2014 3IS F-Sport Bumper Conversion
04-29-15, 10:03 AM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
2014 3IS F-Sport Bumper Conversion
Here's a new project I've started. Back in Summer 2013 I did a complete wrap project on my IS250. This included upgrading to 2012 facelifted F-Sport bumper, LED headlamps, and LED side mirror turn signals. Here is a link to that project
I recently parked my car in a car park only to come back and find someone had hit the front corner of the bumper. Damage was only to the bumper corner and the headlamp washer jet. The wrap survived it quite well but unfortunately the bumper had cracked in a few spots so it tore through the wrap. I've repaired the headlamp washer jet and was considering just repairing and re-wrapping the bumper to keep costs down. But then I shopped around and realized that I could do this mod for under £500 (approx $780) and I could sell off most of the parts from the other bumper (FSport spoilers, grilles, emblems, fog lamps etc.) and recover a fair amount of money towards this project. So hence, couldn't resist this project.
The plan is to convert a 3rd Generation F-Sport IS bumper to fit my 2nd Generation IS 250. I've seen a few members like "6sick6" who have done it here and have done awesome jobs of it. So now it's now my turn to attempt it
As some may know, the 3rd generation IS has two different bumper variants, the F-Sport and regular. I was after the F-Sport because of the grille and the air scoops.
I've got all the parts minus the rubber weather strip that sits between the hood and the grille. I've been quoted £35 (Approx $55) for this. So far my spend has been just over £400 (Approx $620). Once i get the weather strip, the build cost should be around the £450 mark (Approx $696).
Usually I post all the photos once a project is complete, but for this project i'll update the thread with progress when available, so stay tuned for updates. and below are pics and details of progress so far.
The new bumper has the rear mounted flush type parking sensors. I like the style of these parking sensors compared to the ones I currently have. So I decided to test a theory with a spare sensor that I have. I cut-out the outer section to see if it fits into the PDC hole and if it still works. It works and fits perfectly. Below is a pic of the modified spare sensor. For the final install, I wont be using this stone chipped sensor, I'll use the actual ones from my car.
Below, I built a custom mount for the PDC sensor using existing parts.
And here is a pic of the sensor sitting perfectly in the hole (I'm looking for a white gasket to fit around it to seal it nicely too)
Here's the bumper to be converted:
Here's the new grille
Two sections of bumper bonded together
Test fitting the complete grille:
Test fitting on the car:
Headlamp washer jet installed, and custom parking sensor mount:
That's all for now, stay tuned for updates
I recently parked my car in a car park only to come back and find someone had hit the front corner of the bumper. Damage was only to the bumper corner and the headlamp washer jet. The wrap survived it quite well but unfortunately the bumper had cracked in a few spots so it tore through the wrap. I've repaired the headlamp washer jet and was considering just repairing and re-wrapping the bumper to keep costs down. But then I shopped around and realized that I could do this mod for under £500 (approx $780) and I could sell off most of the parts from the other bumper (FSport spoilers, grilles, emblems, fog lamps etc.) and recover a fair amount of money towards this project. So hence, couldn't resist this project.
The plan is to convert a 3rd Generation F-Sport IS bumper to fit my 2nd Generation IS 250. I've seen a few members like "6sick6" who have done it here and have done awesome jobs of it. So now it's now my turn to attempt it
As some may know, the 3rd generation IS has two different bumper variants, the F-Sport and regular. I was after the F-Sport because of the grille and the air scoops.
I've got all the parts minus the rubber weather strip that sits between the hood and the grille. I've been quoted £35 (Approx $55) for this. So far my spend has been just over £400 (Approx $620). Once i get the weather strip, the build cost should be around the £450 mark (Approx $696).
Usually I post all the photos once a project is complete, but for this project i'll update the thread with progress when available, so stay tuned for updates.
and below are pics and details of progress so far. The new bumper has the rear mounted flush type parking sensors. I like the style of these parking sensors compared to the ones I currently have. So I decided to test a theory with a spare sensor that I have. I cut-out the outer section to see if it fits into the PDC hole and if it still works. It works and fits perfectly. Below is a pic of the modified spare sensor. For the final install, I wont be using this stone chipped sensor, I'll use the actual ones from my car.
Below, I built a custom mount for the PDC sensor using existing parts.
And here is a pic of the sensor sitting perfectly in the hole (I'm looking for a white gasket to fit around it to seal it nicely too)
Here's the bumper to be converted:
Here's the new grille
Two sections of bumper bonded together
Test fitting the complete grille:
Test fitting on the car:
Headlamp washer jet installed, and custom parking sensor mount:
That's all for now, stay tuned for updates
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04-30-15, 05:55 AM
#8
Intermediate
Thread Starter
***Update***
The 3rd Generation F-Sport IS has LED fog lamps as an optional extra. These fogs lamps are damn expensive and practically impossibly to source second-hand at the moment. So i decided to buy the blank covers instead. This would mean no front fog lights. But seeing as I barely use the fogs, I dont really mind. However, seeing as the light control stalk has the front fog control, it would be silly that it doesnt operate anything. So i've come up with a solution. Here it is:
The new IS F Sport has 4 front PDC sensors, 2 on the bumper corners and 2 on the lower grille. The old IS only has only 2 PDC sensors. The holes for the PDC on the lower grille are rather large, approximately 30mm in diameter. So what i've decided to do is use the fog circuit to power custom built high power LED fog lights with a 30mm optical LED projector lens. I got this inspiration from the new lexus RC fog idea pictured below:
Here's a pic of the optical lens.
I've tested it with the high power LED behind it, it magnifies the light output and looks good.
Here's a pic where i just temporarily placed two 3W LED's in place to see how it might look. This pic is without the optical projector lens.
I've ordered an aluminium casing to house the LED and provide heat dissipation. Once that arrives, I will attach the lens to the casing and seal it up.
Stay tuned for more updates
The 3rd Generation F-Sport IS has LED fog lamps as an optional extra. These fogs lamps are damn expensive and practically impossibly to source second-hand at the moment. So i decided to buy the blank covers instead. This would mean no front fog lights. But seeing as I barely use the fogs, I dont really mind. However, seeing as the light control stalk has the front fog control, it would be silly that it doesnt operate anything. So i've come up with a solution. Here it is:
The new IS F Sport has 4 front PDC sensors, 2 on the bumper corners and 2 on the lower grille. The old IS only has only 2 PDC sensors. The holes for the PDC on the lower grille are rather large, approximately 30mm in diameter. So what i've decided to do is use the fog circuit to power custom built high power LED fog lights with a 30mm optical LED projector lens. I got this inspiration from the new lexus RC fog idea pictured below:
Here's a pic of the optical lens.
I've tested it with the high power LED behind it, it magnifies the light output and looks good.
Here's a pic where i just temporarily placed two 3W LED's in place to see how it might look. This pic is without the optical projector lens.
I've ordered an aluminium casing to house the LED and provide heat dissipation. Once that arrives, I will attach the lens to the casing and seal it up.
Stay tuned for more updates
04-30-15, 08:13 AM
#9
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Some more test fitting pics below, it's just test fitting so the upper grille area hasn't been bolted to line it up. I'm also going to block up any area underneath that lets light through the air scoop as this makes the air scoop looks a strange. The air scoops dont actually line up with the exisiting brake ducts. I was thinking of customizing the brake ducts to re-locate it to the air-scoops, but might not have enough time. The existing brake ducts fall behind the centre lower grille.
