After a couple of hundred miles on my new G. I am still in love with the car however the newness has not worn off yet. Love the ride/handling compromise. Power and the way the gearbox snicks from gear to gear are the best I've ever experienced. However, I did notice the much discussed Gearbox vibration. Although I've noticed this sensation with just about every manual I've driven. It is slightly disappointing considering just how rock solid the rest of the car feels. On a scale from 1-10, its only a 2.

I also paid a visit to my closest dealer which is about 30 miles away. Red Nolan Infiniti, Jaguar and Land Rover in Colorado Springs. I set up an appointment today @2pm. I showed up about 1pm(which was no problem) and they quoted me about 1hr to replace the moon roof billow under warranty. The only problem I've encountered when my G was delivered to me. Repair took less than 1hr and I had opportunity to hang out in the absolutely luxurious waiting room. I would rate my dealer experience a 10.

While I was there I got a chance to sit in the new Jaguar XJ, which @ 86,000.00 is a steal and one of the luxurious cars I've sat in. I only wish the G had leather that sumptuous. But for the price I can see why. I also got quoted $650.00 for the the 60k mile service. Which isn't half bad considering my local nissan dealer quoted about $850. And they said they could break up the service and delete some of the options. I think I will be changing my own oil and replace filters with K&N's. The tire can't be rotated so delete.

I think I will let them replace all the other fluids and the cabin filter. I've seen on the web video instructions on how to replace the cabin filter and although it seems easy enough. It seems like kind of a hassle, plus although somewhat mechanically inclined, I do have a tendency to misplace tiny screws and scuff some interior trim. Well that's it, Good motoring and safe driving.

 

if you are capable of doing oil change, in cabin microfilter should be a piece of cake for you. dealer will charge over $100 while you can get Fram filter for less than $20 and 30mins of your time.

i just did 60k maintenance, ATF change, engine coolant change, in cabin microfilter, oil change, air filter (done when i purchased the car). you can save over 50% cost not doing it at stealer.

prob just need TB cleaning and brake fluid change if i want.

 

Thanks Scorpkev,
Yeah you're right, I can save alot of money doing the changes myself. I've done pretty much all of that and more. I'm just trying to decide if I want to deal with all of the hassle and mess myself or if just being lazy enough to pay a premium to have someone else do it for me. I think I'm just kind of nervous because I've never owned a luxury car before and want everything to be perfect. But I have 20k to decide, by then I'll have put my first ding and stop treating the thing like a damn newborn.

 

IMO, the dealer is a rip off. The dealer wanted $80 to replace the cabin filter when i did it for $18 in ten minutes. The dealer wanted $250 to change my manual transmission fluid which is about as easy as changing engine oil. I just bought the MTF from nissan and a fluid pump from walmart and I plan on doing the MTF change myself. It should only cost me 70 bucks and an hour of my life.

 

yep, i can understand doing DIY on luxury car especially first car. I don't have a garage for me to do DIY so I have it done by local mechanics. I have a beater 97 maxima, i would change head unit, speakers, and all that by myself. but with g35, i am more hesitant to take pieces apart. you seem to got handy hands with experiences, save those $$$ and get yourself some good meals or even ipod for the $$$ u will be saving NOT doing it at the dealer.

i bought all the fluids needed for my car and just have mechanics do the labor.

 

Does anyone know the MT-fluid and rear diff oil weight? I would be interested in changing these with red line or royal purple products.

 

75w85 in MT 80W90 or 75W90 in diff

 

Thanks, Kool_yaar. After a little looking on the web it looks like REDLINE and AMSOIL have the best and most information regarding their products on their sites.
I have to admit I don't know much about the Viscous LSD. Does it require a limited slip modifier or any other special care? Or just the gear oil?

 

Ok now officially worried. After researching the vlsd, it seems like it would have to be maintained by the dealer or it would loose all of the silicone fluid over time and our diffs would eventually just function as an open diff after all of the silicone used?!?!?! Am I wrong? I am ok with open diff but I want the lsd. Not willing to spend the money for a clutch type lsd either.

 

^ definitely do the in-cabin filter yourself. If you think changing fluids is easy, the cabin filter is nothing, plus you stay clean.

As for the diff, from the tons of info i've gathered here on 'Driver alone, including from Kool above, our LSD is a sealed-type unit, so adding modifiers won't do anything for it. Your second post about degradation, it will happen eventually apparently with VLSD either way.

 

Thanks Mike. That is a little disappointing but I can live with that. I would have thought the lsd would have had a longer life span. 300k? Plus side atleast it doesn't grenade when it goes out like in some four wheel drive applications.
Good info, I think I will be doing the cabin filter, oil changes,(engine,trans and diff) myself with redline fluids for the trans and diff. mobile1 for the engine. And the rest, power steering, brake fluid and belts I'll just shop it out to a local mechanic.

 

Welcome

I think one can expect to get decent mileage out of the VLSD, unless one is just constantly ragging on it.

As for PS fluid and belts, even those you can do. I just recently did the PS myself using the "Quick 'n Easy" method. That and my other how-to's are in the DIY section, or my site. There's also a very easy belt (just one) DIY in that section that's worth looking into.