All,

I've done a few cosmetic things but have not done a lot besides maintaining my cars. I thought no better way to let newbies know why and how mods are good or bad.

I would like to do some things like a cat back system or lower but I haven't seen many places on here after someone does a mod and how it is a year later.

Let's here from you and your mod and why or how it's working out or not!

 

I think that one of the best mods is the rear sway bar. I've had it for a good while now. At first I had some squeeking but that went away when I put the stock bushings back on.

 

I got to do this, the squeaking especially with the frigid weather we've been having is killing me....I don't know anything about poly bushings but the squeaks are insane. Some mods I've done are obviously the sway bar, great minus the squeaks from the bushings, eibachs, great look and handling minus the harsh ride for those potholes u can't avoid but I've had them for 6 months and still happy. Rear spoiler, I put this on myself and this is def a must have for this car. Added a ground kit but felt no difference, also had the r2c intake installed and besides the awesome sound u get from the engine, I felt it did not help any way with performance, might of even hurt it

 

Squeaks may have stopped if I had more lube available. I did not, so I just reinstalled the stock ones.

I agree, the Eibach Pro-Kit was a very good mod as well. It helped both the handling and look of the car. I would also say that if you are using the stock wheels, the spacers make a big improvement in how the car looks after being lowered.

 

Thinking of getting the Racingline RSB myself. From what I understand, it comes with new bushings. So do you recommend not using these and just using the stock ones? Thanks in advance for the input...

 

If you have enough of the lube for them, you should be fine. That little packet I received wasn't enough & I didn't have any on hand.

 

Yes definitely a plus for the sway bar. Any comments on the strut bar? I was thinking of getting one but most people said it didn't make much of a difference.

 

So maybe we can get people to list their mods, the amount of time said mod has been in use and their specific thoughts or opinions on the proving the point of the mod?

 

T-Rex billet grill: 2.5 years, still looks great
370Z Akebono 14" brakes: 6 months, still great
Racingline Y-pipe: 6 months, best hp/dollar upgrade possible
Racingline rear sway bar: 2 years, best handling upgrade/dollar possible
custom magnaflow exhaust: 1.5 years, ehh, sounds good but doesn't do much else
BC coilovers: 6 months, stiffer ride than eibachs, great handling
Eibach springs: 2 years: a little loose feeling if you don't have a rear sway bar. A small handling improvement. Good investment, but will kill your stock shocks.
Stillen rear diffuser, front splitter: 1year, purely cosmetic, still like it
JL Audio 13w6 in custom fiberglass false floor box: a sub of some sort is desperately needed with the factory Bose. Mine is overkill.
debadged: 2 years, purely cosmetic, and I would do it again
35% tint: 2.5 years. Do it to all cars. It saves the interior from UV wear, and keeps it cooler in the summer.
wide wheels: 2 years: great improvement in handling.


Mods that I feel are a waste:
Variable Air Intake Block off Plates (BOP): you loose low end torque to make a few more hp over 5k rpm.
Underdrive pulley: you lose your harmonic damper/balancer on the engine, and could increase engine wear.
Front strut tower brace: purely cosmetic. If you look at the design, and how it attaches, it physically can't make a difference.

 

Drvr great list. That is exactly what I think people want to see and hear. Thanks.

 

Best: turbo
Worst: turbo

 

Eibach pro springs- 3 years. Great ride and look. some squeaks every now and again with the wheel fully turned to the left.
Stillen front lip-3 years. Love the look. Wouldn't have the max without the lip. Could use a fresh coat of paint, but than again, so could the whole car.
Rear window spoiler-2.5 years. Still holds up, still looks good. never fell off.
Rear taillight all-red overlays. Still on, still look good.
Stillen sides and rear corners. 2 years. Love them. Hold up like a champ.
2013+ front grill. 2 years. Love the grill, needs a fresh coat of paint from small rock chips.

 

Worse: Racingline FSB, looks great but the holes don't line up with the strut tower and no matter what I did I could only get 2 of the 3 bolts reinserted. Total waste of money IMO.

 

Agreed...PIA

 

lol, this guy.

 

I'd agree the RSB is my best purchase so far. And agreed, the front tower strut just looks good lol. Otherwise I've added the rear window spoiler, gives it an additional "Oo".

Most people have either added an aftermarket air intake, or just dropped a K&N. However, I have left my stock box in tact, and simply removed the snorkel leading from the front bumper to the box. It has given me a nice roar that you can hear from the $200+ intakes. But cost me nothing!

In regards to cosmetics though. Custom painted headlights with the halos. Just gives my Max such a custom, awesome look that people can't help but break their necks looking at when I drive by. Tinted windows to 35% and plasti dipped those wheels to save myself from buying another set when really there's no need. At least right now.

I have interests in the CXJ BOP and spacers, UD pulley, and adding an additional oil cooler. I'd appreciate anybodys opinions and experience with said items as I'm not 100 percent on if I want to make the purchase or not. TIA

Additional to the above interests, I'll be deleting the resonator and adding a y-pipe. Most quad tips look mean so that's a possibility. And of course, a pair of DRL's in the 'brake vents' of our bumper.

Hopefully the Max is off the jacks and on the road sooner than later! C'mon sunny days!

 

I bought extra lube when I had my RSB installed. Used 3 tubes of lube total with the poly bushings. So far so good...

 

Amen! Very well put. Agree completely with the list.

My essentials:
Eibachs
Rear sway bar
Stillen lip
Tint
Aftermarket wheels (I've been happy with 20's)

 

OP, great thread


I'd like to hear more mods that folks found worthwhile