So I just put a bid down...but what do you guys think? Is there a certain brand name? Worth it? I live in Rhode Island so should I not drive with it durin the winter (heard it might crack)?

 

they are fine during the winter. they don't crack.

 

Usually it goes: Research > Purchase. But

 

go haead with it

 

hahahaha

 

Guys! I need your word on this one. Bought a Carbon Fiber OEM hood from ebay...http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=280277847231.... They told me its 3k 2x2 twill CF and it does look pretty legit! Best part is...all of the CF hoods I came across were at least $500 and shipping wasn't including whereas I got this for $340 including shipping (something about a liquidation sale?). So my question to you guys...Was it worth it?

 

Honestly, it's your car. Wether it was worth it or not, you already bought it. If you didn't feel like it was worth it, you wouldn't have bought the hood. Who cares what others think. Do what makes you happy. It's your money, not ours.

 

that sounds kool man, i mean the price break, i really dont no much bout carbon fiber lol, but gotta love savin money where u can, good luck with man

 

install now and be happy.

 

just make sure it has a good hood pins. I didn't use any on mine and the stock hood lock broke loose and the hood flew off broke windshield and sunroof.

 

I wouldn't buy a CF hood in an auction with blurry *** cell phone pictures, but that's just me. Actually I wouldn't buy another CF hood again unless I had seen the fitment of that company's CF hoods first hand, either.

 

+1
My fitment is umm...

 

just make sure you get it clear coated before install because if its not VIS then its gonna fade and all

 

Ive seen VIS hoods fade as well, so Id get it cleared no matter what. Ive had three CF hoods now, my first two all began losing there clear coating at around 1.5-2years.
My third hood, (VIS) I opted to pay the extra money and had a shop shoot two layers of clear on it.
I must say though, the quality of the VIS hood over the other two I had is much better. The underside is completly sealed up and not so thin and flimsy like my other two hoods were.

 

Ive had my hood for 2+ years and its in great shape minus a crack from road debris. No fading what so ever, but i do wax it at least 3-5 per month.

 

^^only a good deal if you know a good shop that will clear coat it.
and I'm pretty sure there is no gel coat on those hoods either, I looked into them, I just got a CF hood as well (not from them)

Crossing my fingers on that purchase.....

 

new england weather is usually pretty rough

 

a good clear coat will help..and make sure you do secure it well....the aftermarket CF hoods that use the stock front hinge/holddown ususally don't hold up...hoodpins are a very good idea..and make sure the hood is aligned as best as you can..seen lots that didn't fit right and got pulled up by the wind at speed...

 

the heat in fla messes them up bad

 

it's fine. personally i'd use the stock hood in the winter only because the chance of getting into a small fender bender is 10x high for 3 months or so...least that's my logic. and you can fix it once it gets damaged unless you paint it...

 

Hey I couldnt help but notice redundant threads created about CF hoods.
http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...some-help.html

 

Man I see a lot of comments in here that have never manifested themselves in any of the CF hoods I've owned. I've never had clearcoat fade, never had them "messed up by heat" and never had my stock front hood latch fail (no pins for me) even at some really, really high speeds.

 

l33t.jpg

 

Same here. But I wasn't going to chance the hood latch. Not to mention the sides tend to flop in the wind like its catching air if the pins aren't secured.

lets see pics of your car that thang is clean mayn.

 

Yeah very scary.A tech stoped me once, he told me he saw it "flexing" as I went down the track...

 

Both of my hoods did it, an older Redline hood and an Import fan hood. My buddy Dubbyas Crabon EFX hood lost its clearcoating as well. Not to mention i see tons of cars drivng around other then maximas that have lost their clear coat as well.
I havent experienced issues with the hood latch, but I do recall that Ceasar had his break and if my memory is correct, Sadler said he had his break away while driving on the highway.

**Edit**, found one post where he mentions it..
http://forums.maxima.org/2197708-post6.html

 

I like it

 

The OP obiously just wanted an excuse to start a thread.
But while we're on the topic, I hadn't seen these before thought it was pretty cool.
--->>> http://www.deftracing.com/aerocatch_hood_pins/index.htm

 

Weird. How long did it take yours to start fading? I had my Fiber Images hood for 2 years before I hit a deer and ended up throwing it away. My current CF hood I got used, but I've had it for 2 years now, I don't know how long it was used by the previous owner.

That's crazy. I wonder what brand they were.

 

I have, I like them. I'm going to get some when I've got money to blow on them. That's likely to be never but..they look sleek.

 

Theres some members who have them installed. They are nicer looking then the regular hood pins, but at there price I havent been interested in buying them.

 

Post up a pic if you get a chance, I'm curious what they'll look like on the maxima (placement, etc.)

And how is the install?

I'm likely going to try my OEM latch when I get my hood and see what it's like, I don't do too much high speed driving.
If I notice it bouncing around I'll likely be installing something along the lines of the flush mount, I don't like hood pins, especially on the max.

 

http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...d-latches.html

 

well i would have got something a lil different style than jus the oem replacement. but that's me, next year i'm getting a CF hood and trunk lid. mine is rusting bad, but that's the only thing on my car that has rust on it. and the trunk lid is rusting jus cuz the spoiler started to *** off. so when i get the trunk lid i'm not putting a spoiler on. but hey good luck

 

Good luck finding a CF hood that is other then the OEM style.
I have never seen one that wasnt OEM style for the 4th gen. Sarona makes FG hoods that are different styled, but no CF hoods.

 

sand down the hood then get it clear coated so now it wont fade on ur riced out hood

 

Flava, i've seen a couple, but then again u might be right, they might be FG. but they looked great! dam, i don't like my hood style. i jus wanted a few vents on it, or something like an evo style. oh well.

 

Yeah Ive seen vented FG hoods for the A32, but I have never seen them made in CF. I had been looking for one for a while, i wanted something with vents to reduce the underhood temps a bit, I even contacted Carbon EFX a while back about making one and they told me they could custom make me one but it would cost close to 1k without shipping,.. I said F that. Not worth it to me.

 

Flava, dam screw that! that's alot! it would be nice, but a G for a hood! can u get a better deal if we can get some people to go in on a couple? cuz i'd want one for sure! i'll have the money buy march, xmas is gona kill me this year! lol ur maxi looks tight man. that's kinda what i want, suttle yet not OEM. lol hit me back on that hood idea!

 

yeah flava's car is real subtle......lol