I got a good deal on a set of altezzas. I want to do 1 of 2 things to them before I put them on, but I don't knwo which route to go. My Maxima is a 1996 GLE in the Sanddrift/Pebble Beige color (I do not know its real name). My options are:

1. Paint them out in black or gunmetal, like the 5th Gen SE tails are, leaving only the lighted circles, or
2. Paint them out in the body color, same as the "sexima" or "skyline" taillight mod.

Any opinions? I want SOME kind of visual distinction, other than a mesh grille and 98 SE rims (I like them better than most aftermarket rims), and don't really have the $ (nor the desire) to do a body kit, or even a front lip.

 

I would go with the skyline style tails. If you end up doing this..... keep us posted, I would like to see the results. I also have a 96 Beige.

 

I am leaning toward that option, but my fear is that it will "match" like the bumpers do (off by a fraction of a shade) and look all ghetto.

Thanks for replying. With all of the opinions flying around here on the org, I cannot believe that 25 people have viewed the site and noone has had any feedback until now. I was really hoping to hear what people though, whether it was good, bad, or indifferent...

 

Well if you are careful, and do the painting correctly.... it should turn out fine. Plus, if you screw up, you can always just do it over.

 

My fear is not that I will screw up the paint, but that the paint will not match due to the fact that our color of paint seems to end up a different color on metal and plastic parts, despite the fact that this result defies logic. Just look at your bumpers versus the body of the car for a better idea of what I mean. THe mirrors are the same way...

 

Yea, I do know what you mean...... but I would still at least try for the skyline style. I don't think that the black would look good on a beige Maxima.... but thats just my opinion. I would either do the skyline or keep the altezzas the way they are. Thats just my .02

 

Yeah, like i said, I am leaning towards the skyline/sexima mod, and if it does not work out right, strip tham and THEN try darker (black/gunmetal). Nothing much lost by trying it the right way first.

Does ANYONE else have an opinion on this?

 

I agree with djshawnee...black/gunmetal suits darker colour cars, not our colour
Well maybe if you had gunmetal rims to match, it might look good...never seen it done tho, so I couldn't tell you. Photoshop maybe??

 

I think that's a good idea, painting it lighter first, then darker if you don't like it. Makes perfect sense. And I also think that would look better as the beige color. Are they the Gen 2 Altezza's or regular ones?

 

Regular ones. I go tthem for a good price from a guy on the org who wanted cash to get an RSB, so we were both winners.

In reference to the use of gunmetal on my tails, I DO have gunmetal centercaps on my stock SE rims, and when I get the time later, I plan to do the whole set of rims in gunmetal. Some guys on here have photoshopped rims like mine in gunmetal for me, but I did not have time (okay, I realy did not have the patience to wait and paint them) to paint them before I put them on my 96. I still have my stockers, so if I get bored one weekend I will remove the tires and wheelweights and do the whole set in gunmetal. I would RATHER buy a new set of Moteigi MR7s in gunmetal, but they are on backorder, AND I would have to sell these rims to have th emoney to afford them, and noone is going to want to send me money only to WAIT while my backordered replacements come in...

 

I'd do the Skyline tails painted to match the car, I'm thinking about doing it to my Sterling Mist.

 

out of fear that you will mess them up I would just stay w/how they are....

 

I dont know if this is what you mean by the "Sexima" taillights, but why not paint it body color, inside the casing where the chrome normally is. It'll take more work than painting the casing, but it'll look alot more professional.

 

That would take a lot of work, and then you risk cracking the plastic of the altezzas. I would do this only if you really know what you are doing.

 

Wouldnt it be similar to taking apart stock lenses to do the red/clear conversion though?

 

I'd personally prefer buying the R33 tails and custom-fitting them on my max....then again I have a hook-up that'll only charge me for materials...i'd leave everything primered til i can get the paint though (lots of dents i need to fix so i'm sanding down the whole car, etc..)... if you have a friend or a family member with a shop, it's probably a good $300-$800 that you'll spend on bondo and other materials, as well as $180-300 for the lights on e-bay depending on your luck. My numbers could be off a lil, but this mod done by the right shop can look a lot better, more natural, and way less rice than Altezzas..plus, you're adding a bit of Nissan greatness to your car.