IS-F Tune Released

[M.Hagen]

Somewhat relevant to this community as I know others, including myself, cross-shopped IS-F's. It was the lack of aftermarket potential that deterred me from the IS-F. Looks like a flash is now available, and makes impressive results.

As of 1/20/2016, their test mule is making 405whp/389tq on a DynoJet without aftermarket headers. Another test car with full headers is in queue, which typically add +30hp/tq on their own.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't envious of the power with just some simple bolt-ons.

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/cl-v...e-finally.html

Dyno of before/after flash (Sorry for the large image):

[Move Over]

Damn, 50 hp from a tune. Nice...

Wish those cars came with a 6MT, such a shame.

[Z K]

I don't think it's aftermarket potential that deters me from the ISF. It's the lack of a manual transmission, lack of driver involvement and overzealous traction control... then it's the ugly looks of the car. The regular IS looks 10x better than the ISF. ISF has a huge round nose, faux vents and narrow body.

The ISF V8 engine is great though.

[Move Over]

Originally Posted by Z K

I don't think it's aftermarket potential that deters me from the ISF. It's the lack of a manual transmission, lack of driver involvement and overzealous traction control... then it's the ugly looks of the car. The regular IS looks 10x better than the ISF. ISF has a huge round nose, faux vents and narrow body.

The ISF V8 engine is great though.

Well said.

[wheatpaste]

Don't forget the idiotic tailpipes.

[Dano335i]

Originally Posted by Z K

I don't think it's aftermarket potential that deters me from the ISF. It's the lack of a manual transmission, lack of driver involvement and overzealous traction control... then it's the ugly looks of the car. The regular IS looks 10x better than the ISF. ISF has a huge round nose, faux vents and narrow body.

The ISF V8 engine is great though.

There are no fake vents on the ISF.

Every part is functional, even down to the exhaust tips. The vents on the side fenders channel hot air out from the engine bay. The large inlets on the front bumper channel air to brake ducts that cool the brakes. The exhaust tips produce downforce at 130+ MPH speeds.

[dparm]

The Aisin 8-speed is actually quite good. Everyone laughed at an 8-speed auto in a performance car when it was launched, but now it's the norm.

For me it was a tough call between the IS-F and M3. I still think they're pretty cool and I can respect them for what they are. It doesn't have to be "us versus them".

[Move Over]

Originally Posted by dparm

The Aisin 8-speed is actually quite good. Everyone laughed at an 8-speed auto in a performance car when it was launched, but now it's the norm.

For me it was a tough call between the IS-F and M3. I still think they're pretty cool and I can respect them for what they are. It doesn't have to be "us versus them".

Agreed, always admire them when I see them. Not bashing on the transmission by any means, just wish it came in a 6/7MT. Would be fun.

[Bucki14]

No surprise here really, it does have a whole liter more displacement so it should make more. Plus the second generation of that motor in the RCF was at 470ish granted they raised the compression ratio and some other things.

But Japanese are usually conservative on their motors.

[Da Hapa]

Loved my E90 M3 but I'd by lying if I didn't say that I would have bought an ISF in a heartbeat if I could have purchased a three pedal manual. I prefer the looks of the M3 and do agree that on track, the dynamics are better. But with the revised suspension tuning that came along mid-cycle (2010?) the ISF, IMO, is the superior road car in many ways.
Plus, I've owned a lot of European sports cars as well as Japanese cars and in my experience, the actual reliability and running costs (once you're out of BMW's maintenance period) are substantially better. I hated all the rattles and squeeks my M made and remember being floored when I drove similar vintage ISF's (which had the original ROCK HARD suspension) and finding that the interiors were like tombs... no squeeks, no rattles, just the glorious sound of that big, naturally aspirated V8).
No offense to the M3 and to each his own... just stating my opinion.

[dparm]

Back to the original post -- that is not bad for an NA car, though I'd say that motor is not as nearly high-strung as the S65 so there's bound to be room for more power. Our motors are already working pretty hard to make over 100hp/L. If the IS-F's 5.0L V8 were in that state of tune, they'd be over 500hp.

[Longboarder]

Has anyone raced a modded one? They seem to be pretty damn slow for a car with such a big motor that was supposed to be an e9X M3 killer. I don't know what the weight is but i'm guessing it's a Lexus so maybe a bit heavier. Just saw one yesterday for the first time in over a year. Pretty rare. I kinda like the looks. Kinda.

[pbonsalb]

How do you get 15% more rwhp from only a tune on a naturally aspirated car? The stock tune must be really, really, really bad or there is more going on in the comparison.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Longboarder

Has anyone raced a modded one? They seem to be pretty damn slow for a car with such a big motor that was supposed to be an e9X M3 killer. I don't know what the weight is but i'm guessing it's a Lexus so maybe a bit heavier. Just saw one yesterday for the first time in over a year. Pretty rare. I kinda like the looks. Kinda.

