EX35 Roof Rails? Where to get?

[iMAK]

Hi there, this is my first topic in this forum and hope to get some answers from you. I am planning to buy a used 2010 EX35 but it comes without the Roof Rails. Could you please guide me where is possible to buy the Roof Rails online? Thanks

[XIS]

from what I understand, if your EX doesn't have the rails installed by the factory, then it isn't really an easy DIY job. The factory drills them right into your roof. I would check with the dealer to see what they would charge.

Oh, and WELCOME to the forum!!!

[sashki2]

I'd say it could be even a deal breaker if you really need roof rails. If you add parts and labor, to install them would be so expansive that's it's just worth to find another car with rails.

[iMAK]

from what I understand, if your EX doesn't have the rails installed by the factory, then it isn't really an easy DIY job. The factory drills them right into your roof. I would check with the dealer to see what they would charge.

Oh, and WELCOME to the forum!!!

Thank you for welcoming, XIS.

It's getting very challenging to me, I got only one 2010 model black and this one is without the roof rails, there are 2008 models with the rails and the price difference between the two model is around $2,600. Should I get the 2010 and forget about the rails or get the 2008 with the rails but 2 years older and save the $2,600. Is it worth to pay $2,600 for the advantage of the 2 years?

I checked with the dealer and they charge around $1,800 to install the rails and I think it's too expensive.

[iMAK]

I'd say it could be even a deal breaker if you really need roof rails. If you add parts and labor, to install them would be so expansive that's it's just worth to find another car with rails.

I don't think I will be using the roof rails, I think it's only the look which I am interested in.

[iMAK]

One more thing, how do I know if the car is AWD or RWD? Thanks

[XIS]

I like the way the rails (and cross bars) look also, but only 2600 difference isn't that much for what should be a more valuable 2010 ***IF IT HAS THE SAME PACKAGES...****

Get both VIN numbers and contact a dealer. Ask them to tell you what each car came with when sold new. Then you can make a more accurate / informed decision.

[sashki2]

When it's time to trade in or sell you car in the future, the price will depend more on how many miles you have then on the year. If the difference $2600 now, depending on how soon you sell it, it could be as little as $500. Assuming like XIS said the cars have the same packages and miles, I might consider the older one:
- save $2600
- get roof rails
- the car feels, drives and looks exactly the same

One thing worth noting though, I think 2010 has a usb port to connect your media devices. I'd want to have that.

[iMAK]

I checked the car today, it's without the roof rails, without navigation and without side cameras. It has 17" wheels with michelen tyres. The car has done only 14k miles very clean insideout. The interior is full beige which I like. I will check about the USB port, it's a good option.

The thing about the 2008 models is that they are not as clean as the 2010, and the mileage on them is around 60k.

Would you change your mind and go for the 2010 with the missing feature? BTW, for me the navigation and the side cameras are not important at all.

Regards,

[EX-KAT-35]

AWD has the "SNOW" button in the middle where the cupholders are.

At least that is how I remember it from when I was in the market almost 4 years ago.

I would go for the roof racks and not worry about falling out of like with your car at some point down the road.

$1800 is a lot to add in after a purchase that would reduce the price difference to $800 between the two.

Maybe keep searching?

[iMAK]

Yeah I remember the "snow" button there, so it's AWD. How it's comparing to the RWD?

The thing about the previous models e.g. 2008 with the roof rails is that they are not in a good condition. Here in our market it's very hard to get the EX35 in a good condition.

[meanie]

Yeah I remember the "snow" button there, so it's AWD. How it's comparing to the RWD?

The thing about the previous models e.g. 2008 with the roof rails is that they are not in a good condition. Here in our market it's very hard to get the EX35 in a good condition.

