Considering a '04 M45

[cesman]

Hello Everyone,

I'm considering an '04 M45 and would like your advice. Having former experience with Nissan vehicles (I had a Maxima for 10 years until I was rear ended.), I know they make cars that are built to last. I recently came across an '04 M45 with less than 90,000 miles and I'm seriously considering making the purchase. The dealership is asking $9,500 which according to KBB is about $1,000 too high.

Does the price sound right? What should I look for before purchasing the vehicle? Should I purchase it, what advice would you have to offer? Based browsing the forum, it appears there are known issues. What should I look out for in the long run?

Thanks,

cesman

[Rogue One]

Welcome to NICO!

Were working in the blind here. Can you post a link with pictures of the vehicle in question? Are there any options on the car that might justify the higher price? Have you searched for similar vehicles elsewhere to get an idea of what the average price is? KBB is a starting point, not the final arbitrator of price.

Some KBB prices are too low

Kelley Blue Book prices are definitely not perfect and while they tend to skew higher than lower, there are times when they actually under-price a vehicle by a lot of money. On classic or nice cars and/or vehicles with high mileage, KBB should not be your source of valuation.

Take a Saab 9000, for example. This quirky Swedish hatchback from the mid-1990’s has a cult following. While KBB values a 1994 Saab 9000 with 165,000 miles at $1,240, a quick search online reveals a Saab 9000 from that year will fetch well over $5,000. KBB under valued a car by $4,000!

[cesman]

Thanks for the reply. Here is a link to the vehicle. I'm not so much worried about the price as what to look for in the vehicle and what to be on the look out for long term should I buy the vehicle. Whatever vehicle I purchase, I've like to get no less than 100,000 miles out of it.

Thanks again,

cesman

[Sstupid]

That's so funny. I was looking for an '04 Y34 about 6 months ago. They are very hard to find in good condition. I went with an '07 M45 because you can pick those up for about the same price that that dealership is asking for that '04, and the '07 has much more power. I really liked the more rare body style of the Y34, but here are the issues I ran into:
1) It is very hard to integrate an ipod into these cars. I realize the '07 isn't much easier, but it seems easier than with the '04.
2) OIL CONSUMPTION. This is what ultimately turned me away from this car. They all consume oil, and to me that means a loss of compression. I wasn't about to buy a car that consumed oil like a Mazda rotary.
3) It's getting harder and harder to get parts for these cars.
4) Transmission is a bit of a slow-shifter.
My recommendation is to do what I did and buy the next generation. Get an '08 if you can because stereo integration is much easier with those.

[EdBwoy]

I'm with Sstupid here
I love the y34s, and the power is honestly not much different than the later generations.
One of the downsides of getting one is the parts availability. Be it mechanical components or even body panels.
2nd downside is the technology. The one you're looking at doesn't seem to have navigation nor does it have the climate controlled seats(if you're comfort feature-oriented like I am). You can get surround sound, dvd, cooled seats, backup camera, lane departure warning, intelligent cruise, spacious seating etc...If you jump up just a couple of years.

Personally, I would buy an 04 m45, yes, but not at that price. I've seen 06+ M45s with around the same mileage going for around the same price.

And like someone else said, blue book isn't exactly the bible of car-pricing. Rare cars like the m45, usually sell for more than blue book. I paid more than book value when I bought mine and I don't regret it.

That's my piece of advice on whether you should buy it. But if you're definitely going to get it, then it will give you 100,000 miles with little issue. I can type up the things to look out for at a later time.

[Larz]

I'm with everyone up there. Technology moves so very fast that an 11 yr old car will not only be lacking, but will likely not be able to be updated without carving up the dash, etc. For the price they are asking for this car specifically, I'd say no. Even if they dropped it by $2000 I'd still say no. It does not have the minimum features I require and they cannot be added without mangling the factory looks.

