3 questions: clearcoat, air bag, 100k service

[masshead87]

Hey NICO, haven't been on for a while due to new job. Good money, but next to no life outside work.

1. Some inconsiderate hospital patron apparently couldn't fit his rear end between his car and mine, and now I've got some torn up clear coat on the driver's side rear door. Paint looks fine, but clearcoat is looking nasty. Product suggestions?

2. Returning to my no air bag light ever issue. Checked out the fuse box the other day and found a cut wire coming out from behind the fuse panel. Is the air bag system wire red? If so, can I just crimp it back together?

3. 100k coming up soon. Planning on getting it done for my next oil change. Valve seals are going, I've got a bank 1 knock sensor code too. So far I know I should replace both KS, valve seals, gaskets, all hoses under plenum, and plugs. Anything else? Motor mounts necessary/recommended? Theres some slight vibration if I get it going over 80 MPH, but other than that the engine seems healthy. No idling problems, noise, etc.

[thehacker3]

Hey NICO, haven't been on for a while due to new job. Good money, but next to no life outside work.

1. Some inconsiderate hospital patron apparently couldn't fit his rear end between his car and mine, and now I've got some torn up clear coat on the driver's side rear door. Paint looks fine, but clearcoat is looking nasty. Product suggestions?

Meguiar's ultimate compound followed by swirl remover followed by glaze followed by wax

2. Returning to my no air bag light ever issue. Checked out the fuse box the other day and found a cut wire coming out from behind the fuse panel. Is the air bag system wire red? If so, can I just crimp it back together?

I wouldn't mess around with airbag electronics for obvious reasons. You can find yourself having to replace a $100+ airbag because of a little light.

3. 100k coming up soon. Planning on getting it done for my next oil change. Valve seals are going, I've got a bank 1 knock sensor code too. So far I know I should replace both KS, valve seals, gaskets, all hoses under plenum, and plugs. Anything else? Motor mounts necessary/recommended? Theres some slight vibration if I get it going over 80 MPH, but other than that the engine seems healthy. No idling problems, noise, etc.

Is this for your 1996 Q45? I mean the car itself isn't worth more than $3000. Is it worth spending $400 for the KS fix alone?


As for the slight vibration, get a wheel balancing and an alignment (in that order).

[qship96]

"Is this for your 1996 Q45? I mean the car itself isn't worth more than $3000. Is it worth spending $400 for the KS fix alone?"


That has to be one of the dumbest viewpoints many people have........what does the worth of the car have do do with the price of maintaining it? Would it make any sense to NOT spend the $400 due to the current value of the vehicle if it runs and provides reliable transportation? Would it make more sense to NOt spend the 400 on this car, and instead junk it and spend THOUSANDS on a replacement vehicle instead????


With only 100,000 miles on it, it has ANOTHER 200,000 miles of RELIABLE life left in it,if properly maintained geez

[thehacker3]

It's not a stupid question - it's a reality check. For many, including myself, it is worth just letting the problems run the car to its death than constantly fixing every little thing that pops up. This is the approach I'm taking with my 190k 1997 because all the problems will cost almost as much as the car to fix. Since the car still runs as a transportation vehicle, there's no reason to junk it, but many find that there's no reason to make it like-new with repairs and whatnot.

If you have a sentimental feeling towards the car, that's a different story altogether. The question of whether it's worth it is still relevant though, and there was no harm in asking it.

[masshead87]

personally i feel my particular car is worth it. i've already put nearly 3 grand worth of maintenance and replacement parts into it since i've had it, and q451990 (I think it was him) was very straight up in saying that the car will basically need to be bought over again in maintenance over time. Although, I'm not sure if I plan to keep my q until 2016. Right now it's at 98k. It needs the 100k mile service done for the following reasons: KS code, valve seals leaking pretty noticeably, aging rubber in New England climate. Also, before I got it most of the miles had been short rides since it was a pick-up car for a Boston dealership. And my dummy self decided to try to cheat the system with plus grade (89) for about 5000 miles. I learned my lesson - in time.

