I need to get the 120k service done on my Max and that costs about $350 or so...but I also think I need a front CV boot repair (its making a rubbing noise and I see oil splattered in the wheel well...this has been fixed once before already). So my dilemma is: do I just fork over the $350 plus whatever it costs to fix the boot...or do I just say F it and get a new car (5th gen Max or IS300) for around $10-13 grand? I had an itch about a month ago to upgrade but I also like not having a car note. I decided then to just keep what I have and maybe add a few mods but now I'm having thoughts of upgrading again.

Also, is $350 about right for the 120k service?? This is the dealer's prices BTW and there are no Nissan specialists here in KC.

Any feedback would be appreciated, thanks.

 

ehh. either spend $350 or spend $10k?

To answer, pay for the repair. Not sure what you are getting done for $350 though. As for the boot, I doubt that is what you hear rubbing and you can drive with a torn axle boot with no problems. When it clicks is when you worry. and FYI, dont know what you mean by a "Nissan Specialist" but there is no need for one of those. A car is a car for the most part and routine maintenance does not change.

What is the "120k service" you are getting done? Can't do it yourself?

 

This is pretty much what consists of a 120K service...and no I can't do all that stuff myself. I don't have the time.

http://www.nissanextendedwarranty.co...96-months.html

 

i doubt they will actually replace all that for 350, if u have 10-13 K for a new car then u definitely have 350 for this sercive + whatever the CV boot costs which i dont think is a lot

As far as ur options and opinions on what to do thats realyl up to u, a newer car is always better no one can tell u what to do because no one knows ur financial stability

 

Well, I don't have $10 grand laying around but I could get a loan from my bank. I don't really have $400 laying around either but I can pay that off my credit card in a month or two. I guess, I'm wondering if its worth it to fork over the money for repairs knowing that my car is getting up there in years and miles and may have more issues down the road or just upgrade my car to something newer.

And that doesn't seem like a lot of stuff to me...what I would be getting is the "S1" maintenance part, not the "Premium" part...that would be a lot of stuff.

 

so you will be getting an oil change, air filter change, pcv change and tires rotated. nothing more. Sounds like $350 is a ripoff but either way, any mechanic can do it. Hard to screw up an oil change if you bring your own oil. cant screw up an air filter change. PCV you really can do yourself. only tool needed is a set of pliers. only benefit is the inspection part of it (which prob wont be done anyhow or will cost you $$$$$$ in repairs that arent needed)

 

You must not be reading that whole list, they are replacing the oil, antifreeze, tranny fluid, air filter, and some other stuff.

I think I'll just fork over the cash to ensure the Max stays in tip top shape for the next 2-3 years until I save up enough cheese to get the car I really want. I just didn't want to drop $350+ into a 10 year old car w/120K miles.

 

you are not reading right. you dont have LSD nor a manual tranny. they are not doing a tranny flush for S1. you dont have an incabin filter. you dont have a 4wd.

so, you get an oil change, air filter, coolant flush and pcv change.

 

Ah it doesn't matter, they're doing all the stuff I mentioned. I just got that list off google to give people an idea of what they were doing. I figured most people were familiar with a "120k service" anyway. Guess not...either way, I can assure you that for ~$350 they are replacing the oil, antifreeze, tranny fluid, air filter, and some other stuff including inspecting everything. That's not what concerns me....its spending the cheese on an older car.

 

if they do all that you claim for $350 then thats a sweet deal,

oil change, tranny flush, coolant flush. drive belts, radiator cap and hoses. air filter that would be sweet. if not just walk away.

personally i would spend $350 in getting the work done but i would not do it at the dealership. i rather get it done at myself, those items above seem good to start off with and throw in plugs and probaly get that boot taken care of as well. but you stated you dont have time. so if you dont have time to fix your max, i would suggest you not think of getting a IS300 because schdeule maintence is a bit higher.

 

Well, if they DO all the work u say they will then give me the directions and ill drive my max there cause that deals sounds a little unbelievable, especially for a nissan dealer.

HAHA i just read that link u posted of the list of services, its an EXTENDED warranty service schedule, u have a 97 max dont u ? unless the car came with this EXTENDED warranty service purchased by the original owner, i dont think u r getting it for that price,

is that what the dealer told u when u walked in and said i want the 120K service done to my 97 max, did u actually talk to them ?

Also this is worth mentioning from the bottom of that nissan web page:
"This Nissan Extended Warranty Web Site is intended solely for the purpose of providing general information with respect to vehicle Nissan service contracts and Nissan extended warranties. You must refer to the actual vehicle service contract to obtain specific information about definitions; terms and conditions; coverages; benefits; claim instructions; exclusions; and special state requirements."

so i am kinda sceptical of this service costing u $350. look at it this way these are the dealer prices approximate in canadian dollars- a tranny flush is 100, coolant flush is another 100 fuel filter 100 cmon man its not like nissan is desperate for customers to walk in and spend 350 and loose money on all that service, i think u got some wrong information there buddy

oh yeah and better get that boot fixed while ure at it too...

