OK, I couldn't wait so I'll be the first to order. I just ordered the grille from automodzone.com and used their Google checkout. Upper and Lower for only $118.00. I'll let you know when I get it, and post pictures when it is installed.

 

Why not something similar to the grill on the Toyota venza? The Max has great curves and a plain straight grill. Lets give it the attitude it deserves.

 

I think the grill needs to be recessed more to make it more aggressive.

 

OK I received the grill from Auto Mod Zone a week ago and I just installed it today. The box they sent it is was extremely flimsy and looked like it had been beat up. It was packed in bubble wrap so I was really scared that it might have been damaged in shipping. When I took it out of the really cheap box the grill did look just fine, (no thanks to the way they packed it).

I was a bit concerned when I got it as they have a 3 day return policy and I wouldn't get the chance to install it for a week. I read the instructions which were simple, but without any pictures it was a bit difficult to understand what they were talking about. Thank goodness for the manuals at nicoclub for a picture and better explanation. The scary part was where the directions said "Packing and shipping may cause the bar ends to be slightly bent. It might be necessary to slightly bend the bars to achieve the proper shape. fit and contour." After reading this I was really scared and started seing all kinds of bends that did not exist.

Overall installation was not bad but required my daughter's extra set of hands to reach behind the grill and hold a clip as I tightened a screw. Once it was installed it looked good IMO. Got that Auston Martin thing going on I think. However, the more I stared at it the more I thought I saw imperfections as far as the bars being straight. I did use my fingers to pull on a few and they looked fine.

If you step back they look perfect, up close you are second guessing yourself as that many straight bars play tricks on your eyes. At one point I thought they were moving. (Time to walk away and have a beer.)

I have also debadged the car so it is hard to tell what it is unless you look at the emblem on the wheels.

Verdict: Looks good! Not hard install. Poor instructions. Great value at $118. Time will see how they hold up and if my money was well spent. See pictures below and judge for yourself.

 

I think that the grill looks good; not bad for $118 but like you said got to see how it is going to hold up though. I am going to hold off until I see some longer term results from it.

 

nice, and welcome to the bareass club

 

My vote would be for a polished gunmetal honeycomb grill with a chrome border.

 

This would be nice for anyone who wants to black out their car.

 

Like this one only deeper inset grill for both grills.

 

Not bad at all for $180! Good frugal find Bob. I kinda wish I had seen your post earlier. I just today purchased a black powder coated set of T-Rex billet grilles for my car. There was a 4th of July sale so I got 10% off with free shipping and I checked out with my google account so they took off an additional $20 dollars but you still beat me with $180. If it wasnt for the extra cash for the Powder coating it would have been close to $180 though. Good deal find though.

 

Don't want to make you feel bad but it was only $118 not $180.
So far so good. I notice that it looks different depending on which angle I look at it from and the light direction. The big test will be when I take it to a car wash for the first time. The online specs say the same thing as the T-Rex, but since I have never held them both side by side, I have no way to compare the two. As far as it being inserted far enough, It actually looks deeper in person than it does in the pictures. The upper grill requires that you remove the OEM grill, but the lower one just fits over what is already there and is held in with "J" clips that grab the inside of the opening and are tightened down to keep the lower grill in place.

 

wow. I feel even better now. Thanks. I cant believe it is only $118 though. Great find.

CAR WASH??? NO!!!!!

 

My buddy works for the E&G warehouse in NJ and wants me to put on the new black ice heavy mesh grill on my white 2010 max.he says he can get me all 4 pieces for dirt cheap as long as its E&G.
For those who have the E&G balck ice grilles how do they look in person?and do you have the 4 piece kit?any pro's and cons about the install or qaulity?and lastly how much did you pay? besides helping me i am sure this will help others who read this thread and keep down asking the same questions over again.

 

How much is dirt cheap, I can demo it for them.

 

Hey newb, if you can get it for dirt cheap then why would you care how much somebody else paid?

 

so I can know how much of a difference I can get it for vs what others are paying.People always say they got the hook up but its not always the best deal like they brag about.When he opens monday I will get the price and report back and then you tell me if it was dirt cheap or not?

 

$380 here with "Lowest price guaranteed"
http://www.carid.com/2009-nissan-max...lle-73025.html

$423 Here
http://www.shopsar.com/nissan-maxima...83-b104-09.htm

$380 on Ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/E-G-C...Q5fAccessories

 

I don't know, but 30-40K verses 200K?
This is another good argument for debadging the Maxima with a billet grill. I like when people ask me "What kind of car is that?"

 

Ha, you should put on a hood ornament on your car and see what people think then.

