Lexus IS300 Body Kit Guide

Joe Terrell
08/14/202014th August, 2020
Filed under IS300 Tuning
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IS300’s are exceptional cars, but they’re visually a little bland in stock form. We take a look at the best kits on the market to transform your Lexus into the ultimate neck-snapper in this guide.

is300 body kit

In a hurry? Here is our IS300 Body Kit summary

Budget Choice Drifted Choice Runner-Up Choice
eg r vertex no fmic body kit version select
Duraflex EG-R Style IS300 Body Kit Vertex IS300 Body Kit Version Select IS300 Aerokit
🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Buy Now Buy Now Discontinued

Lexus opted to focus on the younger car market for the IS300, veering away from their roots as solely being a luxury car manufacturer up until that time.

With a plan to offer direct competition to the likes of BMW’s 3-series firmly in their sights, they certainly had some big shoes to fill to compete with the German market leaders at the time.

Enter the IS300.

We’d forgive you for thinking that a luxury car manufacturer wasn’t going to stand much of a chance competing with a perfectly-refined German legend such as the 3-series.

But, luckily for Lexus, they had a trick up their sleeve.

We’re willing to bet you haven’t heard of Nobuaki Katayama, but when Lexus realized the mammoth task ahead, they knew that he was going to be the perfect Chief Engineer for their ambitious new project.

stance show black

With a history that spanned right the way back to the Toyota AE86, Katayama later had substantial involvement with the MKIV Supra. Along the way, he also played a role in Toyota’s Racing Division (TRD) by engineering cars for Le Mans, the World Rally Championship, and the Sports Car World Championship.

You get the idea – you could say that this guy kinda knew his stuff, and he was the perfect person to implement the racing element into Toyota’s luxury brand.

Katayama helped produced an incredible all-around car, which featured a low curb weight along with the highly-acclaimed 2JZ engine, which made for the perfect package both in a straight line and on the twisties.

Oh, and it could also handle getting thrown sideways pretty nicely, too!

Although it had performance in mind, it still kept the luxury elements about it, which made it the perfect car for the younger generation, and also for the older owners that were prone to an occasional burnout when the wife and kids weren’t looking.

green widebody lexus

Although it has fantastic suspension out of the box, fitting a set of coilovers is capable of making this a serious contender on the canyons, or the track.

Are you interested to know how coilovers fare against lowering springs? Check out our Coilovers vs Lowering Springs guide.

With the IS300 available in the present day with an absolute bargain price tag, they’re unsurprisingly becoming increasingly popular within the tuning scene.

It’s no real surprise that the IS300 has earned its place in our Ultimate Cheap Drift Cars, Ultimate Tuner Cars AND 12 Best Drift Cars For Beginners guides!

lexus engine swap

Not only was the IS300 a fantastic car when it came to handling, but it also featured the much-loved 2JZ engine from the GS300.

Okay, so the 2JZ-JE may not be a match for its brother, the mighty 2JZ-GTE, but we’ve even compiled an NA-T guide for unleashing the potential of this bulletproof engine by fitting a turbo on a budget.

With most of the parts shared with the GTE, which is capable of 1,000 WHP, you’ll begin to realize just how much potential these engines have to offer, especially given the price tag of a GTE these days. You’ve gotta love the JDM tax.

However, with its ability to reach 60mph in just over 7-seconds, it’s hardly a slouch in stock form. Also, there are off-the-shelf modifications such as exhaust upgrades which will enable you to improve on that, while also giving it a much-improved sound.

So, you get the idea. The IS300 is a pretty damn impressive car, especially for the money.

However, when it comes to looks, the IS300 is somewhat… Bland.

It would appear that Lexus was pretty keen to keep their luxury mindset when it came to looks with this 5-door sedan.

So, what can we do to improve the aesthetics?

One of the most significant modifications you can do to a car is to replace the body kit completely.

grey widebody lexus

For those of you that aren’t already aware, a body kit generally consists of front and rear bumpers and side skirts.

These are one of the first upgrades that drifters make to their cars, not only for looks but also for convenience.

Stock parts can become challenging to source, and they’re also challenging to repair when your friends have been screaming at you to ‘RUN THE WALL’, before it all goes a little, well. Wrong.

One of the main benefits of body kits is since they’re typically made from fiberglass or FRP. Thankfully, this means that even when exploded to smithereens, you’ll generally be able to fix them up using a repair kit and a little effort.

They also enable you to completely transform the look of your IS300, turning it from the everyday 5-door sedan into a drift-ready track weapon.

The downside with aftermarket bodykits, as most enthusiasts will already be familiar with, is that fiberglass rarely fits as well as the OEM products. For that reason, you should expect to trim or add extra fiberglass to certain areas.

