NoiseFree

Hi Folks,

I'm going to cut right to the chase.
I'd appreciate just a straight answer (not lectures on why I should/shouldn't etc.).

I will likely be buying an ES-350 next week.
It will hinge on whether I can disable the air bag system and the telescopic steering column.

A salesman yesterday told me that Lexus will disable the air bags if I sign a waiver with them. He also said that this info can be found somewhere on their website.

What I'd like to know is if I can disable them on my own or whether it would require a Lexus technician to do this?

Also are there ES-350 models/packages that don't have the telescopic steering column and if not, can I disable that system? That is, manually adjust the position I want and lock it in and not have it move/tilt anymore after that.

Thanks in advance. (Again I'd appreciate just straight answers and not sermons on why I should/shouldn't do this.)

wanderer99

The steering is electronically adjustable, and can be set into a position that you like. It will always come back to that position together with the mirrors and seat memory, that can be tied to your individual vehicle key. It always retracts when you turn the vehicle off, and then pops out again when you start the vehicle. There is no way - that I know of or that has been mentioned - to disable this. Its one of the luxury selling points of the car and is featured on all models.

NoiseFree

Yes I am aware of its basic operation.

The salesman I was talking with yesterday I believe mentioned that base models of the IS250 did not have the above feature.

This got me thinking that perhaps it was possible to order an ES350 without this feature.

Or failing that, have Lexus disable the feature and just manually set the steering wheel once and leave it alone.

Thanks!

BobsGX

It may not be the same on the ES, but on the GX, the auto retracting/extending feature can be turned off by the dealer.
However you still can adjust the wheel to your liking and it will stay in that same position.

NoiseFree

Thanks Bob, that's good to hear. Especially that you can still manually adjust to your liking after disabling auto retract/extend.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that the same can be accomplished with the ES .

amf1932

I was wondering about that myself???

Nextourer

I can probably guess about the airbag so I won't question that. People have reasons. What I don't get is the telescopic function. If you don't touch it, it won't move... ever. He could probably add some plaster or such to the switch so that no one can tamper with it.

trukn1

AS far as I know, the driver side airbag cannot be disabled by you in ANY airbag equipped car, so it is best to let a tech accomplish that. Can't say I agree with your decision to do so, but respect it. As far as the auto retract wheel I do not have an ES, I have a first gen LS, and I can disable mine with the push of a button on the steering column. It will still move if I manually adjust it, but the auto feature will be off. Really not sure for the ES tho.

NoiseFree

OK thanks for the info.

This is good to hear. I didn't look closely at the ES-350, so perhaps there is a button on it to disable. If not, I'm hoping a techie can do it. I heard that it can be disabled on the GX's.

NoiseFree

Hi Nextourer.
I don't think I understand your answer.

I got into the car and _didn't touch_ the telescopic function.
Yet the steering wheel still popped out at me.
And when I turned off the ignition it still retracted, even though I didn't touch any telescopic function.

Perhaps by "it won't move" you meant that after it has popped out it won't lose its memory of previous position? Or did you mean the wheel won't physically move, period?

NoiseFree

I'd rather not open this can of worms.
I can guarantee sermons/lectures would start flowing fast and furious if I did.

Nextourer

ohhhhh I understand what you mean now.

lol. Here I am thinking you don't want anyone to adjust the steering wheel ever again when really you meant you wanted the entry assist function disabled.

All that does is move the wheel from YOUR set position to the lowest position so that you can get out more easily. It'll return to YOUR position when you start but I suppose you have your reasons for not wanting it to move.

In that case, I'm sure it's a feature that the dealer can disable. I'm fairly certain it's not a user-customisable feature.

If you want, you can PM us instead so as to avoid the bashes and lectures. I am curious too.

toneman

But it will move...as soon as you turn off the engine the steering wheel will automatically raise and retract...unless of course the steering wheel was set to its' "exit" position (either manually or via memory setting) prior to turning off the engine, in which case...you'd be correct in that it won't move.

Personally, I can see why NoiseFree would want the auto-steering wheel positioning disabled; one can only imagine that poor steering wheel motor getting a workout from having to adjust to at least one--and possibly two different driver settings (assuming that the memorized steering wheel position is different for each driver) and also having to move to the "exit" position each and every single time the ignition is turned on or off.

NoiseFree

Tony's guessed one of my reasons for not wanting the steering column 'feature'.

toneman

Can you only imagine how it would be if the power driver's seat functioned the same way--e.g., slide all the way back to allow an easier exit, then slide back into memorized position every time you enter the vehicle? FWIW--GM has the "easy exit" seat feature on their upscale SUVs...but at least they allow you to disable it yourself.