Tommy6905

I used vinyl for the door handles and the trunk, first time ever using it. Pretty easy to form and work with. On the emblem I used plasti dip with a glossifier. I'm actually in love with the rear end how it came out

Tommy6905

And you can, what I did was order a few samples from Amazon like a $1 each, decided on the closest Match and ordered the material. Just Did a quick search on there and saw gloss gunmetal, also taking off the door handles and trunk piece is simple and the small parts are good practice

Tommy6905

ID love to see how that turns out, not many people are familiar with that process. Correct me if I'm wrong, it's a vinyl that's applied alittle differently? And is still reversible? Sorry I know only a little about the process

BIGIRISHSTL

Good stuff tommy and snapper. I'll look. Taking door handles off is not tedious?

Dudemaine

iTrader: (1)

Curious about this, too. I've read write-ups that are very vague with respect to taking the door handles completely off of the car and then others try to follow the steps in the write-up unsuccessfully.

Is there a definitive thread or set of instructions to take the handles off that anyone knows of? I'd love to wrap the handles.

Tommy, as for your trunk strip there, is the underneath part wrapped as well, or is that still chrome? I know it may be tougher because of the slots for the license plate lights...

Tommy6905

Yes it's completely wrapped with holes cut out for the light and trunk button. I'll snap a pic of that tomorrow. As far as the handles, I followed others instructions before and got very frustrated I couldn't get the handles off.

Here's the deal with the handles, open the doors and you'll see a rubber grommet in line with the door handles. Take that off and you'll see a torx screw, not sure of the size I used a flat head that fit in there snug. Grab onto the small part of the handle and start loosening the screw, don't worry the screw will not come out....now here's the key you'll feel the small part start to come loose but probably won't come right out as expected....don't get frustrated....just keep loosening it, don't stop pulling on it, it'll eventually come loose and pull out. Once you get the small part of the handle off, you'll grab the handle and slide towards the back of the car, then pull towards your body, the rear doors will come right out no problem. The front doors require the same step except removing the Philips screw holding the handle to chrome part, then you'll use a flat head or any type of tool you use to pry the chrome from the handle itself. The small part of the handle on the drivers side with the key hole has one clip you use a flat head to push down and the chrome pops off

BIGIRISHSTL

Great description on the door handles. I know the trunk will require taking the interior cladding off similar to changing the license plate bulbs?

Tommy6905

Yes remove the trunk liner, then push the clip to release the wire for the trunk release, there's 3 little bolts, I think 5/16, remove those, push the 2 orange clips in with a pair of pliers and the piece chrome piece will come right off, then you'll feed the trunk release wire thru the hole as you pull the grommet.

BIGIRISHSTL

Perfect. Now if I could only find the time to do this!

BIGIRISHSTL

Prefect. Thanks tommy. Now I just have to find the time to do it!

Tommy6905

Not a problem, any other questions ask away.

Tommy6905

Didn't have my keys to pop the trunk, but you can see its wrapped around with lights cut out etc

13maximaluvr

Great look!

Tommy6905

Thank you sir

Snapper1978

You Sir are Santa himself, I wanted to do my handles but was afraid to mess with them, I will be dipping my handles tonight. Thank You

Tommy6905

Haha merry Christmas you welcome

SVmane24

Hey Tommy, how did you get your wheels and grill black, did you use dip and if so was it hard? I also have a white Max and I love the black wheel look thinking about doing it myself.

Tommy6905

I did plasti dip the Wheels the first time around, but noticed over time the matte black just doesn't look as good as day 1 from road depri, brae dust, and other harsh chemicals etc. the second time around I made a big mistake and plasti dipped the wheels but this time used automotive black gloss spray paint over the plasti dip. I gotta say they looked awesome but what I was hoping for was to be able to peel the paint the same as the plasti dip should, however the paint I used over it overpowered the dip making it impossible to remove. I had to use goof off and lots of elbow grease to remove the paint. My advice if you know for sure you want them black for good get them powder coated, if not use the plasti dip and if u want a shine you the glossifier that plasti dip makes.

Easiest way to plasti dip the rims is to take them off the car, clean the wheel very good and go to work spraying about 4-5 even coats about 15-20 mins apart depending on the weather

jeffrotexas

Well i bought a Black Crimson Metallic 2014 Maxima with the sport package and couldn't wait to do some cosmetic changes to it. I finally got some time and plastidip the grill, handles, back plate and window trim. I just wanted to play around with it and i really like how it came out. I also added a K&N CAI for sound. I will post pics of the car when i first got it with limo tint in the back and then when I plastidip'd the car. Let me know what yall think.

jeffrotexas

Here is my attempt at platidipping the Maxima a few months later. I am going to replastidip the car because of some imperfections. Also need to darken up the headlights.

Tommy6905

Car looks awesome, and you did a great job. Crimson black is also one of my favorites for these cars, nice color choice

xlimodriver

Just bought this 2012 SV Sport yesterday because my wife loved the colour.
She gets pissed off with me when I call it PURPLE.

1996blackmax

iTrader: (2)

That's a nice looking ride!

xlimodriver

My wife likes purple, I prefer grey.

Tommy6905

Officially no more chrome, just got done vinyl wrapping the window trim gloss black

Tommy6905

Don't know how new this product is from duplicolor but it's basically the same as plasti dip. I was debating getting new rims because mine were starting to pit from the salt over the winter. When I was in advance auto I saw this and decided to give it a try. The color is graphite metallic with a clear gloss applied over, let me know what yas think, it's really starting to grow on me ill get some better pics when the sun starts to go down

MaximaDrvr

iTrader: (1)

Did you remove the window trim or spray it while in the car?

Tommy6905

I did neither, I wrapped it with vinyl

Dudemaine

iTrader: (1)

Nice work, Tommy. Your ride looks great!

MaximaDrvr

iTrader: (1)

Did you remove the trim to wrap it then?

Tommy6905

Thanks dudemaine, trying to keep up with you

Tommy6905

No need to remove the trim, wipe it down good with alcohol and wrap the trim. Can't really explain how to vinyl wrap, YouTube it, There is a ton of videos on how to wrap

1996blackmax

iTrader: (2)

Plan on doing that next!

dexcool

Nice touch Tommy. I been considering dipping my wheels as well. Got some gunmetal PlastiDip and Glossifier but now I might have to consider some Graphite Metallic 😉

Tommy6905

Ya check out duplicolor custom wrap colors, that's what the products called. They have some different colors from plasti dip. Also I've tried the gunmetal from plasti dip before and without the gloss just looks like primer

Tommy6905

Someone dinged up my drivers door handle and rear passenger door handle good, thank god it wasn't the paint. However the vinyl on the door handles are really dinged up now. So I figured instead of ordering the same color and redoing it. Maybe try

Black carbon fiber? Or
White carbon fiber?

mikekay

Im really interested to see how it holds up on those rims, I heard of guys having little dings and scuffs but nothing even that major.

I think the problem of peeling starts happening once you start to car wash those jets get pretty powerful at times.

Tommy6905

Didn't proof read what I wrote before I hit submit, I'm talking about the door handles, so far the rims are holding up well

***corrections made

mikekay

Yea man that sucks -- Id say if you are happy with the way it did look and plan on keeping the car just paint them the real way, a nice clear coat and they are good to go -- especially if you cant get a nice match.

I look at plastidip as more or less a 'test phase'

Tommy6905

Yes sir I agree, as u can see from when I originally started this thread which was 2 years ago I am very indecisive, it's a good thing products like vinyl and plasti dip exist. Because I get bored very fast