OK.....narrowing down my choices. Have a few 2004 SL's that I am working deals on.
Can I get some help as to what VIN's I should stay away from?? Is 863015 a vin I should take a pass on??

I remember reading something about 90XXXX in the 04 which are deemed to be late and "better" builds.... and to stay away from numbers lower than 90xxxx Are we talking about the last six digits ??

Theres a 2005 with a vin ending in 801145 that could end up in my driveway also. Although I think I have a dealer willing to sacrifice ALL the holdback on a 04, plus the 1500 rebate.

Thanks again.....this forum rocks !!
Dave

 

Yup, it is the last 6 digits.

go with 05, if you cannot atleast stay away from cars built before feb/mar 2004. after feb 2004, Nissan did some changes and that seems to have fixed many problems.

But remember, there are so many guys out here with cars having vins less than 86XXXXX , with ZERO problems.

anyway, Goodluck

 

If the 04 is new/low miles, I would consider it after an extensive test drive (maybe over night). Get her up to 70 to check for shimmy, look closely at the glove box, trunk, hood for alignments. If all checks out, I would buy the 04. if not get the 05.

90+ VINs are like a benchmark for possible fewest problems. although some before had none, and some after do. I would talk about if it shimmies and struts go bad, then what with dealer (if they fixed them for others yet/know about the problems) would do. then whatever they asked for, try for a little more. May be worth it. Unless you prefer the new dash material, and auto-dim side mirrors.

 

2005 had new dash material and auto dim side mirrors ?

What kind of strut problems do 2004 have?

I have a 2004 with a VIN 88something, zero problems.... 55 000KM was made 01/04

 

OIC. Oh well, 2005s were too expensive. Every year they get better. You just gotta buy one and hang onto it

models equipped with leather get a softer grade of upholstery than before. Chrome trim decorates the interior door handles, lock switches, and parking brake handle for a more upscale appearance, while new titanium-tinted cabin trim debuts. A dashboard-mounted 12-volt outlet is added at the base of the center stack, and auto-dimming outside mirrors are available. Models equipped with a Bose audio system can be outfitted with satellite radio. From the outside, you can tell the 2005 Nissan Maxima apart by its black brake calipers.

 

i bought an 04 SE not long ago.... 24K miles, $16,500. other than it needing tires, it was flawless. the tires were replaced under the recall, luckily.

is there any particular reason you want an SL over an SE?

mine has no shimmy, vibration or other issues (other than a heat shield buzzing)

 

Yeah my 04 is flawless too.... didnt get the recall on time though im kinda pissed. Recall ended on dec 31. Bought the car last week.

 

so is my 04. zero problems. and its beautiful.

 

maximame - The 2004 VIN serials began at 800000 and ended around 931800 (yes, they built over a hundred and thirty thousand of those '04s). The assembly dates (on the little plate inside the driver's door jamb) ran from January 2003 to July 2004 (18 months), although one poster here swears he has an '04 built in August of '04.

For me, the major changes (adding smoke and coral sand as colors, replacing the 4 speed auto tranny in the SL with the same 5 speed tiptronic that was in the SE from the beginning, etc) came on February 5th, 2004. Maximas made after that date seem to have few problems. Of course some '04 Maximas made early on were also problem-free. The '04 SL you are looking at has the 4 speed auto tranny, which is perfectly good, but many Maxima drivers prefer the 5 speed tiptronic. The '05 SL you are looking at has the 5 speed tiptronic.

'04 Maximas made before around serial 870000 (the exact number is in a sticky somewhere on this board, and also in a Nissan recall notice), and that have the skyview instead of the power sunroof, have improperly tempered glass, and must have the skyview glass replaced. For some folks, that was a fairly painless proceedure, but others ended up with damage to the paint surrounding the skyview, and sometimes the new skyroof was improperly installed and leaked.

Each Maxima model year begins again at VIN serial 800000, so the '05 you are looking at (VIN 801145) was built the first week they began building '05s, and should have a date of '0804' on the little silver plate inside the driver's door jamb.

Just guessing, based on reading this board for almost five years, the '04 you are looking at with VIN 863015 should be around average as far as trouble goes, and any '05 should be relatively trouble-free.

You are wise to be considering the SL, because the base SL has thousands of dollars worth of goodies that you have to get the Drivers Preferred Package to get on the SE. If you do look at SEs, get one with the DPP package, which gives HID headlamps, leather, and lots of power goodies, memory goodies, heated steering wheel, etc, etc.

Whatever you get, be sure and check for the dreaded shimmy. Start from around 30 MPH on a flat, fairly open road, with your fingertips held loosely against the steering wheel at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions, then accellerate very very gradually up to 80 MPH (or as fast as you safely can). If at any particular speed or speed range, the steering wheel begins to vibrate from side to side more than around a quarter inch, you have shimmy. The distance from side to side that the steering wheel moves, and the length of the speed range during which the shimmy exists are measures of the seriousness of the shimmy.

Some folks have fixed the shimmy by removing a plastic piece under the front bumper. Some fixed it by replacing tires and wheels. Some fixed it by tightening the steering rack. Some fixed it by having a professional do a road-force balance alignment on a Hunter alignment machine. Etc, etc, etc. But some folks have had serious difficulty getting rid of their shimmy.

I hope you get a good one. Mine ('04 SL VIN 920xxx) has been a dream car.