That moment when you FINALLY find a picture of what you'd like to do with your car.

"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt)
05/20/2016 at 10:56 • Filed to: None

Most lowered Y33 Q45s are a little too extreme for my taste. This one though is just right. No crazy camber or oversized wheels and the driving height looks functional (enough). These are 19s and it’s been lowered on Megan racing coils. DIY lowering these cars used to be impossible until Megan and BC started selling kits for them WITH the steering spindles you need to change when you lower them already attached to the shocks. Lowering these required welding a few years ago, but now that isn’t the case, which is awesome.

It’ll be a big undertaking, but my friends and I have installed multiple coilover kits at this point, and we’re about to tackle lifting one of their rusty old XJ Jeeps. There are a few more cosmetic things I’d like to take care of first, but I really want to do this.

I’d probably be keeping the stock wheels/tires on when I install the suspension, so it won’t be an instant transformation from dad spec to conservative VIP treatment, but just lowering it will be a huge victory. Before that though I’d like to address my rusty trunk and the section that’s missing from my lower front valence. Easier said than done.

I ordered a pre facelift trunk from ebay for $240 with free shipping, which was awesome. It’s totally fucked though and I’m in the middle of tearing it apart. That project will be my first foray into attempting to properly address rust and do a respray. I’ve done halfway decent rattle can jobs before, so I figure if I grab a basic HVLP setup and practice on the spare body panels I have lying around, I can get to the point where I’ll be able to lay down a decent color match/smooth coat. The pre facelift trunk includes taillights that “finish” the shape of the outer tails you see here, kind of like a previous gen Mercedes E class. So this will require wiring too since at the very least I’ll need the reverse lights to work.

The missing section of my lower front valence is also a problem. It’s recessed so it isn’t that noticeable, one of my friends had no idea that was even an issue. I’d still like to fix that though, but that’s nowhere near as much of an undertaking as the trunk.

DISCUSSION (22)

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/20/2016 at 11:03

The wheels remind me of the ones on Maybachs.

Life and Times of Magoo: The People's Champ > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/20/2016 at 11:14

The older Japanese Q ships look fantastic lowered. Really like the wheels pictured here.

......And before anyone gets excited.

REMEMBER KIDS. LOWERED AND STANCED ARE DIFFERENT THINGS.

deprecated account > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/20/2016 at 11:15

I think yours looks really good the way it is though

Noah - Now with more boost. > Life and Times of Magoo: The People's Champ
05/20/2016 at 11:19

Yeah the wheels are great, I definitely want to buy 19s with a decent amount of lip on them to accentuate the width of the wheels.

Noah - Now with more boost. > deprecated account
05/20/2016 at 11:22

She says thanks! I like the way it looks right now too. But compared to modern cars though the wheels are a little small and a little sunken into the wheel arches. I think a subtle lowering/wheel treatment would do wonders. Also, the rear dampers are beyond shot.

Noah - Now with more boost. > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
05/20/2016 at 11:23

I love wheels with big faces like that. IDK if I’d go with something like those though, I want to keep things very subtle. OEM+

gawdzillla > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/20/2016 at 11:28

not a fan of those errr..... dishes

deprecated account > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/20/2016 at 11:29

I’d go not quite as low as the pictures, and not as big of wheels, but I guess it's not so bad.

Noah - Now with more boost. > deprecated account
05/20/2016 at 11:50

I’m actually totally open to that, even just one inch larger than my current wheels (17 vs 18) would be cool, and I agree that the tires on this one are a little thin. I will do slightly taller sidewalls either way, even with 19s.

BJ > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/20/2016 at 12:30

So, basically VIP with a useful ride height? Good, very good.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VIP_style

http://jalopnik.com/your-guide-to-…

BJ > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/20/2016 at 12:31

I like the big faces, like the original AMG Hammers.

theuserformerlyknownasaluminumfoil > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/20/2016 at 12:40

What are you thinking for wheels? BTW i love how you’re going with a conservative drop!

Nimbus The Legend - Riding on air like a cloud > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/20/2016 at 13:00

I know how you feel! Here are some of my inspirations. The front lip was discontinued, but a bunch of us local guys, got a local bodykit/lip maker to get us some urethane replicas!!!

Kinja'd!!!

Nimbus The Legend - Riding on air like a cloud > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/20/2016 at 13:01

just google image search, jdv vip y33 lol

Nimbus The Legend - Riding on air like a cloud > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/20/2016 at 13:03

18s should be plenty good. thats what i run on my car now even though a lot of guys were able to fit 19 and even 20s... I dont dare. Roads here suck.

Nimbus The Legend - Riding on air like a cloud > BJ
05/20/2016 at 13:05

yup! and in these big boats, air suspension is just as practical as it is cool LOL

Noah - Now with more boost. > Nimbus The Legend - Riding on air like a cloud
05/20/2016 at 13:35

yeah plus when the wheels are so large that you need rubber band tires, the proportions look so wrong.

Noah - Now with more boost. > Nimbus The Legend - Riding on air like a cloud
05/20/2016 at 13:36

yep I have many times, like I said at the beginning, 95% of the VIP/lowered Y33s I find are too extreme for me

Noah - Now with more boost. > Nimbus The Legend - Riding on air like a cloud
05/20/2016 at 13:38

damn the finish on that lip looks great, gives me confidence that I can bodge together something acceptable for the little piece of my valence I need to replace.

Noah - Now with more boost. > BJ
05/20/2016 at 13:39

no curtains though lol.

Noah - Now with more boost. > gawdzillla
05/20/2016 at 13:40

I like them but wouldn’t put something that “loud” on my own car.

Nimbus The Legend - Riding on air like a cloud > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/20/2016 at 13:55

This was from a few years ago, before the group decided to go all in on replicating the JDM lip...lol

hope it helps!

http://forums.acuralegend.org/my-front-lip-d…