I have been on here a while and figure it is about time I chronicle my build so far.


Here she is the day I brought her home. A 2009 Starfire white is350 luxury with Nav and Mark Levinson stereo and black leather interior. The exact car I had been looking for for about 6 months. I was willing to travel 2 states away to find what I wanted but ended up finding one right in my home city.


Had some problems and needed some help. Had a cracked Navi screen and a hole in the bumper, some scrapes and tears.

FIrst thing I did was fix the screen, replacement parts were cheap and easy to get.


Then it decided I wanted to wrap the roof black as I love the look, adn of course get some wheels that fit my personality better. Always been a huge fan of not black or silver wheels. Decided to go with gold.


I wanted to get a little more HP out of her so I got a F sport Intake. ( it didn't help much with HP BTW)


I then decided to Black out the headlights as I thought the stock ones silver look far to big. I learned in design that if you want something to look smaller or go away you put it in shadow, Thus blacking them out made them seem less obnoxious.
I also was able to find a 2009 front F sport grill and an ebay front lip to help with the lines. Painted it myself even.



Then I decided I wanted A little better performance so I got the Orange Virus Tune kit.

The tune woke up the car and made it feel much more how I wanted it.

After getting the power where I wanted it I decided as a professional audio engineer, I needed to mess with the Stereo but I wanted to keep it as stock as possible as the Mark Levinson system is really good. I decided on the GROM Vline 2 to add some features that newer cars have.



I was quite happy with how it sounded so just having the extra services made all the difference.

I then decided I wanted to upgrade the bading on the car to 24k gold. Spendy as hell but had to do it. I also added a halo ring to the projector and a LED strip under the headlight to make it look more like the newer versions.



I also added Eyebrows to make the headlights smaller but without hindering performance in any way.


I changed out the driving lights for new yellow fog lights.

Then it was time to update the breaks. I decided on some drilled / slotted Stoptech breaks.
I also painted the calipers F sport blue then epoxy coated them Starfire white with pearl just like the car color.


I decided to try out some tire stickers for fun and because I think it looks dope.


I also got a set up vland Taillights. I wasn't sure I liked them yet as I really don't like the headlights they make. But after getting them installed I decided I do think the tails look great.



Now at this point the front bumper is looking trashed and is not easily repairable. So I decided it was time for a refresh.
I also decided to get some 2012 headlights, but I cant seem to leave anything stock so I modified them a bit as well.



Took out the stock LED's as they look weird and disjointed with spaces between the lights. I added in a 18" switchback sequential LED and backed it up with a 14 inch Switchback non sequential DRL. I also added in two halo's one on the projetor and one in the bowl for the High beam.
I then installed a 55 watt ballast and LED hi beam system, rewired the pin out so that it is plug and play on an 09.



I finally got the new bumper in, It's a NIA 3is conversion. I liked it because it has the lip built in and I hate how the stock one looks without a lip. I prepped and got it painted. Again I do all my own work.



I then installed 12" DRL switchback sequential turn signals in the vents in the lip. I didn't like how the holes looked without doing something to them to make them look useful.
I was also able to find real carbon fiber fog light covers used for a steal, so i installed them as well.



I also decided I didn't like the lack of lip on the rear wheels so I ordered some with a higher offset so that they fit the look of the car. I just ordered the rears in the same wheel as the ones I already had.




And I decided it finally needed to get a drop. So BC racing coilovers.



About this time I realized it was time to replace the wrap on the roof, and me wanting to always try to push the envelope, I chose Black anodized aluminum look wrap.



It is a bit of a pain to keep clean but I love the look. So much in fact that I decided to redo the interior with it as well.



Then came the hard job of getting the bumper installed with the coilovers and lights and new wheels. I also decided to wrap my wheels and add accents of Rose gold wrap.
Thus I think we are caught up.


Here is how she is sitting curently. Took this picture earlier this morning after a cars and coffee meet.






If you have made it this far, thanks for sticking with me though this journey.

Still plenty I want to do and change. I will keep you updated when it happens.

 

She has come a long way! What a journey!

 

Some updates, I got the rear chassis support bar installed today along with RCF Control arm bushings. I didn't go RRracing because this is my daily driver and the RCF ones were softer and more suited to normal roads.
I also needed to change out the HID bulbs as when you use 55 watt ballasts it turns up the brightness and makes the bulbs you have about another 1000k higher. had 5500's in but they were looking purple. Now they look more like the bright white with a tinge of blue to them.
Also updated the Turn signals to morimoto amber LED's


Rear subframe brace


I modified the under panels to fit right back where they were and reinforced the clips that got deleted with zip ties so I wont have any fluttering or wierd noises from them.

Not the RCF's in this picture, I forgot to take a pic before installing them. These are the ole IS350 ones.

New 4500K HID's and LED tuns.

 

New parts are here!! And waiting on some more.

New F Sport parts!

PTR02-53094, Sway Bar front and back.

I also opted for the Figs engineering upgrade on the bushings as I didn't realize the kit came with new factory bushings.

Also decided on the Figs Toe control rods and need to get them installed. Now I have rear toe control.

I am excited to get it all installed myself. And get her aligned properly.
Still pondering on the Figs MEGA rear lower control arm so I have all the control.
But I did just pull the trigger on the 89650-53041 ISF Steering ECU. THought about going with the -40 that is for sale on Ebay but reading peoples reviews the -41 and -42 are quite a bit better. Wanted the -42 but just cant spend $600 plus on it right now. I figured the -41 was a good compromise.

 

Also got the Tire stickers installed and wrapped the front chrome grill insert in the same rose gold as the wheel to tie it all together.
Not sure if it is too much or not yet but wanted to challenge myself with doing the wrap. I think it turned out well, still deciding if I should keep it that way or not.

 

A few updates to add, I installed a new exhaust, the Xforce VAREX dual runner with an X pipe and electronic cut- outs built into the mufflers. It is a bit too trumpet like for me as is but I think second pair of resonators will help control it a bit more.
I really like the way they look though. I also sprung for the android controller so I can change the cutout percentage right from my dash. It also allows me to have it open and close via GPS location, RPM matrix or manually via button or via wireless remote.
It is pretty cool so far but as I stated too loud and trumpety with my PPE headers. I am now catless true dual 2.5 all the way back and it seems to have opened up some HP, but that could just be the extra noise. Need to get a dyno run in sometime and see where she is at.






Also ordered a custom steering wheel from OHC, Carbon fiber flat bottom with custom white center stripe and full carbon fiber button covers and full custom oversized carbon fiber shifter paddles.






I also decided to check out the LUFI XF revolution electronic tach/data screen. It has a lot of info you can display at your fingertips but I keep it on tach/speedo/temp/voltage most of the time. It also has a customizable shift light built in.



I also have most of my figs rear suspension ready to go in. I just need to install the rear control arm #1 and #2. Just saving up for the mega arms to finish it all off and get it aligned and corner balanced. These arms are so beefy.




I was also able to find an F sport carbon fiber engine cover for ridiculously cheap on ebay because it had a slight blemish that I was able to buff out.




I am extremely close to having everything done to my car that I planned on when i bought it. Still needs a LSD and I need to install the monster widebody kit I have sitting around waiting on wheels but I am very happy with where she is at.

 

Dayyyyuummm. You went all out. Looks good 👍