Possible Trim Molding Theft?

[HobieMarty]

I haven't driven my Lexus RX300 in a while and decided to wash it, (we call it Elvis), today. So I am washing Elvis and discovered that the left side windshield "A" pillar trim molding and the forward roof rack trim, just in front of the cross bars of the roof rack, was missing. At first I thought the peices must've come loose and flew off the car. The last time I drove the car was February 4th and the trim was in place at that time and I don't remember anything flying off of the vehicle. My son used the car once about a month or so ago also and he doesn't remember anything falling off of the car either. As I looked closer to see how the pieces attached, as I am going to have to replace the pieces, I noticed a couple of scratches and chipped paint on the "A"pillar which suggests to me that someone purposely removed the trim pieces, therefore, they freaking stole the pieces right off the car, right there in my driveway!!! Ugh, now I am installing some motion detectors for the spotlights on that side of the house.
Why the hell would someone steal trim molding off of a 22 year old Lexus???

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[SCadaddle]

Man that sucks. I'd chock it up and file it under "Supply Chain Issues"?

[Cooper911SC]

How frustrating! Those don’t “fly off” without making a racket/you or your son would have noticed.

When you order replacements I would ask the parts person about the clips.
Looks like the A pillar clips may be plastic and the roof trim clips metal.
Based on my experience with Honda and Toyota trim the plastic clips have a high likelihood of breaking during (careful) removal.

Order some clips too.

People suck… 😕

[pwd72s]

I'd think theft too...pretty obvious by the A pillar mark. You may discover why when trying to find legit replacement parts?

[Jeff Hail]

Many reasons. When the roof was painted on your car it was removed and not secured properly. Obvious by the peeling in the channel from poor prep work the trim was removed at some time. The clip in the channel above the drivers head rounds the edges off fairly easily and molding comes loose. Doesnt take much to come off at 65mph A towel while washing the car can snag the molding edge and break it loose also.

Or someone had a windshield replaced and broke the left molding and your car was the easiest supply source for Mr. Sticky Fingers. Usually upper moldings are sacrificial on Toy.Lexus vehicles when replacing glass. The verticle trim may be discontinued or back order with supply chain issues.

The chips do not appear new in my opinion. Typical front facing surfaces get chipped by stones and pebbles during driving.

[cabmandone]

Think of it more as someone borrowing it on a permanent basis.

You haven't driven it through any of the drive through car washes lately have you? Some of them, the rollers can get pretty aggressive and as Jeff pointed out, the trim has been removed in the past. I tend to agree with Jeff that the chips don't look new. The one appears to have some rust in it.

To replace it I'd look at car-part.com

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by cabmando

To replace it I'd look at car-part.com

Agree.

If you cant find a yard close they will usually ship it to you.

[Cairo94507]

Keeping cars in the garage is the easiest way to prevent a whole host of problems, vandalism, catalytic converter theft, parts theft, entire car theft....

Our country, at present, has pretty much "excused" all of these "petty" crimes so no one enforces the law when it comes to them. After all, if you have a car, you have some type of privilege ...

[recycled sixtie]

I am sorry for your loss HM. I very seldom park in my driveway and leave a vehicle out at night. The last time I did my Blink camera caught an attempted theft as the perp tried to see if the door was open on my Ford Ranger.

Now I have all vehicles in my garage or in a parkade. Outdoor surveillance is great but there are determined thieves anyway. Back in the 1960's my old Triumph TR3 was parked outside. I go out in the morning and a rear light lens is missing. Easy to steal as it was attached by a couple of screws on the outside of the car. Your Lexus windshield trim surround was more work to get off especially intact. About a year ago a neighbor's cat converter was stolen in his front driveway. We have several neighbors who park their cars in the driveway but their garages are used for storage......

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by HobieMarty

Why the hell would someone steal trim molding off of a 22 year old Lexus???

For the same reason some dodo head would pull down on my wife's Land Rover rear wiper to the point it breaks the motor.

Some people just suck

[HobieMarty]

Yeah, I do think that the car was repainted at some point in it's life and I saw the flaking paint in the roof ditch area also showing that the painter did not prep the area well. I see the rust on the one chipped area, if this was done back in February, and with all the rain we have had here, I would think a couple of months would be sufficient time for a spot of rust to show up given the chip is all the way down to the exposed metal.
Funny thing, I live in a neighborhood that is one street, one way in, one way out and there are about 20 houses on my street. I don't see any other Gen 1 RX300s on my street, but ya know what, now that I think about it, there was someone who had a Gen 1 and they lived up the street in a rental and now they don't live there anymore, hmmm, coincidence???

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[T77911S]

you must have been doing well over 100!!!

they just got my radar detector and foxwell scanner.
i did catch them going through another car.
3 of them.
one turned around to my 45 pointed at his head.
priceless, but i would rather have my stuff back.
couldnt keep control of all 3.