I was thinking about going to the sales manager and asking him if I could get them installed for FREE if I bought them.

Ding! Correct response.

My car came in, and as I was told already, it didn't have the Kickplates on it, but I priced them in the final price (paid invoice) for them. They installed them in 5 minutes, so everything is there to do (wiring harness, etc). The black plastic ones have 4 posts holding them in, and they popped right out - very easy install. I also noticed you can get the kickplates on ebay for cheap (I think I saw $168 plus ship). Anyway, they look cool. Now unfortunately I wasn't able to look at the kickplates early enough to see how hard it was to change the bulb. I do know this, with the illuminated versions, there are only 3 posts, so they additionally have 2 pieces of sticky tape - so if you do take those off, be prepared to add some 2 sided tape.

Interesting, Nissan told me yesterday that it was a 3 hour job because they had to run the wires, and remove panels and blah blah blah. The idiots aren't demolishing my car so I said forget it.

Yeah, the book supposedly says 2 hours, but not the case. I think total time was 15 minutes. If he had to do it again, 5 minutes. It is like any other interior piece, it has 4 attachments that snap in. Snap that out, connect the wire, and snap back in. If the dealer really wants to push to pay for 3 hours, buy it and do it yourself or ask to watch them do it.

Just another story of dealer robbery.

I never thought about the bulb replacement.

I think that whenever I do a deal I will say- I would like something in writing so that if and when the kickplate bulb burns out- I will pay for the bulb but it will be installed by the dealer for FREE- like anything- doesn't hurt to ask- never know they may say okay!

Sad, the bulb should be a LED. If it's not, then yeah, the bulb will eventually burn out and replacing it would require the sticky tape. But if it IS a LED, then you don't have to worry about replacing the bulb. Those usually have a 10,000 hour life span. (That's pretty much the life of the car considering you'll never have the door open 10,000 hours.)

Thanks Crash...

Just noticed your occupation Porn Engineer- sounds like fun.

Besides being a Travel Agency Owner- I do have my share of Adult Industry Talent as clients as well and are they CRAZY!!!

LOL! Yeah, the women are crazy, the guys are just opportunists! :D

True.

But it would be a nice thought of having to bring one of your or mine female talent friends to one of the weekly parties or even PSK and open the door for her in a fully loaded 2009 370Z Touring Sport- wouldn't it

LOL! Maybe... I only know one that I actually get a long with really well. My friend Satine would probably be down, but she'd likely start an orgy over there...

Well whenever you really get the urge to buy a 2009 370Z let me know I have alot of contacts at many dealers- all makes and models.

And regarding your friend Satine- you never know what she will do- if it was Satine Phoenix yeah she would probably at a minimum would wear no panties

Yep... That's the girl Satine Phoenix. She's a ******* amazing girl. :)

Where is San Pedro in respect to Los Angeles?

San Pedro is south of Los Angeles. It's close to the end of 110 FWY.

I am thinking of placing the order for White/Persimmon tomorrow. :tup: I saw the kick plate and it will be part of the option I am getting.

Sweet, that's the same one I want.

Damn only 5 minutes or so. I wanted a different color and if it's easy enough I guess I could get one of my buddies to install them.

Speedworks,

I picked some up yesterday, when I opened the box it had 2 wiring harnesses, numerous sticky pads, zip ties and instructions to run wires up under the carpet, pedals, etc. Remove both inner and outer kick plates, etc. etc. Looks to me like it would be a 2 hour job, for me probably 4 hours :icon17:

So are you saying that the wires are already there, all I have to do is pull up the inner kick plates and plug the new ones in ???
I was about ready to take these back :confused:

Maybe this is for the base model? Possible the Touring is pre-wired.

Thanks for the help,

Braden

Oh, probably a dumb question. Do the interior lights have to be set to on in order for them to illuminate? or will they just come on any time the door is open?
:confused:

Interesting, since mine only took 5-15 minutes, there is no way any of the wiring was NOT there. The mechanic was completely surprised how easy it was - he was expecting it to take 2 hours. He said he just popped the old ones out, connected the new ones, and popped them in. The only major thing was the old ones had 4 posts and the new ones only had 3, so you had to use the sticky tape. I have a Base model. Maybe I was lucky and it was prewired, but I can't imagine everyone elses not the same. Just pop one out and see if you have them, if not, then maybe take them back. I can only say what happened with mine, and no wires needed to be run for mine to work. As for the kickplates working, mine worked even though the interior lights were not set for the door open. Let me know how it works out. Look at the new pieces to see where the tabs are for taking out the old ones. He said it put a screwdriver under it (protect the car with a rag) and then pushed against the tab, and then lifted up.

I have the touring and the Nissan guys showed me the exact paperwork, I was told it would be a 2.5 hour job. I said forget it, I just don't trust them to install them properly especially after he said that they have to go into the car's computer.

I'm telling you guys, that did not happen for mine. They did it real quick, and it was no problem, just pop out and pop in. You can't tell me my car is different from others. The installer was shocked as well when he said it said 2 hours, and he did it in less then 15 minutes, no computer hacking or running of wires.

Interesting. I assume their all pre-wired. Well hopefully more people will do it on this forum. Cause I would really like to change the colors on them if i'm able to.