Generally, the more expensive kits are a much better fit, and the cheaper ones are likely to need more work.

Adjustments with fiberglass are easy enough to do, it can sometimes just become a little time-consuming, so it’s best to prepare for needing to carry out some tweaks.

slammed lexus

For drift cars, the cheaper kits are generally the better choice, since they’re convenient to replace when things go wrong.

Alternatively, the expensive kits are better choices for the stance scene, where quality and fitment are more critical.

However, if your budget allows, then these will undoubtedly make for insane looking drift cars, too.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the best body kits on the market for your Lexus IS300.

Lexus IS300 (2000-05)

As you’ve probably guessed, the 2000-05 IS300 was the most popular variant by a long way, which is why we’ve decided to dedicate the majority of this guide to the MK1.

If you’re lucky enough to own the 2014-17 IS300, we’ve also covered our favorite kits for that model later in this guide.

JP USA Complete IS300 Body Kit

jp complete

Our comment: This reasonably-priced body kit from JP USA provides fantastic quality at a fair price.

For those of you looking to keep your plastic OEM bumpers, and not opt for a full fiberglass kit, lip kits present an excellent alternative for getting that ground-hugging look.

Included are front and rear add-on lips to fit onto your existing OEM bumpers, along with replacement side-skirts.

JP USA has earned itself a good reputation of providing high-quality kits, and we wouldn’t expect this kit to need much modification at all.

Manufacturer description: “JP (Japan Products) Tokyo / JP USA Vizage manufactures and distributes high-quality aerodynamic components for a wide range of makes and models. It is one of the most experienced and largest aerodynamics companies in Japan. Its goal is to offer affordable aero aftermarket car parts, including front and rear bumpers, spoilers, fenders, and side skirts. JP’s main office is currently located in Japan, where its products are carefully crafted and rigorously tested for quality and reliability“.

“Since 1970, JP has worked with various OEM contracts in designing and constructing aero parts that improve both the form and function of a vehicle. JP is known for being affordable and offering ultra-high-quality material that has been and continues to be used by several major automakers within the last four decades“.

Vertex IS300 Body Kit (For Front Mount Intercooler)

vertex fmic body kit

Our comment: The next contender on our list is Japanese tuning legends, Vertex, and they certainly need no introduction.

With over 25-years in the business, Vertex is well known for providing some of the best-fitting and most stylish kits in the market, and their IS300 offering certainly doesn’t disappoint.

With a clean, OEM+ style design, this kit features a subtly aggressive stance, but still stands out from the crowd.

This kit is for those of you that have carried out a turbo conversion or a turbocharged engine swap, with the modified 30mm front bumper designed for a front-mount intercooler setup.

Vertex has designed this kit for the Altezza rear bumper, and the US-spec IS300 will require some modification to fit perfectly.

Manufacturer description: “Vertex body-kits are hand-made in Japan and are built for quality and durability. Not only do the Vertex aero-kits withstand severe track abuse, they are one of the most elegant body-kits on the market today“.

“Our products have graced professional drift cars to winning show cars and are now available worldwide for all car enthusiasts. We also offer a wide variety accessories and engine parts!“

Vertex IS300 Body Kit (For Non-Front Mount Intercooler)

vertex no fmic body kit

Our comment: Vertex’s second offering is the same style as the kit above, but for those of you that are still running the naturally aspirated setup as Lexus intended.

This kit provides a ‘deeper’ front bumper, where the FMIC-variant has been trimmed to just 30mm to allow for the additional FMIC clearance.

Once again, there’s no questioning the Vertex designs, fitment, or quality, as they’re up there with the very best in the industry, and this kit certainly won’t leave you disappointed.

Vertex has designed this kit for the Altezza rear bumper, and the US-spec IS300 will require some modification to fit perfectly.

Manufacturer description: “Vertex body-kits are hand-made in Japan and are built for quality and durability. Not only do the Vertex aero-kits withstand severe track abuse, they are one of the most elegant body-kits on the market today“.

“Our products have graced professional drift cars to winning show cars and are now available worldwide for all car enthusiasts. We also offer a wide variety accessories and engine parts!“

Chargespeed IS300 Body Kit

chargespeed

Our comment: We don’t feel that the wheels in this photo compliment the kit, and it could look great with something that suits the IS300 a little more.

Expect this to be another excellent-fitting, high-quality kit from one of the best brands out there.

Note that the rear bumper doesn’t include the diffuser as shown on the Vivid Racing site, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing!

Manufacturer description: “Since its establishment in 1986 in the city of Osaka, ChargeSpeed has been Japans top quality manufacturer of body kits and other car performance accessories, parts, and decorative items. Their staff members have almost 20 years of experience in the production of these specialty parts. In Japan, ChargeSpeed has their own facilities where they design and manufacture master models and tooling molds“.

