Howdy
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 836
Likes: 1,075
From: NJ
Just saying hello to all. New owner of a 2023 500 F Sport/Perf/Prem (about 3 weeks in). I came from the world of Porsche, which was difficult to exit, to be honest. I am quite happy to not have $3000 maintenance visits at my P dealer.
Pics coming soon, but I have already:
- Tinted the windows
- Installed a simple phone holder
- Installed a Dashcam
- Installed a Performance chip.
I want to hardwire my radar and am thinking about an aftermarket exhaust, but the pickings there are slim. The car IS is a lot fun and very rare- I have yet to see another 500. Anyway, best to all and looking forward to many years here.
Bob (Phila - Center City)
Pics coming soon, but I have already:
- Tinted the windows
- Installed a simple phone holder
- Installed a Dashcam
- Installed a Performance chip.
I want to hardwire my radar and am thinking about an aftermarket exhaust, but the pickings there are slim. The car IS is a lot fun and very rare- I have yet to see another 500. Anyway, best to all and looking forward to many years here.
Bob (Phila - Center City)
I have yet to see another 500 on my drives in Central/South Jersey
Last edited by Kanpai; Aug 26, 2023 at 10:04 AM.
Rookie
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 25
Likes: 46
From: Florida
Welcome!
Get some PS4S's on it and it will feel worlds better. I believe this car is almost dangerous with the stock Bridgestones. Carrying the Potenzas over from the 350 was likely to cut costs as they are also made in Japan. When you get around to hardwiring your radar please post it on the forum! I have a Uniden R7 and am interested in eventually hardwiring it too.
Side note: In Miami, we seem to have quite a few IS500s running around. Molten, Launch, and Ultra White (not including mine) live in the neighborhood. Not far from here, I've spotted an Infrared, Caviar, as well as a modified Iridium one. This doesn't include the others I've seen in the service bay. Never seen a Grecian Water yet
Get some PS4S's on it and it will feel worlds better. I believe this car is almost dangerous with the stock Bridgestones. Carrying the Potenzas over from the 350 was likely to cut costs as they are also made in Japan. When you get around to hardwiring your radar please post it on the forum! I have a Uniden R7 and am interested in eventually hardwiring it too.
Side note: In Miami, we seem to have quite a few IS500s running around. Molten, Launch, and Ultra White (not including mine) live in the neighborhood. Not far from here, I've spotted an Infrared, Caviar, as well as a modified Iridium one. This doesn't include the others I've seen in the service bay. Never seen a Grecian Water yet
Lead Lap
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,627
Likes: 5,003
From: GA
Seriously…welcome new folks! If you understand the purpose of the car, you will freaking l-o-v-e it.
…and I strongly second the opinion, swap those tires for PS4S’ asap.
Pit Crew
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 146
Likes: 127
From: CA
Chip
I installed a Thorton ODB chip last week. I can't really gauge any HP bump or gas mileage improvement yet. It's too soon. I can only say that the performance gains I experienced in the Porsche, after a professional tune, were quite noticeable. I had a lot of work done locally on the 911 at Fabspeed Performance, in Fort Washington, PA and other tune shops in the Philly area. I will have a better sense of the Thornton chip after my IS is broken in a bit more.
I installed a Thorton ODB chip last week. I can't really gauge any HP bump or gas mileage improvement yet. It's too soon. I can only say that the performance gains I experienced in the Porsche, after a professional tune, were quite noticeable. I had a lot of work done locally on the 911 at Fabspeed Performance, in Fort Washington, PA and other tune shops in the Philly area. I will have a better sense of the Thornton chip after my IS is broken in a bit more.
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 80
Likes: 25
From: PA
I chose the 3rd stage Thornton chip for the higher HP boost. The instructions indicate you have to leave it in the ODB port for at least 100 miles for the chip to offer best results. From their ads:
"It receives real-time data through the OBD2 connection allowing the chip to study your driving habits and modify signals sent to your vehicles ECU. By safely optimizing functions such as the ignition timing, air to fuel ratios, transmission shifting and fuel maps, the chip module provides the ultimate horsepower, torque and mileage gains."
It comes with a 30 day return policy, so if I am not convinced, I should be able to get a refund.
I have a road trip coming up next week, heading up towards the Albany area from Philly. I will have an opportunity to see if I notice any real improvements in hp and torque.
