2016 Fsport to GS-F front end conversion
06-14-17, 01:50 PM
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
2016 Fsport to GS-F front end conversion
hey guys, ok so I had posted a thread on the General boards but since I've decided to dive into getting this done I wanted to put together a build thread as I feel this info will be useful to other members.
Initially, when I bought the car a few weeks ago I had the intention to swap the front bumper to GS-F solely for cosmetic reasons. I had assumed there would be a bunch of additional parts I would need to buy and/or modify my existing F-Sport components to work. Its now safe to say that I greatly underestimated the scope of work required to pull this off professionally. I have "built" (modified) many new vehicles in the past so I'm generally not phased by taking on a project like this. As most of you do, I'm sure, I enjoy working on my vehicles to make them unique and also perform better.
So my initial research led me to find out that Toyota/Lexus sells the complete GS-F grill assembly for upwards of $7,000 CAD. That assembly is referred to as part # 53101-30A50. Multiple dealers told me that the upper grill for the GS-F does not have a part number on its own and so the only way to get it is to buy the full assembly. I was not going to pay their price but was not going to abandon this project so easily. My hope was that my F-Sport upper grille would work (more on that a bit later). So I went ahead and bought the bumper cover for $500 (shipped in from California). That is part # 52119-3F904. I received it yesterday.
Today I actually began to tear the car apart to test fit the bumper and see if my F-Sport upper grill would work.
by https://www.flickr.com/photos/148430876@N05/, on Flickr
The bumper cover fit very well and lines up properly with the headlights and fenders. No concerns there.
by https://www.flickr.com/photos/148430876@N05/, on Flickr
You can see I have my F-Sport grille in place, and it is very close to working but not quite right. The 2 upper pins do not meet the slots in the GS-F cover and also the center bar, that covers the rebar, holds the grill out too far which doesn't allow it to sit flat. This is caused by the location of the parking sensors on the F-Sport. Upon inspection of a local GS-F I noted that its front parking sensors were only located on the bumper cover itself underneath each headlight. There were none in the grill. After looking at an RC-F (which the dealer told me has the same lower grill as the GS-F) I noted that the other 2 sensors were located in the mesh below the center bar. I feel that I will be able to relocate my existing 2 grill sensors to these locations.
by https://www.flickr.com/photos/148430876@N05/, on Flickr
Upon further fitting I realized that the rebar and foam absorber (that goes between the bumper cover and rebar) were not going to work. The absorber itself was contoured to the F-Sport bumper and again was not allowing the GS-F cover to sit far enough inwards. The air ducts on each side of the GS-F are actually functional on the real GS-F, I know that in my case they will be cosmetic mostly however I do plan on seeing if I can use the one of the passenger side to direct more ait to the intake filter. But as you can see its not only the rebar that is visible through the intake ducts, its also the washer fluid reservoir (driver side) - see pic below. Solution: order the GS-F rebar and absorber which were not outrageously priced. Rebar $350 and foam $75. I have not yet ordered them as I still need to resolve the upper grille issue. Also need to price the fluid reservoir or modify one from another vehicle to work.
by https://www.flickr.com/photos/148430876@N05/, on Flickr
I went back to what the dealership told me that the lower RC-F grill is the same as the GS-F and assumed that the upper might also be the same. I'M PRAYING SO especially because it is available on its own and not part of a ridiculously priced complete assembly. Armed with the thought that I might be able to use some RC-F parts to make this work, I went ahead and ordered the RC-F grill surround trim moulding (part # 53121-24040). I will be receiving that tomorrow and if that fits correctly into the GS-F bumper cover then I know that the grills will work also. So everything is on hold until that test fit happens. I will report back by the end of the day tomorrow.
Initially, when I bought the car a few weeks ago I had the intention to swap the front bumper to GS-F solely for cosmetic reasons. I had assumed there would be a bunch of additional parts I would need to buy and/or modify my existing F-Sport components to work. Its now safe to say that I greatly underestimated the scope of work required to pull this off professionally. I have "built" (modified) many new vehicles in the past so I'm generally not phased by taking on a project like this. As most of you do, I'm sure, I enjoy working on my vehicles to make them unique and also perform better.
So my initial research led me to find out that Toyota/Lexus sells the complete GS-F grill assembly for upwards of $7,000 CAD. That assembly is referred to as part # 53101-30A50. Multiple dealers told me that the upper grill for the GS-F does not have a part number on its own and so the only way to get it is to buy the full assembly. I was not going to pay their price but was not going to abandon this project so easily. My hope was that my F-Sport upper grille would work (more on that a bit later). So I went ahead and bought the bumper cover for $500 (shipped in from California). That is part # 52119-3F904. I received it yesterday.
