denslexusgx470

I just purchased a nice and clean 2001 RX300 Silversport and it has a Perma Paint film on it. Owner claims that I don't need to wax it, and I can't even take it to my favorite hand car wash that I patronize. <_< The owner said he would email me what type of soap to wash it with, and also be very careful with the smoked emblems. First of all, are the emblems that sensitive? I read in the manual that even a car cover will scratch or peel the black off the emblems. Secondly does anyone know what type of soap can I use? I know it won't be very long before I wash her for the first time myself. Perma Paint

Never mind. This linkexplains the different suspension that the Silversport has compared to the regular RX models. Also I had checked the tire pressure on the one I test drove and it was loaded to 40psi

Not sure if anyone is online but quick question. Test driving a Silversport right now... did this model have a stiffer suspension? Or could the shocks be bad or just crappy tires (toyo country)..??

The AWD is no big issue with me. I always prefer 2wd since it doesn't snow in my area and it saves me some $$ and gas at the same time. I heard from my Toyota dealerships that 4wd SUV lease returns all get shipped out to Colorado or other snowy areas. Rear spoilers on the 2000-2003 became "standard" in California for some reason even though it's stated in the sticker that it's an option added. Vehicle is sold so it's back to square one. I found a nice and lower mileage RX though (38k miles, 2001) but only catch is it's a couple thousand miles away from me at a Lexus dealership in Colorado

Sit down and figure out the costs. Lenore is right. A new car is nice but it's monthly payments all over again. So if it's a $4000 job (even though you still owe $5000 on the car), calculate the monthly payments of a new car x60 (if it's a 5 yr mortgage), then go from there and decide which will be more reasonable in the long run

I'm also searching around for any 330s if they're in the price range with about the same miles. This is just a tertiary car so it almost feels like an unnecessary luxury on my part since the CR-V is still running awesome with just 62k on the clock. If ever, I just wanted a replacement for the V that has a little more safety features than just two front airbags. When you mentioned "early version" did you mean the whole 1st Gen (99-03) or just the 99-00? 01-03 is the 1.5Gen That's what I was thinking also. They charge 3.5 hrs which means $300 for a 30min job? I'll take a look at the dip stick and also open the oil cap like what Josh mentioned and I'll go from there. If I had a couple thousand $$ to spare I would just get this one 330 with 58k miles which is next door to my Lexus dealership

Josh, I'll try to do that the next time I go in to see if they'll budge in to the price I want. I found a comparable RX on the internet at a different dealership with about 7k miles more than this one (52k miles on the one i found on the internet, the local one only has 45k ) BUT it's fully loaded. Only catch, it's AWD so SW do you think that shouldn't be considered at all??!

The dip stick determines how old the oil is and if this RX supposedly just had an oil change and the oil turns out black, then I guess that shows there's sludge all over the engine. We'll see if I push thru cuz right now the dealer is not giving any deals on this car. It's a base model so idk why the dealer thinks its gonna be a "hot" used car lol

Just don't put a plate on All kidding aside, Sewell or any dealership should have those easily available.

I tried talking to the service adviser if I could have the valve cover removed but they can't because they said it's a 3.5hr job. :chairshot: My Toyota service adviser told me to check the dip stick. If it's black, then that means there's sludge even if it just got an oil change. If it's not, then it should be good and that he hardly ever saw sludge problems with that engine as long as the oil change was religious. Can checking the dip stick be enough peace of mind? Obviously the dealer won't allow a 3.5 hr job to be done just for me to check the valves.

The one I'm looking at is an 01 FWD 300

Which generation had the tranny issue? The 1st Gen RX300 or the 2nd Gen RX330/350?

Ok great. Now I have to check on the car and inspect that. Thanks. I never encountered the problem back then so im totally ignorant on what to look for. I'm starting to get a little discouraged sa this seems like an issue that I might encounter someday even though I'm religious in maintenance.

The RX300 for sale is (with carfax records, don't worry about the odometer issue they're fixing that) here

I am aware of the engine sludge issue in the 3.0L engine around that time. The carfax indicates a religious oil change history but should I still worry about it? I didn't keep my 00 RX300 long enough to encounter any problems (got rid of her at 33k miles). Actuators seem to be a common problem in a lot of vehicles due to age. Then again my 4Runner's driver's door actuator went nuts on me at exactly 3 years of ownership (which is disappointing for a Toyota product). So if I just have the valve cover removed and see that it's clean, that should let me know if it's starting to sludge or not? If I do see some sludging can it be cleaned out or should I walk away from the car?

