The tail lights look better without the egg yolks, now they need some tint! I ordered some spray tint and clear coat from Amazon.

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...1-img-3612.jpg

Nissan didn't make it easy to get to the taillights!

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...9-img-3574.jpg

First step, clean the lenses with alcohol.

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...0-img-3576.jpg

I chose to leave the clear part of the lens untinted. I used some pinstripe tape to outline the clear part of the lens.

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...1-img-3577.jpg

Then some painters tape to finish masking the clear part.

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...2-img-3579.jpg

Some more painters tape and newspaper to protect the back part of the tail light from overspray.

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...3-img-3581.jpg

First coat.

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...4-img-3582.jpg

Almost forgot the third brake light, lol. This thing was rediculous to remove. I don't want to do that again. First coat.

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...6-img-3596.jpg

Second coat on the tail lights. This pic was taken with a flash so the red shows through the tint more in the pic than it does in person.

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...5-img-3595.jpg

One coat of clear coat then.... Oh yeah!

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...-img-3598a.jpg

You can still see the brake lights just fine (I didn't want to reduce visibility from the rear so I only used two coats).

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...-img-3599a.jpg

LED reverse lights from v-leds.com.

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...-img-3601a.jpg

The chrome coated turn signal bulbs seem plenty bright.

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...-img-3607a.jpg

I'll get some better pics in the daylight.

The headlights are screaming to get blacked out now. It never ends! :icon17:

UPDATE: a couple days later I was checking out the lights up close for the first time and realized that the edge of the tint where the clear part was masked has kind of an edge to it. Down the road that edge can catch on something maybe and start peeling the tint. So I added another two coats of clear just to give some peace of mind about that edge. If I had it to do over I would remove the masking after spraying the tint then add two coats of clear, sealing that edge right away.

UPDATE #2: the finish was a little rough so I used a small amount of rubbing compound to smooth things out. The look of the lights didn't change but they're now a bit smoother which should attract less dirt and clean off easier.

I also got a better pic

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...91101-0039.jpg

very clean... nice work

do you think you could have done it with the lens covers in place ? ie not removed

Can you give a quick description of how to remove the 3rd brake light? I already bought a replacement gasket but haven't done it yet. I'm looking to fix the rattle coming from that area and will need to remove the light to do this. Thanks!

Why did you change your oil at such a brief interval? What kinda oil are you putting in your engine? I use Mobil 1 5W30, and change it every 7,500k, per the Owner's Manual. Greetings, dude!

Thanks! I would say it could be done with the lights in place but would mean a lot more masking and the tint may not wrap around the edges as well as it will if the parts are removed.

I considered masking and spraying in place at one point for the center high mount brake light when I was having trouble getting it removed, but when I eventually got it off I was happier with how it turned out than I think I would have been if I painted it in place on the car.

After doing the tint I would recommend removing the parts from the car.

I'll start by recommending that you don't remove the 3rd brake light yourself - take it to the dealer or bodyshop. I say this because if you can remove it without breaking anything my hat is off to you. :tiphat:

The challenge is there are two metal u-shaped clips that hold the assembly to the car that are difficult to get to. While trying to remove the assembly as one piece I popped the lens off the assembly and broke two (out of 8 or so) of the plastic tabs that attach the lens to the rest of the assembly. Everything went back together feeling solid so in the end it was ok but it sucks that stuff broke. If you go forward with it here's how it goes.

Start by gaining access to the 10mm bolts under the receiver hooks for the cargo cover on the inside of the hatch. There's a seam on these hooks that you pry open to reveal a 10mm bolt. With the bolts removed the lower panel just snaps off. This will give you access to the nut pictured below.

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...7635-chmsl.jpg

With the nut removed you now need to release the two metal clips - you can see where they are in the picture above. The foam gasket is in your way (#1 in the pic) - I cut it carefully with a box knife, all the way around. You might be able to get the clips to release with a credit card or putty knife or something similar, slide the tool between the back of the CHMSL assembly and the body of the car (on the outside of the hatch) but again this is where I had trouble.

Good luck!

Beautiful !

I changed the oil at 1300 miles to get the break-in oil out and fresh oil in. A new engine will shed more metal in the first 1000 miles than it will for the next tens of thousands of miles, or so I've read. Getting that material out was the goal.

The next oil change at 3800 miles had more to do with installing the magnetic oil pan drain bolt and filter magnet recommended in AK's Oil Change DIY than any other reason, I just didn't want to wait to install them. Also at that time I made the switch from Mobil 1 to Redline oil. I'll probably do the next change at 7500 miles and every 3750 or so after that. I like clean oil, and changing it myself is somthing I enjoy doing - not a chore.

Thanks man! Good luck getting your Z :driving:

Yeah lets hope so, if so we'll have a photoshoot get free $200.00 photos free!

They just love to deliver cars in the dark, don't they.

Replaced differential oil with Redline 75W90 synthetic GL-5 gear oil at 4737 miles. Spearfish25's DYI was a huge help. Thanks Spearfish, Rep added!

