Upgrade ideas 03 ES300
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Upgrade ideas 03 ES300
My ES300 has been my dads car since it was new, and I'm looking into making it a little more modernized and updated. First off, the headlights are starting to craze up so I have been looking at the Halo lights they have on eBay. Just the chrome ones with the CCFL halos and a projector unit for the standard H7 bulb. Anyone have any experience with these? Second, the tail lights. Anyone know of the best place to pick up a set of stock 05 06 ES 330 style ones? And last, I was looking at putting on the 330 type wheels, if it's not too much more expensive than just putting on a fresh set of the 9 spoke 300 style? I've done some online shopping around but want to see what you guys have to say. Thanks!
What she looks like now
The eBay lights
#2
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: TX
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What condition is the interior in? You might do some restoration of the seats. It already looks pretty slick on the exterior IMO. If your head lights are hazy you can normally fix that pretty easily.
#3
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Thanks! I've done just about everything -pulling the carpet out and cleaning it and I keep it clean, new OEM carpet floor mats, keep the leather conditioned... The front seats are a little beat up (small cracks on the sides and stuff). And the headlights aren't yellowed, but like the lamination on them is gone on odd spots like along the top and where the beam hits. I will post pics tomorrow of the headlights and interior to see what you think.
#4
Lexus Champion
Tint it !
As for rims, I personally like the 5 spoke OEM rims that came on newer Camry SE's and Gen 2 Solaras. They're all the same size and bore so don't limit yourself to Lexus ES OEM rims only. My stock ES330 rims are curbed, corroding and I see other ES330's with similar problems so I'd stay away from those sets.
I've had Spyder projector halo lights (from CarID) on my 2003 Camry a few years ago. The light output with an HID bulb is so much brighter than stock, and the headlights didn't feel flimsy or had any fitment issues. I'd only consider upgrading to projectors if you don't have stock HID's in your ES300.
As for rims, I personally like the 5 spoke OEM rims that came on newer Camry SE's and Gen 2 Solaras. They're all the same size and bore so don't limit yourself to Lexus ES OEM rims only. My stock ES330 rims are curbed, corroding and I see other ES330's with similar problems so I'd stay away from those sets.
I've had Spyder projector halo lights (from CarID) on my 2003 Camry a few years ago. The light output with an HID bulb is so much brighter than stock, and the headlights didn't feel flimsy or had any fitment issues. I'd only consider upgrading to projectors if you don't have stock HID's in your ES300.
#5
Pole Position
I agree the lsiberian, headlight upgrade is not worth the cost imo. Ours were pretty hazy and the beam yellowish. While I was doing some other work on the car one time last summer, my dad used the Meguiar's "power ball" headlight restoration kit on them. Took some time, and it cleaned them up and the beam went to being super-white and clear. I was surprised. We had to repeat it again a few weeks later, but it's been about a year since then with them staying clear. Stock headlights were pretty decent IMO, just the lens needs maintenance over time.
I agree the 05 wheels are nicer looking. Perhaps you can just wait and find a take-off set on Craigslist or something. I'd like to do that, too, or some newer Toyota wheels like Speedkar9 said.
I agree the 05 wheels are nicer looking. Perhaps you can just wait and find a take-off set on Craigslist or something. I'd like to do that, too, or some newer Toyota wheels like Speedkar9 said.
#6
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
I agree the lsiberian, headlight upgrade is not worth the cost imo. Ours were pretty hazy and the beam yellowish. While I was doing some other work on the car one time last summer, my dad used the Meguiar's "power ball" headlight restoration kit on them. Took some time, and it cleaned them up and the beam went to being super-white and clear. I was surprised. We had to repeat it again a few weeks later, but it's been about a year since then with them staying clear. Stock headlights were pretty decent IMO, just the lens needs maintenance over time.
I agree the 05 wheels are nicer looking. Perhaps you can just wait and find a take-off set on Craigslist or something. I'd like to do that, too, or some newer Toyota wheels like Speedkar9 said.
I agree the 05 wheels are nicer looking. Perhaps you can just wait and find a take-off set on Craigslist or something. I'd like to do that, too, or some newer Toyota wheels like Speedkar9 said.
#7
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: ky
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just sanded mine with 1000 grit and had a buddy clear them, they came out great! Keep an eye out on Craigslist and setup some email alerts on tags: 5x114.3/5x4.5/etc.
Trending Topics
#8
Lexus Champion
#9
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
#10
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Clear vinyl wrap them like I did mine, they give it a more transparent, cleaner look:
Clear Vinyl Headlight Wrap - YouTube
Clear Vinyl Headlight Wrap - YouTube
Close up passenger side
Cloudy and crazed
The drivers side is actually pretty good, just minor
Notice there is no yellowing or anything, just cloudy and crazed over
#12
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
#14
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: ky
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Np! There are also videos on YouTube if you need a step by step. I started at 1000 grit and went up to 1500/2000, then clear. If you want a quick fix for the taillights you can vinyl wrap the clear area red or use vht red! I vinyl wrapped mine because I couldn't find any all red led ones
#15
Lexus Champion