I was looking to liven up my 2005 350z Base and I was curious what people would recommend for interior upgrades.

What have you liked?
How difficult was it to find?
And install?

I have an old Nismo shift **** (my only interior upgrade which I'm also thinking of replacing, besides a now really old Alpine head unit).

 

Depends, how much do you want to spend and what is the purpose of said interior mods? So far on my 04 my favorite have been the following:
1. Seats
2. CF steering wheel
3. Weighted shift ****
4. Update to 06+
Pretty much in that order.

 

I would add custom Gauges and lighting. This guy in Forth Worth has been doing this for many years. I am just about to pull the trigger on this one. I like the black gauges with white numbers. You can select the ability to do 20 colors and a lot of other options. You can also select a clear needle and change the colors as you would like. The website is awkward, but you can also go to youtube and see a lot of the work he has done. From basic to extreme. https://www.gaugecraft.com/20%20Colo...th-remote.html

Just started emailing back and forth with him. Here is the youtube link. Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/user/MisterPatchbay

 

Been looking at the 06 plus interior upgrade (have the doors already). What does it get you that is better? The only thing I see is the all important cup holders. Is that mainly it?

 

Grab an android auto/apple car play double din unit. The pioneer ones are good. I got mine on sale for under $400. I wired it in so that the cable comes into the cubby hole and I can stash my phone in it hooked up. Voice commands, apps, nav, touchscreen. #1 best thing you can do for the interior of your car.

 

The overall feel, fit and finish feels better, metal HVAC ***** instead of the cheap plastic ones. It's all about preference though.

 

If you have a base with black rubber pedals, all other trims came with metal trimmed pedals, I'd recommend them as a subtle upgrade if you can find them. A nismo RS gas pedal is another way to go further. It is easier to install on the stock metal pedals vs the rubber ones.

 

One quick question when moving from 2003 door panels to 2006+. Do you have to change the switch hardware?? I have the carbon coneeed and was wondering this.


thanks

 

You mean the switch panels themselves or the switches? The panels have to be replaced for sure.

 

Yes the switch panels???

 

Yes they must be changed as well, easiest way to do the swap is to find a donor and take everything you can. It's a very cost intensive thing to do otherwise. All new would be really close to $4000.

 

I haven't upgraded my receiver in some time. A double din might be nice. I'll look into what I can find from crutchfield.

 

I bought a wheelskin cover that I just installed over my steering wheel that looks pretty nice.

What online retailers do you recommend for a weighted shift ****? My nismo one looks a bit warn down and it does get hot when the car interior does, but I've liked how easy it is to shift with my hand low.

The update to 06+...I'm reading that you'd need to find someone selling that out for parts, is that right? I'd just be interested in the center console. Probably something I could post on here?

 

Ah yes, that's a nice upgrade. I had bought a new clutch to replace and had thought about it. I see they sell the whole set at Z1 Motorsports.

 

Wow, that is pretty cool. So you'd have to pull out the gauges from your Z and mail that to him, is that right?

 

Check out Z1 they have some nice shift *****.
As far as interior, yes the most cost effective would be to buy from someone parting out or piece it together from old parts. CZP has a kit but it's pretty expensive, you can check it out just so you can get an idea of what is required for the swap.

 

Yes. You can get loaner gauges from him if you need to. He has a 350z he uses to test out the gauges and get it all set up before he ships it back to you. Issue is, his 350z was wrecked recently, so his testing abilities have been impacted. I was trying to get it set up to ship him my gauges today, but he asked me to hold off as he is doing someone else's gauges this week and he is not certain his Z is running well enough to do the final testing steps. I will hit him up again in about a week and see how it went and if he can do mine and will let you know, or you can PM me for an update. I have been looking at his stuff and he has been doing this a long time on a lot of cars.

I get that the gauges are "traditional" to the Z that are in there, but I really am not a fan of the soft grey dials/orange numbers. Looking for more contrast and a black dial face with crisp white numbers. I also like that he does ALL the dials including your A/C ones to match.

 

1320 sells some REALLY nice *****. I prefer the teardrop shape over everything else by far. I wrapped mine a bit of lambskin so j don't burn my hand. Feel is amazing. There are videos online of how to wrap the shifter. I used a video where the guys were wrapping lightsabers (I know I know but they know their stuff).

 

Modified gauges or lights are a no for me, nothing like unmolested OEM IMO.

Guages look black to me...

 

I get why many would feel that way. Of course, if I had a NISMO I would absolutely not touch it!