Bocatrip

While traveling on the Florida Tpke, I must have hit something that tore off a good size section off the bottom of my plastic lower engine cover along with a number of screws. The sound was horrific at 70 mph and didn't know what happened until I pulled off the Tpke. Bottom line is this. The OEM Lexus plastic cover with many of the screws I need comes to a whopping $275 from Lexus. I did see an aftermarket cover (very shinny) sold on ebay as an alternative for $59. Not sure about shipping costs as I have not gotten there. Should I entertain the aftermarket even if I have no idea if the holes even line up or what it's made of? Anyone have to replace the bottom cover. Most of my cover is still there, but the A/C coil is partiallly exposed and if any damage occurs to these expensive components I'm in big trouble. Anyone have any suggestions or experience with losing the bottom cover? Thanks all.

Bocatrip

Here is the link for the aftermarket lower cover replacement. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Front-Engine-Splash-Shield-For-2001-2003-Lexus-LS430/232504116399?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D48736%26meid%3D8082a1c3949643f9aeda0c69e215ce49%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D202049965653&_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850#vi-ilComp What do you think?

Bocatrip

Isn't it worth a try to save $200? OEM is $275 and After market is $72.....Isn't it worth the try?

GADawgs

Same thing happened to me when a truck just ahead of me blew a tire and I couldn't avoid one of the chunks. I purchased an aftermarket engine splash shield (was about $50 for my 2004) and all the holes lined up fine. The plastic isn't quite as heavy duty as the original but it is holding up fine. I don't know how much protection this one, or the original, is meant to provide to under engine components other than keeping water and road grime away.

Bocatrip

You may very well be right Dwags.. Good Pointe. I may try it. As you say it just keeps the bottom of the engine dry and free of debree. Better than throwiing away $275 for a plastic cover. May be going this route. Thanks for the encouragement.

Bocatrip

GADAwags.Is this being helpful?

Bocatrip

please tell.

LS430Lexus

We had the same problem with our '02 GS300. The aftermarket shield from Ebay worked just fine.

Romanova

I remember buying aftermarket bumper plugs for my Scion xB. These two plugs are notorious for popping out. Got the aftermarket ones and they didn't fit worth a crap. Ended up biting the bullet and went with OEM. YMMV.

Before you spend the money for new OEM, why not try a junk yard local to you? Could probably get a OEM one for $20 or so...

Gronemus

Having taken off the OE cover several times now on my car I can say that it is rather flimsy also. I'd bet that the biggest reason it's on the car is to aid in underbody aerodynamics and it does a fair job of keeping the grime off of the bottom of the engine and surrounding area.

You are not going to harm any components running the car without that cover on. There are millions of cars our there that never even had them designed in. Buy the cheapest one you can find and use the money you save on gas driving the car around...

Johnhav430

I believe I have the OE fasteners (3 different kinds), I got them a year ago just in case as I noticed the screws going into the fluorescent plastic "anchors" if you will are loose, I think on this I'd bite the bullet and go OE. You've got some dealers out of Miami who discount 31% off list....even though nobody sees it, that type of part I'd prefer original, because it likely directs the air properly under the vehicle...

Not positive this is it, but this is a good deal plus free shipping and OE, 40% off list


here's a x-ref to a knock-off part

https://www.ebay.com/itm/04-06-LS430...lZI0BT&vxp=mtr

2KHarrier

There are some parts you should stay with OEM, but something like an under engine cover.... I don't think so. There are better things to spend the money on. As long as it's bolted up correctly, and fits well, it's going to do the job that the original did.

Johnhav430

That's the thing, one doesn't know. I'm willing to pay $120 over $60 for OE....but that's exactly how the insurance industry goes, no OE parts, just knock offs....in most cases only the body shop and owner knows it's not original...earlier in this thread it was mentioned not as heavy duty as original, implying not the same...

edit thinking about this, it's never made sense to me that we have to bend back this shield to get to the oil filter, why not a trap door like the Germans? So everytime it gets bent, it imho has a memory and makes it harder to reattach. I get that it's close enough for Toyota Motor...but maybe, an aftermarket would fit even worse after going through that, of course no way to know except from those who have tried the aftermarket.

I had an accident with a brand new BMW loaner over 7 yrs. ago (thank goodness it was their car not mine). I was on the hook for $500 (deductible). I was pretty shocked that on a brand new car, at the time I had the lizard insurance co., all the parts specified were aftermarket, and the adjustor noted by each part, "USED NOT AVAILABLE" and the tel# that he supposedly checked for used. If that were my car I would have argued (most likely in vain) that I want original, not aftermarket...man I argued for 40 min. round and round with a lady to get OE glass with the BMW logo on my car. Why do that? Just make a 30 sec. attempt to get the customer to agree to aftermaket, and if not, let them have the OE. Why waste 40 min. of your time and theirs...bad cust svc. no lizard anymore for me! Have to admit they and Flo have the best commercials, though.

Bocatrip

Thanks John, but this too is an aftermarket. I contacted the seller's for a few of these for my car for around $72 shipped. A lot better than $260. I just want the bottom covered to avoid water, debris and wind getting up into the engine compartment. The seller's say the holes will line up and I can use what screws I have left and ordered 5 new ones with bolts. Whatever is missing for screws I'll get from Lexus. Flimsy or not, the original one is not great either. I'm going to order from the most reputable site I can find. I have a feeling now that the cover might have gotten damaged in the car wash I went to a few days ago. It was very aggressive.

Johnhav430

if aftermarket is ok, this seems good, 1 yr guarantee and good feedback?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/5144150090-...!US!-1&vxp=mtr