97+98 240sx SE and LE?

[miracosta]

k what is difference between SE and LE for koukis 97+? Reading on wikipedia it said The base model had 4 lug 15-inch wheels, a softer suspension, and no rear sway bar. SE and LE models came equipped with 16-inch, 5-lug alloy wheels, a stiffer suspension versus the base model, and a rear sway bar all standard on the SE. The LE was equipped with leather seats, keyless entry, an antitheft system, and a CD player. Antilock brakes and a viscous limited-slip differential came as an optional package to the SE model. Yet when i look on autotrader, etc, i see 240sx that are LE with cloth seats instead of the leather they talk about...... also is the base on koukis manual windows??? If anyone has a link that lists everything for base, se, and le, that would be greatly appreciated thanks

[S14DB]

Every S14 is electric windows. Only thing that makes a LE a LE is the Leather really.

[xtreme_s14]

Every S14 is electric windows. Only thing that makes a LE a LE is the Leather really.

not necessarily true.. i had a full blown SE model with leather interior. i questioned it too, but it appears i was not the only one fortunate enough to have had such luxurious seats =| i was under the impression that the LE model was a step up from the base model with the exception of 5 lug?

[miracosta]

not necessarily true.. i had a full blown SE model with leather interior. i questioned it too, but it appears i was not the only one fortunate enough to have had such luxurious seats =| i was under the impression that the LE model was a step up from the base model with the exception of 5 lug?

exactly, unless theres a legit documented article with facts on it...such as SE comes optional leather seats.... ive seen too many cars with like leather when theyre not supposed to have it...or just cloth without leather!

[KA240SX808]

There's brochures on eBay for cheap...

[fliprayzin240sx]

LE pretty much has everything on the catalog thats optional on the SEs. Base model can also get some of the stuff on the catalog. We've seen base model 4-luggers with ABS and VLSD.

[revat619]

LE's had everything an SE had plus any other available option and a cream color leather interior. Oh an gold emblems and the wood trim interior panels.

[The Chad]

Ahh but my SE came with Gold Emblems and Gold inserts on the center caps of the Chrome Factory Wheels.

[$nicklefritz]

de, le, se ......ive found found combos that dont have any relation to
the badging .. for example 97 le kouki evry thing sunroof .... but 4 lug
go figure :gives:

[nzmoman]

my LE came with leather, sunroof, VSLD, 5 lug.


I have not seen a factory LE with the upgraded sound system, or with ABS. Has anyone?

Also, in 10-12 years a lot of people have made their own little changes by adding leather to their SE or adding 5 lug and a VSLD to their base. Does anyone know which part of the VIN verifies the model to be either LE or SE or base.

[S14DB]

not necessarily true.. i had a full blown SE model with leather interior. i questioned it too, but it appears i was not the only one fortunate enough to have had such luxurious seats =| i was under the impression that the LE model was a step up from the base model with the exception of 5 lug?
I'm not saying that Only LE's came leather. I have seen base models with leather. I was saying that all LE's came with leather.
LE's had everything an SE had plus any other available option and a cream color leather interior. Oh an gold emblems and the wood trim interior panels.
What about Titanium Gray Metallic Leather? I thought the Wood Grain and the Gold Kit were dealer installed options?
de, le, se ......ive found found combos that dont have any relation to
the badging .. for example 97 le kouki evry thing sunroof .... but 4 lug
go figure :gives:


Only things that are on all SE/LE chassis is the 5-Lug and the Headlight(Fog)/Wiper(adjustable) stalks. Everything else can be added/removed as options when the car was built. Save for some early 97's, Kouki's were the end of production. So anything and everything left on the shelf's was thrown on cars. A lot of base models came with weird(SE/LE only) options. Packages were broken cause they ran out of one item. Extra package only items were put solo on cars. Most Kouki's were just a random assembly of parts. You can check to see if it is a SE/LE chassis by the model number on the build plate. S13's are a lot easier to check their trim. Late model S14's are just a clusterfuck. Some 96 build dates kept to their trim and options. but 97-98 build dates get crazier options as the time went on.

Every s14 is labeled SE/LE by carfax cause there is no way to check by the vin. so the dealer may be going by that.



I would assume everything is a Base and then add value to the car by what options it actually has. Cause other then the chassis being a Base or a LE/SE, there is no other rule. Other then the note of pedigree almost everything can be added/removed. The only thing that would be a major PITA to even consider adding is ABS.

[VROOOM]

I had a 98 LE no sunroof, no abs, no vlsd. but i had wood interior, cream seats, gold emblems and 5 lug

[projectRDM]

How many times do we have to go over this?

