ELITEWILL 350z Engine Splash Shield Guard, G35 Under Tray Cover Skid Plate

First Impressions & Build Quality Upon unboxing the ELITEWILL Black Aluminum Front Skid Plate, the immediate impression is its robust construction. Typically, these skid plates are cut from thick-gauge aluminum, which offers an excellent balance of strength and lightweight properties. The black anodized or powder-coated finish is usually consistent and durable, providing both corrosion resistance and a sleek, stealthy look that blends well with the undercarriage. The precision of the cuts and mounting holes is critical for aftermarket parts, and ELITEWILL generally delivers here. The edges should be smooth, and the mounting points accurately aligned, suggesting a straightforward installation. The hardware (bolts, washers) provided should be of good quality, often stainless steel, to prevent rust and ensure secure attachment. Functionality & Protection The primary function of this skid plate is to act as a sacrificial layer between the road and your 350Z's vulnerable front underbody components. Impact Protection: Its most vital role is to protect the oil pan, transmission pan (if it extends that far), front crossmember, and other delicate components from impacts with road debris, potholes, speed bumps, and unexpected inclines. This is particularly crucial for lowered 350Zs, which have significantly reduced ground clearance. Aerodynamic Benefits (Minor): While not its main purpose, a flat, smooth skid plate can offer some minor aerodynamic benefits by creating a flatter underbody, which can contribute to smoother airflow and potentially less drag at higher speeds. However, this is often a secondary benefit for most users. Debris Deflection: It helps deflect road grime, water, and small stones away from sensitive engine bay components, contributing to a cleaner and potentially longer-lasting engine bay. Oil Change Access: Many well-designed skid plates, including the ELITEWILL, will feature a strategically placed cutout or access panel for the oil drain plug, allowing for oil changes without needing to remove the entire plate. This is a significant convenience feature. In practice, the skid plate provides immense peace of mind. The audible scrape of the skid plate, rather than the terrifying crunch of your oil pan, is a welcome sound for any 350Z owner. Installation & Compatibility Installation is generally straightforward for those with basic mechanical knowledge and tools. The ELITEWILL skid plate is designed as a direct bolt-on for the Nissan 350Z, utilizing existing mounting points. Users typically just need to align the plate, attach it with the provided hardware, and ensure all bolts are securely tightened. Some minor adjustments might be necessary, but widespread reports suggest a good fit. Compatibility is specific to the Nissan 350Z chassis, ensuring it contours correctly to the vehicle's unique underbody. Always double-check the specific model year compatibility before purchase. Areas for Improvement While highly effective, a few minor considerations exist: Ground Clearance Impact: While protecting the undercarriage, the skid plate itself will slightly reduce ground clearance at its lowest point. For extremely lowered vehicles, this might mean the skid plate still scrapes on very aggressive obstacles. Weight (Minor): While aluminum is lightweight, adding any additional component adds weight. For performance purists counting every pound, this is a minor consideration, but the protective benefits far outweigh the minimal weight increase for most. Rust on Hardware (If not Stainless): Ensure the included hardware is genuinely stainless steel or adequately coated. Lesser quality bolts can rust over time, making future removal difficult. Oil Filter Access: While most offer oil drain access, not all skid plates provide easy access to the oil filter, potentially requiring full removal for filter changes. Confirm this feature based on product images or descriptions. Conclusion The ELITEWILL Black Aluminum Front Skid Plate for the Nissan 350Z is an indispensable upgrade for owners seeking to protect their valuable investment, particularly those who frequent less-than-perfect roads or have lowered their vehicles. Its robust aluminum construction, effective protection against impacts and debris, and often convenient oil drain access make it a highly functional addition. While it introduces a minor reduction in ground clearance and a slight weight increase, the peace of mind and potential avoidance of costly repairs it provides far outweigh these considerations. For any 350Z owner looking to safeguard their car's underbelly, the ELITEWILL skid plate is a highly recommended and insightful choice.

