yESman

I am fixing up my ES330 and have a few questions:

1. Anything to look for in windshield replacement? Does Safelite do a good job? Any special considerations for the rain sensing gear?

2. Need new tires: what is reasonable cost yet durable?

3. Timing belt replacement: Dealer says it needs a change at 100K miles, is this accurate? Is $900 reasonable for this?

Thank you for your help.

yESman

Anyone?

Anyone?

LeX2K

What year is your car? $900 for a timing belt job seem a bit on the high side to me, but it depends exactly what they will be replacing. The belt, tensioner, idler and water pump is what should at least be replaced. If there are signs of camshaft or crank seals leaking, those too should be replaced. Just for reference, you can get a timing belt kit on Ebay for about $250, which comes with everything you need. These are OEM parts. I don't know what the specified replacement interval is for the timing belt on your car, but 100,000 miles is probably getting close to the limit.

BTW, doing a timing belt on these cars is actually pretty easy, so if you are mechanically inclined you can easily do the job in one day. It requires only a couple of special tools, unless you are replacing the seals then it gets more complicated and involved.

When it comes to tires, don't skimp get the Michelin Primacy MXV4, it is an outstanding tire in every respect. The windshield, I can't answer that question for you. Although I personally would try to put in Lexus glass, unless it is obscenely expensive, which would not surprise me. After market glass quite honestly just plain sucks.

QuachmanES

iTrader: (4)

I agree; spend a little bit more on tires and go for the Michelin Primacy MXV4 or Bridgestone Potenza RE960A/S Pole Position, both are excellent all season tires with great treadwear that will last a long time, plus good ride quality and low road noise.

LeX2K

I looked up the price of the windshield. It lists for $1,221.19, discounted it is $952.53. Don't know what aftermarket would be, but it won't be anywhere near that price. Unless your insurance is willing to pick up the tab, that seems like an excessive amount of cash to spend on just a piece of glass.

exxonham

How bad is the windshield, if it is small crack or chip i would be more concerned on timing belt and tires but I hear saflight can put resin or repair the small chip or crack and it wont spread but if it is crack all through winshield i would replace and couldent tell you the difference in lexus glass and aftermarket cause 1000 for the windshield is pretty damn high. And that is a good price if they are doing the belt waterpump tensiors and all that, but on the other hand like the guy before me said ive seen videos on this engine and it seems fairly easy i havent done a service like this before but am pretty handy and yes the manuel calls for replacement at 90K or could wait little longer but these engines are not interference engines so if the belt would break the car would just shut off and no internal damage. But very doubtful it will and me im not a fan of highprice tires b/c i deliver pizza in the lexus and go through them alot I am actually running Captial tires made by Falken which is pretty decent economy tire, and should last a while and are fairly cheap. But its up to you man

LeX2K

I only mentioned the Lexus/Toyota glass because of durability. You can't tell the difference otherwise (unless you look for the Lexus logo) the glass looks the same, clarity and tinting etc. But in my experience, Toyota glass is stronger and lasts much longer. My Lexus has the original glass and it still looks great. Minimal pitting and no chips. No glass will prevent damage if a rock or something else hits it hard enough, but aftermarket glass in my experience is generally too soft and cheap.

I had the original windshield on my 1987 Camry until 3 years ago. It had no cracks, but I had several chips repaired over the years. I only replaced it because it was getting more and more small pits which was affecting visibility, especially under certain lighting conditions. But that glass was damn tough, the replacement is already showing pits and scratches.

BTW, the best glass I've ever seen was on a '71 Toyota Crown I used to have. It was made by Yokohama and was impossible to damage (I'm not kidding). It was industrial quality glass or something nothing could damage it. (or the car for that matter it was a tank).

LeX2K

BTW, the glass on my Camry is made by this company. I'm told they make good glass, which I think is generally true. I don't like that the glass seems too soft, but it does have good clarity and is uniform with no distortion, something I see a lot of in cheap replacements.

yESman

Thanks for the info. The windshield is really bad. It needs replacing.

jimmyford1

Make sure whichever windshield you get is designed for rain sensing wipers if you have them. Not all windshields will permit the rain sensing feature to operate.

rickyp39

I have 105k miles on my es300 and I did my timing belt and my water pump for a total of 971. The water pump comes out much cheaper while they are already in there. They replaced the water pump, timing belt, and all the drive belts for 971$.

rsellmer

I had the timing belt on my 02 changed at 90,000 as the book recommends. I took it to the local Toyota dealer and they did it for $300.00 out the door.

Rob

darksoul

Wow, i have a 02. thats a geat deal! off to the dealer I go. I'm at 110k now...

yESman

Good price.