Wood trim and gold emblems were never OE. Never. Dealer installed only. Leather was an OE option on SEs, standard on LEs, but it was 'titanium' (cream) on Kouki models. If the leather in a Kouki is black it's not OE, or if it's pleated/gathered it's not OE, the OE leather is flat panel. Sunroof was standard on LEs, optional on SEs. ABS/VLSD was an option on both too. The only thing to really look for besides leather is the LE models came with the double DIN AM/FM cassette and CD headunit. SEs got the base cassette radio only on Koukis.

[98koukile]

dealers also added badges cuz they're retards and sold them as le mine had the 'premium' sound which was good for factory in the 90s, russ hit the nail on the head, as always

[S14DB]

How many times do we have to go over this?

Wood trim and gold emblems were never OE. Never. Dealer installed only. Leather was an OE option on SEs, standard on LEs, but it was 'titanium' (cream) on Kouki models. If the leather in a Kouki is black it's not OE, or if it's pleated/gathered it's not OE, the OE leather is flat panel. Sunroof was standard on LEs, optional on SEs. ABS/VLSD was an option on both too. The only thing to really look for besides leather is the LE models came with the double DIN AM/FM cassette and CD headunit. SEs got the base cassette radio only on Koukis.

Titanium is a dark grey not a cream color.

[projectRDM]

Titanium is a dark grey not a cream color.

It's called titanium, but it's a lighter color than what we'd consider it to be.

[VROOOM]

Titanium interior
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/nismothecat/IMG_1396.jpg

[S14DB]

Then what is the Dark Grey Leather in S14's?

[PITCH]

In canadian models didnt all SE/LE come with VLSD?

[INeedNewTires]

okay weird, my kouki is an original 97 w/ no moon roof, no rear sway, but has 5lug and black leather seats, AND black leather door panels. non adjustable steering column, but has fog lights and fog light switch (which doesnt work, fogs are hardwired) and started life as an auto.

Now i'm not the original owner so cant 100% know what has been swapped, but the leather looks factory and even the door panels are black leather (not peeled off carpet exposing 'leather' lookin shit, like s13 owners love to do)

Make sense of that for me?

Doesn't this look like factory leather

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee309/ineednewtires/S14a%20Pics/DSCN2965.jpg

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee309/ineednewtires/S14a%20Pics/DSCN2967.jpg

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee309/ineednewtires/S14a%20Pics/DSCN2969.jpg

[timlush]

Most likely the previous owner swapped in the seats and door panels.

[The Chad]

I had the double DIN Cassette and CD in my SE Zenki too...doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason behind this randomness :)

[projectRDM]

Then what is the Dark Grey Leather in S14's?

No such thing. Only black in the Zenkis, titanium in Koukis. I had all four years of the dealer brochures, there never was any other color offered in leather.


okay weird, my kouki is an original 97 w/ no moon roof, no rear sway, but has 5lug and black leather seats, AND black leather door panels. non adjustable steering column, but has fog lights and fog light switch (which doesnt work, fogs are hardwired) and started life as an auto.

Now i'm not the original owner so cant 100% know what has been swapped, but the leather looks factory and even the door panels are black leather (not peeled off carpet exposing 'leather' lookin shit, like s13 owners love to do)

Make sense of that for me?

Doesn't this look like factory leather

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee309/ineednewtires/S14a%20Pics/DSCN2965.jpg

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee309/ineednewtires/S14a%20Pics/DSCN2967.jpg

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee309/ineednewtires/S14a%20Pics/DSCN2969.jpg

Nope. Aftermarket. The leather interior cars have alcantara on the door panels, not leather. I sat in over a dozen new 95/96s when they were first on the lots and studied them well. I also have a pair of the panels in my car that I bought brand new from the dealer. They're impossible to find used in decent condition.
Those seats aren't OE either, they're pleated. The OE leather seats have completely flat panels on the bottom cushion and only two full length pleats on the backrest. The backseat doesn't have any pleats at all. I had a set for a long time I should have taken pictures of.

[VROOOM]

No such thing. Only black in the Zenkis, titanium in Koukis. I had all four years of the dealer brochures, there never was any other color offered in leather.




Nope. Aftermarket. The leather interior cars have alcantara on the door panels, not leather. I sat in over a dozen new 95/96s when they were first on the lots and studied them well. I also have a pair of the panels in my car that I bought brand new from the dealer. They're impossible to find used in decent condition.
Those seats aren't OE either, they're pleated. The OE leather seats have completely flat panels on the bottom cushion and only two full length pleats on the backrest. The backseat doesn't have any pleats at all. I had a set for a long time I should have taken pictures of.
those seats look just like the factory ones from the titanium picture and my car with the titianium leather never had alcantra door inserts.

