This mod is as subtle as it gets, but a few have said they aren't keen. One of my big pet hates on the Zed is that horrible finish on the lower parts of the bumpers and sills. It's more noticable on dark coloured cars rather than light colours, you don't really notice on my pearl white, but I just want that even shine rather than the moddled effect.

 

So, I am going to smooth down the bumpers as per Daves_zed. Only difference is, I am going to retain the dark pin-stripe, so it's not noticable so much, just want the lower part not to look poorly finished.

 

I think it looks great and is only noticable to the trained eye. But doesn't stick out.

 

 

 

 

Someones stalking me :D :rofl:

 

The only reason that I don't have the black pin stripe, is that I haven't got any at the moment, but it will be going back on :D

 

BTW- The second pic down was taken just after I'd brought it home from the bodyshop, and typically, it stated to rain! :headvswal

 

Best of luck Si. :cool:

I like it smooth think it looks good, how did you smooth it?, i got the same colour Z and im in the process of smoothing the pinstripe recess Iv'e already done the front bumper and it look great.

Actually i had noticed this on my balck zed as well. Daves looks really sweet, how is the paint standing up to the test of driving though as i thought it was different paint to be more resistant to stone chips..?

Well on the bumpers, it's moulder into the plastic. It's barely a few thousand microns deep, so sanding it will not effect the rigidity of the bumper at all. The sills, mine were already done by the last owner. Seems fine. Dave's also got the Z mud flaps. I thought about getting those, but leaving them off for now.

 

Since mine never gets driven in the winter where the grit and crap is present, the finish should last. Not all cars have stone chips stuff on there. You can get impact paint I think which you can add to normal paint which enables to the paint to 'give' a little bit. Bit like plastesiser.

I like it smooth think it looks good, how did you smooth it?, i got the same colour Z and im in the process of smoothing the pinstripe recess Iv'e already done the front bumper and it look great.

 

I like the pinstripe and recess. Gives the car some lines lower down and breaks it up a bit. Mine will hardly look any different, will just have a nicer finish on the lower parts of the bumpers.

I went totally smooth on my Zed before I decided to go for the custom arches and it looked great. The "stone chip" paint was the first to go. Do it.

... Daves looks really sweet, how is the paint standing up to the test of driving though as i thought it was different paint to be more resistant to stone chips..?

Thank you.

As Si says, I have the mud flaps on. When I first got it back they wern't on and it started to show on the wheel arch areas a bit, but nothing along the sills, now the flaps are on anyway it's no problem. I can't see it damaging the paint any more than normal bodywork. Mines my daily driver these days so it gets quite a bit of punishment.

i think it looks smart, bring the styling upto date, might think about doing mine if i dont go for the after market skirt/rear bumper option

 

Neil

Well, the car's going into the bodyshop next week. Can't wait to have the thing back. Replacing the rear window seal as well, so that the whole thing looks as good as I can get it. :)

When I re-sprayed my car I had to sand it smooth because the flakes made it bumpy, it’s smoother than it normally would be which match’s the 99 spec front bumper. I also had to find a sign maker to cut me some black matt vinyl strips because nobody makes coach lines anymore.

When I re-sprayed my car I had to sand it smooth because the flakes made it bumpy, it’s smoother than it normally would be which match’s the 99 spec front bumper. I also had to find a sign maker to cut me some black matt vinyl strips because nobody makes coach lines anymore.

 

 

No one makes pin-stripes anymore???? Really? Christ! Best get on the case then really as I want them back on. I want as close to original as possible...anthacite I think it is.

 

Do you have any close ups of your rear bumper by any chance?

What pin-stripe? :confused:

What pin-stripe? :confused:

 

The little black line where the swage line is.

The little black line where the swage line is.

There's no black lines on mine.

just use leccy tape lol

Nissan still have the pin stripe in stock, not surprising really as it costs over £60, I could not find a pin stripe the correct size and colour so, as has been said above I went to a sign makers and they cut me enough to do about 6 cars, I gave the rest away to members on here.

How much did that cost you mate?

A fiver I think, I gave them a sample of the pin stripe and they did the rest.

halfords do pin stripes in different sizes.

One of my favourite exterior improvements it to remove the lower trim textured finished...however to really make most of the improvement I'd remove the line altogether and fill it in.

 

I think it dates the car, and with the line removed and smoohted it looks so much more modern.

oh *****x!

I hadn't really given it any thought til now!!

The bodushop smoothed both bumpers when they were re-painted, so now my sills are the only bumpy bits left... Guess I better book it back in.

Thanks a bunch :headvswal

Ive been smooth for a couple of years now, had a bit of shaving rash for a couple of weeks but i bought some crea.....Oh shit!!!!.....errrm yeh...errrm, smooth is better as its easier to buff up the polish when giving the thing a good old rub. :o

One thing I want to know....Daves_Zed might be able to answer this. The 99-spec Zeds, they had non-stone chip faced front bumper lips, does this mean the rear bumper and side skirts were also devoid of this finish?

Think front bumper was smooth and side skirts on spec R but rear bumper dimpled.

 

Ivan

I think it gonna look good Si, always wondered why Nissan did that rippled finish out of the factory, I guess it's to protect against stone chips etc...