u/Inevitable_Divide217

So here's a great update for the Q50 - this is hand-stitched Alcantara and leather with a centerline - takes about 2 hours to tape and tuck and stitch and the kit can be sourced from stitchingcover.com. This covers your existing Q50 steering wheel, so no need to replace, and it feels amazing! They offer other styles and fitment by year. I also did the stainless steel pedals found here Gas Brake Foot Rest Pedals Cover Stainless Steel Three Custom for Infiniti Q50 | eBay, and they had perfect fitment and look and work amazingly. The digital Gauge cluster is from APEX Digital Dash for Infiniti Q50/Q60 (2014-2024) | Digital Cluster Upgrade – squarewheels and it is super cool.

This was a 2019 Luxe... and I suppose still is. Has most everything you'd want in a FBO build. 723whp, 570 wtq u/26lbs on E50, AMS limited slip differential, Z1 bushings, Stage 3 AMS fueling, Z1 VRX-80 Turbos, Spool Injectors, carbon fiber trim bits, ECU and TCU tunes, Mickey Thompson 305s on the back, Forgestar wheels, APEX digital gauge cluster, RSR Coilovers, Akebonos and Redstuff pads, full 3" custom exhaust, built by reputable tuner, with lots of docs and social media.

I just rolled my 2025 BMW M2 at 25 miles per hour. Destroyed it. Walked away with only a couple bumps. Roads aren't racetracks, and at 61 yrs old I should know better, but I tried to beat traffic taking a left turn and the rear end came around. That car had 473whp and 450wtq, BUT IT IS PURPOSELY BUILT AND TUNED AS A RACECAR. It has a much different character than the Q50.

So then I drive the Q50 and it's an executive sedan, not a race car... The steering isn't as tight, and the sense of being in an exotic roller coaster just isn't there. AND I DONT KNOW HOW IT COULD EVER GET THERE, And I realize, FBO Q50s are just not really practical and probably not really worth all the effort. I have more than $60K in the Q50 build all up, but it's just not THAT CAR.

I have driven race cars and exotics on the Charlotte Motor Speedway and on its infield track, and I could never imagine the Q50 fitting in there, but the M2 would fit right in and give them all a run for their money.

The big lesson here with the Q? I used to drive it everywhere before it was tuned, but now this thing mostly sits in the garage. It was such a great comfortable ride as a Luxe, but now it's drivability is compromised. When you press the gas, you can literally hear a sucking sound from the LPFP, and it gurgles when the tank gets down to < 100 miles left. The car is noisy. And the exhaust doesn't drone but can be pretty loud and raspy on acceleration. It's low to the ground so every parking space and speed bump is a hazard. The new Digital Cluster with CarPlay definitely modernizes it, but it still feels a bit dated. I can keep throwing $$$ at it, but it isn't and never will be an M2. These thoughts make me wonder if my midlife crisis is over, lol.

The M2 was incredible as a sports car. It really has it all covered. Lots of lessons from that car on how a build SHOULD be...

So for the Q50, I have a new list of the best mods, and that list focuses on comfort, safety, modernization, and fun. If you view your car as a project, consider these first: 1. APEX Digital Cluster - works well with the factory head unit, looks amazing, and adds CarPlay and themes. 2. Wheels and tires, kinda obvious. 3. The Big Brake Kit upgrade (Akebonos, rotors, pads, lines) 4. Carbon fiber trim bits (front and rear splitter, diffuser, canards, mirror caps, eyelids, grille, exhaust tips) 5. Paddle shifters.

Also for those of you that think they can get a "tune" for cheap? Maybe? But that's not my experience. Each stage, done right is $5-10K counting labor. You will also want supporting components for heat exchanger, cold air intakes, auxillary water pump, blowoff valves, downpipes, exhaust, etc. I tried to shortcut it and ran a JB4 and it cost an engine and turbos replacement (luckily under warranty), so that's risky.

I did wheels and tires for about $2500 sourcing all the parts from Walmart and Amazon. Yes Walmart sells those Forgestars, and yes, Amazon sells Mickey Thompsons and Michelins. You just have to get them mounted and get TPMS installed and programmed. The Gauge cluster is $1300, easy DIY, 20 min swap. I sourced the Akebonos, painted, on Ebay for $600 and did drilled/slotted rotors and pads on Amazon and Stainless steel lines from Z1 and had Mavis Discount Tire install it all, so all up probably about $2000. I bought pretty much all the carbon fiber bits on Ebay. Paddle shifters are a DIY and you need matching steering column trim, but Sport/Paddle makes for a very spirited drive. The paddles require a wiring harness that plugs in behind the gauge cluster and a tap and die set to tap for the lugs.

After all of this, losing $25K in one day on rolling the M2 is a tough one. I do love the Q50 and it's a great project car, but I would advise saving $30-40K on mods and improving the car where it is really practical. To keep it drivable, I'd keep it to 400 or so hp and stock exhaust.

Here's a great and affordable mod