Front Bumper options?

[Matt1280]

Has anyone managed to fit a genuine more modern big grill front bumper to there is250? 
Obviously it’ll need modifications to fit, but just wondering if there’s any that will fit better than others? 

[Linas.P]

I am pretty sure there are several modified cars with big grills from mk3. Some earlier cars were full custom jobs - grille of mk3 is used, then the bumper of mk2 is modified to fit, cut, glued together, fiberglassed, filled, painted and that is how people end-up with mk3 front on mk2s.

Like here on IS-F:

 

Nowadays there are ready made kits - https://www.amazon.co.uk/2006-2013-Conversion-Unpainted-IKON-MOTORSPORTS/dp/B076WTQ8W4

Like here they already using kit (meaning it is bumper made to fit to mk2 as above):

 

[Matt1280]

I’ve been looking for a coversion bumper but can only find them in China, they seem to be quite expensive and then there’s import tax as well. 
 

[steve2006]

Whichever way you want to go it’s going to be expensive.

Very little is manufactured here in the UK so it’s doubtful that you will find a ready made custom kit from other than China.

Another option is to buy a complete front end off the later model, perhaps a rear end write off and then find a UK company who can then modify and fit it to your car.

Last option is buy the later model 😀

[Matt1280]

I’m thinking pick up a bumper the same as mine and pick up a modern grill and get working on it as a project

[Matt1280]

I’m just wanting to make the front look a little more aggressive 

[Linas.P]

If you just want little bit more aggressive, then the easiest way would be to simply use F-Sport Grille, which is same design as newer models (mesh), just not as big.

If you want to go step further, but without fully custom making entire front end, then very late 2011-2012 models had little bit more aggressive front bumper.

 

vs. standard 

Then add lip at the bottom

Obviously it won't be like mk3 "aggressive", but it won't cost like £1000+ to make. Because even if you make everything custom - be expected to pay ~£300 just for original grille alone.

[Matt1280]

7 hours ago, Linas.P said:

If you just want little bit more aggressive, then the easiest way would be to simply use F-Sport Grille, which is same design as newer models (mesh), just not as big.

If you want to go step further, but without fully custom making entire front end, then very late 2011-2012 models had little bit more aggressive front bumper.

 

vs. standard 

Then add lip at the bottom

Obviously it won't be like mk3 "aggressive", but it won't cost like £1000+ to make. Because even if you make everything custom - be expected to pay ~£300 just for original grille alone.

I’ve got a lip on already, might give the fsport grill a go. The newer 2011-2012 bumper does look slightly better

[markeyszoo]

On 4/19/2022 at 10:52 PM, Linas.P said:

I am pretty sure there are several modified cars with big grills from mk3. Some earlier cars were full custom jobs - grille of mk3 is used, then the bumper of mk2 is modified to fit, cut, glued together, fiberglassed, filled, painted and that is how people end-up with mk3 front on mk2s.

Like here on IS-F:

 

Nowadays there are ready made kits - https://www.amazon.co.uk/2006-2013-Conversion-Unpainted-IKON-MOTORSPORTS/dp/B076WTQ8W4

Like here they already using kit (meaning it is bumper made to fit to mk2 as above):

 

""trim and remove the front shock absorber""

do not forget to advise your insurance

[Linas.P]

Don't inform your insurance! That would be biggest mistake ever!

[Mr Vlad]

Blimey if you trim and remove the front shock absorber then you need to hand yourself into the police for utter stupidly. 😉 

[Linas.P]

Just to be clear, the bumper and grille would be Lexus OEM part, so see no reason to declare this to insurance. The only part which would be "modification" would be front lip, but that would be massive nit-picking.

If one would go for full front end replacement with mk3, then it probably would be a thing which needs to be considered, but being cosmetic I would argue - only inform insurance if in case of accident you want to claim the cost of modification i.e. if you spend £2000 on getting it done and cars is only worth £6000, then in case of an accident you may want to insure that extra modification of £2000, because if it is not declared, then insurance won't pay for it under any circumstances. Although that said do your own research - I am not a layer, this is simply what I would do with my experience dealing with insurance.

As for trimming "shock absorbers" (I assume springs) that is very bad idea so I am not sure where this suggestion is coming from and why. 

