NovaRnder

Mama's baby! It's been almost 8 years since the first time she laid eyes on her in a local Lexus dealership's showroom, she was like "she is going home with us no matter what!" Now, she still looking like a showroom vehicle and with 53k miles on her and all we have replaced is the battery, run flat tires and brake pads and still running like a low maintenance mean machine!! Talked to my wife a couple of weeks ago about maybe it's time to freshen up and update some stuff on the vehicle which led me to this forum and opened up my eyes to a whole completely different world. I never knew that this vehicle was so much loved and thousands of followers are so eager to exchange knowledge about this car in this forum. This place is so awesome!! I'm like a little kid in a candy store right now. Any updates or mods that I will do to my wife's car now I know will be well tested before and proven so it will save me a whole lot of time. You guys are all great. I will continue to update this thread from what I've done to her car so please feel free to comment (bad or good), give tips or suggestions!! Thanks in advance...

NovaRnder

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I have debadged and plasti dipped front grille and the trunks' s main logo. I'm not really thrilled about the glossified black outcome and will probably redo it (spray over) with just matte black

next in line to do:

● matte black plasti dip the wheels
● paint brake calipers red with white Lexus vinyl logo
● install bluetooth connectivity for audio streaming
● install back up camera
● update DVD navigation with 14.1
● replace back up lights 7W Cree
● install set of alum pedals (gas, brake, parking brake & footrest)
● replace interior lights with LEDs

when all the above are done then if the budget allows we can start doing mods for the suspensions, exhaust and etc....

Rob6656

Very pretty! :-)

NovaRnder

thanks rob6656!



thought about it when I was debadging a couple of weeks ago... thanks for the input

Autoplak

● matte black plasti dip the wheels
● paint brake calipers red with white Lexus vinyl logo
● install bluetooth connectivity for audio streaming
● install back up camera
● update DVD navigation with 13.1
● replace back up lights 7W Cree
● install set of alum pedals (gas, brake, parking brake & footrest)
● replace interior lights with LEDs

My recommendations;
Agree with the matte black over the gloss.
Your list is a great start.
Possibly more LED lighting conversions, especially in the cabin
Do not agree in removing the PB badging.

NovaRnder

thanks for the input! had second thoughts on debadging the PB emblem that's why it's still staying on...

so far the vote is 1-1 tied up!

mrblister

Leave the PB markers The car is special

250LexusIS

I am interested to know where you are at with that whole Timing Belt Replacement. 90 K or 6 years. Take me through your logic.

I have a very minty 04 with 33K. The thing looks brand new and have been tossing around the Timing Belt.
Mark

NovaRnder

1-2 (stay on) count! thanks for the vote!

NovaRnder

Hey Mark thanks for reminding me cause I completely forgot to mention it. My wife's cousin is a technician in a Toyota dealership and he offers his time and expertise to replace the timing belt, water pump & etc. on his free time. He just asks to go ahead and order the kit and just give him a heads up when the parts arrive. So I would say, my target date is probably to get this done before this year is over.

FLYCT

My vote is to keep it completely stock and sell it to me......

NovaRnder

ha ha! When we bought this car brand new from a local Lexus dealership, we figured she's a keeper forever!! why? We paid so much money for her somewhere around 76k if I recall right, Lol!

NovaRnder

this is an actual picture of a SC430 but had to photoshop the body color to a white (pardon the editing from my cell phone) but anyway, this is the "wheel look" I wanna achieve... I can see my rims achieving that by matte black plasti dipping them... now looking at those rotors, I might have to replace my stocks with those and should I keep my stock calipers and paint them red or might as well replace them too... ha ha so many stuff I can do, but have to take time so budget can permit! That's why right now, I want to this project section by section. Please post links what's the best rotor set I can get and should I replace the calipers too.

thanks in advance for the replies...

mpezely

Mark, I just did my wife's 06 with 50 k. The belt looked good but piece of mind was worth it for me. I ordered the belt/pump package from Sewells and had my indy install it. I paid about $750 part/labor. Sounds like your 04 is a real jewel and you plan on keeping it, easy decision in my book. Mike

NovaRnder

Dead on! Not knowing what's going on in there so replacing it on schedule, needed or not just gives you peace of mind!