I'm planning on buying a used Maxima. Can anyone tell me the differences between an '04 and '05? I'm planning on buying a SE model. Thanks

 

One thing I remember is the dash pieces improving for '05, they are more of a real brushed looking metal...

 

Interior Chrome doorhandles instead of a silver paint (I dont like the chrome). A Cigarette lighter plug right on the center console on the corner opposite the hazard buttons...(a chinzy plastic cover on it with '12V' printed on it..looks reeeeeal nice ) There is something added to the flashing light on the dash for the security system...someone will chime in on what thats for..and of course the more metallic looking dash accents...It looks like more of an afterthought to me, sure its more durable, but I dont think it looks as good. Thats all I noticed.

 

Why not simply visit the dealer and sit in both?

 

Exhaust tips (inner, not outer chrome) are smaller on the '04's. I noticed it when I parked next to an '04. And '04's don't have the all-important grocery bag hooks in the trunk.

 

actually I have the grocery bag hooks in my 04. THANK GOD

 

So I guess Nissan changed quite a few things in the middle of 04 production.

 

I do too!!

 

Buy a 05- most bugs (tsb) worked out

 

I have an 05' . The light that is added next to the flashing security ligh is for the passenger airbag. It turns on when there is no passenger next to you to let you know that the airbag is off, and turns off when there is someone sitting in the seat.

 

That's weird. My in-laws' 04SE doesn't have them. The hooks for the cargo nets are different too. It was built in May 04.

 

The new metalplastic dash pieces don't match the steering wheel and the instrument panel. I guess the '07 will have all matching pieces.

 

Yeah thats probobly it, I remember sitting in an 05 at last years auto show and thinking the 'improved' dash material didnt look right. Thats pretty cheap of them to not change the wheel pieces and make it all match on a $30k car. The original stuff is fine if you are careful with it.

 

The long and the short of it is, there's practically no significant difference between an 04 and an 05. Like, besides the 12V outlet in the center console, there's pretty much no difference.

-Nate

 

My 04, bought in May of 03, has the hooks in the trunk.

The big difference is that Nissan seems to have fixed the wheel shimmies that were a problem for many 04 Max's -- although my Max has never had that problem.

Some 04's also had problems with their front struts failing, so Nissan replaced the front struts with what was supposed to be better struts -- at least a different parts number. I still have my original 04 struts and have about 43 K miles on her.

If you're buying used, I would pay much more attention to the following: Mileage, overall condition, tires (were the RSA's replaced), price, etc.

 

Most of the changes are minor. The biggest difference in the early 04sl models is the four speed transmission. Later that year the sl got the five speed. The se auto's were always 5 speed. A few things were addressed as far as the other problems the guys were telling you about. Just shop carefully.

 

I believe that the sideview mirrors also have the auto-dimming feature like our reariew mirrors. I have an 04, I wish my sideview mirrors dimmed like the 05's.

 

Thanks for all the info. Some of this info you can't get from sitting in the drivers seat.

 

One more question for the '04 owners. Is XM/Sirus an option for '04?

 

Yes...................

 

Don't know what you were looking at, but I disagree with the exhaust size difference and my trunk came with hooks and grocery netting. The big difference to me was the cigarette lighter on the center console added and interior materials changed from silver to chrome. Also earlier 04 models did not have traction control available as an option. 04 manual 6th speeds also offered an optional Limited Slip Differential.

 

Stock mufflers. I had my inlaws' 04 parked next to mine.

 

Maybe it's a West Coast thing? This is the first time I have ever heard that on ANY 6th gen thread, next time you have them side by side, get a picture...

 

Is there a way to tell if it has traction control?

 

Yes-there will be a button on the left side next to the mirror controls that will be labeled TCS.

 

Was traction contol avaiable on '04s?

 

They fixed the heated seats in 05 models. The ones in my 04 still don't work worth a damn.

 

wmeacham - Yes, Traction Control, as well as Vehicle Dynamic Control and full size matching spare tire on matching alloy wheel were all available in '04, and I have them all on my '04 SL.

jaydabee - I think they may have adjusted the heated seat wiring during the '04 run. My '04 SL was assembled the last week of May 2004, and my wife absolutely loves the heated seats.

Purely guessing, but the change may have happened around Feb 6, 2004, when they changed the SL from a four speed auto to a tiptronic tranny exactly like the SE, and added coral sand and smoke as new '04 colors.

 

Also, teh anti sway in the rear is different on the 04 and 05. I think the 04 is bigger.

 

so did my 04

 

If you look at my car domain page it tells you all the differences. I had an 04 and got a 05. Check it out. Nothing big.