Before you say anything, yes I've searched and no, I found nothing to answer my question.

I have a 2008 Nismo 350z. The previous owner had a fender bender in it and replaced the front bumper. There is no VIN sticker on the inside of the bumper where the hood and the bumper meet (which I just read was optional, but my other 08 had it). Is there another way to tell if my bumper is real or a replica?

I ask because I feel like there is too much space between my bumper and the hood. At first I thought it was because of my intercooler, but I checked previous photos from before it was boosted, and the same amount of space still exists.

Help?

<a href="http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/sexfacejew/?action=view&amp;current=photo.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/sexfacejew/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/sexfacejew/?action=view&amp;current=photo1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/sexfacejew/photo1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

No one makes a replica of a true Nismo front bumper. AIT makes a fiberglass reproduction but that looks to be OEM.

 

agreed, if not..... that be one amazing replica ..

 

Looks authentic, do you have the front bumper foam piece?

 

I do not, because of my intercooler. I assume you mean the one between the front bumper and the crash bar.

 

I assumed it was authentic, but when I considered the lack of care from the previous owner, I wanted to verify. Thanks for your help guys.

 

So,whats your point/objective?
If its real or a replica,then what?
Could be the gap is due to the hood alignment?
If it is a AIT replica,their stuff from my experience can be hit
or miss in the fitment department.
By knowing,yes or no on the replica,is not gonna change anything
to get it fixed.

 

That's an OEM front bumper, I can tell you that much.

 

The point/objective is to resolve the gap between the bumper and hood. I never considered the fact that the hood could be off alignment. I assumed it was the bumper due to the wreck, but I will check my hood alignment now that you mention that. But by knowing that it might have been a replica could have explained why the fitment was off, like you said "hit or miss".

Wanna compare hood alignments?

 

Depends when it was repaired.. They only started making replica V3 front bumpers recently...

It could have been a refinished bumper from a Junkyard.. Fitment and finish quality would depend on who repaired it (and the body shop if they cared if it was slightly off or not).

I had a light fender bender awhile back. Had to get a new bumper, the body shop ordered a refinished one, didn't like how it was repaired and ordered a brand new one from Nissan.

 

I bought the car August 1, 2011 from RK Motors in Charlotte, NC and had the car repainted in January because whoever repaired it decided to paint the entire car without sanding and without clear coat. So it would not suprise me if the person who did repair it, did a careless job.

I think I'll check the hood alignment and if that seems okay, order a new bumper....eventually.

 

Run it w the gap, increase air flow LOL

 

LOL. GT3 mod ftw

 

thats oem...i have the same..AIT's does not look oem, no depression for badge and reflectors


Mike

 

Thanks, Mike.

 

Every Nismo I have seen shares this gap!

 

looks like a normal oem hood to me

 

yep. mine has the gap also.

 

I also have the gap but only because there's that bit of rubber stripping to seal the hood to the bumper. It is also why radiator cooling panels don't do anything on the Z.

 

and i thought i was paranoid.

what does the bottom and diffuser look like?

are there registers from the mold?

is it injection molded abs (or whatever the **** nissan uses)?