BAY AREA is' owner
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: ca
BAY AREA is' owner
Hi,
I am new to the lexus is 350. I would like to change my xenon bulb and do window tint and paint. I live near san fransisco to be exact south bay. and I really need all the brothers here. DO you have any bodyshop near that area or in the area..
?
thanks alott
I am new to the lexus is 350. I would like to change my xenon bulb and do window tint and paint. I live near san fransisco to be exact south bay. and I really need all the brothers here. DO you have any bodyshop near that area or in the area..
?
thanks alott
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: CA
hey man,
I would recommend Exact Motorsports in Milpitas for any installation needs.
For tinting I used Auto Image in San Carlos and they did a great job, but there should be other tint options up and down the peninsula.
Congrats on your new IS! I love every mile in mine!
-mike
I would recommend Exact Motorsports in Milpitas for any installation needs.
For tinting I used Auto Image in San Carlos and they did a great job, but there should be other tint options up and down the peninsula.
Congrats on your new IS! I love every mile in mine!
-mike
Exact has been around for many years. They have worked on many of my friend's lexus's. I've personally never used them but i am sure they are good.
Regarding tint, I use dynamic audio. Custom Clear protection did mine at first but the tint came out horrible. Creases and bubbles everywhere. So i decided to visit Dynamic and they did it great first shot. Even removed my old ruined tint for free.
Welcome to the club!
Regarding tint, I use dynamic audio. Custom Clear protection did mine at first but the tint came out horrible. Creases and bubbles everywhere. So i decided to visit Dynamic and they did it great first shot. Even removed my old ruined tint for free.
Welcome to the club!
Lead Lap
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
From: CA
based on experience, go to carlab in santa clara, www.carlabms.com. i've tried both exact and carlab and exact tends to overcharge... by a lot, and i enjoyed my experience at carlab.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: ca
oh man thank you so much al you guys... you guys rock man. btw, what do you mean writing ref# ? and is carlab good? ( i a little confuse though , one say yea, one say nah..)sorry ...kind of newbie...but tomorrow i try to check it in the exact. if they are cool.. then i go for the exact.. but i still dont understand about the ref #?
thankxxxx
renol
thankxxxx
renol
what i mean is this. If you special order any part or negotiate the price for any part, be a smart shopper and know the part # in question. Do not assume they will order you the same part you are talking about. Even if they say it is the same part and you end up special ordering the item, make sure they take note of the part #. When the part # does arrive, be sure to double check the part # before they install the part.
A buddy of mine negotiated for tein CS suspension. They ordered tien SS, which is about $400 cheaper in price and lower in quality.
We dropped off the car and assumed they installed the CS.
After looking over the old factory parts later in the evening, I have realized that they have re-used the upper strut mounts from the OE suspension for the SS.
For the CS, upper strut mounts are included and does not need to be taken from the OE suspension.
Anyway, long story short. They misled a newb. Installed a cheaper price item when initially agreed for a more expensive item.
For any place you bring your car to for parts, be sure to make sure you are negotiating price for the right part and installing the right part.
Be careful anywhere. Most individuals would not notice a difference but trust me, there is a substantial price difference and quality as well.
Buyers beware!
A buddy of mine negotiated for tein CS suspension. They ordered tien SS, which is about $400 cheaper in price and lower in quality.
We dropped off the car and assumed they installed the CS.
After looking over the old factory parts later in the evening, I have realized that they have re-used the upper strut mounts from the OE suspension for the SS.
For the CS, upper strut mounts are included and does not need to be taken from the OE suspension.
Anyway, long story short. They misled a newb. Installed a cheaper price item when initially agreed for a more expensive item.
For any place you bring your car to for parts, be sure to make sure you are negotiating price for the right part and installing the right part.
Be careful anywhere. Most individuals would not notice a difference but trust me, there is a substantial price difference and quality as well.
Buyers beware!
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Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: ca
oh really bro... I am sorry to hear your friend story.. but did he get repair or change?
thanks a lot for the advise istundra..to be honest I am new to this hobby. I dont know exactly what should i do first with my car.. but the first thing i would like to do is the change of my bulb, tint the window, and lower the car...
and your story and some of my frens stories made me a little bit scared to go to some bodyshop, because i am kind of scared to get cheated..hehehe...
you guys know the feeling of the start of modifying the car and the feeling after the car is done...hehehe
thankz
thanks a lot for the advise istundra..to be honest I am new to this hobby. I dont know exactly what should i do first with my car.. but the first thing i would like to do is the change of my bulb, tint the window, and lower the car...
and your story and some of my frens stories made me a little bit scared to go to some bodyshop, because i am kind of scared to get cheated..hehehe...
you guys know the feeling of the start of modifying the car and the feeling after the car is done...hehehe
thankz
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Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 830
Likes: 1
From: CA
If your 350 came with HIDs, then its just a bulb replacement from 4300K to something higher. But if they're halogens, you will need to purchase a HID conversion kit. If you choose to have a shop install it, they will probably order the parts for you. To me, HID conversion is a DIY depending on your skills. If you're handy around the house, save your money and do it yourself. I would definitely let a pro do the tint and the lowering.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=192254
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=192254
Hello and Welcome to the Club!
I'll make a copy of this thread in the Northern California Regional Forum. Check that thread out for more contacts that may not be checking the IS forums...
I'll make a copy of this thread in the Northern California Regional Forum. Check that thread out for more contacts that may not be checking the IS forums...
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 0
From: NorCal
Welcome to the club and Norcal!! We have a pretty active group here. Hope to meet you at one of our meets. Remember there is a search function and if you search for tint or repair shop in the Norcal section you will see Exact and Auto Tint Mall come up quite a bit. Mind you some folks in the area drive an hour just to get their repairs/mods done at Exact so that goes to say something about their service. 
We've worked on quite a few of the new IS350's and done lighting upgrades, etc.
My bro just picked up a new GS and going to be doing his ICE setup along with Ipod and custom fiberglass sub enclosure.
If you guys are in the east/south bay, hit me up.
rick
My bro just picked up a new GS and going to be doing his ICE setup along with Ipod and custom fiberglass sub enclosure.
If you guys are in the east/south bay, hit me up.
rick
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