My 2012 maxima build thread
12-27-2018, 05:35 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: New York
Posts: 308
My 2012 maxima build thread
Hello everyone. Starting my build thread to share as well as ask advice from the max community. I bought my 12 maxima in August after my 08 maxima was t-boned. Let’s get started
12-27-2018, 01:24 PM
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: New York
Posts: 308
first fews mods will be show. Next week I’m going to order morimoto HID kit (low beam) along with morimoto xb foglights.
After those are in I’ll make an appointment for window tints along with getting all the chrome parts wrapped in gloss black vinyl.
Next week I will order akebonos for the front. I was gonna just order the entire front kit from z1motorsports but I feel like I can piece together all the parts necessary for cheaper then z1. We will see,but I lm aiming to have at least calipers ordered by no later then next Friday. Plenty of time to shop around for the best price.
After those are in I’ll make an appointment for window tints along with getting all the chrome parts wrapped in gloss black vinyl.
Next week I will order akebonos for the front. I was gonna just order the entire front kit from z1motorsports but I feel like I can piece together all the parts necessary for cheaper then z1. We will see,but I lm aiming to have at least calipers ordered by no later then next Friday. Plenty of time to shop around for the best price.
12-27-2018, 01:31 PM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: New York
Posts: 308
tuning wise I’m completely unknown. Was thinking about uprev but want to add a power parts first. But even when it comes to power parts it’s ehhh. Doesn’t seem to be much I can do without melting my debit card beside Intake and exhaust
12-28-2018, 07:06 AM
#10
I've owned many Maxima's in the past, all with this VQ motor, though the newer versions are fitted with better modification and tune from the factory, my experience with power mods is that you'll just burn a hole through your wallet for very little gain. The only cheap enough bang for you buck is the y-pipe. Tuning options are weak as it is for this car, and you'll be looking to spend well beyond 500 bucks for a tune. Back in the days, Jim Wolf Technology is a main stream go-to shop for more complicated parts and reliable tune with support. Today I can't even find a tune on their website for the 7th gen maxima's.
12-28-2018, 07:10 AM
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: New York
Posts: 308
I've owned many Maxima's in the past, all with this VQ motor, though the newer versions are fitted with better modification and tune from the factory, my experience with power mods is that you'll just burn a hole through your wallet for very little gain. The only cheap enough bang for you buck is the y-pipe. Tuning options are weak as it is for this car, and you'll be looking to spend well beyond 500 bucks for a tune. Back in the days, Jim Wolf Technology is a main stream go-to shop for more complicated parts and reliable tune with support. Today I can't even find a tune on their website for the 7th gen maxima's.
Last edited by Martinez1031; 12-28-2018 at 07:13 AM.
12-28-2018, 09:15 AM
#12
well said. I kinda came to that realization with my 6gen. I think if Nissan would have went a different direction transmission wise,we would have a lot more aftermarket support engine wise. But it is what it is. With what you said about the ypipe,I want to order the motordyne ypipe. Probably order that next week as well
Not sure if you can still by a Motordyne y-pipe, but if you are considering it, look into JPP y-pipe. That's what I put on my car and it does put a bit more pep into the mixture. Cost is a bit more than 300 bucks. And you'll get 8 to 12 hp/tq out of it, as that's what my butt-dyno thinks. I don't think going for another intake will help much; probably just gaining a good growl sound, but for more than 200 bucks and minimal gain, I'd pass. Whatever you do, have some fun and good luck with everything.
12-28-2018, 11:12 AM
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: New York
Posts: 308
Not sure if you can still by a Motordyne y-pipe, but if you are considering it, look into JPP y-pipe. That's what I put on my car and it does put a bit more pep into the mixture. Cost is a bit more than 300 bucks. And you'll get 8 to 12 hp/tq out of it, as that's what my butt-dyno thinks. I don't think going for another intake will help much; probably just gaining a good growl sound, but for more than 200 bucks and minimal gain, I'd pass. Whatever you do, have some fun and good luck with everything.
01-03-2019, 03:03 PM
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: New York
Posts: 308
let me know how that NEO works out
01-04-2019, 08:59 AM
#18
Having had experience with fully bolt-on and tuned the 4th gen maxima's (at that time they were VQ30DE). The only real bang for the bucks mod is the y-pipe for what it does and what's it worth. All other mods, including a tune, it really didn't bring the power up in a proportional return on investment vantage point.
