When I was looking at them today, I looked at an SE and for some reason was reminded of MrBurner. He mentioned about the "bars" behind to grill possibly for extra body integrity. The SE was parked next to 2 AE's and a GLE. Only the SE has this. None of the AE's or GLE's have this. Could the bars be there for another reason since its not on the AE?

Isn't the AE an SE anniverary edition? I would think the AE has everything the SE does. From the first time I noticed the bars (actually the lack of them on a GXE) I took it as they served as a form of chassis stiffening, much the like FSTB. Now that you say the AE doesn't have them I don't know?

Don't know what they do but look at Russ2kse pics and he doesn't have them on his 01 SE, and neither do I. Probably another cost cutting measure (like the fuel fill line cover) these dic%$eads at Nissan decided to implement.

Anyone out there with 01 se have those bars right behind the grill??

I don't have em?! Oh man no wonder why there is so much flex on the car now, what else did they remove...geez.

i know I am gonna order some from Dave and install them...ugg..

If you do order them let me know if they have any impact...if so then I think I'm going to order them too!

This what Dave just e-mailed me about those bars.

Hey- Those little bars are stiffeners for the core support, the parts catalog says they are SE only. I too have noticed that 2001s don't seem to have them. My car is a very late 2000 SE, 06/00, it does have them.
I guess it's another 2001 mystery!
Regards, David Burnette

WTF is up with Nissan?????? What next, no spare, or maybe just three tires! Like Russ said what else have they left off!

that's really odd...can't believe they're not included on the 2001's...? Are these the kind of ideas Renault is coming up with to save money???

I noticed a new 2001 SE in my work parking lot without the braces.

So to summarize the changes to a 2001:

1) No Federal emissions, only Cali Spec
2) New mirror
3) New steering wheel controls
4) No air baffle/silencer
5) Different TCM for autos
6) No front braces

and don't forget no fuel filler line cover.

we were discussing this at the sf meet on sunday also. we, er at least i, suspect that nissan decided those support bars were not necessary, so they stopped puttin them in to cut cost.

Are the bars present on a 2001 SE or a 2001 AE SE? These are two different models (in theory), if I am not mistaken.

Just took my car into the dealer. Walked around the lot - no 01 AE or SE, has them. The one 00Se on the lot did.

I just peeked at through the grill on my 2000 SE and saw the mysterious support bars everyone is talking about. Not sure whether they really help handling though. Just think of the weight advantage you 2001 owners have over is 2000 owners