About 2 weeks ago I picked up my 01 KV3 maxima SE. The basic stats:
88K on the odo, 5MT, gray lustre, black leather, heated seats, all the fixings I wanted, in great condition, well taken care of. I've found so much great info here on the org already, time will tell

Since then, I have:
* Added redline boots for the ebrake/shifter
* Ordered the AE shift **** (now where is it)
* Already had a coil pack go on me, now replaced
* New NGK sparks
* Serviced the K&N filter it came with (heard something about this killing my MAF, but oh well
* New yoko V4s rubber all around
* Installed piaa xtreme whites for the headlights
* Sanded/Cleaned up and clearcoated the muffler (had some minor rusting)
* Got all weather mats
* Painted the calipers black
* Switched to hyperwhite bulbs for lic. plate
* Cabin filter on the way
* Oil change (mobil 1 for me)
* Piaa xtreme white fogs on the way
* Solid detailing
* Seafoam (little worried about the SES light from all the threads)

To do:
* Amsoil GL-4 ready to be put in
* May need a clutch job in the next 6-12 mos.

I have been on g20.net for a long time and am very familiar with the SR20DE engine. The VQ30 is new too me, but similar at the same time. No real plans for the max at this time. It's a daily driver but I may do a rear sway bar in the spring. I like the subtle look, so nothing too crazy for me.

Here's a quick pic until I can really get it clean and take some pics:

 

Big red ex. Cannot see.

 

does that work better?

 

nice car

make sure and take some before and after pics of the new headlight/foglight bulbs!

In addition to the rear sway bar, consider a front strut tower bar. I just installed one on an otherwise stock 01 SE, and it makes it way more comfortable and stable around high speed sweeping turns (such as highway on/off ramps)

 

cool man, the headlights are already in...but I can take pics of the fogs.

Where'd you get your front strut tower bar, how much did it run you?

 

I got mine from stillen, but there are much cheaper options out there. It's just a bar, after all.

go to google and type "FSTB site:maxima.org" and you'll find a lot of good threads. (If any links misdirect you or don't work, go to the 5th gen section of this forum and read the sticky that says "what to do if a link doesn't work"

 

I've checked around from eBay to Stillen, wide range of price for FSTB's. I may eventually get one but it won't be until spring. Thanks for the reply

 

nice max! you should get some clear corners and put on a slight tint so the orange and red dont stick out as much with ur gray lustre

and btw, no ses for me after seafoam. it was so fun that i'm gonna seafoam again before my next oil change.

 

thanks a lot man, seafoam is a lot fun! I've done it before on other cars, but hadn't ever really worried about SES before reading a ton of threads on here!

I've been thinking about the clear corners, but I'm thinking I like the contrast. Can't decide exactly!

 

you clear coated the muffler?????
Won't it get hot and burn off the clear?
Welcome to the .org
nice looking car.

I would leave the orange marker lights. just my $0.02

 

On the orange side markers, I would tend to agree with you. That's probably how it will stay long term, but definitely how it will stay short term.

I just use the term "clear coated" for spraying the muffler with a clear enamel. I used engine enamel which is designed to withstand heat up to 500* Fahrenheit. They also make 1200 degree stuff, but I couldn't find it in clear. Rough Testing with a thermometer the metal would get up to about 215 degrees or so. I wouldn't use just rustoleum or anything like that, need something more heavy duty. I just didn't want the rust to return after all of the hardwork of cleaning it up. I've run the max on multiple 3+ hour highway trip and the enamel is holding up perfectly!

Thanks for the welcome

 

I like the look of orange markers when they match the orange turn signal light in 2002-2003 headlights. But I have a 01 also and there isn't much for them to "match." I went black with my markers because my car is black. I think a dark grey would be ideal for yours - I know some members on this forum have that setup and it looks nice and clean.

Bottom line is do whatever makes you happy

 

LOVE that color on the 5th gen Maximas!
Don't know why. Just do.

 

thanks man! As soon as I saw it I loved the color, I didn't really have any color in mind because I wanted a Manual Trans so bad, I was willing to look at pretty much anything. But this one just looked awesome.

KV3 FTMFW

 

Works now. Looks good. How 'bout some new pics?

 

workin' on it Should have them up by the end of the week!

 

I like that color.

 

thanks! Squeezed a wash yesterday and started the interior (lexol FTW), going to get her waxed up well and then more pics to come.

 

Nice ride!

 

/\/\ thanks!

 

As promised here a few new pics after a wash and wax. I also seafoamed and did an oil/filter change with mobil 1 (you should be able to tell from the pics ;-) and changed the cabin filters

 

Nice man.