So its been about almost 6 months since I purchased my 2013 SH-AWD in Graphite Luster Metallic. So I decided to finally post/create a build thread.

Before purchasing this car, I never thought I would actually picked this car out of the cars I test drove. G37 sedan (ugly and cramped interior), 335i (crazy maintenace cost and cramped), IS 350 (aged too long but super smooth and quite), Legacy 3.6 (outdated everything, and an STI (got to grow up) just for fun. After finally thinking about all the cars and visiting this forum and seeing some nicely modded 4G's, my choice was decide. Also getting an awesome deal helped me out a lot too!

Like with a lot of 4G TL owners, it's difficult to fully love everything about the car. In my opinion; wheel gap and sunken OEM wheels really made this car look like a typical Camry or Accord (Even the SE Camry and Sport Accord's look better in stock form).

Mods I've done so far:
Takeda SRI
RV6 LT J-Pipe
ISC Street/Sport Coilovers
J-Power F/R Camber Kit
Roof Spoiler
6k Lows
Nokya Yellow Fogs (will be replacing soon)
BumperPlugs
LED DRL's with resistors (removed and disabled)
LED Bulbs for trunk, puddle, license plate
LLumar Ceramic tint: 85% windshield, 5% sunroof, and 35% on the rest
WeatherTech FloorLiner for front, rear, and trunk
20mm Spacers all around (removed for new wheel setup)

Future Mods
Quad Tips
BBK or Slotted Rotors
Lip Kit
Vinyl Wrap some parts
18" Wheels (something lighter, flush, for comfort cruising)

I'll post more pics very soon. Couldn't find much pics of when I purchased the car. Also pictures of new wheel photos by end of Sunday!







My DD!

 

Nice looking ride and mod list you got going. Good luck with your future mods.

 

New pics as promised! Car was pretty dirty. Wished I lowered the back a bit more when I was adjusting the coilovers, but I'll do that another time.

Wheel specs are 20x10 +35 wrapped in 245/35 with fenders rolled all around and front liners trimmed.

http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7e252f98.jpg

 

Nice looking car! I like how it's looking so far. Keep up the good work.

 

looking good! how do the ISC ride?

 

Good looking ride, Jackie. Love the wheels.

 

Nice car! What wheels are those? They look like Avante Garde M368s which I have been eyeing for a while.

 

Nice mods. If you drop the rear another 1 inch or so and the front another 1/2 inch, it will have a much more agressive stance. I personally like some tire tuck and a camber. Also, depending on what you want to achieve; if you already have a DD why not go all out and VIP the 4G since you will not be driving it as much.

 

Very nice. A body kit would add a nice touch. On a side note have you found lip kit that fits? I would love to get a lip kit for my car.

 

Thanks Kayak Man!

Thanks! The ISC coils run smooth after finding the right adjustments. The springs are stiffer than the Tein SS, so I had to set the damping pretty soft (8f/6r from softest) for stock like ride quality.

Thanks Steven!

You're right. AG M368s in silver with machine face. If you like them, you should definitely go for them. They're pretty heavy tho to be honest.

Thanks! I will lower it some more for sure in the rear. Maybe a litle more as well in the front to get a little tire tuck. I'll probably not go all out on this car. I wanted/needed a 4 door car for more practicality. Also trying to keep it stockish looking since the lines on the car looks great already. Factory lip spoiler kit like yours should be next hopefully

I'm just gonna go with the factory underbody spoiler lip kit. After viewing a few members photos of the kit on their 12+ TL's. It's starting to grow on me. Also looks so much better in person, which I saw at the dealership last week.

 

Nice car and great list of mods you have going.The TL's look awesome when modded and you are doing them great so far.

 

car looking good man. need that lip kit though I would say

 

Yes they look great, although I wouldn't have gone as wide. Therein lies the problem with big wide wheels. Your ride would be faster without all that extra rotaitonal mass to get moving, or stop.

The concept putting of a good high quality aftermarket wheel on your vehicle was originally intended to reduce the unsprung weight out on those corners (It takes a great deal of energy to get something heavy rolling, and once it is rolling it takes more energy again to stop it).

Somewhere along the line in the world of wheels, looks became more important than weight and strength. Good marketing I guess.

 

But the wheels look great!

 

I LOVE that style of wheel on your car, it really reminds me of the Enkei RPF1's I used to have.

 

Very nice, need to drop it some more and the body kit.

 

Thanks KarKraze!

