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Andrew, the radio/audio system in an SL with NAV is no different than the audio system in the LE. For that matter, it should be the same as in the 370Z, G37, new Maxima, etc. I think it is also the same radio as in the GTR. And the GTR has a "Dealer Installed" option for iPod control.
The claim that the radios are different is BS. I would demand the dealer prove to you in detail why the IPOD Adapter shown in the 2009 Murano Service Manual cannot be added to your car.
I have not had the courage yet to take apart my console to see if the connector for the IPOD Adapter control is there, but you might try and make the dealer do that. And I'd probably ask why the GTR dealer installed option would not work on your car.
There are 3 jacks on the center console, facing the rear seats. If I plug in the red and white and then connect that to my IPod, will i hear it thru the car's speakers?
Gino, Yes, you will hear it through the car's speakers.
That is the AUX input on the car's audio system. The yellow jack is for video (from a DVD player, computer, or other video source, like an iPhone), which will display on the car's screen. Video will only display when the car is stopped (and in Park, I think), but audio works anytime.
I have another question. The 2009 Murano only has one Drive choice (D). No low, 1st, 2nd, etc. I know I will have AWD, but what if I wanted to manually downshift if i was on a slippery road, or going down a hill that was icy?
Uh, Gino, the Murano does have a Low gear position. (the L position on the shift lever).
I imagine you could also turn off the Overdrive and gear down some more that way too. (don't know if that would have any effect if you are already in Low).
I noticed in some old entries that Wind noise was a problem at 55 MPH (or so) coming from the left side view mirror and/or window. Has anyone ever resolved this or brought this to the attention of a dealership?
Did they not make a 2008 edition? I can't find info or one for sale. Help! And is Costco really close to a VIP price? Are they the only way we the people, without access to VIP anything, can hope to get that kind of deal?
Costco may not always be your best deal. I haven't used them yet with pricing of the Murano, however, when I was looking at the Lexus, the sales guy told me the price would be $700 over invoice. If you belong to Costco, it doesn't hurt to ask what that discount would be and if you find out, let us know!
hey y'all, i too have an 09 Murano and have been wondering what the heck is going on with the Ipod Intergration Kit (the digital ipod interface as opposed to the standard RCA Aux input on all the 2009 Murano models). i have just got confirmation from my local dealer that after a few months of waiting the part # is now in all Nissan dealers computer for order and is availible. i'm getting my installed tomorrow or early next week. call your dealer!
I would like all the options of the LE model (moonroof, no dvd - with nav etc) but I dont like the woodgrain trim. Is there any way around this trim? Can I order a metalic trim kit and have Nissan install?
Just buy a loaded SL and if you like the wheels on the LE, then look for some after market rims. You will need new tires as well so you are probably looking at at least 2k or more for a nice set.
Just buy the LE. The "plood" (plastic wood) may even grow on you. Have you had the silver/metal looking trim before?? Many folks have been complaining that it scratches extremely easy and now wish they had the plood...
OR, get the LE then order each silver piece required to swap the plood pieces out. Very easy yet could be a little pricey. I have read were the dealer just swapped it out between an LE and SL and just charged the customer labor etc.. Just talk your salesman/dept into it etc.
My wife's 2009 LE has the plood of course - she likes it and I must say it has held up well. But I do know where you are coming from. I'm not a big fan of the wood unless it is really nice/done well.
yeh I dont like the wood grain at all. I had a 2000 jeep grand cherokee and it didn't grow on me, and i had that truck for a few years. I just can't stand it. And I can't bring myself to pay $50K for a truck if I dont like the interior. Otherwise it'd be the murano for sure. I wish they at least made it an option.
Did anyone get back to you on this? I have an issue with this tapping sound coming from the bottom part of the windshield. There was this plastic piece that covers the windshield wipers that was replaced but the noise has returned.
In addition, I have that noise coming from the left driver side window. It sounds both like the window is slightly "down", with road noise more pronounced, particularly when cars just go by. Almost sounds like window is down.
Also, there's this rubbing sound on the window itself that drives me nuts, almost like the window is vibrating or rattling around slightly loose inside the door. I have brought it up but the people in service look at me like I have 2 heads.
btw, on the edmunds review of the murano, it shows pictures of the metalic console/dash and it stats it's the LE trim. Any thoughts? I really want this truck without the woodgrain (and ALL the options - especially ipod integration) of the LE.
