Peter P18

I believe the only remapping that has been achieved was through the company Novel in Japan? There is a chap in Australia that races an IS-F who has sponsorship from Novel and FIGS engineering. He had a remapped JDM ECU sent to him from Taku at Novel I believe? I'm speaking with Taku about this at the moment as it happens. Hopefully our ECU is a lot closer, if not identical to the JDM ones. The US ECU is different, hence they haven't been able to get this yet. The theory will be you can order a remapped ECU from Novel, then do a straight swap with your OEM one. That way you have the option of swapping it back if you ever decide to sell the car. :) I'll let you guys know when I know more, but I agree there are no tuning solutions in the UK mapping wise that I am aware of. Cheers. Pete :)

Sounds good Luke. You can have a good look round mine at the meet. ;) Think I have the most modified IS-F in the Country, if not Europe! :) The Hayward & Scott exhaust systems are brilliant! Not cheap, but you get what you pay for. Maybe Stu on here can setup a meet thread for us? Know he likes doing them! ;)

Welcome Peter, I'd look into the RR-Racing USRS offering from the States as well if I was you. Got a set sitting in my garage along with some BC BR coilovers with the uprated Swift springs, an F Sport rear sway bar(thicker than the OEM one), and a set of FIGS mega control arms. Hoping to get some track use next year if all goes well. :) I'd personally sign up for the US forum as well if I was you. They too are a friendly bunch, and you can ask the guy with the squared setup about any rubbing issues he may have? Hope you continue to enjoy your 'F'. :) Peter

Welcome Luke :) Congrats on the 'F'. Great cars. Hopefully see you at some of the meets etc. Probably about time we did another Bluewater meet? Might start a thread in the events section to see if people want to meet up. Any plans for the car? Appreciate it's probably a bit early to tell, but with your car history, seems you like to modify motors like me! ;) Look forward to seeing some photos when you get time. Cheers. Pete :)

Nope, I've already had the 'Lexus' and 'IS' badges removed from the back. Just got the Lexus symbol and 'F' badge now. :)

Thanks guys. :)

Thanks guys. :) Will probably give them a try next time then. ;)

Thanks. :) I've got no reason to see a dealership now till next June, so will probably give them a go. Pretty sure the next one is a minor service again. :)

Hi Guys, After a frankly disappointing time with Lexus Woodford, I am considering using a closer dealership going forwards. Just wondering if anyone from the IS-F community takes their cars to Lexus Sidcup? It's a lot closer for me than Woodford as well to be honest. I would prefer not to discuss the reasons for the change openly on the forum. Happy to discuss via PM if anyone wants to know more though. Cheers. Pete :)

I don't get that though Keith?? :( The fluids (so oil, transmission etc) I understand. They will breakdown irrespective of whether the car is driven or not. Spark plugs are only going to wear when the vehicle is used. If our plug life is good for 60K miles, there is no reason to change them on a car that has only travelled 22K miles?! I personally see that as a money spinner for the dealerships. I had mine done last year as part of the 6yr/60K service, but my car had reached 52K miles at that stage. I seriously doubt I would have had them done with less that half that mileage! :( I would be very surprised if a dealer insisted on carrying out the change if the owner told them not to do it? Then again, would they stamp the service book if they didn't do all of the items on the schedule? Probably not! :( Tough one though! ;)

They are different cars though fella? One is a luxury barge that offers minimal driver thrills and great comfort and luxury for its passengers, the other is a performance saloon. They just don't compare?! You can buy a £70-80K 7 series for peanuts. You can't say the same about a similar aged M3 or M5. Look at the Supra or R34 GTR Skyline. They are a lot older than the early IS-F's. They still command good money! A 6-spd manual Supra with a single turbo conversion done well goes for around £20K! R34 GTR's from 1999,2000 are £35-40K!! That's more than some early R35's! You are forgetting there are only 200 of these cars in the Country. Give it a few years and there will be even less. Take the Escort Cosworth. They are still around £20K as people like fast Ford's. We will always agree to disagree on this topic I guess! ;-)

Hi Keith, Think we are on the same servicing schedule despite having different mileages. Had the 6yr/60K done last June for around £680 I believe? My small 7yr/70K was done last month for the very reasonable sum of £250 at Lexus Woodford.

Looks good Stu. :) He does nice work.

