Well, I've been wanting to take that front 'L' off my grill for a while (since reading the post about how easy it was to do).. but yesterday, on my way home from work, I saw a black SC430 without the badge and saw for the first time, in person, how great it looks without it!

...so now there is at least one other SC430 in my area without the front grill badge!

wahoo!

 

Congratulations on your new customized front end. Not only does this simple mod change the look of your car, I have calculated that the weight reduction alone off the front of the car must significantly enhance the handling (turn in) as well as improve the fuel economy.
EZ to do, and just as easy peasy to put back if you think you have made a mistake.
Next step...debadging rear trunk lid.
"GET THE "L" OFF MY CAR!"

 

the back 'L' isn't so easy.. especially since it will leave a hole and an indentation

 

Hey CE, it does look much better without it doesn't it ? I took mine off the first day I took the car home.

I also took of the badging (the word "Lexus" and the "SC430". I replaced the "L" with a black pearl one. Looks way cool.

 

Larry ...

Did you use the hairdryer/dental floss technique to remove the chrome badging off the rear? I'd like to do it, but I'm not quite sure how to go about it.

Do you have any pics of your car with the black pearl L? I'd like to see how it looks with silver.

BTW ... I took the L off the grill quite a while ago - looks much much better.

Thanks

 

Sorry, no pics (don't own a digital camera........and I work for a company tjat makes them).

As far as removal, real easy. Just use a hairdryer and as the letters get soft, peel them off. There will be some adhesive residue, but this can easily be removed with something called "Desolv - It". It's a citrus oil based solvent especially used for removing tar, bugs, adhesive, gum, etc. It's sold under several other brand names but I don't know what they are. You can find it in most hardware stores or a Home Depot or Lowes. Look in the "paint" isle.

It won't harm the paint or any plastic pieces since it's citrus and not petroleum based.

 

Please post instructions again for removing L. Can't find it in FAQ's.

 

Liners check the SC430 FAQ now.. Hope that helps!

 

Open your hood,

There is ONE screw holding your 'L' in place, get a small screwdriver and take it off... that's it... quick and simple.. easy off, easy on!

 

CE,

You forgot the most important step !!

"close hood"

With some folks you have to be really specific.

 

Also, don't forget to use a black Magic Marker (or some such thing) to darken the dangling screwholder.

It appears silver in this pic because of the camera's flash intensity reflecting off the black ink. In actuality, this protuberance is virtually invisible.

(Larry ... see what happens when you get a digital camera? You take pics of EVERYthing!)

 

Ed,

I really gotta get a digital camera ! I'm surrounded by them and can't tell you how many I've bought for friends in the last two years.

What kind of camera do you have ? A "Canon" I hope !

 

Sorry, Larry ... I do not have a Canon, although they are among the best.

I bought a Fuji S602Z mainly because it has more features than any other digital costing below $1,000 (this was 800 bucks)

I don't recommend it to anyone who wants a simple point-and-shoot camera because this thing has a manual bigger than the Lexus NAV manual. It's also a tad bigger than most of the digitals - definitely not a camera you can slip in your pocket unless you have one of those jackets shoplifters use.

I've been shooting with a 35mm for many years so this is my first experience with a digital and I sure have screwed up a lot of pics. But know what? I didn't have to wait to find out!

 

A Fuji S602Z ??

Isn't that the balloon tired bike you used to ride to Karate practice ?

 

LOL, Larry ... good memory ...

God only knows what the origin of that bike was - I guess I'd have to call it a mongrel seeing as how I cobbled it together from the parts of three different bikes.

Wish I still had the Columbia Flyer I got for Confirmation.