I just picked up a new g35x. By new, I mean it's an 05 with 148k miles. But it was a decent deal ($6700) and it's in fairly decent shape other than some small things.
One of those small things, is all the aluminum trim, the trim around the shifter, and on the inside door handles. It looks like Iron Man was driving my car based on the thousands of tiny scratches on those and under the driver side exterior door panel. My question is, has anyone attempted to paint these or are there replacements I can buy anywhere? I would think if I wetsanded and polished the pieces, they would lose their brushed aluminum look.

The other small thing is a clunk from the passenger side suspension. Seller claimed it was control arm bushings as that's what Pepboys diagnosed it as. More than likely it's the compression arm bushings though from what I've been reading. Maybe a ball joint? My friend has a pickle fork if I the ball joints are replaceable.

 

https://g35driver.com/forums/body-in...pictorial.html

 

https://g35driver.com/forums/g-spot/...er-thread.html

 

CLUNK - Yep, common problem, lower control arm bushing is shot. You can replace just just the bushing for around $20. However, if the ball joint at the other end is shot then you will need to replace the entire control arm approximately $150.

 

Thanks everyone. Any thing I can do with the brushed aluminum around the shifter?

I'll look at the control arm bushing. I need some sort of a press for that right? Autozone rents one that works for bushings and U-joints I think.

 

I recall someone looking to trade his wood trim for the aluminum one... but I failed to pull the trigger on that deal...

 

My car is an 05, are these trim pieces real aluminum? I thought it was plastic looking at it, but maybe I'm wrong.

 

Good tutorial! I like how that looks as well.

 

A few people have gone the carbon fiber route, which is weekend project of gluing pre-cut cut carbon fiber onto the trim. Some folks like it: others don't.

 

I don't like carbon fiber in the interior at all really. My pieces are all aluminum. Not sure why I didn't realize it before. I'm going to sand them and put the brush strokes look back in myself with some 220 grit.

 

I forgot about the coating on the aluminum. Not sure if the pieces are just clear coated or anodized. I just have to try and find a similar clear coating.

 

I finished the sanding and polishing yesterday. I used a 1200 grit and 500 grit piece of sand paper to put in the brush strokes. It's difficult with the curve in the trim piece, but I like the result. I'll put some pictures up tonight.

 

Awesome! I look forward to seeing those pics, I have the same issue in my car

 

I did the carbon fiber route but I just got the vinyl and wrapped it. You could also find vinyl to do the same thing in all sorts of colors and designs. I just found some snake skin looking vinyl today. The door inserts are aluminum, but can be replaced. The vinyl is easy and it doesn't damage anything when it's removed. Unless you don't prep the surface right the first time then you may end up pulling All the armor all that had been put on things in the past.

 

No pics yet? I'm working on something similar.