Reintroducing a car as Iconic as the Toyota Supra is bold. With some help from BMW’s Z4, the MK 5 Supra has stepped up and gained its own cult following in just 4 short years of production…but we are here to tell you how YOU can make it even better. Yeah yeah, we get it. You just spent all your hard-earned money on a new car, but one of the mods on this list is a do-it-yourself and will only set you back about ten bucks! In fact, all of the modifications listed here are reasonable…well, almost all of them. We did include one crazy one.
Now before we get started, this is not a sponsored video. We do not provide affiliate links or any other method of earning money from the selected parts. We are gearheads here and are recommending parts based on our experience. Now, let’s get into it!
There are two engine options for the Supras, B48, and B58. The B58 was introduced in 2015. It has been a popular choice for BMW enthusiasts and has responded well to performance mods and tuning.
Our first recommendation is the simple catless downpipe from Boostlogic. The factory exhaust is already a great design. It flows well for an OEM system, which is very important for turbocharged vehicles. The only caveat to that is the downpipe. The factory catalytic converter is a heavy and restrictive component that robs horsepower and the iconic sound most enthusiasts seek.
Boostlogic’s downpipe is fully tig welded, wide-open stainless steel downpipe that is a direct bolt-on for the stock turbo and exhaust. This mod comes in at just under $500, and installation can be done at home with essential hand tools. It utilizes both factory supports, and no welding or cutting is required. While this may seem like an expensive upgrade, it is significantly less than a complete exhaust system, and the change in exhaust tone will make it sound like it has an aftermarket cat-back. Boostlogic’s design really checks a lot of boxes. It allows you to retain the factory exhaust, gives the car a different sound, and the seat of the pants feel is just an added bonus.
Although this modification will cause a check engine light to come on, there are a few ways around it. We will get to that a little later on.
The next modification to refine the new supra kills two birds with one stone. The long nose and short trunk of the new mk5 are aesthetically pleasing and undoubtedly a nod to the generations before it. Even with stock wheels and tires, it is a great-looking car if you can get past the wheel gap. Fear not if the raised stance has got you down…yes, we realize what we did there…HKS has a solution.
The adjustable springs are a must-have and can help you achieve that lowered stance you’re looking for and that the supra deserves. What’s better about this kit is that it lets you keep the stock electronic damping control.
That means stock ride quality, and it’s lowered! Those two typically don’t go together, but HKS delivers. Coming in at around $900, this is not a cheap modification, but it’s still significantly less than a quality coil-over kit and retains that comfortable factory ride. It should be noted that this kit fits B58 or 6-cylinder models only.
The dreaded wind buffeting. Due to how the air flows across the A-pillar, pressure builds up at the window. So, when you are cruising on the highway and decide to open the windows, you hear it. What can only be described as going for a ride on a helicopter blade. That obnoxious pulsating sound is wind buffeting, and it will cause any driver to immediately close the windows and turn on the air conditioning.
Such a simple issue makes what should be an enjoyable driving experience a nightmare. Thankfully, there is a simple and cheap fix you can do yourself. A plastic door guard available on Amazon can be trimmed down and placed on the edge of the mirror right in front of the window. The pieces are hardly noticeable and considerably smaller than some aftermarket options. These items come with double-sided tape pre-installed, so installation is a breeze. Whatever you do, this $10 fix is a must for all mk5 owners.
It’s easy to get carried away personalizing your Supra, but such a well-designed car can sometimes be set off with a few subtle changes. A great way of doing this is a rear spoiler from street hunter designs.
Available in fiberglass reinforced plastic or full carbon fiber, the design of this wing fits the body lines exceptionally well. Few aftermarket body components can be mistaken for OEM equipment, but these often do. This add-on comes in at $1,340 for the fiberglass-reinforced plastic and $1,850 for the full carbon fiber.
If the spoiler mentioned above isn’t enough to set your car apart, this next suggestion will do the trick. One thing Toyota missed the mark on was color options. A performance-oriented sports car, but your choices for color are less exciting than they are for a new Corolla. Painting your car is expensive and very time-consuming. You also have to worry about overspray and reassembling a vehicle with brand-new paint. That is why our next suggestion is a custom vinyl wrap.
Aside from having every color, finish, and pattern at your fingertips, vinyl wrap offers more benefits than custom paint. There is no need to disassemble the car, no worry of overspray, and your factory paint remains untouched. The option to create designs or patterns is another way you can personalize it. In fact, vinyl wraps can protect the factory finish while putting your personal touch on display. The prices fluctuate widely depending on the vinyl used, graphics added, region you live in, and quantity of material needed. We have seen custom decals in the $200 range to full wraps costing as much as 10k.
But this could be a great DIY project if you are looking at doing small graphics or only a panel or two. On the other hand, if you plan on doing a complete color change, you should use a professional shop. Heck, you can even get your Fast and Furious on!
Taking advantage of other modifications, as well as scanning your car for codes, can all be done with the JB4 handheld tuner from Burger Motorsports. A simple plug-and-play installation provides countless options for tuning. Burger Motorsports claims up to 80 horsepower on stock vehicles, and for $549, this upgrade may provide the best bang for your buck.
For $678, the JB4 can be accessed wirelessly using a smartphone. In addition to the 8 pre-built map tunes, the boost can be tuneable, and the exhaust valve can be changed for a different exhaust sound. Although check engine lights can be turned off, they remain stored in the vehicle. Recent changes to local laws and EPA regulations have tightened the rope on companies such as Burger Motorsports. The latest firmware for the JB4 no longer allows the delete faults option to be selected. This is something that needs to be taken into consideration when choosing certain mods.
To monitor your newfound horsepower, 40 additional gauges in real time can also be displayed with the JB4. Unlike many other tuners on the market, the JB4 is not vin locked and can be used on multiple vehicles or sold down the line if and when it is no longer a viable option.
This brings us to our final modification. Our no expense spared dream modification that will turn the a90/91 supra into a tire-shredding force to be reckoned with.
Titan Motorsports teamed up with Full Race to ensure you will have a permanent smile. Full Race is known for designing and fabricating some of the best turbocharger headers in the industry. Their CNC flanges paired with robotically tig welded tubes are works of art. The Supra kit is designed for a 44 or 45-mm wastegate paired with a Precision Turbo 6870 or 6466 turbocharger. Titan Motorsports finished the kit with push lock army navy fittings, OEM style gaskets, and all necessary plumbing which takes the guesswork out of building a big turbo supra. In addition, these PTE turbochargers are water-cooled, which helps to prevent oil coking, leading to premature failure.
Full Race tested the kit at 31 psi, or 2.2 bar, and spun the dyno to a blistering 925 horsepower and 773-pound feet of torque. Although this current kit is designed around the 2021 and up 6 port cylinder head, the kit can be applied to the earlier models by swapping the 2 port head.
Previous kits were designed around the 2 port cylinder head but have since been changed to accommodate the newer design on the B58. Much of the kit stays the same, but the 6 port head provided significantly higher horsepower figures. Full Race states that their kit can be used on older models by upgrading the head. The cylinder head swap is pretty straightforward, as all the hardware is a direct swap. Cams, valve springs, fuel injectors, fuel pump, and sensors are compatible with the new and improved cylinder head. The kit starts at $8,200, and with the upgraded compressor housing covers, it retails for $8,555.
