Search the Community

mr morse....dam thats nice! is that lowered by any at all? theres just so many options, i really dont know which way to go! although that is a fair point about wanting to upgrade to 18"s at a later date. The ones ive found do come in an 18" option thankfully so i think i'll go down that route...although there is a black IS200 on autotrader with polished faced 19"s bolted to it that looks amazing, but id rather have go than show personally! adie cheers for that, i think im gonna get some tein or KW coilovers, the last car i had was only lowered on springs and i didnt wanna go lower than -30mm on springs because of stories i've heard, might just be urban myth but id rather be safe than sorry! is there much differential in handling between 18"s and 17"s??

I first lowered it on the 17"s with -30mm Eibach springs. No problems with ride quality, speed bumps or anything. It actually looked a little high still. Looked much better lowered even more with coilovers.. If you can get them in 18" then I would mate. As you are only going to probably want to change to 18"s anyway sooner or later.

I fitted 17"s because I wasn't going to lower the car as I didn't really intend modifying it too much.. Now got 18"s on with coilovers and looks alot better than 17"s My avatar is 18"s and the banner below is 17"s

The cheapest way is to get the Eibach springs for the IS - they're that good that even TTE sell them under their own brand! They really transform the car and all for less than 200 quid - if you want to spend more then you could look at a set of coilovers but that's probably more than you'd want to do to start off with?

Thanks mate, ye she's just crying out to be lowered now. Can't find any lowering springs or reasonably priced coilovers tho:(

Did you get your alignment done after you installed coilovers?

My front shocks are goosed, I'd been hearing a knocking noise for a while and having read other threads I thought it was the strut top. But i took her in for a checkup and the doc says my drivers side shock is bust and the passenger side will be sure to follow. who thinks I should just bin them and get a nice set of coilovers??

hi mate, There exactly the same make (KYB) as the originals. So id say standard replacements! They come as a matching pair when bought and i'd say £108 delivered for a set, isnt a bad price at all. Now if you just want one to get you through Your MOT i have a spare drivers side that you can have. Then after the MOT get your self a nice set coilovers. PM me if you want the shock. Martyn :winky: Cheers for the offer bud, it's ok though, my mot aint for a couple of months so I should be able to save enough for a set by then. I hope! :D Ok, mate no worries. i just didnt have much coin to spend on her at the time of the MOT after havin 4 new tyres. So buying the replacement shocks was the cheapest option.

hi mate, There exactly the same make (KYB) as the originals. So id say standard replacements! They come as a matching pair when bought and i'd say £108 delivered for a set, isnt a bad price at all. Now if you just want one to get you through Your MOT i have a spare drivers side that you can have. Then after the MOT get your self a nice set coilovers. PM me if you want the shock. Martyn :winky: Cheers for the offer bud, it's ok though, my mot aint for a couple of months so I should be able to save enough for a set by then. I hope! :D

B)--> QUOTE(Hank B @ Aug 18 2006, 11:46 AM) ← Treats, are those uprated shocks or just standard replacements? Definately a better price than I had thought! :) hi mate, There exactly the same make (KYB) as the originals. So id say standard replacements! They come as a matching pair when bought and i'd say £108 delivered for a set, isnt a bad price at all. Now if you just want one to get you through Your MOT i have a spare drivers side that you can have. Then after the MOT get your self a nice set coilovers. PM me if you want the shock. Martyn :winky:

It's definately leakin fluid so it's def the shock. The handling on the car is terrible so I was gonna go for coilovers any way, just couldn't really afford to. Now I have an excuse though! :D

B)--> QUOTE(Hank B @ Aug 17 2006, 03:44 PM) ← My front shocks are goosed, I'd been hearing a knocking noise for a while and having read other threads I thought it was the strut top. But i took her in for a checkup and the doc says my drivers side shock is bust and the passenger side will be sure to follow. who thinks I should just bin them and get a nice set of coilovers?? Hi mate I had the same problem but it was the passenger side! Bought two new ones from this site! http://www.buypartsby.co.uk/shock-absorbers-lexus.php Took just over 2hrs to change them over :winky:

