Hey everyone. I have been reading through your Topics and am very impressed with the welth of knowledge you all have to offer! I am yet another soldier heading over for the third time. I sold my Subaru and truck to buy a new car. I have been bouncing from BMW to New STi and now that I dropped them I am moving on to Nissan. Maxima to be more specific. I am interested in the 05 and newer and need to be educated on all he goods and bads, ups and downs. I am a professional car audio installer and fabricator. I work for a 5 time world championship car audio company while I go to school. I am also very mechanically inclined and enjoy building cars from the ground up. Maybe I can offer some advise but for now I am very new to you pros and just need educated on engine types, performance upgrades, body upgrades, ect. I look forward to ANY links, pics, or opinions you all have to offer. Even if you know someone selling an 05 and up Maxima.

Again thank you and I hope to hear from you all soon.

Jesse

Welcome to NICO!!!!Here is a link from someone with the same question... great input. zerothread/346701

Here are some consumer reviewshttp://www.edmunds.com/nissan/....html

I have a 2k2 and would deffinatly recomend any nissan especialy the max I love mine. Go get yourself one and you will see why there are multiple forums dedicated to these cars.

What is the difference between the engines? I love the look of the Radiant Ember Metallic but it is tough to find in an SE. I love the duel duel exhaust look of the SE and God know I have a hard on for the 5 and 6 mt. Can some one break down the engines for me from model to model?

For the '04+ model (the round one):

Engine is the same for both trim models. It's the VQ35DE, which is Nissan's 3.5 liter DOHC V6. Makes the same power and torque numbers in all models as well.The big difference is the transmissions:From '04 to '06 the transmission choices were 5 speed auto or 6 speed manual in the SE and 4 speed auto or 5 speed auto in the SL. (the 4 speed auto was actually shorter lived, basically just '04). After '06, ALL models switched to Nissan's CVT (continuously variable transmission). It has no gears and never "shifts" but instead constantly varies ratios to keep the car in the best rpm for the current needs. I'd definitely recommend test driving a CVT Max before jumping into one. You might like the transmission, but it's very different.

Other things to keep in mind:There was a minor redesign for '07 which (along with the transmission change) updated the exterior with new front styling, a new rear bumper, and a new rear spoiler (much more noticable wing style rather than the earlier subtle lip spoiler). The interior was also slightly updated with a different gauge cluster pod (no more 350z style pods) and rearranged center console control layout.

Also, both trims have that same quad exhaust look.SE has different wheels than SL. '06 and earlier SE had 350z style 18'' 6-spokes, while the SL had 17'' 7-spokes. After '07, they both went to different 7-spoke wheels.

The other major difference between SE and SL is suspension, which is sportier on the SE.

For the '00-'03 model:'00 to '01 the engine was the VQ30DE. Basically the same motor as the 3.5 but an older variant with various differences. It was 3.0 liters and made 222hp instead of 265. This motor came with a 4 speed auto or 5 speed manual.For 2002 and 2003, the engine and transmission options were the same as the '04-'06 models--3.5 liter, 4 or 5 speed auto or 6 speed manual.

As with the later models, SE had different suspension tuning than the non-sport trims (GXE and GLE).

And unlike the '04-'08 model (6th generation) the '00-'03 model (5th generation) does not have independent rear suspension. Don't let that scare you away from the 5th gens, as they still drive very nice. But certainly something to consider.

Hope all that helps!

Holy crap that was amazing info!! Okay next questions

What are some bolt on upgrades for the engine? Also can you re valve the tranny for faster shifting?If I LOVE the duel exhaust of the SE can I swap that onto another model Maxima of a different year?

Thanks a load!

Jesse

off topic but you should check out the audio forum too if you worked at a championship one!

zeroforum?id=99

as you were

Levissan wrote:Holy crap that was amazing info!! Okay next questions

What are some bolt on upgrades for the engine? Also can you re valve the tranny for faster shifting?If I LOVE the duel exhaust of the SE can I swap that onto another model Maxima of a different year?

Thanks a load!

Jesse

Welcome aboard!!If you have a "hard on" for the 6mt, first off it will be hard to find, something like 3% of production and you will have to stick with 04-06 as the 07-08's only come with CVT. Here's a few MT's on EBAY currently...http://motors.shop.ebay.com/Ca...sovZ1

Check the 4th post down for performance upgrades:zerothread?id=352367

And welcome aboard!!!!

Take the upper plenum off and send it to me

http://forums.maxima.org/5th-g....html

At what mile markers do parts need to be replaced? (i.e. 100000=suspension, coil pack ect)?

Jesse

Here is a link for an 08http://www.nissanusa.com/apps/techpubsI looked through it and it's the same for my 02 so it should be the same for all the model years in between

What were you trying to link to there? It's a flash website, so unfortunately that link just takes you to the "top level" instead of whatever manual you were viewing.

And the manual for an '08 should definitely NOT be the same as a manual for an '02 or '03. Totally different cars.

He was lookin for the sevice intervals not the manual he just needs to put the model and year to get all the publications for that paticular year. The serivce intervals are the same and same recomended maintenence as my 02 I didn't read it word for word but the major intervals are the same ie 30k, 60k, 105k.

Ahh, I see. Since the link just went to the "Manuals and Guides" page I wasn't sure what you were saying should be the same.

Good lookin' out.