Hi,

I just got the 2008 ES350 for a month and I really love it;
I chose the ES over a 3 series since I always felt that lexus puts
more money in their quality control than BMW.
Looking at the latest consumer reports and the threads on this
forum about the 2007 ES though kinda made me wonder.
I could have gotten the 2007 ES by about $1,5K cheaper but I decided
to go with a 2nd year model coz I assumed that the 2nd yr model must
have had all the refinement of whatever flaws were in a brand new redesign.
I did however notice the "harsh" engine sound when the car is driven even
though I warmed it up pretty well. I thought that that's just normal and
that things are magnified since the car is so quiet otherwise. The noise
does go away after about a 5mile drive. I usually drive pretty moderate during
this time. Otherwise no complaints on the car at all.........
Just wondering about anyone else's take on this. I know there are a lot
of complaints about the 2007 one; but how about with a 2008 one?
Thanks

MarcoL

 

Hi Marco,

The fact you have said it goes away after about 5 miles does sound like what we have called cold engine start noise. If it sounds a little like what you know a diesel engine to sound like for the first 5 or 10 minutes or miles that would be the sound.

Also if after sitting for 4 plus hours, say while at work, then 2nd start of day you hear the same thing.

I do not believe they corrected anything from the 07 to 08 model.

 

Hi thanks for the info es350Bob
sorry I knew about that, just forgot to mention it
so I assume that cold engine noise is a normal occurance then.
thanks again

 

I think at some point they will have to issue a TSIB for it as done for LS460 owners who complained, and Codex posted Camry owners now have a TSIB out for it but I looked and could not find it for the Camry, did see the LS one though and posted it on here somewhere.

If your's has a knocking or tapping tone or quality to it that goes away after 5 miles/minutes more or less, no it is not normal, but yes it is told to customers that it is normal and so far nothing offered to repair them.

 

The ES350 is an excellent cars, we picked up an early build 07 and have not experienced any concerns, the engine was louder then expected at 1st but now with 20k on the clock it has settled down

 

Glad you are enjoying your ES. Yeah, sounds like you have the cold engine knock that is a normal characteristic of the 3.5L. I have heard it in a Sienna and a V6 Rav 4 with the 3.5L engine as well. It usually has to be very cold outside. Here in Maryland, mine is quiet all summer. Only in the winter does it make this sound. Usually the worst under 40 degrees in a cold soak.

It only happens in Drive, during light acceleration from 0-20 mph or so. If you rev the car up in park, idle in park, or idle in drive, you don't hear it.

 

I don't think that ANYTHING was done to the '08ES350 engine to make it any different than the '07's.
I bought one of the first build '07 ES350's in the beginning of May, '06, and I never had ANY noises, whether cold or hot, or not having run the engine for long periods of time(5 weeks). Maybe I'm just lucky, but it's proven to me that when Toyota Corporation builds a new engine they must have done extensive testing to avoid these problems, and the large majority of people purchasing these models do NOT have the aforementioned noises.

 

I agree with Alan. The powertrain seems to be unchanged for 08.

But, I can tell you this, my dealer heard my engine knock and told me it was normal. In this case, I believe him. It is a normal characteristic of the engine. I believe it is more widespread.

 

Alan,

I believe you about your car and engine sound, lack of it, because the first ES350 I drove, a demonstrator, was cold started by me and driven by me. It was so quiet at the start that it was exactly like my ES300 and I said it to salesperson---so quiet you could mistake you had already started the car and try to crank it again. It was also quiet at a stop in drive idling and during acceleration as well.

However, every other one I owned--2 of them--- or drove---3 of them---beyond that demonstrator had that annoying cold engine clatter, ranging from mild to cannery works in volume for the first 5 to 10 minutes and as MD pointed out only in DRIVE, under stress load to the engine, never in park.

It is so prevalent it seems, that MD has never experienced one without it and would likely be a very hard sell to get him to imagine there are some that do not make that noise.

The repair suggested for my first sounds like the actual repair offered LS460 owners who are and have complained.

 

I'll try and dig it up, but it might be a week or so before I get the time and search. The Toyota site isn't very intuitive. I haven't noticed a decent search ability.

It's common. I believe MD350 when he says he's seen it on all the V6's he's encountered. I dunno if it's normal tho. I tested out my car before I bought it looking for these issues. Mine doesn't have it that I've found yet. Course, I'm not home so I haven't had a real normal day with the car yet. It doesn't have the cold start issue tho b/c it's been freezing here so I have had a chance to check for that multiple times.

Still, even with these issues, it's a tossup btw the 3 series. With the BMW, you get a drive that's unsurpassed in terms of enjoyment (for the enthusiast). You get luxury on par with a Kia and worse quality for the trim. The drivetrain should be bulletproof tho. Since the drivetrain is the most important, BMW may have the edge over the ES350 since the ES problems are mainly drivetrain related.

I'm a former 3 series owner. I loved the car, but taking the car in multiple times for stupid trim stuff was annoying. Stuff like plastic body panels popping loose, felt interior trim near the weather stripping falling down, moonroof breaking, window actuators failing, etc. Nothing that keeps you from driving or breaks you down, but annoying for a luxury car. It's unclear how the problems on the ES will affect reliability but it is scary.

 

If you find it, some may find it helpful.

Curious on 08 if they changed the wiper assembly so they no longer scratch the paint on the back edge of hood on driver side when lifting to clean not in snow mode?

Also if they corrected the wheels/rims so they are aerodynamically neutral now rather than using one rim side-specific on all 4 wheels?

 

They did change the mirrors on the 2008 models.

 

Sounds like the cold engine clatter is a hit or miss....similar to the 3 -4 shift flare. Thankfully I got a miss on this one.

 

No idea about the wiper assembly. Doesn't snow here so people have no experience with that stuff.

I'll run down and check the rims.

I don't see arrows or anything that suggests the wheels are side or directional specific. I didn't check the manual but upon visual inspection, they look like plain jane tires/rims to me.

 

Sorry codex,

I see I was as clear as mud there.

When in regular mode the driver side arm would scratch paint on back edge of hood when lifting them for cleaning if you weren't careful or if not made aware at purchase it could do that.

The solution/way to avoid it ended up being snap them up into snow mode so they are higher on windshield and then clean them.

As for wheels they had been putting what looks like side specific wheels on all 4. Thicker leading edge on drive and thinner on passenger as though D side wheels were also used on passenger side or vice versa. Like pic on GS forum taken from Lexus website where the GS guys noticed right away the rear passenger side wheel was wrong in the photo.