Infiniti I30/I35

cpa4u

How have you been? My I30 hit 10,000 miles this past weekend!! No problems at all so far.

vlilich

tgif888: I drive a maxima right now, looking for a change. I am happy with the car but wanted to step up to a luxury line. I understand that some might say that the I30 or the I35 are just souped up maximas, I disagree.

mvargo1

I35 is also larger inside than TL, has a larger trunk, a split folding rear seat, and better ergonomics.

vlilich

tgif888: I drive a maxima right now, looking for a change. I am happy with the car but wanted to step up to a luxury line. I understand that some might say that the I30 or the I35 are just souped up maximas, I disagree.

alfaber

vlilich: Both are great cars, virtually identical in terms of content, specs, and price. I just bought an I35, and my wife has a 99 TL, so both are represented in our driveway. I'd choose on subjective grounds: which do you feel more comfortable in, which dashboard do you like better, which is more fun for daily driving, etc. Also, of course, availability and policies of nearest dealer may make a difference.
But I don't think you can go wrong either way.
--Andy

adrian01

I still have on the OEM Bridgestone RE-92's which have 58,000 on them. When I got the car the nay-sayers said they would be wore out at 20K. I have one of earliest I30's with the 17" V-rated tires. They still have plenty of tread, which I must admit amazes me. I want to put on the Michelins' but cannot get them locally.

vlilich

Does anyone know if the shape of the I35 will change when the new Maxima will come out in 2002? I understand that the 2003 Maxima is totally redesigned. Thanks for the help.

cpa4u

Wow, that is ALOT of miles for original stock tires!!! THe most that I had heard of before on the 17" Bridgestones was around 35-37,000. That is incredible. Did you rotate them very often?

adrian01

I rotate and balance every 5 to 8 thousand miles. I could easily get another 10 thousand on them but I am not going to push my luck. The average person would not be thinking tires yet from the tread left. When I first bought the car people on this site thought they would be wore out at 20K, I was hoping for 30K. I ordered four Michelin Pilot-AS this morning.

dbruland

Just curious: Why would you want to switch to Michelin tires instead of replacing with the Bridgestone RE92's you got such incredible performance from?

adrian01

Good question, I thought the same thing too. I have always bought Michelin tires and they have outperformed everything thing they replaced. I am hoping for a better ride, increased traction in the rain and snow with the Pilot Sport-AS. The treadwear rating on the Michelin is higher than the Bridgestone,so... if that means anything the Michelins should last even longer, hopefully.

razteo

I owned a 98 I 30 for almost one year and except the exterior design, Front Wheel Drive and some other small things, I was happy with the car.
The exterior look is BAD, is tryng to be classic, but is kind of "no name car", I like better the new design.
Inside was also a little "old", but except this, it was loaded wit a lot of extras, great sound system, lots of power, very smooth ride, good MPG, roomy, good dealership.
I trade it for a new 5 series BMW, it is a big difference in many ways, but also in the price!
I belive I30 is a good buy for a USED car, you can get a lot of pover, extras, and comfort for a decent $, but is not a "luxury sedan",. like they try to tell us, and also I found it a little bit "fragile", but for this price... is not bad!

So if you have cash to burn, go with a real luxury sedan, but don't call I30 the same thing for 1/2 price. In my opinion I30 is better than a Maxima or Accord, much better than Camry, but how you can see, this is its class.. Well, is a good car!

exlegend

For those of you who have had your I30 serviced by the dealer, what were you charged for the 15,000 mile service? When I bought the car last year, the dealership gave me a brochure which outlined the cost and work to be done at each service interval, i.e., 7,500, 15,000, 30,000, etc. They listed a 15,000 mile I30 service cost of $125, which included an oil change, tire balance and rotation, and changing the fuel filter. Everything else was inspection work which could easily be done while the tires were being rotated (brakes, suspension, front end parts, etc) and the oil drained and refilled.

I called and received a 15,000 mile service appointment and was told the cost was now $197! When asked, the service advisor said nothing had been added to the list of work previously provided me when I bought the car. I told him that I did not want a rotation and balance, as it had been done free last month from the tire dealer who sold me my aftermarket wheels. Okay, that saves them work but they wouldn't reduce the price! Then I see in the owner's manual that the fuel filter is regarded as a "maintenance free item." No one could explain why it needed changing every 15,000 miles if Infiniti/Nissan says not to touch it. So, now we're down to $197 for an oil change and lots of looking around.

