Modernizing S13

[Stev0n]

Short backstory. I was planning on buying a "higher end" sedan (10 yr old-ish bmw 3 series, infiniti Q or M, etc.) But the crap economy is finally hitting the bar scene and my income has literally dropped by 70% in the last 3 months. And I had to buy another work van. The harley and v8 240 aren't going anywhere, so no luxury car for me.

So... I'm going to make the s13 my daily & I want to modernize it and integrate as many modern car amenities as possible. What I want from you guys are ideas. Maybe things you've done to the interior of your own car. PICS are welcome!

My ideas:

Fix cracked dash
HUD or NX gauge cluster
Double-DIN TV/DVD/navigation/ipod control
convert manual windows to power
heated leather seats (want 350z seats but don't like the price tag. would get the cheap knockoff racing seats but they look stupid without harnesses & I like the power seatbelts)
2 cupholders
Second cigarette lighter plug
back-up camera with rearview mirror screen

I want everything to look as factory as possible. no wires, nothing hanging off the dash or vents, and no walmart crap.

[asoomal]

Sound deadening, do the roof as well.
GPS Bluetooth Mirror
Digital climate control
Change the springs in the switches on the cluster, make them firmer...really feels nice...yep.
Leather (Perforated?) Door panel trim
New shiftboot with a leather shift knob
JDM Power folding mirrors with Maxima heated and blue tinted side view mirrors.

[Hoffman5982]

Change the springs in the switches on the cluster, make them firmer...really feels nice...yep.

Oh god da** you, now I have to do this.

[Razi]

Rebuild your stock shifter so it doesn't feel floppy.
Good idea on the switches, do you find stiffer springs at the hardware store or double up on stock springs?

If you have rattling plastic in your interior, use felt-backed tape like some car manufacturers do to kill rattling noises.

I also changed all the bulbs to LED and retrofitted LEDs onto the 3rd brake light.



350z seats are great, they are comfortable and they hold you quite well.
I also redid the door inserts in leather and the back seats in leather + new cloth.
Also made a new deck out of thin plywood since the stock one was falling apart, then I covered it in suede. Covered the headliner in suede too, stock material was ugly.

[asoomal]

Just find the factory sized ones from a hardware store (diameter, length, and the wire diameter), when I bought a new fog lamp switch from Nissan, it had a nice crisp feel to it.

I found some online and at a local parts store, a wee bit of trial and error.

[Hijacker]

Suede is a good alternative to leather if you prefer the feel of suede over leather.

A lot of double DIN head units that utilize a screen have provisions for a camera hookup these days. I considered a camera for my 240 because it's really nice in the Pathfinder, and if I were to do it, I would try to ninja-mount it in the license plate recess.