'04 IS300 - Project (Not Really) Nice Daily

[Goodspeed]

Yeah, I said I wouldn't, but I missed having something to write about in the MP forum, and in the week I've had this car I've fallen truly, madly, deeply in love with it, so I want to share it with yyyYYOUUUuuuuuu.

Details:
Millenium Silver Metallic exterior
Black leather w/ gray piping optioned interior
Heated seats option
Moon roof
Auto/manumatic 5 speed
77.8k miles

Firstly, for anyone still mad I bought an auto trans version for a NoVa daily driver, please see below



Pics:







It's..nice. Scratch that, after 4 years, 3 months, and 7 days (and counting) of owning/dd'ing a XJ, it's really nice. I turned on my heated seats at 8am this morning on the way to the DMV and almost had to pull over to weep.

I found the car locally through CL for a very fair asking price so I just couldn't pass it up. I bought it from the wife of a retired Coast Guard admiral in the McLean/Tysons area, who was the only owner from new. She kept it in excellent shape...all paperwork from day 1 shows lots of regular service and general care. Thanks lady!

So...plans. Plans are very minimal and straightforward, so consider this a "project thread in a post". Firstly, the TB/WP service is due at 90k, but I figure I'm close enough in mileage, and with still having a 2nd vehicle to drive, I'll have it done. Rock Auto relieved me of many monies (but, awesome magnets) for the TB/WP kit, and I decided to do the more thorough job - cam/crank/vc seals, plugs, drive belt + tensioners, all that. I also have a stockpile of fluids to do oil, coolant, trans and diff at the same time.

I'll also do tint by the summer...I have 50% on the front of the XJ (legal) which isn't enough, and had 30% on the Miata which was nice but always had me on the lookout for the popo. 40% should be a happy medium:



Also, a thorough detail that would make Dan proud. There are a few knocks and bruises here and there, I got another Dr. Colorchip kit (great results on the Miata) and will give it a thorough going over when it's nice and warm out.

That's the immediate future...down the line I will want to get winter tires for the stockers (I will keep the XJ through this winter), which would give me a nice excuse to get a 3 season wheel/tire package. Funnily enough, I don't think the IS300 suits 95% of the wheels out there very well. It's just one of those cars I find looks best on the OE equipment or similar looking aftermarket options. I do love the look of this car however (Volk GT-M):





But won't be spending megabucks for my needs. Current front runner are these (TR house brand) in 18's as they look kinda like the OE 11 spoke optional wheels that I like:




I also need more 2JZ noises in my life...the sweet, sweet straight six sounds it emanates are reduced to a mild thrum by the factory catback. Everyone seems to love this stainless ebay special, and honestly for a few feet of pipe and a muffler I am inclined to try it. Looks sharp too:



With 80k of seasoning I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to replace the struts at some point, and I might do some comfy, very minimal drop springs at the same time to rid some wheelgap but this is all conjecture at this point.

Oh, MIHS in da house....light smoked clear front signals came in. I hate you die amber!



I think if I could DD a XJ for 4+ years (honestly it was fine, just a bit too agrarian at times), I imagine I will be able to drive this for approximately....forever. Stay tuned for "what's that smell" and oil change updates!

[fiveoh2go]

So...plans...

I also need more 2JZ noises in my life...

AMIRITE???

[Goodspeed]

AMIRITE???

You is right! Wrong chassis though :wink:

For anyone wondering, that is a very special collection of tubing that makes 2JZ's sing like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3doe1vyAYA&t=0m48s

[WRXtranceformed]

Don't get Volks or anything, do like I did and pick up a set of IS350 18"s. OEM and looks REALLY good!

Nice purchase btw, that is a fantastic car and one of my favorites I ever owned

[Goodspeed]

Don't get Volks or anything, do like I did and pick up a set of IS350 18"s. OEM and looks REALLY good!

Nice purchase btw, that is a fantastic car and one of my favorites I ever owned

I have seen that setup in my research and it does look good...but IIRC aren't they staggered so you have to get 4x front wheels or something like that for the offset to work on the 1st gen? I will keep an eye out for any sets though!