[noodl35]

My first zenki 240sx SE had black leather seats, abs, and vlsd. My current 98 240sx LE has the cream leather, no abs, no vlsd, sunroof, and the double din casette/cd player.

[miracosta]

anyone care to explain why this LE has cloth interior? Cars For Sale: Car Details - AutoTrader.com (http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=251020356)

[S14DB]

That's a BASE chassis.

[projectRDM]

anyone care to explain why this LE has cloth interior? Cars For Sale: Car Details - AutoTrader.com (http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=251020356)

As said, it's a base model. There's no foglights, sideskirts, or 5lug wheels, which were standard on the LE as well as SE.

[second_chanceS14]

i have a zenki SE with black leather interior, fogs, 5lug, ABS,no sunroof, and the front bumper lip not sure about the vlsd and my tach gauges are white and black. My friend has a 97' kouki LE black cloth interior,sunroof,had fogs but they were removed,5lug,no ABS and he has same gauges in the tach like me....the green kouki on the autotrder reminds me of my friends zenki base model, has same balck tach gauges too. I think what s14DB said might be true where koukis just got what was left. whatever a 14 is still a 14.

[projectRDM]

i have a zenki SE with black leather interior, fogs, 5lug, ABS,no sunroof, and the front bumper lip not sure about the vlsd and my tach gauges are white and black. My friend has a 97' kouki LE black cloth interior,sunroof,had fogs but they were removed,5lug,no ABS and he has same gauges in the tach like me....the green kouki on the autotrder reminds me of my friends zenki base model, has same balck tach gauges too. I think what s14DB said might be true where koukis just got what was left. whatever a 14 is still a 14.

And your point is? Nothing in that means anything, you have an SE without roof but with leather and ABS. Your friend has an SE with roof. Sunroof was optional on both base and SE, so was leather. You're not discussing anything new here.

[Red Square]

okay weird, my kouki is an original 97 w/ no moon roof, no rear sway, but has 5lug and black leather seats, AND black leather door panels. non adjustable steering column, but has fog lights and fog light switch (which doesnt work, fogs are hardwired) and started life as an auto.

Now i'm not the original owner so cant 100% know what has been swapped, but the leather looks factory and even the door panels are black leather (not peeled off carpet exposing 'leather' lookin shit, like s13 owners love to do)

Make sense of that for me?

Doesn't this look like factory leather

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee309/ineednewtires/S14a%20Pics/DSCN2965.jpg



easy way to tell if its a kouki base model: non adjustable steering column, no trunk release, window wiper speeds. too bad he didnt leave the black cluster gauge.

[second_chanceS14]

And your point is? Nothing in that means anything, you have an SE without roof but with leather and ABS. Your friend has an SE with roof. Sunroof was optional on both base and SE, so was leather. You're not discussing anything new here.



I'm just agreeing with what s14db said about kouki getting left over parts from previous productions, i'm jjst sharing information about my car and my friends in order to help. :smash:

[Pacman]

LE's had everything an SE had plus any other available option and a cream color leather interior. Oh an gold emblems and the wood trim interior panels.
I love the cream color interiors! Too bad it wouldn't look good against the red exterior :( Did they have optional black emblems?

[miracosta]

anyone know what a base 97 kouki has?dunno if i wanna get a SE or base...

[atom]

SE or LE for sure. The side skirts and 5 lug alone make it worth it. Plus you get some other nice stuff like power locks, tilt steering wheel, cruise, etc.

[projectRDM]

anyone know what a base 97 kouki has?dunno if i wanna get a SE or base...

Yes. But what would be the point of listing it all out when you can google all the specs or even use the search function here and find them. Plus, base models did have options so not every one you look at will be the same.

[fiznowler]

If kouki's only got titanium (cream) interior what is this? I just bought this car as a parts car. I have pulled interior already it is going into my 97se.
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk110/fiznowler/240%20parts%20car%20pics/interiorparts.jpg
Here it is pulled.
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk110/fiznowler/240%20parts%20car%20pics/pulledinteriorall.jpg

This is out of an SE car. It is oem I pulled it myself it is not recovered.
Here is a link to a a nissan broshure with the tan color in it. I am trying to figure out just how rare this color is.

