Renovation project with SC430 - new colour on the car!

NICO1972 · August 5, 2023

Hi everyone,

Pleased to share with my current project, which has been on going for the past 3 weeks. Colour of my SC430 was changed to match colour of my own ES300h. whilst painting went underway, i got the ECU remapped with Phoenix Engine Management.

Car is now at a professional detailing place currently getting full wash, polish, ceramic coating and PPF application.

The car will be staying for a week. As there are other works I am getting done inside the car, which i will explain later..

Wheel spacers will added, brake callipers painted, new sport tyre fitted in all 4 tyres with Michelin Sport 4S...

I will share more photos when the work is completed.

Brian R · August 5, 2023

Wow, that looks fantastic! Love the colour and can't wait to see the finished item. :thumbup:

NICO1972 · August 5, 2023

Thank you!

Glyn Jennings · August 6, 2023

It's now a fabulous car. If you are going to keep doing more things to it you might want to consider creating a build thread in the build thread section on here. that way you can add to it and it will all be in one place.

NICO1972 · August 6, 2023

2 hours ago, Glyn Jennings said:

It's now a fabulous car. If you are going to keep doing more things to it you might want to consider creating a build thread in the build thread section on here. that way you can add to it and it will all be in one place.

Good idea! More to come as the inside will be prep and changed. I will not say more at this stage, as photos (when ready) will do justice.

Ken Timbers · August 7, 2023

A splendid set of very interesting photos, Nick. The finished car will be fabulous—probably as near to new as it was when it left the factory! I hate to think what all that work will cost, but if you can afford it, it's worth every penny! 😀

Malc1 · August 8, 2023

she must be so dear to your heart to be doing all this amazingly expensive tlc . well done ...............

Malc

Bob King · August 8, 2023

Restoration without compromise……well done 😎

NICO1972 · August 8, 2023

Thanks guys the painting job costed £5k, but it is well worth it as the guys took the car fully apart to do a proper job so it was well checked and any joints too old, were replaced with new. The car is going to be better than factory when it will be finished, which I will share more photos...

Full PPF is being done on the paint, so it stays shiny and protected... and of course ceramic paint done too.

I will share new photos as soon as this is finalised!

NICO1972 · August 9, 2023

Hi everyone,

Quick update with a few photos! Full PPF is being applied. It takes a lot of time, from what I have been told. The rear bumper, rear hood, front bumper has PPF applied and it is done meticulously. When PPF is fully applied, ceramic coating will then be the next step.

I can confirm that the work is being done by Limitless detailing UK and they are based near North circular towards Park Royal. I can tell you that they are doing the job with absolute precision and care. I am very impressed.

The next jobs will be after full PPF is applied on the external paint:

- Interior work vinyl parts to be PPF, leather seats will be treated with a transparent protection. Throttle Controller to be fitted (from MODSC430).

- spacers to be installed on all four wheels, Michelin Sports Pilot PS4 to be fitted and all wheels to be realigned.

- New OEM suspension to be fitted to keep car as original but a better comfort and handling. We have been viewing a few makes but we may stick with Lexus OEM new set of suspensions.

I did see Meister suspension Coilovers (link: stronghttps://id-workz.co.uk/products/meisterr-zetacrd-coilovers-for-lexus-sc430-uzz40-01?variant=41615271559326&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=Cj0KCQjwz8emBhDrARIsANNJjS4KXHualy1aoxK-2EAly-GMIJKL4qW8I-1iJPEYSOPM9vcao_5cHg0aAmxxEALw_wcB)

Unless anyone has a very recommendation, please do let me know! I really want to get this car right with handling on our very poor roads in UK...

NICO1972 · August 10, 2023

Hello,

Quick update! PPF tint also has been applied on my front headlights, giving a blue filter, which blends nicely with the grey metallic paint. The rear headlights will be also PPF with a tint film.

PPF will be all finished and tomorrow, the interior work will commence...