“ChargeSpeed is well known worldwide as a high quality aero and performance manufacturer. All parts come pre-drilled for ease of fitment and installation. Kit Includes Front Bumper, Type 2 Side Skirts, and Rear Bumper. (Rear bumper does NOT include diffuser)“.

ChargeSpeed IS300 Full Lip Spoiler Kit

chargespeed lip

Our comment: If you’re not looking for a full body kit, and you’d rather keep the strength and perfect fitment of your OEM kit, then Chargespeed has the second lip kit choice in our guide.

We think that the front-end of this kit looks fantastic.

As we stated previously, you really can’t go wrong with Chargespeed, they are a legit JDM brand, and their quality and fitment are up there with the best.

Chargespeed has designed this kit for the JDM Altezza rear bumper, so it will require some modification to fit the US variants.

Manufacturer description: “Since its establishment in 1986 in the city of Osaka, ChargeSpeed has been Japans top quality manufacturer of body kits and other car performance accessories, parts, and decorative items. Their staff members have almost 20 years of experience in the production of these specialty parts. In Japan, ChargeSpeed has their own facilities where they design and manufacture master models and tooling molds“.

“ChargeSpeed is well known worldwide as a high quality aero and performance manufacturer. All parts come pre-drilled for ease of fitment and installation. Kit includes Front Spoiler, a pair of Type 1 Side Skirts, and Rear Under Skirt. Fits to OEM JDM Bumpers only“.

Version Select IS300 Aerokit

version select

  • Manufacturer: Version Select
  • Fitment: Lexus IS300 (2000-05)
  • Value for money: ????
  • Purchase link: Discontinued

Our comment: Version Select is a lesser-known brand compared to our previous alternatives, but thankfully their IS300 kit has received excellent reviews for being excellent quality and fitment at a reasonable price.

Consisting of a full front bumper, side skirts, and a rear lip, which is again with the Altezza in mind, so will need some modification to fit.

This kit looks fantastic when fitted, and given that the price is comparable to most lip kits when you get a full front bumper, it’s well worth the money.

Manufacturer description: “Aside from a sleek, stylish upgrade, a body kit adds an extra level of protection to your vehicle, protecting it from pebbles, sand, and other common obstructions of the road. A body kit can also improve your car’s aerodynamics for better handling and improved speed“.

“Whether you’re in it for the looks or the performance gains, this Version Select IS300 kit is a fantastic buy. Version Select is a body kit company that’s well-known and respected in the automotive community for producing exceptional products. “

Clinched Flares IS300 Widebody Kit

clinched flares

Our comment: There’s not much to choose from when it comes to widebody kits for the IS300, so we were stoked to see this kit from Clinched Flares.

Although the price tag might seem a little excessive, this kit is ABS plastic rather than fiberglass, which will be useful for those of you that often delaminate your tires!

The widebody adds 2” (5cm) per side at the front of the car, and 2.6” (6.5cm) at the rear, which can be handy if you’re planning for a big lock kit like Wisefab, which pushes the wheels out substantially.

These will also be perfect for those of you that are looking to fit deep-dish wheels that don’t easily fit under the stock body.

This kit features a ducktail spoiler. You can potentially save some cash by going for the non-ducktail alternative.

Manufacturer description: “We’re a team of passion-driven enthusiasts focused on design and manufacturing of exterior styling products. Our lineup includes universal fender flares as well as full widebody conversion kits. Manufacturing individual and mass prodution parts. Our capabilities allow us to have full control over complete product lifecycle -from an idea in our heads all the way to sales of the finished product“.

“Lexus IS300 was the model that was designed to expand brand’s appeal to a younger audience – those looking for a combination of reliability and dynamic looks and handling. Aiming squarely at the segment’s benchmark – BMW 3-Series, Lexus IS (as well JDM version – Toyota Altezza) took the world by surprise back in 1998 with a bold design combined with a good-handling RWD chassis. Only thing missing, our Lexus IS300 widebody kit for that additional width“.

Duraflex EG-R Style IS300 Body Kit

eg r

Our comment: Okay, so, it’s no secret that Duraflex have a bit of a mixed reaction within the tuning scene, and the quality of their kits has proven to be a little hit-or-miss.

However, given that this kit is almost a quarter of the price of some alternatives, we’ve provided it 4* for ‘Value for money’ since it will make a fantastic alternative for drifting.

Smashed into a wall and destroyed your kit? No worries, order yourself another!

Jokes aside, if you’re not going to lose sleep over fitment or quality, and you want something that you can zip-tie on to provide a ground-hugging look to your IS300 on a budget, this is a great choice.

Manufacturer description: “Lexus IS300 Sedan 2004, EG-R Style Body Kit by Duraflex®. Have your own ideas about how your car should look like? Add style and performance to your car with this superior body kit“.

