Well, about a week ago, I picked up a 2012 G37x with 49k on the dash and I'm starting to really fall in love with the car. Wanted one for a while now and finally managed to get one that I liked. Been doing some minor stuff to it and I figured, why not make a build thread and see how far this thing goes!!

I don't have any definitive plans for it just yet, outside of bolt-ons, a subwoofer, tint, and some wheels. Gonna learn more about the platform and go from there. These forums have been a HUGE help in that regard!!


I've posted a couple of these in my introduction, but I figured if I'm gonna do this, might as well start from the beginning Here it is about 45min after I picked it up. All stock everything.





The next day I decided I wanted to make it more "mine", so I blacked out my front and rear badges with some plastidip I found in my closet. Was my first time trying to do this, but I think it turned out pretty good! I didn't do the spoiled because I ran out of spray, so I'm going to do that this coming weekend along with the front grille. Gonna see how it looks and if I don't like it, just peel it off right

 

I got a really good deal on a JL Audio powered subwoofer today as well. This is also going into the trunk this weekend, just to add a bit more bass cause I need it!!




Lastly(for now!), I grabbed some K&N drop in filters to replace the stock paper ones. I plan to grab some post MAF tubes in the future and see how that performs/sounds for a while. Those CAI are expensive compared to what I'm used to


Researching wheels and exhausts next

 

OH!!! I forgot to mention my permanent passenger!!

He's got a staring problem

 

Unfortunately, I started feeling a bit sick on Friday and it stuck around most of the weekend, but even though I didn't feel 100%, I still managed to get motivated and blacked out my spoiler and my grille. I think it looks pretty dope!!
Forgot to take before pics, but I think we all know what the chrome versions look like lol. I didn't even bother trying to do the subwoofer install, definitely didn't feel up to dealing with that today, so I'll try again next weekend maybe.


Here is the final look, decided to keep the badge black as well. I've seen some black grilles with the badge still chrome, which looks nice, but after putting the badge back on I decided I kinda like it like this.



And here is the final look of the spoiler. Wasn't sure if I'd like it or not, but I think it brings everything together with the black badges.


Besides the subwoofer, I'm tryna decide what I wanna do next, thinking some interior stuff might be in the nearish future. Probably look into some performance mods after the New Year, since Christmas and birthday's will be pretty taxing on the wallet.

 

Today I put more boom in my trunk!! Installation took a bit longer than anticipated, but I wasn't in a rush either. Honestly, sounds pretty good!! Not nearly as much bass as the sub I had in the ATS, but I like how I can actually hear my exhaust sometimes

Here is the "final" install. I didn't feel like dealing with wire management, so I left them there for now. Plan to put some Dynamat in the trunk, so I'll probably try to hide the wires better whenever I get to that.


Has a bit of headroom, fits nicely up against the back of the seats.


The best part? Since I went with a powered sub instead of a passive plus amp, I actually still have trunk space!!!!!! Considering how laughably small the trunk already is, every bit counts amirite?



Next project? Carbon Fiber vinyl wrap some of the interior trim pieces!! Never tried this before, so should be fun.

 

Started working on my carbon fiber vinyl trim wrap yesterday and came to the conclusion that this is MUCH more frustrating than I originally thought
I decided I'd start with the center console area, since it's pretty easy to remove. This is my first time trying to wrap ANYTHING, so it was quite an adventure to say the least. Plus I didn't have a dedicated area to work with, living in a tiny apartment SUCKS!!!

It's definitely not perfect, but I think I did an okay job for a first try. I need to practice more for sure, those creases are a bitch!!! Probably need to use heat more, I dunno.
After several attempts, I eventually just went with it and did what I could and put it all back together. Had to drive around a bit earlier today with the dash apart and let's just say naaaaaaaaaahhhh.

Anyways, here is the final product.




Next, I plan on doing the door trim, hopefully that will go a bit better. I really like the way this looks with my black interior. I may redo it eventually or just get someone who actually knows what they're doing to do it next time

 

Couple of things came in the mail today, which I had totally forgotten I had ordered so I figured another update was in order!!!

When I picked up the car, I noticed the battery cover was just not there, so I picked one up from Z1 Motorsports, along with their radiator cap. Nothing special, but it looks much cleaner and will go with the Blue/Black/Silver theme I decided to go with for the engine bay


I also decided to go with the Mishimoto post MAF tubes to compliment the K&N filters I got when I first got the car. These actually came in last week but I wanted to wait for the aftermarket clamps to come in before I updated.
The black clamps looks WAY better than the silverish ones that come with the tubes and they're a nice brushed aluminum, very nice quality. Should hopefully get these installed in the next week or so, but with Thanksgiving and my job being SUPER busy the next two months or so, we'll see when I have the time. I'll, of course, post pics after these are on!!