Ok I will move this to the Rx forum for sure if I don't get enough traffic in this forum. Anyways here's the story. I found a nice used 2001 RX300, with only 45k miles. COMPLETE records at my Lexus dealership and the body hardly has any scratches and it has no dents. Minor belts have been changed, and the tires have been driven approximately about 5-10k miles only (crappy Goodyear Integrity). Here's my question. It's an 01. What are the possible parts that may break in this vehicle due to age? In my 00 CR-V, the radiator almost got me stranded but I caught it before it overheated on me. Would the same thing happen with the RX or does Lexus use a better and more heavy duty radiator? How about engine mounts? Stereo? Electrical? Also is a timing belt and 60k tune-up necessary in the near future??

Dens... I am sure it can be done and made to look good. I would start by finding a new unit that has the features you want. Lol. For NOW my idea is to transfer the Pioneer AVH-P3200BT HU I have in my Honda just so that I can have bluetooth in the car. I was wondering if the space for the LCD readout can be used to put the Pioneer in it. Then again this is all just a plan IF I push through with buying this RX. :whistles:

I am aware that it will take the factory look away but is it possible with the way the interior was designed?

My guess would be that the radio/head unit upgrade with the cd would be no problem, IF you can still get one. That is if you want the oem equipment. You might need some wiring help, i.e., harness, but as you know "dcfish" can help you out the most. I don't think the Bluetooth is even a possibility regardless of what you do re; oem. Don't know about aftermarket. Paul It may be very difficult to get OEM unless I scrap something out of a salvaged or totaled RX in a junk yard and I don't want that since I believe the "bad luck" will be transferred to me. Is it even possible to install anything aftermarket without messing up the center interior look? I know these cars were designed in a way to make owners keep it stock but the cd player, iPod playback, and Bluetooth are my main concern and a brand new RX (if the design will grow on me eventually) is not in my budget at the moment.

Ok I'll keep this posted here for a couple days then I'll move this to the RX300 forum. Anyways I saw a good used RX 300 that's in very good shape but... It's the BASIC RX so it has no cd player. Does anyone have any idea on changing the radio or if I can add a cd player and Bluetooth to the stock radio? It already has that LCD screen in the middle for the radio info, AC, etc. Just trying to canvass ideas. Still unsure if I will end up getting that used RX. Btw its an 01 so I don't know if that would help. I had a 2000 RX300 basic back in the day but sold it to get my current GX because I didn't have enough money back then to maintain both.

I have a 2003 and mine is perfectly fine. Them charging labor sounds decent enough. This is a luxury brand so the maintenance and repair costs are a luxury price too :( I'm contemplating on a new windshield for a small rock chip and Lexus is charging $1700 for an OE windshield which includes the glass, weatherstrips, adhesive, and labor while the aftermarket glass costs only $250 which includes the glass, weatherstrips, adhesive, and labor. Lexus claims that the aftermarket glass doesn't work well with the wiper sensor For instance, the map light console that has the homelink and sunroof controls, it costs about $150 for a Toyota 4Runner while it costs $850 for our GX. The console in the 4Runner is the same as the GX (I compared side to side as I have both cars in the garage) but that price difference is a

The bulbs do loose their intensity after hours of use. If you want to change the bulbs to a brighter one, I would suggest getting an HID kit, preferrably in the 4300K or 5000K which are the whitest temperatures available. Anything higher than that will turn blue and is technically darker in light output.

Ask your parts department how much a new armrest would cost. I presume you probably would have to replace the whole assembly unless you go to your local upholstery shop and see if they can re-upholster the armrest to match the factory leather color.

I actually didn't have time yesterday to have it done. My dad's meeting the glass guy that Fresno Lexus recommended to me this morning so I'll find out later today how it'll turn out. I'll be fine if they just blemish it so that it will make you look harder before you notice it. I don't have high hopes that it will look better because a previous car we used to own had a rock chip that was this size also but it never went away even after I had it repaired with the injection thing. :cries:

Looks good Josh! Wait, Llumar makes a 20% film? I always heard that they only made it in 15% which is slightly darker. I want to make my tint darker even though the tint I have on is already a big *Knock on Wood* I have 5% on the back and two layers on the front sides (50% on top of 35%)