Should I? (trade Bravada for X)

[wannabexterra]

Ok guys and gals, I have a few questions here for all you X gurus.... hehe Anyhoo, I currently own a '99 Bravada, 4.3l hi-output V6, SmartTrack all wheel drive, leather interior, blah, blah, blah..But recently I have gotten wired by the Xterras...I want one!!! But should I? I mean my Bravada gets kinda crappy gas mileage now, like 16-18 highway (since I got a set of BFG Dueler A/T's) And an xe X will get about the same, But the Bravada is too luxurious, I mean I have two kids like I really need leather anymore. OK enough dribble, my questions are: Which year model is better, '00 or '01? XE or SE? I have to buy used so no '03's in my future.

Thanks for spending your time reading this, and a preemptive thnkas for any responses.

Ben

wannabexterra

[Schludwiller]

I would get a 2000 XE with all 3 option packages if possible. The 2001 isn't much different, except for a few interior details and 16" wheels.

[wannabexterra]

So by having 3 option packs..thats what it meants when I've seen 3-pak in an X description.... But what if somebody says they have a 5-pak? Ok I know the pack are power,towing and whats the thrid one?

[Schludwiller]

I believe (foggy memory today) the 3 options are Power, Utility and Sport.

Anyone who has a 5-pak just drank a beer.

[superjens]

the 3 options are Power, Utility and Sport

What!? You mean I could have gotten POWER in my Xterra?

[wannabexterra]

ok yeah...but why may i ask the XE???, why not the SE??

[Schludwiller]

Basically the concensus back then was that unless you wanted a sunroof, the XE 3-pak was a better deal. Now there are different option packages, prices, etc that make this less cut and dry.

[wannabexterra]

Yes that does make sense. Besides it's just another hole for mud to come dropping from above. Anyway unless you take advantage of Thors mod you prolly cant see much daylight anyways. Let me ask you this, how much of a differnce in mileage did you notice with the K&N? Did you use the conical shape?

[Schludwiller]

I don't use a K&N. Three people in our club use the AirCharger (think that's it's name, from K&N). It works fine for one person, one has their engine running a bit too lean, the other just gave it away to "anyone who will take the damn thing".

So it's up to you.

[wannabexterra]

Yeah the Filtercharger...damn those things are like over a hundred bucks. Wish I had been there to "graciously" take it off his hands...hehe

Well thanks everybody, I am going to initiate a grand quest for the perfect, used XE X.

[rrdstarr]

Originally posted by wannabexterra
Yeah the Filtercharger...damn those things are like over a hundred bucks.

Try $225...and her is the dirt I accumulated after 500 miles of offroading in OR over 5 days!

[ChuckH]

Just to clarify the "lean issue."

I had real bad pinging which I could not attribute directly to the aircharger because it didn't start until maybe a month after installing the kit. When I took my truck in for diagnoses the dealer said they couldn't find anything wrong with my truck but that it was running just a bit lean which they didn't think was a problem. They felt that it could be because of the air intake, told me to run premium fuel, and charged me $80 to look at it.

As it turns out, I talked to my ex Audi mechanic who I have known for quite a few years and asked for his opinion. He basically told me that was bullshit. He said a lean condition was most likely due to an oxygen sensor that is beginning to fail; which is normal at the mileage I am at. He said the engine control system should be able to compensate for the intake system and it was highly unlikely that was my problem. Really, the condition was so minor that it isn't a problem yet so I went on my way.

As it turns out version 1.12:

The Nissan dealer did not properly diagnose my problem. They may have checked my fuel mixture and such but they overlooked something very basic that I assumed they would check. That something was my timing. I hadn't checked it myself becuase I adjusted it last summer and didn't think it would be out of whack. Then I delayed because I figured the dealer had checked it when I took the truck in. Well I finally got around to checking it myself a couple weeks ago and found it to be 5 degrees too advanced, which is undoubtedly excessive. I pulled the timing back into spec and haven't heard a ping since. Made sure I tightened down the adjustment bolt well this time too!

As for the lean dondition, I jsut don't know. I intend to replace my oxygen sensors before next summer anyway as a part of regular maintenence so if that's an issue it should be taken care of then. Otherwise I'm not going to worry about it at this point since even the dealer said it's very minor and not a problem. For all I know they didn't even interpret the information correctly.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!


I have no idea what went wrong with the other kit. Too bad Rick and I didn't get a chance to take a peak before Stu removed it.