G37 Supercharged Daily Driver?

"AJ Feldman (alecmets2011)" (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 09:12 • Filed to: None

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So a buddy of mine is really looking at this 2011 Infiniti G37x for $25000 that's just come off lease. Despite my pleadings of him to look at an E46 M3 (has never even test driven one), he says he wants something more reliable.

Anyways, he wants to install a stillen supercharger kit the G37 to make between 400-500 horsepower. I like the idea but the car will be his daily driver, and he drives a lot. 18000 miles a year. I don't believe any supercharger kit would be reliable doing 18000 miles a year, so I've advised him against it. Am I wrong?

I know stuff like this largely depends on the tune, but I would think the wear and tear of a supercharger on an engine doing 18000 miles a year wouldn't be reliable.

Smoggi - powered by 3 cylinders > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 09:17

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He doesn't want a BMW inline 6 engine because he thinks it's not reliable enough and instead wants to install an aftermarket supercharger on a 4 year old car...and drive 18k miles a year...

Your friend has some amazing logic going :D

AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) > Smoggi - powered by 3 cylinders 02/24/2015 at 09:18

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My opinion exactly.

And if I'm not mistaken, the s54 is one of the most reliable engines ever to come out of Germany that's not diesel

Doug DeMuro > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 09:20

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I wouldn't touch an E46 M3 if I was interested in any kind of reliability. VANOS, subframe, SMG shit...

Wouldn't touch an aftermarket supercharged Infiniti either!

But the E46 M3 has to be one of the least reliable performance cars for less than $30k...

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 09:20

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he says he wants something more reliable. Anyways, he wants to install a stillen supercharger kit the G37 to make between 400-500 horsepower

...not sure he knows what reliable means.

AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) > Doug DeMuro 02/24/2015 at 09:28

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Wow hi Doug, this is a coincidence

I just introduced the guy I'm talking about to your articles yesterday :)

Vanos was the largest issue with S54s that I'm aware of. Subframe issue has affected about 15% of E46s. He would also have to get than manual. The SMG is not only terribly unreliable but terrible to use as your probably aware of.

He wants a used, reliable, luxurious, fast car under $35k total (cost plus any upgrades). I know everyone wants that combo. Ain't gonna happen perfectly

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 09:36

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Has he considered E9x M3s yet? I almost bought an '11 G37 6MT sedan before buying my '08 E90 M3, and I'm so glad I didn't "settle". But I use mine for track work as well. If he has no plans for that, then priorities are different, clearly.

RazoE > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 09:37

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If he wants to spend a bunch of money on a fast reliable car then he should look into a Lexus IS-F.

Ducky > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 09:39

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it's his money, let him drown in it. advise him as you are (correctly) but when he goes to pull the trigger don't stop him.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 09:40

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...why not buy a new base 228i (the Jalopnik special) for the same price?

AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 02/24/2015 at 09:42

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He doesn't believe any BMW is reliable enough. But he has drive many e9xs, m3 and 335i

He works for Autolenders, one of Carmax's biggest competitors in my area. So he's test driven many cars

AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) > RazoE 02/24/2015 at 09:45

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He doesn't want a Lexus because Lexus.

He also wants a coupe, and cannot afford a new RC

RazoE > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 09:45

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Slap your friend.

AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 02/24/2015 at 09:46

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He wants to buy used so he doesn't have to eat a lot of depreciation

Still a possibility though. Used 228is are starting to pop up

RazoE > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 09:50

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Now that I think about it, a reliable, fast 2 door that can do tons of miles without breaking a sweat and get decent (highway) gas mileage. That's definitely a Pontiac GTO! 2005+ models have a 6.0L LS2 with 400hp. Tell your friend to thank me later.

AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) > RazoE 02/24/2015 at 09:53

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He wants luxury though...

As I said before to another commenter, the car he's looking for doesn't exist perfectly

Reliable, Fast, Luxurious, Coupe, under $35k (including any mods)

That just doesn't happen. Everyone wants that combo

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 09:54

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He keeps using this world 'reliable':

AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 02/24/2015 at 09:54

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He works with Jags, BMWs, and Mercedes daily, so you're probably right

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 09:56

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The M54 would beat that simply because you don't have to do the valve adjustments that have to be done on the S engines.

I'd offer up the N52 in it's place, simply because it's a more flexible engine and doesn't tend to go wrong.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 09:56

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We had one of these at the Infiniti store I worked at a few years back. The GM daily drove it and while the car itself was reliable (brand new at the time), we kept having issues with CEL's and the supercharger kit itself, coolant leaks IIRC.

And as Doug said, the E46 m3 is probably not the best choice for reliable either. Though there are definitely worse choices.

AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 02/24/2015 at 10:02

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What would you recommend him?

