Greetings! I'm a noob here and have been reading through the different threads on how folks have mod'ed their ISx50's. I'd like to do some mild things and am asking for some suggestions.

My 2011 IS250 does not have the F-Sport package (we really wanted the ventilated seats). We do have the 18" 5-spoke wheels that were chromed, a clear bra, and window tint. Here is a link to my welcome post with multiple pictures of the car: click here

I'm thinking of the following mods;

• F-Sport Performance Lowering Springs Kit (I'm assuming I won't need to replace the shocks with this kit)
• F-Sport Stabilizer Sway Bar Set (front & rear)
• F-Sport Front lip kit (since there really are no other options. Thanks to Trza for the DIY Guide)
• Replace interior and exterior lights with VLEDs
• Aluminum Sport Pedal Set
• Roof Spoiler (added via suggestion from anthrax144)
• MediaLinQ Plus - High End Digital Audio/Video interface with iPod Out & iPod Video Out functionality

I don't want to go too radical with these mods (i.e. I'm not gonna drop it to the ground...). However, I'm looking to give it a slightly different look so it is unique and sporty. Any other ideas for mods are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Below is a picture of the car:

 

Congrats and welcome!

1. The springs will work with the stock springs, but since they are progressive, it will wear out faster, and hence they work much better alongside the F-Sport Blistein Shock Set.

2. Sway bars will make your ride a little stiffer, not much, but it does eliminate some of the body roll on higher speed turns. If your preference is on handling, this would be a good choice to start out with.

3. As you did skip on the F-Sport package, you can always add on the F-Sport lip kit from Sewell (well known vendor for Club Lexus).

Notes: If you wanted to go the performance route, I'd start with the F-Sport Intake (or Joe Z aftermarket) to give your car a little more growl, but nothing radical as you said.

 

Incorrect. Sway bars have zero effect on stiffness. All they do is reduce body roll. It was also the first mod I did to my car and it noticeably improves the handling with zero drawbacks.

As far as minor mods go, I like the roof spoilers. Do a search, they're are plenty of topics on it. I went with one from oem.things on Ebay as many others did. Fairly cheap and gives the car a nice look.

 

Thicker swaybar will make the car ride harsher because independency between left and Right side is decreased.

If you run squarely over speed bump, you won't feel it because left and right wheel bump and rebound at the same time.

But if you run over a pothole on your left rear, your left rear wheel will be bumped up more than right rear making your sway bar to twist. You will feel that the car ride is rougher in this case.

 

get H&R spring instead of f sport just in case you want to change springs... of course many people here will recommend br coilovers.

 

don't waste ur money on springs..get coils instead

 

Oh boy. You may not notice it, but it does. That's the whole point of a "sway bar" and "reducing body roll." The thicker bar reduces your leaning hence your ability to "absorb" bumps and knocks is reduced.

The drawbacks, as I labeled, was little. The bumps are, more apparent than noticeable, but nothing to complain or regard.

 

If you just want a small drop, then the F-Sport springs will do... not necessary to buy coilovers.

 

Another option would be to get the X-Package/F-Sport package spring and absorber. This way, this way you'll have a linear spring and minimal drop at the front (0.4") and would a car would be like as you purchased a car with X-Package/F-Sport since the sport spring/shock set comes with it.

To to clarify - the sport in this case is not the "F-Sport" accessories parts.

 

F-sport grill insert

 

Clarification here-

What the sway bars do is make your independent suspension less independent... this will not make a difference over bumps if they're even...going over a speedbump evenly for example should feel exactly the same as before... but it will make a (very small) difference over uneven bumps and such... (like if one side hits a rut/hole and the other does not)

Not enough of one to really matter though unless your roads are really horrible, especially given how much it improves the car around corners.

 

that's what i meant. i did say "a little" in my first post.

 

I may be a little dense here 'cause I'm new, or I'm just not looking in the right place. I'm on Sewell's website (http://is.sewellparts.com/parts-catalog/IS250-2011.html) and I only see the F-Sport lowering springs and shocks. Is the "sport spring/shock" set different than the F-Sport set? If so, where would I get these?

Thanks!

 

The sport suspension is what comes on 06-10 cars with the sport package.

Even more confusingly it's what comes on "F-sport" option 2011 cars... those cars come with the sport package shocks/springs, NOT the F-sport ones.

They are NOT the F-sport parts.

You'd get em from sewell as well... look under the normal suspension parts and pick the ones for the sport package.

For example:

48131 4813153171
SPRING, FRONT COIL, RH SPORT PACKAGE&TIRE & DISC WHEEL-225/40R18+255/40R18,SUMMER TIRE,ALUMI

for the right hand front spring

Or

4851080257
ABSORBER ASSY, SHOCK, FRONT RH MARK 48510-53110,SPORT PACKAGE&TIRE & DISC WHEEL-225/40R18+255/40R18,SUMMER TIRE,ALUMI

for the right hand front shock

 

Do the sways first - they're the best bang-for-your-buck mod out there, and they greatly improve the driving experience.