I don't think so.

cainep

My 7,500 service was $140, while my 15K service (done just over a year ago) was $310. It would have been more, but I told the service manager I didn't want the air filter touched (I installed the K&N filter), and not to clean the antenna mast - strange that this is on the list of things to be done as the I30 doesn't have one!

exlegend

Whoa! Who is your dealer? $310 to do what exactly? (It had to be the intense labor required to clean the antenna mast). I realize that dealerships make their profit in the service department and I would not want to deny someone an opportunity to come in above "break-even." But alot of the work listed (fuel filter, clean a non-existent antenna mast) seems to be "padding" to justify whatever price the market will bear.

I am very maintenance oriented and drive my cars for 7 to 9 years before I sell them. I've had the same buyer for my last four cars as he's thrilled with the condition of them (mechanically and exterior), even with 125,000 miles or more on the odometer. So, I don't squeeze pennies on maintenance.

I've used a local Acura dealer's service department for the past 14 years ('87 Integra, '91 Legend, '95 Integra) and have had quality work done there at reasonable prices. Not inexpensive. Reasonable for what was being done. In fact, it was their service department that brought the sales people my repeat business after the first Acura. (yeah, let's hear it, I should have bought another Acura this time)(for $45,000 MSRP, the RL is out of it's league).

It will be interesting to see what other owners have paid for their service work.
Thanks for the reply!

lordjim1

What the Dealer recommends at the various service intervals is not what is necessarily called for in the Infiniti maintenance schedule. Look in your manual, see what services are absolutely necessary to maintain your warranty and just get those performed. Are you on Maintenance Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 (the less severe type of driving)? No, you do not need to replace your fuel filter or have injection cleaner run thru your engine or even have your transmission serviced. The dealership performs these services to help enrich their bottom line as Infinitis are warranted for 60K miles and they rarely break down. For people who do not maintain their car well, these services may be of some benefit. For those who pay attention to what's actually required, the Schedule 2 services are relatively simple and inexpensive. Remember, you tell the Dealership what services you want performed. Don't let them do things/services that are of dubious benefit. Bottom Line: it pays to read your manual!

cainep

$240 was labor ($80/hour at the time, maybe even more now), parts were $65+tax. Plenty of inspections, plus rotating tires, replacing oil and fuel filters, renewing brake fluid, servicing battery. Initial estimate was at least $350, but not having the antenna mast cleaned or air filter replaced saved me $40. The car is serviced every 3750 miles (mostly city driving). 22,500 mile service ws also $140, so pricing is in line with other services.

Anyone had a 30K service yet? Will I need a mortgage?

wcdaa

I had my 2001 I-30's 7,500 mile service at Infiniti of Beverly Hills. I think it cost about $110.
They recently mailed out a coupon for $39.95 lube/oil/filter service.

comp

I have a 2000 I30. Last year in May I had to have my rotors turned (car had 14k miles). Dealer did it and did not charge me for it. I just took the car in today with the same problem. The car has 21k miles now. Dealer called me and informed me that I would have to pay for it. Said it was not covered by warranty and that it was a driver issue. I was not pleased. Has anyone had a rotor/brake problem with this car?

tgif888

$39.95 is too high for lube/oil/filter service. Metro Infiniti only charge $24.95.

sascuderi

The I30 does not need alot of maintenance. Most of what the dealer does is just to increase the bill and is not really needed. On my 95 Max and 2000 I30 I just follow what Nissan suggests.The VQ engine mostly needs only oil/filter changes which I do myself every 5,000-7,000 miles.
Just keep the receipts to prove you changed the oil.

fredvh

I see that you have a 2000 G20. It is one of the cars I am considering. How does your wife (or you ) like it? I hear a lot of talk about the lack of power in it. Do you find that to be true? How is the build quality of the G20? Would you buy one over again if you needed another vehicle? To me it seems like a good, well-made vehicle. What is your opinion? Is it a lot better than the Sentra? G20s seem to be selling for around 21K at this time.

dbruland

Fred,

The 2000 G20 is driven about 90% by my wife, and only about 7000 miles per year. In my opinion, the 4 cylinder 145 HP engine in completely adequate for this car (we have automatic). When I do drive it, I am amazed at how effortless it is to accelerate to desired speeds, highway or city. It is extremely quiet even cruising at 85 MPH. Great Bose sound system. We have averaged about 25-26 MPG with 75% city/25% highway....

Yes, we would buy another one when the time comes if available. In fact, our previous "second" car was a 1993 G20, so I guess that says a lot.

