So first off, I have made a few prior posts, but I just wanted to introduce myself. I just got rid of my '96 Max with 207k (could've lasted longer but my wife wanted an automatic), so after a few weeks of research and looking for exactly was color, package, etc. I want we finally picked up our 5.5 gen '02 Maxima just south of Boston a couple days ago. A few pics from the dealership below. Not a TON of mods planned, but really want to get an OEM spoiler installed and tint. I also must change out the tail lights to the older SE I believe they are with the black instead of chrome look. Only question I have is you will see the last two pics are of Maximas that are not mine. The first one looks like the tail lights are SOLID black, but the last pic looks like it is just a film or tint and can still see the inside of the tail light housing behind the black. Can anyone clarify this or tell me what I need for the completely SOLID black housing (with red/clear circle inside). Thanks a lot!!

 

Nice car! The last two pics are of an older 2000-2001 SE. Those stock tails are exactly what you'd be looking for. No tint, or spraying needed. In the second last pic, it looks like the turn signal portion of the light was slightly tinted...but that could just be the angle the picture was taken.

I did this swap when I first got my 2002, and I don't regret it. I think it looks much better.

 

Yeh, I dunno. Just looks like the last picture is not solid black, and even looking at some in the parking lot today I saw some that were not solid black, but semi-transparent. I just don't want to buy them on ebay or something and wind up with the wrong ones.

 

The 00-01 tails are not solid black, but slightly transparent. Maybe it's supposed to look like carbon fiber, I don't know. They still look great, though. I did the swap not long after getting my 5.5 as well.

Looked through my albums, this is the only pic that you could really tell they aren't solid black.

edit: if you want solid black, buy the 00-01 SE tails, then see if you can get a blue batmobile overlay.



and here they look solid black

 

its almost like a CF bronze type feel that they did when they did the SE tails. its not solidblack...thats just what it looks like at certain angles. i didnt know that until i got my own set. you also have an option of tinting your rear tails that you have now, just a thought....

 

Tinting his tails will leave him with the yellow turn signal. Tinting some 00-01 SEs still gives you the red brake and clear turn.

 

Here are the blue bat overlays for it...

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y42...ent=mx5t4b.jpg

 

true story...forgot about that

 

Yeh, I definitely want the red/clear brake/signal combo. I just wasn't aware that those ones weren't solid black, but still looks 10x better. BTW, is that Batmobile overlay the whole tail light or just the signal?

 

As it says clearly in the caption below the picture, you can get the black part of the overlay that only covers the part that is black for $40 and/or you can get the red overlay that covers the turn signal for $15. Personally, I think the red one over the turn signal looks cheesy.

 

i cant see paying $40 for some tint/vinyl that small..i'd just go ahead and get the SE tails

 

I was talking about putting the blue bat overlays over the SE tails to fully black them out. Again, because the turn signals are clear already in the SE tails.

 

yea but i could see putting $40 somewhere else in the car. at the end of the day, its his call i'm not going to knock him

 

True and I agree. I certainly didn't buy the overlays and won't. However, OP seems concerned about getting them fully blacked out instead of just the dark tint on the SE tails, so I suggested that he get the SE tails and add the overlays. For some, the extra $40 is worth it.

 

true

 

Just buy a $5 can of night-shade. I will try to post pictures later. I think it looks good

 

It's hard to get a consistent coat, especially when you don't want to tint over the brake/turn/reverse lights and have to tape it up. Then, considering you do tape it properly and do get a consistent coat, it starts turning brown from sunlight within a year.

 

Yes, I think I may end up doing the overlay eventually for a full "black-out", will start with the tail swap i guess. not a fan of the red signal overlay either.

 

Sparks your lights look real good since you didn't buy from bluebats did you make your own or what did you do to black yours out more....

 

Mine are 100% stock 00-01 SE tail lights.

 

Hopefully ordering tail lights this week, they should bolt/plug right into existing harnesses etc right? My more immediate concern is why I am down to about 1/4 tank of gas and 180 miles on trip since I bought car with full tank. That's around 12 mpg, not good. I was expecting at LEAST 20.

 

Too bad your wife wanted an autotragic... I get 24-25 easily with my 6MT. But I'm guessing that it more than likely wasn't completely full when you bought it. If you had 2 or 3 tanks @ 12 mpg, then I would start to worry.

 

Yes, it is quite tragic but will be a family type DD in a few years, so I guess it's ok. I've only driven a stick since I was 16 (10 years) and I swore I'd never have an auto, but I guess it's ok for now. I'll be saving for a sporty coupe for some day down the road, but trying to stay basic for a while. I've dumped $20k+ in my other cars in the past so I need to settle down for a little while

 

haha. I understand. I am coming to that point in my life, too, as I am finishing my masters degree (and am very close to proposing to my girlfriend). Good thing she is German, and, for her, driving "standard" is, well, standard. Good luck with the family-building

 

I still think it's hilarious that the 5.5 guys want the 5th gen tailights, and all the 5th gen guys want the 5.5 headlights and grill.

I like the 'bronzed snakeskin' effect of the 5th gen SE tails better than smoked personally, lookes higher budget IMO. I don't, however, really like it all that much on my white SE.

Hope you find what you're looking for OP, I'd go with just the SE tails, and if you don't like them after a while, you can always get the overlays down the road for a nice change of pace. This would offset the initial cost too. $40 for a change in tailights is CHEAP down the road.

 

Just to throw it out there, are there different style 5.5 gen headlights? It seems like some have a dark black housing which looks very nice, I have also clear turn signal lenses within the headlights and not sure how this is accomplished. Funny how I laughed at my dad when I was a teenager thinking I would never go for the "practical" type cars, but sure enough it starts to happen. I've had my fun cars (Integra GSR mildly modded, followed by another Integra with JDM front end and highly modified/boosted/etc., followed by a 300zx TT, and finally my last Max and now the current 5.5). The CTS-V coupe really catches my eye right now. Maybe.....

 

All 5.5 headlights start out chrome on the inside with amber turn signals like this:

then you put them in the oven and remove the amber lenses then do this stuff to them:

And you get this:

 

I love that couch Sparks

Very nice work BTW

 

Looks awesome .

B@t

 

Nice car mate!

 

I like the painted headlights.

 

Yes, the headlights look great!

B@t™