Some More Parts to Improve the Car...

In my quest to improve my IS-F in the most efficient manner possible, I have been slowly collecting some parts over the past year or so which I thought would bring me the best bang for the buck. Because I haven't been as good at updating this blog as my GT-R blog, I'm going to simply lay out all of these parts.

First -  I decided to replace the OEM halogen fog lights with later year (2011-2014?) OEM LED fog lights - just plug and play...

Before

Much whiter!

And yes my car wasn't clean when I took this photo...

As for performance of LED vs halogen, hard to say really. They are mounted so low and act only to fill in the dark space under the headlights so I think the effect is more of a visual, than performance difference. Oh well, wasn't that expensive and it gives a more modern look...

I had also learned from Yamada-san at CREF (where I had the clear film installed) that when Toyota was developing the IS-F, they found that the large amount of power meant that the rear subframe would actually move and cause some instability, and that this was especially noticeable on a rain slick track. So, Spoon Sports developed the Rigid Collar kit for the ISF.

Just a few collars...

For anyone not familiar with the Rigid Collar concept, here is a video link that describes how they work.

Yes it sounds too good to be true, but yes they work and I will go into more detail in a future post about what they did for my car's handling. I had gotten them for my GT-R and was suitably impressed so the lack of internet feedback on their use on the IS-F didn't bother me.

I had also read on the ClubLexus forum how the Apex'i throttle controller made the car feel much more responsive (but not necessarily faster - but that's ok, I just want something more responsive!). So, I ordered one and the car-specific harness.

From: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-f-2008-2014/626697-apexi-throttle-control-installed-i-love-it-d-2.html

In a later post, I'll discuss this part - all I will say for now is, it really is worth getting!

Finally, some bling - I found something in my closet that I had ordered when I first ordered the car, but was not delivered in time for the dealer to install it, a dry carbon fiber rear license plate frame from LEMS.

Two photos from their website (as I was too lazy to unwrap it before handing it Ninomiya-san to install):

Side facing out

Body side

Here is the rear license plate before:

... and now afterwards! 

As you can see in Japan, there is this metal "cap" on the upper left bolt that has to be installed by special tooling (available only at the DMV). So Ninomiya-san had to make a quick trip in order to get it done... but I think the results are worth it!

Now I have to decide whether to splurge on a matching dry carbon fiber FRONT license plate frame and/or a rear trunk lip spoiler...but before that, one more piece of (possibly functional?) bling... stay tuned!