I agree with you. Lexus has a history of not including certain options/features with certain cars or option packages. As an example, the 2001-2002 (and probably 2003-2005) Lexus GS430 had audio controls on the steering wheel but the GS300 did not. It didn't matter if you had ML or not. I'll never understand wh y this was an option exclusively on the GS430 when many non-luxury sedans like the Honda Accord have had this feature for years. I wanted to get the audio control unit added on to my 2002 GS300 with ML/Nav but the wiring harness (or something) in the 2 cars was different so it would have been difficult to do.

Because it's not "plug n play" on the illuminated scuff plates, it looks like the wiring is different between the cars equipped with the luxury package and the ones without it but how much did Lexus really save on manufacturing costs by changing the wiring for the cars without the illuminated scuff plates? I would think that it would be more efficient to install the same wiring in every car rather than having to manufacture some cars with it and some cars without it. Obviously there's a cost difference between the illuminated scuff plates and the non-illuminated ones but can they really reduce manufacturing cost by having different wiring for the cars with the non-illuminated scuff plates?

Sorry to take this thread on a tangent. Seeing how much trouble everyone is having to get this to work and diablo1's comment just reminded me of my experience with my GS300.

 

Sam Khoury,
Any pics of the 06 M45? That car is HOT.

 

You can somewhat see the scuff plate here. I think I have a more zoomed-in picture that I can post tonight. The scuff plates look a lot like the luxury ones except that the word "LEXUS" is not written in white plastic (and obviously doesn't light up). BTW congrats on your order! I can't believe how lucky I was that the local dealership was about to have this car delivered when I called them, and that no one had claimed it yet...

 

Thanks, Diablo...I'm trying to look at it through one eye..just had epi lasik surgery done...so I'm glad I don't have the new car to drive yet anyway because it is hard to drive right now.

I agree that they really should have offered the illuminated scuff plate with the sports package. That would make the most sense. I think it is a little too flashy for the more refined wood trim package.

 

They should have used wood scuff plates for the Lux package.

 

Dang, you guys still havent figured this out yet?

Someone sell me your illuminated sills(cheap), and I will get it to work

 

HAHAHA!!!

 

Its not a question of making them work- we can do that easily, as noted by Lexus27.. The issue was why they weren't plug and play and if we could install them as close to oem as possible

 

has anyone tried to go to the dealer and seeing if this is an option they can set?

Here is a dealer setting menu that I found in a different post


I am most interested in the menu
D/Foot Light T
and ILLUMINATE ENTR

 

tqlla3k, thanks for posting this!

ILLUMINATE ENTR sounds very good!
I mean, as crazy as it sounds some people with Luxury Package might not want to see an irritating blue light everytime they open that door, right?
Im going to setup my customize appointment ASAP and see if they will do this.

 

good luck. I hope that it works!

 

Just got off the phone with the dealer for my personalization appointment tommorow morning.
Explained I bought some illuminated door sills, I pointed out the ILLUMINATED ENTR menu to the service advisor (which he confirmed) and said he could arrange to have it turned on.
Will report back how this goes.

 

Looking at the manual, it seems there are two settings, conventional and with scuff plates. Unfortunately the wire (and metal connector in the plug) isn't present (at least on my car) so turning this on still won't make it plug and play. It is a step in the right direction in that if we were able to run our own wire it would be the proper oem operation of the plates.

Another thing I found in the manual is that when you have the overhead interior light switch pressed in, the footwell lighting doesn't come on- which would mean our current method wouldn't have the scuff plates illuminated. Although I can't see many instances in normal driving operation that we would have the interior light turned on and upset that the scuff plates weren't lighting

 

damn thats right I forgot you tested that terp.
i hope he can offer some additional insight, or at the very least
have him turn it on, then see if the wire can be run later.

 

I would just go to the dealer and have them turn the options on. Also find out what D/Foot illum is. I have a good feeling about it.

From what I have read on this thread, the power is there in the power wire. The ground does not lead back to the ECU, like people believe that it should.

Now the question is, where does that wire lead?

Its possible that the wire does not lead directly to the ECU as shown in the wiring diagram. As Terp said the (Door open) Domelight shouldnt work when the Doorsills are not present.

BUT the domelight does work. Some have suggested that the Dome light is wired around the door sills, which makes the most sense. but if that were the case, then why would the wire at the door sill have power?

So maybe the Diagram is not correct. OR THE GROUND WIRE is connected elsewhere before returning to the ECU. I would guess that the ground wire for the Sills goes through the Dome light, since it is controlled by the dome light.

I am just taking wild guesses here. Since I havent looked in my own car. If I make no sense, pay me no mind.