Check out the junk the magnetic drain bolt was hanging onto

http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/x...lDrainBolt.jpg

http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/x...nBoltclean.jpg

From what I understand the Diff sheds its excess material at a much faster rate early, as in the first 1-2k miles. It's nice to have it out of there, and fresh clean oil in its place (not to mention the benefit of high-end Redline fluids). I expect the next Diff fluid change will have much less of this junk to clean out.

Replaced manual transmission oil with 50/50 mix of Redline MTL and Redline MT-90 at 4737 miles using Spearfish25's DIY - Thanks again man!

The shifter action is noticeably improved, the shifter slips into gear just a little smoother. Feels great. I like it. Worth the effort.

Switched to the winter wheelset @ 5401 miles.

Blizzak LM-25's in the stock 18" sizes (225/50, 245/45) on OEM 18" wheels powdercoated flat black.

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...intershoes.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...9-img-3628.jpg

wow looks real good!
What size tires are those?

^Thanks!

Stock 18" sizes. 225/50-18 Front, 245/45-18 Rear.

That looks sick. Industrial - I love it.

^Thanks man!

Wow, you are immaculate in taking care of your vehicle and have provided an excellent journal.

I love what you've done with the tailights my intention now is to follow suit. I have the identical winter tire/wheel setup, just looking to get my wheels powdercoated this week.

I noticed the bulbs you used are no longer available at amazon, do you know of any other online store that would carry those?

Reputation added for you sir.:tiphat:

were you buing a home at the home gallery and decided to take that pic lol j/k nice z man! love the wheels

^Thanks guys!

Good luck with your tails - can't wait to see you post a pic when they're done!

I haven't bought from this website, but here is another source for the chrome coated bulbs. The 7440 is near the bottom of the page.

Finally stopped by the tire store yesterday @ 5880 miles to get the TPMS system reset to the different sensors in the winter wheel set.

The TPMS warning light came on just a few miles after switching wheels when it no longer recognized the sensors from the summer wheel set present. Over the last 500 miles since the wheel swap that light has been a bit annoying.

No charge for the TPMS reset - Nice surprise. And no more flashing TPMS light at the start of every drive. :)

Awesome Z! Love the way you mod it, very clean.

VERY informative journal. I was going to give you two thumbs up but the fact that you're a fan of Dwight Shrute, I give you three of them! :tup: :tup: :tup:

wow.. that's crazy! If she is willing to ride in the trunk for you, she's keeper! :tup:

You're welcome. I'm glad the DIY helped you during your oil change.

This is DEF next on my DIY list. thanks.


You're correct Shrute. When you have low miles, it's a good idea to change the oil more frequently. You can decrease the interval as you rack up more miles. I think I was told by Blackstone lab to keep the oil change less than 6000 miles for now and increase it as I put more miles.

Again, great journal. Thanks for all your contributions.

Thanks radiZh from another fan of trance, AVB is on one of the XM channels in the Z when I'm driving home from work usually. Good stuff.

Thanks for the kind words AK! Nice place you have here :)

After switching back to the stock wheels for winter they needed some spacers to look right. Thanks to M.J. for a good deal on the spacers, and to the forum for helping when I had a little trouble getting the wheels off.

I used some anti-seize on the mating surfaces so hopefully the wheels come off easier next time.

They are Type 2 spacers - 25mm front, 20mm rear.

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...1-22-51-50.jpg

I think I like you even more! :tiphat:

Shrute! Hows it been? The spacers are all WIN! Even the touring wheels look great when they are flush. :)

Hey Dub! Been good man, enjoying my Z :)

Did you decide on wheels yet?

powder coating your stock rims was a great idea, i never thought of it!
wondering if black powdercoating will go on the red Z? (black rims on red cars usually go off well.. getting to see a pic of the Z with black stock rims would be great).

never mind i just saw pics of it... stock black rims on red.. perfect!

^Do it! Post some pics if you do:pics:

Came out to this after work tonight...

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...4-00-02-53.jpg

The coldest it got down to when I still had the summer tires on was high 30's and they rode pretty hard until they warmed up. Can't imagine how stiff they would have been tonight. So far the Blizzaks have been great in the cold.

^^^ lol that ain't nutten. after -33C the readout is just --. lol At that point i just say it is cold

For this SoCal transplant 14F is plenty cold.

-33C? I think I would crawl into the oven and stay there until spring.

ahahahah -56C is the coldest I have ever been in. at let me tell you it is f'en cold

7k miles in four months. The Z will see over 20k in its first year at this rate. Having fun with every mile. :)

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...9-22-11-56.jpg

I purchased a set of kickplates from Cjanik a few weeks ago and I finally found some time to install them tonight. Cjanik modified them with white LEDs to match the white LED interior lighting in my car. I'm very happy with how they turned out and I think they look great - thanks Cjanik!

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...2-img-3635.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/schru...1-img-3632.jpg

Shrute! How is driving the Z in the snow treating you. I don't think I have even started my Z in the last two weeks :(