Is this true or is my leg being pulled? (2003 Infiniti M45)

[XxIcemanxX]

I am looking a buying an 03 m45. It looks and runs clean and has 47,000 miles on it which isn't bad. Someone told me that an infiniti is like those audi's where you have to have everything done at the dealership, even oil changes. Also said that the oil, plugs, wires, etc... all have to be bought through the dealership , and that you can't even take it to nissan you have to take it to infiniti. Is all or some of this true. I just wanna know what I am getting into before I get there. I was a mechanic for 2 and a half years and never worked on one so it makes me think it is true lol.

Your help is greatly appreciated...

[mikek]

I've never heard of this. It's a car, and should be worked on someone who knows what their doing, but not restricted to dealer service. I contacted my local Norwood parts store and they carry almost anything you could need for a 2003 M45. Plugs, wires, oil filters, rebuilt heads, brakes. You should have no problem performing your own work, depending on your knowledge.

Hope this helps!

[Q45tech]

In the past the V8 was only found in the Q45, so components were rarely stocked or available elsewhere.................now with 3 models Q, M, Fx things are more available.

However avoid discount quality parts not compliant with oem specs.

Brake Pads, rotors, filters etc.

Download a free pdf FSM and study the workings.

[lswaidz]

You can have the service done anywhere, really... however Infiniti dealers tend to be able to get genuine parts easier than non-Infiniti dealers. I ran into that after my accident earlier this year.

[szh]

You can have the service done anywhere, really... however Infiniti dealers tend to be able to get genuine parts easier than non-Infiniti dealers. I ran into that after my accident earlier this year.

Also, I highly recommend contacting Joe Tsensky at http://www.everythinginfiniti.com for Infiniti parts.

This is the parts department of Scottsdale Infiniti (and an advertising sponsor of NICO) and gives us good prices on OEM parts as well as stellar support. He has gone out of his way to do things for NICO members ... like ship via DHL Air for ground cost, replace missing shipments, etc., etc., etc. Let him know you are a NICO member when you call!

Z

[XxIcemanxX]

Thank you everyone for all your input and help. I am going to be taking the car to a dealer Friday to have it checked before I purchase to make sure that the recall was already taken care of and that there is no damage etc.. to the car. If I do decide to buy it I will defiantly consider using the resources you have described to get my parts. Once again thank you for taking time to answer my questions...

[sr79labrat]

I did an oil change on my own last week. It was pretty easy. I think the dealership is after your money and always will be. From what I know and hear from fellow mechanics they still outsource most of their work anyways. I say take it to a mechanic you trust if you are unconfident in you skills.

My .02Kyle

[ClutchKick]

You can do anything you want, where ever you want, when ever you want with your car...

BUT< the advantage of having services done at your local INFINITI dealership or ANY INFINITI dealer ship (NOT a NISSAN DEALERSHIP)... All maintenance is logged in the "INFININET" system that ALL INFINITI Dealers can pull up by your VIN...

[Q45tech]

The only thing the Nissan warranty requires is that you have a legal document PROVING that the oil/filter was changes every 180 days and/or 7500 miles...............not a single day or mile over!

A sales recept for oil from a discount store won't work, but any business who does oil changes must specify: vin and mileage and date and be signed by an employee so it can be traced back for confirmation.

In theory it is up to you to make sure all liquids are CONSTANTLY FULL and that systems don't run low and fail.

Everyone is waiting with baited breath until the warranty is over and customer pay work begins as warranty work is just meager survivability.

[auditech10]

hmmmm, customer pay work...... yummmmyyyyyy!!!!!!

[Q45tech]

To save warranty expense all manufacturers develop warranty hours which are impossible for the average technican to duplicate. After doing the exact same job on 100 cars they can get close by the time the warranty expires many of the best can actually do it faster by taking iffy short cuts.

The problem is the manufacturers don't include the drive into shop or placing on a lift. They assume every tool [regardless of price] is instantly available 2 feet away from car. They don't include waiting time at parts window for parts to be handed to tech. Same with FSM on central computer you must stand in line to find and print the appropriate sheets.

They are always 1-2 hours short [from the real world], which is why techs hate warranty work but something is better than no income for that day........children go hungry and act up if not fed daily. No money for wife and you sleep on couch.

Customer paid jobs INCLUDE all misc time wasters and then some, techs can actually go to bathroom or get a drink in their 8-10 hour shifts.