No more finger lines on the trunk lid! Added a leather pull handle to the Q50.

One of my pet peeves are the 3-finger marks left while closing a trunk. Not usually an issue but with the wintery spray of salt and dirt, these marks tend to affect the chrome finish or the paint finish. This issue is very pronounced on the GT-R because of the shape of the trunk, but still affects the Q50. It also leaves the fingers/gloves dirty; so here is cheap and simple fix I did.

Ugh!

I decided to order

Q50 AWD Test Driving in the Snow.

Had our first considerable snow fall last night and first thing this morning after dropping my daughter at school, took the wife's Q50 out in the snow before the plows came through and shot a little video.

This is an AWD with Tech model and stock all season run-flats. I tried to do donuts in an empty parking lot with snow, accelerated and braked as a hard as possible to see the reaction of the Q50. My objective was simple to do things beyond what a normal person would do in snowy conditions. I did all this in Sport Mode. I was deciding if I should get separate set of wheels+snow tires.

The absolute first interesting thing I immediately noticed was that when the ABS kicked in,  if the car was sliding upon hard braking, the seats belts pre- tightened quickly considerable (with the Tech Package). They wouldn't let loose for a few seconds afterwards. Definitely keeps you in snug. Hence my groaning in the video below.

DIY Engine Oil Change of the Infiniti Q50

Warning: If you are not mechanically inclined or do not have the appropriate tools and/or appropriate safety equipment, please do not attempt this. I will not be held responsible if your Q50 damages you.

Why do I prefer doing my own oil changes? Well with longer maintenance cycles and less stuff breaking down, gives me something to do on the car, and an excuse to spend time in the garage. Plus, I know it is done right - seen too many cars driving on the road with panels hanging down and heard too many stories of stripped drain plugs, too much oil, wrong type of oil, too little oil etc. While, I trust my Nissan and Infiniti dealerships, I don't trust quick change places. Lastly, I know what is oil is going in and I can usually do it a a fraction of the cost of any other place's cost of using fully synthetic oil. It is really a $30 cost of prevention.

Draining the Oil

Step 1: Buy Necessary Items:
You will need:

• 5 and 1/8qt of 5W30 engine oil are needed for an oil change with filter change. I prefer Mobil 1 Full Synthetic 5W30 Engine Oil. I pick it up at Walmart for $24.40 for a 5qt jug. It is enough for an oil change without needing the 1/8qt as not all the oil 
• 1x Nissan Engine Oil Filter Part # 15208-65F0E, that ranges anywhere from $6 to $8 from your dealership. I prefer using the OEM Nissan one to ensure warranty, and also because it contains the relief valve inside. There are better aftermarket filters, I have used Nissan ones for 15 years without an issue. Do not use 15208-65F0C, that is an old part number that has been discounted and has a cardboard end-cap and it's made in China.
• 1x drain plug crush washer part # 11026-01M02

Step 2: Gather Tools
You will need:

Understanding & Adjusting Headlights and Fog Lights on the Q50 for Maximum Visibility

Understanding the Q50's Exterior Lighting System

The Q50 has an advanced mechanism for the headlights, especially given the "auto" mode features and the steering adaptive headlights, and the auto leveling system. These are collectively called the "Adaptive Front Lighting System". Unless you test drove and bought your Q50 in the dark, chances are the dealer has been unable to show you this functionality. The working of the headlights is explored below.

The day time running LEDs (powered by 7.5W LEDs on each side) that circle the low beam projector are always on when the car is started. This is with the setting on the headlight stick being OFF.  They project enough light for the Q50 to be seen even on bright sunny days. As for the amount of useful lighting they provide, see the video, but it is not significant for any situation. The DRL LEDs do stay ON in all modes of the headlights.

By selecting the next setting on the stick which is AUTO, the systems many features are enabled. In auto mode, the LED low beams in projectors (powered by 23W LEDS each) come on, but only when the ambient light sensors detect that it is dark enough outside. The sensitivity can be set through the InTouch menu. They also go off after a number of seconds when the car is shut off or locked, again the timeout for this can be set through the InTouch menu.

Tint Film and Paint Protection Film Installed.

The Q50 got some protection done last weekend. I wanted two key things done: Window Tinting and Paint Protection Film.

I turned to the Tint Factory in Madison, WI. I have known the Owner/Master Installer, Kyle, for a number of years and his attention to detail, slow time taken, quality and technique, and perfection to each job made him my only choice and I highly recommend him as he has done all my cars in the past.

For the tint, I chose 3M Crystalline Automative Film at 40%. It has exceptional infrared reflection qualities, as Kyle showed me by placing various film strips in front of a heat lamps and the finish is fantastic.

