On my 99 Es300, the black plastic piece that lays in between the two windows looks awful. I know this is a common problem, has anyone replaced this piece with a new one?

Is this an easy DIY project? Does it just pop off?

Any advice would be appreciated, it really makes my car look like crap.

Thanks

 

I've never tried to remove this but if you do a search on here, I believe someone has replaced these before. I also believe the pieces are expensive. My sister was the previous owner and she had the dealer replace one of them after buying the car new. It looked bad after 3 or 4 years. I now own the car and one of them started to look bad and I just coverd it with chrome on both sides. They are chrome pieces with 3M double sided tape, found them on ebay.

 

Thanks for the response, I may get a similar cover, but in gloss black. That's probably the easiest solution. The kits I've seen are around $80 shipped for both sides.

The local Lexus dealer is asking $80 per side for a factory piece, but I can probably get it much cheaper through an online dealer.

I'm just curious how it's attached. The part counter guy said it's attached by clips, but it really feels like it's solid. I don't want to tear up the surrounding weatherstripping.

 

you can get them for $50 each through most online dealers, just make sure you buy the clips also, because they break when you remove the old one no matter what

 

Yea mine are starting to look a lil worn but not bad enough to make me replace yet but if you replace your please leave feedback... maybe if you got time post up a DIY.

 

THey pop off.

So sand, prime, paint, clear. replace clips -> click into place and go.

 

Thanks, good to know!

 

Here's a write up, I don't know why this didn't come up when I did a search on this site, but I found it through Google:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es3...-you-help.html

The part numbers are:
75505-33010 Drivers Side
7550633010 Passenger Side

I went ahead and purchased them online, they were around $45 per side. The most cost effective way is probably to pull them off and paint them, but that's how I got in some trouble, I masked off the piece and tried painting it.
I've painted a lot of plastic pieces before on cars, but the primer I used on this "gummed" up the plastic, ruining the surface. It's a primer made for plastic parts, and I've used it before with no issues, The only real option was replace it or buy the aftermarket shells. Also, paint likes to flake off of plastic over time, I would think a few automated car washes could cause some problems.

In hindsight, I probably should have just left it alone. Oh well.

 

Is it possible to just replace the clips?

 

Just do to it what you would do to clear up your headlights and they will look just like new

 

Do you mean putting plastic polish on it?

I think the problem is the material separates underneath the clear layer, it's not oxidizing on the outside.

 

According to person that did the write up, the clips are molded into the b pillar. Once you pull it out, they're broken.

You could probably find a way to use an adhesive to reinstall, but it's not something I would want to fool with.

 

Sorry, but this doesn't fix it. It makes it shine a little bit more until it rains. Wax/polish/etc. won't make it last. Trust me. I have tried everything.
It's the clear coat failing, so you can't fix it unless you re-clear it [after wet sanding]/

The best bet is to buy new. Second i would say paint it, or what I'm gonna do in the spring - just vinyl them a matte black to match the rest of the trim around the windows.

Yep, they break unfortunately, i have one broken one on each side, so I'm gonna put vinyl over it.

 

That's exactly what happens. My left hand side one is starting to do this, I thought about putting chrome covers on them, but I don't really like the look. Problem is, the replacement will just fail eventually as well.

 

not always recommended, I just got my es bout a week ago, machine buffed the whole car with my Griot's 6" Random Orbital then used a 3" for the headlights and b-pillar by the time it started to loosen it was already too late


also, little side note I used "turtle wax black box" car looks amazing my mail lady asked if I got a new paint job