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Comments
Great to hear that it all worked out for you. Now you can go back to completely enjoying your M.
Pete
Are there any problems with tinting the M's with greater than 35% tint?
I can't tell for sure as I've used no more than 20%. In fact, the shop that did the job recommended me the mixture of vinager & water, and it's been working great on my previous and current cars. The key thing is not to use common chemicals found in windows cleaning products, and to use just enough vinegar to remove the stains (such as fingerprints and dust deposit). But I'm pretty sure this is safe on 35+% tint (which must be quite dark to use in a car, no?)
Joe
Last winter I purchased a set (front & rear) of rubber mats from WeatherTech for my wife's car. The rear mat was one long piece and needed to be trimmed before it would fit. This was not a problem for me. The mats held the water and salt thus protected the carpeting. Would I buy them again; yes I would.
I also live in the Boston area and know of the problems the winter season can present to us drivers.
Regards,
Chris
Hi, Mexibec. Thanks for the tip. I've always found the grime that accumulates on the windshield, windows, and instrument cluster a nuisance to eliminate so I'll give this a try.
Bart :shades:
You can also buy OEM custom fit clear cover mats for $39. Replacing the original mats runs about $100.
Any other inputs before I get out my credit card?
Joe
Back to the rental car- Dodge stratus. Shudder.
Joe ... The mobile detailer who does my car at the office just did a Carnauba job on my M yesterday ... and it absolutely glistens. He's a designated detailer for the Lamborghini Club in the SW ... annually goes to the concours in Monterey and details 24/7 for them. He ONLY uses Carnauba because it a) shines better, and b) lets the paint "breathe". The synthetics seal the paint and (at least according to him) in the long term actually cause it to degrade.
For cleaning the inside of windows and film he uses a mixture of alcohol and water; again, no Windex because it contains ammonia. I mentioned the vinegar/water mix to him ... said he'll give it a try.
Bart :shades:
Here's a reply I got on this from Sal Zain:
"No offense but late model paint technology doesn't breathe, that's an
old myth.. once it cures that's it..... The older lacquers and enamels
needed time for the solvents to evaporate and release, that is where the
term "paint breathes" comes from. Wax would seal the paint and prevent
the solvents from releasing. This led to a whole bunch of paint related
problems. That's why paint manufacturers still tell you not to apply WAX for thirty days.
Because WAX does not let the paint breathe.. and actually suffocates
it..:( Funny ain't it....:(
All urethane paints and late technology paints use a catalyst for
hardening and curing. The paint is fully cured in about 36 to 72 hours.
But to answer your original question. Zaino contains no silicones or
waxes and yes it's breathable...
Hope this helps.. "
He also attached an article from "Guru Reports" saying that, in fact, wax is NOT porous and breathable, but synthetics are!
Joe
Makes sense to me. The new paint technology is obviously more durable than the old paints, and that's the reason I questioned the need for a sprucing up every six months. I've always had my cars detailed annually, and for a few weeks they looked great but then reverted to merely looking good. And rainwater beaded irrespective of when in the waxing cycle it rained. I'll likely dispose of this M at the end of the lease ... and get another ... so someone will get a pampered low-mileage sport w/ all the toys in early summer, 2008. Bart :shades:
PS: 6 1/2 months and still nothing for the dealer to service. Only oil changes!
Another question...are the "keys" (lug wrench) different for each set of locking lug nuts or is there a limited number of different keys similar to house keys...
Thanks.
Tinting darkness is often regulated by local laws, so be careful. I don't know the numbers here in AZ, but there's a different limit for the driver's windows v. back windows and it can get you a serious fine if you violate the limits. My daughter moved from Scottsdale to Chicago, windows tinted legally here, and was immediately ticketed by the Chicago police for having tinted windows ... period.
I do like the look of tinting ... adds some zip to the appearance of any car. And here in the desert it's a matter of self defense to tint windows ... the heat's otherwise unbearable in the 6 hot months. Bart :shades:
Joe
go to Wal-Mart for this... or Costco (I think they have the same thing)
I think it is 20+, you will get a set of 4 heavy rubber with carpet in the middle.
Feel free to let loose.
Even his engine is probably OK, and yours is absolutely fine.
That said, this is why I prefer new cars with single-digit mileage at purchase.
There is a good argument and good evidence that if you do NOT rev your engine hard before 1200 miles you never allow the rings to seat. Go back and read the discussion if you are interested.
Another concern. Can Infiniti track your car if/when stolen? Do they have the equivalent system to OnStar or the one on MB that alerts a monitoring system when air bags are deployed? With the Nav system it seems they should have the ability to monitor all this. A friend's house was recently robbed while they were out of town ... and their new MB was taken as well. The MB monitoring system knew where the car was, where the thief lived, where he'd gone grocery shopping, etc ... they got the car back undamaged. Another friend wrecked a MB ... and before anything could be initiated by them MB was on the speaker inquiring into their status and sending assistance.
Bart :mad:
Dave
I've only had my M35X foe a few weeks, but i can't find one thing to complain about.
Get one in July.
Joe
I will have to have the dealer look at it to make the final determination, but wanted to see if anyone else has had a similar problem?
Yes. Why don't they offer auto-locking doors, why doesn't the front passenger seat have as many power positions as the driver seat, and why do the rear climate controls change the front climate???
Which engineer decided to put metal grilles over speakers? Not only is metal decidedly NOT acoustically transparent, but the grilles have a bad habit of rattling and resonating at different frequencies depending on the temperature of the car.
Good point, but I'm concentrating on road noise issues not everything they can do to improve the car. I'll see if they even know about this forum so they can read about all the issues their car may have.
I know there are a lot of factors to consider as well - different road surfaces and the outside weather but I tested the RL and M within about 30 minutes of each other and the noise difference was very obvious. Nothing wrong with any of the cars mentioned (to each his own on what they like) - I just wanted to provide my own experience here.
One other note - the road noise was not a specific factor in my decision to buy the M (or any of the other cars I looked at). The decision had alot to do with reputation/reliability, bang for the buck, and of course, the exterior/interior styling. I can say that my decision hinged on the RL and the M. We have owned cars from both manufactures but I could not get past the numerous TSBs and other 'quirks' with the RL. It made it seem like Acura rushed the RL to production since some of the issues with the car are simply unacceptable - for instance, the headlight alert going off when the lights are on auto or the battery being drained when using the remote trunk release - just plain sloppy if you ask me. Again - only my opinion and I am sure RL owners have many reasons to love their cars - as they should. As I mentioned, I was on the verge of buying one as well.
Just wanted to add my comments.
Joe