The dealership charges like $500 for the service. Is it necessary? Also when do you change the timing chain?

don't let the dealer rape you. the only thing that I would do is change all your fluids.....

timing chain is supposedily good for 100k miles.

More then that....sold my 95 with 148K on it. timing chain still going strong

Exactly, all you need to do is change the fluids, oil filter, air filter and rotate tires for the first 60K miles. After that you may change the radiator fluid, gas filter and flush engine. The timing chain is maintenance free. That is why, among other reasons, they went from a timing belt to timing chain. So it won't damage the engine later on with the pistons getting warped.

Timing chain is good for longer than that it is suppose to last the life of the car, check out the many 4th gens that have 175,000 miles or so without issue with them.

i traded in my 4th with 140 k and the sucker was going strong. Actually I think is had less noises than the 6th gen

i thought that Nissan recommended the trans service also at 30k miles???

Probably. I would definatly do the tranny service at the reccomended interval. Transmissions are built to wear out, the more you maintain them, the longer they will last. If you plan on keeping your car for a long time, I wouldn't think twice about the tranny flush.

You should probably do your cooling system too. Coolant does break down. It's just not there to cool your engine, it lubricates your water pump. If that goes, you are looking at a lot more money.

Being a technican, I guess I'm a little biased. However, if you maintain your car properly, it will last for a long time.

I tried to do most of the reccomended service on my '85 Maxima, and it was running fine with 206,000 on the clock when I let it go.

Another point to keep in mind: if you have all scheduled service done, and have the maintenance log updated regularly by your dealer, then when trade-in time comes, they will look more favorably on your car, as they know it has really been cared for.

By their having the records to show prospective buyers, it is easier for them to resell your trade-in at a higher price.

I know you can get oil changes elsewhere that are warranty approved, but wouldn't you have to get the 30,000 mile service done by Nissan to keep the warranty valid?

i would consider going to the dealership and finding out what they do for the 30k and do it yourself. there is so much useful information here that you can tackle this job! i bet they don't even clean the throttle body for ya!

Do it yourself and you may end up like my brother. since the receipts don't have VIN numbers proving it was for that car they may simply void your warranty due to abuse. He had a VW Jetta 2002 1.8T with a blown engine after 42Kmiles. Bumper to bumper warranty was 44K. But since his receipts couldn't prove that the oil went into the car they did NOT warranty the engine.

I thought that was the case. You need to get the work done to validate your warranty. And no they don't clean your throttle body at 30,000 miles and the chances of you needing it done are negligible. I'm sure they look at it, but woudln't clean it unless it required it and they would bring it to your attention.

Now whether, receipts from a luby-loo for differential and transmission work suffices is another question. But Nissan does a lot of external inspection at 30,000 miles - exhaust system, suspension, etc. etc., some of which oil drive-through places do and tick off. I would follow up on this before I ever jeopardized my warrantly.

Really! What about the drive belts that they do change, and what about the radiator drain and flush? Lots of us complain about the quality of the car, but when it's time to do maintenancewe shun out of it thinking an oil change is all we need. Now I'm not saying you have to go to the dealer to get the service, you just gotta get it done. But it's your car treat it the way you want.