I really love this car, and the plan is when I get this service done I will actually be adding more to my insurance policy in order to protect my investment. There are not many G50s around my neck of the woods and I have never seen one around here in as clean condition as mine is. I still get snotty looks from actual-well off adults and the co-workers, friends, and ladies dig it.

Frankly, it's been a little disheartening to hear so many q-fans just saying, to hell with it. It's at least 15 years old, therefore garbage. Compared to what? I could go out and buy a Chevy Cruze and have the steering wheel fall off on the highway, a Benz, Lincoln, or BMW that will fall to built in obsolescence within 10-15 years, or a Hyundai which may be a better built car than I want to admit but it's still a frikkin Hyundai.

So thanks for the tip for Meguiars, I've got some ultimate compound around and I'll give it a go when I get some time.
Anybody know if this red wire is the air bag? I'll try to get a picture up, but it's sticking right out from behind the fuse panel towards the bottom.

[Infinitiguy19]

Be careful when using compound to remove a scratch as the paint has seen a lot of use and its not worth making it thinner.

[OwnerCS]

MH - show us some pictures. We're interested in seeing your car.

[maxnix]

Frankly, it's been a little disheartening to hear so many q-fans just saying, to hell with it. It's at least 15 years old, therefore garbage. Compared to what? I could go out and buy a Chevy Cruze and have the steering wheel fall off on the highway, a Benz, Lincoln, or BMW that will fall to built in obsolescence within 10-15 years, or a Hyundai which may be a better built car than I want to admit but it's still a frikkin Hyundai.

There is no 100K service as all service intervals are in 30K increments. Basically, you are either current with your preventative maintenance or not. There was a maintenance spreadsheet maybe by Alabama Dan that laid out most component life cycles.

I love my little 135i and it is full of advanced technology and engineering, but it is obvious that the G50 has a certain level of finish that the BMW does not.

[qship96]

compare apples to apples, meaning compare the 7 series to the Q as far as fit/finish.....not fair to compare the entry level BMW model to the Infiniti flagship and complain about differences in build quality!

[BadQ45t]

That is sort of the way I look at it. If I replace my Q I don't see a 135i in my future, they are nice but really small and isn't the feel that your Q gave you on day one. So the only car that makes my blood boil right now is the M56, that is a serious upgrade to my Q, but each is gonna run me 70k, so if I keep up my 95k Q with a few grand a year it is worth it.

NOW, if the car has had years of neglect that is a different story, it is far easier to pay $2-3k a year than get hit with 4-6k in one shot in a given year. Now if the transmission blows up you gotta think about it, but i just dropped $600 bucks into my wife's Sentra for a 90k service, that versus a new one at 20k, similar thing. If her transmission were to blow, then take old yeller out and but a bullet in her head, but doing consistent service on a 15 year old is expected and you need to budget for it or a new car.

[masshead87]

I've had my car since 9/09, bought it with 89k miles. Since then I have changed all 3 belts, inner tie rods, alternator, had 2 alignments, new drivers side front hub, steering pump, steering rack, yet another alignment, BG transmission service, installed K&N box filter to be thrown out rather than cleaned, drivers side post cat 02 sensor. I've crossed the point of no return and will not be getting rid of this car unless something goes catastrophically wrong with it.

Here are some pics, the quality is so-so since I took them late last afternoon on my phone without flash.

Can't figure out how to link pics from my picasaweb. Heyulp!

That last odo shot was from yesterday, I overestimated by 1000 earlier. For 16 she's still looking good considering her environment. Like I said before I bought it it had been used as a pick up car for a Boston area dealership. It was not a very reputable dealership. There is evideance that at some point somebody tried to jimmy the driver's door open fairly roughly with a slim jim. Also, the test drive was in chelsea MA so I couldn't get it above 50 mph, and therefore didn't notice the steering wheel shake caused by the damaged hub. I did more damage than any of the previous owners by driving with the damaged hub for 1000 miles and running plus grade, and I learned my lesson the tough way on both of those. To me, this car is a keeper not only because of it's condition, low mileage, what I've already put into it or even the fact that it's fun as hell to drive or other people like it a lot, this is a car that demands the best care. It sort of commands respect from it's owner.

[Infinitiguy19]

Hey if you want PM me if you want to meet up.