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Infiniti M35/M45 Maintenance and Repair

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Comments

  • a445a445 Member Posts: 9
    I also have an M35 sport fully loaded. I special ordered and took delivery Nov 1, 2005. At about 3,000 miles the entire center console "locked up" on me during "bootup" after I started the car. As you mentioned, nothing worked. At the 3,500 mile oil/filter change I addressed it with my dealer. He knew of only one other instance and could not get it to repeat. The only suggestion given was a compatability issue with the Blue tooth phone. My phone is one of Infiniti's compatible phones but disabled it anyway. It reduced the frequency of this problem recurring but has not cured it. I have tried turning off the stereo system before I shut off the car, still, it has occurred about 10 -12 times with no rhyme or reason. Did you have the Clarion Nav system replaced and did that correct the problem?
  • a445a445 Member Posts: 9
    I received the same mailer the other day. I take my M35 Sport in tomorrow (June 13, 2006) for the 7,000 mile oil/filter change and this ICC reprogramming. The only issue I have had is occasionally the Lane Departure Warning System either does not come on at all or the light on the dash stays illuminated and does not function either. Both of these conditions correct themselves as soon as I turn off the car and restart. I will repost when I have driven the car a bit to see how it works.
  • sfcharliesfcharlie Member Posts: 402
    I notice in the lower left corner of the screen, when a CD is playing, the "Audio Text" box (which, I believe, if selected and then "Enter" is pressed, should lead to display of Artist and Song title), but neither I nor the Senior Service Tech could figure out how to select that "Audio Text" box.
  • art234art234 Member Posts: 99
    In order for the audio text function to work the CD has to be encoded with the artist and title information. Virtually no CD's sold commercially are so equipped, so the Audio Text button should remain shaded as in not available.
  • a445a445 Member Posts: 9
    I have had only 1 cd encoded, I hate to say this, but it was an older Billy Joel cd. The song title came up for every song automatically. I have even tried burning my own cds in mp3 format with the title info and it is still not "encoded" properly. Oh well!
  • sfcharliesfcharlie Member Posts: 402
    Thanks for quick clarifications of "audio text" feature. Might be universal disparity between new cars' capabilities and CDs being "encoded" in some way they expect to find but isn't there at all or is there in different code. During one of several test drives of A6, I realized I was driving Audi salesperson crazy by asking several times about lack of "audio text" for radio stations and CDs I had brought along.
  • dingchavezdingchavez Member Posts: 19
    Hi, I have a family member that is interested in purchasing a luxury sedan. She has narrowed it to the Lexus GS and the Infiniti M. The question I had was did any of you have trouble with the aluminum or wood trim turning color from the sun.

    I have a 99 maxima and the woodgrain in there faded so badly I had it replaced and after the warranty ran out I just removed the peices rather than paying to replace them. If you guys can give me any feedback on discoloration I would appreciate it...
  • bdkinnhbdkinnh Member Posts: 292
    I think it's a little soon for something like that to show up.

    I have a GS, and no fading so far. However, it's a glossy wood, and sometimes the glare off of it is very annoying.
  • purplem46purplem46 Member Posts: 54
    If you go for the M, you may have the option for the aluminum which looks pretty nice. I have wood, but keep it out of the sun (In Texas, everything fades in the sun).
  • curt2005curt2005 Member Posts: 70
    That URL doesn't work any more.
  • a445a445 Member Posts: 9
    I have an M35 Sport that I had the wood put back in. I live in Las Vegas so I have the windows tinted. I keep a sun shade in the front window when it is out in the sun. I have not had any problems, but as another person had stated, it may be too soon to tell. I do thoroughly enjoy the looks of the wood trim in the M versus the Aluminum and the fact that the wood has a matte finish versus the high gloss of most others, no glare problem at all.
  • a445a445 Member Posts: 9
    As I stated on the 12th, I had the 7,000 mile Oil/Filter change completed and rotated the tires. While in the shop they did the ICC reprogramming. Drove it around town yesterday and today. Tried everything out, CC, both speed and following distance modes and no problems. I did have to have the tech look at it before I left the dealership though. When I started the car the "Amber" "Cruise" light lit up and remained on indicating a failure of the ICC System. Apparently the connections they have to get to are behind the grill and are a real bear to access. When he plugged the wiring harness back together he did not quite make it. Another couple of minutes and I was on my way. The car runs awesome!
  • mwgmwg Member Posts: 28
    My compass rarely registers E or W .When it isn't registering N or S it displays NW, SE, etc. I doubt that we don't have any streets running true East or West and wonder whether others experience this condition.Am bringing it in for service Tuesday so would welcome comments as to whether this is the normal situation
    Thanks,