I don't think the packaging for US models (except for the 7 AT and larger wheels) has changed much from 2010 to 2012. According to the Infiniti webste the snow button is on all EX's, AWD or RWD. Check either the Infiniti site or Edmunds and you can get a sense of what is offered for packages, as they add considerable value to the car new, and presumably used. Is the one you are looking at a Journey? You should be able to tell by whether it has alloy or wood trim in the interior, and whether it has a sunroof. It presumably does not have the premium package since there is no nav. Since packages are stacked, it wouldn't have the touring or tech packages either. Except for things like weight and turning radius I don't see much in the specs that differentiates AWD from RWD, and no specific equipment differences. Shouldn;t the seller be able to tell you if it is AWD or not? If you don't need AWD, the RWD is lighter, probably a bit faster, and eventhough rated the same, likely gets slightly better mileage. In the end though, even with a base trim level, it is a great car with a lot of amenities and oustanding performance and comfort. If the little extras at other trim levels are not that important to you, you don't think it will hurt you much on resale, and the car is at a good price for the local market, this is a no brainer. Go for the newer car with less mileage and better condition. Unless you just love the look with the roof rails why spend that much to install them? Get a set of Thules for 1/5th the price if you need racks. Heck even if you get the roof rails you would still need cross bars, which are of limited use because they are so close together and are not adjustable, and cost another $250. In Bahrain are they EX 35s or EX 37s?

[iMAK]

Here are some pics of the car, I will be posting more pics later on

[iMAK]

Yeah I remember the "snow" button there, so it's AWD. How it's comparing to the RWD?

The thing about the previous models e.g. 2008 with the roof rails is that they are not in a good condition. Here in our market it's very hard to get the EX35 in a good condition.

I don't think the packaging for US models (except for the 7 AT and larger wheels) has changed much from 2010 to 2012. According to the Infiniti webste the snow button is on all EX's, AWD or RWD. Check either the Infiniti site or Edmunds and you can get a sense of what is offered for packages, as they add considerable value to the car new, and presumably used. Is the one you are looking at a Journey? You should be able to tell by whether it has alloy or wood trim in the interior, and whether it has a sunroof. It presumably does not have the premium package since there is no nav. Since packages are stacked, it wouldn't have the touring or tech packages either. Except for things like weight and turning radius I don't see much in the specs that differentiates AWD from RWD, and no specific equipment differences. Shouldn;t the seller be able to tell you if it is AWD or not? If you don't need AWD, the RWD is lighter, probably a bit faster, and eventhough rated the same, likely gets slightly better mileage. In the end though, even with a base trim level, it is a great car with a lot of amenities and oustanding performance and comfort. If the little extras at other trim levels are not that important to you, you don't think it will hurt you much on resale, and the car is at a good price for the local market, this is a no brainer. Go for the newer car with less mileage and better condition. Unless you just love the look with the roof rails why spend that much to install them? Get a set of Thules for 1/5th the price if you need racks. Heck even if you get the roof rails you would still need cross bars, which are of limited use because they are so close together and are not adjustable, and cost another $250. In Bahrain are they EX 35s or EX 37s?

I appreciate you input, meanie.
This car as you can see it above is with american specs imported from USA. In Dubai used car market, there are a lot of cars with american specs imported from USA along with cars with gulf specs "come with metric system". I cannot tell if the car is a Journey, but it has full wood trim interior and sunroof as well as you can see it in the pics and I don't think the seller can tell whether it's AWD or RWD. I have test drove the RWD and I liked it but I will test drive this car today. The seller is asking for $23,800. As I mentioned earlier what I like about the roof rails is the look and nothing more and I don't think I will ever be using them to load anything on the car, and regarding the EXs in Bahrain they are only 35.

Please keep posting, regards

[sashki2]

I'd take the one in better condition with less miles if you're not planning to use roof rails. If the difference in price is only $2400, it's almost no-brainer to get a newer car with less miles. The RWD will probably be faster and have better fuel economy. If you don't have snow,you might not need AWD.

[iMAK]

No way it will snow in the Middle East for the next 1000,000 year
But there is no other option, this is what available right now

[NO ROOF RAILS]

stay away from the roof rails unless you need them they DEFINATELY make the EX35 look more like a bug or small space ship .The EX35 without the roof rails looks SLEEK and more like a sporty G37 ! JMHO!

