OEM-like dash kit for aftermarket Nav install

[RobPaulson]

I remember someone posting an AMAZING pic of what looked like the OEM plastic (the pattern surrounding the center air vents). The closest i could find was in this thread:

http://forums.altimas.org/zerothread?id=318934

The dash kit the shop used to install my system just looks/feels cheap, and does NOT even come close to fitting flush to its surroundings.

I will post pics when i get home to show why I'm disappointed, basically on the driver side, there is a very noticeable and sloppy gap between the kit and the leather (is that leather?) dash. I have tried taking it out and adjusting assuming maybe a wire just got bunched up behind there, but it seems to be all clear. I need a quality dash kit that will fit flush to the surrounding dash.

I also looked into the Metra kit, but it doesnt look like they attempted to replicate the OEM plastic design. Any info would be much appreciated.

[Drootz]

I remember someone posting an AMAZING pic of what looked like the OEM plastic (the pattern surrounding the center air vents). The closest i could find was in this thread:

http://forums.altimas.org/zerothread?id=318934

The dash kit the shop used to install my system just looks/feels cheap, and does NOT even come close to fitting flush to its surroundings.

I will post pics when i get home to show why I'm disappointed, basically on the driver side, there is a very noticeable and sloppy gap between the kit and the leather (is that leather?) dash. I have tried taking it out and adjusting assuming maybe a wire just got bunched up behind there, but it seems to be all clear. I need a quality dash kit that will fit flush to the surrounding dash.

I also looked into the Metra kit, but it doesnt look like they attempted to replicate the OEM plastic design. Any info would be much appreciated.

Just buy the Stock Dash piece I think it was like $38 from my dealership I bought my car from just be sure to specify if you have dual zone climate control or regular air conditioning controls and tell them you want the stock dash piece for the bose nav system and it should fit your Aftermarket deck NO problems......

I myself have the 3.5 se sedan and I installed my Alpine W200 Dual din DVD/Nav unit and I just went to nissan and ordered a spare dash bezel for my year for the model with nav. and it fit's perfectly and keeps the dash EXACTLY to stock. I too ordered the metra kit first and thought it didn't look like the stock dash at all so I ordered the stock piece and was totally satisfied....

I'll try to post a pic of it tomorrow for you.....

Drootz

[RobPaulson]

Just buy the Stock Dash piece I think it was like $38 from my dealership I bought my car from just be sure to specify if you have dual zone climate control or regular air conditioning controls and tell them you want the stock dash piece for the bose nav system and it should fit your Aftermarket deck NO problems......

I myself have the 3.5 se sedan and I installed my Alpine W200 Dual din DVD/Nav unit and I just went to nissan and ordered a spare dash bezel for my year for the model with nav. and it fit's perfectly and keeps the dash EXACTLY to stock. I too ordered the metra kit first and thought it didn't look like the stock dash at all so I ordered the stock piece and was totally satisfied....

I'll try to post a pic of it tomorrow for you.....

Drootz

oh wow thats great news drootz, thanks for the info! look forward to the pics!

[Italianbulldog85]

i ordered the stock dash piece off of trademotion and realized that you need the nav brackets as well bc the metra ones wont work...

[Italianbulldog85]

So i went to buy the brackets and a question arose... do i need 9 and 10 in this picture... described as radio w/o navigation left/right



Or 13 and 14 in this picture... described as bracket navigation left/right

[Drootz]

So i went to buy the brackets and a question arose... do i need 9 and 10 in this picture... described as radio w/o navigation left/right



Or 13 and 14 in this picture... described as bracket navigation left/right

I was able to re-use my brackets so I would try that first (but i can't remember if they were from this nissan, my 2004 toyota I used to have my alpine deck in, or if they came with my alpine head unit) but you might want to order the oem nav brackets as well just in case i do remember mine atleast looking similar in design to those (picture 2 parts 13 and 14).....You can always return them if you don't need them or try stock pieces first then by nav ones if necessary.....

