Hi guys and gals,

I bought an IS200se auto with navigator pack and am wanting to make it as sporty as possible.

So far I am resolved to:

1.) Add lip spoiler

2.) Add uprated exhaust as recommended in the relevant sticky on these forums

3.) Change brake pedals to something shiny and metal

4.) Where I come unstuck now is the suspension. I want it lowered to sport spec and to keep the standard 17" alloys, paint the callipers, refurb the wheels, add some better tyres.

Where do I start for this and how much am I looking at? Do I get the lexus garage to do it?

Also, I have done the worst thing EVER and allowed smoking to occur in my motor, as such I have 2 burns on my lovely velour seats, the velvety fabric, I am in the process of hunting for something that can mask or colour in the stains, any ideas at all? There are no cigarette burn holes, just hardened stains...STUPID STUPID STUPID!!!

Thanks for listening chums,

emissary

[quote name='emissary' post='587419' date='Sep 28 2008, 11:11 PM']Hi guys and gals,

I bought an IS200se auto with navigator pack and am wanting to make it as sporty as possible.

So far I am resolved to:

1.) Add lip spoiler

2.) Add uprated exhaust as recommended in the relevant sticky on these forums

3.) Change brake pedals to something shiny and metal

4.) Where I come unstuck now is the suspension. I want it lowered to sport spec and to keep the standard 17" alloys, paint the callipers, refurb the wheels, add some better tyres.

Where do I start for this and how much am I looking at? Do I get the lexus garage to do it?[/quote]
If you get a Lexus dealer to do all that, they're going to charge you a premium price for it. If you can find an independent Toyota/Lexus specialist then it's likely to be a lot cheaper. Or you could do some/all of the items yourself depending on your ability.

The lip spoilers come unpainted if you buy them new, so again you could paint it yourself or pay someone to do this for you. Several people here have fitted things like this themselves.

Changing the rear box on your exhaust, if that's what you're planning, should be a pretty easy job for any garage to do.

I don't know exactly what's involved with changing the pedals but I imagine it's something that you may be able to do yourself.

As for the suspension, the Sport is lowered just slightly from the other models. So you could try and find some Sport springs from somewhere (e.g. a breakers). Or you could buy lowering springs to lower it further, or coilovers (which allow you to adjust the height rather than it being fixed).

Tut Tut @ Smoking

[quote name='Steviewevie' post='587447' date='Sep 29 2008, 08:34 AM']If you get a Lexus dealer to do all that, they're going to charge you a premium price for it. If you can find an independent Toyota/Lexus specialist then it's likely to be a lot cheaper. Or you could do some/all of the items yourself depending on your ability.[/quote]

Not worth the cost of Lexus. Find yourself a local independent with a good reputation, whos Labour will be half the cost of Lexus.

[quote name='Steviewevie' post='587447' date='Sep 29 2008, 08:34 AM']The lip spoilers come unpainted if you buy them new, so again you could paint it yourself or pay someone to do this for you. Several people here have fitted things like this themselves.[/quote]

Much of this stuff can be done yourself, very cheaply. But it's a question of your skill and confidence levels! People on here can give detailed advise on how to do any of this, but if you are prepared to give it a go and save a sizable amount of nmoney, is up to you.

[quote name='Steviewevie' post='587447' date='Sep 29 2008, 08:34 AM']Changing the rear box on your exhaust, if that's what you're planning, should be a pretty easy job for any garage to do.[/quote]

Yeh, easy job, but best left the the pros. Had a back box fitted (and welded) for £30 before.

[quote name='Steviewevie' post='587447' date='Sep 29 2008, 08:34 AM']I don't know exactly what's involved with changing the pedals but I imagine it's something that you may be able to do yourself.[/quote]

Just bolt on, shouldn't be too hard, but if you lack to tools, shouldn't cost much to get done either. Lexus Sport pedals are very expensive (£200+ for three IIRC.) Momo, Sparco and others make nice ones for £30-50.

[quote name='Steviewevie' post='587447' date='Sep 29 2008, 08:34 AM']As for the suspension, the Sport is lowered just slightly from the other models. So you could try and find some Sport springs from somewhere (e.g. a breakers). Or you could buy lowering springs to lower it further, or coilovers (which allow you to adjust the height rather than it being fixed).[/quote]

TTE lowering spring are always a good bet. Tein coilovers are amazing but very costly. But if you want Sport springs, people on here are always upgrading and someone prob has some spare. Post in buy and sell section "WANTED: Sport springs" - something will crop up.

