03 vs 04

[ADUBB25]

What are the exact differences between an 03 and 04 M45...? And, in opinion, is there a loss when purchasing an 03...? 20K+ is enough for me to worry about the details...

[Sazar]

What are the exact differences between an 03 and 04 M45...? And, in opinion, is there a loss when purchasing an 03...? 20K+ is enough for me to worry about the details...

Everything is the same except instead of the CD changer in the glove box, it is in the center stack and the casette player has been moved to the glove-box instead.

Other than that, there is I believe an engine flash but you should be able to get the same on the 03.

[GJEMD]

One owners opinion. After reading this forum for 18 months I believeon average the 2004 are better cars. after 4 yrs most issues are with 2003. now this is not absolute, but as a general rule its true

[ADUBB25]

can anyone second that...04's are less problematic than 03's...?

[THT]

can anyone second that...04's are less problematic than 03's...?

Someone once said that 04s have fewer oil burning motors than 03s but I haven't seen any data to back that up.

[ADUBB25]

fair enough..03's potentially more problematic and the glove box arrangement...that is all...?

[maxnix]

They were basically the same car for the entire short 18 month production run.

[CakeDaddy]

fair enough..03's potentially more problematic and the glove box arrangement...that is all...?

remember that there were only 5-6 months worth of Y34's built in 04 which translates into less cars for the 2004 year, so the other 12 months (full production year) were 03's and that would explain your argument. More cars built for the entire year of 2003, so more problems presented with the 2003's? right I seriously doubt if the 03's had more problem just that there are more 03's out there than 04's. ... so, not true in my opinion, plus I have a perfect problem free 03

[GJEMD]

remember that there were only 5-6 months worth of Y34's built in 04 which translates into less cars for the 2004 year, so the other 12 months (full production year) were 03's and that would explain your argument. More cars built for the entire year of 2003, so more problems presented with the 2003's? right I seriously doubt if the 03's had more problem just that there are more 03's out there than 04's. ... so, not true in my opinion, plus I have a perfect problem free 03

Your trouble free 03 makes not the point. Most 03's were also trouble free. I've not seen a 2004 report the fuel gauge intsrument cluster issue. Lets face it the problems that the 2003 have reported are excessive in face of a limited run of 5000 cars that yr.Given the nature of the 2 main issues Oil consumption and Instrument cluster failure. The approx 1700 04's would have shown within 4 yrs.I'll stand by my opinion

[maxnix]

Given the nature of the 2 main issues Oil consumption and Instrument cluster failure.

I'll stand by my opinion

The oil consumption problem is endemic to the VK45DE engine, especially if not broken in properly or OCI not frequent enough.

Not sure what your opinion is, but one must have facts to sway other's opinions.

[CakeDaddy]

Your trouble free 03 makes not the point. Most 03's were also trouble free. I've not seen a 2004 report the fuel gauge intsrument cluster issue. Lets face it the problems that the 2003 have reported are excessive in face of a limited run of 5000 cars that yr.Given the nature of the 2 main issues Oil consumption and Instrument cluster failure. The approx 1700 04's would have shown within 4 yrs.I'll stand by my opinion

In no way am I trying to argure "your opinion" Im simply making the point that more cars produced in 2003 vs. 2004, so the problem would be more obvious in the full production year vs. the few that were made in 2004. That's simple math, I think. My comment of "plus I have a perfect problem free 03" was only a poke with a stick.

Plus, the oil consumption is due to the car not being broken in properly, serviced at due milegae per the manual, etc... and I doubt if anyone will argue that one.

[GJEMD]

The oil consumption problem is endemic to the VK45DE engine, especially if not broken in properly or OCI not frequent enough.

Not sure what your opinion is, but one must have facts to sway other's opinions.

not attempting to sway anyone, just responding to a coment that my opinion was in error without any facts. Oil consumption is not endemic to the VKas evidenced by the lack of this problem in the FX 45 and the vast majority of the M45's currently and since 2003. You also need to show me where Infiniti made no changes to the internals of the VK based on warranty claims. Everyone is welcome their opinion but not their own facts. My initial entry stated one mans opinion. I think the burden of facts lies with your statement not mine.Your making a statement of fact when its nothing more than opnion

[Mark Linkous]

not attempting to sway anyone, just responding to a coment that my opinion was in error without any facts. Oil consumption is not endemic to the VKas evidenced by the lack of this problem in the FX 45 and the vast majority of the M45's currently and since 2003. You also need to show me where Infiniti made no changes to the internals of the VK based on warranty claims. Everyone is welcome their opinion but not their own facts. My initial entry stated one mans opinion. I think the burden of facts lies with your statement not mine.Your making a statement of fact when its nothing more than opnion

Hello,While I have been quite pleased with my 04', it too has required a half quart of mobil 1 between 3,750 intervals. Here is a FX45 forum post about oil consumption: zerothread/205537I think Mannix is right about the VK45DE in regards to oil consumption. The vast majority uses less than a quart per 3000 miles. I would also guess that many owners do not check their fluids in between service on most newer cars as well, owners of VK45 equipped Infintiti's included.Many high performance engines require the addition of oil between changes to keep at optimum levels. I was aware of the issue when I purchased my car. I was also aware that the extent to which it uses oil is not extreme and easily offset by fastidious checking of fluids. Given the absurd values of these cars, a small price to pay to me.Cheers,M.L

[ADUBB25]

remember that there were only 5-6 months worth of Y34's built in 04 which translates into less cars for the 2004 year, so the other 12 months (full production year) were 03's and that would explain your argument. More cars built for the entire year of 2003, so more problems presented with the 2003's? right I seriously doubt if the 03's had more problem just that there are more 03's out there than 04's. ... so, not true in my opinion, plus I have a perfect problem free 03

It is all about elementary math...more cars, more problems...same make, similar problems...well stated CD...!!! yet the "first edition" of anything is never perfect...that is a drawback of the first movers out there...infiniti may have had a chance to "fix" issues but within a 1 1/2* yr period...? it would seem to an infiniti beginner both 03 and 04 should have similar problems across the board but with a heavier concentration in the 03's...in other words the 2003 ratio of qty of cars produced and # of problems should be directly proportional to that of the 2004s...maybe???

*--approx how many cars were built per annum

[GJEMD]

The 1/2 -1 qt /3000 miles is not the oil consumption issue being referred to in this thread. You will find the massive oil consumption resulting in engine replacement was restricted to the 2003 M45 and G35 coupes.most of these engines were more than likely abused by inititial operators only for the 2nd owner to deal with the disaster. There is little to no information regarding the initial history of these engines that failed.Proper service intervals will tell you nothing about how the car was driven in the first 5000 miles. When you speak to the specifics this is a 2003 issue.