Please save me from my own stupidity/overeagerness. About a year ago I started looking at crossovers with the Murano my clear favorite. After looking at a lot of other vehicles, I'd decided on the Murano in January when deals were being made. I have multiple sclerosis which affects my ability to lift my legs. Unfortunately, they have gotten much worse in the past year, and I didn't recheck the step in height on the Murano in January in my eagerness to buy the car. So I have a beautiful black SL AWD that I have great difficulty getting into and out of. I've now checked it against other vehicles that I can access and I think I'll be all right if I can lower the driver's seat by 2.5 inches. I've looked on the Internet for a way to lower the suspension but really haven't found a viable solution. Does anyone have a solution? I'm in southeastern Wisconsin, so can get to Chicago or Milwaukee pretty easily. Thanks for your help.
Is there anyway to disable the so-called safety features?.The ones for a musicbox are the most ridiculous,what kind of safety is is when one got to scroll through hundreds of songs to get to one he needs while driving,the passenger in a car got no possibility to give a hand at that either,the navigation system by itself sucks.Incredibly poor.The points of interest basically got no choices.Map design is so blind .It definetely is a flop-knowing that prior I would never go for LE.Not to mention that passenger seat does not tilt,the back seats are incredibly uncomfortable and the car is road noisy.Blind spots are simply dangerous in this car-view is blocked .A mistake to buy anything but a SE.Regular 200 dollars garmin or navigon GPS and an I-pod for another 200 will save 10 grand.Voice recognition is not bad but some towns I was trying to drive to in NJ and PA DO NOT EXIST or bring you to wrong places.Had to use mapquest.Ridiculous.
Kazvolinski, I'll try to answer the questions and complaints you have the with the Murano, I've only had the vehicle for 3 months but in that time we have made a number of long distance trips from LA to San Francisco, and into the Sierra Nevada mountain range to Lake Tahoe in good and bad weather.
"Is there anyway to disable the so-called safety features?"
Yes, there are several threads on this and at Murano.org and NICOs Murano forums about how to do this (ie, disable the speed sensor)
"The ones for a musicbox are the most ridiculous,what kind of safety is is when one got to scroll through hundreds of songs to get to one he needs while driving,the passenger in a car got no possibility to give a hand at that either"
Not sure what you are getting at here. Its pretty easy to shift through an album at a time and then song by song, or set it up to sequence by artist or other catagories. if you want to do keyword searches while driving, I guess you are out of luck. You can get more functions if you do the speed sensor disable thing, but we have found the standard contorls and functions pretty useful. If you want ipod type contorls, well, its pretty easy to hook up your ipod to the RCA jacks that are available on all the trim levels. And I suspect that aftermarket vendors will soon have ipod integration parts out for the S and SL trim levels for the 2009. (they've been out for earlier model Muranos for some time now)
"the navigation system by itself sucks.Incredibly poor.The points of interest basically got no choices.Map design is so blind ."
I've used a great handheld TomTom for a couple of years before getting the Murano. The Murano's nav has more function (being able to voice navigate to an address while driving works pretty well. And it has plenty of POIs - certainly more than the TomTom. Someday I'll have to check out that Armenian Restaurant category! (really!) Finding the altitude display (in the info menu, not on the map display) was kind of cool for our trips into the Sierras.
I would like to get to the Points of Interest whle driving, but you can set it up to display 4 categories of places/POIs to search while driving. We put in fast food restaurants so we can find the nearest Subway or In-and-Out Burger when lunchtime is approaching. But I am thinking of installing the speed sensor disable switch to make it easier for my passenger to search more categories while driving.
"It definetely is a flop-knowing that prior I would never go for LE."
??? What are you trying to say here?
"Not to mention that passenger seat does not tilt,the back seats are incredibly uncomfortable and the car is road noisy."
None of this is true. The passenger seat does tilt, and we had three adults in the rear seats for a 350 mile trip from LA to San Franciso and they said it was great. And you can even tilt the rear seats a little bit! Have you actually been in a Murano? Road noise is less than the Lexus RX350 or Lincoln MKX we test drove before buying the Murano. Maybe there are other SUVs that are quieter, but the MO is really quiet to us.
"Blind spots are simply dangerous in this car-view is blocked "
I've seen this complaint before on the Murano, and it is a little difficult to see out the rear right IF you don't use your mirrors at all! But is you have properly set up the side mirrors AND USE THEM, visibility is fine. The key is to set your side mirrors properly, ie so they can "see" the blind spots at the sides and rear corners of the vehicle. The mirrors on the Mo are big and very useful and "the car-view" (whatever that is) is NOT blocked. This is a very safe vehicle.
"A mistake to buy anything but a SE"
It certainly would be, since there is no such trim level any more! Nissan only sells an S, SL, and LE trim levels.
"Regular 200 dollars garmin or navigon GPS and an I-pod for another 200 will save 10 grand."