What you gracing us with Mike? MR2 or the IS? It'll be the Tubbster......freshly kitted out with new coilovers, ARB's plus a few new sooper-dooper LED light conversions

I have HKS HiperMax RS coilovers fitted to the IS. Expensive, but a great ride!

dunno if its a bit too late. But i'd like to put in my views (as its been pretty one sided so far, as I guess most ppl use TEIN and havent used HKS coilovers). I have personally used all 3, SS, Flex, and also HKS Hipermax LS+. I am currently using TRD suskit (yellow) coilovers. personally, if I had to choose between the 3 (SS, Flex, LS+), I would go for the HKS kit. The amount of control you have with the LS+ is alot more granula than with the TEINs. Also, with HKS, you can get purchase rebuild services which basically refreshes your entire set (using new parts that get worn) for a fraction of the price. So near new kit, low price every few years. with the same kit, you can truely get varied stiffness, as you can feel a dramatic diff between the hardest and softest setting. The quality is top notch too. After using FLEX for 6 months, I started hearing knocking. The SS ones started to knock nearly immediately, and got a small creaking noise from the springs if going over speed bumps "Very" slowly. Regarding EDFC, i never bothered, cos I liked to just play with the knobs myself. Bear in mind that it only adjusts the stiffness, which is the same as if you twisted the knobs by hand when you pop the hood. I personally love my TRD kit at the mo ..... My 2 cents worth :-)

Hey Aido, Nice car mate. I'm guessing you've either got shyte tires on the car or there's something wrong with your ARS. I remember when I had Eagle F1's on the stock 17's and I would NEVER spin tires at 70mph, let alone loose the back end unless I REALLY tried (full lock and floor the car) Also lose the 18's :-p and stick on a set of 19's with the fat tire setup (285/35/19 rear on 10 wide wheels and 245/40/19 on 9 wide front wheels). Doesn't look too bad on the stock suspension but would recommend you get either a decent spring/shock combo like H&R/Bilstein Sport shocks or coilovers such as Teins, Bilstein PSS or something of the sort. You don't loose the comfort as such but you definitely gain more feel through the steering wheel and chassis. Another suggestion would be to get a set of TRD Sway Bars along with either TOMS lower bracing and TRD or TOMS strut braces, that will make one MAJOR difference in handling and feel of the car. Also look into having the ARS cancelled using the TOMS ARS Cancellor bar otherwise you'll be looking at £££ to replace it. After the above mods do all your performance stuff ;). Talk about me being a bad influence for you to spend LOADS of money hehe. Also look into having the tracking/alignment checked out as well.

Yup I got em on the IS200, which is a Sport they are good and improved the handling no end. Softer than the coilovers on the Tezza, put the same load in the back of the IS and the rears tuck into the arches, the Tezza stays where it is. Having said that I would recommend them. Would say the price in the link is a bit expensive, quick Google HERE and a bit cheaper :)

Hi guys and girls. Just got my new IS200 today.. I say new but its a 2000.. Had a 260bhp Nissan 200SX for the last two and a half years and am sad to see it go but the IS200 seems a nice, practical and stylish car.. So looking forward to gaining a lot of knowledge on tweaks from you guys.. I have to say the SXOC was a superb owners club.. hope you guys are just as good :) First thing I have to do is raise the coilovers - the car is currently scraping over bumps and not great where I live in Ewell!!

Hi mate, you'll be fine with the IS, but you'll probably be tweaking it in no time! So you've got one with coils eh, wonder if it was someone from here you got it from? Yeah it's a pain when the cars too low, mine used to be a nightmare on the coilovers, even used to scrape the normal road if a couple of people were in the car! Welcome to LOC anyway, enjoy :)

