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Madison Motorsports
'04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily (/showthread.php?tid=10880)

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Re: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - fiveoh2go - 01-20-2015

JPolen01 Wrote:[Image: is300_vskf_fs2_01.jpg]

[Image: 8519rhq.gif]

I second Jake on keeping the OE wheels. They're clean, understated, and FREE....leaves more munnies for turbozzz. :twisted:


Re: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - Goodspeed - 01-20-2015

ViPER1313 Wrote:Nice pickup :thumbup: I think this makes you the 4th one in the club over the years (you + Rex, Laura & Lee, were there others?

Thanks! I think David M has a red 5 speed one too

Re: lip, I am doing more research. Properly fitting the first one in my earlier post might require custom brackets and drilling, might be more of a pain in the ass than it's worth...I will probably do some wheels and a slight drop and see if it still seems warranted.

And thanks for the support/seceding hate on the trans (how it warmed me though) - I honestly have 0.0 regrets. Hell, I played with the manual mode the other day and actually….kind of…liked it. It was kinda lethargic in its response I guess (I haven’t driven anything flappy paddle etc. to compare it to), but it did what I asked and was less gimmicky than I expected. There is a “power” button that apparently sharpens throttle response, and even when left in D the auto box actually seems pretty damn smart:

[youtube]IMWWCneCSwI[/youtube]

For cruising around/stop’n’go and hitting the occasional autocross, I think it’ll do quite nicely. If I buy an auto MKIV though, rip the wing off and beat me with it.

Kaan Wrote:TE37 Time Attacks... don't overlook these please Smile

JPolen01 Wrote:If I might add my suggestion, Work VS KF

Mmmm…I would much like to have JDM hotness like the Volks but I will have to ball on a budget with this. I do like the stockers a lot, but I think these cars really come alive with a mild drop and slightly larger + wider 18’s:

(factory riced L-Tuned model, but slightly lower on 18's)

[Image: 3c22370f778950f6475f2f5427cd8709.jpg]


Re: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - Jake - 01-21-2015

Goodspeed Wrote:Thanks! I think David M has a red 5 speed one too

Had one, he sold it a little over a year ago I believe. It had weird clearcoat peel in spots, apparently a Toyota/Lexus thing with red paint? So I've heard.


Re: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - navin - 01-21-2015

A buddy of mine tracked his 'automatic' IS300 for awhile before purchasing Rex's 5spd IS300.... it can be done Goodspeed, no excuses.


Re: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - Goodspeed - 01-21-2015

navin Wrote:A buddy of mine tracked his 'automatic' IS300 for awhile before purchasing Rex's 5spd IS300.... it can be done Goodspeed, no excuses.

I just received my silver license plate frames, am I doing it right?


Re: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - ScottyB - 01-21-2015

Goodspeed Wrote:[Image: 3c22370f778950f6475f2f5427cd8709.jpg]

kinda meh on these personally. a little too late 90's/early 00's "tuner style" to me.

i've seen a couple IS's on low/mid offset wheels and its perfect every time.
[Image: car-photo-2003-lexus-is300-17x9-45-17x10...wheels.jpg]


Re: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - interfooler - 01-21-2015

Nice! I'm jealous, haha. I was actually trying to find a good condition is300 (manual, though) before getting the fr-s. Unfortunately, every one I looked at was either ragged out, was in a wreck, or was overpriced by a good bit. Sad

I was always a fan of BBS rk -styled wheels on the car. Here's a pic of one on Works
[Image: is300_crkai.jpg]

And Team Lexus
[Image: 7906d1150762831-team-lexus-drifts-forward-02_sat_lg.jpg]

You should see if you can find a mazurri or team lexus header, haha. They sound so sick


Re: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - Goodspeed - 01-21-2015

interfooler Wrote:Nice! I'm jealous, haha. I was actually trying to find a good condition is300 (manual, though) before getting the fr-s. Unfortunately, every one I looked at was either ragged out, was in a wreck, or was overpriced by a good bit. Sad

That's honestly another reason I sought out an auto. I believe the numbers are something like 1 in 10 manual vs. auto, and by this point I bet most of them have been through multiple owners who bestowed them with questionable mods and just generally beat on them. I knew my chance of finding a really clean/well maintained example at a fair price was astronomically higher with an auto.

