DIY: Illuminated Kick Plates

gregp · 04-18-2011, 03:40 PM

Despite ordering the vehicle with the illuminated kick plates, they were not installed by the factory. I finally ordered from the Z Store - and between the pictures and instructions here and the ones that come with it - this was an easy project. For me - just about 2 hours. Just wanted to say thanks for the write-up ... I may not have attempted it without seeing your post.

-Greg

happytheman · 04-22-2011, 06:10 PM

Just two hours after taking delivery of my kick plates I have finished the installation. Keep in mind that I had to get my sammich on before tackling this project in the near 90° weather we have right now!

I will admit that the BCM was a PIA to remove..but that was the hardest part. Having fish tape on hand was a great help too! Oh yeah..wouldn't you know the next to the last thing I did was to put the passenger side kick panel back on and snapped one of the clips in half. Anybody got the part number for that bugger so i can pick up a couple?

Thanks so much for the write up! +1 Rep

Ps. In hindsight, I'm thinking that using needle nose pliers would have been a much better option for removing the BCM.

a370zlover · 04-26-2011, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChipsWithDips

My base model 2011 370Z came with illuminated panels already.

Is this something that is standard on 2011, but not earlier years?

No it isn't... I got my Z back in 2009 and had to add the illuminated kick plates as an option when buying it (can't remember for how much). Just checked Nissan's website and clicked "Build Your Own" and built a Sport + Touring Package Z and the illuminated kick plates were a $200 "accessory." Did you buy your Z from a dealer lot? If so they probably just ordered it with the illuminated kick plates... it's a nice little touch for so little money. One guy in this forum ordered normal kick plates to replace his illuminated ones... not exactly why you would do that, but whatever floats your boat I guess, haha.

happytheman · 04-26-2011, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a370zlover

One guy in this forum ordered normal kick plates to replace his illuminated ones... not exactly why you would do that, but whatever floats your boat I guess, haha.

Maybe he was working on a "theme" and the aluminum didn't work with it. That's my only guess.

a370zlover · 04-27-2011, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happytheman

Maybe he was working on a "theme" and the aluminum didn't work with it. That's my only guess.

LOL, appreciate the sarcasm, i understand your reason though

happytheman · 04-27-2011, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a370zlover

LOL, appreciate the sarcasm, i understand your reason though

Actually, I was being serious as to what I thought the reasoning was. No sarcasm expressed or implied!

a370zlover · 04-30-2011, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happytheman

Actually, I was being serious as to what I thought the reasoning was. No sarcasm expressed or implied!

ahhh! just realized you weren't the guy that actually did it, i'm sure you can imagine how i thought that was sarcastic if it was from the guy that switched his illuminated for non illuminated, haha, i just assumed... and we all know what happens when we assume, lol

whatthefetch · 05-30-2011, 11:36 PM

Thanks for the DIY, between the included instructions and this I was able to tackle mine.. Took a couple of hours, but I took my time.. Still broke one of the panel clips, I didn't pay attention to the fit before I removed it! Looks great, although I wish it wasn't so orange!

Romulus1 · 05-31-2011, 12:09 AM

used this DIY last week, didn't even look at the instructions included, just followed the pics with the short captions and i was don't in just under and hour, great write up man!

although getting that upper kick plate back on the passenger side was a bit of a pain!

None the less, Props!

bflosabre91 · 06-02-2011, 09:22 AM

just did this yesterday. wasn't too bad. toughest part for me was figuring out how the wire harness came out under the passenger seat. i was being cautious because i didn't want to break anything. Took me about 2 hours and i have no idea what im doing

but i got out of it pretty flawlessly and i'm very pleased with how they look. thanks for the pic OP, they were very helpful.

red6spd · 06-30-2011, 08:00 PM

Had my kick plates laying around for over a year now. Even considered having them installed by Nissan (they wanted $200). So I got bored today and tried it myself using this DIY. I'm all done and it was pretty easy. Thanks for saving me $200 REP added.

Vapiano · 08-08-2011, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCHREP

The lighted kick plates are great. Mine only took about 40 minutes to
install. Would recommend them to anybody with half a brain.

, the only tool needed was a small screw driver. These add a real nice touch to the car.

freaky · 08-09-2011, 09:55 PM

im ready to tackle this mod, my kickplates have arrived from the US. Mine is a right hand drive australian Z.

does anyone have any pics of whereabouts the cable goes across the transmittion tunnel on both sides, its the only bit I am unsure of.

Is it more towards the firewall or more towards the seats ? and do i have to have the carpet rolled back when i attempt to pass it through ?

