Ok guys currently looking to buy a 00-01 maxima with the 3.0 engine or a 02-03 maxima with the 3.5. I like the 3.0 and like test driving the 3.5. But I have heard so many bad stories about the 3.5 oil burning and consumtion, engine dying ect. Now my 95 3.0 burns or leaks a small amount of oil between changes, maybe 2500 miles or so, so i keep an eye on the level religiously. If the 3.5 requires more than that, ill pass. I see some for as low as $2500 around here on up to $5000 02-03 maximas. Anyone owners have any suggestions. I dont like breaking down in the middle of nowhere so thats a no no.

 

I own a 2000, and a 2002, I can tell you they are both GREAT engines never have had any problems with either one (other than the 00 trans going out). The 3.5 oil burning is not to bad, I like to check it every 2-3 weeks, and normally it isn't low enough to put any in. The 3.5 throttle response is much better than the 3.0, in my opinion. Also with the 3.5 you might be able to get, HID's, titanium edition, and Mediterranean edition. In my opinion I would get a 02-03. I have broke down in the middle of no where once in my 2000, it was because of a starter, which is no big deal, and in the 2002 I have never had any issues besides basic maintenance.

 

The 3.0L cars are really old now... May have more difficulty finding one with a decent body than the 3.5L ones.

 

Thanks for the response guys, I like the 3.5 power, and I run across alot so I may just go ahead with it. If its been taken care of. I also broke down in my 95 while i was out of town because of a starter, but luckily i had an extra one in the trunk to swap it out with.

 

I own a 95 5spd and just bought a 2003 6spd. What I really dont like about the 3.5 is the oil burning issue. The 3.0 is just a rock solid, reliable motor. It is getting hard to find certain things, but not maintenance items. I get 27-30 mpg in the 3.0 and I like the body style better.

My 3.5 is a nicer (better interior condition), newer car than my 3.0. But I dont like things that are high maintenance. So we will see if the features/benefits outweigh the higher maintenance.

I dont ever plan to get rid of my 95.

 

Don't forget to look out for the Infiniti I30 and I35 too!

 

Oh yeah I was also looking at both of those also, infiniti, the 02-04 I-35 interiors are really nice.

 

^^ 02-04 Infiniti I35 interiors are the same exactly as the Maxima, minus a few features.

Speaking of the 3.0 engine and what you guys have mentioned above ^^

Its funny but I've also been left stranded by a vq30 in the past, twice. Once in my old I30 and once in the Maxima. Both times same thing as you guys, starter.

I think 5th gen starters suck, that and the stock coils on 2000's but besides that the 3.0 is very reliable and rock solid if taken care of.

The 02-03 is really on par reliability wise, but do have the oil burning and generally more maintenance needed to keep em running well. Also the VQ35's clearly don't last as long, from what I've seen.

 

I'm sure many people have already said this, but the 3.0 over the 3.5 in terms of both reliability and maintenance.

Looking at the PITA changing rear spark plugs and ignition coils on the 3.5 alone make the 3.0 way more attractive from that standpoint.

 

They're not.

The dash, gauge cluster, seats are entirely different.

 

Buy platnium or iridium plugs and you only need to change them every 100k miles which is roughly every 7 years. I wouldn't let THAT deter you from buying an 02-03.

 

Um, ok. Dont know what I35's you've been looking at but I just sold one few months back...

Its exactly the same as the Maxima inside minus a few things... Seats and entire layout is exactly same, same steering wheel, radio and controls, etc...

gauge cluster is a bit different and a few other things in dash layout yes, like the clock...few things

 

Well... between my Maxima VQ30 and my Altima VQ35 ... no question which I would rather drive. The 3.5 of course. And no it doesn't burn oil. But then again it only has 75K miles on it.

