Hello, all.
I kinda want to tell my story about how I got my MAX!
Last year I rolled my Toyota Camary and wrote it off, so naturally I was on the hunt for another car. I am very low on the funds end so I needed something I could get for cheap! Well I searched around on a local online listing and he was asking $425. So I went to go look at it expecting to see a complete POS beater. But when I got there, I saw two cars in the yard a nice 2012 Nissan Altima, and a fairly nice looking 4th gen Maxima that I doubted was the one I was going to look at for $425CDN. So I went and got the guy and asked "where's the Maxima your selling?, That one over there is your winter driver, eh?". "Nope", he says, "that's the one", and I was like Oh yeah!
The car had a safety rejection on it, and the previous owner provided me with the sheet of all the work a local shop he dealt with said needed to be one to pass, and they (wonder muffler), wanted to do $2500 worth the work!!!!
So I walked over to the car and the first thing I checked was the mileage to my surprise It was only at 180,000km's! So I went and checked around it. There was some rust...(medium size hole in one of the rockers), filler neck was rotted, There was also a spot in the passenger side front floor, (this is all to be expected in NB Canada). The front end had a lose outer tie rod on the passengers side. Rad support was perfect!, (which was surprising). I started the car and it seem to start/idle and run fine, (MIL was on), went for a drive, breaks were a little soft but good enough to get another year out of them. pass. outer tie-rod really needed replacement.
So I told the guy I was interested in making an offer, the he said " well I just want to get rid of it it, its more of a project that I'm willing to take on" (he was going by Wonder-muffler's recommendations", lol),. So I said "well if you feel that way I'll take it off your hands now for $350 cash and drive away today!" He said deal and that's how I got my Max.
Next I had to deal with the rejection sticker, so I Changed out the Passengers tie-rod end, did some quick patch style body work and put a set of front winter tires on it. Then took it to my mechanic and it passed easily!
a winter and a summer went by problem free, then one day the belt squeaked and broke, the car over heated a bit and cracked the old rad. So I replaced the PS pump, (it seized and broke the belt), then replaced the rad, when replacing the rad the tranny lines were so rotted they crumbled as soon as I touched them, so I had to replace those too. Once the belt was back on all was good motor wise. Then I had to have the axles on both sides replaced, (boots were cracked and I didn't know it). things were good for a bit. then the next inspection came up. The breaks had to be completely done, (new rotors, Calipers, Lines), all the way around. I also. needed a Drivers side outer tie-rod end this time. The mechanic then looked past the body stuff, (knowing I will fix it in the spring), the leak in the flex section of my exhaust, and my so-so front tires.
What's the stories of your 4th Gen MAX, how did you find it? What condition was it in? What did you pay? And how much initial work did you have to do?

 

a bargain!

 

I felt like I got an awesome deal! Despite the money I had to put into it. I feel that if treated right I should get.a fair amount of time out of her. I'm trying to get her restored to as close to new as I can

 

I just picked a 97 up about a month ago. Waiting on selling my 200sx so i can put the love into her that she deserves. Guy had it in my shop for a diagnosis. The front brakes were metal on metal, valve cover gaskets leaking, water pump leaking, intake manifold gasket leaking, crank seal, and a wheel bearing. He wanted to just get rid of it. I picked it up for $500 the way it sits. I've always wanted a 4th gen with this color and every option it has. I cant wait to start putting more work into it. All i've done so far is the front brakes. Here's some pics.





This is the only body damage



Next to my 200sx

 

^ nice looking maxima man, ur lucky that the only body damage is the door, better than mine when I picked up a veryyy clean white pearl GLE, but only had driver side rear quarter panel damage, which is going to cost more to repair than a door.. but heck anythin is possible with money.. so it can be done. Overall its pretty clean! nice pickup

 

I would post a picture of my MAX but the winter salty roads has her looking dirty. But I will soon! when she's looking nice and clean. I just finished cleaning the interi8or and giving the upholstery and carpets there first treatment, (they will need a few more), the otherday

PS: really nice looking peral white Max, man. And for $500, good catch! Sounds like the moter's external components need a bit of work but by the sounds of it you are a mechanic therefore you shouldn't have a problem fixing her up cheap

 

OK so here is my $350cdn MAX
From the front:

Front/side view:
Rear view:
Rear/side view:
Now the interior pictures,( its so hard to keep perfectly clean during this winter weather):

Picture of the engine bay...
Before cleaning:
After cleaning, ( looks much better but will still need a few more treatments):
All-in-all I feel like I stole this car for $350 cdn! So glad I found a maxima in that price range instead of so old calvier with a shot ECU and acting up theft system.