He doesn't want a Mercedes BTW ;) especially an AMG since he wants reliable

Tohru > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 10:09

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If he wasn't being stupid and wanting to stuff a supercharger on it, the G37x would work. But the Infiniti's aren't built to be tuned up like that - the engine's not meant for more power, the transmission can't handle the extra torque, etc. The roommate has a G35 and has told me these things about them.

AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) > Tohru 02/24/2015 at 10:12

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He would be fully upgrading the internals, but again this still will not be reliable for 18k miles year like he wants to do.

You're right about keeping it stock. I think he just wants to be all around faster than me (2011 5.0 Mustang) which is why he is supercharging. But this is not the correct route to go to be faster than my car and still be reliable.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 10:29

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If he's stuck on reliability, how cheap have IS-Fs gotten?

Superchargers can be reliable if you upgrade other internals. At least with Stillen, there should be many, many others with experience with the kit to recommend what to do, and what not to.

Rico > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 10:33

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He also wants to install a supercharger on a car that's not built for it, his "experience" doesn't seem to be counting for much.

Tohru > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 10:51

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exactly. The route I would take with that money to be faster than you and be reliable is a used ZO6.

daender > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 11:02

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Sell the G37X, get a G37S. One of the local auto-x guys in my region is constantly putting up stupid-fast times in his ESP-classed paddle-shifted G37S that has only two modifications: aftermarket wheels and racing slicks.

I'm not sure if the AWD setup can handle any more power, best tell your friend to do some research and see if other owners ran into drivetrain problems boosting their G37X's engines.

CPT Speedbump > Smoggi - powered by 3 cylinders 02/24/2015 at 11:14

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The BMW's engine isn't what you have to worry about, it's the German computers on board that will at some point shit themselves

AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) > daender 02/24/2015 at 11:17

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He wants AWD. It's a requirement. I personally would go for the RWD S

I will tell him to look into it. Thanks

CPT Speedbump > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 11:17

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The VQ motor can easily handle 4-500 hp being daily driven, without a sweat. The only thing unreliable might be the Stillen itself, I don't know much about the 3.7 version of the Stillen, but the 3.5 wasn't a reliable s/c, HKS would shit on it reliability and power wise in the 3.5. There's 3.5 and 3.7's that are DD's with 500 hp everywhere, I've ever heard of a DD'd stock block 1000 hp 3.5... even though the 3.5 shouldn't be pushed past 500...The VQ motors are pretty fantastic.

AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) > Tohru 02/24/2015 at 11:18

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Must be at least a 2+2

He's loves vettes though. Big GM guy. So maybe eventually he'll wise up and get one

AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 02/24/2015 at 11:24

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Not 18k miles a year they can't. On a 4 year old car?

On the IS-F:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/…

But he wants a coupe, and doesn't want a Lexus

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 11:38

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Wants reliable, but not a Lexus... Ha!

So he wants at least 400 hp?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 11:55

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Lol. Some AMG's are super reliable. I would argue that overall they are more reliable than BMW. Stock G35/G37 coupe would probably be his best bet. It's hard to recommend a fast and reliable car. Although a CLK55 would probably be rock solid if service history is good, it's very simple and the last couple years of old technology.

Rico > RazoE 02/24/2015 at 12:06

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After seeing a last gen IS F last night in silver, I can honestly say that it is one of the best looking cars Lexus has put out, fake exhaust tips and all!

Rico > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 02/24/2015 at 12:06

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Maybe an older CTS V coupe?

Corey > Doug DeMuro 02/24/2015 at 13:00

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I dunno about all that. I've not had any issues with my e46 m3. I keep it maintained; it keeps me happy.

SEANKG > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 05/08/2015 at 12:16

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IN MY OPTION HE CAN DO A LOT OF WHAT HE WANTS BY INSTALLING STUFF THAT WOULD HELP HIS CAR INSTALL EXHAUST TO INTAKE TO HEADERS AS FOR A BMW I HAVE HAD A TON OF GERMANY CAR AND A LOT OF JAPANESE THE ISSUES WITH GERMANY CAR IS NOT THAT THEY BREAK DOWN IT IS THE LITTLE STUFF THAT KILLS YOU THE I CAN GET A AXEL FOR A JAPANESE 300 HP CAR FOR 25 DOLLARS FOR A GERMANY IS ABOUT 200 DOLLARS THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE AND THE AFTERMARKET STUFF IS MUCH CHEAPER

Anonymous > Tohru 09/28/2020 at 21:50

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Your roommate doesn’t know what he’s talking about. You realize that the g35 have the same power train as a Nissan 350z right? As long as you don’t launch it the tranny will hold up fine. Tell your roommate (or you) to not open there mouth when they have no clue what they are talking about. These motors can handle well into the 400s fine and with some forged internals push 600hp. My currant daily is a 430whp g37 with a stillen supercharger