Notices
Exterior & Interior 350Z Body modification, interior styling and lighting

Installed JDM tail lights on 05 today

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 5, 2017 | 06:33 PM
  #1  
mrwhite's Avatar
mrwhite
Thread Starter
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 27
Likes: 1
From: Tampa, Florida
Default Installed JDM tail lights on 05 today

Installed JDM tail lights on 05 today-wb8xmaq.jpg
Installed JDM tail lights on 05 today-dntwfts.jpg
Installed JDM tail lights on 05 today-wvavpyy.jpg
Installed JDM tail lights on 05 today-0qgzmut.jpg
Installed JDM tail lights on 05 today-2ib7lvv.jpg
Reply
Old Jun 5, 2017 | 07:51 PM
  #2  
mrwhite's Avatar
mrwhite
Thread Starter
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 27
Likes: 1
From: Tampa, Florida
Default

Install was pretty fun. You have to remove the plugs from the old/red lights - they disconnect from back of LED cartridge and unsnap from the lens itself - and plug them into the same LED cartridge on the clears. Was a piece of cake.
Reply
Old Jun 5, 2017 | 08:46 PM
  #3  
jhc's Avatar
jhc
General & Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
Premier Member
 
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,400
Likes: 2,226
From: ZdayZ
Default

Looking good! I hope it works out for you, heard so many horror stories re aftermarket tails messing up drivability.
Reply
Old Jun 5, 2017 | 09:19 PM
  #4  
dcains's Avatar
dcains
Registered User
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,126
Likes: 436
From: Lutz, FL
Default

Those aren't aftermarket lights, they're original JDM parts. I usually don't like the look, but on a silver car and the LMGT4's, they look great in this case.

Pissed, though, that there's another silver Z in the Tampa area with LMGT4's. We should get together and have a photo shoot.
Reply
Old Jun 5, 2017 | 09:30 PM
  #5  
MicVelo's Avatar
MicVelo
350Z/370Z Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
Premier Member
10 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,316
Likes: 3,379
From: Northern California
Default

Originally Posted by dcains
Those aren't aftermarket lights, they're original JDM parts. I usually don't like the look, but on a silver car and the LMGT4's, they look great in this case.

Pissed, though, that there's another silver Z in the Tampa area with LMGT4's. We should get together and have a photo shoot.
Ooooo, can I join in? Then there'll be three silver Zs and I'll even bring both my LMGT5s and LMZ5s. Oh wait, Dean's the leader of the LMGT4 gang, no Z34 wheels allowed. Hmmmph.
Reply
Old Jun 5, 2017 | 09:35 PM
  #6  
dcains's Avatar
dcains
Registered User
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,126
Likes: 436
From: Lutz, FL
Default

Who else has the JDM side markers?

Reply
Old Jun 6, 2017 | 04:49 AM
  #7  
jdmfetish's Avatar
jdmfetish
New Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 925
Likes: 125
From: USA
Default

JDM > Everything Else
Reply
Old Jun 6, 2017 | 10:40 AM
  #8  
jhc's Avatar
jhc
General & Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
Premier Member
 
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,400
Likes: 2,226
From: ZdayZ
Default

Originally Posted by dcains
Those aren't aftermarket lights, they're original JDM parts. I usually don't like the look, but on a silver car and the LMGT4's, they look great in this case.

Pissed, though, that there's another silver Z in the Tampa area with LMGT4's. We should get together and have a photo shoot.
Agreed. Sometimes folks use the term JDM very loosely, but these look legit
Reply
Old Jun 7, 2017 | 04:46 AM
  #9  
mrwhite's Avatar
mrwhite
Thread Starter
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 27
Likes: 1
From: Tampa, Florida
Default

dcains - you live in lutz ? and have a silver 350 with LMGT4s? LOL

I also live in lutz - near the cracker barrel where bruce b downs and bearss meet. I don't think i've ever seen your car around!