It will save money, but nothing like 10 grand! The Navigation and Music Box option on an SL or LE costs something like $2500. I think you need to actually read the pricing information available on Edmunds or even Nissan's sites. That is still expensive, of course, but certainly part of what you are paying for is the superb integration in the Murano with all the other systems in the vehicle. (at least, that's the way I rationalized it. :-)
"Voice recognition is not bad but some towns I was trying to drive to in NJ and PA DO NOT EXIST or bring you to wrong places.Had to use mapquest.Ridiculous. "
Well, the maps in the Murano navigation system are from the same company (Navteq) supplying maps to many of the GPS manufacturers. So if NJ and PA are missing some towns in the Mo's system, they will be missing in many other navigation systems too! If you are talking about voice recognition of some place names, I agree. I dare ANYONE to get the Mo's nav system to recognize Pacheo, California. No matter how we pronounced it (correctly and incorrectly), the nav system could not recognize it. But did you know that the Mo allows you to navigate to any point on the map? Just use the touch screen and point to where you want to go. Simple as that!
I recommend learning a little more about the Murano. I spent a lot of time studying and comparing the functions and prices on the Murano, Lexus RX350, Ford Edge/Lincoln MKX, and Acura MDX. The Murano came out equal or better in function, luxury, reliability, and handling than all, at a substantially better price. (the Edge was prettly close in price)
-- jayhawk delighted owner of a 2009 Murano SL AWD
Hi..one thing i noticed with the metallic trim is that it scratches very easily the quality is really not that great..I would rather have had the wood grain.
O.K.To begin with-to disable the speed sensor-I wish the disabling would be offered on the dealership-and done there-why to buy a new vehicle and work on it.The music box-I have filled it up and while driving -if you wany to find a particular song or an album-good luck with that-no way.Scroll-scroll-scroll and keep eyes on the screen-not on the road-nice safety feature.last time my wife was driving and I spent half an hour-I mean it-to get from A to T.yes-I want to look for a song or artist or album by keyword-or voice command.Now GPS-I live in new jersey-going to casino-lets try-Borgata-I would like to see you try to use points of interest or a name in the GPS-Good luck with that.Concert halls?etc-no nothing.My son got garmin-while you driving it shows-the churches with names, the municipal buildings with names,anythin of some importance is on it.Driving home with nissan GPS-is like driving in the desert.Tried to get a japanese restaurant in PA-it brought me to an opposite side of the neighbourhood-20 minutes late-where my brother in law was waiting for me inpatiently-he used magellan.The passenger seat DOES NOT TILT-the seat-does not have the same possibilities as drivers seat-you can adjust your back -but not SEAT.The back seats-DO NOT ADJUST-what are you talking about,not AT ALL-you have to seat like a student in a principle's office.Road noise-I do not have to seat in Lexus or Lincoln-why, if you have to volume up the radio because of a road noise on the highway-it means only one thing-no noise protection.If Lexus and Lincoln are the same-too bad.Now-the difference between LE and SE-10 grand, same motor, same AWD, same same.Basically the difference is in either navigaton or entertaiment system .What else is really different-gadgets.I have chosen the LE for a promise of a Luxury ride .Is SE that much less of a quality ride than LE?I doubt it.Thanks for the tip not to trade for lexus or lincoln.Guess-FORD?One never knows.
neither NICO no murano.org tell how to do it -how to get read of this feature-only some conversations amongst people.This is ridiculous-safety feature-who decided it is safety feature?A passenger in a driven car can not do it either.
kazvolinsky-- greetings. I'm confused by your comment that the front seats are fixed in an upright position. My 09 has a lever on the side of each seat that reclines these seats to an almost flat position. I could sleep nicely for short periods. The seats adust forward,back,up,down and recline. All electically with switches on the outside of each seat. You are right that the engine and drive system is the same throughout the lineup. The LE has bigger wheels and tires which may affect handling some. I don't have the gps -- just use my Garmin. As far as cost -- the SE you refer to is now just the S.The base model. If you like cloth seats than it's a good buy. It would be priced easily 10k less than an LE. And though the drive train is identical, you get all sorts of upgrades in technology and amenities. I have the SL awd with leather, moonroof, premium and I bought it for 29k. The LE version would run about 5k more today after discount. As I said, I must not understand your problem with the seats. Oh yeah, I was a principal before I retired and the chair you would have sat in wasn't very comfortable.
Test drove an '09 Murano SL AWD today. My last new car purchase was an '08 GMC Acadia for my wife. The Acadia has a couple options I really like that unfortunately don't appear to be available on the Murano unless I'm missing something (at least not as factory options):
Didn't expect #3 to be available as it's kind of a GM thing, but #1 and 2 kind of bum me out. Also kind of bummed that iPod interface and memory seats not available except on LE.