[quote name='emissary' post='587419' date='Sep 28 2008, 11:11 PM']I bought an IS200se auto[/quote]
Nice I love mine to bits, nice to see another LOC member from Kent too. Welcome to LOC.


[quote name='emissary' post='587419' date='Sep 28 2008, 11:11 PM']3.) Change brake pedals to something shiny and metal[/quote]

how does something like this grab you ?
[img]http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w163/djwozza/LexusPedalSetFitted.jpg[/img]

I bought them from E-Bay, identical ones are available Item number: 150300042023
and they are cheaper than the price I paid last year

[quote name='emissary' post='587419' date='Sep 28 2008, 11:11 PM']I want it lowered to sport spec and to keep the standard 17" alloys,
paint the callipers,
refurb the wheels,
add some better tyres.[/quote]

Painting the calipers is easy enough, use axle stands, Hammerite Smooth paint, and take your time !!
[url="http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=49969&hl="](see this thread for more details & pictures)[/url]

Refurbing the wheels
With the standard 5 spokes, if you want to retain the diamond cut face, a full refurb is required.
This means losing the wheels for a couple of days, lepsons of gillingham are very highly thought of.

Alternatively, if you are not worried about the diamond cut face, there is a company that did mine,
they come to your door and refurb while you wait.
[url="http://www.automotiverepairsystems.co.uk/"]automotiverepairsystems.co.uk[/url]
[img]http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w163/djwozza/GrasshopperInnMeet14102007004.jpg[/img]

These guys also do interior trim repair, so may be able to sort out the cigarette problem.
[url="http://www.automotiverepairsystems.co.uk/interior/"]automotiverepairsystems.co.uk/interior/[/url]

As for lowering, Eibach/TTE do replacement springs that will lower the car. For fitting see [url="http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk"]Wheels-InMotion (WIM)[/url]
For tyres, again I'd suggest seeing WIM. Also the IS200 is known for [b]incorrect geometry set-up[/b], which eats front tyres on the inner edge.
Again see WIM as they have the correct set-up, Tony Bones (WIM founder) re-wrote the settings several years ago and hundreds of LOC members
will confirm.....[b]a full geometry set-up @ WIM will be the best £100 you spend on your car IMO[/b] (but do it after lowering)
WIM also do tyres at competitive prices and also can arrange for your wheels to be refurbed with a diamond cut face.
(Falken FK-452's or Goodyear Eagle F1 go well on the IS200 IMO)

Seriously that might sound like an advert for WIM, but they do a lot of what you are looking for.

Hope you get sorted, any probs, gimmie a shout. Might be able to meet up at some point, or maybe ee you at a LOC meet sometime soon.


Woz

Well i'm thinking of getting some Eibach's put on my car, so would have sport springs to sell. I would also go and see Tony and the guys @ WIM (especially as ill need my Geo recovered afterwards) to get it done so if you PM me we may well be able to work something out along the lines of getting it all done the same day there.

Thanks guys for such informative help, I really have some info to go on now.

DJ Wozza, I may just take you up on your offer and meet up soon, just got to look at the finances and get everything done in one hit if possible.

Coming back to the cigarette marks, now as seen in the photos, these are like melted marks on the seats and I feel such a ****** for what I did, but still I need to cover em up somehow. I am thinking just getting them coloured in. Theye are not immediately noticeable and I think some colour rejuvination might just work, only thing is has anyone done anything like this before or could possibly recommend a decent interior fixer?

Thanks again gang.

I did link above....

These guys also do interior trim repair, so may be able to sort out the cigarette problem (see pics in the link).
[url="http://www.automotiverepairsystems.co.uk/interior/"]automotiverepairsystems.co.uk/interior/[/url]

about the alloy wheel refurb i found this diy refurb kit by etech for £27 on espdesigns webpage, could be worth a saturday afternoon of fun knowing ya did them yaself

Sorry DJ Wozza,

I am going mad. Mad mad mad...lol thanks for your help. Gonna call em tomorow.

I shall let you all know of the results. By the way, your pedals seem to be missing some screws, is that by design or did u simply take the pics before you finished screwing them in?

Thanks. I am going to order those pedals on ebay, I take it event though it says they are for IS250, they will be ok for IS200? (Sorry if I appear a bit dense here...)

Thanks.

emissary.

Thats the reason some missing screws. The footrest pedal is bigger than the footrest in the IS200,
plus the Auto throttle pedal support bar is in the wrong place for the other screws you could always
cut the heads off and stick them in if you like, plus I have a home for the footbrake one if you don't
really want it as I gave my one away.