Nissan Maxima DIY

Mirror shells painted!

2007-10-23T14:07:00.001-07:00

I picked up the shells and they look fantastic. Just to be safe, I tested them on the car battery again just to make sure they were lighting up fine. Can't be too careful.
I dry fitted the shells onto the car and they look great. I will be using some of the nightshade stuff that I have left over on the clear LED strip as well. Hopefully I will have them done and installed by this weekend. Installation looks simple enough from the instructions provided.

http://www.paradox-systems.com/Products/LED.pdf

I'm guessing it'll take me ~2 hours to install.

Mirror shells arrived...

2007-10-17T13:23:00.000-07:00

The mirror shells arrived and have been sitting in my house. I need to get them painted before installing them. I followed instructions and have tested them on my car battery already to make sure they light up.. They do...

This picture I found on the Paradox website is what inspired me to get them... It looks sick.

I am going to drop off the shells at my local body shop and should get it back in a few days.. I test fit them already and they look nice.

LED Side mirror shells

2007-10-11T09:14:00.000-07:00

So, I got paid again and I decided to pay Paradox Systems (http://www.paradox-systems.com/) another visit. I decided to go with the LED mirror shells. (http://www.paradox-systems.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=13&products_id=37)

They look pretty good. Can't wait to get them..

Forgot to mention

2007-09-24T14:06:00.001-07:00

As I had mentioned, I installed a HID conversion kit in my headlights. The picture was taken after I completed my next mod as well. I purchased a H3 Mini kit to put into my fog lights as well. You can see how well my lights match now between the headlights and the fog lights.

Here's some good information about HID conversion kits: http://www.hidkits.info

HID Kit!

2007-09-13T20:03:00.001-07:00

I've upgraded my headlights and gotten a set of some decent HID lights. I purchased them from HID Kits Warehouse (http://www.hidkitswarehouse.com/hidshop) They are a new website but have decent quality products. I've seen some of the kits that my friends have purchased and this kit was comparable EXCEPT, there's a two year warranty! Way to stand behind your product! :)

I opted to go with the digital ballasts for a little more money. I've heard of people having problems with flickering lights. After emailing them to get the low down, the digital ballast seemed the way to go in order to avoid any potential problems.
I ordered the digital ballast with 8000K bulbs and I love it. I took a picture and I think they're gonna use it for the site..

Sidemarkers installed...

2007-07-17T06:42:00.000-07:00

I've been busy and haven't had a time to update this blog.. That doesn't mean that I haven't been able to add to my car though.. Since my last post, I've purchased the clear sidemarkers and a can of "Niteshades". Since my car is charcoal, Im trying to give everything the 'smoked' look. Installation of the clear markers were rather straightforward. I popped out the stock markers with a towel wrapped around a screwdrive (so I wouldn't scratch the paint) and replaced with the new ones. After I made sure everything fit perfectly, I took them off and started to paint them with the Nightshades. It came out pretty nice. My next purchase will take me back the Paradox Systems store (http://www.paradox-systems.com/) and I will be looking at the LED mirror shells. I haven't been able to find them anywhere else, I think they're the only ones that have them.. If anyone knows otherwise, please let me know.

Ok.. what's next?

2007-06-22T07:38:00.000-07:00

I am already planning on my next purchase.. Clear corners.
I have been searching around and ebay seems to be the place to go for these.. I'm going to try to find the cheapest place to buy these..

Installed!

2007-06-17T19:27:00.000-07:00

Had some free time to do the installation and it was pretty easy.
To install the rear window spoiler:
1. With the plastic still attached to the double sided tape, I dry fitted the rear window spoiler to make sure that everything fits fine and that I got the right thing. (It sits on the glass by the way)
2. I cleaned the area with rubbing alcohol.
3. I used the adhesion promoter pads that Paradox Systems provided to wipe the area that the tape would be touching the glass. Its not a huge pad so I worked quickly to rub the area down before the pad dried.
4. With a friend's help, I placed the rear window spoiler on the window, with the tape still attached to the double sided tape.
5. Holding one side down, I started to remove the plastic off the double sided tape, and pressed the spoiler down while pulling the plastic off. ( If that was hard to understand, basically I put the spoiler where it was supposed to be and pulled the protective plastic off the double sided tape while it was held down so it just fell into place... hope that makes more sense )
6. Done!

Eyelids..

To install these, I dry fitted these quite a few times, trying to figure out how I was going to press it into place and what lines needed to line up in order for me to stick them in the right place. These seemed like a one shot deal, so I had to make sure that I had it right.

I would reccommend doing the same, just dry fitting the eyelids as much as possible, trying to figure out how you're going to press it into place once the tape is exposed.

Now that's fast..

2007-06-13T18:24:00.000-07:00

The products that I ordered last Friday showed up today. Now that's fast. I will be installing and sharing how the experience goes. Doesn't look tough at all. Double sided tape.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing..

2007-06-08T19:15:00.001-07:00

I've already placed my first order with Paradox Systems. I ordered the half sized rear window spoiler and the carbon fiber eyelids. Can't wait for it to arrive.

Here's what I ordered..

http://www.paradox-systems.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=13&products_id=143

and

http://www.paradox-systems.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=13&products_id=55

I've also found the maxima.org forum. There's a lot of information on there. I've been doing reading and now there's a whole plethora of ideas that I can't wait to apply to my car. I'll do as much as I can afford.

Paradox Systems

2007-06-08T07:43:00.000-07:00

Paradox Systems: "An ABS plastic roof spoiler that goes onto the top of the rear window. It is applied with 3M Double Sided Tape. Though this item comes a smoked color, it can also be painted to match body color. "

Here is the first thing that I was hoping to get for my car.

My Nissan Maxima

2007-06-08T06:57:00.001-07:00

I've had my Nissan Maxima for quite some time now but have lately found the joy of modding. There's something to be said for the feeling of making your car just a little bit different from the rest of the crowd. I've seen some cars that have gone to the extreme, and 'to each their own'. I'm looking for more subtle changes to my car.
A little about the car, it is a charcoal colored 2001 Nissan Maxima. I'm hoping to share what information that I come across throughout my 'modding' experience. I've already found a place to find some of the parts that I've been looking for. I saw the website on another car and took a little time to remember it and find it on the web.
I'm going to be ordering a few things from Paradox Systems soon. I've also found some stuff on ebay that I will be looking at too.