My suggestion, if you really want them make sure its an option you specify before buying the car, I just don't trust them to do a satisfactory job. The service guy said, "this is a brand new car we don't want to mess it up!" So what does that tell you... lol :rolleyes:

Its entirely possible the car can be ordered pre-wired for it but normally does not come wired. Mercedes does that with the new GLK and the dealer installed rear headrest entertainment system.

well hopefully when it comes time to buy I hope i remember to ask.

i know on the G37s.. they were wired for this.. so i imagine its the same for the Z.. i will see if i can find out more about this tomorrow for you guys..

Nah. More like bandit. Thieves just steal without you knowing. Bandits rob you under board day light.

I installed these last night on my base w/sport 6 speed. It did take about 2 hours, but I also took my time. My car was not prewired, but running the wire harness and hooking it up is no problem. If I did it again I could do it in 30min - 1 hour easy. They do look way nicer than the cheap black ones. Heck they would even look good if they didn't light up. Big improvement either way. Oh and for those that want to change the orange bulb to another color, not sure if you can. Everything is built into the sill.

Indeed.

http://www.courtesyparts.com/images/...6950-Z34KP.pdf

Found install manual, hope this help make the procedure clear.

Yep, should take no more than 15 minutes. :rolleyes:

I don't know, somehow my car came pre-wired, and it only took 5-15 minutes for the service guy to do it.

Installed and Reviewed
 

I installed the kit yesterday, and here are my findings:

• Not a fifteen-minute job.
  
• Not hard to accomplish; time-consuming wire routing, and parts removal.
  
• Some of the instruction references are incorrect. (This probably resulting more from a right-side left-side driving orientation or lost in manual writing translation issue.)
  
• Looks great, and even better after dusk!
  
• Powers off interior lighting (not overhead map lighting) and turns off with interior lighting.
  
  Installation Tips:
  
  
  1. Before disconnecting the negative cable of the battery:
     
     • Pull off the inner door sill panels as you might need to jockey the seat position to help pull off these panels.
       
     • Position seats to the farthest rearward position to allow more room in the interior to work with (remember to do so before disconnecting the battery).
       
     • Definitely disconnect the battery.
  2. Route all the wiring first. Press the driver's side lead connector into the large supplied wire tie (you will see what I mean) and tape it so that it can be used a wire pull to the other side of the transmission tunnel. Before wire tying anything in place check to see how it all lays out and that no wiring is being stressed.
     
  3. Use the main harness large gray holding clips to route the sill leads versus taping to the outside of the clips.
     
  4. The supplied "T" wiring harness connector will demonstrate how to release the existing connector that must be release and reattached to the "T."
     
  5. Where the "T" is a attached do follow the instruction and cover the snap connector with the supplied foam tape to prevent any rattling in the interior.
     
  6. Reconnect the negative battery terminal.
     
  7. Reset the automatic windows feature on both windows as follows (from the Owner Manual):

  If the windows do not close automatically
  
  If the power window automatic function (closing only) does not operate properly, perform the following procedure to initialize the power window system.
  

  1. Push the ignition switch to the ON position.
     
  2. Close the door.
     
  3. Open the window completely by operating the power window switch.
     
  4. Pull the power window switch and hold it to close the window, and then hold the switch more than 3 seconds after the window is closed completely.
     
  5. Release the power window switch. Operate the window by the automatic function to confirm the initialization is complete.
     
  6. Perform steps 2 through 5 above for other windows.

  
  If the power window automatic function does not operate properly after performing the procedure above, have your vehicle checked by a NISSAN dealer.

Caveats:

In Japan, they actually sell a model that includes the illuminated door sills as part of the package. Here, you can order them as an option or have them installed at the dealer. For those who have ordered and received them on their Z do you have a fuse in the fuse box for the sills? If you had it installed at the dealership, or you install them yourself you receive a wiring harness "T" that includes an inline fuse. This is great with the exception that the fuse is hidden behind a passenger's side kick panel that is not quickly removed to check the fuse; let alone even knowing where the fuse exists if you are the successive owner of the Z.

Notes:

There was no prewired loom in our Z.

Socal370z:

WOW way too much work. I would hire you to do it. I'm so lost. :confused:
I would prefer a different color. That's why when I get my Z, I have to think about getting them because I would never be able to install them my self. But thanks for the instructions anyways

It is not that bad to install. I'm just a detail person, and like to understand the workings and relationships of things so that's why you see the detail in my post. I should, and was planning to photograph the installation to demonstrate to others, but had a small time window and needed to concentrate while installing.

My biggest question is for those who ordered their Z with this accessory installed from the factory as I want to know where the fuse is located in their situation?

The supplied "T" wiring loom connector pin locations are completely occupied although the existing connector going into it had relatively few wires (this is owed to options here and elsewhere sold on Zs around the world). If I had my druthers, I would have used the proper pin tool and simply removed the pins from the "T" and punched them back into the existing connector plug the connects to the "T." That way you would not need the "T" altogether.

Maybe as a courtesy to the future buyer or a reminder to yourself a few years down the road (funny how a person forgets), just put a sticky pad note in the owners manual on the fuse box page with reference to the inline kick panel fuse and its location.

Did anyone put these instructions in the DIY section? I would like to see some pictures for some mod opportunities. I don't think my car came with illuminated kick plates, so I may order these and switch out the LED colors ahead of time.

Nope you don't have to worry about that. It's optional. I do prefer a different color. Bluish/purple would be sweet or changes colors.