I had it places on 7 window panes - rear window pane, two rear panes on each side, and front panes on each side. I did not have the sunroof or windshield done.

I think it adds a subtle class to the Malbec Black Q50, without making the windows look too dark and detracting from the overall color of the car.

Q50 Tinted

Here is another shot with the sunlight.

iOS 7 has been released!

Q50 InTouch works well with iOS 7.

Items to note are that I did not have to rediscovery the bluetooth setting, my device and the Q50 picked each other up.
Music worked exactly the same.
iTunes Radio was the new feature that worked well. The Q50 could not distinguish if the music was coming from the iPhone locally, via iMatch or from iTunes Radio. It displayed the track title, album title and single information.

Waiting for InTouch update from Infiniti to test the new features such as Pandora and iHeartradio apps on the Q50.

Infiniti Q50 LED DIY Conversion

I have never seen a vehicle with so many LEDs already in place and frankly done very well.

The Q50 uses LEDs for:

• Low Beams
• High Beams - Believe it or not - it's just 1 LED
• Day Time Running Lights
• Fog Lights
• Front Blinkers
• Side Markers
• Side Turn Signal in Mirrors
• Brake Lights
• High Mounted Brake Light
• Backup Light
• Front Passenger Map Lights
• Outside Handle Light

This leave regular bulbs for:

Installing K&N Drop in Air Filters into the Q50

Don't do it!!! K&N filters do nothing but allow more silicon /dust / sand into the engine, they turn the engine oil darker sooner and wear out the engine components quicker. I have been an idiot all these years and have fallen to marketing hype. Bravo K&N. I removed all K&N filters from all vehicles last year. Not only has is my oil lasting longer before turning darker, but Blackstone Labs Oil analysis on the Q50 and my GT-R have revealed that the silicon has gone down considerable.

Read this: https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm
and this: http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/kn-vs-oem-filter.html

and feel free to draw your own conclusions. As for me engine life is more important than 2-3 more HP at the top of the curve near red line, which is impractical.


Don't waste your time and money, simply buy paper filters the Q50 HEV or non-turbo engine gets no benefit from these these terrible things.

I have been using K&N Air Filters for the last 10 years in all of our cars. In most cases such as the G35 Coupe, EX35, and GT-R, I have found that using the drop-in air filter (like this) is much better than any after-market intake piping + conical air filter combination (like this).

I have tired, compared and contrasted the "intake piping+filter" on the G35 Coupe, Pathfinder, Altima, and GT-R over very long period of time to give them a fair shake, but in most cases, and in all cases of Infiniti cars, the net effect of using an aftermarket air intake + filter has been:

- Engine sound and exhaust sound gets louder increasing the perception of more HP. The reason for this is really because all the baffles are lost by swapping out the stock intake.
- Most of them lose the ability to "ram air" into the engine intake manifold, which the Q50 is actually designed to do.  This is of course unless the aftermarket pipes and air filter drop past the radiator (often called "long ram air intake") and come just behind the front grill. If not, then HP is lost rather than gained.
- Most of these after-market ones (especially the shiny ones that sit completely in the engine called "short ram air intake") soak up more heat than the stock plastic piping and thus make the air hotter going into the car, which actually reduces HP and mpg.
- If the filters are positioned just behind the grill, then get dirtier quicker defeating the purpose of longer lasting filters, end up getting completely soaked in rain, the car wash and ice/snow. Worst case for me has been a carwash in winter, where a filter was wet and froze in seconds, denying air to the engine.
- Most of them do not have an alternate emergency by-pass opening so that if the above were to happen, they could let out the water before it gets to the engine and also serve as an alternate intake for air.

Nitrogen Fill into Q50 Tires

#1 Myth about filling Nitrogen in Tires: It does not expand and contract as much, and does not leak out of tires, so there will be no low tire pressure warning light.

Wrong!

Air is about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, 0.1% carbon dioxide.

Specific Heat Capacity is the amount of heat that is needed to raise the temperature of volume of a substance without changing state (Remember you Chem-101 class?)

Air has a specific heat capacity of 1.01 kJ/kg K 

Oxygen has a specific heat capacity of 0.91 kJ/kg K 

Nitrogen has a specific heat capacity of 1.03 kJ/kg K 

Since air has only about 21% oxygen, by using the just nitrogen, the change in capacities are only 0.02 kJ/kg K. Thus Nitrogen fill tires will still expand and contract almost as much as air filled, just a slight difference, immeasurable really. 

Generally, 10 degree F in temperature change results in 1 PSI change in tire pressure -  Air or Nitrogen.

So why put in Nitrogen?

