Mimi's IS!!
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I'm Mimi, aka the mimster, and I'm new to the forum. I recently decided to buy a is300, and I couldn't be happier. I've had it for all of a week now, and have already started to tear it apart!! A few little things needed to be fixed.
First, some pics from when I bought it. It's a 2002 graphite gray pearl with a 5 speed.
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/IMG_20131025_125638_610_zpsfd92866f.jpg)
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/IMG_20131025_125653_194_zps430006ae.jpg)
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/IMG_20131028_174957_071_zpscba79196.jpg)
So two of the tabs on the rear bumper were torn somehow. Time to fix it!!
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0074_zpsa612bdf8.jpg)
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0065_zpscd4ee953.jpg)
The gap on the good side:
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0069_zps79935c94.jpg)
The broken side
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0068_zpsa969ff70.jpg)
Bumper removed!!
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0092_zps4646fca7.jpg)
Me being like, look how much room there is in the trunk without the spare in here!!!
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0090_zps03cf76c7.jpg)
While I had the rear bumper off and was fabbing up some tab pieces to epoxy on, I figured I might do some other aesthetic mods while I was at it. So off came the front grill, the front bumper, and the headlights. I plan on polishing the lenses of the headlights, painting the grill flat black, as well as the inside of the headlights.
Headlights off!
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0095_zps4985e832.jpg)
Pried apart
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0100_zps620fcb24.jpg)
Masked off
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0101_zps186c4204.jpg)
Grill and headlights painted!!
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0102_zps5a76ef42.jpg)
So everything is drying, results to come tomorrow. I can't wait!!!!
First, some pics from when I bought it. It's a 2002 graphite gray pearl with a 5 speed.
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/IMG_20131025_125638_610_zpsfd92866f.jpg)
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/IMG_20131025_125653_194_zps430006ae.jpg)
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/IMG_20131028_174957_071_zpscba79196.jpg)
So two of the tabs on the rear bumper were torn somehow. Time to fix it!!
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0074_zpsa612bdf8.jpg)
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0065_zpscd4ee953.jpg)
The gap on the good side:
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0069_zps79935c94.jpg)
The broken side
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0068_zpsa969ff70.jpg)
Bumper removed!!
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0092_zps4646fca7.jpg)
Me being like, look how much room there is in the trunk without the spare in here!!!
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0090_zps03cf76c7.jpg)
While I had the rear bumper off and was fabbing up some tab pieces to epoxy on, I figured I might do some other aesthetic mods while I was at it. So off came the front grill, the front bumper, and the headlights. I plan on polishing the lenses of the headlights, painting the grill flat black, as well as the inside of the headlights.
Headlights off!
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0095_zps4985e832.jpg)
Pried apart
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0100_zps620fcb24.jpg)
Masked off
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0101_zps186c4204.jpg)
Grill and headlights painted!!
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0102_zps5a76ef42.jpg)
So everything is drying, results to come tomorrow. I can't wait!!!!
![Woohoo](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/woohoo.gif)
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Well life got in the way, and I haven't gotten around to updating the thread until now! Not to worry, every thing turned out great.
Headlights
In the garage right when I finished them because I was super excited
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0109_zps7af1a739.jpg)
Outside the next day
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0115_zps26349387.jpg)
Bumper tabs in progress. I used an old credit card for the one that goes on the ninja star, and a tin can for the other, glued on with plastic specific epoxy. Should hold up well
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/IMG_20131110_124359_454_zpsd1f91e2f.jpg)
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/IMG_20131110_124412_370_zps5b45b841.jpg)
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/IMG_20131110_124344_956_zpsbe9268f4.jpg)
Marking up the piece to be cut out. I used tin snips to shape it and then a drill press to get the opening. Not pictured, but I also drilled some holes though out the flat part of it to allow the epoxy to sort of mushroom out, to help get a better bond. Also not pictured is my first attempt which failed miserably lol
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/IMG_20131110_124421_396_zpsee404282.jpg)
Also in the removal of the bumpers and fender liners I found a bunch of broken/missing stupid plastic push pins. I went to the nearby toyota dealer and they were super nice and gave me some replacements of all different sizes. Sweet!
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/IMG_20131104_111727_645_zps57bf3707.jpg)
I detailed the engine bay a little bit. I don't plan on any engine mods for a while, but I like it to be clean and look as good as it can.
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0085_zps984389bf.jpg)
Headlights
In the garage right when I finished them because I was super excited
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0109_zps7af1a739.jpg)
Outside the next day
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0115_zps26349387.jpg)
Bumper tabs in progress. I used an old credit card for the one that goes on the ninja star, and a tin can for the other, glued on with plastic specific epoxy. Should hold up well
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/IMG_20131110_124359_454_zpsd1f91e2f.jpg)
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/IMG_20131110_124412_370_zps5b45b841.jpg)
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/IMG_20131110_124344_956_zpsbe9268f4.jpg)
Marking up the piece to be cut out. I used tin snips to shape it and then a drill press to get the opening. Not pictured, but I also drilled some holes though out the flat part of it to allow the epoxy to sort of mushroom out, to help get a better bond. Also not pictured is my first attempt which failed miserably lol
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/IMG_20131110_124421_396_zpsee404282.jpg)
Also in the removal of the bumpers and fender liners I found a bunch of broken/missing stupid plastic push pins. I went to the nearby toyota dealer and they were super nice and gave me some replacements of all different sizes. Sweet!
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/IMG_20131104_111727_645_zps57bf3707.jpg)
I detailed the engine bay a little bit. I don't plan on any engine mods for a while, but I like it to be clean and look as good as it can.
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0085_zps984389bf.jpg)
![](http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o690/themimster42/Lexus/DSC_0083_zps0ec0e25c.jpg)
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Thanks for the welcome!!
Thanks, I am loving the car so far!!
I had already torn the headlights apart by the time I read this, but I did use latex gloves whenever I was handling them. Thanks for the tip!
I was already a toyota fan before I got the IS (I drove a tacoma for many years) but I am glad I made an upgrade to their luxury brand!! Sometimes its just nice to have heated seats!!! And yes, body transport capability is vital knowledge LOLOLOL
Thank you! Good to know! I have a hatred for light colored lights. I guess I wont have to tear my tail lights apart too!!
Thanks, I am loving the car so far!!
Thank you! Good to know! I have a hatred for light colored lights. I guess I wont have to tear my tail lights apart too!!
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Wouldn't happen to have any other shots of the front end after the headlight mod, would ya? I have a GGP IS300 as well and dunno if that's something I'd like to pursue or not.
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If you don't like the feel of the way it shifts, look into the CDD delete: http://my.is/forums/f221/manual-owne...ce-cdd-155744/. You can also replace the part with a ~10mm brake union....I think. I got the one by Figs motorsports. It's more expensive, but it looks better lol.