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I thought the 18s were an option and as standard it comes on 17" wheels - strange if the fitment is different in the US
Are you referring to the Mk3 GS300 or the IS350? The IS350 comes with 18" as standard. Take my word for it, the 17" OEM rims on the 250 will not fit with the IS350/GS300 calipers. My 19" fit just fine, but I'd need 8 mm spacers if I wanted to put my original 17" back on (not!).
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£2000 for the brake upgrade kit isn't that unreasonable, I would've thought I'd be looking at that sort of bill if I just had to buy a full set of standard brakes for my IS200
That's just for the fronts, the rear F-Sport upgrade is another $3000.00. The IS350 calipers and discs are a straight swop for those on the front of the 250, well apart from a bend you have to make in the dust guards. I paid £625 for mine + pads (cannot remember how much I paid for those

).