I'm confident you can easily buy a new 2002 G20 for below invoice. The bad news is that Infiniti is supposedly discontinuing the G20. But they also "discontinued" the G20 in the mid-90's, only to re-instate it. However, I wouldn't let that stop you, as 1) parts for repair/replacement should be somewhat interchangeable with other Nissan models; and 2) it shouldn't be much of an issue anyway since this car is virtually trouble-free as long as you take good care of it and keep up with recommended maintenance.

We have the leather model (Titanium/Willow) with sunroof and cold-weather package (heated seats/heavy duty battery)....would definitely recommend the latter if you live in cold weather climate. The Titanium color is excellent for not showing dirt/grime, as was the Sand Beige color we had in 1993.

Good luck and let me know what you decide. Our other car is a 2002 I35 (preceded by 2000 I30, 1996 Maxima GLE, and 1991 Maxima GXE). No I don't work for Nissan, but am obviously a big fan!

Don

zielinw

Fred,

I must concur, that the Nissan/Infiniti are very dependable cars. The price break over a Toyota is nice, especially if one buys the car used.

I have had a 1983 Nissan, two 1985 Nissans, and I currently have one 1992 Nissan and a 1997 I30. They are good cars!!

fredvh

Thanks for your post. The other cars that I am considering are the Nissan Maxima, Acura 3.2TL,Lexus ES300, and the Toyota Camry. Can I have your opinion on those? Have you noticed any difference in the mpg of the I35 vs. the I30?

dbruland

Fred,

All the cars you listed are excellent choices. You really need to thoroughly test each to see how it "fits" to your personal taste. Even though I have an 11 year track record with Nissan/Infiniti, I have considered other options each time. I seem to "fit" well with the combination of comfort, performance, dependability, dealer experience, aesthetics, amenities, warranty, etc. in Infinitis. I could certainly appreciate others feeling the same way about Lexus/Toyota, or Acura/Honda.

My gas mileage on the I35 has been averaging about 20-22 MPG based on mainly city driving. I expect it to improve once I get a few more miles (just turned 3000) and warmer weather. Last summer and fall I was getting 24-25 MPG on the I30 under similar city/highway driving mix. I guess the extra 30 horses would be a little thirstier.

If you decide to go with Nissan or Infiniti, and live within a reasonable distance to Canada, consider buying from a Canadian dealer. Check out post #1553 on the Infiniti G35 Edmunds board for details. I definitely would have done this had I been aware last December when I bought the I35. For example, it appears you could buy an I35 in Canada for about the same or maybe less than you would pay for a similar Maxima in the U. S. Or you could save considerable dough on a Maxima.

marlin77

bought an 01 I30 with 1200 miles for the wife. she loves the car. when she lets me have it for a hiway drive i enjoy it too but does any kinow of a fix for that parking brake pedal? at 6-2 with size 12's my left shin is taking a beating. Infinity needs to address this, maybe with a shorter stem on the pedal. Any help?

bgseller

Has anyone had this service completed? Infiniti is requesting $395 vs. Nissan which is $175. I do not see the need to spend the additional $220 for a loaner vehicle. Thoughts?

fredvh

What services need to be performed at 15K according to the owner's manual? The price seems awfully high to me. I would think air filter, oil change, and check-up would be sufficient.

exlegend

Fredvh has got it right. See my post # 1564. I am quite familiar with the owner's manual of every car I've owned, including my '01 I30. That's why I questioned $197 for the 15K check. It basically comes down to tire rotation and balance, an air filter, and an oil and filter change. You can change the air filter yourself, as I do each year. The rest is simply "inspection" work. Checking under the car (front drive parts, exhaust, etc.) can be done while the car is up for the oil change. The brakes can be inspected while the wheels are off during the rotation. And contrary to what the dealer service department told me, the fuel filter should not be changed unless there is a definite fuel-related problem with the engine (according to Infiniti).

Compared to your price and Cainep's price (see #1565) mine ($197) seems like a bargain. As I mentioned in post 1564, my rotation and balance were free courtesy of the tire dealer. I changed the air filter and my independent mechanic will do the oil, filter, and brake inspection for less than $50. And I don't consider that to be skimping on the maintenance.