Thanks man. Yeah I agree, needs that lip kit ASAP

Yup, I agree with you on that. Lighter wheels = a lot of benefits (faster acceleration, better MPG, shorter stops, etc...).

But for this car, I'd rather have it look clean and still be sort of luxury cruiser. I'll be honest, this car isn't meant to be a fast car. To be honest, I even think the 6AT FWD TL's are faster than the SH-AWD in the straights. If I wanted a fast car and to concentrate on performance. I'd go with a used 2010 or below C63 or 2009 or below E63 for around the same money.

Thanks LawnPro!

Thanks Wreak! Lol, I had a set of those RPF1's too on my DD before. Very affordable light weight cast wheels.

Thanks! Agreed on both of those suggestions.

 

Looks very clean Personally I wouldn't go any lower and think it looks great both the front and rear. A Lip-kit will definitely finish it off nicely though!

 

Btw, can I please have your car! Lol ha ha

 

Nice ride

 

looks awesome!

 

Car is looking mean! Nice choice of wheels and stretch.

 

Your car looks amazing! Just bought on first TL on Thursday, looking forward to see what everyone does to there own TL's!

 

Very nice.

 

Nice looking TL.

 

Congrats on the new TL! I'm also still looking at what everyone has done to there own TL's as well. Much to learn from all these members on this forum.

Thanks Mike. Your new audio setup looks like it's going to be nicely done once pods and kickpanels are all done. Can't wait to see the end result of a HQ audio setup done right on a 4G.

Thanks CLS. Yeah after thinking about and just looking at the car, I think I'm gonna stay with this current ride height for now. Just looking at it from very low angles look high. Lip kit will probably be next for me.

 

Nice pics. Great color & wheels. Car is coming out great... Congrats!

 

The stance looks on point. Very clean!
Do you have color matched screw covers on the front bumper to cover the front license plate holes?

 

Thanks!

Yeah I have the color matched bumper plugs. Here's a link if you're interested: http://www.bumperplugs.com/

 

What a beauty. Can u tell what brand of rims are these and where u bought them? Are the current pics with 20mm spacers on?
Planning to customize my ride too.

 

nice! I like how it sits now/in the pics...your progress is really coming along home-slice!

 

Car looks good! Was thinking about the ISC coils and havent seen many people run them...

 

Thanks! The wheels are Avant Garde M368's and I bought them from a local tire and wheel shop, but many sellers online sell them as well. The spacers were only for the stock wheels since they sunken in a bit after lowering the car.

Good luck and have fun modding your car!

Thanks Losimus!

Thanks LowNslo! Yeah, I was in the same boat when I was deciding on coils, and most went with Tein SS. I think only Easy was riding on these for the 4G and liked them, so I gave them a shot and they're pretty good so far. Spring rates stiffer than Teins, so you'll need to set the dampers on the soft side to get the stock ride quality.

 

I freakin love your ride! I especially like that you kept the wheel size comfortable.

 

Nicely done, car looks amazing.

 

20x10's +35 haven't seen anyone take that approach... looks pretty good... I'm +1 on the lip kit being needed to set it off... also I'd spend the $10 to get a pair of 1/4 inch spacers for the rear to push the rears out and flush them a hair more... since they stick in about 5-7mm more than the fronts. Your rears look pretty straight no negative camber? you running a camber kit if so how much room you got left when the tires tuck up in the fenders? PS the quad tips dropped a bit in price... if you want the link shoot me a PM...

 

Thanks User Error! Yeah, I might get a pair of spacers for the rear, but how safe you think it would be losing that 6-7mm of thread? I have only .5* of negative camber all around right now, but the rear kit can be adjusted quite a bit more if I decided to lowered it more. Just the front ball joints might be at the max point.

Yeah, I been keeping my eye on those quad tips you and Matt posted on the progress thread. I'm sort of making up my mind if I want round tips, or go quad ovals.

 

I've run those spacers on several vehicles to solve that issue only ever had one issue and it was a friend removed my wheels to sell them for me while I was at work and through my stocks back on without pulling the spacers. He didn't use the following rule when doing so... When you put them on just make sure your lugs make atleast three to four complete rotations on the threads and they'll be good... With the conical 60% taped nuts most aftermarket wheels use they add the extra room needed for it since they sink into the wheel vs the stock lugs that have a washer on them... It's just common sense when you get them on if there's enough stud still sticking out that it'll fill an open face lug nut they're good.

 

What type of trimming is need of the front fender liners. On my old accord I just ditched them lol. Do you have any pics or a certain area that needs to be trimmed to get a better idea?

 

Looks good. keep it up!