I scored a black armrest from a part out because I thought it might look good to replace my tan with black. I have of course a tan and beige interior but a lot of black accents (gauge surround, radio, climate control, steering wheel, rubber all weather floor mats, shifter boot and eventually a black leather emergency brake boot). As I was taking them apart I noticed I can even interchange the push button too. Sorry for the dark pics but it is night time and I working on it now, that is also why I included a day time shot of the entire interior so you know what I'm working with. Thanks in advance and look forward to your opinions.










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Please press enter after each IMG so the screen isn't so wide.
And I vote leave it tan, if you did the whole console black would look GREAT but just the lid looks out of place.
And I vote leave it tan, if you did the whole console black would look GREAT but just the lid looks out of place.
That's weird, my screen shows pictures as only two wide.
The whole console being black is a good idea except there is no way to tie it into the dash without an abrupt color change.
The whole console being black is a good idea except there is no way to tie it into the dash without an abrupt color change.
I also think having a black e-brake boot may help tie in the black armrest to the shifter area. I am leaning toward black armrest with tan button.
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for what you have the the tan armrest with black button looks best. If you want the black armrest put it on(its your car so if you can live with it do it). also if you go with the black armrest w/tan button I would agree with the black ebrake boot. you would still need a few more accents to help it though, like the get a black cupholder swivel cover and where your heated seat buttons would be make them black. but the your dash may look weird. Its up to you dude
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I like your ideas. The bottons where the seat heater switches go and the cupholder lid being black my look good, but like you said only if the armrest itself stays tan.Originally Posted by BigLou55
for what you have the the tan armrest with black button looks best. If you want the black armrest put it on(its your car so if you can live with it do it). also if you go with the black armrest w/tan button I would agree with the black ebrake boot. you would still need a few more accents to help it though, like the get a black cupholder swivel cover and where your heated seat buttons would be make them black. but the your dash may look weird. Its up to you dude
Senior Member
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The whole console being black is a good idea except there is no way to tie it into the dash without an abrupt color change.
5 pics wide on my comp. Dunno.Originally Posted by 02whitemaximase
That's weird, my screen shows pictures as only two wide. The whole console being black is a good idea except there is no way to tie it into the dash without an abrupt color change.
And yes you're right doing just the center wouldn't really work. If I have to vote I say leave it tan, or put the black button on the tan lid. Doing any more with the ebrake, etc will break it up too much, no flow to it. IMO
Well damn I just stumbled upon this. At least I get an idea what the the e-brake boot would look like. Now you guys have me thinking about a matching tan leather e-brake boot.






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The ebrake-boot from Redline is worth about what you pay for it. (I have one.) However, the fitment is far from perfect, and the leather could be a little more supple, like the shift-boot. It's really not a match... I wish I had tried to match the leather.
Know that you're going to have to contend with that little rubber sleeve in the e-brake opening on the center console. That piece of rubber doesn't hold it's shape over the years, and is even more compromised by fitting a thick leather boot in the mix.
Also, it would look a lot better IMO if the ebrake handle were also black. Having that Frost colored handle extend for a few inches beyond the boot is awkward looking.
Don't get me wrong, I'd rather have it than not. But I also have some small regrets that I didn't go all the way to address the little design considerations. I'm lazy sometimes. Here's a pic of my car after putting the ebrake boot in:

To address your original question, I think a black box lid is going to look wrong in a Frost interior.
Know that you're going to have to contend with that little rubber sleeve in the e-brake opening on the center console. That piece of rubber doesn't hold it's shape over the years, and is even more compromised by fitting a thick leather boot in the mix.
Also, it would look a lot better IMO if the ebrake handle were also black. Having that Frost colored handle extend for a few inches beyond the boot is awkward looking.
Don't get me wrong, I'd rather have it than not. But I also have some small regrets that I didn't go all the way to address the little design considerations. I'm lazy sometimes. Here's a pic of my car after putting the ebrake boot in:
To address your original question, I think a black box lid is going to look wrong in a Frost interior.
Thanks for the pic Rochester. I am trying the black with tan button and am going to post a picture of it in about an hour. I have the beige interior not frost (if that even makes a difference in your opinion).
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Blond Leather.... I see that now. That's even more contrast than Frost.Originally Posted by 02whitemaximase
Thanks for the pic Rochester. I am trying the black with tan button and am going to post a picture of it in about an hour. I have the beige interior not frost (if that even makes a difference in your opinion).
Welp, I'm in for the pictures when they come. GL
Senior Member
I don't like the looks of the black e-brake boot with the tan handle. And if you go to a tan e-brake boot, The black shifter boot probably would look strange by itself.
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Is that a black armrest that you swapped the release handle on? Or is that a newly wrapped armrest?
Either way, it's interesting, and little changes are always good.
Nice.
Either way, it's interesting, and little changes are always good.
Nice.
That is a black armrest I got from a part out that I just installed my tan switch into. I am liking the little changes too. Thanks.
Senior Member
For some reason, the blond release switch makes it work for me. I think that by integrating the color of the rest of the trim into the black leather, you made it belong.
Pretty darn clever.
Pretty darn clever.
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Pretty darn clever.
Thank you sir. I wish I had some heated seat to fill those blank switch spots or maybe I should get the rear I35 sun shade.....hmmmm.Originally Posted by Rochester
For some reason, the blond release switch makes it work for me. I think that by integrating the color of the rest of the trim into the black leather, you made it belong.Pretty darn clever.
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I've seen the I35 rear shade installed in a Maxima before. It's pretty slick. Not sure exactly how useful it is, but it's cool nonetheless.
I also see you're using the OEM black all-weather mats. Very nice. I've been doing the same for a number of years now. The black in the footwell really compliments the black dash trim and black leather steering wheel on the SE model.
I also see you're using the OEM black all-weather mats. Very nice. I've been doing the same for a number of years now. The black in the footwell really compliments the black dash trim and black leather steering wheel on the SE model.
It is because of you that I ordered those mats. I am very lucky that a seller posted a bunch of them on ebay a couple of months ago. I have been pushing people to buy them ASAP since they have been out of production for some time now. I am half tempted to order another set just in case. They were only $50 shipped after all.
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That's pretty cool. Thanks.Originally Posted by 02whitemaximase
It is because of you that I ordered those mats.
You should check out the drop in led thread. I know you were on the fence about getting the warm or cool white leds for your cluster. You may be interested in my combination of the two colors.
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+1 I would have just left it alone, I think your interior looked nice as is. It makes me a little bummed I have cloth interior, the leather looks nice!Originally Posted by luvlexus101
Not a fan. But great as long as you like it.
Senior Member
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And I vote leave it tan, if you did the whole console black would look GREAT but just the lid looks out of place.
Are you using like a 15" monitor? My 16.3" doesn't make the page wide with huge pics. Originally Posted by TunerMaxima3000
Please press enter after each IMG so the screen isn't so wide.And I vote leave it tan, if you did the whole console black would look GREAT but just the lid looks out of place.
OP, I'd recommend painting the console latch black. The brown latch on the black armrest looks goofy. My buddies 4th gen is 50/50 tan black. did the Dash Black and door panels black with tan accents. Looks great.
Senior Member
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Laptop. So probably, I don't actually know the size, but it's not a small screen really so I'm sure I"m not the only one dealing with it. Home computers aren't very common anymore.Originally Posted by infinimax96
Are you using like a 15" monitor? My 16.3" doesn't make the page wide with huge pics.
Anyways, to the OP. If you want to change the colour I realize this isn't something you have 'in hand', but I'd be much more anxious to try this colour on the armrest rather than the black, which just clashes too much.


