Great news !!!
I think I found a manufacturer that makes a 3 dimensional dash kit ( wood/carbonfiber ) for the 2000 Maxima. Imagine a carbonfiber dash kit that covers the entire central vents, not just the face. I'll post the address as soon as I get it.

 

I'm sending two prayers up:

1. That they make one for my i30;

2. That I can get my Joshua Tree kit off without too much pain.

Later,
/aac

 

my prayer:

1. they have brushed aluminum
2. even better, real brushed aluminum.

btw, who's the manufacturer?

 

WOW !!!
My connection came through, There really is a 3D dash kit for the 2k Maximas. And its the only car with a 3d dash besides trucks. What luck

http://www.autodash.com

 

but i i wish i can get it for free.. hehehe

 

I've been looking for a kit like this. Too bad they don't have real wood. I like the one piece design of the shifter assembly. I wish someone would make one that covers the entire door switch plates. Let us know how it goes. Thanks for sharing this.

 

..the stock "wood" dash of the GLE. What is so special about this? It's still FAKE materials, just plastic! Why not get the flat kits, which are at least real wood or real Carbon Fiber!

 

why get this? better fitment and covers everthing, unlike a lotta flats.

 

I agree. The thought of stuff 'glued' to my dash bothers me. Id rather have whole replacement parts, or keep it stock.

 

actually, it's still not a replacement. this is what i got off the web site:

What is the difference between flat and molded dash kits?

Molded dash kits are pre formed at the factory to fit the shape and contour of your dash. The pieces arrive to you 3 dimensional, and mold around corners, sides, and edges to give a more OEM factory look. Our molded dash kits utilize authentic factory materials, so you are assured of high quality and performance. All components have a full adhesive backing to create a permanent, uncompromising bond through all weather extremes. The materials exceed factory OEM performance specifications, and do not require heating, bending, or supplemental adhesives.

Flat dash kits are called "flat" because they arrive as flat pieces. They are flexible when warmed, and will curve to the shape of the dash, but in only one direction, and are capable of doing only the facing surface. Flat dash kits are more popular and well known, and apply to many more vehicles. They are also less costly than molded kits.
Your vehicle may also have a "combination kit" available. These kits combine both flat and molded pieces to give maximum coverage of the dash surface, and the advantage of both applications.


******

basically, it fits over what we have. the flat ones dont bend as well and can not nearly cover all the contours of the whole dash.

 

Alright, I got a questoin regarding this whole situation. I like what the Woodview pieces look like, but for the same money the Florida Auto Trim company has a whole lot more coverage. It looks as though the kit that Kev has is the Superior kit. I like all the pieces that it covers, but I do not like all the flat coverage of the air vents. It is really hard to tell from the picture if the entire Florida kit is flat or if they actually have a molded piece for the a/c assembly. After all the flack that I got from Pioneer over the kit that I used for the radio, the Florida Dash kit seems that it would be good for me (cover up the plastic all around). Any ideas on the quality between the Florida and Woodview?

 

You're correct xtantmaxima... my kit is the Superior kit (I like how that sounds. hehe). If you guys get the carbon fiber verion, make sure you pay attention to the carbon fiber layout. Florida is rectangular while Superior is squarish. I think Daniel (mingo) has the Florida version because his kit looked a lot different than mine.

 

Any good kit should include a one piece molded design for the shifter. So far, this new one is the only one I've seen, besides OEM.

 

We are still talking about FAKE vs. REAL materials here!!! Anyone care to chime in on this aspect???!!!

 

Scroll up and read.

 

actually d00d, this thread is bout the molded vs flat kit. yes we all love to know that what we have is the real sh*t and isnt fake, but sometimes there arent too many choices. i personally think flat kits are nasty. they leave the factory stuff showing and everything. id rather have the fake brushed aluminum that molded properly than the real one that doesnt cover everything.

 

Yes, those gaps where the 2 pieces meet at the shifter really take away from the appearance. Molded is the way to go.

