UNABASHED

I did this before looking at the grill, should have quit while I was ahead!

not just me then!

Ever eager to try stuff like repairs and mods on my car I decided that last night I would cut the slats from my front bumper and put some alexmesh in it's place. While there I thought I would also swap the indicator and sidelight bulbs, fix one of the headlights that has cracked across one of the fixings, attach my shiny new arch lining, fix the number plate, re-attach the fallen Z badge and give the engine bay a jolly good clean. Simple right? For a normal person, yes. But for me, a person who seems to be one step over the mental retardation line, this was splitting the atom kinda stuff. I started by going to Machine Mart on way home from work to get me a dremmel to cut the slats from the bumper. They didn't have one and so I had to make the decision of trekking around to next shop in traffic or buy the next best alternative - a hacksaw. Of course I went for the ridiculous option and bought a hacksaw It was a sunny day, I had my junior hacksaw (and a myriad of replacement blades should they be required!) and the going was good. I got home and the neighbours have parked outside my house on both sides so I can't use the spots to jack the car up. After arguing with one of the neighbours I was getting nowhere so tried the other side and he was more than happy to help me out and park in my drive while I used the (flat) roadside. After that was sorted it was on with the shorts and under the car I went. Jacked it up started taking all the fixings holding the bumper on, all went well until I got to the two bolts on either side in the bottom corners holding the bumper to the bottom of front arches. They would not budge. After 7 years of staying put they had obviously decided that that was home and nobody would be telling them otherwise. 20 minutes of swearing, WD40 spraying and ripping my hand with the stupid little spanner and I got nowhere. Suddenly they started to turn, hurrah thought I, then I realised that I had ripped them through the plastic of the bumper. Fine. at least they were off, I could look at fixing that later. The bumper then came off and I was on my way home! Took the bumper round back to work on and got my trusty hacksaw out, it glinted in the sunlight and I congratulated myself on the wise and thoughtful purchase I made - not to mention I saved a cool £5-ish over the dremel! started to saw through the slats, how easy this was! Fast forward 15 minutes and the slats were off but the mouth of my bumper was now splinted with a broken toothed grin. The problem I had was the was no angle I could get that meant I could cut the plastic off in a straight line sop the only option was to cut many, many angled cuts. After another 20 minutes I realised this was not going to work how I wanted it to work without spending the full weekend sawing and sanding. STUPID BLOODY HACKSAW - THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT! I did what any self respecting man would do in this situation, I quit. I decided to move onto my lights and I would sort the bumper after that. Removed the light which needed minor repair and took it inside. I repaired the broken bits (no drama!) and opened my parcel of bulbs I had bought. Took out the new shiny silver indicator and removed the old bulb. @*!#. They're different. Looks like I'll be wasting a bit more money buying replacements then! At least I have my lovely little LED sidelights, stuck them in and went back outside to bask in the glow of not only the 'super bright LED sidelights' but also in the glory of a job well done. Neither sidelights were working. Hmmm, checked all connections and everything seemed fine. swapped new for old to test and they're not working either. Eventually, after a lot of fiddling around and moving bulbs and wires about I did it. I made sure that not only the sidelights stopped working, but also the main beam. Dammit. Again I took the best option and quit. Took a drive in the other car to find me a dremel and some replacement bulbs, everywhere shut. By this point I was hungry and pi**ed off so decided to get some eats and chill out a while. after that got back at the bloody bumper with the stupid bloody hacksaw. Made little discernable difference so threw the hacksaw in a bush and quit for the night. Current situation is - neither front lights working in any capacity, bumper likes like it's done 12 rounds with Tyson, don't have the correct bulbs and I've had to go to work in the crappy car. What have a learnt? 1. A dremel multi-tool is a damn good thing to have around when you need it. 2. Hacksaws are stupid. Best thing is, I get to do it all again tonight when I get home! P.S. I also found that I have a Kiora(sp) bottle lid being used as the coolant top - anyone know where I can get a quick, cheap replacement without having the visit the Hell which is Nissan Leeds?

where u get it for that price?

I'm planning on doing this with some clear reflectors at some point, just waiting on the reflectors and then I'll look into best LED's etc as I'm clueless with electricals

what are drls?

debadge on front looks loads better if you have the bulging bonnet IMO

Welcome!

if we're having a zman love in then count me in, the man is a hero of the zed community If I ever have any issues with my car and start looking myself the gf just shakes her head at me and say's "just ask the zedman, he's always got the answers" - never a truer word she has spoken!

and that brings me to the second problem - how the hell do you get rid of the previous sticky bits?!?! I've tried hot water, hairdryer, busted all my nails etc, there's still a faint outline of the rear '350z' badge that I've been unable to get rid of as well

might pop in tomorrow and check them out, only problem though is that the back of the badge isn't flat so not sure how much of the pad will stick to it...

only put it on about 8 weeks ago and it fell off as I parked up in my driveway..anyone know where I can get a replacement sticky backing?

Legal requirement aren't they? The alternative would be the 370Z badge with built in indicator but I think Dan said it was pretty expensive to do http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/350z04e/50-3072 $65.95

pics or it never happened!

I like it smooth on front, you could also remove the indicator from wind and have that smothed over? and if your in a smooth mood why not remove the rear wiper and have them smooth the hole for that as well? smmoooottthh!

was he wrestling the deer to the ground in anger or holding it and shouting 'Why god, why?! Take me instead!'?

There was a thread recently where someone had put them of a 350 so they difinitely fit. I can't remember if she said she used spacers though.. Does look very

jeepers! Looked like the crash in Sly Stallone film - driven or driver or whatever it was.

Did that last week, no response so I assume he's no longer doing them

This is what mine currently looks like..... I quite like the JDM numberplate though and I don't think I could securely stick a JDM plate to the bumper. I was looking at the other group buy / for sale thread with custom made mounts in aluminium and secured through the towing eye - no reply though so I think that might have finished. is it in good condition and if it is how much you want for it?

fancy selling it, or are you keeping it to remind you of happier times?

I've managed to break my numberplate mount (while trying to fix it of course! ) and currently have no numberplate attached to front of car. Does anyone know where I can get either a direct replacement or more prefferable, a better version? Main issue I have is finding something that also covers up the 2 stonking big holes on the front

can the HID bulbs just be plugged in with 2003 import or would I also need ballasts?

Chilli at Horsforth Shell station - had a chat about your spoiler! Sunset on Station Road Horsforth. Blade following me along the A65 yesterday GM parked up at the locksmith on New Road Side Kuro parked in middle of Leeds - never seen as many stone chips in my entire life! Most I've ever seen in Leeds - obviously becoming far too common now!

and the 'Z' LED lights!