 

I have an '03 Maxima & the 3.5 is a really fun motor and all, but is a bit on the steep side for maintenance and any repairs. Gas mileage is relatively good for the power & performance and mine has yet to start burning oil & I'm at 190km, always dealer serviced on-time. To be honest to choose between the motors is pretty split cause both of them have their own problems. The VQ30 is easier to service but it does have its downsides such as **** luck with start-up problems

 

I mean the seats are different in the 02-04 I35's, but they look like the 00-01 Maxima's seats. But otherwise exactly the same... except for rear heated seats from what I've seen in Canadian-spec models

 

Exactly. I30/35 is the Maxima, same **** minus few small details.

 

Heated rear seats

Yummy

 

Thats the LAST feature I ever gave a crap about. Cant drive from the rear seat.

My rear seats are practically new, still looking for more booty

Now heated steering wheel on the other hand, now THAT is a hell of a feature.

 

Heated steering wheel is something that I love about my 5.5, don't really use the heated seats but the heated steering wheel is frequent in winter months

 

only if you can change them yourself or else pay $600+ to a repair shop .

Now the tensioner and guides on the other hand,that sh!tty rattle ugh.....

If you want power just boost the vq30 @8psi.

I guess we just have to ride around with a starter in the trunk.

 

Changing 02-03 plugs is a cinch. I can do mine as fast as I was able to do them in my 95. On my set-up my IM comes off in 3-5 minutes. Couple that with the fact that Ir's are only about 8$ a plug for the VQ35.

 

vid or it doesn't happen....

 

I'm at 127k miles and have no oil burning at this point with my 02, and no other problems, other than the evap canister (not warm enough to fix it myself - don't care enough).
As far as I can tell, it's greatly reliable. Still running like new at this point - just with a little normal wear.

 

Agreed. I have had decent amount of seat time in 02-03 max and now have an '02 i35. The differences are subtle and hard to tell to the every day observer but they are there. The overall shapes of things are slightly different on the drivers side dash, the center console is slightly different, the seats are different, the vents are different, gauge cluster is vastly different, the door panels are different, different materials on the pillars, floor brake, etc... They share a steering wheel, shifter, glove box, radio, HVAC controls and surrounding area. Maybe the passenger side dash is shaped the same. Most other parts bin items are the same. The Maxima is sporty and the i35 was aimed for a more luxury look and feel. I actually prefer the looks of the maxima over the i35. Not that any of this matters. They were both very nice for their time.

I love it when people get into my *beater* car and are amazed by what they see for an early 2000's car.

On topic my 3.5 has just less than 134,000 miles. Burns little to no oil. Anything that it loses is likely from the valve cover gasket. Was a single owner car and came with all paperwork and receipts for oil changes every 3000 miles. A lot has to do with how the car was taken care of. Still running original plugs to my knowledge since I did not see any paperwork showing a change

 

I've got a 2000 Maxima GLE (3.0L) and have had zero problems with it so far, it'll be around for the next 20 - 40 years!

 

You realize that iridium plugs are NOT rated for 100K, right?

 

Meh... I had same spark plugs in my Camry from about 250k to 400k and car still ran . The other one I picked up I didn't even bother changing and its mileage was close to 420k

Both cars were "running" when I sold them 2 years back...

 

Does your shop charge $300/hr labor?

 

Well sure, they might still work and often times do.

I myself witnessed an old Camry that used to be in the family never get a plug change and it ran fine when it was sold at 300k miles. Theat thing got zero maintanence, and always ran fine not once did it break down.

But the point of maintenance isn't always "does it work?"...well, for some people it is. But if one cares about a car its not about that.

Its more about does it work properly, is it worn out, etc...old plugs can be compared to humans. Imagine having 100yr old man (original plugs) vs man in his prime working to fire your engine. Both work, so to speak, but you get the idea.

 

^
Yeah it wasn't a car I would have used to take someone out on a date or something. Both cars smelled like gasoline, the inside cabin smelled awful (something burning?)... AC didn't always work... Window motors were broken... Rust everywhere (on the second car)... Speakers on the second one were broken... Rattling exhaust... Crap suspension (second one). But the cars still got over 300 km a tank.

It was way more reliable than the Maxima and it rarely broke down, I was poor but got through high school with my first one.... The Maxima is the total opposite...