Overall, I enjoyed the test drive although the ride was a little more harsh than I expected (didn't seem much different than my '01 Pathfinder, which actually rides pretty nice). I'm wondering if the tires were overinflated (had that happen at the same dealership when I bought the Pathfinder). I thought visibility from the vehicle was better than expected - didn't have any trouble once adjusting seat/mirrors to my liking - visibility is worse in my Acadia.
Excellent, thanks - guess I just missed that one in the brochure. Does it provide a digital display of the PSI or just an idiot light if a tire gets low?
Kazvolinsky, I think you need to to learn a little more about the Murano. I recommend checking out the specifications section of the Nissanusa site (http://www.nissanusa.com/murano/specifications.html), and then using Edmunds to get your pricing information.
You do NOT need to buy an LE to get the NAV and Music Box. It is an available option on the SL. You can also get leather, moonroofs, bluetooth, and almost all the technology and luxury features on an SL. See the specs.
There is NO price difference between and SE and and LE. That's because there is no such thing as an SE.
The price difference between an SL AWD with leather, Premium pkg, Tech pkg (the options that are included on a base LE) and an LE is only about $2000 (actually a little less, at MSRP). The only features exclusive to an LE are the iPod integration with the display, 20" wheels, driver seat memory, and power telescoping steering wheel. I hope you did not pay $10K more for an LE!
I think I see what you are trying to get at on the passenger seat tilt issue. The seat BACK tilts, but you are really discussing (I think) the seat base. You are right, it does not tilt like the driver seat does. Never noticed that before. If that is something that is critical, I would ask Nissan or a mechanic if they can adjust the seat tilt. (Washers on the support bracket bolts, perhaps?)
The rear seats BACKS certainly DO have a tilt adjustment. And the split rear seats can be adjusted separately too! Read page 1-8 of your Owners Manual.
You seem to have your biggest issues with the Music Box and Navigation system. True, they are not perfect, but I sure could not find any other SUV with anything remotely comparable. Every handheld GPS system I've tried have different features. I know our TomTom has a nice roadblock rerouting feature that is very useful. And all of them (Garmin, TomTom, Mio, etc) have quirks and occasional errors. But the Nissan one is pretty good, has a great big 7" touch screen, and is fully integrated with the rest of the Murano's systems. It has worked perfectly for us (with the exception of voice recognition of some Spanish place names. It even pronounces California the same way as our governator... Caleeforya )
Frankly I LOVE the Music Box. Far better than a CD changer that it replaces. And I'm not sure I understand why it takes you so long to find a song. At most you could only have about 300 CDs loaded (capacity is 3,000 songs.) At 1 second per flip of the "folder" knob, it sure would not take 30 minutes to sequence through all of you CDs. And if you really want the functions of an iPod, heck, just get an iPod! (I think you have an LE too, based on your comments, so you have the complete integration with your Murano's screen and controls. I'm jealous.) I recommend just putting the Music Box into Random Play mode and enjoy.
If you got an LE for the "luxury ride", well, you are right, an SL (and an S for that matter) have the exact same engine, suspension, etc as the LE. But you knew that before you bought it didn't you?... Except for the 20" wheels, which some posters claim makes the LE ride a little stiffer, although I could not tell any difference on the test drives I took.
Sorry about the wind noise in your car. Ours is not perfect, but I know at 75 mph I find our Murano very quiet. (It is a little noisy with the moonroof open at that speed, though... )
I think there is a reason that the editors of Edmunds rate the Murano highest of any midsize SUV. And why Consumer Reports says the Murano has the highest Owner Satisfaction rated of any mid size SUV.
Thanks.I shall try to adjust back seats-I amnot sure how-but I shall read the part.Music box-yes 1 second per song-30 minutes-if you are the one who drives-this makes task impossible.A s a passenger-annoys the driver.The SE was offered for 27000-the LE I got for 37000.This is 10000 difference.I could go for a Infinity-but I have had an Acura -and decided never go with an upper line of product anymore-Transmission problems on it and lousy dealers service turned me off.I decicded to go for a regular model -but top of the line edition.ou are right-SE would be the right choice.But SE plus sunroof, navigation plus this and that-gives almost the same prise-so.....Thanks-let me work on the back seats..nd may be Nissan will listen and gives an opportunity to take care of this sensor on dealership-without risking to affect the GPS calculations which may be based on this as well.bout GPS-it is precise -you are right-but like I have said-it definetely is far behind garmins 2009 maps upgrades.Can you believe Vorhees in NJ-does not exist on it?
