Buying Coilovers for Your Lexus IS300? Read This First
Are you looking to buy a new coilover kit for your Lexus Is300? In this post I will go over the best coilovers for Lexus IS300s and give you a range of options from budget to premium, so no matter what your requirements, you’ll find something that suits you.
Our Top 3 Coilover Picks For the Lexus IS300
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The Lexus Is300 was designed by Nobuaki Katayama (who was also responsible for the AE86 and the Supra) and was an uncharacteristically sporty sedan for the time. Mr. Katayama decided to design the car around his own driving style (having competed in motor racing himself) and ended up making an extremely popular car.
The Is300 is a RWD, front engine sedan which came with either a 2 liter 4 cylinder 3SGE, a 2 liter 6 cylinder 1GFE or the ever popular 3 liter 2JZ-GE engine, all with 6 speed manual gearboxes (automatic was also an option).
This made the Lexus Is300 an extremely popular platform due to being perfect blend of comfort for the older buyers, and performance for the younger crowd who wanted to race. To this day, it is used for all kinds of motorsports from circuit racing to drifting.
If you have just bought an Is300 or have decided that it’s time to make yours perform better or look cooler, you can’t go past a set of coilovers.
As one of the first go-to mods for any car tuning enthusiast, coilovers will not only make the car look better by lowering the ride height, they will also improve the performance and give the car better handling capabilities.
In this guide we will give you all the best coilover options whether you are looking to race the car or go super low for shows.
The Best Coilovers For the Lexus Is300
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Fortune Auto 500 Series
Fortune Auto 500 Series coilovers are an excellent option if you are willing to spend a bit more on your coilovers. Fortune Auto 500 Series coilovers offer a few things that most other coilovers don’t – their coilovers are modular and can be upgraded to a 2-way canister system.Along with this, they are hand assembled in the USA once the order is made, and every shock is dyno tested and matched.
They feature a high flow digressive piston design which is made to be the perfect balance between comfort and performance, and use a monotube damper with high pressure nitrogen.
The fortune Auto 500 Series coilovers an excellent high quality option for daily driving with the occasional track day.
All Features:
– Ride height adjustability at the shock body – giving you full suspension travel at all ride heights
– 24-way dampening adjustable
– High flow digressive piston design
– EVERY shock is dyno tested and matched
– Modular and upgradeable to 2-way canister system
– Is300s feature aluminium T6 6061 top mounts from and rear (not camber adjustable)
– Is300 Spring Rates: 12Kg front, 8Kg rear
– Back-milled aluminium components for weight saving
– Swift Springs upgrade is available (extra)
– 5 year warranty
– Hand assembled in USA by Fortune Auto
– Fully rebuildablePrice: $1799
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HKS MAX SP IV
The HKS Max SP IV coilovers are HKS’ top performance coilover and offer unmatched handling performance and ride comfort (which is close to stock, even at max lowering).HKS is no stranger to making high end performance parts, and these coilovers are no exception.They have a ton of features and are super high quality, making them an extremely popular choice with Is300 owners. Allowing you to adjust the ride height by the shock body, you get full suspension travel at all ride heights, improving both handling and ride comfort.They also have a monotube damper which is inverted on McPherson strut models (to minimise heating of the damper and reduce unsprung weight) and allows for 30-way dampening adjustment.
They are made in Japan by HKS and are fully rebuildable. If you are looking for a top performance coilover for your Is300, the HKS Max IV SP’s are the way to go.
All Features:
– Ride height adjustability from the shock body – giving you full suspension travel at all ride heights
– 30-way adjustable dampening
– Monotube dampers (inverted on McPherson strut models)
– Pillow-ball strut mounts with camber adjustment (on applicable models)
– Special anti-corrosion PNE coating
– Special needle design to improve dampening
– Larger M shaft diameter for better dampening and an improved driving experience
– Fully rebuildable by HKS
Price: $1700 -
KW V3
KW makes some extremely well engineered coilovers and has established a very big reputation when it comes to suspension. The KW V3 coilovers are highly regarded by many to be the best coilovers ever made short of full race spec coilovers.While I’m not so sure that’s the case, and I think there are better options out there (certainly for the price), I do think KW has put a lot of thought into the KW V3s and designed a coilover that will perform incredible well.The KW V3s do have a long list of features including individually adjustable rebound and compression (using their patented technology), super high build quality which is extremely corrosion resistant and springs and dampers which are fine tuned for every vehicle.
The only issue I personally have with the KW coilovers is the fact that there are many reported damper failures (leaking), particularly with track use, which is disappointing given their price point. And it seems that KW doesn’t want to honor the lifetime warranty if the car has seen the track (which they say the coilovers are designed for).
They also adjust ride height by spring perch rather than shock body, which I’m not a fan of as it reduces the suspension travel the lower you go.
That being the case, combined with their high price point (which I think has at least a little bit to do with the brand name), I personally would rather go with a different brand. However, given their high level of engineering and the many customers who are happy with their coilovers, I think it’s fair to include them on this list.