[meanie]

I appreciate you input, meanie.
This car as you can see it above is with american specs imported from USA. In Dubai used car market, there are a lot of cars with american specs imported from USA along with cars with gulf specs "come with metric system". I cannot tell if the car is a Journey, but it has full wood trim interior and sunroof as well as you can see it in the pics and I don't think the seller can tell whether it's AWD or RWD. I have test drove the RWD and I liked it but I will test drive this car today. The seller is asking for $23,800. As I mentioned earlier what I like about the roof rails is the look and nothing more and I don't think I will ever be using them to load anything on the car, and regarding the EXs in Bahrain they are only 35.

Please keep posting, regards[/quote]
(tried another post that didn't go through. Hopefully this won't be a double post.)
With the wood and sunroof that defintely looks like a journey. Really sharp car! I like the light interior with dark exterior, which should be better for your local climate. To check whether it is AWD, floor it in a straight line from a standing start. If you don't get more than a slight chirp it is AWD. RWD will get some serious tire spin. AWD is not just for snow. If you have anything slippery on the roads (like sand) or drive on dirt roads at all, AWD will come in handy. AWD is also usually faster off the line, but lags more as speed increases due to extra weight and driveline loss. I checked Edmunds and a RWD 2010 base Journey without any options with 14k miles at my zip code (Massachusetts) is worth about 29.4k at a dealer, 27.5k private sale, and 25.4k trade in. Its value would be slightly higher with AWD. I don't know what the market is like in Bahrain, but assuming you can get this one for 23k or even 22.5k, and it doesn't have any hidden problems or prior accidents, it sounds like a really good deal. As you can see opinions are sharply divided on this forum about whether the EX looks better with or without rails. I have em, and appreciate the utility, but would like the looks just as well without em. Although I don't agree it looks like a bug. But a spaceship? Hmmm. That's kind of cool!

[iMAK]

Thanks, meanie. I am trying to forget about the roof rails as this is the only car which I got clean and unique with beige interior. I saw some EX's without roof rails on the rood and I tend to like it. The car also comes without Bose audio system I guess, as I remember I didn't see the Bose sub on the spare tire in the trunk which I saw on other EX's, is this valid?

Before paying for it, I will take the car to be physically checked and also for computer check at $53. Would you please recommend a good website to get the history of the car by providing the VIN? I want to get the history of the car when It was in USA. Regards,

[meanie]

Thanks, meanie. I am trying to forget about the roof rails as this is the only car which I got clean and unique with beige interior. I saw some EX's without roof rails on the rood and I tend to like it. The car also comes without Bose audio system I guess, as I remember I didn't see the Bose sub on the spare tire in the trunk which I saw on other EX's, is this valid?

Before paying for it, I will take the car to be physically checked and also for computer check at $53. Would you please recommend a good website to get the history of the car by providing the VIN? I want to get the history of the car when It was in USA. Regards,

I believe the Bose system comes with the premium package. You can always install an aftermarket audio system if you aren't happy with the OEM one. Probably the best way to check on history is through CarFax, but it is not perfect. For example, if body work was done but not paid for by insurance, it might not show up. With only 14k it is probably fine, but are you able to get a sense of how the car got there from the US?

[iMAK]

Most probably the cars which come from USA are sea freighted. I've checked CarFax website, the thing is with the billing information for my Visa Card as there is no option to choose my country and I think it's only for US citizens. I have an address in USA but the billing address of my visa card is in my country. How I can proceed with this? Will the website accept my visa card with my USA address? Should I give it a try?

[iMAK]

I checked with Carfax and it showed 9 history records and also checked with Autocheck and it shows 14 history records. Carfax is charging $34.99 and Autocheck $29.99.

Which one should I choose? Which one is more accurate?

[meanie]

I checked with Carfax and it showed 9 history records and also checked with Autocheck and it shows 14 history records. Carfax is charging $34.99 and Autocheck $29.99.

Which one should I choose? Which one is more accurate?

