Hello all. I just picked up a 2003 FX35 AWD with only 60K miles on it and am still getting to know it. I am coming from owning BMW sedans, wagons and verts for the past 20 years. I also owned a couple of Pathfinders over the years but this is my first Infinity. I am a committed DIY mechanic and usually can't leave my rides alone when it comes to mods but I am not seeing much out in the marketplace for the FX35/45 in terms of audio system, suspension, and performance upgrades. Admittedly, these rides are pretty good stock but one of my favorite BMW upgrades is Koni shocks and struts. I am not seeing anything out there other than KYB for our FX's. in my experience, KYB is not a lot better than OEM and frequently is OEM for Asian vehicles. Am I missing something or is the aftermarket pretty quiet when it comes to these SUVs?
I can't find any info regarding upgrading the stock Bose stereo systems and I am not a big fan of them. I replaced the Bose system in my last Pathfinder with great results but the way Infinity integrated the radio display with other functions seems to have kept the aftermarket from developing solutions. The GROM USB device seems to be the only easy way to add MP3 playing ability to the stock system. If any of you have gone beyond that simple mod, I would love to know more about what you did. I have searched for threads on this subject without finding much. At this point, I am tempted to leave the stock radio alone but add a preamplifier with aux inputs and mount it where the clock is. Something like the Audio Control Three.2 preamp equalizer. It is half DIN and should be easy to mount in the space where the clock is with a little custom fabrication.
I installed one in a 2002 Pathfinder with Bose system and it cleaned up the sound tremendously even with the Bose amplifier still in use. In that vehicle the Bose front end was muddying up the sound a lot. The factory Bose system in my 03 FX does not sound as bad but I wish for more.
I can't find any info regarding upgrading the stock Bose stereo systems and I am not a big fan of them. I replaced the Bose system in my last Pathfinder with great results but the way Infinity integrated the radio display with other functions seems to have kept the aftermarket from developing solutions. The GROM USB device seems to be the only easy way to add MP3 playing ability to the stock system. If any of you have gone beyond that simple mod, I would love to know more about what you did. I have searched for threads on this subject without finding much. At this point, I am tempted to leave the stock radio alone but add a preamplifier with aux inputs and mount it where the clock is. Something like the Audio Control Three.2 preamp equalizer. It is half DIN and should be easy to mount in the space where the clock is with a little custom fabrication.
I installed one in a 2002 Pathfinder with Bose system and it cleaned up the sound tremendously even with the Bose amplifier still in use. In that vehicle the Bose front end was muddying up the sound a lot. The factory Bose system in my 03 FX does not sound as bad but I wish for more.