The 7th gen Maxima comes a long way from the first generation VQ's with valve timing and air flow optimization upgrades. The y-pipe is still a cheap enough worthy mod to do. Unless a tune can bring in 40-50 extra ponies, it's really not worth paying for it with an arm and a leg. Beyond it all, in my opinion, the 7th gen Maxima actually has a strong enough motor with plenty of power to use already. It's the CVT that kills the driving experience and the provisioned a lackluster power band feel. Consider that stock motor has 290 bhp, adding an y-pipe will get you slightly above the 300 bhp mark for under 300 bucks. A tune may at best match that with at least double the price tag. You'll probably get more only if you go for cam upgrades, may also need to slap on the catless headers. Each of these mods aren't cheap for the VQ motors, not cheap at all. By the time you do that, that's at least $2.5k for "possibly" 40-50 extra ponies. For that modding budget, you're better off investing the same amount in upgrading a turbo 4-banger, and you'll achieve way more power gain that way. For example, a mini cooper S in the same generation year 2008-2013 can easily expend $2.5k and go from 155whp up to 245-255whp, now that's the modding budget I'm willing to entertain, lighter car, tighter suspension, better handling, etc..
The 7th gen Maxima comes a long way from the first generation VQ's with valve timing and air flow optimization upgrades. The y-pipe is still a cheap enough worthy mod to do. Unless a tune can bring in 40-50 extra ponies, it's really not worth paying for it with an arm and a leg. Beyond it all, in my opinion, the 7th gen Maxima actually has a strong enough motor with plenty of power to use already. It's the CVT that kills the driving experience and the provisioned a lackluster power band feel. Consider that stock motor has 290 bhp, adding an y-pipe will get you slightly above the 300 bhp mark for under 300 bucks. A tune may at best match that with at least double the price tag. You'll probably get more only if you go for cam upgrades, may also need to slap on the catless headers. Each of these mods aren't cheap for the VQ motors, not cheap at all. By the time you do that, that's at least $2.5k for "possibly" 40-50 extra ponies. For that modding budget, you're better off investing the same amount in upgrading a turbo 4-banger, and you'll achieve way more power gain that way. For example, a mini cooper S in the same generation year 2008-2013 can easily expend $2.5k and go from 155whp up to 245-255whp, now that's the modding budget I'm willing to entertain, lighter car, tighter suspension, better handling, etc..
Last edited by GodFather; 01-04-2019 at 09:09 AM.
01-04-2019, 04:37 PM
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: New York
Posts: 308
I couldn’t agree more Godfather. In my opinion the max has sufficient power from the factory. I’ll add a ypipe for a little more peep in the step but power wise that will be it. I like the max because it has good looks,and I can make it look better and it’s luxurious with the leather,heated seats mirrors steering wheel Bose system and it didn’t cost me much. My wife drives the 2018 Jeep I drive the older car.
As to your second part,again I couldn’t agree more. Until 4 years ago I had my boosted 1994 civic sedan. Boosted single cam. Engine had about 110hp stock. By the time I was done,368whp. That was with a mild tune because it was daily driver. Spent 3800 on engine parts to make that power. Nisformance wants $1500 for a set of headers. Not saying it’s not worth it as far as quality but $1500 to gain what? 10-15 hp. Money wise just doesn’t make sense. I paid $300 for a brand new crowed stage 2 turbo cam. The cam itself made 18 hp difference. So like you said,it’s not worth it money wise
As to your second part,again I couldn’t agree more. Until 4 years ago I had my boosted 1994 civic sedan. Boosted single cam. Engine had about 110hp stock. By the time I was done,368whp. That was with a mild tune because it was daily driver. Spent 3800 on engine parts to make that power. Nisformance wants $1500 for a set of headers. Not saying it’s not worth it as far as quality but $1500 to gain what? 10-15 hp. Money wise just doesn’t make sense. I paid $300 for a brand new crowed stage 2 turbo cam. The cam itself made 18 hp difference. So like you said,it’s not worth it money wise
01-08-2019, 01:54 PM
#28
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 10
Having had experience with fully bolt-on and tuned the 4th gen maxima's (at that time they were VQ30DE). The only real bang for the bucks mod is the y-pipe for what it does and what's it worth. All other mods, including a tune, it really didn't bring the power up in a proportional return on investment vantage point.
