After taking some side-by side pics of the Spec and the Maxima, I realized just how much better the AE look is on the Spec. (The spec came that way stock.) Check out the pics and tell me what you think...







Bear in mind, the Maxima is actually my wife's, but she is into having her car look good (note the mods that she selected, in my sig). If I "F" them up, we don't have another set. I did a set of 4th gen lights and accidentally messed them up a bit, but that was carelessness, not inabilty. I dripped adhesive on the lens and accidentally grabbed carb cleaner spray and not adhesive remover spray- this melted the lens.

So what do you think- break them open and AE them, or just leave them?

 

AE them. Just take your time doing it.

 

+1

Yeah its subjective. But your color is right for it.

 

Thanks for the opinion. BTW, welcome back.

 

Do it. It makes a big difference in my opinion. Want to do mine but just don't have the time right now.

 

AE for the win!!!

 

Werd. I tried to buy an AE when I bought the Spec, but could not find what I wanted. I kind-of wish I had waited, but the Spec is fun.

I am pretty-much committed to doing it, now...

 

AE them or 5.5 Gen em.

 

the sentra just all around looks better than the maxima to me. The grille, the headlights, its just a little more sporty, and a little more aggressive looking. I always loved the look of the sentra but hated the size and power. Even the rims have a nice subtle aggressive look but too small for a max....16's i thiink right?

 

Do you mean swap out for 5.5 gen lights, or is there a way to make 5th gens look like 5.5 gens?

 

oh yea, definitely AE them. Hardest part is breaking them open.

 

Swap em out.

 

I do like the 02-03 sentra front end better than most Maximas, but a true AE Maxima is just a sweet, IMO. The size is the biggest difference. I even like a lot of the Spec's body lines, but there are positives and negatives to both. I really miss the sunroof and CC the most, but even the 00 does not have CC.

The rims are 17" on the Spec, and 16" on the SE/SE-R models. Unfortunately, they are heavy and as soft as butter. If they were 5-lug like other Nissans, I would like it better. People have tried 5-lug swaps, and they can be done, but the cost is really high. The swap uses a lot of Maxima and/or Altima parts.

 

Mucho dinero. Cara wants the 5.5 headlights, but they run $400+ on eBay. Too rich for my blood, just for lights. I have other things to drop $400 on- like my Sentra's rims, suspension, etc.

The Maxima gets no more toys for a while- my turn!

 

AE the 5.5 Gen swap

 

True... the Sentra needs a drop and some headers or something.

 

I have springs (Tein-S) and front struts (GR-2s) ready to go. I just need to commit. All the parts are new, and I am getting mixed messages on whether to do springs and struts or to sell these parts and save up for Coilovers. I woudl RATHER not do coilovers (due to cost and inexperience in tuning them), but suspension travel is a concern on springs.

Supposedly, the GR-2s won't last any better on the s-techs than would stockers. I need to check on the warranty.

Also, I did not buy the rears, and now that I lost my job, $ is too tight to buy the rears. I may put the tein rears on stock struts for now...

 

I'm not understanding what's going on here. What are we looking at? What is a spec? What is AE? I'm sorry, but a newbi have to learn one way or the other. Fill me in guys.

 

No problem- welcome to the site...

A "Spec" is my Sentra SE-R SpecV- the car on the left. An "AE" is a 20th Anniversary Edition Maxima- it was a small percentage of the 2001 model year. It had some extra body add-ons, different lights, wheels, floormats, and some other options.

 

I AE'ed mine, painted my grille black, and blacked out my front corners all at the same time and i love the way it looks now, look at my sig

 

just do the ae mod already there is no need for a thread like this.

 

There is because I said that there is. If Joel had a problem with it, he would have locked the thread. This was more of a conversation than an actual request for people's opinions.

Go away.

 

We should rename the org, Dontpostanythingjustreadcauseeveryandeverythinghas allreadybeentriedsowedontcareaboutyourquestionscom mentsorpicscauseitslareadybeendone.ORG

 

Yes Mr.Sig manager. AE is definately the way to go...

 

AE them..it looked good on my 00 sterling mist. i just bought mine online http://www.1001headlights.com/produc...XIMA&Year=2001

 

Its sweet to be back........

 

now be good

 

ae them...

 

What did you do with your stockers?

 

i tried to do some paint stuff to them and messed them up. i got the AE ones and threw the stock ones out. then i totaled my car and cracked both the AEs

 

that's lame -/

I think the AE look will look good on your car. Sterling Mist takes well to the blacked out lights

 

 

You could even find a tint to match the Sterlling color better than stock AE's can.

Good Luck

 

I just did the AE to my headlights tonight..........And thank GOD for PlastX

It took me 20 minutes to rub one headlight completely black. So I said screw this and went to Autozone and got some product. Came back and it took me 5 minutes. Get a plastic polish and you will be fine!

 

I wish I knew of Plastx prior to me tackling this. I broke a sweat just trying to open them bastards, then my fingertips were sore for a whole day from rubbing just one light. I had some black spraypaint in my trunk and just sprayed the second one out of frustration. Now I'm pissed cause the dollar store paint is fading. But yeah, you'll love looking at those homemade AE headlights.

 

Yeah I am waiting to install them becuz I want to wetsand them first! I gotta get up buttcrack of dawn to finish it....

 

Okay, I'll bite...what is PlastX?

 

Plastic Cleaner/Polish. Do the AE.

 

Its a plastic polish made by Meguiars.

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/meg-g-12310.html

People mostly use it to get rid of that hazy look on the headlight lenses. I never knew it could be used for the AE mod too.

 

yeah, just did my AE mod yesterday. Came out great but I picked up the wrong tube at Walmart. I got Scratch X instead of PlastX. Worked Great on polishing the headlights still though. The wiping of the chrome was still a motha IMO.