"It receives real-time data through the OBD2 connection allowing the chip to study your driving habits and modify signals sent to your vehicles ECU. By safely optimizing functions such as the ignition timing, air to fuel ratios, transmission shifting and fuel maps, the chip module provides the ultimate horsepower, torque and mileage gains."
It comes with a 30 day return policy, so if I am not convinced, I should be able to get a refund.
I have a road trip coming up next week, heading up towards the Albany area from Philly. I will have an opportunity to see if I notice any real improvements in hp and torque.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 825
I chose the 3rd stage Thornton chip for the higher HP boost. The instructions indicate you have to leave it in the ODB port for at least 100 miles for the chip to offer best results. From their ads:
"It receives real-time data through the OBD2 connection allowing the chip to study your driving habits and modify signals sent to your vehicles ECU. By safely optimizing functions such as the ignition timing, air to fuel ratios, transmission shifting and fuel maps, the chip module provides the ultimate horsepower, torque and mileage gains."
It comes with a 30 day return policy, so if I am not convinced, I should be able to get a refund.
I have a road trip coming up next week, heading up towards the Albany area from Philly. I will have an opportunity to see if I notice any real improvements in hp and torque.
"It receives real-time data through the OBD2 connection allowing the chip to study your driving habits and modify signals sent to your vehicles ECU. By safely optimizing functions such as the ignition timing, air to fuel ratios, transmission shifting and fuel maps, the chip module provides the ultimate horsepower, torque and mileage gains."
It comes with a 30 day return policy, so if I am not convinced, I should be able to get a refund.
I have a road trip coming up next week, heading up towards the Albany area from Philly. I will have an opportunity to see if I notice any real improvements in hp and torque.
https://www.performancechipguide.com...view-teardown/
Racer
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 825
There isn't anything out there at the moment. I think Loi might be tuning theses cars, but no one else has unlocked these newer ECU's. If I may ask, what's the point? I dont see a tune doing a whole lot for this car unless you were to also throw headers and an exhaust on it.
Pit Crew
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 146
Likes: 127
From: CA
There isn't anything out there at the moment. I think Loi might be tuning theses cars, but no one else has unlocked these newer ECU's. If I may ask, what's the point? I dont see a tune doing a whole lot for this car unless you were to also throw headers and an exhaust on it.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 825
if you had ported heads and manifold and higher compression then it might be worth it to run e85 for the higher octane.
e85 isn’t cheap enough right now to offset the fuel economy trade off unless you had to run it for the higher octane.
On top of this, there isn’t a single flex fuel time available on the market for Lexus. Even the older ECU’s which are unlocked. It’s either you have to run e85, or pump gas. Or any % of ethanol, but the point being you have to stick to that ethanol content. There’s no live flex fuel available.
Pit Crew
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 146
Likes: 127
From: CA
But the car isn’t boosted, and the engine is stock. You won’t see much gain there.
if you had ported heads and manifold and higher compression then it might be worth it to run e85 for the higher octane.
e85 isn’t cheap enough right now to offset the fuel economy trade off unless you had to run it for the higher octane.
On top of this, there isn’t a single flex fuel time available on the market for Lexus. Even the older ECU’s which are unlocked. It’s either you have to run e85, or pump gas. Or any % of ethanol, but the point being you have to stick to that ethanol content. There’s no live flex fuel available.
if you had ported heads and manifold and higher compression then it might be worth it to run e85 for the higher octane.
e85 isn’t cheap enough right now to offset the fuel economy trade off unless you had to run it for the higher octane.
On top of this, there isn’t a single flex fuel time available on the market for Lexus. Even the older ECU’s which are unlocked. It’s either you have to run e85, or pump gas. Or any % of ethanol, but the point being you have to stick to that ethanol content. There’s no live flex fuel available.
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 80
Likes: 25
From: PA
If I may ask, what's the point? I dont see a tune doing a whole lot for this car unless you were to also throw headers and an exhaust on it.
Driver
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 98
Likes: 53
From: VA
I agree, starting with improvements to the intake and exhaust pathways would be a necessary place to start. I have had great results over the past 20 years of making enhancements to stock engines in an Infinity Q35, 535 BMW and 2 Porsches. Stock engines almost always have under-utilized HP & torque reserves to improve gas mileage and safety reports.I won’t be surprised if an enterprising performance company comes up with proper ECU reprogramming for the NA V8 in the IS 500. We shall see.
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monoglot
IS - 3rd Gen (2014-present)
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Apr 28, 2018 08:55 AM