Today I actually began to tear the car apart to test fit the bumper and see if my F-Sport upper grill would work.
The bumper cover fit very well and lines up properly with the headlights and fenders. No concerns there.
You can see I have my F-Sport grille in place, and it is very close to working but not quite right. The 2 upper pins do not meet the slots in the GS-F cover and also the center bar, that covers the rebar, holds the grill out too far which doesn't allow it to sit flat. This is caused by the location of the parking sensors on the F-Sport. Upon inspection of a local GS-F I noted that its front parking sensors were only located on the bumper cover itself underneath each headlight. There were none in the grill. After looking at an RC-F (which the dealer told me has the same lower grill as the GS-F) I noted that the other 2 sensors were located in the mesh below the center bar. I feel that I will be able to relocate my existing 2 grill sensors to these locations.
Upon further fitting I realized that the rebar and foam absorber (that goes between the bumper cover and rebar) were not going to work. The absorber itself was contoured to the F-Sport bumper and again was not allowing the GS-F cover to sit far enough inwards. The air ducts on each side of the GS-F are actually functional on the real GS-F, I know that in my case they will be cosmetic mostly however I do plan on seeing if I can use the one of the passenger side to direct more ait to the intake filter. But as you can see its not only the rebar that is visible through the intake ducts, its also the washer fluid reservoir (driver side) - see pic below. Solution: order the GS-F rebar and absorber which were not outrageously priced. Rebar $350 and foam $75. I have not yet ordered them as I still need to resolve the upper grille issue. Also need to price the fluid reservoir or modify one from another vehicle to work.
I went back to what the dealership told me that the lower RC-F grill is the same as the GS-F and assumed that the upper might also be the same. I'M PRAYING SO especially because it is available on its own and not part of a ridiculously priced complete assembly. Armed with the thought that I might be able to use some RC-F parts to make this work, I went ahead and ordered the RC-F grill surround trim moulding (part # 53121-24040). I will be receiving that tomorrow and if that fits correctly into the GS-F bumper cover then I know that the grills will work also. So everything is on hold until that test fit happens. I will report back by the end of the day tomorrow.
The following 4 users liked this post by DystinctGS:
06-14-17, 03:26 PM
#3
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
I would love to own a GS-F but its not realistic right now from a financial perspective. I paid $56k CAD ($43k USD) for a 2016 F-Sport with 10,000 kms (8,500 miles). GS-F are very rare in Canada. My dealer had one coming in that was selling for $115k CAD. So ya, GS-F would be nice but not for over double the price of my basically new F-Sport. I'm happy.
06-15-17, 12:56 PM
#5
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
The RC-F grill surround moulding does not fit in the GS-F bumper cover.
If anyone can find me a complete GS-F front grill assemble or even just the upper grill please let me know. I will pay you a finders fee. Thanks
If anyone can find me a complete GS-F front grill assemble or even just the upper grill please let me know. I will pay you a finders fee. Thanks
06-15-17, 01:52 PM
#6
Here's a wrecked GS-F that'll be auctioned soon. Not sure if you can get the grill piece separately but I figure I'd share.
https://erepairables.com/salvage-car...-gs+f-21125169
https://erepairables.com/salvage-car...-gs+f-21125169
The following users liked this post:
DystinctGS (06-15-17)
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06-16-17, 05:36 PM
#8
Here's a wrecked GS-F that'll be auctioned soon. Not sure if you can get the grill piece separately but I figure I'd share.
https://erepairables.com/salvage-car...-gs+f-21125169
https://erepairables.com/salvage-car...-gs+f-21125169
Link you provided is from third party partners, here is where it's being auctioned
https://www.iaai.com/Vehicle?itemID=...50&RowNumber=1
06-27-17, 07:16 AM
#9
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
This is currently at a stand still because I cant find any used grille parts and refuse to buy the whole grille assembly from the dealer. I have LKQ and a few other wreckers looking for me but nothing yet.
Stay tuned.
Stay tuned.
07-23-17, 03:31 PM
#10
Driver School Candidate
07-23-17, 03:55 PM
#11
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
have you seen this post?
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/bui...onversion.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/bui...onversion.html
07-31-17, 06:34 PM
#12
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2016-lexus-G...3D262987941625
07-31-17, 07:02 PM
#13
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
That's been on eBay for quite a while. It's way over priced. I made them a very fair offer and they declined. The problem with it is both grills are broken and the real source of the issue with this conversion is the non availability of the upper grill.