Of the parts in the picture diagram you need part 15 dash nav bezel in the second picture for sure just make sure like I said before to specify which air conditioning system you have (dual zone or regular).

Here are the pics I promised....Stock dash bezel with Alpine w200 w/navigation on

Stock dash bezel with nav screen off

Hope this helps,Drootz
Modified by Drootz at 10:53 PM 8/2/2008

[Italianbulldog85]

the a-holes who installed my nav like 3 months ago never gave me back the brackets and i didnt notice until now... they just gave me the stock radio... i guess ill just order it all and return what i dont use...

deck looks nice by the way

[AppleBonker]

the a-holes who installed my nav like 3 months ago never gave me back the brackets and i didnt notice until now... they just gave me the stock radio... i guess ill just order it all and return what i dont use...

deck looks nice by the way

Check the FAQ in my signature. It should have a link to buy from a Nissan parts retailer as well. The only problem with the oem style kit is that there is only one available for cars with manual climate controls (like pictured above). The navigation panel for auto climate control units has too large of a cutout. I know what the OP is saying about the metra kit (I've got it and I think it looks terrible). I'm planning on making my own some point when I have the time, but until then I'll suck it up with the metra. I ordered the navigation trim piece to see if it would work, but the gap on either side of a double din unit is about 1 inch and would need to be filled in somehow. Personally, I didn't think I could do it and make it look reasonable.

Here is how big the gap is (this is the factory style piece for auto climate controls flipped around to compare the double din size with the opening for the factory navigation unit):

[rjdmmfl1]

Check the FAQ in my signature. It should have a link to buy from a Nissan parts retailer as well. The only problem with the oem style kit is that there is only one available for cars with manual climate controls (like pictured above). The navigation panel for auto climate control units has too large of a cutout. I know what the OP is saying about the metra kit (I've got it and I think it looks terrible). I'm planning on making my own some point when I have the time, but until then I'll suck it up with the metra. I ordered the navigation trim piece to see if it would work, but the gap on either side of a double din unit is about 1 inch and would need to be filled in somehow. Personally, I didn't think I could do it and make it look reasonable.

Here is how big the gap is (this is the factory style piece for auto climate controls flipped around to compare the double din size with the opening for the factory navigation unit):

I've seen it done using the OEM navigation console and brackets.. some bondo and spray paint and it was on... of course you loose the factory texture that way!

Its not as much of a pain for me since I have the carbon fiber dash kit, but without it, I def think it would bother me!

[AppleBonker]

I've seen it done using the OEM navigation console and brackets.. some bondo and spray paint and it was on... of course you loose the factory texture that way!

Its not as much of a pain for me since I have the carbon fiber dash kit, but without it, I def think it would bother me!

Oh yeah, forgot about that. If it really bugs you, you might be able to find a dash kit like Doc has. It'll take the crappy look of the metra out of the picture. Also, I'm not really sure how you could use bondo to fill in the gap between the HU and the trim panel, but I guess it could be done (I'd be too worried about it cracking). When I make mine, I'll probably use the OEM nav panel and fiberglass over it to make a smooth surface, then bondo sand and paint. Obviously most people wont want to mess with this, so maybe a dash kit would be best if you have the auto climate controls. As far as I know, though, there aren't any dash kits that have the OEM look (just carbon fiber and a few others I believe - there's a thread about that on here somewhere).

[RobPaulson]

Check the FAQ in my signature. It should have a link to buy from a Nissan parts retailer as well. The only problem with the oem style kit is that there is only one available for cars with manual climate controls (like pictured above). The navigation panel for auto climate control units has too large of a cutout. I know what the OP is saying about the metra kit (I've got it and I think it looks terrible). I'm planning on making my own some point when I have the time, but until then I'll suck it up with the metra. I ordered the navigation trim piece to see if it would work, but the gap on either side of a double din unit is about 1 inch and would need to be filled in somehow. Personally, I didn't think I could do it and make it look reasonable.

