When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Exterior trim pieces back from the painter. Gloss black. It all started because I bought OEM GS mirror covers that are gloss black. They replaces our textured matte color. These look so much nicer. Can't wait to put them on!
I picked up some illuminated cup holder inserts from Yahoo Japan Auctions a couple weeks ago. Figured I'd add some lighting to the back seats/jdm cup holder area.
Problem is that the illuminated cup holder inserts were smaller in diameter than the actual cup holder so they wouldn't be centered and would move about. Printed some discs that would center them and hold the insert perfectly in the middle.
Drilled a small hole in the botom of the cupholders and ran the wiring under the center console. It plugs into the 12v outlet in the center console and uses a t-harness so it takes 20 seconds to plug-in/unplug if need be, zero cutting of anything. It would also work on other Lexus/Toyotas models.
Now the back seats that no one sits has some lighting. Pictured is blue, but it changes colors to red, white..etc. For under $20 can't complain.
Bought two sets of OEM aero fins for both my CT and RCF. I have always liked how these looked but never wanted to pay the $300 price tag that lexus boutique charged.... Sure enough like with everything they sale, you can find them almost half off on Yahoo japan auctions. When I found them from the same seller I bought two different sets.
Part numbers included in pictures. Just temp attached them but it gives it a little different look... Won't be installing these for good until I put the 2018+ taillights on... so hopefully in the next few weeks.
Picked up the unicorn F-sport blue sway bars. Big props to those that helped on FB! Wouldn't have happened without some tags and pm's going back and forth.
They were removed from a CT where the owner's parents didn't want them on the car. Came from Canada and had some rust.. The powder coating was chipping away on certain places and on the metal reinforcement plate was pitted..etc. This is what it looks like: Came with springs as well, so it was an all or nothing deal.
Took them to get re-powdercoated. They pretty much matched the blue perfectly. You can see the stock untouched F-sport blue spring up against the pieces and the new pieces match the spring color. Only thing I lost on the bars was the part number that was stamped on. Not a big deal to me honestly since it was already wearing away. The plate still has pitting but at least EVERYTHING is now protected. And the part that I thought would be an eye sore is covered by the sway bar anyways, so you don't even see the metal plate at the rear..lol.
I also had them powder coat the black sway brackets blue. Figured why not.
Will probably install these this weekend. I was hoping my chasis braces from Japan would be shipped already so I can do the installs all at once but we'll see. Overall VERY pleased with how the bars turned out. What people don't tell you is that these freaking sway bars at THICK. 30mm in diameter for the rear and 29mm for the front!
BIG shout out to Indolent for taking the time and writing an awesome How-To for the 2018+ taillights: 2018+ Taillight Conversion - ClubLexus - Lexus Forum Discussion
Without that and asking him a ton of questions during installation I wouldn't have done it..lol
Without a doubt one of the best mods to date. Completely changes the entire look of the car. Really does bring it up to a modern level! I also added OEM Aero fins on the rear pillars. They look like two little tear drops.
The last picture I temporarily put on the TRD taillight winglet. These are discontinued in Ultra white. I picked them up cheap from Japan yahoo auctions so figured why not.. with both add ons I feel it's an all or nothing.
Wiring: Tried to make it look as OEM and hidden as possible. If you weren't looking specifically for it, you'd probably not even know...
OLD Tailight
New Taillight:
Both taillights on with no hatch garnish yet:
Hatch Garnish installed with both taillights installed:
Installed blue F-sport sways and some more bracing under the car.
Not a bad install. I thought the front was going to be more difficult because of the removal of the LCA and underbracing but I actually found the rear to be more time consuming because of the exhaust in the way.
Anyways, I bought two bracings that I thought were cool. First was the middle of the car. We currently have a black stamped piece there. It's kinda janky looking and mine was rusting. Hybrid pit sells one that is almost $250 and I found what I assume to be the generic version of it for about $100 on Yahoo japan auctions. The same seller/company also makes a front brace that goes behind the radiator. That brace was maybe $80 so I figured get them both to save on shipping.
Install super easy. 4 bolts for each, and it's installed. Literally a 10 minute install. You do have to remove the front plastics under the car but that's easy.
I MIGHT get those two pieces powder coated the same blue that I just did the sway bars to match everything.. but honestly the black bar blends in perfectly... you can't even tell it's there. And the middle brace is nicely milled. So if it starts to get banged up I'll powder coat it.
I'm putting the car back together today so I hope to feel how different the car drives after the blue sways and the bracing (if any).
Hey all, just posting to get my 5 posts so I can list the cargo cover for this thing for sale. I have no need for it. Anyway, here's my day of purchase photos followed by where it is now. So far I've swapped out headlight bulbs for LEDs, wheels are Enkei RPF1s with BFG Advantage Control tires, debadged the trunk, new rotors and pads, cabin and engine filters changed out as well as trans + engine oils . Been running solid and getting 35-40 mpg commuting around SLC (~4k elevation) on 225 width tires.
Finally, acquired a Tom's shift ****. Been looking for this for a while now.
Never had an issue with the stock shifter as it feels fine and looks fine... it's just bulky.
Tom's is nice and small. Only thing I wish was that it would have a little sparkle in it to match the console finish but overall feels a lot better than the stock one.
One note as well this has some weight to it. I was factoring that it would be very light and hollow feeling, it's not. Quite surprised by it but pleasantly pleased by it..
Debadged the car over a couple weekends ago. Much cleaner look to me. At first, I didn't think I'd like it but it has grown on me now a lot. Much easier to clean the hatch and detail. Now people definitely don't know what car it is.
Started by removing CT200H. Then it looked off balance.
So had to remove the F-Sport on the rear.
Much better.
I left the side "Hybrid" badges and the front fender badges. I might change the side Hybrid badges to the newer style ones, but I do like the current blue.
Thanks to Dorian for posting this and doing it on the FB group. I followed and did it as well.
Some Toyota cruise control stalks light up at night, They light up a very faint blue color but still better than our non illuminated ones. Since I chance the LEDS inside the car from green to white (still have the navi to do). I swapped out the blueish led and made it white. Now the cruise control stalk lights up white.
08-16-23, 07:54 AM
