andyk134

Hi

I have only had the car a week since the work was done and haven't really had a chance to drive it too far. it feels the same as I did standard off boost and then then it just pulls and pulls to the red line. You do have to remember to watch the rev counter in first and second as it gets there a lot quicker than it used to.......

the conversion took a week, but then I was having more than the turbo fitted (see above post). I have been told that the turbo itself it probably a Chinese or Taiwanese copy of a Garret one and is quite a large one meaning it takes longer to spool up than a smaller one would. But then at £2300 fitted it is a lot for your money and a custom smaller one would be at least double that. it is running 6psi which is pretty safe for the standard engine, but I went for the lightened flywheel too, to lessen the initial strain and help it spool up a bit quicker. the guy who fits it clearly knows his stuff and takes great pride in his work and actually only charges £200 to fit the turbo as he just loves doing them so is worth having him do it and he developed the kit so knows how it fits.

I will post some pictures when I have some time to take them and give a more full assessment after I have done a few more miles. at the moment I just cant get the grin off my face every time I drive it which clearly says a lot!

for your suspension, I went with Meister R coilovers as the are a bit softer spring rates than, BC or the Japanese ones and have been really happy with them. also do the roll bars, TDI are still advertising Eibachs, or get some Hotchkiss ones from the states if you can find them. And uprate the brakes which goes without saying really

Hi and welcome. I think there are loads of threads that will tell you that the IS200 isn't a cheap car to modify. It is very efficient in standard form and to get anything meaningful it is forced induction you need. also if you are looking for really high numbers then you are looking at a Supra Turbo engine and transmission conversion that is clearly not cheap.

No one makes superchargers for them anymore so it would be recon or used ones you would have to buy and fit. would give you about 50 BHP. Turbo's are out there, I have just had one fitted to mine last week and it is now so much fun. Gives around 230/240 BHP I will get it dyno tested soon. That is about as far as you would want to go with standard internals. But you would be wise to start with suspension, the standard set up isn't bad and very comfortable but that is what the car was designed for it wasn't built to be tuned (which is why I love it because it is different).

have a read through some of the threads on here about tuning and that will help I am sure. Enjoy your Lexus, I love mine, it is the best car I have ever owned

work has been donw, will post pics. drives the way the Lexus always should have been, it isnt a supercar but puts a smile on your face every time you drive it even if its just going to work! Really great job by Simon at MJS in Ipswich, a man who really cares about his work and reputation.

as the car is being turbo'd i have gone from bigger brakes, whick makes sense...... thanks for all the advice

I haven't used any actual equipment or ever had the car dyno tested, I just know how it feels. I have a friend and we measure the times on the same piece of road and it is definitely quicker, even he said he noticed it. I am as surprised as anyone that just changing the back box has made such a difference but it sure has in my case.

the car is going in to be turbocharged next week so will have some dyno figures then.... it should give around 240 bhp. be interesting!!!!

Well as I said before, all I can go on is how the car feels, and it is certainly more responsive and picks up noticeably quicker. roundabouts I have been round hundreds of times I can now accelerate away from quicker. my best 0-60 time has improved by 0.3 and the 30 to 80 through the gears by a good half a second. so whatever some may say about bhp or whatever, there has been a real improvement from just changing the back box and nothing else. my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner as I was put off by some of the comments on here that it wasn't worth it but clearly it is.

Since my last post I have changed the wheels and tyres and now have Michelin pilot super sports. incredible grip and yes they wear but for smiles per mile I haven't used anything better.

I know there have a been a few posts in here that say playing around with the exhaust makes little or no difference but i have to disagree. I have owned my IS for over 6 years now so i know how it goes and feels. A coupe of weeks ago i had a Powerflow back box and 3 inch pipe put on as I wanted the car to sound just that little bit better which it does. But after reading posts on here that it wouldnt make a difference in performance I was pleasantly surprised when mine certainly did. it picks up quicker and I am going round roundabouts in 3rd I was using 2nd for previously. I do agree you can make it worse which is why I just changed the back box and got a very nice surprise all for just £250. so I think it depends what you do

The work is being done 2 weeks today starting on 5th October. Work being done is:

Turbo conversion, approx. 240BHP

lightened flywheel

new clutch

LSD

Poly Bushes

Big Brake kit with red calipers

Rota Gravel 18 x 8.5 in Gunmetal with Michelin Pilot Super Sports

Work already done is:

Meister R coilovers

Eibach anti roll bars

Cusco front strut brace

Earthing kit

B & M quickshift

Whole lot comes to just over £6k for the new bits. Cant wait to pick it up on the 9th.....

Loved your joke "who may "chip" in with some ideas"!

I am having my 200 turbo'd in a few weeks. the guy does sell it as a kit but I am having it all fitted and set up by him too as he only charges £200 to fit it as he loves the Lexus so much and enjoys doing it. I am having a turbo (240BHP), lightened flywheel, new clutch and recon LSD all fitted with new oils and set up for less than £3 1/2 grand.

http://www.mjs-services.com/

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give him a call, his name is Simon.

Enjoy your trips guys. I am having my IS200 turbo'd in a couple of weeks so will be looking for a good trip to go on to really enjoy it. Not sure where but need some good weather too!

