NashFX
Member
- Car
- 2012 FX35 AWD Tech-Premium Pkg
If you are in the market for the OEM Aero Kit you've probably considered getting the complete kit or perhaps the front or back. You may even be like me and started with the front and eventually worked your way towards the back. The sides have always been an afterthought for me. Having a black car, I initially thought that not getting the aero sides would not be as noticeable; and I wanted to keep the factory mud flaps (which are lost when you add the sides). Eventually, I added the back to match the front, and as a result, I lost the rear mud flaps. Pretty soon I was down to just the front mud flaps with no rears and wondering if getting the sides would complete the look, or if the kit becomes discontinued will I regret not getting the sides. In an effort to not live with regrets I went for the aero kit sides to complete the look, but not without doing some experimenting first. From the available research that has been posted online, It is thought that the side skirts will not work without a door molding. I wanted to test this theory because the door moldings cost more than the actual side skirt, which I find to be interesting in itself. I wanted to share my experiments and the outcome of my research here with the community. Hope that you enjoy!
I read that if you do go with the side you need two components for it to work and look correct. Only the second part is technically true, you can actually get away with the side skirt only, more on that below.
The two parts are:
Door Under Molding Online Price - $580.00 Part #: H08G0-1CA3A
(This part goes on the doors)
Side Sill Protector Online Price - $475.00 Part #: G68E0-1CA3A
(This part goes under doors, is the actual side skirt)
If you are still deciding you can check out the kit here. Use coupon code Estore2019 to save 25% and save on shipping if you pick it up from your dealer. Also, it is worth noting that some dealers have this kit for less such as INFINITI OF MONTCLAIR MONTCLAIR , CA zipcode 91763. If you order from them you would have to pay something in shipping but you can save an average of $50 for each part of the aero kit that you buy.
I did not see any examples of how the sides would look without the actual door under molding that is attached to the doors. Here are a few pictures to provide an idea.
This is the side sill protector without the door under molding.
As you can see the replacement side sill sticks out a little and the chrome strip is wider. As a result of the side sill sticking out some, the replacement door under moldings flares out to create a more flush look with the new side sill.
Here is the difference with the replacement door under moldings, these are also painted gloss black to match the side sills, whereas the original ones where matte black.
Lastly, if you are the risk-taking kind, there are knock-off replicas that I have found here. I question the fitment with the replica because it looks like based on the pictures the actual side sill protector that goes on the doors is not included. I am skeptical how this would work because part of the chrome strip is built into the actual side skirt, and the replica does not seem to have that.
Finally, here are some pictures before and after, with mud flaps, and without. The verdict for me is... I still think it looked fine without the sides, but if you are a perfectionist and want to complete the look, and do not care about mud flaps, then go for the sides (I finally did) and if you do, get both the side sills and the under molding.
Before
In between:
And After
As for next steps, I am going to experiment integrating mud flaps with the aero kit, the OEM ones are no longer compatible, but there are aftermarket ones made by Rally Armor that look like they would work. More to come on that later.
I read that if you do go with the side you need two components for it to work and look correct. Only the second part is technically true, you can actually get away with the side skirt only, more on that below.
The two parts are:
Door Under Molding Online Price - $580.00 Part #: H08G0-1CA3A
(This part goes on the doors)
Side Sill Protector Online Price - $475.00 Part #: G68E0-1CA3A
(This part goes under doors, is the actual side skirt)
If you are still deciding you can check out the kit here. Use coupon code Estore2019 to save 25% and save on shipping if you pick it up from your dealer. Also, it is worth noting that some dealers have this kit for less such as INFINITI OF MONTCLAIR MONTCLAIR , CA zipcode 91763. If you order from them you would have to pay something in shipping but you can save an average of $50 for each part of the aero kit that you buy.
I did not see any examples of how the sides would look without the actual door under molding that is attached to the doors. Here are a few pictures to provide an idea.
This is the side sill protector without the door under molding.
As you can see the replacement side sill sticks out a little and the chrome strip is wider. As a result of the side sill sticking out some, the replacement door under moldings flares out to create a more flush look with the new side sill.
Here is the difference with the replacement door under moldings, these are also painted gloss black to match the side sills, whereas the original ones where matte black.
Lastly, if you are the risk-taking kind, there are knock-off replicas that I have found here. I question the fitment with the replica because it looks like based on the pictures the actual side sill protector that goes on the doors is not included. I am skeptical how this would work because part of the chrome strip is built into the actual side skirt, and the replica does not seem to have that.
Finally, here are some pictures before and after, with mud flaps, and without. The verdict for me is... I still think it looked fine without the sides, but if you are a perfectionist and want to complete the look, and do not care about mud flaps, then go for the sides (I finally did) and if you do, get both the side sills and the under molding.
Before
In between:
And After
As for next steps, I am going to experiment integrating mud flaps with the aero kit, the OEM ones are no longer compatible, but there are aftermarket ones made by Rally Armor that look like they would work. More to come on that later.
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