RichGS11

After Devon was the addition of the carbon SARD wing, a bolt on wing that does not require drilling of any kind, which helped me decide if I wanted to keep it, without destroying the bootlid. All my modifications are designed so that I can retrospectively return the car to stock.

Then came Japfest, a trip to The Motorist for a ExclusiveJDM's Season Opener and a trip to Devon.

One of the biggest modifications that cost the least than took place. A dechrome of the car, which made an incredible difference, which surprised me when I collected her. I then took the machine polisher to her and ceramic coated the car for show season and a busy summer.

I have always had an addiction with carbon fibre, it's always been something that looks so perfect with modified Jap cars (to me!). Which brings me to the next big modification of last year, carbon bonnet and wings. Now although a questionable modification for weight loss on the front end, since the OEM bonnet is aluminium and OEM wings are not that much lighter than their carbon counterparts. These modifications did remove some weight over the heavy front end, but sadly the images I took of the weights has been lost. It was a marginal amount though and not life changing. I also had to make the ballsy move to cut into a freshly new carbon bonnet for the latches, as I didn't fancy losing it at higher speeds.

The next step was a big one, purchasing one of the only new sets of 2014 OEM headlights in the country. Straight from Lexus with the appropriate brackets and all new bulbs. The issue was the modification to make these fit 100% into the car with the ability to have them dim when the headlights were on. Something that the MOT requires for DRL's, but something that isn't wired into our year IS's. So I contacted a guy in London who walked me through the process to create custom OEM looking looms with relay, and then to wire them into the cars loom, completely hidden from view and inside the cars loom, to look like factory (sadly a lot of these images were lost after my account on IG was hacked and deleted). The start of the garage decoration also commenced and some 'F' door lights purchased.

I then decided where I wanted to take the car, I wanted to make her lighter. The conclusion that making her faster with engine modifications was going to be incredibly expensive (Supercharger), and with the entire F range being a bulky mass slowing down what is a big engine, I decided to start saving weight as a way of making her more nimble, with a view of track days in the future. The first modification for this was attacking rotational mass and addressing the issues with the staggered offset. So I went with 18's and 9.5" wide wheels all round. This was a proven upgrade in the States and a must for me. As much as I love the OEM wheels, the weak offset and larger rim size needed addressing, so I went and purchased some Wedssport SA25R'S. I also decided to remove the Vlands for the better quality OEM units. The main reason being I preferred the images of older Supras, Skylines, that still retained their 90's lights and that sometimes, it's cleaner and simpler to be stock.

A week later the car went for another trip to Wales with more smiles and once I returned home, more carbon was waiting for me. Then the more expensive modifications started to take place with new coilovers added, to replace the tired OEM set up that started clunking during the return home from Wales.

Then came the start of my maintenance run, ensuring the car had some areas tended to, to match the full history. Full Lexus radiator change by myself (my second one after doing the same for the GS430). I also sent the car to a local motorsport company for a full undercarriage strip and seal.

Then came the Maxton Design lip kit, purchased predominantly because of the cost of importing any other kit from abroad (ISF parts are hard to come by, modified parts even harder). I also managed the first road trip in the car to the 'outlaws' in lovely Wales where I was able to push the car and enjoy the twisty roads in the early hours of a beautiful Sunday morning.

Then came the obligatory shots of her in my possession and the awkward first modifications of Vland lights, but also the start of my carbon addiction.

Hello all, So this week I've had a bad time with Instagram writing off my account due to it being hacked. As a result I lost years of memories and updates to my ISF. I managed to salvage some images, so I thought I'd create a 'build thread' on here to enable me to have a place to bank my photos and updates. If you're a purist that doesn't like modifications, it's probably best you don't read on lol. So what did I purchase: - 2010 Lexus ISF - USB - Purchased with 54K on the clock - Hayward and Scott SS system - Alacantara steering wheel - Takeda intake. My plans for her when I initially purchased her, was to have a clean, standard ISF, that I could enjoy stock and not spend too much money on (whoops). I also wanted a car I could make fun memories with for me and my family, visiting shows, places and generally using the car more than my previous GS430, which was modified to a point where it was more for shows, than using to go everywhere. Since then, plans changed, as they so often do. I picked her up in Aberdeenshire from a lovely guy, which resulted in the best 9 hour drive home ever. Progressively becoming more and more adventurous with her abilities as the 9 hours went on.

Not to mention the fact it looks rough in the pictures alone. Too much going on to even consider it really.

That's amazing and a perfect response for me to understand so thank you so much!

Any details on the card number required for an IS? I know this is an old thread, just on the hunt for the card.

Sad news man. Strange day yesterday.

Sport mode advances the throttle response anyway, so there's little use for one of these. Most Americans that have tried them went back to stock, some reported the cars CEL throwing codes regarding the throttle pedal. Didn't sound like a feesabele move on the ISF so I didn't pursue it.

What's the standard size? I can't see there being an issue. I had 10mm spacers on the OEM wheels and I was still nowhere near rubbing. I now have 9.5" rears with 275's and yes they rubbed until I sorted them out lol.

Hello all, I am looking to see if anyone has a valved ISF exhaust sitting around? Yes, yes, like rocking horse excrement I know, but worth a pop. I have a SS Hayward and Scott system, but looking for something I can change between all out noise and OEM. Predominantly for track and those early mornings! Thanks.

Never heard of it until now. One of those lottery issues that either gets you or doesn't.

No differencein housing, there are companies that make direct replacements. Obviously as it's a rare machine, they come at a cost, around $1800 but prices fluctuate and there are options. The diff certainly has saved me on a couple of occasions and helps put the power down more. I read somewhere about track times being quicker because of it, I'll have to try and dig it out. The one thing that I think to remember is that diff or E-diff, there's no night and day difference and I haven't seen any posts that say otherwise. I'm into modifying cars and I'm constantly making my ISF lighter and quicker, and as a result, I read a lot of what happens Stateside and get ideas from there. An uprated diff is on the cards for me, but I'm upgrading my pulleys to lighter options first and replacing the front seats for a lighter option. I will eventually be tracking the car, hence the direction I've gone.

Yes I know what you mean and completely agree. Felt the same after painting mine. It wasn't necessarily something I really cared for doing, but now I wish I did it sooner lol.

Saw your post on Facebook. Nicely done. I went with a matte red finish as I wanted something different.

You'll need the opinion of someone who has had both ideally. I have a 2010 with a proper LSD and it is certainly fun, but even in the States guys upgrade them to uprated diffs. I haven't driven an 08 to feel the difference. I can't see there being much in the two, but interested to hear someone chime in with experience of the two.

I would say prices bottomed out in the F range a year or two ago. They seem to be steadily increasing regardless of current world affairs. Next year will be a testing time financially for many with some predictions that house prices may drop 10% in parts of the country. That 'may' have an affect of pricing but the used car market is anything but predictable right now. I'd go with the suggestion already made and show your hand to the garage, give them a price you'd be interested in, let them stew on it and see what they come back with. The ISF is a good choice of car. I absolutely love mine. I toyed with moving it on at one point (through boredom because of not driving it), then I drove it and remembered that there isn't a worthy 4 door to replace it with in my eyes. I'd buy your time, I can't see many people wanting to spend over £30k on as ISF any time soon so there shouldn't be a mad rush for it. The garage might just want to shift the car on rather than keep it.

I got offered 17K on WBAC.