Vapiano · 08-09-2011, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freaky

im ready to tackle this mod, my kickplates have arrived from the US. Mine is a right hand drive australian Z.

does anyone have any pics of whereabouts the cable goes across the transmittion tunnel on both sides, its the only bit I am unsure of.

Is it more towards the firewall or more towards the seats ? and do i have to have the carpet rolled back when i attempt to pass it through ?

You run the wire between the firewall and the back of the radio console, on the passenger side near the power outlet you will see an opening to the top left, attach the wire to a metal hanger and fish it through until it passes through the other side near the gas pedal and follow the instructions in the kit.

brucelidat · 08-21-2011, 03:42 PM

Anyone know a good site to order the kickplates or is it pretty much just form the dealer?

04-18-2011, 03:40 PM	#46 (permalink)
gregp Base Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 6 Drives: 2010 370Z Platinum Rep Power: 15	Thank you! Despite ordering the vehicle with the illuminated kick plates, they were not installed by the factory. I finally ordered from the Z Store - and between the pictures and instructions here and the ones that come with it - this was an easy project. For me - just about 2 hours. Just wanted to say thanks for the write-up ... I may not have attempted it without seeing your post. -Greg

04-22-2011, 06:10 PM	#47 (permalink)
happytheman A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 10,737 Drives: MB 6M Tour/Sport Z34 Rep Power: 1822	Just two hours after taking delivery of my kick plates I have finished the installation. Keep in mind that I had to get my sammich on before tackling this project in the near 90° weather we have right now! I will admit that the BCM was a PIA to remove..but that was the hardest part. Having fish tape on hand was a great help too! Oh yeah..wouldn't you know the next to the last thing I did was to put the passenger side kick panel back on and snapped one of the clips in half. Anybody got the part number for that bugger so i can pick up a couple? Thanks so much for the write up! +1 Rep Ps. In hindsight, I'm thinking that using needle nose pliers would have been a much better option for removing the BCM. Last edited by happytheman; 04-23-2011 at 02:56 AM.

05-30-2011, 11:36 PM	#53 (permalink)
whatthefetch Base Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: So Cal Posts: 72 Drives: 11 370Z TOUR BS AT7 Rep Power: 18	Thanks for the DIY, between the included instructions and this I was able to tackle mine.. Took a couple of hours, but I took my time.. Still broke one of the panel clips, I didn't pay attention to the fit before I removed it! Looks great, although I wish it wasn't so orange! __________________

06-02-2011, 09:22 AM	#55 (permalink)
bflosabre91 Base Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: na Posts: 114 Drives: car Rep Power: 14	just did this yesterday. wasn't too bad. toughest part for me was figuring out how the wire harness came out under the passenger seat. i was being cautious because i didn't want to break anything. Took me about 2 hours and i have no idea what im doing but i got out of it pretty flawlessly and i'm very pleased with how they look. thanks for the pic OP, they were very helpful. __________________ Zzzzzzzzz

06-30-2011, 08:00 PM	#56 (permalink)
red6spd A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 3,277 Drives: 2010 Z Coupe M6 SPT Rep Power: 21	Had my kick plates laying around for over a year now. Even considered having them installed by Nissan (they wanted $200). So I got bored today and tried it myself using this DIY. I'm all done and it was pretty easy. Thanks for saving me $200 REP added. __________________ 2010 Base+Sport 6spd: Stillen G3, FI Non-Resonated CBE, FI Non-Resonated Test Pipes, UpRev Tuned, Custom 24R Oil Cooler, JDM Rear Fog-OEM Harness. ???Whp ???WTQ (Will find out come spring time)

05-31-2011, 12:09 AM	#54 (permalink)
Romulus1 Track Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 691 Drives: '11 370Z Sport 6MT Rep Power: 15	used this DIY last week, didn't even look at the instructions included, just followed the pics with the short captions and i was don't in just under and hour, great write up man! although getting that upper kick plate back on the passenger side was a bit of a pain! None the less, Props!

08-09-2011, 09:55 PM	#58 (permalink)
freaky Base Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sydney Posts: 3 Drives: MY10 370z 7AT Rep Power: 14	im ready to tackle this mod, my kickplates have arrived from the US. Mine is a right hand drive australian Z. does anyone have any pics of whereabouts the cable goes across the transmittion tunnel on both sides, its the only bit I am unsure of. Is it more towards the firewall or more towards the seats ? and do i have to have the carpet rolled back when i attempt to pass it through ?

08-21-2011, 03:42 PM	#60 (permalink)
brucelidat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: temple city, ca Posts: 2,432 Drives: 2011 370z 7AT GM Sp Rep Power: 31	Anyone know a good site to order the kickplates or is it pretty much just form the dealer?

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