Please Help. I need advice on adding mods to my ES300.
#16
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
1) I prefer a two tone wheel, though. You get the visual impact of the black while actually being able to see the details of the wheel.
2) up to a certain point. 225/45R18 inch wheels still give a substantial enough contact patch to absorb road imperfections. With Michelin Primacy MXM tires, the ride is very smooth with very little vibration.
3)LED taillights... love my Eagle Eyes LED tails. The stock taillights are the ugliest part of the stock 02-04 4ES by far!
4)You could debadge the front. Photoshop it!
5) There's a nice billet grille available in chrome and black on ebay for around 200 bucks.
6) Chrome trim for the lower fascia. I have some ready to try when it gets warmer.
7) There are chrome B pillars, if they are to your taste.
8) Welcome to the forum!
1) I prefer a two tone wheel, though. You get the visual impact of the black while actually being able to see the details of the wheel.
Is that footer pic, your lexus? In case am I seeing it correctly when I say that your wheels look more machined grey/dark silver than black? Is that what you were talking about when you said two tone?
I do like that look. It works great on your lexus because you have a grey lexus. However with me having a Gold lexus (and not being into Chrome myself) I figured that it would need a strong contrast from the Gold. Matte black would be a bit of a contrast from jet black tires right?
2) up to a certain point. 225/45R18 inch wheels still give a substantial enough contact patch to absorb road imperfections. With Michelin Primacy MXM tires, the ride is very smooth with very little vibration.
I am new to this, but with 225 being the width of the tire tread, wouldn't that number depend on whether I have an 18x8 or an 18x8.5? The wider the wheel the wider the tire would need to be right? I would assume that you cannot put a 215 on a 20x10 because 10 inches would be too wide for 215's. So were you just referring to 8" wide wheels?
3)LED taillights... love my Eagle Eyes LED tails. The stock taillights are the ugliest part of the stock 02-04 4ES by far!
Where have these been all my life? Love them. These are the stock tail lights you are referring to right? http://tinyurl.com/c7ypas4
How work intensive was it to change them? Or would I have to go to a mechanic to get it done?
Also how much did it cost you to do it? Ball park figure.
4)You could debadge the front. Photoshop it!
Does debadge mean remove the Lexus logo? Wouldn't that make it lose some of the cool factor.
5) There's a nice billet grille available in chrome and black on ebay for around 200 bucks.
You feel that the front doesn't look cool? Is that because the grill is silver while the lower portion is black? I just got an idea of putting a black grill on it. Would kinda enhance the Gold and black look that I seem to be going with.
6) Chrome trim for the lower fascia. I have some ready to try when it gets warmer.
Okay I'm a med student. Fascia means something entirely different to me.
Please edjamcate me. What is the Fascia? And do you have pic of what a chrome trim for the lower fascia would look like?
7) There are chrome B pillars, if they are to your taste.
They look nice, but once again would Chrome go with Gold and the black wheels?
8) Welcome to the forum!
Thank you so much. I appreciate it. You guys are really helpful and the sense of community is awesome.
#17
At the moment, the only picture I have of my car's tints is the picture I have on my profile. Its not the best picture especially since it was at night.
As for HIDs, I've got a before and after only for the fog lights.
Before
After
And honestly, these pictures don't do them justice either. Mainly because I don't know how to use a DSLR and I was using my GFs camera. Anyways, hope these help somewhat.
#18
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Well, never black, but white or silver yes. However, I am graduating from college and don't have 3-4k laying around.
At the moment, the only picture I have of my car's tints is the picture I have on my profile. Its not the best picture especially since it was at night.
As for HIDs, I've got a before and after only for the fog lights.
After
And honestly, these pictures don't do them justice either. Mainly because I don't know how to use a DSLR and I was using my GFs camera. Anyways, hope these help somewhat.
At the moment, the only picture I have of my car's tints is the picture I have on my profile. Its not the best picture especially since it was at night.
As for HIDs, I've got a before and after only for the fog lights.
After
And honestly, these pictures don't do them justice either. Mainly because I don't know how to use a DSLR and I was using my GFs camera. Anyways, hope these help somewhat.
Thank you.
#19
I guess some useful information for you would be that, I don't have a lot of experience with cars. My knowledge doesn't go much further than changing oil, filters, and basic wiring. Yet, I was still able to install the HID kit for the fog lights. One thing for sure is you'll need to get under the car (or at least that makes it like 10x easier for you).
As for the headlights, I am unsure whether your car came with HIDs or not, but upon purchasing the car, the previous owner opted for them. So they were professionally installed by Lexus (I think for about 400$).