1997 Nissan 240SX Prestige Sales Brochure (USDM) (http://issuu.com/240sxone/docs/1997_nissan_240sx_prestige_sales_brochure_usdm?mod e=embed&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Fdarkicons %2Flayout.xml&showFlipBtn=true)

[blueshark123]

the best deal i got was on a base s14 95 that had all the se options besides 5 lug leather seats and fogs for 1250

[PNgo12]

theres a couple sites that you can use to decode the vin number and such, im not on my regular computer cause its bookmarked on my own computer, ill post it up when i get home for you guys :)

[noturS14]

Projectraine.com<<<<garage guides<<<<page two vin decoding for the S-chassis
THE GARAGE GUIDES - 240SX VIN / Model ID Decoding (http://garage.projectraine.com/content_guides/240_vinmid/vinmid01.html)

[Wabash9000]

they are all weird. My 95 "base" came 4 lug open diff no rear sway no fog lights. but came with moon roof, tilt wheel, factory cd player, premium audio package.

[fiznowler]

I am more surprised about the color of the leather rather than it having it. I have never seen tan leather in a s14 until this one. After I bought this parts car with it I am trying to see if anyone else has it or has seen it in a s14. My buddy on another forum said he has seen it in person on a red kouki and it was for sure original to that car as well. I found a forsale add that is really old for a black 5speed with tan leather same door panels and 2 tone carried throughout. I believe it is nissan OEM I am really wondering how many cars were produced with it. I have seen titanium leather this is definitly not it, this is as tan as you can get.

[PNgo12]

Projectraine.com<<<<garage guides<<<<page two vin decoding for the S-chassis
THE GARAGE GUIDES - 240SX VIN / Model ID Decoding (http://garage.projectraine.com/content_guides/240_vinmid/vinmid01.html)

aww booo looks like you beat me to it

[fiznowler]

easy way to tell if its a kouki base model: non adjustable steering column, no trunk release, window wiper speeds. too bad he didnt leave the black cluster gauge.
What is special about the base model cluster? I actually prefer the white.:confused:

[PNgo12]

What is special about the base model cluster? I actually prefer the white.:confused:

you answered your own question lol, its just preference some like the white and some like the black faces

[fiznowler]

I guess i was reading too much into it LOL. It has been a long day I am ready to get home grab a beer and get back to my 5 speed swap.

[projectRDM]

they are all weird. My 95 "base" came 4 lug open diff no rear sway no fog lights. but came with moon roof, tilt wheel, factory cd player, premium audio package.

We've been over this. Sunroof and the 6speaker CD system were an option on the base model in 1995. VLSD was an option on both base and SE, but it also came with ABS, it's not as common. So having an open diff doesn't mean anything.

I am more surprised about the color of the leather rather than it having it. I have never seen tan leather in a s14 until this one. After I bought this parts car with it I am trying to see if anyone else has it or has seen it in a s14. My buddy on another forum said he has seen it in person on a red kouki and it was for sure original to that car as well. I found a forsale add that is really old for a black 5speed with tan leather same door panels and 2 tone carried throughout. I believe it is nissan OEM I am really wondering how many cars were produced with it. I have seen titanium leather this is definitly not it, this is as tan as you can get.

That's aftermarket. You can tell because the door panel inserts are leather too. The OE inserts are alcantara (suede). They never made a leather insert for the doors OE, but as said before in this thread leather was added at the dealership as well, before sale, so people still assume it's factory. I used to install leather kits, we did brand new cars every day before delivery and sometimes even before a sale. If the buyer doesn't know it came with cloth, they assume it's OE. It's not.

[fiznowler]

Hmm..I have seen alot of 240s with leather in the door panels. Are all of those aftermarket kits? If this is aftermarket then the quality is outstanding to be in as good of shape as it is considering the conditions it was in. I would like to find the company that made it if thats the case and buy another set from them. The seats all have the exact same stitching as the ones in the broshure and the door panels look the same.

[projectRDM]

Hmm..I have seen alot of 240s with leather in the door panels. Are all of those aftermarket kits? If this is aftermarket then the quality is outstanding to be in as good of shape as it is considering the conditions it was in. I would like to find the company that made it if thats the case and buy another set from them. The seats all have the exact same stitching as the ones in the broshure and the door panels look the same.

Alcantara was OE. Period. If it's leather/vinyl or some form of leatherette on the doors, it's not OE. Katzskins is the biggest aftermarket leather supplier, they supply the majority of leather interiors found in new cars. The inserts are easy to install too on the S14 panel since it has a deep ridge, and doors don't fade as bad as seats either so they generally last longer and look better even with age.