IS 350 performance mod questions
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: texas
IS 350 performance mod questions
hello club lexus,
I've got an 2007 IS 350 and wanted to start putting mods in it,
any suggestions on what to start with?
what are your two cents on a turbo or super charger for these cars?
I've got an 2007 IS 350 and wanted to start putting mods in it,
any suggestions on what to start with?
what are your two cents on a turbo or super charger for these cars?
There's really not much you can do on these cars as the ECUs are encrypted, which means no chip modifications. Standard BPU include:
- Axle back exhaust and midpipe - no noticeable performance difference
- Intake - no noticeable performance difference
- Headers - Yields pretty good numbers for the price; however, installation is time consuming and shops will charge you quite a bit in labor.
Your first mods should be suspension upgrades. FSport sway bars alone will change the handling dynamics greatly on these cars. Coilovers or spring/strut combos are a great addition too and highly recommended. Depending on how low you are, you will likely need some new camber arms, toe arms, etc so that you are not chewing up your tires.
Some have supercharged 350's, very few have turbo'd. It's a very time consuming and laborious undertaking to make the car function properly.
- Axle back exhaust and midpipe - no noticeable performance difference
- Intake - no noticeable performance difference
- Headers - Yields pretty good numbers for the price; however, installation is time consuming and shops will charge you quite a bit in labor.
Your first mods should be suspension upgrades. FSport sway bars alone will change the handling dynamics greatly on these cars. Coilovers or spring/strut combos are a great addition too and highly recommended. Depending on how low you are, you will likely need some new camber arms, toe arms, etc so that you are not chewing up your tires.
Some have supercharged 350's, very few have turbo'd. It's a very time consuming and laborious undertaking to make the car function properly.
Like they said, this car flatform does not yield much performance HP gain.
You will benefit a lot more from HANDLING mods, and here are the good one:
1. F Sport rear sway bar!!!!! This will reduce understeer a great great deal, the car will be even more tail happy just with this alone. Day and night difference especially if you go to autocross or track. I have done it on both cars.
2. F Sport spring + F Sport shocks. These are optimally tuned by Lexus on a Willow Springs track with the parts provided from Eibach and Bilstein. It was tested by professional driver who gave feedback for better lap times so it is the real deal.
3. If you don't go with springs, coilover would be another option. BC Racing is recommended. If you go for LOOK, coilover is the deal.
4. Upgraded LSD. I'm saving money for this.
5. F Sport chassis brace. This will stiffen the chassis and the car for higher rigidity.
6. Lightweight affordable wheels such as any forged 1 piece forged wheel. F Sport, TSW, Enkei etc...
7. Grippy summer tires: Hankook v12, Michelin Pilot Super Sport.
With the above, your car can be way more fun to drive than stock.
You will benefit a lot more from HANDLING mods, and here are the good one:
1. F Sport rear sway bar!!!!! This will reduce understeer a great great deal, the car will be even more tail happy just with this alone. Day and night difference especially if you go to autocross or track. I have done it on both cars.
2. F Sport spring + F Sport shocks. These are optimally tuned by Lexus on a Willow Springs track with the parts provided from Eibach and Bilstein. It was tested by professional driver who gave feedback for better lap times so it is the real deal.
3. If you don't go with springs, coilover would be another option. BC Racing is recommended. If you go for LOOK, coilover is the deal.
4. Upgraded LSD. I'm saving money for this.
5. F Sport chassis brace. This will stiffen the chassis and the car for higher rigidity.
6. Lightweight affordable wheels such as any forged 1 piece forged wheel. F Sport, TSW, Enkei etc...
7. Grippy summer tires: Hankook v12, Michelin Pilot Super Sport.
With the above, your car can be way more fun to drive than stock.
For performance wise, BPU (headers, exhaust, intake) will put you around ~350-360 crank HP (285-295 WHP).
Aesthetics wise, the possibilities are pretty much endless.
This car is NOT the car for forced induction, unfortunately
Aesthetics wise, the possibilities are pretty much endless.
This car is NOT the car for forced induction, unfortunately
yeah bolt ons are the most you gone get out of these cars without any tuning capability. sucks but its the sad truth. spend a couple grand on forced induction will net some gain but the cost vs horsepower margain is terrible. this aint really the car to mod for power..
but as everyone else said bolts will make it slightly more fun.
but as everyone else said bolts will make it slightly more fun.
Trending Topics
Here is the PPE header http://www.ppeengineering.com/products/lexus/is350.php
No, how would you expect higher HP to increase MPG. It should go the opposite way.
No, how would you expect higher HP to increase MPG. It should go the opposite way.
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
Top 10 Most Confusing Things Lexus Has Ever Done!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Lexus ES Review: Lexus Re-Embraces Founding Principles
Michael S. Palmer
10 Lexus Bargains That are Cheaper Than a New Toyota RAV4
Joe Kucinski
8 Weirdest Things Lexus Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
10 Lexus Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
8 Tips for Improving Your Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid's Efficiency!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Best Lexus Models No One Remembers
Joe Kucinski
TRD Off-Road Premium: Best 2026 4Runner, Except This One Thing
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!
Joe Kucinski
Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: HI
Maybe so, but the new Porsche 918 has 950 hp and gets 70 mpg 
Here is the PPE header http://www.ppeengineering.com/products/lexus/is350.php
No, how would you expect higher HP to increase MPG. It should go the opposite way.
No, how would you expect higher HP to increase MPG. It should go the opposite way.
My MPG has increased since adding the PPE Performance Package (cold air intake, headers, exhaust). I drive a LOT of highway miles and my average has gone up roughly 2 mpg. That obviously plummets if I am heavy footed lol.
Just to clarify, it couldn't be easier to get the car to function with boost. It's literally install and go, and install is half a day to a day tops once you have everything you need (for a supercharger at least)
Last edited by heyarms; Aug 5, 2014 at 08:18 PM.
I think the point he was making is that supercharging costs a lot of money to get very little HP and there seems to be lots of posts and threads about how problematic the IS becomes once supercharged..
