Project GR-75 Build log - Mod List and Short Ratings

[Gabe]

Detailed build log for project MkV car.
? = Pending
= Done
Will separately list and give a short review on cost, benefit, issues with installation, quality, and problems with every mode, + general advice.
This is a work in progress list and things will be modified as I learn more about the car and the process itself.

I am skilled with my hands but have no experience on auto mechanics besides basic car care, and at HPDE 1 level at the start of the project.


Car:
2024 GR Supra 3.0 AT base.

Stage
0-1500 miles
Objective:
- Bring the car to what should be out of the factory
- Perform the engine break in as per the user manual (1200 miles)
- Get one track session to run the car on stock set up

BimmerCode Lifestyle Mods
Dash and rear cam
Change side markers to LED functional lights
Anti wind Buffeting window trim
Full screen CarPlay
Change the horn to dual tone
Change DRLs to RBG
Change the reverse light with a 4th F1 style brake light
Add 4-corner rock guards (described in Stage 2)
Get race telemetry
? Track test: all stock (1200 miles)
First oil change
Custom GR-75 license plate

————————
Status: completed
? Approximate cost: $1,280
? Materials: $1,280
? Installer fees: $0
Time invested: 14hrs (estimated)

Stage
1500 - miles
Objective:
- Improve grip and handling
Improve suspension + Lower stance
Change to wider, lighter wheels + Better tire set up
? Aggressive track alignment
? track test
—————
Status: Complete
? Approximate cost: $6,605
? Materials: $5,535
? Installer fees: $170
Time invested: 7 hrs approx

Stage
-
Objective
Improve cooling and braking
?Turbo cooling plate
?differential cooling plate
?High temp street/track brake pads front and Rear
?High temperature brake fluid flush
?master brake cylinder brace
?cold air intake
? Track test

Stage
-
Objective:
Improve downforce
? Full body aero package
? track test

Stage
-
Objective:
In cabin mods
? Roll cage/bar
? Bucket seats
? 6 point harness
? Removable steering wheel
? track test

Stage
-
Objective
Improve braking + stability
? BBK front and rear
? Front sway bar
? Camber plates
? Track dedicated squared wheel + Tire set up
? alignment
? Track test

Stage
-
Objective
Increase engine power
1. Change Intake + down-pipe
2. JB4 running.
? Track test

Stage
-
Objective
Race car look
? Full race wrap + PPF on exposed carbon.
? Track Test

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[Gabe]

Stage Mods

. Bimmercode
Why: the stock car software is limited and can be improved
?Difficulty level: 1/5
? Equipment / products needed
- BimmerCode App Apple $39
- OBD reader / ENET cable Amazon $14
- ENET cable to lightning adapter Amazon $13
? Installation: self. < 30 min. $0
?Total cost: $67
Result: Addition of: auto lock/unlock, daily rear running lights, Sport mode default, add Km/hr to dash, removed startup message, proximity locking/unlocking
?Notes:
Very easy to do. I preferred ENET cable + iPhone adapter due to increased speed and reliability in coding + was used to remotely unlock CarPlay. No anticipated adverse effects. Find someone who has purchased app and OBD interface and do it for free.
? Rating 10/10

 

[Gabe]

Stage Mods

Dash cam Front and rear
Why: Live in South FL. Cam is needed. Records track testing.
?Difficulty level: 1/5
? Equipment / products needed
- RedTiger front and rear cam Amazon $113
? Installation: self. < 45 min. $0
?Total cost: $113
Result: Addition of: front and rear view camera
?Notes:
Very easy to do. Camera works as expected, I used the cigarette lighter port but also got a hardwiring kit. Requires to route the cables on rubber guard, stick the rear camera under the third brake light, not the rear windshield. So far I see no need to hard wire it.
? Rating 9/10 (there are better more expensive cameras, will likely upgrade to rear view mirror/dual camera in the future.

 

[Gabe]

Stage Mods

change side markers to LED functional lights
Why: (subjective) the side markers look horrible in the car. Cheap look.
?Difficulty level: 3/5: require dismounting the bumpers. (Could be done with bumpers in place but will be extremely difficult)
? Equipment / products needed
- Rexpeed Front & Rear Side Markers(MK5 Supra) JD customs $225
? Installation: self. < 1 hr + dismounting bumpers. $0
?Total cost: $225
Result: Addition of functional LED side markers
?Notes:
Hardest part is to remove the rear bumper. Be sure you plan to do more mods so you do this only once (add a 4th break light for example). A flex extension bar like This one is highly recommended. Front bumper is easier to dismount, be sure you tape the headlights to prevent scratches. Also do more mods in the front that require bumper removal (horn). The front side markers DO NO blink with the directional lights. Recommend to cut, splice, solder and isolate well the cables instead of using vampire clamps.
? Rating 10/10 the smoked lights fit great with the overall aesthetic of the car. Paired with the all time DRL coding, the car is very visible all day, even in the sun.. These lights do not look cheap at all.

