I am going to update the car to look like an a 1997.... I know I will need to change the front and rear bumper as well as the trunk lid. Aside from the taillights, is there anything else that I need to do in order to get the transformation going? Thanks guys.

 

Although, I am biased since I own a 95 SE, I would recommend leaving it the way it is. IMHO, the 95 is the best looking 4th Gen Maxima, particularly the grille. Most say the 97 and 98 are the nicest looking, but I strongly disagree with this opinion.

Save your money and spend it on something more productive, like required maintenance and gas.

 

why don't you just put on a stillen kit?

 

if i was going to spend the money, i would definately do the rear conversion just to get those taillights.. you cant get a decent set of red/clears for the 95/96, and all the other options they make look retarded if you ask me.. they stand out like a sore thumb and in no way can pass as something that fits the look of our cars. if you want to try and save money, first get the newer 97 style headlights and corner lights, and do a black mesh grille in the front. i also think that the 97 nose looks better, but the headlights and grille make the biggest difference. and yes, to do a complete conversion, you would also need the 97-99 headlights/ corner lights and front grille.
i just bought the diammond cut headlights/corner lights from pro-car parts. yes they are definately not the same quality and the factory 97's but the 95-96 lights look horrible. i bought those, new bulbs, diamond cut bumper lights, and i already meshed my grill and got rid of the emblems.. it looks REALLY nice without going though the complete conversion

 

I think a 97-99 grill with the 95-96 bumper looks really good.

I wouldn't spend the time and money to convert your car to look like a 97-99 does stock. To me it's just the more aggressive front end of the 95-96 and I think by swapping the grill you can get some of that look while being unique.

 

Yeah, I definitely will be doing aftermarket bumpers. I don't understand how a stillen kit can be for a 95 - 99 Maxima. I just wanted to make sure that I am not forgeting anything (like the grill, headlights, taillights, and trunk lid). Also, I have seen the headlights and corner lights with the black housing. Where can I get these from? Thanks again.

 

theres a few different things that people do for the headlights. the one piece lights are ceifro's, but they require cutting to install, and there will still be gaps around them. you can get the 97 headlights, and remove the lens and spray the non-reflective part of the housings black. im tellings you.. do your headlights first. they are very easy to change, and make a huge difference..
also- im pretty sure you cannot use a 97 grille with the 95 bumper.. i dont think it fits.

 

Cool. I am relatively new at all this so here are a few noob questions:

1. Should I find an online store for Maxima parts or ebay (quality issue)?
2. What are some nice body kits (not too ricey)? Shogun?
3. Is it smarter to go polyurethane over fiberglass?
4. Who online has the best quality clear/black headlights and corner lights?
5. Who has those black diamond cut lights?
6. Where would I look for a 97 - 99 trunk lid and grill?
7. I am not even going to introduce the lowering question on this forum
8. Is there anything I can/should do while the bumpers are off?

BTW, thanks Stuntin' 101 for all the info. Much appreciated.

 

1. http://maxmods.dyndns.org/index.php?MaximaPartsStores
2. http://maxmods.dyndns.org/index.php?MaximaBodyKits
3. Polyurethane.
4. EBay.
5. http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=394290 http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=435671
6. Junkyard. EBay. Maxima.org Classifieds.
7. Good
8. Bumper lens re-wire (http://www.vqpower.com/v2/modules.ph...howpage&pid=53)

 

I say just get the 97+ convertion done, and get stillen kits. I'd love to see that combo on a Hunter Green max, never seen it before.

Keep it clean, dont get aftermarket bumpers, cuz all of them are rice.

I'd suggest going to the junkyard to look for the bumpers, and trunk. Also check ebay for tail lights, and keep an eye out for stillen kits, they usually go for mad cheap on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-99...QQcmdZViewItem

 

Thanks for the links Bonka. Agreeing with X-Vert, I am defintely doing the Stillen kit.

 

Post pics of your car...

 

Are you converting your interior as well?

 

Alrighty, here ya go....



BTW, don't mention anything about lowering -- I know, we all know....