If they have records for the car that is a good thing, and they are probably just service records. I couldn't say which is better. You could google for reviews on the two services to see what users of them think. Autocheck has more records for less money, but who knows if they have the SAME records. I guess you makes your bets and takes your chances. When I asked how the car got to Bahrain, I meant more was it brought there by an owner, shipped as a new or used car, and so on. Some overseas markets that get US used cars get cars that would be hard to resell in the US, such as those that were stolen, had water damage, and so on. It is more common in countires fairly close to the US, so probably is not an issue there.

[iMAK]

meanie, thank you for the follow ups I really appreciate it.

Because I could not get the history reports neither form Carfax nor from Autocheck, but I could get one from NMVTIS for only $2.00. Here is the report:

http://www.mvscusa.com/webapi/NmvtisPri ... format=pdf

http://www.mvscusa.com/webapi/NmvtisPri ... ormat=html

Please help me understand what the report says and suggest what action I have to take.

[XIS]

Does it have a SALVAGE title? If so, that is a definate NO !!!!! Do NOT buy it with a SALVAGE TITLE...

[R1chard]

meanie, thank you for the follow ups I really appreciate it.

Because I could not get the history reports neither form Carfax nor from Autocheck, but I could get one from NMVTIS for only $2.00. Here is the report:

http://www.mvscusa.com/webapi/NmvtisPri ... format=pdf

http://www.mvscusa.com/webapi/NmvtisPri ... ormat=html

Please help me understand what the report says and suggest what action I have to take.

The report is pretty self explanatory with the BIG RED lettering.

WARNING
According to a vehicle history report issued by the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS), this vehicle has been reported as a total-loss vehicle by an insurance company, has been reported into NMVTIS by a junk or salvage reporting entity, or has a title brand which may materially affect the value, safety, and/or condition of the vehicle. Because of its history as a junk, salvage, or title-branded vehicle, the manufacturers's warrantly or service contract on this vehicle may be affected. Ask the dealer to see a copy of the NMVTIS vehicle history report. You may independently obtain the report by checking NMVTIS online at http://www.vehiclehistory.gov.

Walk away from that car!

[iMAK]

Oh, now I understand that it has a salvage title. But how you can describe the salvage title? How do I know if it was in a big accident or small one? Or a stolen car???

You know that most of the cars that are imported from USA to the middle east markets are salvaged cars. To be honest, when I saw the car it was like a brand new car inside and outside.

OK, I think if the car was given a salvage title because of a big accident, then I will forget about it. But if it was a stolen car then I might think about it again. So, how could I know of it was involved in a big accident or if it was a stolen car? Please advice.

[Tasman]

A salvaged title is given to a vehicle that has been declared as a total loss by an insurance company. For a vehicle as new as this, it was in a major accident or flood. The actions started in Illinois in June 2011 and there were major floods in that area the month before. The vehicle may look new but the damages will be problematic with all of the electronics on the vehicle (much less the mechanicals). Walk away from it.

[meanie]

A salvaged title is given to a vehicle that has been declared as a total loss by an insurance company. For a vehicle as new as this, it was in a major accident or flood. The actions started in Illinois in June 2011 and there were major floods in that area the month before. The vehicle may look new but the damages will be problematic with all of the electronics on the vehicle (much less the mechanicals). Walk away from it.

I agree! As they say: if a deal seems to good to be true it probably is. An insurance company doesn't total loss an expensive one year old vehicle for minor damage. I totalled a 2010 G37 xS in December. The external damage was fixable with front end, fender and door replacements, but the entire undercarriage had been shifted, and as my bodywork guy pointed out, it would never really be right again. Even so, since it was pretty new he expected a restoration company would buy it from the salvage company, fix it up enough to make it look pretty, and sell it in another state. That seems to be what happened to the car you are interested in. Worse, they took it to another country to sell it. Perhaps there is an absence of lemon laws in Bahrain? This car is a tease. It is not really what it seems. You were wise to check on the history. Walk away.

[iMAK]

For my curiosity, I am trying to find out what was the real cause of being salvaged. Will Autocheck or Carfax show the detail of the accident? Will it show if it was in a big or small accident? Flooded? Undercarriage damage? etc???