 

$350?? wow...why would you spend that kind of money on stuff you can do yourself in one afternoon? Even if you do most of it and leave the tranny flush and coolant flush to someone you're still looking at what? $100 maybe? Huge rip off.

 

I just posted that link to give folks an idea of what the 120K service entailed so I wouldn't have to list it all. I'm not getting EXACTLY what is listed and no, I don't have any extended warranty.

And I called and confirmed...$375 for all that stuff: oil/filter, air filter, rotate tires, tranny service, coolant service, replace fuel filter, and replace wiper inserts in addition to inspecting brakes, belts, hoses, etc. O'neill Nissan in Overland Park, KS. http://www.oneillnissan.com/Department-Service.aspx Call 'em yourself if you don't believe me.

Its all moot anyway, since I'm getting it done tomorrow. Time=money...therefore I can't do it myself. It just sucks to pay $375+ whatever the boot costs...but oh well, at least I don't have to worry about any break downs for a while.

 

Ralow,
Where in KC do you live? I'm in Leavenworth, hell if you need somewhere to work on your car we can link up and me and my son can give you a hand. I just sold my black on black 97 and I may still have some parts lying around I can give you to boot. We can do all the fluids, rotate the tires no problem. I can also intro you to a good mechanic who won't rip you off.

 

ok lets see how much this would cost me if i was to do the work myself + get the flushes done at dealer
oil/filter - $22.99 for castrol GTX at cosco/ price club
air filter - ~$5-10 (paper)
fuel filter - $32 for 300z filter
rotate tires - $10
tranny flush ~$100 (dealer)
Coolant Flush ~$100 (dealer)
wipers ~$20 MAX for best ones
TOTAL = $295

i guess its pretty close, the inspections are not worth any money i can tell u that right now. + taxes but that depends

 

If you want to make the drive to Blue Springs, a shop here will replace the cv axle for $200. I'm getting it done this Friday.

 

I'm in mid town KC...but I work in OP, KS so that's why I'm taking it to O'Neill Nissan. Thanks for the offer but I just don't have the time to do the work myself...unless you guys will do all that for a significantly lower price! And I've been trying to find a mechanic who only works on Nissan's but no luck so far. I've found plenty of Toyota and Honda specialist but no Nissan...and I'd rather take it to the dealer over some "generalist" mechanic. If you have someone who is pretty familiar with Nissans then shoot me a PM with their info and I'll give them a call.


I don't need the axle replaced...just the boot...at least I think. I'll know when they look at it tomorrow.

Who knows though...I"m having second thoughts about putting any cheese into the car. I might just get the boot fixed (if needed) and get an oil change and then get rid of the car this summer. I hate putting that much cheese into a car that I won't have for more than maybe 2 more years.

 

this thread is starting to make no sense

 

350.00 for that??? cmon man, that's a rip off!! plus, i have a 95 max and i'm spending 425.00 to have some engine work done and i have 154,000 on mine. i guess it comes down to how much do you like the car????

 

Some people say that's a good deal, others say its a rip off...that's hilarious! LOL.

Anyway, I canceled my appointment today...I need some more time to decide what to do. I checked out the boot myself last night and its sealed up just fine...so I have no idea what's causing that "rubbing" noise. While I was under there I did notice that my muffler is rusted all to hell and I think I need new brake pads on the front. I think I will just take it to a mechanic and have him give me an idea of what all needs to be fixed/replaced to keep the car in tip to shape (not including the 120k service). If its too much then I'll say screw it all and just sell the car and upgrade. I'd rather just get a new ride than drop $500+ into a 10 year old car...even though I'd be pretty much assured the car would be good for another 100k miles at least.

Thanks for the input guys...

 

I'm still confused on why you would just sell the car because it needs new pads or something. These arn't big jobs at all. New pads cost 30-40 and you put them on yourself. Muffler should be fine until it becomes very loud. Mine was rusted but was still fine for a while. Doesn't make any sense to turn down fixes to just spend 10k on a new car...