 

i have the same color as yours, i think its called black emerald. so far i have everything u want done, 97 trunk lid, 97 front bumper, stillen kit. i have gen2 led tails and i am going with the sarona grille. im gonna get 97 headlights to go with my DC corner lenses and i have the "jdm" black chrome bumper lenses....everything looks good and i have my kit installed unfortunantly it inst painted yet. ord to the wise when you get your trunk lid, grab the bottom latch/lock just in case. i had to go back to get it casue my oem lock didnt lock the lid.

check my cardomain for some pics

 

Hot damn, Magikone69, that is beautiful. Those are the same taillights I am going to install in mine as well. But again, great looking car, man.

 

1. please no pinstripe..i mean it throws the look completely off

2. you need to change the fog light on the driver side (it looks cracked)..if its not my bad...

3. i think you drive through grease the way those tires seem to looked all oiled up...

4. its pretty clean though...but seriouslyy..no pinstripe. PLZ.

GL with everything you plan to do

 

yea remove the pinstripe

 

thanx man, good luck and btw i have the ebay bumper ad i give it a 7/10 as far as fittiment and quality, if u can get oem or a used oem, go for it. use ebay bumper for last resort.

 

1. Yeah actually, I took the pin stripe of the other side that day to compare the two, and, I agree, so I took the other side off. So as of now, no pin stripes.
2. Lol, yeah, I sacrificed the fog light for the neighbor's cat....
3. Just washed the car... Meguire's Tire Shine... guess it works.
4. Thanks for the advice and tips PandaXpress (and X-Vert), but I have a lot of work ahead of me (the clear coat is starting to peel).

 

keep us updated, I hope this one turns out to be a beauty...

what tails you plan on getting? please tell me the red/clears.

 

Just do the grill. Everything else is a waste of money unless you are going for carbon fiber. Then you get some weight reduction and looks.

 

THE 95 MAX LOOKS THE BEST OF ALL THE 4TH GEN MAX'S, IMHO. If anything, get a carbon fiber wing and new tail lights.

 

I personally like the 95-96 look.

 

who is to say what is a waste of money, if it makes him happy i say its money well spent.

 

beauty is fleeting. A fool and his money soon parts. Figure it out.

 

Definitely. Actually, I was planning to get the G2 Gunmetal LED taillights like Magikone69. Very nice.

I personally prefer the 97 - 99 look. It's a bit sleeker than the 95 - 96 (especially in the rear). Weight really shouldn't be considered in a car with four doors. Carbon fiber is a bit ricey for my tastes (especailly unpainted). Just my opinion.

I appreciate your opinion, but again, I prefer the 97 - 99 look. For the carbon fiber - no, and for the taillights - definitely.

Again, appreciate the opinion but the 97 look is for me.



There's a lot to be said about that.... But lets keep this thread on track. I would like to see if there is any more advice or opinions or even tips out there. Just for future reference, I am going soley for looks. Speed and handling I am not too concerned about.

 

Well, this is the paint scheme I am looking at. The black will start at the front stillen lip and continue to the trunk, but it will stop about an inch or two above the taillights. The taillights themselves will be the G2 Gunmetal LED's which should blend perfectly with the silver paint.



And these are the wheels I am considering... 20's (still not sure).



If anyone can do a photoshop with this info, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

no offense but that is going to look bad

 

Those wheels will look horrible... even worse if they're 20's

 

Yea I agree... The rims are meh.

 

Really... I'm kinda surprised . They come off a 2005 Mustang Saleen. My second choice are a set of wheels very similar to those on the Ford Lightning. Well, cool, this is why I asked before I bought...

 

why chrome? IMO, chrome doesnt go to well w/ 4th gen maximas... only 6gen and some 5th.

 

Actually those were the only chrome wheels I was considering. I just wanted to get a few opinions of them. Personally I prefer gloss black. These are a few more options I am looking at...



.... all in all I want black wheels. But I either want them with rivets and a chrome lip or all black with a red line around the lip.

 

Those are nice, I don't like the top right as much though.

 

Get the top left in 18's, 19's at most.

 

Yeah, thats my fav. as well. Zenetti [something] is what they are called.