    Emgee
  • dingchavezdingchavez Member Posts: 19
    thanks for the feed back I appreciate it.
  • blov8rblov8r Member Posts: 567
    any of you have trouble with the aluminum or wood trim turning color from the sun

    The aluminum trim in my Sport is in its second Tucson summer and shows NO sign of fading or color change whatsoever. I've also had a Q45 that went through 4 Tucson summers w/ no changes in the wood, leather, or vinyl. Further, I have a buddy who has an I30 since new ... several years of the desert sun hasn't faded anything. Bart :shades:
  • dingchavezdingchavez Member Posts: 19
    Hey thanks I appreciate you responging. I just have one other question though. Is that aluminum trim plastic? Thanks.
  • sfcharliesfcharlie Member Posts: 402
    I get E and W regularly
  • art234art234 Member Posts: 99
    Does anyone else have a problem with the fact that the nav system has 2 voices (one with an obvious Japanese accent giving directions, and a California accent saying actual street names)? I find it a little disappointing for such a sophisticated system (my Lexus is all one voice), and even my Tom Tom is one voice.

    Not a biggie, just wondering if anyone else is bothered by it.
  • varixvarix Member Posts: 72
    The different nav voices don't bother me a bit; variety is the spice of life! Now I have three women giving me directions in my M34X, 2 computers and 1 live wife and do they ever fight with each other!
  • sfcharliesfcharlie Member Posts: 402
    "...my issue is that the steering feels too light sometimes particularly at low speeds....Maybe the steering feel changes over time as the car breaks in."

    I've only put 700 miles on a new M35 RWD, but I became aware of what you describe. Not sure why I didn't have greater awareness of it during test drives. My sense is that it's a characteristic of M (maybe better -- "more German" -- with Sport versions), not a malfunction of your car or mine, unfortunately. Of cars I drove, only Audi and BMW had that "resistance" you desire.
  • mwgmwg Member Posts: 28
    I suspect that my wife is a bit jealous of the other two women. Previouly she was the only one who could direct me.Now a pleasant woman asks me for my "Command". We should call her Genie. Any thoughts?
  • blov8rblov8r Member Posts: 567
    one with an obvious Japanese accent

    Japanese accent? Not even remotely. Two different voices, yes; but no accent. The voice that names the streets is more synthetic sounding, but not at all Japanese IMO. My wife's Lexus has one voice ... in a nav system that I feel is materially inferior to the one in my M-car. Bart
  • carnaughtcarnaught Member Posts: 3,497
    The M's voice on the system sounds strictly business if not impatient.

    That's one thing I like about my Acura TL, a quite sexy voice. Trixie, I called her, is now serving my son.
  • sfcharliesfcharlie Member Posts: 402
    From Comparative Road Test Review in Automobile Magazine:

    The Infiniti M45 takes all the classic BMW attributes and amplifies them. The body is in-credibly stiff, the engine is incredibly powerful, the suspension is incredibly damped, and the brakes heat up and grab incredibly swiftly. The car delivers great test numbers, but it makes you feel uncomfortable, especially the steering, which becomes very light once you turn into a corner. Sherman says, "It feels like a case of premature removal from the development oven."
  • avinebergavineberg Member Posts: 6
    I've put about 12,000 miles on my 2006 M35X. Before leasing, last summer, I read all the reviews and all of the posts on various sites - including Edmunds. The reviews were fantastic and so were the posts. Many former BMW and Mercedes owners raved about the M.

    I'm guessing there are other potential buyers that are doing the same right now. In my opinion, the best things about this car are the sound system (best I've ever heard in a car) and the interior.

    I really don't like the drive AT ALL. On the highway, the steering is all over the place. The transmission shifts are really pronounced in sound and feel, reminding me of a stick shift being driven by someone that really doesn't know how to drive. When you dive the car hard, it does perform. However, when you drive the car normally, it feels like you are pulling a boat.

    If I could get out of the lease today - I would (and I still might, regardless of the financial loss). I dislike this car so much I left it at our winter home in Florida all winter. This way, I would only have to drive it one week per month. Our two other cars are an Audi A4 and a BMW X3. Both of cars drive better than the M.

    All I can think about each time I drive the M is - I really can't stand this car! I kick myself each day for not choosing the Mercedes E350 or BMW 530.
  • sfcharliesfcharlie Member Posts: 402
    Buy-out Your Lease

    Not a lease specialist, but maybe it's possible to get out. Buying out your lease, as I understand it, would require you to pay off the residual value of the vehicle, plus any remaining payments, to the leasing company (not sure if you have to pay the monthly sales uses tax on the payments remaining).

    Then you'd own it and have to sell it. You'd obviously have lost money, but how much would depend on what you could get for it as a used car. If that's significantly more than the residual, you'd recapture part of your loss.