So if money is no object and you are looking for all the extra features combined with the super corrosion resistant build quality that will resist harsh weather conditions, the KW V3s are for you.
All Features:
– Ride height adjustable (by spring perch, not shock body)
– Individual rebound (16-way) and compression (12-way) adjustability
– External damper reservoir design
– Super high build quality that will resist any weather condition due to the stainless steel “Inox-line” shock bodies
– Springs and dampers fine-tuned for each vehicle
– Made in Germany by KW
– Limited Lifetime Warranty with no mileage limit for the original purchaser
– Fully rebuildable (but must be sent back to Germany)Price: $2934
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BC Racing BR Series
If you’ve spent any time at all in the car tuning world, you’ll be no stranger to BC Racing. Having grown extremely popular in the last decade, BC Racing offer extremely high value for money coilover kits which beat most of the competition on price, quality and performance.Their BR Series kit is designed primarily for street use but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking any features. On the contrary, the BR Series coilovers offer possibly the most features of any coilover at their price point.
From the 30-way dampening adjustability to the extreme low option, camber adjustable strut mounts, Swift Spring upgrade option and more, the BR Series coilovers are hard to look past. They offer a comfortable street ride and much improved handling performance.
They have proven to be extremely popular with car enthusiasts of all kinds including Is300 owners, and are an excellent choice if you want a coilover that can handle daily driving and occasional track use.
All Features:
– Ride height adjustability from the shock body – giving you full suspension travel at all ride heights (up to 3 inches lower than factory – 5 inches lower on Extreme Low option)
– 30-way dampening adjustment
– Monotube shocks with linear piston and damping curve
– Custom spring rates and Swift Spring upgrade options available (Standard on Is300 is 12Kg front, 10Kg rear)
– Custom valving to match custom spring rates
– Adjustable camber strut mounts standard on applicable kits
– Fully rebuildable
– 1 year warrantyPrice: $1195
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A’PEXi N1 ExV
A’PEXi is no new name in the world of car tuning and aftermarket performance parts. Founded in 1992, they have been making high quality performance parts for Japanese cars ever since, and their coilovers are no exception.Their N1 ExV coilovers are designed to handle both street and track use, and come with a range of features including monotube dampers with 32-way dampening adjustment, ride height adjustment by the shock body and pillow-ball camber adjustable strut mounts (on applicable models).However, on top of that, APEXi have put a lot of their engineering & R&D coilovers, specifically valving them and using special oil so that they perform to A’PEXi’s standards. Don’t let the low price fool you, this is a very high quality coilover kit.
Users of the A’PEXi N1 ExV coilovers report and exceptionally good ride on the street, combined with very good handling on the track, making these coilovers an excellent option for both street and track use for Is300’s.
All Features:
– Ride height adjustment by the shock body – giving you full suspension travel at all ride height settings
– 32-way dampening adjustment
– Monotube shocks with special oil and valving based on A’PEXi’s R&D
– Solid strut mounts (not camber adjustable on the Is300)
– Spring Rates: 12Kg front, 8Kg rear
– Fully rebuildablePrice: $ 1,044
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Ksport Kontrol Pro
Ksport is another brand that has been making coilovers for over a decade. Their Kontrol Pro is their entry-level coilover which is designed to handle both street and track use, and has proven to be very popular. Many people now run Ksport coilovers, and Ksport themselves are involved in motorsports, allowing them to test their products and make sure that they last.The Kontrol Pro’s come with a lot of features and are a good quality coilover kit for very little money. If you are don’t have a large budget but want a coilover for your daily driving Is300 that will be able to handle some performance driving, the Kontrol Pro’s are a good option.
All Features:
– Ride height adjustment by the shock body – giving you full suspension travel at all ride height settings
– 36-way dampening adjustment
– Monotube damper with separated oil and gas design
– Zinc electroplated for corrosion resistance
– T6 606 billet aluminium parts
– Spring rates on Is300: 12kg front and 7.2kg rear
– Pillowball strut mounts
– 1 year warrantyPrice: $1066
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TEIN Flex Z
I’ve spoken about TEIN Flex Z’s a number of times on this blog as possibly being the best bang for buck coilover you can get.TEIN has packed an incredible amount of features into these coilovers for the price they sell for, making them very hard to compete with. Not only that, but they have an excellent reputation with countless satisfied customers who have Flex Z’s on their cars.
TEIN has put an unbelievable amount of engineering onto these coilovers, even making them region specific for the area of the world they are being sold to – so that the customer gets the absolute best coilovers for their money.
The Flex Z’s are designed to handle both street and track use and come with a ton of features and have a comfortable ride, rivalling coilovers at much higher price points. They are also made in Japan at TEIN’s Yokohama facility.
They are also made with TEIN’s special anti-corrosion powder coat and ZT coatings, which makes them a good option even in areas with harsh weather conditions.
The only downside I’ve ever seen about the Flex Z’s is that some people report the springs to be a bit soft for track use, so if you intend to track the car often you might want to look into stiffer springs and getting the dampers valved to match.
Other than that, if you are looking for coilovers for your daily driven and sometimes tracked Is300, the Flex Z’s really are one of your best options.