 

I know on the 4th gen kits, the entire shifter part curving up to the top of the ashtray area is one piece, and this looks pretty nice (I know because I just installed a kit in my wife's 96 Se this past weekend). On my kit in my 2K, I am not sure which area you are referring to when you speak of gaps. If the quality of the kit was good and the installation was good, there should be no major gap to speak of here. I don't have any gaps in my car.

 

I meant the seems. There is a designed gap of a 1/4 inch between the 2 panels on the shifter though. Check out my picture. It's right below the storage tray.

http://www.his.com/~wc/maxima/photos/center.jpg

 

I don't have that seam on the 5 Speed Carbon Kit I have, but I see what you mean.

 

Do you have a picture? I would like to see what your's looks like. Is your's Joshua Tree?

 

Mine's Joshua Tree and I'm very disappointed. I've tried and tried. I've reordered pieces, bought new DASH pieces (like actual factory dash pieces) and re-installed, and still I do not like how it looks. Gaps, etc. If I could "un-do" it I would.

You can see mine at my web page.... just some words to the wise.

/aac

 

Paul- My kit is not a JT, it's from Exotic Wood Dash and is manufactured by BMI, I believe. I don't have any pictures, but I will try to get some and scan them in soon.
Anthony- I see what you mean from your pictures, and now I fully understand the bitterness toward these flat kits! Yours was a JT also, right?

I can say that I can fully recommend New England Wood Dash at http://www.wood-dash.com/. I have dealt with the owner, Eddie, on 2 occasions and he makes a good kit. His prices are VERY good and the turn around time was quick ( a few days until I received it). The web site they have is pretty lame, but call them and ask to get the sheet for the car you want and they will fax it. I got the kit for my wifes car (96 SE) from him and it looks very good installed.

 

I'll check wood-dash.com out. Looking forward to your pictures. I may order your's, depending on the pictures.

I just checked out NE Wood Dash. Unless their site is out of date, they do not appear to make one for the 2000+ Maxima. I'll call them tomorrow.

I notice that Exotic Wood dash has the seam as well. http://www.exoticwooddash.com/wd320.htm

Look at where part 18 and 19 meet. JT is the same.

[Edited by Paul2kGXE on 10-10-2000 at 10:29 PM]

 

I have the Joshua Tree kit, and am very happy with the appearance. The only negative at all is the 2-peice shifter surround / lower console.

It would be impossible to make a piece of real wood bend enough to make a molded, or curved, dash - that's why they are always synthetic. That's also why the kit is 2-piece - you could not bend a single piece of real wood adequately.

If there were a true real wood replacement for the shifter surround / lower console it would not be inexpensive. A real wood shifter surround only for a BMW 3-series runs ~$350.

 

MI2KSE

Mine is synthetic, so I don't mind going with molded synthetic. I didn't know one existed until Cha Cha posted the link this week. Do you have pictures of your's? Maybe the real wood looks better.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Paul2kGXE
[I]MI2KSE

Mine is synthetic, so I don't mind going with molded synthetic. I didn't know one existed until Cha Cha posted the link this week. Do you have pictures of your's? Maybe the real wood looks better.

Don't have any pictures - too cheap yet to buy a digital camera or scanner.

Again, I have the 2-peice with the gaps - my only complaint regards the gaps between the pieces on the console/shifter.

I have thought of replacing it with the OEM carbon fiber surround from the 20AE, but when I briefly looked at one at a local dealer, it didn’t look very exciting either...

I am not sure if anyone besides me notices the gaps, though...

 

I thought about the JT aluminum kit, but I didn't like the gaps, either. I sent it back before installing any of the pieces.

What I wish I could get is something to make all those metallic-grey plastic OEM pieces on my SE look like the titanium guage faces. That would be a nice theme to carry through the interior. Does anyone know if you can take those pieces out and have some company apply a titanium coating to them? Maybe like powder coating, or something? I'd like to have the feel of the titanium there as well.

Oh well, it'd probably cost WAY too much anyway.