Well my first weekend went with more of a Wimpy than a bang. Big big jams on the road past Halfords here in Croydon so no polishing cloths, no aircon recharge etc. The good news. The porta cable polisher is quite impressive. When you crank it up to speed 6 it really comes alive and you can accomplish 6 months rubbing action in a few minutes. Did it round my Dad's house as I live in a flat with no power near the car. Nearly 20 years ago I did my first car in the same spot (a Jag XJ6) by hand and it was like the Forth Bridge. By the time I'd finished the first bit had oxidised and I had to start again. I don't know if the swirling is much reduced, used a combination of Carplan metallic t-cut, then Klasse restore and a bit of sealant/glaze. Where I went into the trim I cleaned out the white deposits with a Braun "Professional Care" ultrasound toothbrush (I will use a new head tomorrow if I remember). I used some Wonder Wheels last week and it was good as usual, but in just a week the wheels have fouled up again. Would have had the new brake pads on by now if it wasn't for RSR. Cheated a bit by getting the tyres blacker with some Meguiars hot tyre shine. The stuff gets everywhere and it won't come off. But it does leave the tyres looking shiny and black like melting chocolate. OK so below I my pics I took this evening. These will be my "before" pics I suppose, although I'm half way through compared with a couple of years ago. Took them round at my storage unit place as it looks a bit industrial like a car advert. The final pic is the car I could trade up to if I binned the Lex and put some more money in. Some (alot) of duplicates but I couldn't make my mind up which were best. The pic in the garage is underground in my garage, the view a few people have of my car most of the time, the white thing behind the car is my scooter. My Lex & my Lam, both Italian designed and both sticking their greedy little hands in my wallet whenever they feel like it. Oh yes, and thanks Maneesh. I've looked at the coilovers and the gangsta wheels + referred to Chips project and now my daughter will not be able to eat or go on summer holidays for the next 3 years because I realise these things are indispensable and will add another few £k to my budget!!!! Anyway on with my "before" pics.

Yes I agree with Lexual Feeling a fair bit myself. I don't want my GS to end up looking like a 1970's cortina. Not unless they still do those anti static strips with the zig zag lightning symbols that used to hang down at the back. And I would prob give in if offered the rubber door protectors that had the integral amber reflector inside. Seriously, the only thing I'll add on thats not standard is the eyebrows for the headlights as the Mk1 lights are quite outdated now. I do get a bit fed up that I'm the only person I know that hasn't got "Lexus" lights and I'm the only person I know who has actually got a Lexus. Lowering it a bit with the coilovers etc etc like Chips pictures won't stop it looking like a GS, it will just be a bit less Jag like round corners. The devaluation issue is precisely the reason I'm going for a bit of modding. The car is so cheap now its not worth selling so I might as well have a mess round with it and make it a bit better on performance and style. If Mk1 GS's suddenly become collectable in standard form and that takes it above the £4000 mark all the mods I'm considering are reversible. Although if Utterly Butterly ever bring out a 3kg tub size I could cut one down and spray it up as a dummy air intake on the bonnet.

I think the majority of this club have the Eibach springs .... myself included. Tein are rarer ... and more so for coilovers. :)

Put some pics up dude... Hmmm, dropping the car another 20mm will require new springs. Is it just cosmetic you are after, you could get some coilovers which would make a bigger difference to handling than just new springs? Also, there are LOADS of mods for Mk1 GSs, you just have to know where to look. www.takakaira.com for some parts, also look at www.clublexus.com and see what's been done there on Mk1 (they even have a separate forum for mk1s) Come on, you know you want gangsta chromes

What usually makes me laugh is how low the cars are in press photo's - they must fill them with slabs at each end to get the look (and the illegal tints). Or they have coilovers fitted for the press shots. Brian [:)]

Bought mine just over a year ago with 51k on a 2001/X, now 61k and not one problem out of routine, FLSH was with it. Now gettin its 60k service and needs ball joints, tyres, discs and pads and usual cambelt/plugs change so a tad on the expensive side but after all its a Lexus and this is my first prestige car, i came from brand new Fords and tbh i would still prefere this 5 year old Lexus. Sayin that the other day i was tempted to part ex for an ST220 FULLY loaded in silver 52 plate with factory satnav, grey Racaros, sunroof, coilovers the biz, was a friend of a friend so i knew the car well and when i declined his offer of a swap he was amazed! But i would still prefere a newer model IS if i could afford but then again whats the difference in a plate!! When people ask what your driving and you say a Lexus it means something, if you say a Ford no matter if its a flagship model or not its JUST a Ford!