Hello all. Roughly 2 years ago my 350Z was backed into by an SUV in a parking lot. The body shop said the hood and front bumper need to be replaced but me being the idiot I am took the money and dumped it into my 300ZX TT. Now I nearly have the 350Z paid off and I am wanting to repair the damage, I just cant stand to see it that way anymore. I have been doing a lot of shopping around and looking at body kits from many manufacturers and have fallen in love with the Nismo V2 kit. A much as I would love to get this kit from Extreme dimensions or VIS racing, I rarely read anything good about their products and I simply cannot justify $2000 in quality NISMO parts when $800 of OEM parts will suffice to return it to stock condition. If I could get enough people to assure me that fitting a knockoff bumper would not be an absolute nightmare i would likely do it but that is not what I am finding. I am seeking advise and maybe some of you can talk some sense into this thick skull of mine. Any thoughts however critical they may be are welcome as well as success or horror stories.
Thanks.

 

Do it! Go with a reputable company and you'll be fine!!

 

The fitments on any knockoff part will never fit like OEM. But many forum members are williing to look past a small gap or a difficult install to save hundreds of dollars. I've included a picture of my old knockoff nismo bumper. It was a bit difficult to install and there was a tiny gap right above the nissan hamburger emblem. Sorry for the picture quality, it's the only picture on my work computer.

 

just find a used one in the classifieds section. there are some other replicas besides those companies you named. i have a shine auto v2 full kit and it fits perfectly. i picked mine up for less than the 800 you say to get stock. only thing is you still have to paint it, and that for me cost just as much as i paid for the kit.

 

Shine makes good peices from what I've read... keep it simple.

 

shine v2 front fitment is spot on.

https://my350z.com/forum/members/118...-sdc10110.html

 

You own a 350Z.

Don't waste money on junky knockoff parts. That kind of behavior seems suitable for kids with 18 year old civics. The Z is a nice car, I think you should treat it accordingly.

 

if you don't have the money, save up. If you really HAVE to have it now, buy it cheap so it looks like crap.

 

If I had the moniesssss I'd get a nice kit... Maybe something that's not over the line...

like this...






Those wheels are the hotness also ... lol.

 

Tou could save hundreds of dollars and get a quality replica like I did. Type A Vizage=$1200. I got a hybridaero FRP replica for $736 shipped from www.kgsengineering.com and the fitment was perfect. Guess what I did with the $500 dollars I saved? Put it in the wheel fund (DPE R05)

 

Save up and buy authentic or buy garbage...regret it...loose money...then buy authentic.

 

I think you already know the right decision to make.

 

there still selling shine parts in the vendor marketplace

 

Theres a big difference between an extreme dimension knock off and a shine knock off. In some cases a knock off can fit better than a genuine piece. Why pay so much more and the only way someone can tell is by seeing a badge that isnt visible

 

Oh the racist blessed us with his presence

 

So far I have heard nothing but good about Shine kits. Is there anyone out there who has not had a positive experience with them? They quoted me just under $1000 shipped for their entire N2 body kit or $400 for just the bumper which is a great price in my mind as the stock replacement is roughly $300 (www.Courtesyparts.com). Now I ned to ask another question. When I took my Z into the body shop they quoted $1800 to repair the damage, I figure about $800-900 of that was in parts. What should I expect to pay to have the V2 Bumper painted the stock color (Silverstone) And installed? I have never done any business with a body shop. Thanks for all of the posts by the way.

 

You're going to end up paying more for the shop to fit and smooth out the replica stuff. Save up and do it right the first time. You won't regret going with the authentic. And yes I've been to body shops and seen even the replica stuff that everyone likes here. Lotsa work needed to go into it to take the waves out of the Amuse-style front bumper.

 

heres the deal w knock offs.. i have a huge thread about the total load of crap im haivng to deal w right now over a knock off.

the kit in my signature pic is a knock off, fit great.
Ordered a new kncok off kit from the same company and its a total nightmare.
The service sucks and I had ot involve my cred card company to get my money back.

Knock off kits = maaaajor gamble.
That means some people win big, some lose big, and the roll of the dics is totally out of your control.

I ended up ordering all my stuff authentic in the long run and am out several months of time. I got a rip off Veilside kit, and now I have the real deal comming.. try Intense Motorsports.. the prices they offered me on authentic parts is far far far les than what you may expect.

 

roll of the DICE..
you know what i meant, but i think ill make the correction and avoid flames.

 

knockoffs vary it doesnt not mean they are all trash but it seems we have people that just care about the brand.

having been to many meets i always get complimented on my front bumper.. They dont ask me if its a aunthentic.. they say it looks great.

i would rather save money to have more to play with in the future.