Looking for an M45

[Jester.308]

So I've had a few negative experiences trying to find an Infiniti 02 Q45 or an Y34 M45, I owned an 02 white Q45 from a dealer for a few days and it turned out I needed over a thousand in repairs just to pass inspection as well as some other tomfoolery that the dealer pulled. So I got my money back and was f*** myself and the dealer for a while. I went to go look at an 04 M45 with 107,000 miles but he said and I quote "I know I put 6900 obo but I want 7 thousand and I won't take any less" as of recent I went to go look at an 03 M45 with 133,000 it has some interior issues common things such as rear rotors needing servicing and the TPM light on although there's no flat. But it ran good and was sort of clean. Now my issue with this one is when my dad put in the OBD reader it got a yellow light and the Evap football popped up. No code although I'm not sure if it finished scanning the guy told me he replaced the gas cap and kept getting the issue with the evap. Now my dad and I are worried that it can be an issue that occurs 20% of the time because he said it passed emissions for another two years (which is weird because he said emissions are good were still good for a year but the state sets emissions and when the car needs it and it's odd to me that someone can rush up the date) but a friend of mine who's a mechanic says okay but in two years or less you might have to replace it. I'm not sure but I feel like something could be seriously wrong with this one because the owner paid money for it to pass emissions rather than if it was a cheap 20 dollar fix or something doing that or advising me of that so we can see if the green light would appear on the OBD reader, So I feel like there is more wrong with the car since he thought it was something simple and cheap but didn't smoke test it or fix the simple issue that it may be.

[Ilya]

You should be able to see on the OBDII computer what tests are completed or not. If the tests aren't done (usually denoted by 'inc' or 'incomplete'), I'd avoid the car...means someone cleared the codes right before you looked at the car. Or tell them you'll come back in 2 weeks after they put 100-200 miles on the car and all of the tests are done.

And in my experience, EVAP codes are an absolute PITA.

[EdBwoy]

If the seller keeps getting that problem, can you get the trouble code from those instances?
I would like to hope something guided the decision to replace the gas cap.
Post them here and let's try to figure it out.

TPMS light could just be an issue of dead batteries, and you'll need to buy new sensors.


Besides the topic, I remember your q45 fiasco - glad you got your money back. Do you have a longing for the q45 or m45 of that generation in particular, or just a Nissan V8 sedan? Have you looked at any 06+ Ms?

[Jester.308]

You should be able to see on the OBDII computer what tests are completed or not. If the tests aren't done (usually denoted by 'inc' or 'incomplete'), I'd avoid the car...means someone cleared the codes right before you looked at the car. Or tell them you'll come back in 2 weeks after they put 100-200 miles on the car and all of the tests are done.

And in my experience, EVAP codes are an absolute PITA.

He said he cleared it but did not do the smoke test to figure out whats wrong, I'm guessing he already knows.

If the seller keeps getting that problem, can you get the trouble code from those instances?
I would like to hope something guided the decision to replace the gas cap.
Post them here and let's try to figure it out.

TPMS light could just be an issue of dead batteries, and you'll need to buy new sensors.


Besides the topic, I remember your q45 fiasco - glad you got your money back. Do you have a longing for the q45 or m45 of that generation in particular, or just a Nissan V8 sedan? Have you looked at any 06+ Ms?

I have but I can't afford a newer M45. That gen in particular I really like them. I know the issue with TPMS the big worry is the emission light not going green. If I remember correctly it blew no code but the evap light was lit on the reader. Thus a smoke test is required.

[EdBwoy]

I appreciate the reasoning. It's just that for some of the 03 04 asking prices, you can get a decent 06.

If you can, go to a used car dealer or whoever, and test out a y50. I own both and as much as I love the unique looks of my 03, if I had $4.5k to spend, I'd probably beg, borrow or steal another 500 to buy a higher mileage 06+. Not to sound too pushy, just trying to help you avoid headaches.