The minor electrical modification that will free up the nav/video etc while driving works flawlessly.
You are correct however, the Nav system does require the speed sensor input to operate. That is why the modification requires a simple switch. You turn the switch on, make your selections/adjustments to your nav system, then turn the switch back off to return to normal operation. Check out the NicoClub forum: "Entertainment System" threads. There is a complete "how-to" write-up with pictures.
Your Nissan Dealership however will not agree to perform this modification for you. Not only could it be a safety violation, yet definitely a liability issue. The same reason Nissan made the car the way they did in the first place. They will most likely tell you it would void your warranty as well.
- I performed the modification mentioned above - not for the driver, but for the passenger when desired.
No read out---only says low pressure in dash. Doesn't say which tire so you have check them all. After getting them all topped up--takes a few miles to recalibrate and shut off. Upside to such a simple system is that the sensors don't need to be recalibrated when you rotate your tires. I think. Maybe I'll brew a nice cup of coffee [cream&sweetner], and supervise my wife as she jacks up the car and rotates the tires.Then I'll take a pleasant drive through the neighborhood while she scrubs the grease and brake dust off her hands.
Does anyone have any info on when the 2010's will be out and what, if any, changes or updates will occur? I have 3 payments left on my Acura lease and after looking and driving several different suv/crossover vehicles, this is the one I like the most. Just deciding if I should pay off my lease early and turn in my Acura. I want an LE with moonroofs in Silver or Graphite. I'm being told by several dealerships that looking for something that specific is near to impossible especially in those 2 colors as they are very popular and 09 LE's are in short supply.There are several of Merlots, White and Blue ones available.
This forum has been extremely helpful in making my decision by everyone posting their insights on the Murano.
Medtech, most Nissan models come out in the fall, the 2009 Murano being an exception as it was a redesign of the older Murano. And since the '09 is a new design (redesign), I would not expect major changes for the '10 model year, but probably some tweaks.
Have you used Nissan's website to search dealer inventories near you? (www.nissanusa.com) That's what I did to find the Murano with the trim level, color, and options I wanted. I was looking for an SE AWD Platinum Graphite with Nav last November, and found 5 or 6 at various dealer inventories within 50 miles of my home. (San Francisco Bay area). Went to the closet dealer that had one, and, knowing that I had several other backups, was able to negotiate a very good price. I would "Build your Murano" on the Nissan website, then take the link to search nearby dealers and their inventories.
I just checked three dealer inventories near me, and frankly it looks like LEs in silver or platinum graphite are available in all of them. Looks like your colors are very available, at least here on the left coast.
Why would a dealer claim specific models and colors are hard to find.... Hmmmm. Maybe they are right, but maybe they are "negotiating" to sell you something they have in stock? Better check inventories for yourself. Nissan makes that easy.
Thanks for the reply.......I have found that most of the dealers inventories they have posted on the web are not updated often enough to truly reflect what they have on their lots. I beleive that this specific dealer was trying to sell me what they had currently on their lot. I have built the Murano I want and know what I want to spend based on all the info posted in this forum.
I want an LE with moonroofs and lighted door sills. The door sills are not a deal breaker, I've seen them on one vehicle and like the way they look. I'm willing to spend between 500-525 month out the door on a 39 month lease putting as little down as possible, less than 1K.
ok, so chatted with a local dealer yesterday about the wood grain trim. They offered the metalic kit to convert the wood grain to the metalic version of the SL. How bad is the scratching on the metalic? Everyone is complaining, but it is really bad?
Another reponse from the local deal was to "wood grain taken out and painted in the carbon silver of the exterior. They take the inserts out, prime, paint and then clear coat them. We have done this before and it turns out really nice and fits the interior perfectly."
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think it'd look good? I wonder if the metalic would look better? This option might not scratch as easily though...
If you feel comfortable in removing the trim and repainting that would be my recomendation. First you can easily touch up any future scratches,second it will be custom and unique and third it should be the cheapest alternative.
Hey medtech, I am sorta in the same situation as you are. I am close to deciding on my next vehicle but I still have 2 months left on my RX350 lease. The Murano LE is near the top of my list so I decided to kill a lunch hour by checking the web site of every Nissan dealer within about 75 miles (I live in the Wash. DC / Baltimore area). I checked 19 dealer sites and found a total of 123 Murano LEs showing in stock. I agree with you that these sites are not always up to date, but there definitely was a reasonable selection of colors and options available - at least in this area.
The dealer would be the one removing the plates and painting them. So I have no doubt it would be done well. I'm just trying to picture it lol. If I chose the carbon grey murano, he suggested getting that color for the interior pieces as well. I would think with the clear coat it would be less likely to scratch too, rather than the metalic trim kit from the SL. The trim kit they quoted me $300-$400 CAD. Not sure how much painting it would cost.