[J Henderson]

2 hours ago, Linas.P said:

As for trimming "shock absorbers" (I assume springs) that is very bad idea so I am not sure where this suggestion is coming from and why. 

Since we're talking about a bumper modification, I would assume the "shock absorber" being mentioned is actually the metal reinforcement bar that sits behind the bumper.

[Mr Vlad]

Good shout. That has actually reminded of a full frontal change on the 2IS which necessitated the bumper shock absorber being removed to facilitate fitment. 

Blimey have I just swallowed a dictionary? 🤣

[Linas.P]

1 hour ago, J Henderson said:

Since we're talking about a bumper modification, I would assume the "shock absorber" being mentioned is actually the metal reinforcement bar that sits behind the bumper.

Yes, you probably right here - the black foam should be trimmed for full mk3 replacement kit. But that would not be something I would tell insurance about anyway. It is actually called "Energy Absorber Foam".

[markeyszoo]

5 hours ago, Linas.P said:

 

 

2 hours ago, Linas.P said:

Yes, you probably right here - the black foam should be trimmed for full mk3 replacement kit. But that would not be something I would tell insurance about anyway. It is actually called "Energy Absorber Foam".

If you look at the video to which the quote is referring you will see the guys telling you to cut and remove the shock absorber  part of the inner bumper across the middle,The part that they butcher is a safety feature and cutting it would without doubt affect a personal accident claim and almost certainly void your insurance.

[Linas.P]

No it won't, the answer plausible deniability - "I don't know what was or wasn't under the bumper". Do you really believe insurance knows what parts are under the bumper? Even can they expect a person to know what exists and don't exist under "the skin" of the car... no. People should stop having this paranoia of "all knowing insurance" as it it is some sort of god. Why am I saying this? Because I had 4 accidents (all of which was not my fault), but in one my car was written-off. Did insurance inspected my car even once? NO! Did insurance tried to scam me over the pay out? YES... every single time. I actually had discussion with insurance regarding few different points anonymously e.g. does the mk3 wheels on mk2 counts as mod, does facelift headlights counts as mod etc. And they always said NO. The car has to be road legal, that is key point and as far as cosmetic mods are concerned - they don't care unless you want them covered as part of the policy. Well that is at least insurance brokers I used. 

Thigs like this foam can simply be missing from the car and insurance won't be able to prove it either way... maybe mechanic took off the bumper to replace the headlight and forgotten to put it in... nobody would ever know. "Energy Absorber Foam" is not legal requirement, nor regulation, it just happens to be fitted by Lexus - is car road legal without it? YES it is, so it cannot be denied cover for not having one.

Telling anything to the insurance is same as asking to stay 20 years in prison just in case you decide to murder somebody at some point, you get punished right away regardless of what it is. As soon as you say car has mod, you are automatically on the different level and pay double or triple the price even if the "mod" is just a sticker. So be very mindful of what needs to be declared - performance mods (if obvious) say IS350 engine in the bay of IS250 should be declared... anything else should not be declared unless very obvious AND safety related e.g. blacked headlights or tail lights are both obvious and safety related, because if you happen to have a crash at night, other party may claim they could not see you coming (and rightly so). But some piece of foam under the bumper is not that.

I am not saying you are wrong, but declaring this to insurance would be nit-picking of the highest degree. If the broker is somewhat honest they may even tell you-off and say "look I don't want to know about it, because I won't be able offer you good price".

[NemesisUK]

 

[H3XME]

@Matt1280 there is a few options in terms of grills & lips in america.. You can have a look at my car.

In terms of 3IS bumper conversion.. can be yours for ~600 quid delivered + paint. EASY. I'm tempted to do it myself, but I put my new lip on the car and I'm happy for the time being. Bumper from Latvia: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114770964320

And attached is my car with the front lip. 

@Linas.P telling the insurance is not a problem and it is worth doing so, just in case. Many insurance providers, such as BRENTACRE who I am with, charge £0 for declaring modifications. It's better to be covered. + They covered like for like parts.. with my list , should I claim, I'll get everything paid out for its full value - this is why they have a detailed mod list from me.

