So my exterior is finally complete (for the moment) and since at least a few people wanted to see how the kuRookie/Nismo side/Stillen rear would turn out I decided it was a good time to start a progression thread. Thanks to those here who’ve helped me by inspiring, assisting, selling new and used stuff, developing and producing cool things for the platform and not least answering stupid questions.


I picked up my bone stock 04x almost 5 months ago after years of admiring the G, and after coming this close to picking up a 2001 740iL just prior to getting the G35x. Soon thereafter I rediscovered this crack den of a forum and it soon became apparent that getting the car was just the beginning. There was a wonderland of show and go mods out there and I was going to have to get in on the action.

How she sits as of 10/13/10.




As she sat in the showroom.




First trip to the twisties.






With 20% tint.






New Nismo sides – thanks Rob!





Sides on, clear corners on, and pinstripes off.





Headlight restoration thanks to 3M and Ashley.







Rear bumper scuffed up by previous owner and will be resprayed soon.







Axis Penta 19 x 8.5 et 35 and Hankook Ventus V12 evo 245/40








Lots of goodies waiting for install: KuRookie, Stillen, Eibach rear sway and Eibach sedan pro-kit springs





Finally dropped and front and rear installed, rear bumper painted at the same time.











Evolution:












What I’ve changed/added thus far:

-USA-spec Ipod adapter
-20% tint all around
-JDM bump clear corners
-Axis Penta 19 x 8.5 et 35
-Hankook Ventus V12 Evo 245/40
-Z tube
-Zspeed aluminum undertray
-Eibach pro kit – sedan
-Tokico d-spec rears
-Eibach rear sway
-Motordyne 5/16” isothermal
-KuRookie front bumper cover
-Nismo sides
-Stillen rear valance
-Nismo oil cap, radiator cap, and tire valve caps
-RHD battery cover



Along the way I’ve done my best to keep tool manufacturers in business: the new toys include deep offset wrenches, deep sockets, torque wrenches, impact wrench, heat gun, trim removers, dremel, and more.

On its way is a Motordyne VQ exhaust with plans to replace cats and y-pipe as well. Next year I’m planning A/V and a few other things. Let me know if you see any decent stripper poles in the marketplace.

 

Car looks Great man! I wish the 05-06 guys had a rear to choose from! Good pickup on the Hankooks, I love mine!

 

where in wa are you located?

 

Stillen Rear looks better than I thought! How was fitment on the KuRookie?

 

very nice progression..

first time I've seen the stillen rear this clear...The rear is sittin high due to the springs you have chosen cause I basically have the same setup...

If you would have went with the coupe or 350z, it would have dropped it lower..

 

Wow...great job overall...everything flows great and the color brings out the best out of these parts...now let's work on sum mesh for the front bumper...careful on front bumper!!

 

looking good , i like the stillen rear

 

Nice progress, i think an m3 lip or hikkatadori trunk would finish the rear look.

 

Thanks. Some say the hankooks have soft sidewalls. Either mine don't or I'm not discriminating enough to notice. Either way I've been happy with them.

 

I'm pleasantly surprised at how much I like the Stillen. I might just keep it even when/if Ionic comes out with a Nismo rep.

The kuRookie fits great, though the body guy at the shop was either lazy or stupid and screwed up the sidemarker bracket placement. I remounted those in a couple of hours and it looks much better, though I still need to tweak the passenger sidemarker a bit.

 

Nicely done.

 

Yeah, it's higher than many here would choose. This is my first time dropping a car and I aimed for the conservative side, but so far I'm happy with it. It looks much better but I don't worry too much about scraping. With winter coming I'll still have some clearance.

I might try other options down the road, or sooner if I blow a shock.

 

looks great, alot of modding in a short amount of time, +1 on the m3 lip, and black headlights and grill would add aggresiveness to the front, also reverse light mod + 05-06 tails would look good, and center the rear trunk emblem to the middle of the trunk ( cut the tabs and cover the holes with the very top of the emblem)

 

Yay! I have honorable mention in a build thread

BTW, you have my exact tires

Car is looking good man!

 

That or an interfooler!


I really like the molded in M3 look that 4drmadness used to run and Mike and Marcus still do. Very subtle but effective, but that's pretty far down on my list to do at the moment.


I may pick up some 05-06 tails eventually. Not looking to do silver and black - maybe an emblemless grill though.

Exhaust, tune, and DD up next. After that I'll take a break before my wife makes me sleep in the car.


You may not have the most HP, or the most Swarovski, but you'll always have the sweetest headlight lenses!