Hey guys,
We've decided to become hybrid owners, mainly because Lexus offers such a great platform. Our budget is for a used model ES 300, around 2013/2014 but we really like the new bumpers on the "facelifted" cars. Would it be possible to swap out the bumpers on the early 6th gen in favor of the more recent ones? What all would need to be changed?

 

There have been a few threads here that have asked the same question.

While, theoretically, it would be possible to make the swap, the cost would be quite prohibitive. Not only would you have to replace the bumper and grille, but the headlights, fog lights, etc. for the 2016-2018 ES are not the same as on the 2013-2015 ES. Not only would those items also have to be replaced, but so would numerous items in the electrical system, including the wiring harnesses.

By the time that you spent the money to change out everything that needed to be changed on a 2013 or 2014 ES, you would likely be spending more money than it would have cost you to start out with buying a 2016 ES. And your now modified 2013 or 2014 ES would still have a re-sale or trade-in value that was substantially lower than that of a 2016 ES.

 

Hmm, I didn't realize there were so many differences. Had no clue about the wiring harnesses.

 

The cost of replacing the bumper and grille is likely to be somewhere in the area of $2500. But that is the smaller part of what the final cost would be. By the time you replaced the headlights, fog lights, turn signal lights, etc., I suspect that you would be adding another $5000-7500 (or more) to the cost.

That would mean that you would likely be spending somewhere between $7500 and $10,000 (or more) to make changes on a car whose current value is likely around $20,000. It would be hard for me to justify that kind of expense.

And, what would make matters worse is that, if you made those changes to a 2013 or 2014 ES, you would likely actually be reducing its trade-in or re-sale value because, with used cars, demand for them drops when they have been modified in a way that changes the way that they looked when they came out of the factory.

 

I have seen where someone painted the bumper either black or gray (I don't remember which) and it looked like 10 times better.

It's the color match bumper that needs to be changed on the older 6 Gen ES to improve the looks on a budget.

I considered doing it myself but ....I'll never get around to it.

 

You mean they painted that middle painted section dark on the 2013 bumper to match the upper and lower part of the grille?

 

I'm sure that he is referring to painting the middle section of the 2013 bumper. As an alternative to doing that, I've seen a few people who have, instead, used a black or dark gray film to wrap the middle section of the bumper.

 

I am one of the owners who wrapped the center bumper section with black vinyl and like the result. If you search the older posts you should find some pictures of some of those cars.

 

It is easier just to use vinyl wrap rather than paint. Takes about 30 minutes to apply, completely reversible and only costs $3. Also adding a chrome strip at the bottom lip helps a lot.
Link

 

That Looks Fantastic!!! ^

 

Wow, you're not kidding, looks great!

 

Where do we get the Chrome Strip at the bottom? Do you have a part number?

 

It's aftermarket, I got it from ebay more than a year ago. The current link is :

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Steel-Front...5/252836942267

 

Ordered..

Now I need to research vinyl wrap on youtube and get started!

 

You know I could have sworn it had the chrome there but your right it doesn't. Now I'm contemplating getting that. $40 isnt too bad either