    I guess others will correct me where I am missing pieces of the picture.
  • clpurnellclpurnell Member Posts: 1,083
    If it is an IFS(Infiniti Financial Services) Lease it has a payoff just like any loan. Call and get the number it may be worth more than you owe if you got a good deal. Just sold my 2003 FX35 that I leased for 39 months at month 38 with 20k over in mileage for 300 over my residual to Carmax.
  • blov8rblov8r Member Posts: 567
    I've never kept a car to lease's end ... typically get out 2 - 3 months ahead of time because I get antsy or see a special incentive offer. I've always come out a bit ahead, never behind. To some extent I'm sure I do well because I turn a car in at 33 months w/ 18 - 20K miles, good rubber, no dings, regularly detailed, never wrecked or dinged, etc, so they're essentially flawless. Bart
  • scmetalscmetal Member Posts: 7
    I have about 700 miles on my M35x and I have noticed several instances of random downshifting. Particularly bothersome is when it occurs on the highway briging the RPMs to about 5000 and lurching the car. Anybody else seen this?
  • sfcharliesfcharlie Member Posts: 402
    Closing in on 1000 miles on M35 and haven't experienced that, in either "manual" or automatic shift mode. I don't find the car a lot of fun to drive, but it has not misbehaved in any way.
  • blov8rblov8r Member Posts: 567
    15 months and not a moment such as you've described. Bart
  • carnaughtcarnaught Member Posts: 3,497
    I have about 700 miles on my M35x and I have noticed several instances of random downshifting

    No such problem with over 14000 mi. and more than 1yr. of ownership.
  • art234art234 Member Posts: 99
    I work for a Japanese company and can tell when a Japanese person is speaking English, even with little or no accent. The main voice who speaks everything but street names is Japanese in origin, with minimal accent, but detectable.

    It just seems that they could have used one voice rather than inserting an American for street names. Lexus is one voice, but as said elsewhere the Infiniti map seems better.

    Just an observation, not a complaint.
  • bcorigbcorig Member Posts: 13
    My M35 RWD downshifts at 45 mph while going downhill
    Began shortly after purchase.
    I posted this about three months ago and got no responses. More than an annoyance: sometimes sends the RPM to 4000. I shift over to manual and shift into the highest gear.
    Plan to to mention this at the 15K service.
    O/W I love this car.
  • bcorigbcorig Member Posts: 13
    To each his own
    I test drove the
    E350 - steering too clunky in the front end, underpowered and overpriced plus black dots for reliability with Consurmer Reports.
    BMW 530 Too small - nice accel and more block dots.
    GS330 Too small, no trunk, not enough power. Everything is an add on
    RL - are you kidding?
    The only thing the above I would prefer are the passenger seats which are superior in all the above models.
  • sfcharliesfcharlie Member Posts: 402
    "I really don't like the drive AT ALL. On the highway, the steering is all over the place. The transmission shifts are really pronounced in sound and feel, reminding me of a stick shift being driven by someone that really doesn't know how to drive. When you dive the car hard, it does perform. However, when you drive the car normally, it feels like you are pulling a boat."

    Did these aspects of the way the car drives not come to the fore, in your test-driving? There's a discussion on the Luxury Preformance Sedan forum about how much we are or should be influenced by data from CR and JDP versus our own test drives. Your experience seems to suggest that some combination of both misled you big-time.

    Also, could you say more about "steering is all over the place"?

    Some responses imply you'd have been crazy to have considered various German cars, but, from your description of what you hate, maybe the M35 (rather than M35x) or the Audi A6 S-Line or the Mercedes E350 with Sport Package (especially upcoming 2007 version) might suit you.

    I'm mildly disappointed my M35 is not more "nimble" around turns and curves, but, empathically, hate to hear someone feeling so miserable about a $50,000 car and so wonder about the disparity between what you thought you were buying and what you got.
  • tayl0rdtayl0rd Member Posts: 1,926
    You are not alone, I live in Boston and I have had the same problem. I wondered if I left a key to near the driveway. I have been checking this board to see if other have had this problem. I think there are problems with the "smart" key. Please post if you find a solution. I would hate to find a foot of snow in my car this winter.

    I'd be much more concerned with finding a foot of snow where my car used to be! :surprise: As long as the snow hasn't melted, it won't cause any harm.
  • blov8rblov8r Member Posts: 567
    "I really don't like the drive AT ALL. On the highway, the steering is all over the place. The transmission shifts are really pronounced in sound and feel, reminding me of a stick shift being driven by someone that really doesn't know how to drive.

    Something's got to be wrong w/ your car. None of what you're experiencing makes sense ... I'd ask the dealer to test drive another M35X ... that will answer the question for you. Bart
  • mrshermanoaksmrshermanoaks Member Posts: 5
    Anyone know if there has been a fix for the 10 character limitation on the XM band and song name problem? Or if such a problem can even be fixed?

