I picked up a 1991 Maxima. If I have white face gauges, does that distinguish the SE trim?

 

White gauges are SE (unless somebody swapped clusters). Also, if all the trim around the windows and taillights are black (rather than chrome), it's an SE. SE also has a body colored grille (rather than chrome) and 80's Corvette-esque wheels.

Basically, alot of chrome = GXE. Black trim, etc = SE

Also, isn't it amazing the 3rd gen. doesn't distinguish its trim anywhere at all? I remember when my mom bought her VE auto (back in '95ish), that even the dealer was telling her it was a GXE. We thought it was a GXE for years until I got on here. Of course, then I also decided I wanted a VE 5speed and sold that one.

The guy I bought my latest '92 SE from actually thought it was a GLE, even though the 3rd gen. never came as a GLE trim. I actually semi-argued with him about it, but thought what the heck does it matter if he thinks it's a GLE since I know what it is

 

Thanks...check on all the trim details...looks like an SE.

 

the easiest way I have found to differentiate when talking to a seller is to ask if there are keypads on the door handles. GXE has them and SE does not. I have never seen someone swap them onto an SE.

 

yea the keypads are a sure thing to know if it's an SE.
White faced cluster can also tell you, but it's an easy swap to change, and is a popular mod for GXE owners like myself.

But I usually check the cluster/keypad to know which trim it is. Sadly I only found one SE around here and it was in the JY

 

i was going to swap them into the white car until matt wrecked it

 

 

what? i miss my keypads. i mean my car still has them but my power locks stopped workig 9 months ago so the keypads are useless. i think the SE has *some* of the necessary wiring but not all of it

 

plus there was a RARE higher luxury trim of GXE called BROUGHAM EDITION...it came with digital cluster, adjustable suspension, comfy leather seats (i duno if its true lol), keypads, climate control and with some metallic paint. Everything else was a GXE....it would make a pretty dam gud ride with VE5 swapped in that version and with all those options i think it would make a PREMIUM PACKAGE 3RD GEN

they r also pretty rare to find and i would say if u wanna make 3rd gen ur project car try to find that trim to work on. There might be alot of wiring to handle but if u have all those options with speed then its worth it

 

If your confused about what it is just post a pic and we'll tell you.

 

that version is just too heavy. especially with the sonar suspension itself. just i would just swap the cluster and HUD and call it a day. everything else you really don't need.

 

i've seen one at a JY... i guess someone from canada drove it here and then junked it years later. they look just like a USDM GXE except for the 'brougham' sticker or badge or whatever it was. same wheels, same trim... just better interior and the extra suspension stuff. the USDM 'brougham' was just a GXE with leather and Bose audio, but nowhere on it did it say "brougham"

 

There are other differences in models, too.

One thing I have found is that only SEs came from the factory with a spoiler. If you find a GXE with one, it has been a trunk swap or added on at the dealership or bought aftermarket.

Look for that, since the aftermarket ones (even those added on by the dealers) tend to be the Stillen style and hard, instead of the foam crap.

The SEs also have foglights. GXEs can have them, but the factory GXE fogs are a lot smaller. GXE tails have chrome around them and on the older models, the steering wheel is different (Star Trek look). The only thing is that all the parts are completely interchangeable and after 15-20 years, a lot of parts have been picked up at junkyards. Usually you can just look at the combination of parts and be pretty sure what the car was originally. I think the chrome around the windows is the toughest thing to change, so that would probably be the best clue. I have seen a ton of cars on CL claiming to be SE, GXE or GLE and they have a mismash of parts from both.

 

thats why i said more luxury version of GXE....There r GXEs here too same as USDM version with jus normal cluster and no suspension stuff, normal interior and bose audio....''Brougham''s r rare..i don see them around here much....and i m sure there would be like this in US too jus rare to find...i know theres not really any difference but there is

 

much easier to install an aftermarket one. (yes I am referring to keypads)

 

they aren't too different on the outside iirc. but if the OP has white-face gauges then it's def not a brougham... well unless someone went through the trouble of rewiring it for analog gauges when it came with digital

 

but i love the look of digi speedo tho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHgaSzPcSOQ

 

they're nice eye-candy but i prefer the seamless accuracy of needle gauges to the blocks-lighting-up limited accuracy of the digital stuff. not to mention it's cheaper to replace if it breaks. my fried's 87 300zx has the digital dash in it and the trip computer and temp gauge never light up... everything else does, but every once in a while the whole thing turns off. his auto climate control doesn't work worth crap either (randomly changes mix door settings for no reason and nothing lights up)

but even tho that dash and the keypads and the sonar and HUD were only available on the GXE, i think everyone can agree that the SE is much more aesthetically pleasing in stock form.

 

 

details of yellow-cord project or b&

 

Looks like the exhaust is different too. In looking for a new one, the SE has two outlet pipes, as mine does.

 

that is correct, but alot of cars have had their exhaust replaced within the last 15 years.