Interior Wood Question
Intermediate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 442
Likes: 108
From: GA
The dealership, after lengthy emails and discussion, has ordered a replacement steering wheel with the correct wood. They have offered no explanation as to WHY or HOW the truck was shipped with the wrong steering wheel. I am to a point of exhaustion with this dealership. They are the only Lexus that is close to where I live, but, this will be my final purchase from them. I took my 2 month old LX to the dealership yesterday because there was a line that was forming, and growing, across the projector screen on the HUD. 1.5hrs later they come out and tell me they have to order a new projector because the one in my vehicle is "bad" --- they further tell me they could "probably" fix it, but they want it to be right. Okay. They had washed my vehicle while it was in the back...something I always ask them not to do. I do not want swirls in my paint. In this case, it revealed ANOTHER issue. As I was pulling out of the dealership, I noticed water running down the rear window, however, it appeared the water was INSIDE the vehicle and not outside. I got out and the back window OUTSIDE was dry...water continued to run down the window INSIDE the vehicle. I drove back around and back into the service bay... got out... service rep comes back out and I show him. He asked me if I opened the back gate, bc, water could have gotten in that way. I glared at him for a loooooong second and proceeded to ask him how water would run over the interior and UP against gravity onto the back window and then DOWN the window. He could provide no answer. Upon further inspection, it appears that the water is entering the vehicle through the 3rd brake light. The service foreman was not there at the time. The service manager was called to come look, and instead he told them to give me a loaner and they would look at it tomorrow. I was VERY displeased with his decision to not look, but I expect no less from the service manager. He is useless and I have never had a good experience erewith him. Anyway, my concern now is that water has penetrated the rear 3rd brake lamp housing and I am concerned about corrosion or other issues that could arise from exposure to water. Not to mention...water is entering my "sealed" vehicle.
Do you guys have any recommendations on how to handle this? Is there a way to get a Lexus representative involved? How did this vehicle pass inspection - water leak inspection - HUD inspection - interior inspection - and so forth? I do not feel comfortable with my dealership handling this bc their priority is their bottom line ($$$). I would be much more comfortable with Lexus overseeing these issues. Any advice will be greatly appreciated!!
Do you guys have any recommendations on how to handle this? Is there a way to get a Lexus representative involved? How did this vehicle pass inspection - water leak inspection - HUD inspection - interior inspection - and so forth? I do not feel comfortable with my dealership handling this bc their priority is their bottom line ($$$). I would be much more comfortable with Lexus overseeing these issues. Any advice will be greatly appreciated!!
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 807
Likes: 36
From: Ca
You are wrong. Linear espresso wood is NOT shimamoku wood. I had linear espresso wood in my GS, and have the shimamoku wood in my LS. They are similar but different. The linear espresso has a brown hue to it, the shimamoku does not. The shimamoku is not a natural grain, they create it using natural grains.
Your argument is predicated on the false notion that the two wood trims are the same.
Your argument is predicated on the false notion that the two wood trims are the same.
Brochuere for US spec LX570. Notice there is no option for shimamoku trim, nor is it listed in any package options throughout the brochure (i.e. the Luxury Package).
UAE Website for LX showing shimamoku as an option:
GS350 with linear espresso trim: notice the wood on the wheel doesn't match the console/dash, which is the same for your LX570 (linear espresso trim)
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 326
Likes: 37
From: TX
Let Lexus decides how they want to handle the situation. Reprint all Monroney stickers that have the mistake as to not mislead consumers, give me a $150 or $150,000, make me a linear expresso wood that matches my other trims, it does not matter to me personally. However, it is not up to Lexus standard (or US law regarding Monroney sticker) to make a mistake about the information on the Monroney sticker. Lexus official will not confirm what "shimamoku" means at this point. Unless you can tell me with proof what exactly Shimmaoku means, let us not speculate further with various evidence especially from a car (GS) that cost almost half the price of an LX.
Last edited by Bimmer32; Dec 13, 2016 at 06:11 PM.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,650
Likes: 4,046
From: Maryland
What the car costs doesn't make a difference, it has the same trim. The same trims are used on different models at different price points through the lineup.
You're being a little unreasonable here...
You're being a little unreasonable here...
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 326
Likes: 37
From: TX
For your information, I have evidence from official Lexus press that shimamoku wood is linear espresso wood (just called differently for different parts of the world). Shimamoku is a process in which Tendo Corp. uses Agathis wood to make the contrasting "synthetic" wood grain you see in the LS, and "linear express wood." But don't take my word for it. I may be just too technical and unreasonable for the average Joe that drives Lexus, a car maker that sees itself as the grand daddy to the Toyota way. Most people have only a slight idea what the Lexus brand means to Japan especially for the models that are built in the Japanese factories. While the rest of the world may see a typo as a typo, Lexus takes it seriously, and the US government does too when a company breaks its law and does nothing about it.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,650
Likes: 4,046
From: Maryland
There is no Lexus stock. Lexus isn't a company it's a marketing division of Toyota. I don't directly own any Toyota stock that I know about, I might own some as a part of some investment I don't manage myself...
