cduluk

NOOOOO, they're NOT 9006, those websites are incorrect. The fog light bulbs are size H11, and 9006 will not fit (learned this the hard way when changing mine out).

Only because of the price difference, the 1996. $4500 difference is a LOT. The 1996 has updated styling and less "time" wear on parts. 170k miles for a 14yr old Lexus is still better than 70k miles on an 18yr old Lexus. The better price just adds to the better decision.

Well, for the plastic lenses, you can use rubbing compound (which will definitely remove the spots) but you want to avoid getting it on the surrounding painted plastic, as rubbing will make it shiny and remove the paint. So you may want to mask off the areas adjacent to the clear lenses before you rub with rubbing compound. For a compound, i would recommend Meguiar's "Ultimate Compound". Just rub a little on the plastic with a cotton rag. For the plastic sides, i really don't know what to suggest... It appears that whatever that spray is, etched itself to the paint. If alcohol didn't work, i'm not sure what will. If you rub with any types of compounds, you'll just remove the paint. :(

Ohhh good to know. <_<

I know the 04 (possibly 05 and 06) Rx330 had a transmission "jerk" issue, but i believe there was a TSB that could be performed to get rid of the issue. For 2007 they changed the Rx330 to the Rx350 with a bigger engine, improving acceleration somewhat from 0-60 in 7.8 seconds to 7.4 seconds. The 06-08 Rx400h had the same engine and hybrid system with "minimal" changes, all with a 0-60 time of 7.2 seconds (faster than both the Rx330 and Rx350). Personally, i would go with the Rx400h over the Rx330, but compared with the Rx350, it might be a closer competition... All depends on what you want. I think all three are equally reliable, but the hybrid has a smoother and faster transmission. For style, 07-08 for the Rx400h, or 07-09 for the Rx350. 04-06 Rx330 are all identical. For the 2007 year, all were updated with a better nav screen (MUCH needed improvement), and for the 2008 year, all were modified with chrome exterior handles and nicer wheels. 2006 year Rx400h had silver interior trim, but for 07-08 it was updated to wood. I wouldn't even consider the Toyota Highlander... completely different animal. It may be reliable, but isn't built as well as the Lexus'.

Get one used from ebay.. They've got them pretty cheap. All 04-09 Rx330/350/400h use the same one.

Couldn't have said it better! <_<

IMO the CPO program is a joke. You're paying a huge premium for 3 more years of a warranty, on a car that already has more than a year of warranty left. And the "inspections" they talk about always check out OK anyways... You're better off buying a non CPO Lexus, and buying the warranty just as you're about to hit 50k miles (since the warranties begin when you buy them).

I agree, i never noticed any metallic in it either... Next time i see one ill have to look closely.

Modified HS?? I couldn't even imagine.

parts.com has brand new OEM lexus bumpers for about $200-$300 new un-primed. car-parts.com has OEM used parts from junkyards all across the US. Personally, i'd get one from parts.com and have your local body shop paint it (for another $200-$300). New bumpers don't need much prep work, just a little cleaning and adhesion promoter. If you go with a used bumper, you'll need a lot of sanding and primer before your color coats. It may cost more for the body work on a used one than the price of a new bumper.

This has been talked about a million times on here... Try a search, but you're not going to find much on a DIY repair, as it's pretty complicated. Best solution would be to purchase used WORKING needles on ebay and do a swap. The needles are illuminated with a bunch of little tiny SMD's (tiny LED lights) in a row. But, Lexus engineered the wiring incorrectly, so after time they heat up too much and slowly burn out one by one. They heat up so much, that they can literally melt the housings. This is why it's nearly impossible to replace each individually. Only solution is to replace the entire needle.

Hm, not according to PPG. There's brown and green metallic flake added to the black before the clear. The black onyx is a solid black though... It could be that Lexus does it differently from the factory, but for all the body shops that use this paint, they've got metallic and clear.

Be aware that 99% of the "uncut" shells on ebay are aftermarket, NOT original. They're made of cheap plastic and the metal is crap. Look closely and you'll see the poor quality of the plastic shell and how the blades do not have the same grooves.

woah, no doubt 100% that bumper had been (poorly) repainted. This is the classic case of a dealer doing a quick re-clear to get rid of a few scratches before putting it on the lot. Look at the orange peel at the top of the bumper in the reflection! Looks like it was only re-cleared/blended, as the color beneath the pealing is still silver (doesn't look like primer). Most likely whoever re-painted/blended it didn't sand the surface enough before re-spray. Is this peeling only on the passengers side? Most likely, there was damage on the drivers side, and the bumper was color blended from left to right without proper prep on the right side. That bumper will have to be sanded, primed, colored and cleared. Personally i'd just buy a new bumper and have it re-painted, as the body work to get that one prepped will cost more than the price of a new bumper. MAKE sure the dealer you bought it from has this work done.

According to the PPG paint reference guide (used by auto body shops to determine how to paint certain colors) the Lexus "Black Onyx" does NOT have a clearcoat. The other Lexus blacks such as "black sapphire pearl", "Black Opal mica" and "Obsidian" DO have a clearcoat as these have a metallic effect. Until 2007, all of the black Lexus' had the "black onyx" which had no clearcoat. In 2007 some of the Lexus' started using the "obsidian" black, which has clearcoat to protect the metallic pearl... If you look closely at your black, you can determine which black you have. No metallic means you've got the "black onyx". Black with gray/brown pearl means you've got either the "obsidian" or "black opal mica", and black with blue metallic means you've got the "black sapphire" (my favorite).

If you can afford the $100,000+ price tag for the hybrid, go for it! :D I don't own either, but i do have the hybrid Rx400h. I know that the hybrid system in the Rx is exceptional, and would expect the same (if not more) from the LS600h. From what i hear, they're some of the best systems out there.

I hope to God that the seats in the 010 Rx are better than the ones in the 04-09 Rx. The seats in mine are TERRIBLE! At least compared to my previous Rx300 seats (which were great). The only thing appealing (at least to me) about the 2010 Rx is the keyless start system, ventilated seats, heads up display system, and... well, that's it. I'm 21 yo and i don't even use an ipod (unless i'm on vacation and i need to entertain myself on a plane) so the ipod interface doesn't really appeal to me. The Rx400h already has the ability to play 6 MP3 discs, which is MORE than enough for me. If the 010 Rx was in ANY way physically appealing i'd take it over the Rx400h. :D But for those that can live with the physical appearance of the 2010's, i think it's a great car full of GREAT tech.

There's a little room to get the nuts off, just loosen them with a 10mm socket, and hand loosen them from there. And for the rubber gasket, i'm not sure... Can you take a pic? I can compare.

No problem, just make sure not to drop the nuts after they're loosened, as getting them out of the annex of the lower cabin is nearly impossible.

How can you get a smoother acceleration from that of the Rx400h's CVT? The 010 Rx350 is slower, too.

Do you need to remove the lamp on the rear 1/4 panel? Or the ones on the tailgate itself? If the ones on the 1/4 panel, you don't need to remove the black plastic piece on the outside. You need to remove the lamp via 3 10mm nuts from behind. Open the tailgate, and you'll notice behind the lamp there's a panel that needs to be removed. When removed, you'll notice 3 screws sticking out from behind the lamp- just remove the nuts.

check ebay or car-part.com

try rubbing alcohol (very lightly, do not "rub", just "dab").

Changing the bulbs will NOT adjust the height or aim of either lamps- unless the bulbs are presently incorrectly seated.