I still can't decide if I like these as much as the factory red ones. They may grow on me. I am tempted to get the jdm side markers. Was wiring them up a pain?
Reply
Old Jun 7, 2017 | 09:36 AM
  #10  
dcains's Avatar
dcains
Registered User
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,126
Likes: 436
From: Lutz, FL
Default

I'm in "downtown" Lutz on Lake Hobbs. I like the JDM tails, mostly because you almost never see the real thing.

The JDM side markers weren't bad to install, as long as you've got a steady hand with a Dremel and a small cutoff wheel. The metal is thin and it cuts easily. I ran the wires over the fender liners to the front parking lights, but one could use the signals if that was a preference. I have an amber LED in each light, but if a bulb were used, it would be easy to wire it so a marker light blinked off every time a signal blinked on. I'm not sure how they're actually wired in Japan, but I'm guessing they're signals.
Reply
Old Jun 7, 2017 | 10:54 AM
  #11  
mrwhite's Avatar
mrwhite
Thread Starter
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 27
Likes: 1
From: Tampa, Florida
Default

cool. I may do that as a DIY project some day.

I don't know really any other Z car guys in Tampa but if there are ever any meetups, shoot me a PM.
Reply
Old Jun 7, 2017 | 11:44 AM
  #12  
mcubed45's Avatar
mcubed45
New Member
 
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 217
Likes: 13
From: Hawaii
Default

Originally Posted by jhc
Looking good! I hope it works out for you, heard so many horror stories re aftermarket tails messing up drivability.
These are OEM lights. You can tell they're OEM by the number of LEDs. The aftermarket LED tail lights have about 20 small LEDs vs the 8 larger ones on the OEM lights. The aftermarket lights are the ones that cause engine issues.
Reply
Old Jun 7, 2017 | 11:52 AM
  #13  
dcains's Avatar
dcains
Registered User
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,126
Likes: 436
From: Lutz, FL
Default

Originally Posted by mrwhite
cool. I may do that as a DIY project some day.

I don't know really any other Z car guys in Tampa but if there are ever any meetups, shoot me a PM.
There used to be a fairly active Tampa Z club (actually based in Brandon), but it dissolved a few years ago and they took down the website. Nothing since then, and in the past when I've tried to get something together, nothing really came of it.
Reply
Old Jun 8, 2017 | 09:35 PM
  #14  
rys's Avatar
rys
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: FL
Default

Tails look really clean! You FL guys should join Central Florida Z Club (CFZC) on Facebook its pretty active. https://www.facebook.com/groups/CFZCC/
Reply
Old Jun 8, 2017 | 11:50 PM
  #15  
Nismo Ninja's Avatar
Nismo Ninja
New Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 198
Likes: 7
From: Seattle, WA
Default

Hmmm you got me a little worried now. Legit JDM tail lights have the larger and fewer LED's as well as "Nissan" going across the bottom correct?
Reply
Old Jun 9, 2017 | 10:23 AM
  #16  
mrwhite's Avatar
mrwhite
Thread Starter
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 27
Likes: 1
From: Tampa, Florida
Default

there are no leds in the bottom red portion. look close though - nissan is at the bottom!
Reply
Old Jun 9, 2017 | 09:30 PM
  #17  
guitman32's Avatar
guitman32
New Member
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,998
Likes: 108
From: South FL
Default

These taillights are like the current administration, very polarizing.

I dont like this JDM syle taillights, on any car. Ever made. OEM or not.

Car looks clean otherwise though.
Reply
Old Jun 9, 2017 | 11:08 PM
  #18  
DarkZ03's Avatar
DarkZ03
New Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,814
Likes: 549
From: Des Plaines
Default

Welcome to the club I love mine and will never take them off lol, nice car BTW! I would not mind doing JDM side markers but if that somehow ended up in damage to my paint I would have a heart attack as it's not a factory color lol.
Reply




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:51 AM.