Tom57

I purchased at local dealer that matches Sewell pricing. $175 out-the-door. (Sewell has done similar pricing for CL community. Ask for Darrel.) Pulling ash tray out is easy and cheap but not appealing for a luxury car imo. As stated above, this feature could be a lot cheaper if Lexus simply offered the replacement box for the ash tray portion of the component. It's 3-pieces when disassembled; the storage box itself is the only portion needed since the other two pieces from the ash tray assembly can be re-used and assembled with the felt-lined storage box. (Swap out the lower ash tray portion of assembly with storage box.) It's a simple DIY, but it is unnecessarily costly since Lexus bundled the whole assembly with new wood grain cover that is unnecessary for the conversion and which may not match your current wood trim - why I simply swapped out the ash tray portion with the storage box only and retained my original wood veneer (ash tray now storage box) cover.

ohno

iTrader: (5)

Removing the ashtray would def. be better than spending $175.

Tom57

Not for me ... I DIY virtually all of my work so that's green fees ... rather not see a hard plastic irregular hole that's obviously missing the ash tray next to a well-lighted cigarette lighter prominently displayed on the center console.

mannye

Looking at the picture, it seems like a very nice change. My wood is perfect however. Although I have to go and look to see if the grain is "matched" to the surrounding wood or not.

Tom57

If your wood grain cover matches the surrounding wood grain around the console and shifter, swap it onto the console box so it matches as original. Here is another pic.

jayclapp

I went with the ash tray removal for a few months and couldn't stand looing at it anymore, as it just didn't fit in the otherwise excellent interior. Ordered the console box, replaced the door with my then current door, and have happily every after. Wouldn't have it any other way!

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

Lol, I still haven't installed it five years later.

Randy B

Dave,

If your interested in moving it along to someone who would install it? Please PM me.

Randy B

Bob04

Don't feel bad. I've got some crown molding that's been sitting around for 8 years uninstalled.

Jabberwock

There should be a small secondary market developing at some point when folks who have done the mod sell their LS430s they could put the ashtray back in and sell the storage box on the classified here or on eBay. If and when the LS and I part company, I may swap in the old ashtray, - the swap takes maybe 5-10 minutes max. If I trade it in (very unlikely) I would certainly take the easy mods out even if it was to just give them away on the forum.

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

So, when you swap to the box the 12v connection is moved to the front of the compartment? With the ash tray setup the 12v / cigarette lighter is in the rear.

Tom57

That's right. The ash tray is forward so it's visible / accessible to depositing ashes, especially when cup holder is open. With the console box, the 12-volt receptacle is forward (and not lit up at night as cig lighter is, and has hinged lid) so it's readily accessible to plug-in phone charger, etc. LS engineers thought of everything.

Jchard2

Hello- looking for any help or advice on how to go about removing the ashtray in a 2003 LS430. I had a digital memory card slip through the crack between the ashtray cover & wood veneer center panel. I trying to remove anything that will give me access to underneath the gear shift console.

Tom57

Carefully pry up plastic chrome piece around gear shifter. (Use plastic pry tools, or wrap tape around the head of a regular screwdriver.) Then, carefully pry up the wood grain console. (There are 4 snap connectors on each corner of the console cover.)

Edit: See page 7 of attached instructions. Hope this helps.

vredniykot

I wonder if this would work? Just to swap out the ashtray box...

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/r320988482