[Jester.308]

Really? I don't know much about them but I'm open if I can get a good one for 4-5 with possibly AWD

[EdBwoy]

In my area, AWD V8s still command a premium.
Then I've seen Y34s listed for between $4k to $8k, while the Y50 V8s range from $5-12k. Mileages vary, and some of them have been sitting on Craigslist pretty long.

Don't discount the V6s either, their asking prices here start a little higher, but then you can get the AWD cheaper since the M35x was launched right from the start.
I'll be glad to help with questions on either platform, but if I had a limited budget, the tech, spaciousness, handling and aftermarket options of the Y50 aren't to be ignored.

[Jester.308]

In my area, AWD V8s still command a premium.
Then I've seen Y34s listed for between $4k to $8k, while the Y50 V8s range from $5-12k. Mileages vary, and some of them have been sitting on Craigslist pretty long.

Don't discount the V6s either, their asking prices here start a little higher, but then you can get the AWD cheaper since the M35x was launched right from the start.
I'll be glad to help with questions on either platform, but if I had a limited budget, the tech, spaciousness, handling and aftermarket options of the Y50 aren't to be ignored.

Yeah there's a red Y34 down the road from me with 65k in miles but he's asking 10 (If he took 6500 which is still over NADA retail I'd even buy it). I do like the Y50's and I would entertain them yet the cheapest one I've seen is like around 5-6. Although I'm supposed to go into car sales this month so that being said I can just go to the auctions and hope to run into one. Funny you mention the V6's because at this point I'm just like "I need a car that doesn't blow codes" and I found an 08 G35X AWD but the guy still hasn't gotten back to me yet.

[EdBwoy]

Are you currently driving another car?

[Jester.308]

Are you currently driving another car?

Nope.

[EdBwoy]

Gotcha. I now understand the urgency.

[Jester.308]

Gotcha. I now understand the urgency.

Yeah,it's been a wrist slitting event trying to find a car that my dad doesn't find a problem after the owner says it "runs great" or someone is on crack asking 5k over retail for something.

[EdBwoy]

On pricing, I usually try to respect whatever the seller is asking. The seller has reasons valid to herself/ himself such as sentimental value, impeccable care, paid a lot for it, still owe on it, etc.
If the asking price is far off, I'd rather the invisible hand of supply and demand control the situation than me piss someone off for no reason.

As you've seen, the cheap ones aren't always perfect. You're lucky to have someone to help with checking out the cars though. My first car was not in this price range, but I still cursed spending "that much" money on a piecw of junk.

[Jester.308]

On pricing, I usually try to respect whatever the seller is asking. The seller has reasons valid to herself/ himself such as sentimental value, impeccable care, paid a lot for it, still owe on it, etc.
If the asking price is far off, I'd rather the invisible hand of supply and demand control the situation than me piss someone off for no reason.

As you've seen, the cheap ones aren't always perfect. You're lucky to have someone to help with checking out the cars though. My first car was not in this price range, but I still cursed spending "that much" money on a piecw of junk.

Tbh I have no problem paying a price for a car if there's nothing wrong with it but many a time I've had the OBD reader plugged in and the seller freak out because of the codes it blows or beat feet once they know I know that the car has a problem, https://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/6198874484.html For example take a look at this, when I called the guy he said the price was mislisted and he wanted 5900, he told me the car was in excellent condition I told him doing that was bait and switch and he agreed on 4900, so I go look at it, (First lie telling me it's perfect) he tells me the engine strut is broken so I'm holding up the hood while my dad checks over the car then when we plug it in there's a code for the Cats coming up and the guy refuses to believe it even when the code is right infront of him, anyways so I drive it, the cats are burning up and it feels like a rear strut needed to be replaced, I tell him he brings it into the shop tells me it's fine and no codes. I smelt the burning egg smell and the car felt really rough nothing like a Cadillac. So he then goes and lists it for 5500 telling me that it's too much to go through and there's nothing wrong with the car. It's still for sale, guys probably still in denial. Anyways, what was your first car?