“This kit offers breathtaking style and improved aerodynamics in one package at a price that can’t be beat. Installation typically requires sanding, trimming, and filling prior to painting, thus, professional installation is recommended“.

Lexus IS300 (2014-17)

We’re huge fans of the looks of the newer-generation IS300’s, and we couldn’t resist adding a couple of extra special additional extras to our list for those of you that are lucky enough to own one.

TOM’S Racing IS300 Body Kit

toms racing

Our comment: Another JDM legend arrives, and this time, it’s Toyota experts TOM’s Racing.

TOM’s boast OEM factory-spec fitment with their IS300 body kit and we have absolutely no reason to doubt them. These guys certainly know a thing or two when it comes to aftermarket products.

Providing your IS300 with a subtle and stylish, yet aggressive upgrade, this is an excellently priced kit for those of you that are keen to have your new-generation IS300 stand out from the crowd.

Vivid Racing also offers a vast array of pre-painted factory colors, which works out to be excellent value for money. You can see the full list at Vivid Racing.

Manufacturer description: “Converging the technical skill and knowledge acquired from motorsports involvement to bring a highly efficient and great performing products to further increase the existing status of Toyota vehicles“.

“The contribution for development of motorsports is completed by entering global automobile races using the Toyota chassis and engine as a representation. TOM’S makes effort in supporting Toyota Motor Co., Toyota Technocraft, and TRD for advancement of Toyota in the motorsports field“.

ARK Solus IS300 Body Kit

ark

Our comment: There’s no question that this ARK kit is going to be a serious headturner, and we think it looks incredible.

It may cost quite a bit more than the TOM’s Racing kit, but they are entirely different in every way, and for a complete wide-body kit, this certainly isn’t overpriced, especially since it’ll completely transform your IS300.

It’ll take a pretty substantial amount of work to fit this kit, and it’s not for the faint-hearted, but it’ll sure as hell be worth it for the outcome!

We would LOVE to see one of these IS300’s with smoke pouring out the rear end.

Manufacturer description: “ARK Performance is proud to release the Solus Wide Body Kit for the 2014-16 Lexus IS. The Solus kit enhances the appearance of the Lexus IS, giving it a more aggressive and sporty stance“.

Our winners

As you can see, there’s a fantastic variety of body kits for the IS300 on the market.

So, whether you’re looking for a perfect-fitting stance kit, a bargain drift kit, or going full-retard with the luxury widebody alternatives, there’s something for everyone.

Some options have stood out above the rest for both generations, so lets take a look at our personal recommendations for the ultimate IS300 kits.

Our Drifted Lexus IS300 (2000-05) Body Kit Winner

Our Lexus IS300 (2000-05) Body Kit winner is the Vertex IS300 Body Kit.

Vertex is known for being one of the finest body kit manufacturers in the world, and their IS300 kit is no exception.

Sure, it’s not the cheapest in our list, but when combining the design, quality, and price, we feel that the Vertex kit is the worthy winner.

You’ll undoubtedly get some envious looks if you roll up to the local meet with your Vertex kitted IS300!

If you’re looking to go down the budget route for your drift car, then the Duraflex EG-R Style Kit represents excellent value for money.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a reasonably-priced all-rounder, then you’ll struggle to do better than the subtle, yet stylish Version Select kit, which has unfortunately now been discontinued.

Vertex IS300 Body Kit

vertex no fmic body kit

Our Drifted Lexus IS300 (2014-17) Body Kit Winner

Our Lexus IS300 (2014-17) winner is the ARK Solus IS300 Body Kit.

I mean, would you look at it?!

Okay, so, the ARK Solus kit isn’t going to be the ideal solution for everyone. It’s not cheap, and you are going to have to carry out extensive modifications to your IS300 for it to fit.

Will it be worth it?

Hell. Yes.

If you’re feeling more sensible, then the TOM’s Racing kit is an incredible alternative with fantastic value for money, which also comes pre-painted in various colors.

ARK Solus IS300 Body Kit

ark

Thank you for reading our Lexus IS300 Body Kit guide.

We hope that this guide has given you the confidence to find the perfect product for your Lexus. There are some fantastic options to choose from on the market to suit a wide variety of needs, so we hope we’ve catered for yours.

Fitted a bodykit to your IS300 that you’d like to show us? Drop us an e-mail, and we may well feature it here at Drifted!

Get to know the Lexus LFA’s mighty V10 in our 1LR-GUE engine guide.

Photography credits

We would like to thank the following sources for the use of their images:

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author avatar Written by Joe Terrell Drifted.com founder, motoring journalist and all-round car enthusiast. Read more about Joe and the Drifted team on our about us page.

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