 

[Meraki Autoworks]

Love the details!

-Josh

 

[Gabe]

Stage Mods

Anti wind buffeting window trim
Why: at speeds >40mph or so there is strong wind buffeting coming in top of the inner aspect of the side mirrors. Sound can get really Lou d and mildly uncomfortable.
?Difficulty level: 1/5
? Equipment / products needed
- Hypersonic Black Door edges Amazon. $9.99
? Installation: self. <10 min. $0
?Total cost: $9.99
Result: eliminates wind buffeting
?Notes:
Wide set of selection of trims from this one (cheapest) to CF trims costing 100s of dollars. Need to cut 1/3 of the piece with a heavy scissor. Once in place you can’t tell you added the piece. Holds with time. Will probably change to CF trim in the future, but for now, it does the job well.
? Rating 10/10

 

[Gabe]

Stage Mods

adding CarPlay
Why: Base model has no CarPlay interface (ridiculous). BMW’s infotainment system sucks.
?Difficulty level: 1/5
? Equipment / products needed
- ENET cable to lightning adapter Amazon $13
- Bimmer-Remote Coding Here $209
- Windows Laptop
? Installation: Remote. 1hr. $0
?Total cost: $209 (had the OBD interface)
Result: adds CarPlay, makes it full screen and improves the brightness of the screen
?Notes:
You will be contacted by someone, some where in Europe. Process is fairly straightforward. Offers lifetime warranty. Works flawlessly. I’m afraid Dealer ECU flashes during routine maintenance will erase it. Changes completely the functionality of the car. Highly recommended and cheaper than to get the option as premium car trim.
? Rating 10/10

 

[Gabe]

Stage Mods

Change DRLs to RBG DLRs
Why: just for looks as show car. Adds the yellow racing color to the DRLs
?Difficulty level: 2/5 (need to lift car and remove front wheels + electrical work)
? Equipment / products needed
- RBG DRL modules $302 Iilumo
? Installation: Self. 2hrs. $0
?Total cost: $302
Result: Changes the DRL to 16M color. Adds start up animation.
?Notes:
Recommend to trim, splice, solder and isolate wires. Has a companion app that connects reliably, but lacks instructions, so there is a bit of trial and error to understand the functions. Memorizes your settings. Downside: about 20% loss in light intensity, but barely noticeable. Straight on the lights are visible from afar.
? Rating 8/10 because the phone App could use a better interphase or instructions

 

[Gabe]

Stage Mods

Add 4th F1 style brake light
Why: Toyota missed big making the North American release with a big white LED cluster that ONLY works on reverse (a short fraction of the time the car is rolling), the rear bumper looks inert with that gigantic light off all the time.
?Difficulty level: 3/5 (0requires the removal of the rear bumper and electrical work.
? Equipment / products needed
- OLM V2 F1 Style Multifunction 4th Brake Light $230 OLM
? Installation: Self. 2hrs. $0
?Total cost: $230
Result: transforms the back of the car. Has DRL, F1 blink and solid Red light on braking. Reverse white LEDs.
?Notes:
As with all electrical, Recommend to trim, splice, solder and isolate wires. The smoked option fits better with the rest of the lights. Has a small design flaw: the light will blink along with the side that you tap on for electrical connection. Maybe that wire can be taped onto the 3rd stop, but not totally sure. Will experiment. Recommend to code all time DRLs via Bimmercode.
? Rating 10/10 even with the small flaw.

 

[Gabe]

Stage Mods

change to dual horn
Why: design flaw on the Supra. Horns should be dual tone. Normally when a car honks, You are hearing 2 horns instead of 1. The Supra was equipped with only one (high tone). This might have been the ultimate prank on the Supra fan base. It sounds like a clown monocycle horn.
?Difficulty level: 3/5 (requires the removal of the front bumper, engineer a support, and electrical work. )
? Equipment / products needed
- Farbin Horns 12V dual $19 Amazon
? Installation: Self. 1hr + removal of bumper . $0
?Total cost: $19
Result: adds the normal sound of a car horn.
?Notes:
As with all electrical, Recommend to trim, splice, solder and isolate wires. Go to Home Depot and buy a piece of aluminum plate 1x4 inches and a few bolts. You’ll know what you need when you see the stock horn. The second horn goes on the passenger side.
If I would do it again I would chose an even louder one like This one
? Rating 9/10 does what supposed to do

 

[zrk]

I love this thread haha.

