So I had a respitory virus for the last two weeks so I had to take break and focus on getting back to health. So the now we had to tackle a what I thought to be a hardcore job was actually done in 20 minutes. My sunroof didn't work and my mechanic told me that the sunroof belt was broken and I needed to order a replacement, so I ordered a rebuild kit which included the belts. Lesson: DO NOT GET AFTERMARKET BELTS, the don't fit and work. Luckily the sunroof mechanic goes to your house to fix it and he brought original ones, one of the aftermarket ones are too tight and adjusting it snapped. He showed me how my old belt is metal covered in plastic, the aftermarket are plastic and slightly wider. All in all, sunroof, sorted.

 

Brakes had a light covering of rust that wouldn't go away. The car did spend a year or so in a repo lot and the car would lightly vibrate when braking. So it was time to tend to the brakes. The car, like other components, had performance aftermarket parts, so I decided to resurface the rotors and add new ceramic brake pads. Now the car brakes well, and there is no more vibration.

 

This is a great thread. I appreciate you sharing your experiences with the community. Will help alot of members. I've been debating restoring my 2007 gs350 and this makes me want to pull the trigger.

 

Hello Friends,

Yes, I've been gone for a while. Music, Cars and Formula 1 are my passions, but family comes first. All is good, all of our healths are good, so now I can get back and finish up my project.

-Paul

 

So maybe some of you seen that I have been asking around for an issue that my trunk wouldn't open, I tried the glove box button, remote, master switch panel....nada. The motorized mechanism whirrs away when closed so I know it works. So I took the car to a Toyota/Lexus specialist shop and he guaranteed he'd get down to the problem...and he did, but after 2 days I called and asked: "Find anything yet?" here is the video I was sent.....


Luckily the following day he texted that I needed to source a new master switch panel. Once that was replaced. All is in working order.

 

I had requested the shop owner that he can find a good condition factory airbox that I am interested, I am not interested in the performance intake, so I get a call and a guy is willing to do a full swap, so I was shown pictures and done. We both got what we wanted. Except, this is where a big set back too place for me.


The Intake was in great condition, he even offered to send me a new generic filter panel, so more new bits for my project. But if you play close attention to the video there is a pretty big problem: The airbox doesnt fit....

There is about half an inch difference from the right fender. If you look inside you cant really tell, but the holes for the screws dont align there, so the car must have been hit before or bottomed-out or something. This is when I contact my friends at 'IS Lovers' a shop and tuner that specializes in IS's (yeah I know, the GS here is RARE) and ask for a recommended body shop (since I know they have always half a dozen being worked on). I take the car to the body shop and they take off the fender and yep, there is some structural damage, nothing to worry about, but it will need repairing. While I was there we also discussed some panel gaps, and he stated that my hood is twisted, he showed me how it went and this was a tough pill to swallow because parts here are a pain in the *** to find.....but... two weeks later, a new found friend in the comunity which brings parts from Japan, called up his local contacts and found me a hood, hours away, but he had it sent with all add-ons, and just needed very little body work. So... that's where the car is still today. Told them to take their time...no rush.

 

I decided to take my headlights to a restoration specialist. I noticed that one of mine, which was always slightly amber, was turning darker. So since we are respraying the car, might as well get the headlamps refurbished.

Before:


Picking them up



After:


Once the car is done, when it gets ceramic coated, the headlamps will be covered in PPF as well as the corner of the doors.

 

Took advantage of Black Friday deals. I know there are a budget brand, but my friend recommended the brand and shop and he is running them on his 1999 Mercedes AMG E55 and has had no complaints. So I decided to give them a try. Gemini says that for my car and country out of three options these were the best. Suggested to get the ARZ4 o ARZ 5 only. Considering A) my current tires are the wrong size (255/55-18) and rub all over the place, B) There are 2 different brands and, C) pretty much rotted out. This should provide better driving experience. We'll see how they look with the current rear spacers I have.

 

And lastly some bits arrived:

1. The promised new engine air cleaner
2. A new set of Key FOBS
3. Rear Trunk Struts

 

This is the part that had a deformity and would not allow the fitment of the airbox. The piece was mended back in place. Ready for primer and paint.

 

Along with this body work, We adjusted the fenders, and had them resprayed along with the front bumper and the hood, this way we can have better paint matching/blending.




The 'New Hood'is also sprayed and ready for it's accessories.

After all is finished and parts re-installed. The whole car will get a full polishing.

 

Today, the shop starts building back the car. Any missing hardware, we will add, there are some specific wire adapters with clips which for now we will zip-tie to the radiator frame, but I will order. I\'m just glad that now I know the car is solid. No hidden problems.


Finally, a factory airbox in place.

 

I was a bit naive to think that this job was simple to remove the right fender/wing and do some minor pulling, hammering, finishing, prep and paint, but this is much more complicated than that. It a matter of angles, distortions, alignments and adjustments, so the whole front end needs to come off. The radiator support needs to be set up to take the fenders, which that in itself requires adjusments, then the supports is where the airbox bolts on to, and also the headlights. Then if all is aligned correctly, the radiator and condenser fit with perfectly in place. Sure there might be a mm lost here and there, but I'm happy with how things are coming along.

I was expecting to be back at a body shop, but like my cousin says "If you want it done right, then you have to do it again...right"

 

Baseline reset. Wrong tires out, will be installing brand new, correct size and type tires for the car.

 

The GS300 was built for a specific balance of comfort and agility, and the Arivo Ultra ARZ5 fits that mission perfectly. With a high-silica compound for grip and a tread design made for high-speed stability, it’s about making sure the power actually hits the pavement. No more 'universal fits'—back to the precision this car deserves.