NICO1972 · August 11, 2023

Hi all,

Full PPf now applied. Ceramic coating is next job...

NICO1972 · August 11, 2023

On 8/7/2023 at 10:10 PM, Ken Timbers said:

A splendid set of very interesting photos, Nick. The finished car will be fabulous—probably as near to new as it was when it left the factory! I hate to think what all that work will cost, but if you can afford it, it's worth every penny! 😀

Thanks. I can tell you thet the car will come out better than factory built. Watch this space... It should be ready by mid next week... As there is still quite a bit of work to be done.

Malc1 · August 12, 2023

11 hours ago, NICO1972 said:

Watch this space..

must be tempting to just never use the " new " car on the road ! Scary to get it " harmed " in any way

Malc

Brian R · August 12, 2023

Looking the mutties right now, so I can only guess what it will look like next week.

dutchie01 · August 12, 2023

On 8/8/2023 at 9:44 PM, NICO1972 said:

Thanks guys the painting job costed £5k, but it is well worth it as the guys took the car fully apart to do a proper job so it was well checked and any joints too old, were replaced with new. The car is going to be better than factory when it will be finished, which I will share more photos...

Full PPF is being done on the paint, so it stays shiny and protected... and of course ceramic paint done too.

I will share new photos as soon as this is finalised!

Respect for what you did and not go to wrapping.

did you ever consider that?

Glyn Jennings · August 14, 2023

On 8/12/2023 at 3:49 PM, dutchie01 said:

Respect for what you did and not go to wrapping.

did you ever consider that?

I don't profess to be an expert on wrapping but I did use proper 3M wrap on my interior and I can't believe how easily marked it is. On that basis I would never have a car wrapped plus the life expectancy is only about 4 years before you would have to do it again. Seeing what bird poo does to normal paint I can't imagine what it would do to vinyl.

NICO1972 · August 15, 2023

On 8/12/2023 at 3:49 PM, dutchie01 said:

Respect for what you did and not go to wrapping.

did you ever consider that?

Yes I did think through but I would hate to redo this job every now and then. This is a permanent and unique colour within Lexus approved paint colours so I am definitely giving a refreshed look with the car...

NICO1972 · August 15, 2023

Here are the latest photos I can share. More to come as are getting towards the end now...

Ken Timbers · August 16, 2023

As a matter of interest, I assume the original had the usual wood finish to the facia, doors and steering wheel? What was it about that that you didn't like? I have to admit that the wood finishing touches were the first thing I noticed when I saw the car and they almost clinched the choice on their own. They're certainly the features most commented on by friends and family—even that remarkable roof opening/closing mechanism takes second place in their comments! :smile:

NICO1972 · August 16, 2023

Hi,

We are still waiting for new suspensions (Meister R coilovers) to arrive, so there is a slight delay to finish it. The car should now be ready for Friday due to the delay.

Limitless detailing UK team put decal Lexus Logo on the bottom vinyl panel to match the original vinyl Logo, they even fixed my magnetic buttons in back seats! Primed calipers and painted them and decal Lexus Logo... the fuel cap is sitting in exact position, so this has been fixed.

In the meantime, feel free to see photos. They tryluly speak for themselves...

NICO1972 · August 16, 2023

1 hour ago, Ken Timbers said:

As a matter of interest, I assume the original had the usual wood finish to the facia, doors and steering wheel? What was it about that that you didn't like? I have to admit that the wood finishing touches were the first thing I noticed when I saw the car and they almost clinched the choice on their own. They're certainly the features most commented on by friends and family—even that remarkable roof opening/closing mechanism takes second place in their comments!

Thanks. The orginial was absolutely fine, but I simply wanted to transform the car inside and outside to make it more contemporary and the high gloss piano black works really well with the external colour of the car and the black leather. So it is a personal choice I wanted to explore. It is an exciting project and I am really pleased with what it is now looking like...