My only.. question is this difficulty scale.

If these are 1-3 out of 5, what is a five? Obviously scale is relative, but..

 

[Gabe]

I love this thread haha.

My only.. question is this difficulty scale.

If these are 1-3 out of 5, what is a five? Obviously scale is relative, but..

Good question. When writing this I kind of made this difficulty scale in my mind:

1. No tools required: stick the window anti buffeting trim, pretty much peel and apply. Or the BinmerCode mods that are just plug a cable and play with an app.
2. Requires tools: disassembling and replacing something that just bolts in its place: changing oil in a car.
3. Requires Tools and basic knowledge: disassembling the front fender is a 2/5, is just undoing some screws and following instructions, installing the horn adds the electrical work, you need very basic skills, like splicing cables and soldering, for example. That would make it a 3/5
4: requires tools, and specific knowledge: I would put here things like changing the transmission. There is special knowledge that you have to have in order to do it right. (To me, the type of job you bring your mechanic friend to help you with, but you can do it with supervision and teaching)
5. You can’t do this at home, you can’t find the tools to do it, you can’t have access to proprietary stuff that only manufacturer approved staff has.
(Salvage work, engine reconstruction etc)

For Stage 2 I will tackle the suspension change. I think that’s gonna be a 3/5. Need tools, need to know basic stuff, but not any advanced mechanical things. Probably recruit an unsuspecting person to help me.

 

[NitroYellowMKV]

I love seeing builds like this, and documented write-ups are such a huge help to people unsure of what to do, or what direction to take, I can't wait to see how it goes for you!

These are capable cars out the box, but a few mods really unlock the massive potential this platform has to offer. Let me know if I can ever help or assist with some parts acquisition!

What suspension and wheel tire setup are you eyeing, and what type of tracks/ style are you looking to drive?

 

[zrk]

Good question. When writing this I kind of made this difficulty scale in my mind:

1. No tools required: stick the window anti buffeting trim, pretty much peel and apply. Or the BinmerCode mods that are just plug a cable and play with an app.
2. Requires tools: disassembling and replacing something that just bolts in its place: changing oil in a car.
3. Requires Tools and basic knowledge: disassembling the front fender is a 2/5, is just undoing some screws and following instructions, installing the horn adds the electrical work, you need very basic skills, like splicing cables and soldering, for example. That would make it a 3/5
4: requires tools, and specific knowledge: I would put here things like changing the transmission. There is special knowledge that you have to have in order to do it right. (To me, the type of job you bring your mechanic friend to help you with, but you can do it with supervision and teaching)
5. You can’t do this at home, you can’t find the tools to do it, you can’t have access to proprietary stuff that only manufacturer approved staff has.
(Salvage work, engine reconstruction etc)

For Stage 2 I will tackle the suspension change. I think that’s gonna be a 3/5. Need tools, need to know basic stuff, but not any advanced mechanical things. Probably recruit an unsuspecting person to help me.

So it's more of an exponential scale than linear. I can get behind that.

Keep it up, this one is fun.

 

[Gabe]

I love seeing builds like this, and documented write-ups are such a huge help to people unsure of what to do, or what direction to take, I can't wait to see how it goes for you!

These are capable cars out the box, but a few mods really unlock the massive potential this platform has to offer. Let me know if I can ever help or assist with some parts acquisition!

What suspension and wheel tire setup are you eyeing, and what type of tracks/ style are you looking to drive?

awesome!

next stage will include a change in the suspension, I got the MSS product and my first set of wheels is still pending. I’m planning to get wider 19 inch staggered set up with better tires. Likely PSS4s + alignment with more neg camber.

The goal here will be better stance and grippier tires with slight improvement on track.

I am still looking for the wheels, wanted Apex VS-5RS (not available) , but also liked the Titan 7 Ts5, which probably will be the way I go.

In the future I will get an 18 inch squared set up wrapped in 200 TW tires, just for the track. Further changes in suspension are still undecided.
Regarding the track, I am still very inexperienced, with just a few track days under my belt, but the plan is to build a car that is capable and grows as I get more seat time, that’s why I’m not so much into increasing power as, at this point, I am not skilled enough to put all the power this car offers stock on the asphalt. I need more practice. So the investment is going to be progressive.

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