All Features:
– Ride height adjustable by the shock body to allow full suspension travel at all ride heights
– 16-way dampening adjustment
– Twin-tube damper for increased ride comfort
– Reinforced rubber upper mounts on the Is300
– Special TEIN patented powder coat and ZT anti-corrosion coating
– No sag springs
– TEIN’s special high-spec damper oil
– Shock inserts replaceable and sold by TEIN
– Can be revalved to your specifications
– Spring rates: 10kg front, 8kg rear
– EDFC compatible (TEIN’s electronic dampening adjustment system)
– 1 year warrantyPrice: $749
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Megan Racing EZII
The Megan Racing EZII’s are a great option for street driven Is300’s. They are a budget coilover that offers a wide range of features and is decent quality despite the very low price.While Megan Racing does offer a cheaper option (the EZI’s) I think it’s worth paying the little extra to get the extra features of the EZII’s, which includes stiffer springs, better dampening and strut mounts.
Despite the low price, Megan Racing coilovers have an excellent reputation, with countless happy customers who even use them on the track. Megan Racing have done a good job of providing a quality coilover kit for a very low price, and the EZII’s are perfect if you are looking to lower your daily driven Is300.
All Features:
– Ride height adjustment from the shock body, giving you full suspension travel at all ride heights
– 15-way dampening adjustment
– Monotube dampers
– Include upper strut mounts
– Spring rates: 10kg front, 6kg rear
– 1 year warrantyPrice: $749
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Godspeed MonoSS
Easily the cheapest on the list, the Godspeed MonoSS coilovers are surprisingly not rubbish despite the extremely low price.Godspeed coilovers have many good reviews online and have become one of the go-to brands when looking for the absolute cheapest coilovers that won’t break a week after you install them.
Offering a surprisingly decent ride and good built quality, the Godspeed MonoSS’ are perfect if you are looking for budget coilovers for your daily driven Is300.While you’re not going to get extreme track performance like you will with some of the more expensive options on this list, if you are not planning on tracking the car and just want to lower it and have a decent ride, these coilovers will get the job done.
They come with most of the features that the other coilovers give you like shock body ride height adjustment, dampening adjustment and upper strut mounts, which makes them surprising good value for money.
All Features:
– Ride height adjustment from the shock body, giving you full suspension travel at all ride height settings
– 16-way dampening adjustment
– Monotube dampers with “Race quality” oil
– Include upper strut mounts with Koyo Japan 6204z bearings
– Spring rates: 12kg front, 10kg rear
– Anodized aluminium shock bodies
– 1 year warrantyPrice: $675
Top Coilover Picks for the Is300
Here I will go over my top 3 picks for the best coilovers for the Lexus Is300 and why I chose each. I will give one budget, one mid-tier and one expensive option so that no matter how much you have to spend, there’s a coilover option for your Is300.
Budget: TEIN Flex Z
In my opinion, it’s really hard to beat the TEIN Flex Z’s. These really aren’t a “budget” coilover, they are a great coilover at a low price.
Given the amount of R&D and engineering that TEIN put into these coilovers, combined with the list of features and the unbelievably low price point, they really should be compared against much more expensive coilovers (and many people have, some saying the ride is even comparable to KW V3’s).
The only complaint I have ever heard about the TEIN Flex Z’s is that the springs are a bit too soft for the track, so if you intend on tracking your Is300 then upgrading the springs and getting the dampers revalved might be a good idea.
Other than that, you really can’t go wrong with a set of Flex Z’s, no matter whether you are looking for a budget coilover or you have more to spend.
BUY TEIN FLEX Z COILOVERS HERE
Mid-Tier: A’PEXi N1 ExV
I’ve heard nothing but good things about the A’PEXi N1 ExV coilovers. Given their price point, they are an extremely impressive coilover that gives both an extremely comfortable ride and is able to handle track use (not many coilovers in their price range are sold as “track” coilovers).
The only downside of the A’PEXi coilovers is that they are only made for a few models. But since you drive an Is300 and A’PEXi do make a kit for your car, that’s not your problem. You can go ahead and buy these extremely impressive coilovers at the ultra-low price they sell for, and laugh as you drive past everyone who has a car that A’PEXi doesn’t make a coilover for.
BUY A’PEXi N1 ExV COILOVERS HERE
Baller: Fortune Auto 500 Series
Given the amount of features these coilovers have, it’s hard not to recommend them. Fortune Auto really has gone all out to try and make the best coilovers possible, and for not even that high of a price (compared to the KW V3s for example).
The Fortune Auto 500 Series have an extremely impressive features list and are even made to allow you to upgrade them if you feel the need to (let’s be honest, that happens 99% of the time).
Given all of the above, the Fortune Auto 500 Series is my pick for the “expensive” coilover of the list.
BUY FORTUNE AUTO 500 COILOVERS HERE
Cars owned: Mk2 Golf with 1.8T swap, BMW E28 with M30B35 swap, BMW E36 328I Mtech, BMW 750IL, Nissan 300ZX, Honda Civic EF
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