Here is how big the gap is (this is the factory style piece for auto climate controls flipped around to compare the double din size with the opening for the factory navigation unit)

ugh why cant anything with this car be simple lol?

thanks for the heads up though bunker, i was about to order that stock unit but i have the auto climate control so i think im going to just have to deal with the metra. . . hopefully a better panel will be released sometime in the future . . . i dont have the tools or know-how to bondo or fabricate something myself =(

[rjdmmfl1]

Applebonker, I have an idea.... what do you think about the possibility of getting the oem double din for manual climate controls, and measuring out the appropriate size and using a dremel, file and sandpaper to contour the opening to look like the one for the auto climate controls..... I think its possible!

[AppleBonker]

Applebonker, I have an idea.... what do you think about the possibility of getting the oem double din for manual climate controls, and measuring out the appropriate size and using a dremel, file and sandpaper to contour the opening to look like the one for the auto climate controls..... I think its possible!

Great minds think alike. I definitely considered that, but the manual climate controls are wider than the auto. You can dremel off the lips where the textured plate dips in to the climate controls (if you can picture what I'm talking about here), but there will still be a gap to the left or right of the auto climate control with the new trim piece. See below for two reference pics that might explain this better.

[gucio69]

How about attaching (gluing, dbl. sided tape, antyhing that might work) pieces of flat plastic or polystyrene (sp?) on both sides (cut to size to fill the gaps on both sides) and painting those silver to match the other interior trim pieces. Not completely clean look but it would give the impression of being "factory".

[AppleBonker]

How about attaching (gluing, dbl. sided tape, antyhing that might work) pieces of flat plastic or polystyrene (sp?) on both sides (cut to size to fill the gaps on both sides) and painting those silver to match the other interior trim pieces. Not completely clean look but it would give the impression of being "factory".

This certainly would be possible. But you wouldn't be able to fill the gap with the factory texture. Personally, I can't see any way of getting this thing in without major modification to meet my expectations for looks (then again, I may very well be aiming higher than most).

[Brandon6127]

Ok you guys are talking about dremeling it for manuals. Is that kit you have pictured there for auto climate controls. I am trying to find a kit to install a 2 din in dash nav and i have auto climate controls. I keep hearing it takes alot of fabing. If that little bit is all i had to dremel i would do that in a heartbeat if it looks flush everywhere else.

[Brandon6127]

As long as it all would line up i would be fine with whatever texture is on it. I might put a whole dash kit within the car anyways. I have the blonde interior with the wood grain. So i might match the whole dash kit and wood grain. Is there a kit out there that looks good (fit wise) but not texture?

[AppleBonker]

Ok you guys are talking about dremeling it for manuals. Is that kit you have pictured there for auto climate controls. I am trying to find a kit to install a 2 din in dash nav and i have auto climate controls. I keep hearing it takes alot of fabing. If that little bit is all i had to dremel i would do that in a heartbeat if it looks flush everywhere else.

Ok, you probably don't need to be posting similar questions in multiple threads, but I will answer here as well in case anyone else stumbles upon this thread and doesn't see the one in the A/V section.

The factory textured piece you see above is the Bose with nav factory trim panel. It is for auto climate controls. Unfortunately, the opening for the head unit is too large because the factory nav screen is wider than double din size. See pic below (notice the gap between the trim panel and my head unit):

There is a factory textured piece for cars with manual climate controls (some members on these forums have used it). However, the pic above showing the difference in size/shape from the manual climate controls (see the Metra piece I'm holding - it says Metra on the back) and the auto climate controls demonstrates that even if you dremel, there will be a gap to the left and right of your auto climate controls.

Ok, simply put: If you have auto climate controls, you have two options for a factory textured look. In my opinion, there is no way to make a gap look acceptable, regardless of what you fill it with.

1. Install the Bose nav panel and have a ~1 inch gap on either side of the head unit (which you will want to fill with something)

2. Install the manual climate control piece (after dremeling so the auto climate control will fit) and have a gap on either side of your auto climate control (although only a fraction of an inch).

[atlascustoms]

Does anyone have a part number for this bezel?

[AlexN09]

Pretty sure it's this:

68260-JA00A