Thanks for the additional feedback but doing the work myself is not an option. I haven't made up my mind yet that's why I'm doing the research.

 

The LAST thing I worried about this car was the brakes. The main thing I was concerned about was MPG. Since I drive way more than most of people do, I spend more money more often and faster than most people. IMO, I think if you can afford the gas on the G but can't afford the brakes, you should think of a much slower(?) car which might not need so much hard braking.

 

Trust me I can afford the gas and the brakes. I recently started looking at a 335IX but BMW reliability worries me. Although I'm not thrill with the brake wear on the G35's I'm pretty sure overall it's more reliable and cheaper to maintain compared to a BMW.

 

Unless you plan on keeping the car well past warranty, I wouldn't worry about it for either vehicle. Every car is going to have some issues.

To me the brakes in the 07 G35 sedan are worlds better than my previous Acura TL. The TLs brakes warped within the fitrst 5k and I had to jump through hoops to get the dealer to do something about it. The brakes were never right in that car. In comparison, I have had some hard braking conditions in the G and they were smooth with no drama. I am sure the bmw would be the same.

Bottom line is that if you have no problem affording the G or the BMW, you probably shouldn't worry about brakes. Get what you like based upon style and performance.

 

Well this is why I'm leaning towards a Japanese car. I usually keep my cars 5 + years. But I want something reliable and not too expensive to maintain. That's why the 335IX with it's twin turbo is very enticing but could be a nightmare to keep in the long run.

 

Civic?

Hehe. Just kidding.

 

A twin turbo European car that is out of warranty is no fun to maintain. Hence the reason why im in a G and not in my Audi anymore. Oh, and the "X" comes before the "I" in 335xi.

 

my 97 nissan maxima had approx 120k miles on the original rotors. changed pads twice in front and once in back. drive it hard.

my 88 acura integra had terrible rotors. constantly warped. replaced pads much more frequently.

 

typo, 335XI. I've also been thinking about an Audi. If the DSG gearbox was available on the A4 that might put it over the top for me. At this point I want an auto gearbox. Any way I'm still thinking G35X. But it's no longer the only car at looking at. But it's still at the top of my list.

 

Hey guys, new to this board, got my G35s about 3 wks ago and am itching to get through the break-in.

Did extensive reading on the G35 brake issue and, based on what I read, the problem occurs predominately with 03-06 G35s. Inifiniti even instituted a retro-warranty program for the brake issue. Haven't heard that any 07 G35s has a big brake wear problem.

Subrarus... had a 2003 Outback H3.0 VDC. Talk about problems:

- New brakes and rotor @24k
- AC went out at @45k
- Throttle Position Sensor @60k (replacement went 3k later. Dealer still charged for diagnosis.

Dumped the thing and got the G.

As for the Bimmers. To me the name alone isn't worth anything. Looked at the 335s. Very fast, very refined (but not $10k worth), very expensive even with the 4 yr maintenance. If you're a Euro-snob and have the money, go for it. Here some experiences of my buddies who own Bimmers. 330s, X5s, 540s, etc.

Cost of service once out of warranty:

Brakes: $650 @~50k
Tires: A set every year if driven aggressively (no different than any other car, including the G)
Elec. mirror motors going out on the X5s (twice in one year)
Half-shaft problems: $1200

Also, did BMW resolve the oil overheating problems yet on the 335s? When you run twin turbos w/o an intercooler its gonna get hot under the hood. Not great for engine longevity either.

In a few more years Infiniti is going to get to that extra 5% driving feel. Bimmers will only have the snob appeal to rely on.

My 2 cents.

 

hey gugarci, I don't think the premium cars like Infiniti, Lexus, MB, BMW will have major issues in the first 5 years. I do pay more for good brand like paying 500 for a Iphone, but to pay extra 5 to 10 K for the name BMW is not worth it in my opinion.

I got my G35 two weeks ago, have like 560 miles now and I love it. If I have to change brakes one more time then so b it.

 

The first set of 335's did not come with an oil cooler. All the new one have oil coolers that issue has been solved.

 

I too came from a 2002 Subaru WRX (sedan) and I went through two sets of pads and one set of rotors (I resurfaced them the first time) in 90,000 miles. I've only got around 1,500 miles on the G35X so it's too early to tell how long they'll last but I certainly wouldn't let it be a huge factor in whether or not you get the car. I test drove a 2008 Legacy GT Limited and it was terrible compared to the Infiniti...I also looked at the Acura TL Type S but I wanted to stick with AWD.

 

Sorry if this has already been mentioned, but the early G35, '03-'04 had terrible wearing brakes, I had an '04, and the front pads and rotors had to be replaced at 15k. Then I traded for the '05, at 22k, the pads and rotors still looked almost new. Now, the '05 X still had the old brakes for some reason, the X was upgraded to the new brakes in '06. I seriously doubt the '07 + has any similar brake issues.

 

I have had a problem w/ my brakes. But not soo much in functionality because the stop like a champ. My problem has been with brake noise, but I drive an 03 coupe and alot of things have changed since my model. Im going to switch to aftermarket rotors and ceramic brakes in a few weeks. Any suggestions??