My reasons for using Nitrogen:

Photo-shoot of the Malbec Black Q50

It was an overcast weekend weekend so I decided to take some quick shots of the Q50 between running errands. Not too many words for this post. It was definitely more compliant than taking pictures of a 2 & 5 year old.

Enjoy the pictures! You can click on any picture to see the high resolution version.

Hello (Wink!)

Safety & Driver Aids in the new Infiniti Q50 Deluxe Technology Package

Back in college and also at work, I often have to write whitepapers that summarize and explain a specific topic or concept. The objective is usually simple - explain some complex technical aspect in simpler terminology and relate it to real life. In the same spirit is something that I have actually enjoyed researching and writing about as it combined my two passions - automobiles and complex computational systems.

The recently released 2014 Infiniti Q50 comes with some very high-tech systems that aid the driver in maintaining safety while driving. One might even say that it is an evolutionary (not revolutionary as these concepts have existed for a while) step closer towards "self-driving vehicles" (save the Google Car). By using multiple analog sensors., interlinking various vehicle systems, performing complex computations in fractions of a second, and controlling the main driving systems, the computers on the Q50 are able to produce the best recourse in order to avoid an accident, which is always better than protection in an accident, which is also important.

The manuals are rather complicated and disjointed, therefore I have tried to simplify and organize the information as best I can. If I have made some errors in my understanding I welcome clarification on any topic.

Let's examine the systems that Infiniti (& Nissan) have had standard on most vehicles until today:

Pre-Release Review of the Q50 AWD Sport Hybrid

I finished up work a little early on Friday and was out playing with my two girls in the front yard. Like any parent that is always subconsciously aware of cars going up and down the street I catch, from the corner of my eye, a glimpse of a silver vehicle slowly approach down my street and make a usual mental note of its position. A few seconds later, I turn around and to my surprise I find beautiful brand new silver Q50 quietly parked in my driveway.

It took my brain a few seconds to connect the dots and realize that my wife had actually brought home a Q50. So I took the opportunity to snap a few pictures and give it a test drive before taking it back to undoubtedly its temporary home. If you are considering a Q50, I hope you find this review helpful.  Click on any picture below to see a high resolution version.

I want to exclusively thank Mike Christian, our wonderful Infiniti Sales Consultant from Zimbrick Infiniti of Madison for giving us the opportunity to test drive the car and for keep us in tune with the updates on our Q50 order.

looks great in the driveway

First Glance - A Walk around the Q50

Upon first glance, the Q50 AWD Hybrid Sport has an amazing sporty yet refined presence. It has very bold aerodynamic lines

Infiniti Q50 User's Manuals are Available.

Infiniti posted the Owners Manuals for the Q50, which will be officially delivered to owners on August 5th, 2013.

In the meantime for those that want to read about all the goodness included in the car, these documents will come in handy. They are all in English. Click on each link, it will open the document in google drive and then click File --> Save.

Q50 Quick Reference Guide: Link

Q50 Owners Manual: Link

Q50 Hybrid Owners Manual: Link

Q50 Navigation System Manual: Link

Q50 Hybrid First Responder's Guide: Link

Q50 Hybrid Dismantling Guide: Link

The last 2 manuals are indeed interesting, Hybrid cars have High Voltage Systems and if in an accident, the First Responders (EMT, Fire Department, etc.) must be aware of that fact and safely disable the High Voltage System otherwise risk injury to themselves through electrocution.

All High Voltage Cables and Components in the Q50 operate at 346-400V DC and are covered with an ORANGE sheathing, and often marked with a Warning Triangle containing a lightning bolt.

Welcome to My Q50 Blog.

Greetings. When the Q50 was first announced, both my wife and I were excited about it. It will be replacing our trusty 2008 EX35 AWD Journey that has served us well for almost 5 years and 45,000 miles without a single issue. We ordered a Q50 Hybrid AWD Sport with Tech & Nav Packages. Reasons why we like the Q50 include but are not limited to:

• A real hybrid that doesn't put a measly 1.6L engine in it, rather the full VQ 3.5L 306HP engine. Something I have been telling Infiniti for years. Didn't really care about the M Hybrid.
• A singular car that is the best of all worlds and not an SUV or cross over. Something my wife can drive kids in and I can hit the back roads with.
• More space that the EX and FX, which we considered for that matter, for our 2 growing kids
• Lots of nifty new technology incorporated into the car - Navigation, Pandora, Calendar, etc.
• Integration with an iPhone application
• Different drivers settings for power, drivetrain, suspension and steering like a GT-R.
• Design input from Sebastian Vettel (3 time world champion) and Sebastian Buemi, both the Red Bull Infiniti F1 drivers.
• It's one sexy automobile.

As a DIY-er, I will keep this blog updated once we get the Q50 delivered.