Good idea... just ordered a set of H&R springs. Lots of good info around here!

 

May want to try what Kings did with his H&Rs, install only the front first and see if it sits level.

Don't what that saggy-a$$ look that happens all too often with H&R springs.

 

I like everything about the I35. I guess we can't complain too much because a lot cheaper than the competition's products in the same class. That being said the things that I would love to have are:

1. RWD or AWD
2. Bigger Interior
3. Rearview Camera and NAV (like the Q)

 

Well some people do have NAV, and you can get a camera installed... that would be pricey though.

 

I have an 04 I35, Brilliant Silver all stock 10,500 mi. I enjoy the luxury, the horse power and good looks. My biggest complaint is the lag between shifts while accelerating fronm a stop. Anyone else have this issue? Overall I would rate it a 8 out of 10.
Vince

 

Yeah, mine didn't have the NAV. I was going to purchase the AVIC-D1 aftermarket head unit and add the camera to it but gave it a second thought after reviewing all the info that Meta provided on the subject. Getting voice-guided GPS on your cell phone is a more cost effective way to get the same result.

But after test driving a Q45 and having the camera pop on when the car is in reverse I came to like that feature.

 

Wish the rear suspension didn't bottom out with rear seat passengers aboard .
Wish there was more room between the accelerator and brake pedals.
Wish the shifter didn't have such a goofy gate.
Wish the lumbar support was lower.
Wish they would have toned down the fake wood.
Wish there was NO fake wood on the steering wheel.
Wish the radio had a mute button and a low level audio input.
Wish I would have bought an Acura TL instead!
Glad I got a $6K discount.

 

1) new springs

2) I'm guessing you're the the second owner of the car, since you can pick where you want(or not want) the wood when buying the car.

3) I thought about a TL before, but I read of the horrific transmission problems and decided not to take the chance

 

I don't understand why some people don't like the wood steering wheel, that's by far the #1 thing that I've received the most compliments about when people ride in it for the first time????

 

The dealer replaced the springs, but it still bounces and bottoms occasionally with people in the rear seats. Tokico Illuminas are on their way to me today. I really don't want shorter springs, but I doubt there are stiffer stock-height springs available. Maybe someday, I'll end up getting aftermarket springs with minimal drop.

Bought it new as a year-end closeout. It has only the std wood trim, but it's still a little much.

About the TL, yeah, the grass is always greener...... In fact, I actually liked the ride and drive of the I35 better. The TL is just more up-to-date aesthetically.

All the above said, I will really like my car if I can stiiffen up the rear suspension. It is very smooth and quiet on the highway, and will accelerate faster than I need it too.

 

Definitely get aftermarket springs to solve the bottoming out and the damn 4x4 look. I'd order now since you already have the Illuminas coming. It would require zero more steps to install new springs when you replace the shocks.

There are pleanty of threads around describing all the different options out there. Just check the 5th gen section (same suspension). And you definitely got the best struts available for our cars, so you're set there.

Suspension is without a doubt my favorite mod to date. Cant imagine driving the car without my eibachs now.

 

I am also a wood steering wheel hater. I bought a wheelskins cover which you stitch onto the wheel, and was pretty impressed with the results. http://www.wheelskins.com/

 

One could also pull a steering wheel from a sport package I35 to get one made of all leather.

 

Hi everyone, I just wanted to chime in about the I35 & seek a bit of advice. I recently bought a 2003 I35 w/Sport Package. The car IS very nice but I have one major problem...my back has been killing me ever since I got this car. I traded in a 1998 Maxima with that acceleration hesitation lag that some of them had during the production years of 97-99.

I was considering changing the suspension to 2004 I35 Base springs or keep the 2003 Sport ones if possible (I don't want to lower the car) and Tokico adjustable shocks, but then I read the owner's manual, and it says, "If suspension parts such as shock absorbers, struts, springs and bushings are not standard equipment or are extremely deteriorated, the vehicle dynamic control off indicator light may come on." (pg. 5-17) Now, this is something that I do not want to happen, but I can't tolerate the stiff ride anymore. It is especially bad on really cold days. I know the key word in the quote is may, being how it might or might not happen but I am one of those kinds of guys who like to keep things as original as possible. BTW, I check tire pressure every two days, so it can't be a lack of PSI in the tires.

The I35 with the Sport Package option does drive with amazing nimbleness, but I don't drive that way all too often. I was also pretty surprised to learn that the I35 w/Sport Package has both VDC and a TCS which makes torque steer seem nonexistant, even though there is torque steer but it is greatly minimized.

Could you guys please offer some advice. I tried seat cushions but they only make things worse. I am so uncomfortable that I am even thinking ($tupidly at that) to trade this car in for the 2007 refreshed Maxima when it comes out later this year. Because what good is a great car if it is uncomfortable to drive?

Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated, thank you.

PS- This is a fabulous car otherwise. It has Maxima brains, and Maxima brawn, but I am afraid that it does not have the Maxima soul.

 

You're willing to sell the car because of the springs ?!?!?



How much? lol. Seriousy, email me: murenko@gmail.com

 

Wow, it's not often that people critisize the I for having a stiff stock suspension. It was actually too soft and uncontroled for me. So when I put on the new shockes and springs, I thought the ride got better, though more stiff.

Maybe try playing around with the seating possition and lumbar support. Im not sure how the 4th gen Max seats are, but when going from my SAAB (great seats!) to my I, my back didn't feel right for a while. I think I just had to get used to a different driving possition. I would suggest you stick with it for a while, find the best possition for you, and see if it gets better.

 

I wouldn't take everything the owner's manual says for gospel.

I'm well over 30k miles on H-Tech springs and Illuminas in my sport and VDC has never tripped as a result. I have a hard time believing the suspension components would have much of anything to do with VDC, as VDC deals more with slip than anything else.

Anyways, you might consider swapping the rear springs on your sport edition to that of any non-sport I35 or GLE/GXE 5th gen Maxima. Reportedly, the only difference is the rear springs, and the sport package suspension is the equivalent of SE in the Maxima.

 

In a post above, I said the "bouncy" rear suspension is what I liked least about my 2004 I35. Well, I gotta tell you a pair of Tokico Illuminas set to #3 solved my probem. I can now accelerate into undulating sections of road that used to totally overpower the rear damping. Where I once had to brake from 45 to 35 to avoid bottoming out, I can now accelerate to 55. It's a total transformation. On a test drive today where we went looking for bad roads, my wife said, "The rear seems to recover immediately after hitting a dip." Couldn't have said it better myself. A big "thumbs up" to Tokico!

 

You're kidding me right? There is a button to the right of the steering wheel, it says tcs, push it, then proceed to mash the pedal, problem should be fixed. This reminds me of another complaint I have, and it's why I always shut off the tcs when I first start the car, it's like a natural habit to me now, sometimes I find myself reaching for the button on my '96.

So there was this one time I was doing a hair under 40, accelerating from a light on a section of road that was about to merge into one lane. All of a sudden, right before the merge, some arsehole tries to pass me, so I FLOORED IT HARD! Well I floored it hard enough that the front tires wanted to break loose at 40mph, the roads might have been wet, I can't remember, but since the traction control was on it started killing the spark, the whole car bucked and jerked so bad that it felt like the tranny was going to explode, I glanced at the tach and it was bouncing VIOLENTLY from 4,000-6,000 rpm. It was horrible, it felt so bad for the car, it was jerking and BANGING so bad. Ever since then I shut off the tcs as soon as I get in.