    Don't know why this one bothers me so much, but it does....
  • sagarchrsagarchr Member Posts: 23
    "I don't find the car a lot of fun to drive, but it has not misbehaved in any way."

    I am curious to know if you test drove an M35 Sport before you made your decision? And if you did, what your impression was. It seems to me that the base M35, I guess they call it the Luxury model, is targeted at the Lexus and the Sport model is targeted at the 530i, with a tighter suspension and cornering. I am still on the fence between the luxury, sport and 530i.
  • sfcharliesfcharlie Member Posts: 402
    "I am curious to know if you test drove an M35 Sport before you made your decision?"

    To my current regret, I did not. In retrospect, I am not sure why not. I would enocurage you, however, to do so, to see if as tighter feel when cornering derives from the tighter suspension. That would add substantially to the pleasure of driving the car. And, I'd add, at the risk of drawing fire on this forum, if you have not test-driven the Audi A6 S-Line, try it, unless you've ruled out Audis entirely for other reasons than sport-driving pleasure.
  • sagarchrsagarchr Member Posts: 23
    Actually, I had the good fortune of being invited to the Audi "Streets of Tomorrow" driving event in Miami on May 28th of this year. It was held to introduce the new SUV. However, Audi had their full line on hand to drive on a closed course test track. It was truly a fantastic event. If it comes to your area I highly recommend it. The car I really liked was the A6 4.2 quattro, lots of power and sticks like glue to the road.

    I have to admit, may main deciding factor in choosing a car this time is ventilated seats, a friend has them on his MB CLS and they make driving in the Florida heat a pleasure. Audi only offers them on the A8. I have heard that the 530i has them as an option, however no where can I find info on it.

    Thanks for your reply.
  • art234art234 Member Posts: 99
    Has anyone had any problems with the Audio System in the M? I was driving the other day, and the volume just dropped out, and now it is very low on radio and CD, and doesn't sound right on audio DVD--it sounds like the bass if any is in the front, rather than the sub in the back, and it definitely sounds like there is sound "missing".

    I have an appointment for service Wed, but I wonder if they are truly able to diagnose--if they play the same CD in 2 different cars they will probably hear the difference. The stereo sounds nothing like it did before the problem developed.

    Anyone else?
  • tawolcotttawolcott Member Posts: 1
    Driving this morning, heard a small pop.. Then I lost all audio..nothing, no voice recog, no radio, cd, dvd.. all the voice commands work, but not audio feedback.

    Even when I go into the options and drill into audio, it won't let me into the sub menus.. Almost like it doesn't know the audio exists.

    Anyone?
  • sfcharliesfcharlie Member Posts: 402
    There's an Infiniti service bulletin titled " 2006 INFINITI M; NO SOUND FROM AUDIO SYSTEM" and the only solution listed is "Replace the Bose amp with a new one."
  • art234art234 Member Posts: 99
    My issue was not so much NO audio, there sounded like a hole in the audio--it is as if the Bose EQ has stopped working--the emphasis on the low end is not there, and if you move your head around it sounds like some sounds drop out--a phasing issue, which I relate to the Dolby 5.1 decoder.

    They have replaced the radio already which made a small difference, but as I think the Bose and 5.1 circuitry is in the amp, I am going to ask them to replace the amp as well.

    The sound just lost its body--it used to sound much more hearty if you get that....the dealer is somewhat dumbfounded, but with my background in the audio/video industry it is definitely noticeable.

    Thanks for the comments--I'll keep you all posted.
  • rlejr66rlejr66 Member Posts: 44
    This is a very good question that I have yet to see answered. You would think they could send out a software upgrade that would at least permit the information to scroll across the screen as some of the, excuse me for saying this, GM models do with what I believe are Delphi radios.
  • art234art234 Member Posts: 99
    They have ordered an amp for me but I think the problem is a bad subwoofer. It's working but it rattles and has very low output. Has anyone dropped the rear deck cover and noticed how the speaker is actually mounted under there?

    Has anyone had any experience with a bad sub?
  • sfcharliesfcharlie Member Posts: 402
    They won't invsstigate the rattle?
  • ghstudioghstudio Member Posts: 972
    I pulled into a parking spot and something was sticking up (the rod holding the concrete marker to the ground. The rod was only about an inch over the top of the concrete, but that was enough. When I backed out, I tore the plastic cover under the engine of my m35. Since I didn't want something dangling down from the car, I reached down and folded the torn piece up and discovered that the cover is thinner than most plastic packing material I've encountered recently...I probably could have just ripped off the piecde that tore. Hopefully, it isn't too expensive to replace and in reality, it isn't going to get fixed quickly because I'll just do it again.

    The M35 is so low, I guess I really have to be careful that I never pull all the way into a parking spot again.
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