just showing off my finished mods of my altima (not 56k friendly)

[Sylvia The Altima]

Mods:

1.) Knockoff Nismo 4-to-1 header
2.) Stock 17" 6 spoke wheels painted gun metal grey
3.) Carbon fiber canister muffler...probably the riceyst thing I've added so far but I love the sound. I wanted to go for the tuner look so I had the muffler shop angle the muffler to an angle and upwards. It really gives the back of the car a more purposeful look rather than looking like a boring family sedan. I chose to keep the stock resonator and just do a muffler only since I didn't want drone. I learned that the hard way on my 1st car. Straight pipe + single muffler=HORRIBLE resonation inside cabin at all RPM's.
4.) "Carbon fiber" tail lights. I'm not a fan of chrome.
5.) Debadged.
6.) Lowering springs. Yeah I went with an off-brand but the car sits 1.75 inches lower front and back. The car looks 10 times more aggressive and rides a lot firmer, which I like.
7.) Injen cold air intake. The real deal. Not some fake.
8.) Kenwood 5 way speakers in the back, eclipse 3 ways in the front. The Kenwoods are getting replaced with Kicker 3 ways...I'm not happy with the sound of them.
9.) Phase linear 7" flip out screen with dvd and mp3 playback. Love it!

*Number 10 is semi done but I'm still fighting it. I've got the sl model which has leather. I've already bought some black cloth racing seats I'd like to put in because I wouldn't mind doing some autocross once I do some further suspension mods. But I'm just fighting whether or not I want to muck up the interior and get rid of those nice leather seats....

11.) Modified 300zx triple gauge pillar made to fit the stock one...filled with autometer pro comp ultra lite gauges. Unfortunately, it costs 240 bucks to have them hooked up and I'm saving up to have them functional.

12.) Blacked out stock grille. Aftermarket sport mesh grille on it's way.

13.) Pilot Hyperwhite Simulated H.I.D. bulbs. They look GREAT on this car.

I'm just about done with the mods on this car, just because it's a daily driver and my commuter car. I don't want to do too much more to it to make it unreliable or uncomfortable to drive...but I'm always open to suggestions.

[Sylvia The Altima]

Next set:

[Sylvia The Altima]

3rd and final set:

[Sylvia The Altima]

exhaust clip too:

Whoops! Put on the wrong video! New one on it's way right now...be patient.

[ankit]

get rid of those injen stickers. Also you might want to look into blacking out that chrome trim around the windows, it should go great with the darker rims, tail lights, and the grille. I'll reserve my views on the exhaust until I hear the sound clip.

How long have you had those springs? Any problems with them?

[Sylvia The Altima]

Yeah I was thinking about that but how do you do it so it doesn't chip off? My experience with painting over chrome is no matter how well you sand it to make it stick, it always chips off VERY easily. I'm also worried about getting paint overspray everywhere even if you mask it off well.

I was thinking about partially blacking out the headlights too, but the last time I did that I failed MISERABLY and it killed my reflection.

Even on my blacked out grille, I've already got a chip from something that hit it and the chrome is already exposed now. And I even used 600 grit sandpaper, as well as primer over it to make sure it sticked.

[Shiner19]

Looks ghetto...Your A-pillar gauges are cheap and dont match the interior color. Plus, you can see the screws...I love whooping up on cars like yours. Sorry for being an ass, but this is an example of what NOT to do with your car. Hey but at least you have a screen...

[theonedub]

Originally Posted by Shiner19

Looks ghetto...Your A-pillar gauges are cheap and dont match the interior color. Plus, you can see the screws...I love whooping up on cars like yours. Sorry for being an ass, but this is an example of what NOT to do with your car. Hey but at least you have a screen...

Is it as 'ghetto' as a SER conversion with 02 headlights?

[Shiner19]

Originally Posted by theonedub

Is it as 'ghetto' as a SER conversion with 02 headlights?

Hmm...would you have noticed had I not ever mentioned it? Plus, who says I'm done modding my car? I would much rather have my "ghetto" se-r than your stock altima . Oh btw, your stock altima looks...stock

[ankit]

Originally Posted by Sylvia The Altima

Yeah I was thinking about that but how do you do it so it doesn't chip off? My experience with painting over chrome is no matter how well you sand it to make it stick, it always chips off VERY easily. I'm also worried about getting paint overspray everywhere even if you mask it off well.

I was thinking about partially blacking out the headlights too, but the last time I did that I failed MISERABLY and it killed my reflection.

Even on my blacked out grille, I've already got a chip from something that hit it and the chrome is already exposed now. And I even used 600 grit sandpaper, as well as primer over it to make sure it sticked.

Google "trim-brite blackout tape". It is an easier way to do this. I don't like those gauges either. Maybe you should get some red turn signal bulbs for the tail lights because the yellow ones look really bad. This wouldn't cost you more than $4. Blackout tape wouldn't cost too much either.

many people on this site have blacked out their headlights. There is a how-to in the F.A.Q. section.

Now about those springs...how they treating you? How many miles have you had them for?

[Shiner19]

I do like the carbon fiber tail lights though...

[theonedub]

Yes I would've noticed it had you not mentioned it. You are the only SER with chrome headlights and that monster gap. Its okay though since that gap keeps the gap in your wheel wells company.

Imperfections aside, you can still keep your car, the point is that we all mod to our personal taste. Anyone can 'whoop' on a persons car, but lets keep the criticism constructive an not be asshats.

[Agent00Alti]

you've got potential and enthusiasm. i suggest u ditch the injen stickers maybe look at some bronze/gold colored wheels. try some new rotors (x-drilled or slotted) a mesh grille would do wonders and maybe look at a new front bumper and i'd say u would have done a vast improvement over ur current state. the exhaust im kinda iffy on as i dont think the CF matches very well with the color of ur car but if it sounds good then i can see why u put it on there. u got a good start tho.

[tuffguy515]

many people on this site have blacked out their headlights. There is a how-to in the F.A.Q. section.

yea, i suggest the black out tape...i used it, works well, holds well..been holdin for over 6 months strong.

[Sylvia The Altima]

Here's the exhaust clip:

YouTube - 2003 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL with NRG carbon fiber muffler and Nismo knockoff Header

As for the springs...I've had them on 5 days *crosses fingers*.

As for the gauges, I bought them used from a friend's Toyota Supra that he wrecked and I got them cheap.