And it's funny you mention the BBS's...I came across a pic of them like you posted the other day and it did look damn good :thumbup:


Re: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - SlimKlim - 01-21-2015

The IS is one of the few cars I actually like CCWs on

[Image: p4909195-5.jpg]

Mmmmmmmm meaty


Re: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - *insertusernamehere* - 01-21-2015

JPolen01 Wrote:If I might add my suggestion, Work VS KF

[Image: is300_vskf_fs2_01.jpg]

Jon, go home. You are pissed drunk. Smile


Re: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - JPolen01 - 01-21-2015

:dunno: I love those wheels


Re: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - RawrImAMonster - 01-21-2015

*insertusernamehere* Wrote:
JPolen01 Wrote:If I might add my suggestion, Work VS KF

[Image: is300_vskf_fs2_01.jpg]

Jon, go home. You are pissed drunk. Smile

They look like what I would imagine walmart selling if they sold actual aftermarket wheels instead of just hubcaps.


Re: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - Jake - 01-21-2015

JPolen01 Wrote::dunno: I love those wheels

They look like knockoff Torque-Thrusts or whatever the fuck older Mustang guys put on their cars. Which only look good on those cars some of the time.

The first Denali I looked at had something in a similar style. I hated 'em.

[Image: 42647d1191874293-droping-2004-denali-car...small-.jpg]


Re: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - JPolen01 - 01-21-2015

You all are nuts. The Work VS KF look nothing like those autozone specials on the denali
[Image: images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSIQrGkQ4Fk0oxDO6F-n_p...RGIGpyrUxw]

Official thread jack


Re: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - ScottyB - 01-21-2015

POLEN STAHP YOU ARE DRUNK


Re: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - fiveoh2go - 01-21-2015

Jake Wrote:
JPolen01 Wrote::dunno: I love those wheels

They look like knockoff Torque-Thrusts or whatever the fuck older Mustang guys put on their cars.

[Image: OK.gif]

LOL wut?

Bruh, those look nothing like Torq Thrust D's, Magnum 500's, Cragar SS wheels, or anything else outside of the fact that all of them are round.


Re: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - ViPER1313 - 01-21-2015

Yea Jon, those look like something that you would have bought from Sears in 2001, and only because all the prettier wheels were out of stock and you just needed something cheap to mount your snow tires on.


Re: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - Jake - 01-21-2015

fiveoh2go Wrote:Bruh, those look nothing like Torq Thrust D's, Magnum 500's, Cragar SS wheels, or anything else outside of the fact that all of them are round.

The style of the spoke is close enough for me to not like them because a Denali, much like an IS300, is not a Mustang.


Re: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - xvxax - 01-27-2015

Ah yes, really looking forward to periodic oil change updates with detailed step by step photography on this one.

Syke, congrats on the pick up. Definitely more sporty than the old ride. Do the automatics come with LSD?


Re: '04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily - Goodspeed - 02-18-2015

Whoops, forgot about this for a while.

xvxax Wrote:Ah yes, really looking forward to periodic oil change updates with detailed step by step photography on this one.

Syke, congrats on the pick up. Definitely more sporty than the old ride. Do the automatics come with LSD?

Some of the autos did, alas, mine does not. I will test its ice-fishing abilities at the next opportunity Smile

I just picked it up yesterday from the shop that did the TB/WP service as well as the other odds and ends - fluid changes, while-you're-in-there seals, etc. They also found that the brakes were getting a bit worn and suggested replacing them before the next inspection, so I had some Centric blanks with the nice e-coating shipped to them, paired with OEM pads. Unexpected, but I have no problems paying for solid brakes after all is said and done, so I don't mind the extra outlay.

They also found the front lower control arms had crusty bushings that again may summon the wrath of certain inspectors, and the front swaybar end-links were also past due. I had heard them clunking around a bit and figured I'd do them myself with a set of sways in the future, but better to do them now. Unfortunately, the LCA (technically the "front lower rear" LCA) is a dealer only part. D'oh...that one hurt a bit. But, the car drives amazingly now, a noticeable improvement and feels tighter than before.

The only other things to sort out are 1) a dying air mix servo in the a/c system - this is a little motor that actuates some flapper doors to route air for either heat or A/C. Moving the temp dial to cold causes some faint whirring and ticking behind the dash. About $100 for a new one, and a fairly straightforward fix - I pulled the glovebox out to do the cabin air filter and it's a few extra screws and some ducting removal to get to the servo and replace it.

And 2)....possibly...the headlight auto-leveling system. The idiot light on the dash came on for this , basically there are two level sensors on the driver's side (in both wheel wells) and a set of motors in each housing to adjust the lights for hills and stuff. I called the shop back in case they knocked something loose or left something unplugged, and they offered to check it out for me so I'll take it back later this week. There are a few shadetree fixes for the problem, and new level sensors are 50 bucks each.

So my Lexus is behaving slightly Audi but, I still love it.