[V1GiLaNtE]

Oh yes. Can't wait for more details. Happy for ya Goodspeed!

[WRXtranceformed]

Don't get Volks or anything, do like I did and pick up a set of IS350 18"s. OEM and looks REALLY good!

Nice purchase btw, that is a fantastic car and one of my favorites I ever owned

I have seen that setup in my research and it does look good...but IIRC aren't they staggered so you have to get 4x front wheels or something like that for the offset to work on the 1st gen? I will keep an eye out for any sets though!

Double check that and don't quote me on it, but I am pretty sure they were direct bolt-ons without any offset issues.

Found an old pic:

[ScottyB]

i love IS300's so i'm going to act like i won't check this thread a lot despite you crushing my soul with your unacceptable transmission choice.

seriously though, want. i drove an '04, 5 speed charcoal IS in 2007 and still remember how much i liked it. it was just out of my budget at the time.

defintely go for that axleback exhaust. those engines sound too smooth and beautiful to stifle.

[JustinG]

[Senor_Taylor]

See "Shoehorned"

[davej]

It just looks so happy!

[Goodspeed]

Thank you Cabell and Lee for the pic - that does look pretty sharp!

i love IS300's so i'm going to act like i won't check this thread a lot despite you crushing my soul with your unacceptable transmission choice.

seriously though, want. i drove an '04, 5 speed charcoal IS in 2007 and still remember how much i liked it. it was just out of my budget at the time.

defintely go for that axleback exhaust. those engines sound too smooth and beautiful to stifle.

I’ve really been enjoying driving this around - it’s just the right size, easy to see out of, has enough shove and handles very sharply. I was truly surprised on the test drive how tight and composed it feels through the wheel…every bit as impressive as the E46 3-series I drove a while back.

And definitely going for the exhaust…the stocker looks bad and sounds bad (and should feel bad. Piece of sh!t.) Aftermarket piece sounds titillating:

[youtube]psWXWYMkOT8[/youtube]

When I first saw these swaps my jimmies were surprisingly un-rustled. It is just so badass. The angel on my left shoulder though…



Hey so new addition to the list of proposed ideas (if there is bench racing, is there bench building?). I was walking around the car today and realized there is a subtle set of factory side and rear skirts (you can see them in the stock photo in the 1st post) but nothing to match on the front, and thus the car looks kind of “high” in the front. It still looks great to my eye but balancing it out a bit might be nice too.

The internet showed me a plethora of lips, and I quite like this one. It’s polyurethane and about $70 shipped from the auction site. Reading up on it revealed there is a semi-elusive right way and an easily-done wrong way to mount it, so might be more trouble than it’s worth if the cost to mount (and paint) it is high. But for an initial 70 bucks for test fitting…worth a shot?

Stock:



Lip:





I love the authentic TRD lip for these but 13 (yes, 13) were made for the USDM. Not sure if any decent reps exist.



Edit: yes there is, VIS:



About $300 though. I got more important stuff to do with $300 but I'll keep it in mind.

[ScottyB]

:lol:

get the poly lip. perfect amount of aggression. the TRD/VIS lip is honestly a bit...boring. and that seam on the VIS lip is super distracting on a light colored car.

[ViPER1313]

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



Go for it, if you hadn't told me that wasn't factory I wouldn't have known otherwise :wink:

[Jake]

I dig it, regardless of transmission choice. I'd call you a name or two, but I'm dailying a 4-speed slushomatic so I really have no ground to stand on.

I like the poly lip for it. And really, I think the OEM wheels look really good, not a fan of the IS350 wheels that Lee posted, or really the ones you did either.

[SlimKlim]

Don't feel too bad Goody, you bought a car MM loves with a transmission it hates. I bought a car MM hates with a transmission it hates. :dunno:

[Evan]

Nice pickup, looks like a fantastic DD.

No shame in rocking a slushbox for a DD in NoVA if you dont want to confine your employment opportunities to within 5 miles of your house.

[.RJ]

if you dont want to confine your employment opportunities to within 5 miles of your house.

Wait - people commute further than 5 miles to work?

[Kaan]

TE37 Time Attacks... don't overlook these please

[JPolen01]

If I might add my suggestion, Work VS KF