Lexus IS: Air Intake Reviews

This article applies to the Lexus IS 250, IS 350 (2004-2014).

Air intake systems route oxygen to the engine for combustion. That may sound obvious, but how that air gets to the engine is a big deal when trying to improve performance. Aftermarket intakes increase horsepower by fostering faster air flow than the stock unit, or by drawing in cold air from outside the engine compartment. The stock unit in the Lexus IS is already a cold air intake, so there aren't serious horsepower gains to be had from an upgrade.

Lexus IS owners have several intakes they can choose from, but this review focuses on three popular options in the ClubLexus community. Each intake mentioned will increase the horsepower of your Lexus, by about three to five horsepower. That's not really enough to lower your 0-60 noticeably, but the car will feel a touch faster. Installing these yourself is easy, too.

Lexus IS Air Intakes

	F-Sport	Joe Z	Luxury Motor Sports (LMS)
Price	$300-$587	$110-$125	$200-$300
Performance Claimed	3-5 RWHP	5-12 RWHP	4-5 RWHP
Warranty	12 months or 12,000 miles from authorized dealer	None	Dealer Dependent

Best Quality: F Sport

Best Value: Joe Z

F-Sport

Price - $300 - $587

Performance - 3-5 RWHP

Warranty - 12 months or 12,000 miles from authorized dealer

The F-Sport intake system is a darling of the Lexus IS community as well as the only intake upgrade actually from Lexus. This intake makes the engine noise sound louder than stock. It really wakes up at around 3400 rpm. This intake, and the others on this list, installs in about an hour or less. Authorized Lexus dealers offer a 12 month/12,000 mile warranty for the F-Sport intake. Recommended if you feel an aggressive, loud sound enhances the driving experience by letting in more cool air to the engine.

Joe Z

Price - $110 - $125

Performance - 5-12 RWHP

Warranty - Dealer Dependent

Although the cheapest intake on this list, Joe Z is also the most contentious and most difficult to find. Joe Z is one of the few intakes with a dyno testing to back up their performance. Noticeably, the Joe Z intake is missing the noise generator on the stock pipe. This intake is quieter than the stock unit, but it is also more efficient. You can find these systems through car forums and eBay, but there's no storefront that sells them online. Recommended for owners who want power and stealth performance.

Featured Video: Joe Z Dyno Test

Luxury Motor Sports (LMS)

Price - $200-$300

Performance - 4-5 RWHP

Warranty - Dealer Dependent

LMS is another popular intake manufacturer. One user claimed a gain attain of 3.68 horse power at the wheels, but, dyno charts should always be taken with a grain of salt. LMS' air intake lacks a heat shield, however, making the air filter susceptible to heat from the engine. Hot air is less dense and will reduce engine performance. Installing a custom made heat shield to counteract heat-soak in your intake is an easy project. The sound from this intake is a loud rumble after 4000 rpm. Recommended if you aren't worried about losing 5 horsepower and want a stylish intake.

Related Site

• Lexus IS Accessories - Lexus.com