The 7th gen Maxima comes a long way from the first generation VQ's with valve timing and air flow optimization upgrades. The y-pipe is still a cheap enough worthy mod to do. Unless a tune can bring in 40-50 extra ponies, it's really not worth paying for it with an arm and a leg. Beyond it all, in my opinion, the 7th gen Maxima actually has a strong enough motor with plenty of power to use already. It's the CVT that kills the driving experience and the provisioned a lackluster power band feel. Consider that stock motor has 290 bhp, adding an y-pipe will get you slightly above the 300 bhp mark for under 300 bucks. A tune may at best match that with at least double the price tag. You'll probably get more only if you go for cam upgrades, may also need to slap on the catless headers. Each of these mods aren't cheap for the VQ motors, not cheap at all. By the time you do that, that's at least $2.5k for "possibly" 40-50 extra ponies. For that modding budget, you're better off investing the same amount in upgrading a turbo 4-banger, and you'll achieve way more power gain that way. For example, a mini cooper S in the same generation year 2008-2013 can easily expend $2.5k and go from 155whp up to 245-255whp, now that's the modding budget I'm willing to entertain, lighter car, tighter suspension, better handling, etc..
The 7th gen Maxima comes a long way from the first generation VQ's with valve timing and air flow optimization upgrades. The y-pipe is still a cheap enough worthy mod to do. Unless a tune can bring in 40-50 extra ponies, it's really not worth paying for it with an arm and a leg. Beyond it all, in my opinion, the 7th gen Maxima actually has a strong enough motor with plenty of power to use already. It's the CVT that kills the driving experience and the provisioned a lackluster power band feel. Consider that stock motor has 290 bhp, adding an y-pipe will get you slightly above the 300 bhp mark for under 300 bucks. A tune may at best match that with at least double the price tag. You'll probably get more only if you go for cam upgrades, may also need to slap on the catless headers. Each of these mods aren't cheap for the VQ motors, not cheap at all. By the time you do that, that's at least $2.5k for "possibly" 40-50 extra ponies. For that modding budget, you're better off investing the same amount in upgrading a turbo 4-banger, and you'll achieve way more power gain that way. For example, a mini cooper S in the same generation year 2008-2013 can easily expend $2.5k and go from 155whp up to 245-255whp, now that's the modding budget I'm willing to entertain, lighter car, tighter suspension, better handling, etc..
01-09-2019, 04:40 PM
#29
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: New York
Posts: 308
Installed all my lights today,and I must say I’m very impressed with the morimoto 5500k HID system. The light output is amazing. The oem projectors are pretty good too. Nice clean sharp cutoff line. The Morimoto xb led fog lights are ok. Nothing to write home about. I do the fact that the fogs are not super bright. Give off the right amount of light.
01-10-2019, 12:20 PM
#32
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: New York
Posts: 308
OemPics don’t really pic up what the naked eye does,unless you have a real expensive SLR camera. The fogs have the yellow lamin-x on them that come with it from the retrofitsource. The LED Profile ambers under the low beam are a real deep rich amber color. Better then oem halogen bulbs. And the morimoto 5500k HID are simply amazing. No other way for me to describe it. I think part of that is attributed to oem Nissan projector but the light output is great. It’s wide,lights up the entire road and then some. Cut off line is beautiful with a light purple/blue cutoff. Definitely gives off the high end vehicle look
Last edited by Martinez1031; 01-10-2019 at 02:57 PM.
01-15-2019, 01:18 PM
#36
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: New York
Posts: 308
These were delivered today. Only going to do the front for now. Didn’t expect for them to come painted. When I ordered it said raw finish only. Instead it came painted the same exact color I was going to paint them.
01-16-2019, 11:04 AM
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1,380
Installed all my lights today,and I must say I’m very impressed with the morimoto 5500k HID system. The light output is amazing. The oem projectors are pretty good too. Nice clean sharp cutoff line. The Morimoto xb led fog lights are ok. Nothing to write home about. I do the fact that the fogs are not super bright. Give off the right amount of light.
my stock headlight is very faint !
01-16-2019, 03:25 PM
#40
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: New York
Posts: 308
I didn’t do the install. I looked at the kit when it arrived,saw that I had to take the bumper off,and I said **** it ,I paid someone to do it. Don’t have the patience. But from what I saw on the kit it does require a little work. It’s not a simple eBay plug and play which is why I guess it has such good output. My kit came with a heavy duty relay that is hooked up to the battery. I also installed a pair of capacitors. Wasn’t sure if I needed them but better to have and not need them need and not have .
Do you have oem HID or halogen like I did?
Do you have oem HID or halogen like I did?