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I know a lot of you fellow LC500 owners like carbon fiber accessories. Whether it be carbon fiber hoods, carbon fiber wheels, etc., a lot of us have at least some carbon fiber accents on their car. While there are a lot of options for carbon fiber parts, there are still a few parts that are unavailable in carbon fiber. Something I always liked were carbon fiber shifting *****. I've found several ***** that had the same thread as stock LC500 but nothing was made specific for my car and the ***** just didn’t quite look right. Several other Lexus vehicles do have options for carbon fiber ***** already, just not the LC.
I reached out to Exotic Cargear to make one for me. I had already had carbon fiber mirror covers and a carbon fiber engine cover made by this company so I figured they would be up to the task of making a carbon fiber shifting ****. I happened to have a spare **** sitting because somehow I had developed a small tear in the leather, and I had replaced it with a new oem ****, same color leather. I sent them my spare shifter with a request that they replace the palm side leather of the shifter with carbon fiber. Needless to say, when I received the customized part I was not disappointed.
This is the fourth time I have ordered from Exotic Cargear, and they always come through. To my knowledge, every one of my orders has been the first of its kind for the LC500 and they have done an amazing job. David, the CEO, is a class act, and has always been very professional.
I know that carbon fiber is not for everybody, but I know a lot of members here happen to like it. So I just thought that I would share my experience with this company and share a few pictures of what they have made for me.
Did you have to send them the mirrors to install the CF?
I had to send the mirror caps and the shift ****.
The mirror caps are "skinned" in carbon fiber. They take the stock piece and apply a sheet of carbon fiber over it. In regard to the shift ****, they removed the leather portion and replaced it with a new carbon fiber piece. For the engine cover, I sent my stock cover in and they made a mold of if, then made the carbon fiber piece.
I did not go capless, I purchased new OEM parts and sent them in.
Its pretty easy. You just pull on the bottom of the glass and the mirror will pop off. Then there is one screw and a clip that holds the cap on. Remove the screw and depress the clip and that cap will pop off. It is a similar process for most lexus vehicles. There are several youtube videos that show the process.
I look at the pricing of various carbon fiber parts. An entire hood goes for $1,100, does it seem reasonable for mirrors to go for $900? Or mirror covers to sell for $400? Either the full hood is a great deal or the mirrors are overpriced. Or is it more difficult making a smaller part in CF than a large flat hood? I love the carbon fiber look but I don’t want to overpay.
I look at the pricing of various carbon fiber parts. An entire hood goes for $1,100, does it seem reasonable for mirrors to go for $900? Or mirror covers to sell for $400? Either the full hood is a great deal or the mirrors are overpriced. Or is it more difficult making a smaller part in CF than a large flat hood? I love the carbon fiber look but I don’t want to overpay.
the $1100 hood you speak of must be Seibon. They are definitely less expensive than other brands, such as Tom's or Varis and other companies that make CF parts for the LC. I have no experience with Seibon so I cannot comment on their quality, but in pictures the fitment looks good, from that I can tell. It seems like all the Japanese brands are just more expensive. My thoughts on the price and overpaying: if you want it, buy it.
Carbon Fiber Shift ****
