2008 to 2013 conversion

[Nismo8285]

I have a 2008 nissan altima coupe and invested time and money into it. i love my car , but i do like the 2012 -13 front end of the altima. I have the a good oppurtunity to get the whole front end of the 2012 altima coupe. by me changing the front bumper, hood, fenders and grill , would it bolt on? from my understanding nissan kept the same body and frame since 08.. thank you

[krash]

Not sure to be honest. But if it were me I'd be pretty comfortable assuming that it will bolt on. You might have to do some wiring magic with the headlights

[RicerX]

Welcome to NICO! I'm going to move this to the Altima Coupe section for you after I answer your question.

If you're willing to do the conversion, there are a couple things you will need in order for it to bolt up.

1) You need to employ the equivalent trim level as your 08 to source your parts, which can be from a 2010 - 2012 3.5 SR if you have a 3.5SE or 2010-2013 2.5S if you have a 2.5s (need to verify if you have convenience and/or premium packages for foglight and HID wiring harnesses).

2) You will need the hood, fenders, headlamps, fog lights and harnesses (if applicable), and fender liners for both driver and passenger side to be on the safe side. As far as underlying hardware, you need to ensure that the new bumper cover and the actual bumper hardware match, and I do not have the answer to that.

If I've missed anything, the Altima gurus will point you in the right direction.

[SanoSuKe]

Everything bolts on. It's been done before already and I know there's another coupe is working on the conversion right now.

I had started a thread about it a while ago. Lemme see if I can find it.


EDIT: found it. someone-attempted-the-2009-to-2010-fasc ... 0attempted

[BamaCoupe]

Everything bolts on. It's been done before already and I know there's another coupe is working on the conversion right now.

I had started a thread about it a while ago. Lemme see if I can find it.


EDIT: found it. someone-attempted-the-2009-to-2010-fasc ... 0attempted

From that thread

I agree about the headlights Anddddd I'm coming up with a pimpin solution !!!

The G's have a hump on the head lights too; they look to be a subtle A-cup where the Altima Coupe's are D's, and I'm more of a legs and butt man myself.

Sometimes I make myself laugh, but back on subject it's what Xenon and Sano said.

[AlexN09]

Haha. I do have that solution for real! I just don't have the disposable time or money right now.

[SanoSuKe]

Tell me!!

[BamaCoupe]

^thinken you take 08-09 lights, remove and use the clear lenses, cut to fit, but then you'd have to reconfigure your ambers. At least that's the only thing I can think of, but not an easy task.

[SanoSuKe]

I have the shop to do it but I never bothered because I'm fine with how it looks. But if he got a better idea then why not lol

[AlexN09]

The idea is making new lenses and actually is not nearly as impossible as it sounds. If anyone wants to really do it then pm me because I've been interested in accomplishing the goal. Someone near me is selling just a passenger headlight for 50 bucks so I was thinking about giving it a shot. I have a lot of experience in mold making so making molds of the existing lenses and then fabricating new smooth ones is not impossible. Getting really straight and tight sealing lenses is the difficult part.

[RicerX]

Just know that the headlamps for the 2010+ are not the same shape as the 08-09 models. So reusing/making clear lenses to retrofit the 08-09 lights to the 10+ look is not going to fit correctly. (ignore this if I misunderstood the concern)

[AlexN09]

Yeah thanks I'm aware. My idea is to make a negative mold of the inside of the 10+ headlamp, sand off the "hump," then form new acrylic lenses over the modified 2010+ molds.