I don't have any stake in this at all I just think you're overreacting.
I don't have any stake in this at all I just think you're overreacting.
Pole Position
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 2,878
Likes: 428
From: Idaho
There is no Lexus stock. Lexus isn't a company it's a marketing division of Toyota. I don't directly own any Toyota stock that I know about, I might own some as a part of some investment I don't manage myself...
I don't have any stake in this at all I just think you're overreacting.
I don't have any stake in this at all I just think you're overreacting.
Definitely at the top of my first-world-problems list.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 807
Likes: 36
From: Ca
For your information, I have evidence from official Lexus press that shimamoku wood is linear espresso wood (just called differently for different parts of the world). Shimamoku is a process in which Tendo Corp. uses Agathis wood to make the contrasting "synthetic" wood grain you see in the LS, and "linear express wood." But don't take my word for it. I may be just too technical and unreasonable for the average Joe that drives Lexus, a car maker that sees itself as the grand daddy to the Toyota way. Most people have only a slight idea what the Lexus brand means to Japan especially for the models that are built in the Japanese factories. While the rest of the world may see a typo as a typo, Lexus takes it seriously, and the US government does too when a company breaks its law and does nothing about it.
Last edited by COOLIS; Dec 20, 2016 at 11:17 AM.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 326
Likes: 37
From: TX
I need to get my car into the service shop for them to take pictures and send it to Lexus Customer service. They have my pictures, but they just need it verified by a Lexus service shop. In post #47, the steering wheel has a walnut finish with the dash and door trims as linear espresso wood = shimamoku. True that both have similar tinting in photos (outer coating). Lexus/Tendo clearly defines shimamoku as process of making synthetic striped wood. The steering is not striped wood. See the LS for what a shimamoku steering wood looks like. Then add a dark tint to it and you have black shimamoku as listed on the Monroney label.
This misrepresentation is also apparent in the 17' LXs. I will update you.
This misrepresentation is also apparent in the 17' LXs. I will update you.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,650
Likes: 4,046
From: Maryland
linear espresso wood = shimamoku. True that both have similar tinting in photos (outer coating). Lexus/Tendo clearly defines shimamoku as process of making synthetic striped wood. The steering is not striped wood. See the LS for what a shimamoku steering wood looks like. Then add a dark tint to it and you have black shimamoku as listed on the Monroney label..
Repeating something over and over again does not make it correct.
Pole Position
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 2,878
Likes: 428
From: Idaho
Not to beat a dead horse but people rely on information provided here. The above statement is not correct. The linear espresso wood is not shimamoku wood. It is not a "synthetic striped wood" as you describe, it is a linear grained naturally grained wood.
Repeating something over and over again does not make it correct.
Repeating something over and over again does not make it correct.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 326
Likes: 37
From: TX
Not to beat a dead horse but people rely on information provided here. The above statement is not correct. The linear espresso wood is not shimamoku wood. It is not a "synthetic striped wood" as you describe, it is a linear grained naturally grained wood.
Repeating something over and over again does not make it correct.
Repeating something over and over again does not make it correct.
Page 3 of the pdf labels the linear expresso wood as shimamoku:
https://dam.lexusasia.com/lexus-v2-n...ary%202016.pdf
And read to page 5 and 6 of this pdf about what shimamoku means:
http://www.fujitsu.com/downloads/EDG...nd/31-1e/1.pdf
"Tendo is proud of this steering wheel with the wood grain running horizontally (“shimamoku”; beautiful, high-end synthetic wood trim). It cannot be made by any other manufacturer . . . The latest path-breaking work is a steering wheel that takes advantage of a unique wood texture of striped grains called “shimamoku.”
Shimamoku from Agathis wood:
https://www.lexus.com.au/brand/shimamoku?category=ALL
Let us not repeat what we agree and disagree again unless you want to sound like a broken record. In summary, your latest comments to this thread is Lexus fanboy who swallowed the Lexus pill. If you can't understand the context, troll somewhere else. Hankinid, if you think this tread is pissy, whiney, etc. then you should not comment unless you want to increase your thread count like SW15LS. If you want proof and research, ask for it nicely instead writing a comment that sounds like my 9 years old.
And yes, I am withholding more information about Lexus.For the record, SW15LS, you are full of BS on this topic since you have not presented any evidence from Lexus or the manufacturer of shimamoku to back your worthless and misleading comments.