reallywildstuff

Will a 97 center tail light mount properly to a 98 trunk lid?

Parts on the Interwebs appear to be divided 96-97 and 98-99. Are these lenses made of a different material? Lots of pictures look different online...

There are differences in the outboard tail lights (does this affect the center section?), the location of "INFINITI" (does this affect the trunk lock?), and also (seems like) in the shape of the reverse lenses ('97 is a straight line, while the '98 seems like more of a curve).

stevesmax

The 95-97 style is interchangeable with the 98-99 style. In New Zealand, our A32 Maxima is the same as your Infiniti I30, and in some cases, if an outer tail light or centre trunk lid garnish gets damaged, the other style has been used as a replacement. Key in trunk garnish is in same place for both styles, with early style badge lettering at top, later style at bottom. Of course, the lines and stripe detailing between the old and new style garnish and lights are in a slightly different place so don't line up exactly when mixed together.

Edit to add, both styles are made from the same materials, they just have different cosmetic detailing.

stevesmax

I finally found a picture of the two mixed styles on the same car. A 1997 early tail light model with the later facelift centre garnish.