds ok.IMHO. If someone taps a bumper and paint is needed it will cost 2K..... ? is how did u break it? I think all of us wondered about such issues, something fall from garage?

Congrats and good luck JEt!!! :D What colors you get?

Not sure but found this site that may help ya http://www.slickcar.com/accessories/es350_accessories.asp g luck