I agree. I really like them for understated motoring without the unwanted attention. But watch out for parts prices as I don't think there are many about.
Paul C
|
Currently running a 96 3.0 and part price are very reasonable, even from Nissan.
Just watch out for some dealers charging over the top for parts and services. I believe Nissan do not have a RRP for parts and serivces.
I was recently quoted £450 inc. vat for the most expensive service "C" from Marshal Nissan in Cambridge and £159 inc. vat from KAP in Kent. I went for KAP in the end.
*Serivce-C includes all the usual + plugs + coolant & brake fluid & autobox fluid flush.
|
Gazza
Does the QX use 'long life' platinum plugs (50k miles change) as standard?
|
Yes, QX comes with NGK twin platinum tips plugs as standard. I have heard the plugs last over 100k on neglected car in US.
Nissan service "C" (36k) includes changing the plugs so I just let them put new ones in. The platinum tips on the old plugs look similar to the new plugs so I guess they should last up to 100k easier.
|
Well, just put £100 deposit on it so it looks like I'm buying it subject to inspection over ramps, emissions test, MoT etc.
Gazza - do have any QX service/technical data? I know there is a US Nissan Maxima aftermarket service manual available, but is there any other data available for UK RHD cars (e.g. a wiring diagram would be useful!)?
Also do you know of any second-source parts suppliers (I don't expect Halfords keep QX air filters!). Pads and discs probably wear quickly on a big auto like this - and I expect they're expensive from the dealer so knowledge of an alternative supplier would be useful.
I already found a Bosal exhaust listing for the QX - back and centre boxes are less than £40 each, which I though was very reasonable.
e-mail me direct if you wish at: microstar@europe.com
|
|
I would not expect a car company to design everything new for a particular car. You will find that service items such as pads, filters etc to be taken from nissan's parts shelves, and hence you may well find parts down your local motor factors quite easily.
|
|
The 'Maxima QX' is a unique floorpan and the engine (V6 24V) is only used on that model - so I think a lot of the parts will be unique to it and not shared with other models. It would be nice if this turns out not to be the case, of course!
|
As you well know, there is and will never be a Haynes for the QX. The only manual for RHD is the factory manual, which someone I know on www.bignissans.org.uk/ got it.
My decision is that a manual is not worth buying. Your owner's manual, if the car has the proper one, covers all service items from oil to coolant change, plugs and pads change. QX is a very straight forward car to work on.
And why do you need wiring diagrams? If your QX needs any electrical work, it is a very abused/neglected car and your should sell it.
I know Partco covers all service items but Nissan oil filter is a must. I heard people, who used Partco (Cooper?) filters on Primera and QX, have the oil light stays on for longer and timing-chain rattle louder and longer. The QX's VQ engine shares oil filter with 300ZX.
I do a 5k interm oil change myself and the total cost was £20 for full-sync 5w40, Nissan oil filter and washer.
Air filter available from Partco.
I use Mintex pads and discs, available from Partco. Pads lasted 20k and disc will probably last 40k. Change brakes-fluid with every pad change. I believe the 2.0 shares braking system with 200SX and your can get pads and discs off the shelf. My 3.0 "Maxima QX" has 4-pot caliper from 300ZX as standard and Partco has to order them in.
Bosal is the best aftermarket exhaust available but you should not need one. Nissan OE (stainless-steel box) exhaust has lasted over 100k and is still going on my car.
Overall, the QX is a great car but slow in 2.0 auto form (30-70 in 10.8 seconds).
FYI, to keep in mind when you trade-up:
The 3.0 is a lot faster (30-70 in 7.4 seconds) and with taller gearing. The 3.0 Maxima QX handles very differently and handles a lot better once you got used to having a LSD in the front-axle and the LSD kicking in. The LSD is incorporated with the autobox built by JATCO and, as it is in the same casing, very light. It was good fun when my friend (95 Volvo 960 Estate 3.0 auto with LSD) and I ventured out on 31Jan03 into Cambridgeshire country-side, driving on snow and ice.
Regards,
Garrison
|
Thank you for your post Gazza, it was very informative.