I bought this splash shield for my son's 2003 Infinity G35. The stock plastic one was pretty rough after 20 years, and this item was inexpensive enough to give it a try. My first impression was that it was a simple stamped aluminum two-piece panel set with a nice bag of hardware and extra clips to replace any that might be missing from the stock shield's mounting locations. I was lucky that all the stock clips were present, so now it's time to install the product. There was NO instructions in the box, which is the only negative thing I could say. But looking at a few of the pictures on the Amazon listing makes it clear how to orient each panel for easy fitment, and once you are under the car, it becomes obvious. So let me help... install the chin panel first, leaving the screws slightly loose so that you can shift it for final fitment, and let the back of the chin hang. Then mount the larger panel, rear screws first (two screws with white washers between cross member and splash shield) and leave slightly loose. Last, push front of rear panel against rear of chin panel and install screws through both panels and into factory mounting holes. It is now basically done.. just shift it around for best alignment and snug all the hardware. THAT'S IT. You're done. It is so easy that even the dumbest, least mechanically inclined, idiot can install this shield in less than 15 minutes. I mean it... 15 minutes. Five stars for simplicity and great initial quality of product and hardware. The hatch for oil changes is nice and big, giving access to the drain plug and filter. Much better than the factory plastic shield. It is very sleek and tucks up flat and smooth under the car. My rating might be amended after it's been installed for awhile, but I believe this shield will work great.

Installed on a 2003 Infinity G35. Absolutely better than the original product. Well designed and manufactured, and a very high quality product.

Really good fitment for 350z, adds stability to front end and helps protect against rocks. Excellent purchase, no regrets 6 months later.

Modifications required for AWD models. Had to modify where the 2 rear bolts mount other than that it fit perfectly. I wish they had another access hole for he oil filter

Queda muy bien en el 350Z

So you're probably looking at this going man I dont want to spend over $250 on the name brands for a under shroud but this thing looks cheap. What the heck is "HEKA"?! Good news is that the shipped version looks very clean and I added photos of what they are currently making. They would probably sell more if they updated it but far beyond me to have someone make more money for such a simple task. Basically this looks great and I prefer this over having some other brand stamped on it. ***Worried about accessing the oil filter, oil pan? Very easy once you open the plate you can easily access both and since the shroud doesn't hang over the wheel well you can reach through that to grab the filter. Sure you might get some oil on the shroud but so did the nissan shroud and that was a small access hole they built into it.*** -I would also encourage you to spray ALL screws with some kind of a lubricant(wd-40,lithium grease, motor oil) because at some point you will have to drop this shroud to replace something on this aging beast and it may save you headaches down the road especially if you're in a climate where salt is an issue. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS: -Install was very easy. There are 2 sections. Attach the curved bumper shroud first, the RECESSED part going into the engine area as I show in my pictures. Then to make things easy on yourself the larger portion has 2 screws on the outer edge permanently fixed to the shroud. Only attach those screws to your frame don't tighten them but screw down just enough so you'll be able to move the shroud but secure enough that it wont bend. Only thing I might prefer is some more vents however OEM didn't really have any so I can't complain and I'm not going to pay $150 more for something that probably wont change performance.

Did not come with all the pieces needed to install. No cut out or door to access oil, no front piece to connect bumper, will not answer phone

Ajusta perfectamente. El material es de buena calidad. Sin duda volvería a comprar.

Definitely alot stronger and easier with this one than the OEM. Definitely recommended !

Shrouds are not black for a start, item description says black, photos are black, listing is black. Item that arived is just straight silver aluminum. Pretty disappointing! Quality isnt bad, alloy is only 2mm thick but they are nice and light as a result. Fitment is a little rough but they do go on nice and easy. No instructions provided but manageable.

Fits well and the guys who installed it for me were very impressed with the quality

Easy install for my car only took a few mins Way better than oem plastic