I wouldn't call it a slow car at all. Go drive one.

[Longboarder]

Originally Posted by dparm

I wouldn't call it a slow car at all. Go drive one.

I was under the impression a stock e9X M3 was faster. Saw some vids back years ago.

Lexus not really my thing. Unless you are talking LFA I'd hit that.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Longboarder

I was under the impression a stock e9X M3 was faster. Saw some vids back years ago.

Lexus not really my thing. Unless you are talking LFA I'd hit that.

Straight-line, yes, the M3 is faster, but it's not going to absolutely smoke it.

As someone else had mentioned up top, the later years received suspension tweaks that made it about as fast as an M3 on the track.

[Longboarder]

Originally Posted by dparm

Straight-line, yes, the M3 is faster, but it's not going to absolutely smoke it.

As someone else had mentioned up top, the later years received suspension tweaks that made it about as fast as an M3 on the track.

Nice. I did play with one once. Empty road I was in my 412/446 wheel 335i with an LSD. ISF jumped and sounded good but was a rear-view spec pretty quick just up to the speed limit where I stayed as a good law abiding citizen.

[Dano335i]

Originally Posted by Longboarder

Nice. I did play with one once. Empty road I was in my 412/446 wheel 335i with an LSD. ISF jumped and sounded good but was a rear-view spec pretty quick just up to the speed limit where I stayed as a good law abiding citizen.

Well actually an ISF and E90 M3's are pretty much identical in straight line acceleration. Roughly 12.7 @ 113-114mph cars average, DCT M3's might have a slight advantage off the line if you used launch control but they trap roughly the same.

That's like saying you raced an E90 M3, he got the jump but he became a spec in your review mirror by 65-70mph. Doubt it with a 400whp 335i. You sure you didn't race an IS250 F-Sport? They have badges and ground effects that mimic an ISF, sorta. They're like the 328i M-sport equivalents.

[Longboarder]

Originally Posted by Dano335i

Well actually an ISF and E90 M3's are pretty much identical in straight line acceleration. Roughly 12.7 @ 113-114mph cars average, DCT M3's might have a slight advantage off the line if you used launch control but they trap roughly the same.

That's exactly like saying you raced an E90 M3, he got the jump but he became a spec in your review mirror by 65-70mph. Doubt it with a 400whp 335i. You sure you didn't race an IS250 F-Sport? They have badges and ground effects like mimic an ISF, sorta.

Maybe I was going a lot faster than 65-70 when I shut down I'm getting old I have memory loss But yes absolutely an ISF.

My 400+ wheel 335 also pulled (barely) two supercharged M3's from a roll it was no slouch. These were at two different Shift Sector events.

[malrash]

Both cars have merits and demerits.
The M3 has a higher redline, a higher strung, much mores special feeling engine, better balance, is better looking and is lighter. The Lexus is probably better damped, has probably better reliability, lesser running costs and is quieter on the inside. In my mind, there is little doubt which one I'd own.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by malrash

Both cars have merits and demerits.
The M3 has a higher redline, a higher strung, much mores special feeling engine, better balance, is better looking and is lighter. The Lexus is probably better damped, has probably better reliability, lesser running costs and is quieter on the inside. In my mind, there is little doubt which one I'd own.

Well said. However, the M3 is probably one of the more reliable BMWs. I've had two separate service advisors say it, and I think a lot of people on here will echo that sentiment.

The nice thing about capitalism and free markets is that we have a big selection of vehicles.

[davcrz5]

Hey guys though I give you latest update I have 2011 with updated suspension. In 2011 Car and Driver tested 2011 F with PS2 tires at Lighting Lap it did 3:05.4 at VIR, it ran the same time as M3 with cup tires 3:05.4 so both are pretty fast cars. When my ISF had just catback I ran my friends 6spd 3 times beat him each time, when I be ran my other friends DCT from dig has advantage lighter and damn FAST DCT lol, From roll super close each time, both cars are fast they just go about it differently.

Now back to original OP, yes after 8 years of waiting final crack ecu, 405 was done on RR Racing ISF it has secondary cats removed and primary cats gutted. Now what was interesting is this dyno is know for lower numbers they are very conservative with their hp/tq numbers it reads 20 plus hp lower than most dyno's. Their was also another ISF with I/H/E his base dyno was 380hp, his previous dyno run at other dynos netted him 400hp. So they new that 20 plus less hp was pretty accurate. When tune was installed and he did his pull he netted best run of 411hp. So there looking at around 430hp on most dyno's, Not bad for some bolt ons and tune. There still working on it, some thing's they currently working on 80mm throttle body which they tried but due to large increase in air flow they're going to rework the map. RR Racing also has SC kit for ISF over 600hp they also may develop cam for it as well. RR Racing actually race's ISF so they have tons of experience with platform and have been working on the tune for 5 months. Currently beta testing the tune on westcoast, midwest, and south.