Are you on the left coast, right coast, or Midwest? It would be interesting to see if geographical location has anything to do with what dealers charge for the "same" maintenance.

bgseller

Thanks for the feedback. I am located in the Northwest, the state of Washington to be exact. In addition to the oil change, tire rotation and replacement of the air filter, the service person indicated the brake fluid would be replaced in addition to the brake inspection. Based on your feedback, I will most likely go with the Nissan dealership and save the additional $220 over Infiniti.

fredvh

Boy, I cannot see any reason why brake fluid should need to be replaced in a vehicle with only 15,000 miles on it? Is this required in the Infiniti's owner's manual for 15K?
You raised an interesting question. Can a Nissan dealer do scheduled maintenance on a Infiniti? Can a Toyota dealer do scheduled maintenance on a Lexus? Can a Honda dealer do scheduled maintenance on an Acura? I sure would like some opinions on these questions. I certainly think that they could on the simple items (e.g. oil and filter changes, rotation, etc.).
If I buy a luxury vehicle, my closest dealer is 100 miles away but there are other dealers(Honda, Toyota, and Nissan) that are closer.

exlegend

I would think a Nissan dealer would be capable of servicing an Infiniti I30. The 2001 I30 has the same engine as the Maxima SE and Nissan dealers would likely have access to Infiniti technical data, including TSBs. I know a lot of parts for my Legend had Honda part reference numbers on them, just as the oil and air filters for my I30 use Nissan parts numbers. But I never had the Legend serviced by a Honda dealer, only Acura or an independent. But I knew if I were out of town and needed emergency mechanical work without an Acura dealer being nearby, I'd take it to Honda. I'll bet they could input the VIN and get the car's service history from Acura. I'm not sure how Honda, Toyota, or Nissan would handle warranty work on the luxury line, though.

As for brake fluid service, most German manufacturers require the brakes to be bled and new brake fluid every 24 months or 24,000 miles. I know VW is big on that requirement with their Passat. I talked to a service rep from the VW factory at a car show recently and he confirmed the two year brake fluid change, saying that while the fluid was synthetic, it did not prevent moisture and other contaminants from getting into the brake system. He acted surprised that anyone would question that timetable.

I am unaware of any Japanese manufacturers that mandate a two year brake fluid change. I'm not having it done on my '01 I30 until the manual says to do it or major brake work, whichever comes first.

I believe bgseller's dealer needed some justification for the overpriced 15K work. Kind of like the dealer here saying they'd change the fuel filter and clean the antenna mast as part of the deal.

lordjim1

No you do not need to change the brake fluid at 15,000 miles. The recommended service is to "Inspect" the fluid level and add as necessary. For those of you who cannot figure out what to do at the various service points, I reiterate: READ YOUR OWNERS MANUAL. And then procure only those services you deem necessary. If you leave it to your dealer, he will do whatever he wants and much of it is completely unnecessary from the viewpoint of you maintaining your warranty coverage. Depending upon how you drive, change your oil every 5000 to 7500 miles, change your air filter at 30,000 miles, and have the required "Inspections" done for peace of mind. No you do not need to change your coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, PCV valve, or fuel filter at any of these intervals - the dealer wants to do this to help increase his bottom line. If you have any questions, consult your manual. If your vehicle is having a problem, and it is covered by the 5-year 60K miles warranty, then as long as you have performed the required services (which can be done by anyone, just document it), it will be covered by Infiniti. Remember it is your car that you take in for service, so you get to tell the dealer what you want done, not vice-versa. If you abdicate your responsibility on this, then quit whining about service costs. Dealers love uninformed/uneducated customers...they smile all the way to the bank!

exlegend

calm down, please. If you read most of the posts concerning the service work issue, you will find owners questioning the cost of the work AND what is said to be done during this work. Most of us have mentioned a discrepancy between what the manual recommends and what the dealer claims they will do for a set exorbitant price (Jim, I think that's a clue that some of us DO know our manual's recommended service work). Obviously, other owners want to get an idea of what is being done and charged by other dealers at certain service intervals. If people want to drive to the dealer service department and pay whatever the dealer charges for whatever the dealer claims needs to be done, it's their choice. Those of us who normally use an independent mechanic habitually tell the mechanic what we want done at any given time. Thus, we normally have a good idea as to what sounds "out of the ordinary," and, in consultation with our manual, come here to question the dealer's "wisdom." (See post 1581). This prevents us from falling into your "uninformed/uneducated" category.

dbruland

One of the key points lordjim1 made bears repeating: Service can be done by ANYONE, without compromising the warranty, as long you can provide documentation (i.e. dated receipts showing odometer readings and service done).

I have always taken my cars (currently 2002 I35 and 2000 G20) to a trusted mechanic at a local Amoco station for routine stuff. For example, oil change/oil filter/inspection typically runs under $25.