One of my co-workers and her husband just swapped their two 2003 Muranos for a pair of 2009 LE's yesterday. She got Merlot and I think he went with Bronze. The Merlot looks fabulous - I'm a little jealous as I probably won't be in the market until summer 2010.
Comments
I have an SL (with NAV) and have been researching how we might add the same iPod integrated function to our new 2009 Murano. I think it might be possible. See my thread at http://www.nissanmurano.org/forums/showthread.php?s=b7022898e02312e58749695c7fee- d5d8&threadid=11625
The claim that the radios are different is BS. I would demand the dealer prove to you in detail why the IPOD Adapter shown in the 2009 Murano Service Manual cannot be added to your car.
I have not had the courage yet to take apart my console to see if the connector for the IPOD Adapter control is there, but you might try and make the dealer do that. And I'd probably ask why the GTR dealer installed option would not work on your car.
Its time to press them hard on their promise.
--jayhawk
That is the AUX input on the car's audio system. The yellow jack is for video (from a DVD player, computer, or other video source, like an iPhone), which will display on the car's screen. Video will only display when the car is stopped (and in Park, I think), but audio works anytime.
-jayhawk
Set your IPOD at about 1/3 volume then just use the vehicle/head unit volume - steering wheel volume etc..
I imagine you could also turn off the Overdrive and gear down some more that way too. (don't know if that would have any effect if you are already in Low).
--jayhawk
I noticed in some old entries that Wind noise was a problem at 55 MPH (or so) coming from the left side view mirror and/or window. Has anyone ever resolved this or brought this to the attention of a dealership?
-Sam, 2009 Nissan Murano
i too have an 09 Murano and have been wondering what the heck is going on with the Ipod Intergration Kit (the digital ipod interface as opposed to the standard RCA Aux input on all the 2009 Murano models). i have just got confirmation from my local dealer that after a few months of waiting the part # is now in all Nissan dealers computer for order and is availible. i'm getting my installed tomorrow or early next week. call your dealer!
-DmC
I would like all the options of the LE model (moonroof, no dvd - with nav etc) but I dont like the woodgrain trim. Is there any way around this trim? Can I order a metalic trim kit and have Nissan install?
Thanks
OR, get the LE then order each silver piece required to swap the plood pieces out. Very easy yet could be a little pricey. I have read were the dealer just swapped it out between an LE and SL and just charged the customer labor etc.. Just talk your salesman/dept into it etc.
My wife's 2009 LE has the plood of course - she likes it and I must say it has held up well. But I do know where you are coming from. I'm not a big fan of the wood unless it is really nice/done well.
Good luck!!
In addition, I have that noise coming from the left driver side window. It sounds both like the window is slightly "down", with road noise more pronounced, particularly when cars just go by. Almost sounds like window is down.
Also, there's this rubbing sound on the window itself that drives me nuts, almost like the window is vibrating or rattling around slightly loose inside the door. I have brought it up but the people in service look at me like I have 2 heads.
"Is there anyway to disable the so-called safety features?"
Yes, there are several threads on this and at Murano.org and NICOs Murano forums about how to do this (ie, disable the speed sensor)
"The ones for a musicbox are the most ridiculous,what kind of safety is is when one got to scroll through hundreds of songs to get to one he needs while driving,the passenger in a car got no possibility to give a hand at that either"
Not sure what you are getting at here. Its pretty easy to shift through an album at a time and then song by song, or set it up to sequence by artist or other catagories. if you want to do keyword searches while driving, I guess you are out of luck. You can get more functions if you do the speed sensor disable thing, but we have found the standard contorls and functions pretty useful. If you want ipod type contorls, well, its pretty easy to hook up your ipod to the RCA jacks that are available on all the trim levels. And I suspect that aftermarket vendors will soon have ipod integration parts out for the S and SL trim levels for the 2009. (they've been out for earlier model Muranos for some time now)
"the navigation system by itself sucks.Incredibly poor.The points of interest basically got no choices.Map design is so blind ."
I've used a great handheld TomTom for a couple of years before getting the Murano. The Murano's nav has more function (being able to voice navigate to an address while driving works pretty well. And it has plenty of POIs - certainly more than the TomTom. Someday I'll have to check out that Armenian Restaurant category! (really!) Finding the altitude display (in the info menu, not on the map display) was kind of cool for our trips into the Sierras.
I would like to get to the Points of Interest whle driving, but you can set it up to display 4 categories of places/POIs to search while driving. We put in fast food restaurants so we can find the nearest Subway or In-and-Out Burger when lunchtime is approaching. But I am thinking of installing the speed sensor disable switch to make it easier for my passenger to search more categories while driving.
