More Service Records (New long block)

[NY94J30]

02 F50 premium, 10/01 delivery date, 57K miles. No history on OCIs or other routine maintenance, though the service records state customer indicated local service.

Records:

-6770 miles, PS airbag/sensor replaced due to air bag lt on dash

-45,575, initiated oil consumption test

-46,198, down 3 qts, metal debris in oil pan, cams scored, failed compression test in cyl 2 --> new long block

-48,031, lower seem on radiator failed after engine replacement --> new radiator

-48,031, CEL since engine replaced --> O2 sensor (bank 1, sensor 1) replaced

-48,301, all belts replaced

-48,783, ballast replaced

-52,853, stabilizer link(?) replaced

-55,706, same ballast replaced again

What type of residual problems might exist after replacement of the engine? I also wonder if the transmission has been taken care of. My sense is with the number of times the car has been in, that if the fluids didn't appear fresh, there would be a transmission flush/brake flush, etc. recommended on the records.

[GseaQ]

I guess the dealer was satisfied the "local" oil changes were legit or they wouldn't have sprung for a new long block. Don't assume anything about the other fluids, though.

Do radiators fail like that without some outside influence? Any sign of an accident?

The ballasts are likely for the headlights - known weak point, but I think they got a handle on it now, not sure.

Glenn

[qship96]

Run like hell away from this one- way too many cars out there to get stuck with a known bad one.

[NY94J30]

Assuming the oil consumption issue was the one inherent to the VK45DE (early ones at least), why not look at its replacement as a solid positive?

Other than that, one could point to the radiator replacement as a possible corrosion issue, which could point to a failure to flush. Or it could be related to the engine change out, as it only presented itself immediately thereafter as a coolant leak.

Assuming then that the radiator is not indicative of a larger neglect, what's to run from?

I'm not trying to rationalize, I'd just like to hear some more.

[maxnix]

...why not look at its replacement as a solid positive?

If you can verify the 3,750 OCI and presuming the break -in was done correctly (impossible to verify without a tear down and measurement).

An Infiniti dealer backed extended warranty will cover either and more.

[GseaQ]

There's only 10,000 miles on the engine. Hard to imagine enough abuse to be fatal in that few miles unless somebody actually set out to sh**haul it. And that's usually reserved for the 16-20 crowd (not all, but you get the idea).

Yeah, maybe the rad was dropped or bumped during the engine transplant.

I still wonder if there's a hard knock that could have affected the rad and the suspension (stab link).

Like Brian said - extended warranty - Infiniti or outside company - get one.

Cheers,Glenn

[NY94J30]

That would have been some knock. The service records, though, do note any number of small complaints (e.g., sound from parcel shelf, sound from sunroof), so I imagine that a really bad knock would have been noted. However, that's got me thinking. The sunroof was noted as sagging and was reshimmed and the sound behind the parcel shelf was loose top bolts on the strut(s).

I'm still waiting to find an early F50 without a cautionary maintenance history. I suspect many of the issues are isolated to MY02 and to a lesser degree MY03.

[maxnix]

Like Brian said - extended warranty - Infiniti or outside company - get one.

Only the one backed by Infiniti likely not to be inavalidated by bankruptcy.

I suspect many of the issues are isolated to MY02 and to a lesser degree MY03.

Any VK45DE is susceptible. There were only a very few F50 sold in 2003 - 2006. The Problem is also on Y34, Y50, and the FX45.

Possibility of overheat not a good occurence. Should cause the seller to throw in that Infiniti extended warranty for free. If not, walk away.

[Q451990]

-46,198, ... --> new long block

-48,301, all belts replaced

Not really an answer to your question, but why on earth would the tech. put old belts back during an engine swap, if they need replacement 2000 miles later!

At least you know there was some minimal ATF fluid exchange when they took the hoses off of the radiator. I wouldn't discount the possibility that the radiator tank was cracked when the engine was replaced.

I guess the big question becomes how much you trust the dealership and tech. that did the work. I would strongly agree with everyone that said get the extended Infiniti warranty. I think any F50, but especially this one, will need some nit-picking to get the quirks out... which is a lot more fun when someone else is picking up the tab and you have a fun loaner car.

You should see some of the service records on the early Q45s. I saw one with all injectors replaced and all wheel bearings replaced in the first 10K chasing some driveability issue... weird stuff in the early models of any new line.

Heath

[bullittandy]

I heard an expression one time about rstoring a car and the post resto shakedown run.

5-50-500 rule, as in miles. All kinds of stuff to discover/fix in the first 5 miles, after that a few more in the next 50 and then after 500 miles, if it was gonna break-it would have done so already.

This was true for all of my restorations (3).

Now, for most cars, people think a new engine is an attribute but I think its a liability on a new car. Is there any real chance that the dealer put the engine exactly like they did at the factory? You can be certain that there are wire tires missing, connectors broken etc etc etc.

Now, the real question, will that matter? see the rule above.

My feeling is that any 02 is supect for oil burning and so a new engine saves that worry.

[qship96]

To me, the real question is this...why gamble at all on a car with a spotty service history when there are plenty of others out there with unblemished records? Unless the price is lower, and I mean WAY lower, no reason to gamble when there is no upside, and a potential huge downside

The 02-06Q was so unpopular and impossible to sell brand new...same now that they are used cars. they sit and sit on the lots, so take advantage of the buyers market the cars unpopularity has created and sift thru the questionable ones until you find a gem

[AlabamaDan]

Yeah. I'd pass on that one. Try this one:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/....html

[NY94J30]

To me, the real question is this...why gamble at all on a car with a spotty service history when there are plenty of others out there with unblemished records? Unless the price is lower, and I mean WAY lower, no reason to gamble when there is no upside, and a potential huge downside

The 02-06Q was so unpopular and impossible to sell brand new...same now that they are used cars. they sit and sit on the lots, so take advantage of the buyers market the cars unpopularity has created and sift thru the questionable ones until you find a gem

The point is well taken, as are Andy's, Brian's and others'; but I have not found any MY02/03 F50s with clean service histories thus far. All have had questions. It took me 3 months of searching to find my Y33, but I was driving my J30 while I looked. I don't have the luxury of another car while I look this time. Which leaves me three options: gamble, increase my price point, or wait. I'm inclined to find a way to do the last (if the one Alabamadan linked doesn't pan out).