Well that's a good start..... if I am going turbo then probably need to uprate them all round to bigger brakes anyway

can anyone please recommend some good updated brake pads. I have standard discs and pads at present, the discs are fine but would like to go a bit better when I change the pads,

Thanks for your help

Sound is a personal thing and always a compromise. I have a Powerflow back box with just gives it a slightly deeper note without being intrusive and is just what I wanted. was £250 fitted at my local centre. go and speak to an exhaust specialist about what you want and they can usually accommodate you.

I expect you will get a few suggestions as we all have our favourites. I have Continental Sport Contact 5's and they have been the best so far over the Bridgestone RE 50 and Dunlop sport maxx. Depends how you drive and what you want from it really.

Thanks all for your help. they give a 12 month warrenty on the parts and labour they supply. have been doing this 18 months and completed 15 cars and only 1 came back, but only because it had 200k on the clock and was already blowing smoke and he really didn't want to do it but the guy insisted and it let him down. he has the conversion on his daily driver an IS200 Sportcross and never missed a beat in 18 months. my car has 69k on the clock and always been looked after by a specialist and I have owned it the last 6 years so I know how it has been driven.

Going for a stage 1 turbo (approx. 240 bhp. his car does a 1/4tr mile in 14 seconds), lightened flywheel new clutch, recon lsd from a sport model, all fitted and set up for just under £3.5k. I did speak to TDI a few years back when I had my sway bars on order and they wanted £6k just for the turbo.

I know some will say what is the point on a car of that age and value, but to me a car (and anything really) has 2 values. the value that someone else will pay when you want to sell it and the value to you of the pleasure you get from owning it. would you rather have a turbo Lexus to drive or a brand new Fiesta 1 litre for 10 grand?

Will let you know how it all goes. Life is about putting a smile on your face I say!

thanks for the feedback. I have had a long chat with them and they have done loads of custom and show cars and a 600bhp IS200 and the owner drives an IS200 as his daily car with the stage 2 conversion. he loves the car and only charges £200 to fit it because he doesnt want to make any money out of it but just enjoys making the Lexus go as it always should have done.

I am going for the stage 1 at around 240BHP, lightened flywheel, new clutch and LSD. Hoping to get it done next month so will let you know what it is like and how it goes.

Cheers

Hi all, looking for some advice. have seen a turbo kit on eBay fitted for £2299.00 does anyone know anything about this company and the guy called "Squint" who has built some very fast IS200's please? seems too good to be true, which means it usuyally is......

thanks

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-is200-Turbo-Charger-Kit-Supplied-Fitted-SQT-Stage-1-240bhp-/161813435193?hash=item25acd51339

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Hi Rio,

I noticed more with the roll bars than the springs, it corners flatter and gives a bit more stability on roundabouts. The spacers really make it look very different as well as improving handling with a wider track. And having them all Eibach means they will work well together. The only downside for me was that the back end still looked too high on the springs which is why I went to coil overs to get a flat stance.

Be good to hear you thoughts when you have them fitted.

Cheers

I got mine from TDI tuning. Took a few months as they were special order from Germany but worth it. If you can't find any next best are the Cusco ones which do make a difference and try some wheel spacers. Gives it more stability and fills the arches really well. Eibach 15mm at the front and 25mm at the back is perfect on Eibach springs. Good luck.

If you do go coilovers look at the Meister R ones as they are softer than the Japanese ones or BC. I have Meister's Eibach roll bars and spacers and a second hand cusco front strut brace. yes it is of course firmer than standard, but it doesn't shake your teeth out and puts a real smile in your face through the bends and roundabouts. And it does look good too not going too low, but just low enough and the wheels pushed out. And just beware of eBay, there are some bargains there but some rubbish too. good luck

Changing the springs doesn't always "ruin" the ride, it just changes it. I put Eibach springs on mine and far preferred a slightly firmer ride with less roll, it just depends what you want from your car.

I guess for the MOT they just look at the tread and the legal limits rather than the make of the tyres. I never let mine get anywhere near the limit. there is an interesting chart on the wall where I get my tyres showing how the stopping distance goes up as the tread depth goes down and it is quite eye opening. they also say that the Hankooks are at the top of the budget range so a good compromise if you cant afford the premium tyres.

I just always believe in putting the best tyres and brakes and any other parts, especially on something as quality as the Lexus, but also from a safely aspect. The same reason I put V power in, even though some on here say it doesn't need it and they don't notice any difference, I notice the change from the higher octane and the additives that keep it clean.

The multispokes are nice if they are in good nick and so far mine are fine and are so much nicer than the 5 spokes in my humble opinion. I still love the way the Mk 1 looks even after all this time and wheels can make or break the look.

What did you go for in the end? Personally I would never compromise on tyres or brakes, it is your life on the line! I have Continental Sport 5's on mine and they give superb traction and breaking

I think we are all different which is a good thing. I don't think any Lexus looks right with anything less than 17's and too many look stuck up in the air too which spoils the look. Just my humble opinion and I love the look of my 200 with coilovers and spacers on 17's and strangely the ride is better than the standard one if you go for softer coilovers and set it up right.

Bottom line though I would't buy anything other than Lexus even though mine is 10 years old, they never let you down and mine still turns heads everyday. Enjoy whatever you buy.