whatthe?

Just got my car back from Chatswood Lexus today after the PPE header install. The car is certainly much louder but after having run just the JoeZ exhaust and an Injen intake for the last 6 months I'm still undecided if I think the headers are an improvement to the noise it produces. It's certainly bassier and has a deeper throb at idle, but the "blaring" tone that was only apparent between 2500-3000rpm with just the JoeZ is now apparent from around 2000 to more than 4000rpm. Additionally (and this is the part that concerns me) what sounds like valve train noise is now quite audible in the cabin once the engine is up to temp. Has anyone else who has had the headers installed noticed this or should I be heading back down to Chatswood to let them have a listen?

The Injen intake uses a pod but it's enclosed and still utilises the factory CAI. I can't see how any type of filter would affect the MAF (aside from fouling it per my earlier comments), as a MAF or AFM uses air velocity to adjust AFR values and a filter isn't going to change that. An intake of different diameter/length may to a degree, but the bottle-neck of the factory throttle body is ultimately going to limit that. That and pretty much all Toyota ECUs just dump fuel at WOT and have pretty safe AFRs anyway (like at least 10:1) so running lean is not a great risk. Lean fuelling would trigger knock sensors (of which I'm sure the 2UR-GSE has many) and cause a CEL and possibly a limp mode so it seems pretty safe. In regards to the intake noise the Joe Z exhaust makes it less apparent, it doesnt do away with it entirely. Due to the quiet nature of the factory exhaust some owners may be surprised as they probably assumed the noise they could hear over 3600rpm was exhaust (which it isnt)

Who's Mike? Do you have an exhaust? I'd be interested in having a listen if not to see what intake alone sounds like. Does the K&N have an oiled filter? I've heard that those crap up MAF sensors pretty quickly with the oil residue sucked through the intake

The JoeZ note is loud enough to almost drown out the secondary intake noise. The Injen intake I just installed deletes the factory airbox so it changes the note down low (in a good way) by adding back some intake noise With an Injen pipe you don't lose the induction noise from the secondary intake, it's just there from much lower RPM. Once again though, this would be far more noticeable on a car with stock exhaust. You'll see what i mean ;)

If youre going from a stocker it'll still sound plenty loud ;). A nice single stage intake will give it a bit more of a growl after the Joe Z calms down too. When the exhaust is fitted you find you almost lose that lovely induction noise that is so evident when the secondary intake opens on a stock car

If you do go for a ride with someone who has a Joe Z installed make sure it's someone who has had it installed for at least 5K KM. I had mine installed by Lexus Chatswood about 7K KM ago and at first the drone at 2000rpm was very unpleasant. After about 5000KM, however, it toned down nicely, the drone almost disappeared and the car became significantly quieter (so much so that I've just installed an Injen intake to get some induction noise going). I'm now considering the headers, which I certainly wouldnt have done just after I got the car back!

Think I've got it sussed. The Injen instructions aren't great (halfway through they change to a description about an aftermarket coolant resevoir or some such) but after some web searching a found a fix. Apparently the ECU needs to be fooled into thinking the vacuum actuated solenoid that controls the factory 2 stage intake is still connected (as it's removed with the Injen setup). Jumped the plug to close the circuit and so far so good.

Sorry to bring this back from the dead, but I've kust installed my Injen and the IS-F is throwing a CEL light and the VSC warning after starting the 2nd time after I reconnect the battery to clear the codes. Don't have a scanner so not sure what it's problem is. Did you have any issues with yours?

It was a great day, had the Joe Z exhause fitted the day before and it makes an awesome noise. I'll ty and give more notice before the next WP day, it'll probably be early next year

Picked mine up on Thursday too, but only with the Joe Z cat back. Still a massive difference, really makes you realise how quiet these cars are in factory trim and that most of the noise they make is induction noise (which you feel rather than hear after the upgrade). Anyone with exhaust and headers want to take me for a spin so I can decide if I go the next step? :)

Well, theres still a few spots left for our day next friday if youre interested!

Hey guys, good to meet you. I havent been to any of the Lexus track days as yet, although my mates and I often hire out Wakefield Park for the day and 30 or so of us head down for the day and the night following. I havent had the F on Eastern Creek as yet though, so i might head to the next one that Lexus puts on. I'm based near Gosford but am often up around the Entrance, so I may well see you around the area! Cheers, Matt

$2700 for the exhaust and $2800 for the headers? Might have to give Sid a call tomorrow.....

Here's some pics of my 08 from the Toyota Nationals in Dubbo this year. Currently in the process of getting some exhaust and intake mods sorted

Hi all, newbie here. I'm based on the Central Coast of NSW and have owned my 08 IS-F for a bit over a year (after upgrading from an Audi S5). It's a great car and I found this forum whilst researching exhaust upgrades. I bought my car from Lexus Chatswood so it looks like the Joe Z is the way to go. Already have an Ingen intake on order from the US as well! Attached are some pics of my car from the Toyota Nationals Show-N-Shine and drags earlier this year