[cesman]

Thanks for the response everyone. I'm not concerned about the lack of tech the '04 has vs what a newer model has. Should I get one, I do plan on putting in an a newer head unit that would give me some of the newer stuff. If you've not, take a look at this video.


My concerns are finding a vehicle that is in good shape and keeping it proper running condition without having to spend an arm and a leg. Thanks for mentioning the consumption of oil. It does give me pause. Any additional thoughts or information would be welcomed.

Thanks again,

cesman

[Double E]

Read my write up on the Y34: post6411685.html?hilit=report#p6411685
That was my first one.
Search for my posts on what happened to it and how I got the second one.

Yes, that's too much $. I bet they only gave the PO $5300 for it.
Those wheels are absolutely hideous. Just base on the taste of the PO, I'd walk away b/ of that.
There may be better examples out there but they are getting harder to find.

I like the rear wing but hate the black. The paint on these things (especially the darker colors) hazes over fast.

The heated/cooled seats are nice but the NAV...not a big deal as it's an old system with little to no support or updates. It's also slow and cumbersome to enter info into. I prefer WAZE and any other GPS. Even the heated/cooled seats aren't the best but both options would be a nice touch at best.

Read up on how the ret of us have dealt with the oil consumption issue. It can be mitigated.

Good luck on your search.

[myother45isalesbaer]

I have one I bought new. Buy it. Buy it now! Of course I can only speak from my experience. I have found the car to be just plane awesome with no major repairs since I got it. Most of what everyone said is at least partially true. If hooking a phone up to it is important stay away. My OP is I am buying a car, not a gizmo to wire electronic devices to. It's more important to me to listen to the mechanical music it makes than talk on the phone or mess with a GPS or MP3 while I am trying to drive and not hit some one walking, on a bike, pulling out in front of me and the list goes on.

I have found that there is not much new the 04 M45 doesn't already have on it. There have been tons of posts about oil consumption. My car was brand new and liked to use oil, especially synthetic stuff. Regular oil works just fine in mine. True, push it hard and it will use some. It boils down that the PCV system seems defective and somehow I don't fully understand it throws oil out. Read the posts on the "catch can". Its not losing compression. Its similiar to the old blow by pipe used on cars before the PCV system was ever put on cars. Mine uses about half a quart between oil changes. My old 71 307 chevy nova did burn about a quart between oil changes. On the M you know when its low on oil. On a cold start the valves rap like crazy. I shut it off and add what it needs and continue on.

From the pictures it looks great. The price is about right. The books are not meant to be anything but a quide not an absolute. Not being able to hear it and drive it there is no way I can tell if its been abused. All I can say is it's a huge "sleeper". It is not a stop light car. On the highway you get a nice tight well handling ride. It will surprise you and many others the power it has and the speeds you can hit without even knowing it. It runs like a bear on steroids. Depending on your mood it can be a nice bear or one looking for a few beemers for lunch. If you like the Lexus ride this is not for you. I have owned or driven almost everything between garbage trucks and a 4.2 liter 1967 XKE Jag. I currently own a Jag RJS Convertible which is a V12. The Jag is nice but the M45 can kick its butt is so many different ways. The M45 is without a doubt one of the top 3 cars I have had the pleasure to own. BUY it. They are out of production and getting harder to find everyday. While its true some parts are getting hard to find, look at it as the pleasure of owning an up and coming classic car. I have been looking for a new car. I want to drive the M less for fear some idiot is going to hit it good and the insurance company is going to total it. I can't find a new car that pleases me as much as the M. I won't get on my soap box, but buying a car because its easy to hook blue tooth up and it has a turbo charged V6 is akin to buying a dishwasher, needed item but BORING, BORING AND MORE BORING. What's next? Put the starter button back on the floor where it originally came from? More fly by wire. Soon the beloved car will do the dishes.

[myother45isalesbaer]

I did not start this post. I considered an M45 in 2004 and bought one. How do you report these errors?