 

No desire to waste time on a vid, but ... technical details:

I don't have any covers or BS on mine, nor VIAS, then I have dual OEM gaskets on either side of my NWP spacer, so no RTV to deal with. And of course, who even has theirs bolted to the rear bracket anymore these days? CGR's intake comes off in a blink of an eye, as does the MAF connection, couple of vac lines on the rear, a few bolts and it's off.

It's actually quite a simple set-up.


For the discussion at hand, it's obvious the 02-08 engine isn't as reliable as the 95-01, mechanically due to the oil burning and tensioner issues.

Electrically, well, that's different considering all the bugs the 00-01's had (MAF/Coils/ECM frying). 02-3 had some oil burning issues, 04-05 had the tensioner issues, 07-08 seem like dimes. 09+ are awesome thus far. 95-96 IMO were the best. I've got a 95 and it still runs strong. Changed the MAF 1 time, and changed the 2 coils. Other than that, 250k, no oil burning, and 20 years later still runs fine.

 

^
Yeah taking off the upper intake manifold isn't that hard

 

I've previously owned a '00 Max SE and currently drive an 02 I35.
I like both cars, but I prefer the throttle response of the VQ35.


Currently at 190k and doesn't burn excessive oil.

 

Does it burn any? I'm not sure what it is but mine has begun to burn more than usual now at 156k. And I installed headers @ 38k, so the pre-cat deal doesn't hold much water in my opinion.

 

I think the precat blowing apart and going back into the engine is bull spit.
I've read about people saying that here for some reason.

 

I've heard about that, is it a 5 or 5.5 gen issue (or both)?

 

i owned a 95 SE for 4 years and other than changing a starter and alternator for the first time in its life there was never anything wrong with it. i only had tuning issues when i installed the 00vi but thats not stock and didn't have anything to do with the mechanical parts inside.
i also had a jwt ecu that etended rev to 7200rpm and took it to 7000 regularly and after 7000km oil change intervals it only burned half a cup of oil if that and thats only because i beat on it a lil.

now i have a 2003 SE 6spd with 245k km and it burns oil... much much more than other people 'highp' consumption. i believe it already burned the 'regular amount' as others' cars and one out of the last 2 previous owners must've over revved it or something because i would have to fill it up every 2-3 days.
and i'm still sticking with it because i like the car and there's nothing else out there that i really want... gettin a newer engine because i love the vq35de its the sexiest sounding engine next to VW narrow angle vr6.

so the 3.0 is a solid bet. and they last a very long time... i think the average mileage on 4g 3.0 on the facebook group is like 180k mi and they're still running like a clock. my 5.5g 3.5 is higher mileage too at 155k mi and it still runs very smooth. however, in my case such excessive oil consumption essentially means to me the engine is useless and dead.

 

Owned a 95 and still have an 03 6mt

3.0 is a great motor

3.5 is a good motor - oil consumption issues.


I've got nearly 240k on my 03 6mt. Literally can count the problems i've had with her on one hand. My 95 had a LOT more problems than my 03 has had over it's life, and i sold the 95 with only 150k.

The 6MT is a solid transmission. Mine's still original with no work having been done to it, totally trust it. The 5mt I had in my 95 was showing signs of wear/ failure. Skeptical over the auto's in the 5.5 gen. Auto's with the 3.0 didn't seem to have as many issues.


They are all good, reliable cars. Keep in mind you're not buying a Fiat, but understand that a used vehicle is ONLY as good as the PREVIOUS OWNER!

I've seen a 2005 Honda civic with 50k miles that is trashed and ran like junk before. If you drove my 03 6MT at 240k, you'd think it had 50k.

 

We're talking engines here though, not in general vehicle reliability.

In that case, my 03 is faaaaaaaaar more reliable than my 95.

1 MAF bought used for 55$ on here, installed @ 90k. That's the ONLY problem I've had in 10 years, 3 months and 120,000 miles. Don't get me stared on the 95.

 

While this is true, not just the engine is different between the vehicles. What good is a reliable engine if the rest falls apart around it?