"It definetely is a flop-knowing that prior I would never go for LE."
??? What are you trying to say here?
"Not to mention that passenger seat does not tilt,the back seats are incredibly uncomfortable and the car is road noisy."
None of this is true. The passenger seat does tilt, and we had three adults in the rear seats for a 350 mile trip from LA to San Franciso and they said it was great. And you can even tilt the rear seats a little bit! Have you actually been in a Murano? Road noise is less than the Lexus RX350 or Lincoln MKX we test drove before buying the Murano. Maybe there are other SUVs that are quieter, but the MO is really quiet to us.
"Blind spots are simply dangerous in this car-view is blocked "
I've seen this complaint before on the Murano, and it is a little difficult to see out the rear right IF you don't use your mirrors at all! But is you have properly set up the side mirrors AND USE THEM, visibility is fine. The key is to set your side mirrors properly, ie so they can "see" the blind spots at the sides and rear corners of the vehicle. The mirrors on the Mo are big and very useful and "the car-view" (whatever that is) is NOT blocked. This is a very safe vehicle.
"A mistake to buy anything but a SE"
It certainly would be, since there is no such trim level any more! Nissan only sells an S, SL, and LE trim levels.
"Regular 200 dollars garmin or navigon GPS and an I-pod for another 200 will save 10 grand."
It will save money, but nothing like 10 grand! The Navigation and Music Box option on an SL or LE costs something like $2500. I think you need to actually read the pricing information available on Edmunds or even Nissan's sites. That is still expensive, of course, but certainly part of what you are paying for is the superb integration in the Murano with all the other systems in the vehicle. (at least, that's the way I rationalized it. :-)
"Voice recognition is not bad but some towns I was trying to drive to in NJ and PA DO NOT EXIST or bring you to wrong places.Had to use mapquest.Ridiculous. "
Well, the maps in the Murano navigation system are from the same company (Navteq) supplying maps to many of the GPS manufacturers. So if NJ and PA are missing some towns in the Mo's system, they will be missing in many other navigation systems too! If you are talking about voice recognition of some place names, I agree. I dare ANYONE to get the Mo's nav system to recognize Pacheo, California. No matter how we pronounced it (correctly and incorrectly), the nav system could not recognize it. But did you know that the Mo allows you to navigate to any point on the map? Just use the touch screen and point to where you want to go. Simple as that!
I recommend learning a little more about the Murano. I spent a lot of time studying and comparing the functions and prices on the Murano, Lexus RX350, Ford Edge/Lincoln MKX, and Acura MDX. The Murano came out equal or better in function, luxury, reliability, and handling than all, at a substantially better price. (the Edge was prettly close in price)
-- jayhawk
delighted owner of a 2009 Murano SL AWD
Your post was phenomenal! You should be working for Nissan.
Seriously, sounds like the OP needs to check his options because it was a bit off mark. I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying your vehicle so much!
As I said, I must not understand your problem with the seats. Oh yeah, I was a principal before I retired and the chair you would have sat in wasn't very comfortable.
1. Remote start
2. Tire pressure monitoring system
3. Head-up display
Didn't expect #3 to be available as it's kind of a GM thing, but #1 and 2 kind of bum me out. Also kind of bummed that iPod interface and memory seats not available except on LE.
Overall, I enjoyed the test drive although the ride was a little more harsh than I expected (didn't seem much different than my '01 Pathfinder, which actually rides pretty nice). I'm wondering if the tires were overinflated (had that happen at the same dealership when I bought the Pathfinder). I thought visibility from the vehicle was better than expected - didn't have any trouble once adjusting seat/mirrors to my liking - visibility is worse in my Acadia.
You do NOT need to buy an LE to get the NAV and Music Box. It is an available option on the SL. You can also get leather, moonroofs, bluetooth, and almost all the technology and luxury features on an SL. See the specs.
There is NO price difference between and SE and and LE. That's because there is no such thing as an SE.
The price difference between an SL AWD with leather, Premium pkg, Tech pkg (the options that are included on a base LE) and an LE is only about $2000 (actually a little less, at MSRP). The only features exclusive to an LE are the iPod integration with the display, 20" wheels, driver seat memory, and power telescoping steering wheel. I hope you did not pay $10K more for an LE!
I think I see what you are trying to get at on the passenger seat tilt issue. The seat BACK tilts, but you are really discussing (I think) the seat base. You are right, it does not tilt like the driver seat does. Never noticed that before. If that is something that is critical, I would ask Nissan or a mechanic if they can adjust the seat tilt. (Washers on the support bracket bolts, perhaps?)
