Hi all - I wanted to introduce myself to the forum here. I'm Connor and I just picked up a 2010 G37X on Monday (10/07/2013). I absolutely love the car. I've been looking for one for about 2 months and finally found the one that has really grabbed my attention. Coming from a 2012 Jetta TDI and an Acura TSX before that - the upgraded luxury was much needed. Graphite Shadow with black interior - technology, performance, interior accent and Nav packages all included. The one addition I liked most were the 18" wheels that come with the performance wheel package - that was the deal maker for me.

I had this thread moved over from the Sedan folder so this will be my primary focus for updates to my sedan.

(UPDATED > 03 MAY 2014) So far my G has:

• Sport Pedals
• Swift Springs
• Takeda CAI with rain shield
• FI RHFC
• FI CBE
• OEM Coupe Sport RSB
• Sport Front Bumper w/ Tech package Grille
• 3000k Morimoto HID fogs
• 19" Sport coupe wheels
• AutoKitsX Rear CF Diffuser
• Headlight upgrade (STi-R lenses, OSRAM Xenarc 66240 CBI bulbs)
• OEM Akebono BBK (calipers currently being powder coated)

What's to come?

• Darkened tails (need opinions on this)
• Sport pedals
• Fortune Auto Coilovers
• Motordyne M370 or Z1 Motorsports Intake Manifold
• EcuTek Tune

Stay updated with my current build and what I have coming up!

 

Congrats on the purchase. I'm new here myself and bought a 2010 G37x as well. Similar car but I don't have the performance package. Good luck with it. I'm planning a trip to NYC and ONEighty in the near future to address the headlights and I think the tails as well.

I haven't done much, GTR start button with LED change and I bought a set of 19 inch Rays I'm working getting finished and installed.

 

I was in the same position on tails, and ended up doing a DIY. If you cut open the tails from the back with a razor knife, you can paint the chrome reflector black, and it gives them a dark cherry look (with zero loss of light.) Search "midnight tails" for pics. I'll post a pic of mine later.

I recently blacked my headlights, but my car is OB. I think black looks the best (especially matte) across all colors. Color matched looks too much like a corvette and/or a kit car, imho.

 

Welcome to the site Connor,
Sounds like you've been very busy getting all sorts of nice things ready for your new G along w/ some nice future plans.
I'm partial to the GTR painted tails, when done properly they blend really well and still give great light output rather than an entire tinted tail w/ diminished light, especially w/ the reverse lighting.
As far as the headlights I agree w/ aktif8, black goes really well w/ most every color, I think I'd only consider a body matched light housing if I went to a pro place like 180 Custom, they do some incredible body matched housings that look really top shelf, but IMO it's not something I'd DIY.
Going Matte black w/ gloss shrouds looks good for DIY lights and BE SURE to change out the crappy Fresnal Lens w/ the awesome STiR lens if you ever open up your lights for painting. The STiR lenses are crystal clear, give a razor sharp cutoff and add a nice blue tint around the light edge. They also look 10x better in the housing too. Get them from www.theretrofitsource and while you're there get the butyl sealing tape, much better than trying to reseal w/ silicone.

Have fun w/ your plans and set up a build thread when you get things going!

 

Thanks for all the input so far guys. I've seen someone who color-matched an 07 with that blue slate color IIRC - it looked pretty good. I'm not a fan of "all black everything" so I'm trying to watch what I do with that. If I went with black headlight housing, I'd probably get the matching midnight black grill to go along with it. The black has to match with something on the front or else it looks like it doesn't belong (to me at least).

Thanks to Brad for posting an incredibly detailed guide on achieving the GTR-style tail lights on these cars - I like the way that looks, especially (hopefully) with Graphite Shadow.

I don't plan to do any of this myself - I'm having the headlights painted and the tail lights tinted professionally done with actual commercial quality tinting paint and factory clear coat or commercial equivalent. I've tinted my own tails in the past and they turned out great. I'd rather go 100% professional for these tasks as this isn't some kids car he works on in his garage.


Brad - I'm looking into the STi-R lenses - is it really a pop and swap type task? Do the regular 3" lenses that I'm seeing for $50 work with our Gs? I've never done anything like a lens before. My Acura and my Jetta had a nice quality lens from the factory. Also do you recommend replacing the shrouds at all with something more visually appealing? I've retrofitted many sets of lights, painted housings, etc - I know my way around the tasks. I haven't read any anywhere about anyone swapping their shrouds on their lights. I'd be curious to see what has been done.

I'll probably end up turning this thread into my build thread - I'll just change the title or have the Admins change it for me after a few weeks once things get going for me.

Thanks again everyone for the great advice! Much appreciated to a G-newbie.

 

The lenses are just a pop & swap, the only real issue is they have metal spacer rings that are used to space the lens out a few mm to sharpen the cutoff and increase the blue flicker. I didn't really like how secure the lens was w/ those spacers so I just used thicker cardboard (it's what comes oem under the original lens, I just made a couple more). I didn't space mine out as much as the rings, so if I were to do it again I'd go just a bit thicker
to give a bit sharper cutoff and a bit more blue.

As far as the shrouds I don't know of any aftermarket replacements, I think there have been a few that have replaced the entire projector but that's above my pay grade

 

Good to know it's easier an easy swap. I am in agreement of swapping the entire projector - too much for me and it's not that necessary IMO.

Can you verify that our sedans use a 3" lens? I did some reading and it looks like 07/08s have a 2.5" lens but I only ready that regarding the coupe models.

Thanks pal

 

yup, we use the 3" sti-r. same as the 07-08 lights; it's only the coupe that's different. I just did the swap, and used the metal spacer (from trs.) It works fine, you just really have to snug the retainer down.

If you diy the lens swap, make sure to use a really long handled screwdriver, and/or an extended bit to get the retainer off. Those things are tightened INSANELY from the factory.

below are my midnight tails (I don't think 180 is offering them any longer as they said it was "too much work" and the $ they could charge for it - somewhere around $400 - was too little to justify doing it.) It's definitely DIY-able, and looks - imho - 10x better than tint, especially since it doesn't reduce the light output.

 

Thanks for the clarification on the 3" lens. Once I get my springs and intake installed, I want to start planning the lighting situation and figure out what I'm going to do for the front, ans I'm interested in doing the GTR-style tail light modification.

If you don't mind me asking, what exhaust system do you have?

 

top speed. impossible to beat the cost-benefit ratio on that one at ~$500. Sounds nearly as good as the ark grip, for +/- $1000 less

 

Echo that, I've had the TopSpeed for a while now and have been very happy w/ it. If you're interested shoot just be sure the pipes you get have the good beveled tips, they have a ragged tip version that's not the same look.

 

A G37 looks great in any weather.











Telcoman

 

I've been looking at the thread where DeepRumble started it all by picking up that exhaust.

How do I tell the difference between the two tips? I'm only seeing the same exhaust and I don't know it fits correct. I've also been looking into the Tanabe Medallion.

 

My Takeda came arrived yesterday and I'm taking it over to a friend to get it powdercoated.



Also was at my local Infiniti dealership getting the most up-to-date ECM and TCM update and I will say, my transmission feels incredible - so much better even thought it's still in the learning stage. Also managed to get the midnight black grill as well.

My springs were on back order so I'm on the hunt to find another reseller who sells swift spring at a great price.

 

On ebay, they have it listed as either bevel tips or angle cut. Go for the bevel.