 

This man is one bizarre individual, look man, i know its not my business or anything but maintenance is PART OF OWNING A CAR!!!! lets say u sell this max and get a newer car, lets say a lexus, acura, benz, DOENST MATTER THEY WILL ALL NEED MAINTENANCE, AHAHA

if u want sell it to me ill take it real cheap, since u think its all BROKEN and its not worth investing into a 10 year old car

ure telling me a newer car will never need breaks done? air filter changed ? plugs installed ? get a grip on reality man, sorry to rant here but this is upsetting, ur max deserves a better fate

 

dude, i'll trade you my 95 gle max for your 97 any day!!! my max just cost me over a grand from an accident and some maintenence i needed. ie, egr tube to intake was clogged, 5 hours to ripp everything out just to install a 5 inch tube. and i had a caliper go bad, had to replace that. trust me, that car as long as it runs well should last you to 250,000 or more, max's are good reliable cars ONLY if you do the maintenence required.

 

^Amen.............

 

umm.....get whatever you want done. But i'm just confused. You do'nt have the time...hym...do you work 24/7??? You can spread these things out in like 10 days to do. If your time is spent making money so that you don't have time, well you can't complain about spending $350. Also, the time it takes you to drop the car off at the dealership, maybe wait if you don't have another person, will be the same as you doing it yourself.

But anyways, Once the cv boot is torn, it is possibly easier and more cost efficient to just buy a new axle. The axle is older and you need to take the axle out anyways to replace the boot. So instead of worrying about a bad axle later on because of sand that or debris that had gotten into the axle while the boot was torn, just replace it to begin with.

This is my question which i think makes a little bit more sense. When my tranny or engine dies. Should i buy a new car?? Or should i put in a 3.5 with 6 speed.

 

new car, cause by the time either of those 2 die, the rest of the car will be rusted to $hit or other parts will need replacement, i think a newer car is a better investment into the future rather then getting a 3.5 or a 6spd

why not get an 02 / 03 max which got both 3.5 AND a 6spd ?

 

nah. his car could still be in fine shape. But if they are fine now then it will take time before it dies. 03-04 max will be cheaper so I would probably upgrade to that.

 

yeah i was thinking about that, if my opinion doesnt change (and it sure damn wount) i am looking at a 03, 04 max in the distant future (the 3.5auto) or I30 of the same approx years

I30 got the looks but the max is cheaper with the same base, tranny and engine so its better value for the $

 

Man, yall are retarded. If I get a newer car its to UPGRADE not just to be getting a new car. Unlike most of you guys, a 97 Max isn't my "dream car." I used to own an L-tuned 99 GS300 and only sold it so I could go to school full time. Now that I'm still working I have some extra cash to get another car (or just maintain this one). You think I don't realize all cars need maintenance?? LOL. And who is saying my car is "broken"?? My whole point is that I have wanted to upgrade my Max and was just trying to use this as an excuse.

I don't doubt at all that the Max will last as long as I take care of it but I will be very disappointed if I'm still driving my Max when it has 250K miles on it. I guess I am having a hard time putting ANY money in a car I might be selling in less than a year. If I put the money in, I will almost have to keep the Max for another 2+ years just on GP. (that means even more money to add mods to get it to ride like I want).

So my dilemma was, like I stated before either: 1) spend the cheese to get the scheduled maintenance done, and get my Max running in tip to shape and keep the car for 2 more years
OR
2) just say screw it and get a new car that I want more that I won't have to mod to get it to ride the way I want, however have a car note?

And FYI, I work 40 hours a week AND go to law school part time...plus, 3 small kids. Sorry I don't have time to work on my car all day. And i wasn't implying that I was gonna get rid of the car just cuz it needs new brake pads! Now I can do that myself as it only takes a hour or two. I was saying that with all the other stuff AND new brakes the repairs starts to add up so I was using as an excuse to spend some money on a car I really want.

Make sure you know all the facts before you start name calling.

 

The only retarded thing I see is a 32 year old man typing like he is a 15 year old highschool student who has to come online to ask "Should I get repairs done on my car or buy a new one?" Sounds to me like you are trying to convince everyone that you have the ability to purchase a new car when in fact you probably don't (otherwise you would have done it already). Anyone with the funds or financial ability to purchase a new car would not be concerned with $350 in repair costs. Your worry about that figure tells me that you probably dont even have that much money and are using this thread to make yourself seem and feel better. It's ok. We understand. Not everyone can afford a new car (or $350 in repairs in your case) but we won't judge you by that. Just a little piece of advice though......next time you should just get straight to the point and type this instead:

 

You're kidding right?? LOL.

Having the money is obviously not the point...don't get your panties all twisted.

 

i agree with mizzax, you probably can't afford this or are to hard-headed to spend the money. either way you should just give me your max and go buy a huyndai.........

 

Then it's obviously not of major concern to you, is it? I really don't see the dilemma here, personally. It's called the joys of car ownership; I've owned a car for nine months now and even I know that.

If you're not willing to spend a couple hundred bucks to repair your car, or even put in a couple hours to fix it yourself, how will you ever find the money OR time to go buy a new car?