It's on here chap??http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/detailing.aspx They are based either at Brands Hatch in Kent, or Luton Studio in Bedfordshire. You can call or email to make a booking. Might enquire about the Brands one. That's only 20mins or so from me. :)

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=171260 These guys are very good as well. :) Guy is called Christian at Invisible Touch Detailing. Email is: christian@invisibletouchdetailing.co.uk They are based in Surrey. :)

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/car-care-blog/full-paintwork-correction/lexus-is-f-flagship-sports-saloon-revitalised-using-rupes-bigfoot/?utm_source=UF+Newsletter+Subscribers&utm_campaign=6b1c741d05-June+2+Bilt-Hamber+Giveaway&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1b3f443310-6b1c741d05-60163837 Thought some of you may find this interesting. Gives you the names of all the products they used as well. :)

Precisely. Just means you have a smaller audience than you would for a stock version. Whilst I agree modifications can be to an individuals taste, some enhancements/improvements will be recognised by people as beneficial to the cars performance, looks, handling etc. You can't say a modified car won't be worth more than a stock version. If the modifications in questions are done tastefully and at considerable cost, there is no way the owner would swallow a huge loss to sell their car. I'm fully aware I wouldn't make back all the money I have spent on my car if I ever do decide to sell it. Thank you Keith for the kind words. At the end of the day I am extremely pleased with how the car now looks and sounds. Next up will be improving the handling. You also need to appreciate that once this car has been featured in one of the Japanese performance magazines, it does add something to the value. Remember not that many people really know about the IS-F. Hopefully I will help open their eyes to the amazing potential these cars offer for those who need a degree of practicality, whilst still retaining plenty of performance and good looks.

So if I had a GTR with £50K of receipts for modifications, I'd have to sell it for the same price as a standard GTR of similar age and mileage?! Rubbish! How about when it's been a feature car in a top tuning magazine? Still worth the same as an OEM 08 IS-F? Or less according to some people on here! :( Think I'm done with this forum. Thanks but no thanks. :(

Hey Sham. Not selling anymore. Was only one example I would have considered swapping the F for, and that's because I know the current owner really well, and know his cars are absolutely mint in terms of condition etc. Now he's found a buyer for that, I am going to hold on to my F for a while I reckon. Had to laugh at how others seem to feel my car has de-valued because of the mods I have fitted to it! Try telling that to the US guys who sell their modified versions for a load more than stock ones! I guess for some people the only acceptable mods for any Lexus are boiled sweets, a blanket, driving gloves and a road atlas! ;)

The vents aren't as large as they may appear in some of the photos. You need to see the car in person really. Even the techs at Lexus Woodford were saying how aggressive and nice the bonnet looked. ;)

Ad withdrawn. ;) Will be holding on to it. May try a different dealership next time though. ;) Cheers. Pete

Was in this past Monday for a basic service, and the two recalls. Remember I've been planning it for at least 8-10 weeks. Get there to be told it'll probably be a 2 day job with the engine work for the recalls. Fair enough. My loaner CT200H has no nav, so I'm using my iPhone. As I'm setting off, service advisor comes out to tell me car will be done the same day, as they don't have the parts for the recall work! :( Apparently they are on back order! When I head back that afternoon, I settle the bill and get handed my bill etc. Guy tells me it's all fine, and the service book is all stamped up etc. Get in the car, decide to check the service book as they hadn't done it last service, no stamp! :( Now saying they can do the recall work at the beginning of July, and they will come to Kent to drive it back to Woodford for the recall work. Not sure I like that idea to be honest. :( Hardly what I call a good customer experience! Still, the Supra I like has a viewing today. I'm pretty sure he'll sell it as its a mint example. In which case it's back to my old plan, and maybe a visit to another dealership next year! ;)

Stu, I may well be in for the long haul. I've got my reasons for wanting another Supra, but it needs to be the right one. As we all know, the IS-F will never offer the same tuning potential as a Supra or a Skyline. That's a limitation I don't like. :( I also have had yet more hassle from Lexus Woodford which makes me question if I want to support their brand any longer. Incompetent is an understatement! :( As I said, we'll see what happens. If it doesn't sell, no drama. :)

Fair enough. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. If you want a modified IS-F though, good luck sourcing the parts! My job and network of friends has allowed me access to parts most would struggle to get. I've NEVER sold a modified car for less than I paid for it. It's also arguably cosmetic changes. Mechanically it's more sound than most others that are for sale currently. Guess we'll see what happens. ;)

Could be interesting: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/lexus/is/unique-show-worthy-lexus-is-f/4266232 Given what I've spent, don't think its a bad price? Not worried if it doesn't sell, it's only because a good mate is selling his very nice Supra, and I always told him I'd buy it if he did end up selling it! ;) Just miss the tuning potential the Supra offers. :)