First I want to say that I did a search but all I found was recommendations of companies and pictures. But no one gave an opinion on flat vs. molded. I spoke with three different vendors concerning dash kits for a 01 Auto Maxima. They all told me that the flat dash kit looks and fits better. I want the opinion of those who actually bought/installed these kits. I thought a molded kit would be better. Thanks.

 

More expensive flat dash kits like the one i have uses real wood in the kit. For this reason alone it is the better of the two choices. The molded kit use plastic which looks like wood. It doesn't look real. Also, a flat kit comes with alot more pieces (mine has 41) as opposed to like 9 peices in a molded kit. I would get the flat because it uses real wood, you don't have to take your dash appart, and it has more pieces.

 

As far as molded goes, you still don't have to take apart anything. The pieces basically just goes over the part you have it for. The molded one's have a more "flushed" look to it and covers the entire area the piece was made for.

In the end it's all about preference.

 

i'm not quite sure what you mean by "not take apart anything"? If you want to add a molded wood kit like the one in the center console of the 2k2 GLE you would have to remove the original gray console and add the fake wood one. and as far as the door which have the fake wood you would have to remove the original gray housing where all the buttons for the window controls are and replace it with the fake one one. So there is things that have to be taken apart to put a molded kit in. The flat one just sticks on top of your existing dash. Yes, it doen't cover the entire piece (meaning like the top of the center console). I can see how this might bother some people but to mean i can put up with that in order to have "REAL WOOD". that is the most important to me. Personal preference.

 

No you don't remove anything for molded dash. They stick on top of the dash, just like the flat, they are just contoured to fit the dash.

Not all flat kits are real wood, so if it matters to you, be careful.

If you are not doing wood (say carbon fiber or brushed aluminum) and/or don't care whether it's real or not, then I recommend molded cuz it fits better.

 

i've got an aluminum molded kit from discount dash, and it's been one year and no problems. I picked the molded kit because to me it looks more factory...not something that is obviously a dash kit. Many people have asked if it is from Nissan, and are surprised when I tell them it's aftermarket. Molded kits are more expensive, and you definitely do not get 20 or so pieces as in flat kits. But The overall fit and finish is excellent. Just my opinion, go with the molded.

 

Does anyone know where/someone here that will sell just the following for the brushed aluminum kit:

center vent
left vent
upper left vent
right vent
upper right vent
clock

turbo dreams
woosh

 

I think when it comes to wood kits "less is more". Putting 40 pieces all around the car would only make it look tacky like an old Jaguar. If you look at interiors of luxury cars (BMW, Merc, etc) you won't find a lot of wood, only wood accents or what's called tasteful understatement. For example, how many cars have you seen that have factory wood on the dash vents? Why would you want to draw attention with the wood "rings" to the vents? No focal point of interest, is there? I can go and on but I hope you get the drift.

 

my bad, i always thought molded kits required you to remove factory dash and reinstall the molded one. Learn something new everyday. Anyhow, I would still get the flat like mine because it has real wood. That is the major reason i got it.

 

I have the molded aluminum kit from Auto Dash (didn't I just write this is another thread) and I like it a lot better than the flat kits. It's only 9 pieces but that's plenty for me.

Mike

 

well said.

 

I agree. There is such a thing as overdoing it. Not to offend anybody, but I think 20-30 pieces is plenty.

Regardless of whether it's real wood or synthetic, I think molded looks much better. The fit looks OEM. As far as I know, Woodview is the only one that makes a molded kit for my 02. So I think I will be getting their 15 piece kit.

 

I've got the molded brushed aluminum kit and i'm very pleased with the way it looks stock.

 

Real wood kits do fade over time. Particularly if your car spends a lot of time in the sun. Synthetic wood, carbon fiber, brushed aluminum do not.

Some people order molded and flat to get the pieces that are not available with the molded kits. The Dash Factory, through their distributors, will sell individual pieces so you don't have to buy a complete flat kit.

With any kit you order you don't have to use all the pieces. For example the pieces around the vents. If you don't like them then simply don't install them.

 

Okay everybody is beating around the bush in this tread and that is great. However there are draw-backs to aftermarket kits period. I have had Molded and Flat dash kits, so I am speaking from my own experience with both.

Flat dashkits: the plus with the flat is there are a lot of pieces and they offer real materials I had Joshua tree's real aluminum dashkit on my Altima.

Flat dashkits: Draw backs they just look tacky they are flat and just stuck on top of a original panel and that is what they look like add-on. There are too many pieces to cover contured areas. If you sell your car it's more difficult to make a sell with thte flat kit because they are not to everybodies taste especially when you go to trade your car in to the dealer they take off more for the trade.

