2004 545i vs 2006 g35 coupe
04-14-2013, 11:25 AM
#1
New Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Powder Springs
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 1980 320i
2004 545i vs 2006 g35 coupe
Im 17 and going off to college soon. Im looking for a car thats more reliable than my 80 320i.I found good a 04 545i for 11 grand and a 06 g35 coupe for 11.5 grand. What do you guys think about both cars and what car would be better for me thanks.
P.S: Im going to college at GA state if that helps any
P.S: Im going to college at GA state if that helps any
04-14-2013, 01:33 PM
#2
New Members
As much as it pains me to say, I'd back the Infiniti for your needs. It'll be way more reliable and cheaper to fix should anything go wrong. The '06 is the last year of the gen 1 G35 so it has all the running changes implemented.
04-14-2013, 03:24 PM
#3
Members
Senior Members
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posts: 2,539
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes
on
6 Posts
My Ride: 530i
Model Year: 2004
Engine: M54
G35 hands down, although your E21 should be dead reliable. What problems are you having with it? that M10 is nearly indestructible.
04-14-2013, 04:05 PM
#4
New Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Powder Springs
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 1980 320i
well I'm having a bad overheating problem with my e21 but its my first car and i only paid 400 bucks for it and i was thinking the g35 coupe too but i a bmw fan
04-14-2013, 09:14 PM
#5
Senior Members
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Chino Hills
Posts: 1,017
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: 545I SMG
Do some research on the G. My wife and I had one and those cars suffer from numerous electrical issues. With that being said, I still think it would be a better car for college. Lower maintenance costs, better mileage and you'll probably find a cleaner lower mileage one for $11k
04-15-2013, 04:45 AM
#7
Contributors
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Encino, CA
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 04 545i - Titanium Silver/Black, Sport pkg, Comfort Seats w/ Lumbar, Premium Sound, power rear sunshade, Adaptive Xenon Headlights, Steptronic, Park Distance Control, Fold down rear seats w/ski bag, Aux jack, 6-disk changer, puddle lamps...
Engine: Custom Remus cat-back exhaust w/chrome square tips, K&N Air Filter, Charcoal Filter Removed, Sprint Booster :-), 50/50 mix of 91+100 Octane, EuroRev ECU Remap (coming soon lol), Dinan High-Flow Throttle Body (coming soon...maybe lol)
Interior: Portable Sirius Stilletto 100 w/car kit, Garmin Nuvi 680 mounted below rear-view mirror, LCI-style I-drive knob, Dark Poplar Center Dashboard Trim.
Exterior: E60 forum clings, 5% rear tint, ACS roof spoiler (painted black for distinct look against limo tint), ACS trunk spoiler, ACS add-on front spoiler and rear apron (awaiting installation), "18 Black Staggered BeBeS Style OER (emergency replacement for cracked sport 124 rims), black kidney grill, white accessory lighting (including license and trunk lamps), Angel-eye upgrade, AIB xenon-matched fog lamps, AIB V3's on order, red rear reflectors
+1 on the G35. Generally, the Nissan/Infinity should prove a bit more reliable and cheaper to operate and maintain than the 545i. The 04 545i - first year for the E60 platform - may have a laundry list of ticking timebomb issues if they were never addressed by the previous owner. Possible failure points are as follows:
Brittle coolant tube above radiator, under the metal shield
Brittle "t" coolant connector under the intake
Secondary air system carbon buildup in the heads
Secondary air system tube failure under the intake
Charging system fault (alternator, charge control relay, battery)
Starter failure
Valve cover gasket leaks
Alternator bracket gasket leak
Coolant transfer pipe leak (ugh)
Transmission seal leak
Mechatronics sleeve leakage
Struts
Questionable oil change schedule (did they follow the 'recommended' condition-based service schedule) or were more proactive?
These are the fairly common faults. There are more involved ones possible like eBox fan failures, iDrive faults, etc. Just beware that the 545i, while loads of fun, may be a bit much car for 17 on a school budget. But damn if its not one sweet ride lol. -Al (I've owned my 04 545i since 06).
Brittle coolant tube above radiator, under the metal shield
Brittle "t" coolant connector under the intake
Secondary air system carbon buildup in the heads
Secondary air system tube failure under the intake
Charging system fault (alternator, charge control relay, battery)
Starter failure
Valve cover gasket leaks
Alternator bracket gasket leak
Coolant transfer pipe leak (ugh)
Transmission seal leak
Mechatronics sleeve leakage
Struts
Questionable oil change schedule (did they follow the 'recommended' condition-based service schedule) or were more proactive?
These are the fairly common faults. There are more involved ones possible like eBox fan failures, iDrive faults, etc. Just beware that the 545i, while loads of fun, may be a bit much car for 17 on a school budget. But damn if its not one sweet ride lol. -Al (I've owned my 04 545i since 06).
04-15-2013, 07:24 AM
#8
New Members
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: '05 545 Titanium Silver
+1 on the Infinity. You don't want to have to deal with car issues while you are at school. You won't enjoy it as much as the BMW, but you'll be happier.
04-15-2013, 11:59 AM
#9
New Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Powder Springs
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 1980 320i
Yea I see what you guys are saying with issues and I talked to the guy thats selling the 545 and he said he selling it because he put to much money in to it
04-15-2013, 12:49 PM
#10
Members
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: DFW, TX
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
My Ride: 2009 535i Sport
Model Year: 2009
Engine: N54
Hmm, yeah, that's a bad answer to get - but not too surprising.
At 17, the value of having a problem-free car cannot be overstated if you are paying for repairs out of your own pocket. When I was 17, one major repair on 545i would have decimated any finances I had at that point.
Can't tell you much about the Nissan, but seems like a better choice in this case.
At 17, the value of having a problem-free car cannot be overstated if you are paying for repairs out of your own pocket. When I was 17, one major repair on 545i would have decimated any finances I had at that point.
Can't tell you much about the Nissan, but seems like a better choice in this case.