The only reason I would take either car to the dealer would be for warranty repairs, or something my local mechanic couldn't or wouldn't handle, or cost would be comparable. Example, I recently had to replace broken antenna mast on the G20....the dealer replaced it for $80 (local mechanic would have had to order it from Infiniti and probably charged about the same or maybe more).

Kirstie_H

We are looking for lawyers (any age, sex, kind of car) who are car nuts.

Please respond by March 9 to lordusky@aol.com

Any questions? Contact Edmunds.com PR at jfallon@edmunds.com

Thanks!
kirstie_h
Roving Host
Edmunds.com

edogg1

I just purchased a 2001 Infiniti I30 and the rear subwoofer is making the sun shade rattle like crazy. I dont play the bass loud or listen to the music blasting but it continues to rattle. I took it to the dealer and they said there is nothing they can do. Has anyone else had this problem. It mainly occurs with talk radio or high bass music. I cant take it much longer!

Thanks!

exlegend

This is not a new complaint. I have not had the problem, but I am aware that others have complained about the same thing in this forum. First, you can quit listening to talk radio and high bass music. But then you wouldn't get to enjoy your Bose. Or, you can go back to your customer-oriented dealer and tell him about technical service bulletin (TSB) ITB 00035A, which supposedly deals with your specific problem. I would also recommend that you try Edmund's "ownership" site, then click on "you, your vehicle, and TSBs." This will give you the opportunity to research the 23 current TSBs for your ride. Stay on your dealer about fixing the problem. My dealer fixed my wind noise problem without hesitating, while other owners have had nothing but hassle in trying to obtain the same repair. Good luck and let us know how things turn out.

wildcat02

If any of you are considering to buy an infiniti in the chicagoland area, I can refer you to a good salesperson who will surely give you a good quick deal. just drop me an e-mail.

-wildcat02

edogg1

Thanks for the help. I will give it a try.

fredvh

What is your e-mail address?

fredvh

I need the RPM at exactly 70mph for the 2001 or 2002 G20(non-sport) with the automatic trans.

Infiniti Owners: Could anyone tell me how much of the new-car purchase can be put on a credit card? Thanks

JPham

Hi, I'm considering the two deals below:

'95 Infinity J30, auto, black/tan, 77kmiles, clean
but not immaculate. Asking $8k.

'00 Infinity I30, auto, champagne/beige, 80kmiles (!), very clean, loaded. Asking $13,250.

Which one do you think is a better deal? The J30 price is reasonable for a 7-yo predecessor with a smallish interior/trunk.
The I30 is nice in every way except for the extremely high miles (should I even be concerned with that?). On the other hand, if anyone has a clean '93-'95 Legend GS they want to let go in NoCal, let me know!
BTW, assuming that the cars were regularly serviced by an Infinity dealer, can -any- Infinity(USA) dealership pull their maintenance history (ala Lexus)??

Thanks.
JP

lordjim1

If it were me, I'd chose the 2000 I-30. It is 5 years newer and only $5000 more expensive. Plus the asking price is excellent - very low. You get a contemporary design (the J-30 is older and has been discontinued) on the I-30 and a ready assurance of parts and service at either Infiniti or Nissan dealerships. Any Infiniti dealership can look at the vehicle's service history by VIN#.

psriniv

The trunk pops open while driving on a 98I30t. Bought it used at 26k in dec 2001, its got around 29k now.
I tried cancel inside the trunk, on the assumption that slight accidental pressure on the button inside the door is causing it- No use. Now it pops open all the way up. Earlier it used to just open and hang in there.
any solutions for this problem would be appreciated.
thanks folks

JPham

Funny, but I was reading one of them buyers guide
for used car (Consumer Review?? I don't remember)
and the problem you described was listed as a problem to look out for. I don't remember the cause ... something about the striker being misaligned or something. I think a dealer will be able to fix it for next to nothing.

tcoughlin2

I also just bought a used '98 I30, and the trunk has popped open 3x. Since the automatic button is on the driveers door, and it is not disabled while in gear, I assumed I must have hit the button. Just like post #1597

psriniv

Its not accidental hitting of the button on the door. I found out a TSB on this which was issued in 1999 for the 1998 model. Due for an oil change in the next couple of weeks. Need to talk to the svc adv about it. Will post developments.

fredvh

Did any of you I30 owners consider the Mazda Millenia when you were car-shopping? Supposedly they are selling for approx. $7000 under MSRP. That would put the price around 22K for a loaded base model. They are supposed to be well-built according to reliability studies. The engine(2.5L) might be a little small but that would not bother me. I have not driven one as of yet. Any comments?