Project 300ZX [9] - Instrument Cluster

There were a couple of plastic pieces missing in the center instrument cluster. Basically two screw covers and a plastic trim piece that goes horizontally across the dash and covers a couple more screws.

As it turns out, if you need those parts you can only get them as OEM parts, that is, as original Nissan parts from a dealer (unlike larger items like the hood, steering wheel leather cover, shift knob, etc. that can be found in aftermarket distributors).

As you would expect, you pay a significant premium for these parts (hell, I haven't done a realistic estimation but I'm sure buying a full car part by part would be way more expensive than getting a new Ferrari... and that's for any brand, not just Nissan).

Well I bit the bullet and shelled out $43 for this:

Everything is nicely packed and labeled individually, but they're still just a couple of freakin' plastic pieces!

The two screw covers in the next picture are $8.40 each.


And this other trim piece was $15.65:





And on top of the overpriced parts, shipping was over $10, for something that must have weighed less than 200g.

Anyway, so this is the car before...


And this is how it looks after the parts have been installed:


See the difference?

At least it was as easy as it looks, just snap them into place. Although I kind of understand why they were not present; it's pretty easy to break them if you don't know how they're attached, especially the big piece since those metal clips snap really hard. I sure as hell will be very careful when I need to take them out! (which I'm pretty sure I will need at some point).

You could say it's a very small change, but it happens that way... once you notice the missing parts, it's always there in your mind... you can't help but look right into those ugly holes. Which I don't have to do anymore. Phew!

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