 

this made me laugh out loud haha come on its still a max, the the aston martin is gorgeous

 

Come one Antny don't knock him. Of course the Aston Martin's a better looking car. Nykbob didnt say his car was as nice as the Aston. What he was implying was for the difference in money, 30-40k compaired to 200k the maxima offers a hell of a lot of style. The two cars are not the same but the resemblance is a lot closer than the price is. Great value and sharp looks.

 

ok,maybe its not dirt cheap but he called me and said if i pick it up in south nj at warehouse its $400 cash for all 4 pieces in black ice.
guess its just a fair price then?He said he gives them to dealers at $435 so he's hooking me up?

 

i got mine from carid.com and i paid less than 380 cuz the sales guy used his employee discount..

 

Good deal cuz the extra 2 covers are 75 bucks

 

exactly and my HID for my headlight and fog light i got from them too with employee discount

 

Damn,you got all 4 pieces for$ 380? That's a good deal.

 

yea i did. this was like 6months ago
you just need to look at the right place

 

I like the original grill but the lower openings look "unfinished".

After applying some chrome trim to the nearly invisible black horizontal blades the front end now seems more complete.

 

WOW that looks so much nicer!!
How, where and cost?

Thanks in advance!

 

Thanks,

Right now it is just a temporary chrome tape applied over the leading edge of the existing black bar. I wanted an inexpensive and easily reversible method to evaluate the appearance.

I'd like to try a more permanent solution but haven't found a better method yet. The ideal solution would be a much larger version of those flexible chrome door edge strips that would fit the bar.

Anybody know of a product that would do the job?

 

Yea thumbs up too.. Get er done!

 

Yesterday after you posted I researched online about a similar product and came the conclusion eithern autozone or Advance auto parts might have it. I'll make a quick visit there today and let you guys know!

 

Okay...
I just got back from the local Pep Boys auto parts store and found a pretty good solution. For $14 they have a product called Cowles Custom Chrome Molding. This comes in several widths, but the 1/2" size is perfect. It comes in an 18' roll. Here it is online: http://www.jcwhitney.com/universal-c...41&zmap=686525

It is very smooth flexible vinyl with a very shiny chrome finish. It is about as thick as a DVD which means it will not crease like the tape did. It has a peel-off tape backing using 3M automotive adhesive just like that holding our Nissan emblem on, so it should last a good long time.

The only bad thing about it is that the tape is designed for a fairly flat surface and the leading edge of the black bar is a half-round shape. While the tape will bend at the ends to follow the curves along the length of the bar, it is not flexible enough to bend and conform to the half-round face.

By carefully cleaning that face with alcohol to remove the Armor-All I had on it, this tape may be strong enough to hold. The directions caution not to run it thru a car wash until the adhesive fully cures in 3 days.

If anyone finds a more appropriate solution or if you get tired of the appearance, it should be possible to remove this molding just as easily as we can debadge our emblems.

Please be sure to post other product solutions.

 

@EmeryH, I just went to AutoZone and found the exact item that you described (others see picture below for reference).



I agree with your comments about it's quality and usability. I found it very easy to work with, and 90% of the time I applied it by feel (fingers over the black plastic lined with the chrome trim) rather than direct eye contact.

My before and after pictures:

Before:




and after





Thanks again EmeryH for the great idea!

 

^^^
This is going to be my solution as well. It is a great idea for us leasers. Nice and elegant. Hopefully I will get to autozone tomorrow.

 

^ that looks so nice and classy.^ nice job!

 

You're welcome - I'm glad to have contributed something useful here.

Your pictures are very good. I finally had a chance to take some pictures as well. If several others decide to try this we might be able to determine which color benefits most from the extra chrome. I think it looks better on yours!





Here are a few closeups that show the tighter curves. I found it best to pre-bend the strips and install as tight as possible to the very ends of the black bars. That way the adjacent trim helps lock the end of the chrome strip so it can't spring back to its former shape.





I was considering installing a similar 3/4" wide chrome strip as a border around the lower wide opening. It may be a bit too much though.

 

I so need to do this, looks great!

 

for those that installed the silver trim on there: do you think the trim would fit over the silver bars on the upper grille? ... as in black trim to cover the stock chrome bars

 

If Cowles makes a similar product in black it would do what you ask, but it may be a little thicker than you would prefer - making it appear added on.

On the other hand thin black tape might show wrinkles at each end of the bars where they bend inward. The best tape would be something about as thick as a credit card, but flexible. Heavy electrical tape might be a good solution.

In any case about $20 worth of tape is all you'll need so if you don't like it not much $ is lost and it can easily be removed. Please post your results since there are likely many who would like to black out their grille inexpensively and reversibly.