Molded dashkits: The plus they look more clean and can pass as factory. There are less pieces and the they are contured so that one piece can take the place of several flat pieces.

Drawbacks: They are as mentioned plastic. The wood toned ones look even more like plastic.

Basically I would do a combination of the two molded kit for the doors and center stack. Flat dashkit for the bottom portions of the doors, about the glove box, the center councel cup holder lid and rear cup holders.

 

Totally. Before I got the 2k2, I was looking at 4th gen Maximas. It was tough to find one with everything I wanted (like manual). Eventually I found one, but it had a nasty wood kit on it. Totally turned me off. It was on there for a long time, so I didn't wanna mess with taking it off. I'm sure that salesman will be rethinking trade-ins with dash kits...

 

There is a sale going on now at www.autoaccessorystore.com. They offer $40 off their price for any wood / aluminum dash trim kits.
Free wood samples also available.

Link to the dash trims:

http://www.autoaccessorystore.com/h...id=136&wizard=1

 

got any pics???


p.s. -- also check out www.edashkit.com (i think thats the website)

 

anybody have Autoaccerssories Carbon Fiber Dash Kit? i want it and 135-40 = $95 is a pretty good price...but i dunno how it looks or quality...anybody? and what about edashkit.com...itslike $135 for theirs so iguess its worth paying 40 more for better quality and stuff...anybody got opinions?
atw

 

anybody? short answer of 'no' or 'yes' and a quik reason will do
atw

 

The price is very cheap for these dash kits, but does it look OEM like the ones mentioned before? Also are the kits flat or molded?

 

You can order some samples from their Available styles page:
http://www.autoaccessorystore.com/home.asp?dir=styles

There is a link to order samples.

All dash kits are flat.
The Carbon Fiber is synthetic material. It looks cheaper than real carbon fiber, but real carbon fiber will cost $100+ more.

Link to how carbon fiber looks like on Ford Expedition:
http://www.autoaccessorystore.com/ho...alled&car=Ford

 

interesting support of understatement considering your sig pic. j/k

 

does anyone sell quality sheets instead of kits? like the window tinting? i'd like to know cuz i'm wondering if i can put something over the dash kit for an aftermarket stereo.
plus i'd have the flexibility of putting it anywhere i wanted and making sure i have full coverage by wrapping it under the edges of pieces (which also eliminates pealing).

i don't know what kind of quality these things would be tho.

if anything, i'd be looking for black carbon fiber or the black burlwood.

 

actually, i just found this. link .

 

Are the molded or flat kits easy or difficult to take off? How are they attached to the interior pieces, are they attached with double sided tape?

 

I actually have the flat 41 piece carbon fiber kit with black leather interior. It covers mostly everything except around the door locks and window buttons and some other edges here and there. I think in the end the molded kits would look better because they do cover everything but the carbon fiber blends in well with the black inside so its somewhat subtle for having 41 pieces. The wood might be somewhat over kill, but then again , its all about preference.

 

Check out mine on page 2 of my website. Got it from cusommaxima. It's flat with 3M tape. No complaints, lotsa compliments.

 

Does anyone have info about matching/complementary woodtone kits to add to a stock (Canadian) 2K2 GLE?

 

Like Perrymax said, I would do a combination of both. Check out my kit.

http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...=218481&page=7

 

Flat Kits have 3M double side tape on the inside, it's used in conjunction with the promoter to stick to the dashboard. You can rip it off later, with a medium effort, but it will leave stains from the promoter. You will have to use a special cleanser to take those stains off. (usually it works, but I would say - once you install it, don't take it out, and if you do, replace it with a different kit)

 

Figured I'd drop in my $0.02 since I just installed a flat kit.

I went with simulated Brushed Aluminum and I like how it turned out. I guess it depends on your dash. The flat kits work great if you have a reletivly flat dash or very gental, large curves. Sharp curves and angles it can't handle. Heating the kits with a heat gun or blow dryer helps them become more flexable to work with. Use a molded kit if you think the areas the kit will be stuck have allot of harsh curves (usually not the case).

Here are a couple of shots of mine:
Close up
Wide Angle
Front Door
Rear Door

One word of caution which may or may not be a problem (not sure how the buttons work on the Maximas)

If you have buttons that push/tilt down rather then push in, be careful when installing the kits that you don't have them too snug against the buttom of the buttons. You loose some clearance and the button won't push down quite right. Not a big problem... just just have to hit it harder

-Dan