#20
1) I prefer a two tone wheel, though. You get the visual impact of the black while actually being able to see the details of the wheel.
Is that footer pic, your lexus? In case am I seeing it correctly when I say that your wheels look more machined grey/dark silver than black? Is that what you were talking about when you said two tone?
They are machined aluminum and gloss black.
I do like that look. It works great on your lexus because you have a grey lexus. However with me having a Gold lexus (and not being into Chrome myself) I figured that it would need a strong contrast from the Gold. Matte black would be a bit of a contrast from jet black tires right?
Yes. I think that could look good. I recommend trying the Upgrade Garage at TireRack and the similar system on DiscountTireDirect, and posting some screenshots here of what some aftermarket wheels look like on your car.
2) up to a certain point. 225/45R18 inch wheels still give a substantial enough contact patch to absorb road imperfections. With Michelin Primacy MXM tires, the ride is very smooth with very little vibration.
I am new to this, but with 225 being the width of the tire tread, wouldn't that number depend on whether I have an 18x8 or an 18x8.5? The wider the wheel the wider the tire would need to be right? I would assume that you cannot put a 215 on a 20x10 because 10 inches would be too wide for 215's. So were you just referring to 8" wide wheels?
With 18" wheels, there are several widths. A given tire can fit generally fit several of these widths. TireRack will tell you the recommended fitment for the wheel you choose.
3)LED taillights... love my Eagle Eyes LED tails. The stock taillights are the ugliest part of the stock 02-04 4ES by far!
Where have these been all my life? Love them. These are the stock tail lights you are referring to right? http://tinyurl.com/c7ypas4
How work intensive was it to change them? Or would I have to go to a mechanic to get it done?
Also how much did it cost you to do it? Ball park figure.
Very easy. All you need to do is pull back the trunk liner, remove the screws holding the lights in, remove the connector, plug the new ones in, and you're good. I paid 189 plus a few bucks for some new turn signal bulbs, so around 200. The price has gone slightly up now, they list for around 220 now on eBay but a few sellers are also including some LED addons like fog lights or LED strips.
Here's a pic of the rear:
https://i.imgur.com/6PBeTVa.jpg
The cell phone picture doesn't get the true appearance and detail. They look more like this:
4)You could debadge the front. Photoshop it!
Does debadge mean remove the Lexus logo? Wouldn't that make it lose some of the cool factor.
Yes. I left all the logos on the back. It's up to you. It looks different than the other cars on the road and is completely reversible.
5) There's a nice billet grille available in chrome and black on ebay for around 200 bucks.
You feel that the front doesn't look cool? Is that because the grill is silver while the lower portion is black? I just got an idea of putting a black grill on it. Would kinda enhance the Gold and black look that I seem to be going with.
I actually do like the front, which is why I haven't bought it. It does look good on LexLutha's car, and the black billet grille might look good on your car.
6) Chrome trim for the lower fascia. I have some ready to try when it gets warmer.
Okay I'm a med student. Fascia means something entirely different to me.
Please edjamcate me. What is the Fascia? And do you have pic of what a chrome trim for the lower fascia would look like?
I meant the lower grille haha. Another user on here has done it: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es3...-lexlutha.html
7) There are chrome B pillars, if they are to your taste.
They look nice, but once again would Chrome go with Gold and the black wheels?
Good question. I'm thinking the pillars would probably look better stock with that color combo. The good thing is they are inexpensive, only around 40-45 dollars or so.
Is that footer pic, your lexus? In case am I seeing it correctly when I say that your wheels look more machined grey/dark silver than black? Is that what you were talking about when you said two tone?
They are machined aluminum and gloss black.
I do like that look. It works great on your lexus because you have a grey lexus. However with me having a Gold lexus (and not being into Chrome myself) I figured that it would need a strong contrast from the Gold. Matte black would be a bit of a contrast from jet black tires right?
Yes. I think that could look good. I recommend trying the Upgrade Garage at TireRack and the similar system on DiscountTireDirect, and posting some screenshots here of what some aftermarket wheels look like on your car.
2) up to a certain point. 225/45R18 inch wheels still give a substantial enough contact patch to absorb road imperfections. With Michelin Primacy MXM tires, the ride is very smooth with very little vibration.
I am new to this, but with 225 being the width of the tire tread, wouldn't that number depend on whether I have an 18x8 or an 18x8.5? The wider the wheel the wider the tire would need to be right? I would assume that you cannot put a 215 on a 20x10 because 10 inches would be too wide for 215's. So were you just referring to 8" wide wheels?
With 18" wheels, there are several widths. A given tire can fit generally fit several of these widths. TireRack will tell you the recommended fitment for the wheel you choose.