 

Bro let me tell you how hard vinyl wrap is but especially for small parts like this. I wrapped the same pieces you did in a different color. That was after a year of wrapping my motorcycle parts practicing and yours doesn't look half bad so keep up the good work. Subscribed!

 

I really appreciate it! I've watched a LOT of videos on YouTube tryna learn as much as I can about it. It's hard but totally worth it!! Would have probably done better and would have been easier if I had a REAL heat gun, but I was stuck trying to use my girl's hairdryer

 

Took some time today and was able to get my Mishimoto post MAF tubes installed and I love them!! They look great and I can definitely hear the intakes more. It may just be the butt dyno, but I feel like I have a bit more throttle response as well
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to use the hose claps I bought because they were a bit too large. Thankfully, the silver ones that came with the tubes don't look that bad. I may or may not bother with replacing them with the correct sized black ones, the tubes were a bit annoying to wedge on.


They pretty!!



I also put in some sound deadening in the trunk while I was waiting for the car to cool off from driving out to where I was gonna do all of this.



First time using Sound Skin(usually use Dynamat) and I gotta say I like it. It's much easier to handle and install than the dynamat and it looks better, though it'll be covered up so that's not really a big deal. My sub sounds much more accurate and hits harder.
I DEFINETLY could have cut this better, but it works lol. I plan to go back and do more when I have time, as well as some places inside the car but the tubes were the main concern for the day, so this was just a quick job.



Lastly, gave her a quick wipe down and rinse. Was running out of daylight and it was a last minute impulse. I picked up some Meguiar's Ultimate Wash and Wax on the way out, think it did a pretty good job. I eventually want to claybar and possibly paint correction/ceramic the car, but that's a story for another day.

 

Minor update, changed out some of the bulbs in the car. Did the map lights and the door lights. I wanted to continue with my blue theme so I grabbed some blue bulbs to experiment with and to see what I really wanted to go with. Actually pleasantly surprised with the results. I eventually want to add footwell lighting and if possible, make the doorsill "Infiniti" words in a similar blue to what these came out as. Once I figure that all out, I'll decide if this ends up being TOO BLUE or not and make changes accordingly.

I know next to nothing about actual lighting, only recently even cared to look into it, but I'm learning and its a process.
Decided to go with these to see how the blue would look. I didn't realize until after already ordering them that they are not the typical lumens for these applications but I figured I'd try em out anyway, being only $8 for all of them.




They are definitely not daytime lights, which is fine cause THE SUN!!! It was a bit overcast today, so I got to see vaguely what they looked like after install.




For whatever reason, the map lights look brighter to me than the door lights do, possibly the kind of lens?


They look a LOT brighter at night, go figure


Here you can see the difference in lighting with them both off and then both on. There was still some light out because I was parked at a dealership for some unrelated matters, but it's still pretty obvious the difference.

 

Quick lil update: Saw these Tail as Turn modules online and had to have them!! They look great and, personally, I think this is how the taillights should have come from factory.

Shipping was pretty fast from Diode Dynamics. Installation was a breeze too, maybe 5 min.


Can easily tell the difference between the stock(left) and the module installed(right)



The final install. They honestly look better in person. It was overcast, so I was able to see them pretty well. Gives the tails a sort of "mean" look to them.



Got a few more things in the mail, as well as some others still on the way. Pics to follow when I get everything installed. Patience is not a virtue that I possess

 

Did a few things to the car to, despite being cold as crap!!
First, I installed the GTR map light lenses, but forgot to take a pic. I took the blue LEDs I had in there out and replaced with some cool white ones. The blues looked really cool but lacked in functionality.
Found someone selling this nice condition Cusco FSTB in a Facebook group and hoped on it.


Nothing special performance wise, but I feel like there's a bit less body roll, which I really like. Plus it looks soooo good!! Wish the blues where a bit closer in color, but it's not too bad really.


I also wanted to debadge the trunk a little bit. I think having the words makes it too cluttered and taking everything off makes it look naked, so I kept the Fuji and the G37x on. I can't decide if I wanna keep the G37x on or not, but it was super easy to remove the others

 

Been waiting two weeks for my appointment and the day finally came!!! Got my windows tinted and I gotta say I really should have done this before anything else, makes it look soooo much better!!
Can't wait to get her clean, once all this winter weather crap finally clears up. I HATE road salt....