m35/m45 lowered causing Intelligent Cruise Control Problems

[elmatador]

any of you guys who have lowered your 06 and up m35/m45 have problems with your intelligent cruise control? It won't even let me set a speed for the cruise control. Since the car is now lowered i am wondering if the sensor on the bumper is having problems. My car is still under warranty so i am thinking of taking it to the dealership.

I can set the manual cruise control without any problems (i.e. without setting the vehicle distance control). This is done by holding the Cruise On/Off button for more than 1.5 secs.

[elmatador]

bump

[szh]

How much lowering did you do?

FWIW, I would not have expected lowering to be an issue for the ICC ... hmmm ...

Z

[elmatador]

How much lowering did you do?

FWIW, I would not have expected lowering to be an issue for the ICC ... hmmm ...

Z

i have the espelir springs for the all wheel drive. Its about 1.5" drop all the way around.

[ken in az]

Shouldn't affect it's operation unless the angle of the car's pitch forward has changed or you unintentionally and unknowingly curbed with while parking.

Take it to the dealer and they should troubleshoot it and re-aim the front sensor.

[elmatador]

cool thanks. I am dropping the vehicle off at the dealer on wednesday. Hopefully they don't talk too much crap about the lowering springs and the intake.

[SteveTheTech]

Technically speaking the ICC operation may be effected by altering the ride height. The system is programmed to err on the side of caution especially when it comes to throttle and brake control.

A fault in the ICC system is logged when you press the ICC ON button and you hear an audible tone and the car will indicate something is askew by the indications on the combination meter.

The adaptive lights may be adversely effected by lowering these cars since it uses a ride height sensor on the lower left rear control arm to establish the axis it needs to be on.

[elmatador]

Technically speaking the ICC operation may be effected by altering the ride height. The system is programmed to err on the side of caution especially when it comes to throttle and brake control.

A fault in the ICC system is logged when you press the ICC ON button and you hear an audible tone and the car will indicate something is askew by the indications on the combination meter.

The adaptive lights may be adversely effected by lowering these cars since it uses a ride height sensor on the lower left rear control arm to establish the axis it needs to be on.

Thanks for the technical info. My adaptive lights are working fine. I hope realigning the laser beam will solve the problem. It is a cool feature which i dont really wanna lose out on. I didn't realize so many things could be effected by dropping the ride height of the vehicle.

[ken in az]

Technically speaking the ICC operation may be effected by altering the ride height. The system is programmed to err on the side of caution especially when it comes to throttle and brake control.

A fault in the ICC system is logged when you press the ICC ON button and you hear an audible tone and the car will indicate something is askew by the indications on the combination meter.

The adaptive lights may be adversely effected by lowering these cars since it uses a ride height sensor on the lower left rear control arm to establish the axis it needs to be on.

So thats what that little guy is - I've been wondering about that - lol Cool!

[RM450GT]

cool thanks. I am dropping the vehicle off at the dealer on wednesday. Hopefully they don't talk too much crap about the lowering springs and the intake.

I'm lowered on Espilar springs and have no problems. The only thing is make sure the traction control is on otherwise it doesnt work.

[elmatador]

I'm lowered on Espilar springs and have no problems. The only thing is make sure the traction control is on otherwise it doesnt work.

I have a M35X. So it doesn't have a traction control button. It only has a SNOW mode button.

[szh]

I have a M35X.

Hmmm ... I know people have done this, but I don't advise lowering the X models. You can change the suspension geometry, and corresponding wheel motion in its arc, too much and affect the handling and longevity of the AWD system adversely.

Z

[elmatador]

damn.....I might put the original springs back on before winter. The car loooks sooo much better with the lowering springs. I guess it comes at a cost.

[SteveTheTech]

I have a M35X. So it doesn't have a traction control button. It only has a SNOW mode button.

The VDC off button by your left knee is the traction control button.

I too am a bit skeptical about lowering an M35x but I feel the effects on the suspension geometry will effect the CV boots more than the components of the awd system. As long as the wheel speed signal is not altered I do not think awd operation will be effected. Although I have no proof of this and am relying on the word of forum members with Espilar equipped M35xs to share their experiences before I recommend them to people.

Lowering the M significantly changes the looks and feel of it for a very small investment. It works well in the non-awd models and I would love to see something that works for the M35x guys out there.

[elmatador]

I will give it a shot with the VDC button. Not sure why this would make the ICC work.

Steve, if the dealer had to re-align the laser beam, how much time would they take? Just in case they are making me pay for it and are quoting some ridiculous man hours for it.

[ken in az]

I will give it a shot with the VDC button. Not sure why this would make the ICC work.

Steve, if the dealer had to re-align the laser beam, how much time would they take? Just in case they are making me pay for it and are quoting some ridiculous man hours for it.

The VDC has to be engaged(meaning the VDC light on the dash is NOT illuminated) for the ICC to operate. I get pee-ohhh'd everytime I go to engauge the ICC and I hear the beep because I took it off VDC - lol

[ken in az]

Hmmm ... I know people have done this, but I don't advise lowering the X models. You can change the suspension geometry, and corresponding wheel motion in its arc, too much and affect the handling and longevity of the AWD system adversely.

Z

A guy on another active M Forum has installed coilovers on his M35x and loves it. To really mess with the CV's you'd need to "Significantly" change the angle of operation. CV's in general and especially the front CV's are designed to operate at fairly sharp inclination angles and lowering the car by a few inches would not get them to operate outside of their intended range.

What you need to be concerned about is your Alignment after lowering which will affect the effective dynamic tire diameter - meaning it can cause the AWD system to engauge when not intended. If you can bring the alignment back into spec then you should be good, but if you can't be aware of the AWD warning indicator lamp on the dash.

Most springs don't take you out of the specified range, but every car is different so it's an at your own risk situation.

sorry to go off topic - but it is kinda on topic if you use your imagination

[Backdoc7]

sorry to go off topic - but it is kinda on topic if you use your imagination

I recently lowered my M45 on Tein's and have had no cruise control problems. It did seem to facilitate a new but very minor rattle or two.

[elmatador]

Just an update on my issue. The delearship said that because the car is too low the sensor will not work correctly. They also said that they can only re-align the sensor to factory specifications and nothing else. So basically it will not work with my current setup

So looks like I am gonna take these springs off this winter. Its seems like lowering the vehicle is toooo huge of a risk for the awd, icc, afs, etc.

Infiniti better make the new M's lower. Its a freakin sedan not a SUV.

[SteveTheTech]

What you need to be concerned about is your Alignment after lowering which will affect the effective dynamic tire diameter - meaning it can cause the AWD system to engauge when not intended. If you can bring the alignment back into spec then you should be good, but if you can't be aware of the AWD warning indicator lamp on the dash.

Alignment is seriously important and lowering a car may increase the possibility of non warrantied damage to a very complex very sensitive system. I personally would not risk it but I am a total skeptic until proven otherwise.

Camber in the front is not adjustable and is decreased by a degree with the Eibachs but that is easily managed with more frequent rotation and the increase in caster offsets the inner tire edge wear and altered contact patch.

There is some risk to lowering your car, for the majority of people the pros do outweigh the cons.