TheShaddix's Build thread
#1
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Thread Starter
TheShaddix's Build thread
Hi guys. Replaced my 335i bmw with this lexus and enjoying every minute of it. A few things, of course, weren't cutting it and needed to be changed up! The car is an IS 350 Fsport.
Here are my two previous cars: a heavily modded 350z and a lightly modded 335i.
Just copy and paste these in your browser to watch
youtube.com/watch?v=Z-msdoOrvMs
youtube.com/watch?v=2yvs9-mYEk0
Current look:
Here is the lexus when I first got it, all stock
Decided to add some tint, remove the "is 350" badge for better symmetry, and added 25mm spacers. No rubbing issues with these other than in the rear on big bumps.
Then thought it would be nice to change the look of that odd interior trim. First I experimented with real carbon fiber, got some decent results but it's too easy to mess up, so I tried the new 4D carbon vinyl and really liked it. It's the closest thing to real cf look that there is and has a nice feel to it. It's night and day difference from the 3M di-noc.
Then it was time to lower the car. RSR sport coilovers were my choice after talking to a few people. I'm glad to confirm that all the praises and hype were true - these are great coilovers. On the softest setting they are much softer and more comfortable than the stock f-sport suspension. The medium setting is where it's at for me. On the stiffest they are a bit bouncy but still remain bearable. I also had to do some fender adjustments on front and rear to fix most of the rubbing due to my spacers. So far I've had these coilovers for a week and am really happy with them. As far as the drop, I do like when the rear sits higher than front. Also I'd like to wait for new wheels before making final adjustments as these coilovers are a pita to adjust in the rear...The spring has to be taken out every time, even for tiniest adjustments. Front is easy though.
I have another mod I'm waiting to install, will update this thread once it's on!
Here are my two previous cars: a heavily modded 350z and a lightly modded 335i.
Just copy and paste these in your browser to watch
youtube.com/watch?v=Z-msdoOrvMs
youtube.com/watch?v=2yvs9-mYEk0
Current look:
Here is the lexus when I first got it, all stock
Decided to add some tint, remove the "is 350" badge for better symmetry, and added 25mm spacers. No rubbing issues with these other than in the rear on big bumps.
Then thought it would be nice to change the look of that odd interior trim. First I experimented with real carbon fiber, got some decent results but it's too easy to mess up, so I tried the new 4D carbon vinyl and really liked it. It's the closest thing to real cf look that there is and has a nice feel to it. It's night and day difference from the 3M di-noc.
Then it was time to lower the car. RSR sport coilovers were my choice after talking to a few people. I'm glad to confirm that all the praises and hype were true - these are great coilovers. On the softest setting they are much softer and more comfortable than the stock f-sport suspension. The medium setting is where it's at for me. On the stiffest they are a bit bouncy but still remain bearable. I also had to do some fender adjustments on front and rear to fix most of the rubbing due to my spacers. So far I've had these coilovers for a week and am really happy with them. As far as the drop, I do like when the rear sits higher than front. Also I'd like to wait for new wheels before making final adjustments as these coilovers are a pita to adjust in the rear...The spring has to be taken out every time, even for tiniest adjustments. Front is easy though.
I have another mod I'm waiting to install, will update this thread once it's on!
Last edited by TheShaddix; 07-06-14 at 01:49 PM.
#5
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Thread Starter
No need for bags. Once I set it up, I hardly ever change it. These coilovers ride amazingly smooth too. And cost half the price of bags. I don't like tucked tires. I'm sorry, I just don't see air bags useful at all other than for lifting the car to go over big bumps/dips and that's not necessary if you know how to drive a lowered car. I like a bit of a gap and some poke with stretched tires. My wheel setup will be 19x9.5, 19x11 and tires 235-245 front and 275-285 rear.
Ichiba. For the front I cut out some section of the fender liners, removed the plastic screws, tucked the liner on the inside of the fender attachment points. For the rear I filed down the area where the fender and bumper meet so it's thin and doesn't stick out. Also I'm planning on doing a pull of the rear fender so that the main edge doesn't go inwards but instead is straight, and also will make sure the bumper follows the new line too. It'll take a lot of work but I want to push the envelope on the fitment a bit. I've seen several setups here with 10.5 rears and similar, and they look nice and clean, but just not aggressive enough. For now still trying to decide which wheels to go with. I have it narrowed down to 3 styles now.
Ichiba. For the front I cut out some section of the fender liners, removed the plastic screws, tucked the liner on the inside of the fender attachment points. For the rear I filed down the area where the fender and bumper meet so it's thin and doesn't stick out. Also I'm planning on doing a pull of the rear fender so that the main edge doesn't go inwards but instead is straight, and also will make sure the bumper follows the new line too. It'll take a lot of work but I want to push the envelope on the fitment a bit. I've seen several setups here with 10.5 rears and similar, and they look nice and clean, but just not aggressive enough. For now still trying to decide which wheels to go with. I have it narrowed down to 3 styles now.
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#9
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Thread Starter
20mm spacers will get you flush and shouldn't cause any rubbing. It'll be a noticeable difference from stock for sure. I had a dinan chip on my 335i, it was very quick, but somehow this lexus still manages to be more enjoyable day to day. It's just sharper, especially the shifting. And now that I'm slowly modding it I feel more enthusiastic about the smallest things on the car than I ever did with the bmw.
#10
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No need for bags. Once I set it up, I hardly ever change it. These coilovers ride amazingly smooth too. And cost half the price of bags. I don't like tucked tires. I'm sorry, I just don't see air bags useful at all other than for lifting the car to go over big bumps/dips and that's not necessary if you know how to drive a lowered car. I like a bit of a gap and some poke with stretched tires. My wheel setup will be 19x9.5, 19x11 and tires 235-245 front and 275-285 rear. .
#11
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Thread Starter
Those are some crazy offsets! But from the looks of it, the stock fenders can be pulled a lot and still look factory (more or less), and that'll give you almost an inch of clearance. Sounds like you just got the wrong offsets though. Most people are running 45-35 rear. Maybe it isn't worth the hassle to install the wheels that are just not made for this car? Only you can answer that though.
#12
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iTrader: (1)
Those are some crazy offsets! But from the looks of it, the stock fenders can be pulled a lot and still look factory (more or less), and that'll give you almost an inch of clearance. Sounds like you just got the wrong offsets though. Most people are running 45-35 rear. Maybe it isn't worth the hassle to install the wheels that are just not made for this car? Only you can answer that though.
#13
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Those are some crazy offsets! But from the looks of it, the stock fenders can be pulled a lot and still look factory (more or less), and that'll give you almost an inch of clearance. Sounds like you just got the wrong offsets though. Most people are running 45-35 rear. Maybe it isn't worth the hassle to install the wheels that are just not made for this car? Only you can answer that though.
#14
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Thread Starter
How do you shave our fender? It's already rolled cleanly, the only thing left is to pull it. If you shave it it'll just cut your tire when it hits instead of rubbing on it.
#15
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