The rear seats BACKS certainly DO have a tilt adjustment. And the split rear seats can be adjusted separately too! Read page 1-8 of your Owners Manual.
You seem to have your biggest issues with the Music Box and Navigation system. True, they are not perfect, but I sure could not find any other SUV with anything remotely comparable. Every handheld GPS system I've tried have different features. I know our TomTom has a nice roadblock rerouting feature that is very useful. And all of them (Garmin, TomTom, Mio, etc) have quirks and occasional errors. But the Nissan one is pretty good, has a great big 7" touch screen, and is fully integrated with the rest of the Murano's systems. It has worked perfectly for us (with the exception of voice recognition of some Spanish place names. It even pronounces California the same way as our governator... Caleeforya )
Frankly I LOVE the Music Box. Far better than a CD changer that it replaces. And I'm not sure I understand why it takes you so long to find a song. At most you could only have about 300 CDs loaded (capacity is 3,000 songs.) At 1 second per flip of the "folder" knob, it sure would not take 30 minutes to sequence through all of you CDs. And if you really want the functions of an iPod, heck, just get an iPod! (I think you have an LE too, based on your comments, so you have the complete integration with your Murano's screen and controls. I'm jealous.) I recommend just putting the Music Box into Random Play mode and enjoy.
If you got an LE for the "luxury ride", well, you are right, an SL (and an S for that matter) have the exact same engine, suspension, etc as the LE. But you knew that before you bought it didn't you?... Except for the 20" wheels, which some posters claim makes the LE ride a little stiffer, although I could not tell any difference on the test drives I took.
Sorry about the wind noise in your car. Ours is not perfect, but I know at 75 mph I find our Murano very quiet. (It is a little noisy with the moonroof open at that speed, though... )
I think there is a reason that the editors of Edmunds rate the Murano highest of any midsize SUV. And why Consumer Reports says the Murano has the highest Owner Satisfaction rated of any mid size SUV.
--jayhawk
You are correct however, the Nav system does require the speed sensor input to operate. That is why the modification requires a simple switch. You turn the switch on, make your selections/adjustments to your nav system, then turn the switch back off to return to normal operation.
Check out the NicoClub forum: "Entertainment System" threads. There is a complete "how-to" write-up with pictures.
Your Nissan Dealership however will not agree to perform this modification for you. Not only could it be a safety violation, yet definitely a liability issue. The same reason Nissan made the car the way they did in the first place. They will most likely tell you it would void your warranty as well.
- I performed the modification mentioned above - not for the driver, but for the passenger when desired.
Good luck with your Mo. My wife loves her 09LE.
Cheers
The Mo does have a very basic yet very functional TPMS.
This forum has been extremely helpful in making my decision by everyone posting their insights on the Murano.
Thanks everyone!
Have you used Nissan's website to search dealer inventories near you? (www.nissanusa.com) That's what I did to find the Murano with the trim level, color, and options I wanted. I was looking for an SE AWD Platinum Graphite with Nav last November, and found 5 or 6 at various dealer inventories within 50 miles of my home. (San Francisco Bay area). Went to the closet dealer that had one, and, knowing that I had several other backups, was able to negotiate a very good price. I would "Build your Murano" on the Nissan website, then take the link to search nearby dealers and their inventories.
I just checked three dealer inventories near me, and frankly it looks like LEs in silver or platinum graphite are available in all of them. Looks like your colors are very available, at least here on the left coast.
Why would a dealer claim specific models and colors are hard to find.... Hmmmm. Maybe they are right, but maybe they are "negotiating" to sell you something they have in stock? Better check inventories for yourself. Nissan makes that easy.
--jayhawk
I want an LE with moonroofs and lighted door sills. The door sills are not a deal breaker, I've seen them on one vehicle and like the way they look. I'm willing to spend between 500-525 month out the door on a 39 month lease putting as little down as possible, less than 1K.
Another reponse from the local deal was to "wood grain taken out and painted in the carbon silver of the exterior. They take the inserts out, prime, paint and then clear coat them. We have done this before and it turns out really nice and fits the interior perfectly."
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think it'd look good? I wonder if the metalic would look better? This option might not scratch as easily though...
Thoughts would be appreciated! thanks
The dealer would be the one removing the plates and painting them. So I have no doubt it would be done well. I'm just trying to picture it lol. If I chose the carbon grey murano, he suggested getting that color for the interior pieces as well. I would think with the clear coat it would be less likely to scratch too, rather than the metalic trim kit from the SL. The trim kit they quoted me $300-$400 CAD. Not sure how much painting it would cost.