Intelligent Cruise Control Radar

[mattd860]

Just picked up a 2009 M35x with with inoperable Intelligent Cruise Control (bad radar). I knew this when buying the car so no big deal but I just had my local dealer inspect it and they told me it needs to be replaced. I was hoping all it needed as a realignment. Anyways, I knew the system wasn't working and I knew it is extremely expensive to replace it with a new one but I'd still like to get it working.

There are a bunch of units for sale on Ebay and car-part.com but I'm concerned about the part numbers. Many sellers say the radar is compatible with all model year M35x's, but others say it's only compatible with certain other years. Then I checked inifitipartsusa.com and the radar has a different part number depending on the year and also depending on the drive (AWD or RWD). There is even a different part number for the M45 vs M35. Even though the part numbers are all different, the units and plugs all seem identical.

So does anyone know if all these parts are interchangeable?? The guy at the local dealership parts counter didn't seem to know but if he had to guess, he'd say they're not cross-compatible.

[Ilya]

I'd play it safe and see if you can get your part number and get the same one...

[Larz]

I just checked at Infniti parts online and that bumper-mounted sensor is $2200. Whatever you can save will be well worth the effort.
After seeing the bill for my extremely minor accident, I am gobsmacked at what some of these parts cost! I reckon that if you were to build an M35 / 45 from the ground up with individual parts it would be half a million.

[mattd860]

It just doesn't make any sense to have so many different part numbers. For example, in 2009 there is one part number for the M35 AWD and another for the M35 RWD. To my knowledge the bumpers were the same. I'm willing to bet that all these sensors will work with all model/years but for now I'm going to dissect mine and see if I can find the problem. I know it's partially functional because when I drive against a bright sun-ray the cruise kicks off like it's supposed to. It also partially works when I'm driving behind a semi-truck. That's why I was hoping all it needed was a re-calibration but my dealership is insistent that the whole unit needs to be replaced so I guess I'll take their word on it for now.