I have some questions for you 4th geners. I am looking to by a 1996-1999 se 5spd, I wanted to know if there are any important things that I need to know before I get the car? Is there any particular trouble areas that I need to take under consideration. I presently have a 89 se so i know a bit about maximas. I would appericate any help you guys provide. Oh and what is the difference between a SE limted and a regular se.

 

SE-L came out in 99, sublte appearance diffs, not in power though, searching may help.

 

https://maxima.org/forums/search.php...der=descending

read up on some of those posts (the issue is in the FAQ too as noted in that search) to find out about the spotty problem of 5-speed 4th gen maximas and bearing failure in the transmission, and to see what you could look at to determine if a car might be plagued with the issue.

Good luck on your search!

 

Look at the difference in cosmetics between the 96-and 97

Tailights change, headlights change, bumpers etc... Some 97 come with digital odometers..
Also, if you have some mods that you are sure your going to install, i would make sure that you pick the year that will allow that modification. At this point in the aftermarket world for the maxima, most parts are mdae for all generations... but i'd just take a closer look for yourself
my $2.99

 

What 97's came with Digital Odometers, that wasnt introduced until the 98 model year along with a revised Digital climate control.

 

I have seen alot of problems with alternators, mine had to be replaced.

 

However, buying used cars always has a risk factor involved because parts will eventually need to be replaced.

Don't worry about alternators or tiing chains or power steering pumps going out - if they all work fine and the previous owner took care of the car, it's a wise (though still with its risks) investment.

I bought my 95 SE w/ 77k miles last year and from its condition, the previous owner was very meticulous with its maintenance - never needed to do anything so far. Still the same alternator, same starter, etc. Starter grease and strut bearings have dried out but hey, it's an 8 year old car.

Why not a 95?

 

The differential bearing failure should be your biggest concern. If the car is out of warranty, its going to cost you big $$$ to fix. I think 99s also came in an ES model which was a no options SE.

I say if you dont mind the 95-96 nose and rear styling, then get one of those. They seem to be alot cheaper and these cars last forever so higher mileage shouldnt be a huge concern.

Also, watch out for the modding bug, it'll hit you pretty hard once you get your car.

 

The modding bug has already bittin me more than once. One of the reasons a I want a newer max is beacuse I want to mod more than on my 89 se. pocketrocket to answer your question of why I dont want to get a 95 is because I dont care too much for the front end and I also want the 5 spoke rims with out having to buy used ones from someone. I appericate all the help you guys have given me so far I will keep those points in mind when I find the max I am looking for.

 

When buying the max look under the car for any signs of damage, i know here in NY accidents are commonplace and covering them up is a fine art. The body may reveal signs of serious damage so you might want to move on to another car. and obviously look at the egine bay more thouroughly and take note of all oil leaks, serious fluid stains, cracks, and other signs of wear/damage. get into the car roll through the gears see if there are any ostacles in cwitching gears as that may be a sign of a tranny problem. check the wheels and the rims and see if there are any abnormalities. start the car up listen to the engine (if you can hear it well then something's definitely wrong because maxima engines are very quiet! haha) start to rev it slightly prssing the gas from idle to about 2k-2.5k prm if you hear knocking that means the piston is slightly hitting the cylinder wall. but just inspect the car in and out. test drive it if you have the chance. I know at most auctions you have no opportunity for test drives but you can only turn the engine on and play around with the inside and check if everything works, that's why it is imperative to go through the car in and out.
If you're buying it from a private owner ask them a few questions about the care of the car, and how fast it is, that can clue you into how the car was taken care of and the past owners driving style. And the overall impression of the owner and his other cars and their condition.
I've helped my friend pick out a Maxima before, and we settled on a 96 SE it's still with him and he didn't have any problems with it to date except he changed the alternator at 105K (this was after nearly 35K of driving mostly in the city with a pair of subs in the trunk) It took us three trips to PA (auctions) to pick out the right one for him. Patience is a virtue. Take your time and try not to rush into buying a car, because after all: you want it to last and you want to get just the right one for your unique taste and style.

-Vadim

PS: i'm looking for a 98 SE/GLE (most likely a SE fully loaded since i like the rims better than the Fugly ones on the GLE) and so far i haven't found one my heart just screams out for.

 

Get a 97 since they dont make ECU upgrades for 98s (dont know about 99s).

 

what was the warranty on a 99?