 

[Linas.P]

Not how it works on normal insurance. Basically, when you quote for insurance brokers runs your application past multiple underwriters, all underwriters have certain condition e.g. no claims in last 2 years, 5 years NCB, over 25 etc. etc. Simple truth, many underwriters outright refuse to insure modified cars. So when you do price comparison if you say that your car modified, you automatically ruling out like half of cheapest underwriters and basically limit your choice to only those underwriters who specialise in modified cars or have special conditions for modified cars and tends to be more expensive.

So for example if you choose to insure the car without mentioning it is modified you may get eSure as a cheapest quote for say £600 (that is what I would consider a "good price" in London) and BRENTACRE may be there at the bottom for £2800 (they would not because they are not part of comparison sites, but the underwriters who insure modified cars in general). However if you directly just quote BRENTACRE, then yes the price will be the same regardless. So modified cars cost more to insure not because some underwriter increases the price, but because most underwriters who charge reasonable prices just simply refuses to touch the car with barge pole, or quotes stupid price just to get rid of you.

If the car is heavily modified and likely have loads of money spent on it, then the specialist insurance is the only way to go, but if somebody makes minor mod for the car and self-sabotages their own chances of getting insurance for decent price then it is bad idea. 

[H3XME]

11 minutes ago, Linas.P said:

Not how it works on normal insurance. Basically, when you quote for insurance brokers runs your application past multiple underwriters, all underwriters have certain condition e.g. no claims in last 2 years, 5 years NCB, over 25 etc. etc. Simple truth, many underwriters outright refuse to insure modified cars. So when you do price comparison if you say that your car modified, you automatically ruling out like half of cheapest underwriters and basically limit your choice to only those underwriters who specialise in modified cars or have special conditions for modified cars and tends to be more expensive.

So for example if you choose to insure the car without mentioning it is modified you may get eSure as a cheapest quote for say £600 (that is what I would consider a "good price" in London) and BRENTACRE may be there at the bottom for £2800 (they would not because they are not part of comparison sites, but the underwriters who insure modified cars in general). However if you directly just quote BRENTACRE, then yes the price will be the same regardless. So modified cars cost more to insure not because some underwriter increases the price, but because most underwriters who charge reasonable prices just simply refuses to touch the car with barge pole, or quotes stupid price just to get rid of you.

If the car is heavily modified and likely have loads of money spent on it, then the specialist insurance is the only way to go, but if somebody makes minor mod for the car and self-sabotages their own chances of getting insurance for decent price then it is bad idea. 

Yes, we know. Insurance is a f*cked up business and the way it works in the UK makes no sense. Generally speaking, off-line quotes are 90% of the time cheaper even if they are from companies listed on Comparethemarket etc.. They have to pay to be online, and therefore inflate the online price. Not every insurance company is being an*l about mods, but obviously if you know you are going to modify your car to an extent of putting an aftermarket bumper on (not talking about little things like painted calipers), you should look for specialists.. and why wouldn't you? Yeah, eSure might insure you for £600/year, and they might not charge anything extra for declaring your bumper, but because they aren't specialists, they will not insure your modification like for like, so if you crash your car, they look at it as a standard car, regardless of mods. Specialists will look at your car as it is, so I crashed my IS250, the value of the car is so and so, but the parts come up to £4000 - and that's insured. And also, just because you're going to a specialist, it doesn't mean it will be dearer. When I was shopping around, I tried 7 different companies over the phone, 4 of them didn't want to insure my car because of the mods, but even if it was standard, they were dearer than my quote from specialists.. 

[Linas.P]

Agreed, but when the difference between £600 and £2800 a year, those mod have to be substantial and expensive enough to justify it.

As I said - only declare cosmetic mods if you want them to be insured, most of the time it just isn't worth the money. Like what is the point of paying £2200 more every year for bumper which costs £600 in the first place? Obviously, it is good if one lives away from the city and difference in the cost of insuring the cars is between £220 and £280, but at least for me declaring and insuring mods was never realistic possibility. That said I never had substantial modifications which would warrant declaring them in my opinion, but there are people on the this forum who have declared that they have replaced interior bulbs, or parking lights with matching LED ones and have their insurance declined for that reason! Just shows how declaring something that does not need to be declared can hurt.

[H3XME]

On 4/26/2022 at 8:02 PM, pope111 said:

With 3IS style bumper you need to trim/remove the foam absorber and cut off corners on the actual metal bar behind the foam. 

With 4IS style same.

That's a very minor thing to do.. There's plenty of Install videos on YouTube.