3)LED taillights... love my Eagle Eyes LED tails. The stock taillights are the ugliest part of the stock 02-04 4ES by far!
Where have these been all my life? Love them. These are the stock tail lights you are referring to right? http://tinyurl.com/c7ypas4
How work intensive was it to change them? Or would I have to go to a mechanic to get it done?
Also how much did it cost you to do it? Ball park figure.
Very easy. All you need to do is pull back the trunk liner, remove the screws holding the lights in, remove the connector, plug the new ones in, and you're good. I paid 189 plus a few bucks for some new turn signal bulbs, so around 200. The price has gone slightly up now, they list for around 220 now on eBay but a few sellers are also including some LED addons like fog lights or LED strips.
Here's a pic of the rear:
https://i.imgur.com/6PBeTVa.jpg
The cell phone picture doesn't get the true appearance and detail. They look more like this:
4)You could debadge the front. Photoshop it!
Does debadge mean remove the Lexus logo? Wouldn't that make it lose some of the cool factor.
Yes. I left all the logos on the back. It's up to you. It looks different than the other cars on the road and is completely reversible.
5) There's a nice billet grille available in chrome and black on ebay for around 200 bucks.
You feel that the front doesn't look cool? Is that because the grill is silver while the lower portion is black? I just got an idea of putting a black grill on it. Would kinda enhance the Gold and black look that I seem to be going with.
I actually do like the front, which is why I haven't bought it. It does look good on LexLutha's car, and the black billet grille might look good on your car.
6) Chrome trim for the lower fascia. I have some ready to try when it gets warmer.
Okay I'm a med student. Fascia means something entirely different to me.
Please edjamcate me. What is the Fascia? And do you have pic of what a chrome trim for the lower fascia would look like?
I meant the lower grille haha. Another user on here has done it: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es3...-lexlutha.html
7) There are chrome B pillars, if they are to your taste.
They look nice, but once again would Chrome go with Gold and the black wheels?
Good question. I'm thinking the pillars would probably look better stock with that color combo. The good thing is they are inexpensive, only around 40-45 dollars or so.
Last edited by Chocolate; 04-20-13 at 04:04 AM.
#21
Very easy. All you need to do is pull back the trunk liner, remove the screws holding the lights in, remove the connector, plug the new ones in, and you're good. I paid 189 plus a few bucks for some new turn signal bulbs, so around 200. The price has gone slightly up now, they list for around 220 now on eBay but a few sellers are also including some LED addons like fog lights or LED strips.
Update: Actually I found some, but they're for the 05-06 es300. These will work for the 2003 as they're both the 4ES, correct?
Last edited by PuReChaos; 03-31-13 at 11:08 PM.
#24
#25
#26
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
#27
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
3)LED taillights... love my Eagle Eyes LED tails. The stock taillights are the ugliest part of the stock 02-04 4ES by far!
Very easy. All you need to do is pull back the trunk liner, remove the screws holding the lights in, remove the connector, plug the new ones in, and you're good. I paid 189 plus a few bucks for some new turn signal bulbs, so around 200. The price has gone slightly up now, they list for around 220 now on eBay but a few sellers are also including some LED addons like fog lights or LED strips.
Here's a pic of the rear:
https://i.imgur.com/6PBeTVa.jpg
The cell phone picture doesn't get the true appearance and detail. They look more like this:
Very easy. All you need to do is pull back the trunk liner, remove the screws holding the lights in, remove the connector, plug the new ones in, and you're good. I paid 189 plus a few bucks for some new turn signal bulbs, so around 200. The price has gone slightly up now, they list for around 220 now on eBay but a few sellers are also including some LED addons like fog lights or LED strips.
Here's a pic of the rear:
https://i.imgur.com/6PBeTVa.jpg
The cell phone picture doesn't get the true appearance and detail. They look more like this:
Also will this replace the whole taillight/turn signal, brake light unit? Or will it be replacing only one part of that? Say for example the turn signals.
It looks like the OEM part has 2 lights that light up as taillights
1 of them gets brighter for braking
1 is a turn signal (The silver in the middle)
I'm just not sure if this will replace the whole unit or a part of it.
Thank you.
#28
Correct. The only bulbs you would need to replace are the turn signal bulbs, if you don't want to reuse the ones you already have. Reverse lights are already wired in. I put new turn signals while I was changing the lights. They have a blacked out version also but I think that works better on darker colored cars.
It replaces four pieces, two on each side. There's a connector that you unplug from the stock lights and plug into the new ones.
It replaces four pieces, two on each side. There's a connector that you unplug from the stock lights and plug into the new ones.
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Eddie97Lex
ES - 1st to 4th Gen (1990-2006)
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