I take your point about the 3.0 being a better car - however there are not many QX's to pick-and-choose from and this 2.0 is in such good condition and at a good price, so I decided to go with it.
Basically I need a reliable and safe 'bus' to ferry my three children around in - performance is not a high priority. I have other cars for more entertaining driving (e.g. a Primera GTe and a Merc. C-class), so the QX is purely a 'utility' car, albeit with cimate control and auto trans!. I could have gone out and bought a people carrier for a lot more money and not had as much space. The QX seems to offer space and reliability at a very low price and they don't seem to attract heavy footed first owners, so they don't seem to get thrashed (the few I've seen all appeared to be well cared for).
As regards the electrical diagram - well, I don't know of any electrical problems, it is simply that the car has a complex electrical system and I would just like to have the information to hand in case a problem arises. Its the kind of thing that sometimes finds it way onto the web as a PDF and I thought you might know of the location of one.
Good to know that Mintex do the pads and that other parts are readily available from 'second sources'.
I take your point about the oil filters. I do all my own servicing (other than anything required to keep a warranty) and have good facilities (workshop, pit, air tools etc.). My father and grandfather both ran their own independent repair garages going back to the 1920's, so I've 'got it in the blood' - I hate handing a vehicle over to someone else to work on!
Anyhow, I have not actually got the car yet - it'll probably be collected sometime next week. I'll let you know how it goes and whether it turns out to be a good buy or not. I'm buying it after a very financially bruising experience with a BMW 7-series which turned out to be a singularly unreliable vehicle and was a big disappointment in the ride/handling/comfort stakes, so hopefully Nissan won't let me down............
|
Update:
I bought the Nissan QX (1998, 28k miles) and have had the car for a bit over two weeks now. It is absolutely brilliant.
I've crawled all over the car looking for faults, but can't find anything. It really is like new, not a scratch or a mark on it, not even a drop of oil on the underside. Its like it came out of the factory yesterday.
It drives really well and is as quiet as a tomb inside; not a creak or rattle from anywhere. Autobox is very smooth and all the equipment works perfectly.
If there is anyone out there who needs a very roomy car (lot more legroom in the back than in my previous BMW 7-series, for example) and who doesn't care about the badge then these cars really are well screwed together and are a real bargain.
|
".. and who doesn't care about the badge.."
Funny thing, badge snobbery, but long may it continue - there are some real bargains for those who don't care about such stuff. I'd go for the Nissan over the BM for the anonymity, anyway - and I bet you get let out of side turnings more easily!
|
"I'd go for the Nissan over the BM for the anonymity, anyway - and I bet you get let out of side turnings more easily!"
Too right! I had some real hassle driving the 7-series. A lot of people have a real 'downer' on BMW's. Strange thing is that I also have a MB C-class and never experience any 'attitude' when driving that.
The main problem with the BMW was the attitude of the dealers though (or at least my local dealer, part of a large group). Basically they changed the coolant for me without bothering to check that the small 'bleeder' pipe from the top of the radiator was clear. It wasn't, it was blocked with crud (its a very small diameter). The upshot of this was that they didn't bleed the cooling system properly, not that I knew this at the time. The car ran just fine until three days later - I was in a traffic queue when all of sudden the temp guage shot to the red region. Result of this was a blown head gasket. Naturally the dealership said it was nothing to do with them and claimed that since I'd paid for the work and taken the car away I must have been satisfied with their work! I actually showed them the blocked pipe but they just ignored it. An astonishing attitude.
Needless to say I'll never buy a BMW again.
|
"Nissan oil filter is a must"
I've heard the same thing about VAG, but I have also heard recently that ALL oil filters are now made by three producers in the far East. Can anyone corroborate?
|
|
When I buy filters for my MB they are either 'Mann', 'Knecht' or 'Hengst'. All are marked 'Made in Germany'. Browsing in a factors I've noted that Fram are made in UK and Champion are made in Italy. Not seen any Chinese made ones yet, but I don't suppose it will be long before I do.....
|
This is a good thread on oil filters and has an excellent response from Halfords about the filters they sell and there sources.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=4&t=11...6
|
|
|
