2011 SL 8 Bars or 2012 SL 9 Bars?

Hi folks. I need to get your opinion. I found 2 different 2011 SL's with 8 battery bars one with 42,000 miles and one with 50,000 miles. Both are around 8K. I found 2 different 2012 SL's with around 35,000 miles for around 9K with 9 battery bars. Should I get the 2011 and take it to Nissan for the battery replacement right away or get the 2012 with 9 bars and wait for the next battery bar to drop and get the new battery later? I live in the Inland Empire where it gets well into the 100's on a regular basis.

Thanks

Make sure it doesn't have this branding: http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=17045.

The '11 will have lease of the warranties remaining than the '12s. You can download the warranty booklets from https://owners.nissanusa.com/nowners/navigation/manualsGuide.

I called Nissan and they are all go to go for the replacement. So the $1000 more for the 2012 is worth it?

DiamondDan73 said:

I called Nissan and they are all go to go for the replacement. So the $1000 more for the 2012 is worth it?

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Good thing about the '12s is some forced features: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/19/2012-nissan-leaf-higher-price-tag-standard-equipment/. CHAdeMO (quick charge) inlet is standard on '12 SL as are the heated seats and steering wheel. Heater is a slow power sucking pig on the '11 and '12, so having the latter 2 features will help you reduce the heater usage.

Whatever you go with, if it's eligible for replacement (not excluded due to previous driver's actions), I'd personally wait until right before the 5 year/60K mile battery before asking for a replacement, assuming the car is still usable for your use cases. Calendar losses start from the day the battery is manufactured.

Thanks! That is some great advice. I think the 2012 SL with 37K for 9K is on the top of my list.

DiamondDan73 said:

Thanks! That is some great advice. I think the 2012 SL with 37K for 9K is on the top of my list.

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But it has to lose one more bar before it will qualify for capacity loss battery replacement.

You also need to confirm they have all had the P3227 software update.

DiamondDan73 said:

Hi folks. I need to get your opinion. I found 2 different 2011 SL's with 8 battery bars one with 42,000 miles and one with 50,000 miles. Both are around 8K....

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How did you find two LEAF sellers so lazy or ignorant that they did not just replace their OE batteries under warrantee themselves, allowing them to sell their LEAFs for much more $ ?

edatoakrun said:

DiamondDan73 said:

Hi folks. I need to get your opinion. I found 2 different 2011 SL's with 8 battery bars one with 42,000 miles and one with 50,000 miles. Both are around 8K....

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How did you find two LEAF sellers so lazy or ignorant that they did not just replace their OE batteries under warrantee themselves, allowing them to sell their LEAFs for much more $ ?

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You never know, I already posted about 2 people who didn't know capacity bars at http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=16446. One guy had an '11 that he bought and it was Jan 2014, when I talked to that guy who I found was down 2 capacity bars.

I don't think I ever got around to posting it here (have been wanting to start a thread for a long time who basically said "good riddance" to their Leaf). One guy at my work (1 to 1.5 months after he already did it) told me he couldn't be more glad to get rid of his '12 or '11 Leaf and turn it in early, due to range anxiety and apparent capacity loss. He couldn't tell me how many capacity bars he lost. I didn't sound like he knew about them.

edatoakrun said:

DiamondDan73 said:

Hi folks. I need to get your opinion. I found 2 different 2011 SL's with 8 battery bars one with 42,000 miles and one with 50,000 miles. Both are around 8K....

Click to expand...

How did you find two LEAF sellers so lazy or ignorant that they did not just replace their OE batteries under warrantee themselves, allowing them to sell their LEAFs for much more $ ?

Click to expand...

Bottom line is most used car dealerships just look at the dollar sign. They have no clue about the cars they sell. They will go to the auciton, look at the book value of the car and if they can get a good profit they will buy the car. I used to work for a car wholesaler. He would by a car at auction 4 back of book and sell it to a car lot for 2 back of book. He had no clue about the car at all.

I kinda want to see what happens to the prices once the 2016 are announced. It should get me better leverage when buying my car with "80 miles" instead of the 2016 "120 mile" range.

TimLee said:

DiamondDan73 said:

Thanks! That is some great advice. I think the 2012 SL with 37K for 9K is on the top of my list.

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But it has to lose one more bar before it will qualify for capacity loss battery replacement.

You also need to confirm they have all had the P3227 software update.

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The one I was lloking at got away. I found another 2012 SL with just a hair under 36000 miles so it still has the bumber to bumber warranty. It's at 9 bars and came from AZ for under 10K. I verified with the 800 number for Nissan that the car is still eligible for the capacity loss replacement and it is. I specificly asked if the VIN is tied to the B0133 which prohibits that car from battery replacement because of opting out. Also, he did see anywhere under the service notes if it had the P3227 software update but it was serviced once this year and 3 times in 2012. Should this be a concern?

DiamondDan73 said:

TimLee said:

Also, he did see anywhere under the service notes if it had the P3227 software update but it was serviced once this year and 3 times in 2012. Should this be a concern?

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Depends on how much time it has left to qualify for the capacity warranty.
When P3227 has been done, some have regained a capacity bar for a few months which could eliminate qualifying for the battery replacement.
If you have plenty of time left not much of an issue.

The difference i have noticed between 2011SL and 2012 SL, is that 2011 was delievered without cold weather package in many states. And only 90% av the 2011 SL had QC port.

I have often seen cars at auctions with 4 bars missing, but when i ask different dealers questions about factory warranty, i never get any answer. The question is how to find a dealer that will do the job.

What about buying a 2013?

2013 SL, without backup camera, buy now 12500usd:
https://www.manheimglobaltrader.com/bu/search/view?se_search_make[0]=NISSAN&se_search_model[0]=LEAF&se_search_date_sale_end=08%2F11%2F2015&orderby=se_search_year&orderdesc=1&limit=50&flag_advanced_search=1&flag_search_submit=1&se_search_id=85793084

2013 sv without QC, buy now 8900usd:
https://www.manheimglobaltrader.com/bu/search/view?se_search_make[0]=NISSAN&se_search_model[0]=LEAF&se_search_date_sale_end=08%2F11%2F2015&orderby=se_search_year&orderdesc=1&limit=50&flag_advanced_search=1&flag_search_submit=1&se_search_id=85793098

2013 sv without QC, buy now 9300usd:
https://www.manheimglobaltrader.com/bu/search/view?se_search_make[0]=NISSAN&se_search_model[0]=LEAF&se_search_date_sale_end=08%2F11%2F2015&orderby=se_search_year&orderdesc=1&limit=50&flag_advanced_search=1&flag_search_submit=1&se_search_id=85793099

Why are there so many bad batteries on the north west coast?
Is there any dealer there, doing bad things like storing cars in the sun?

I would not buy any car without the QC port.

The 2013 aren't part of the law suit. In California and Arizona it can get very hot 110-115. From what I have read, the batteries before 2015 do not do good in the heat.

Amund said:

I have often seen cars at auctions with 4 bars missing, but when i ask different dealers questions about factory warranty, i never get any answer. The question is how to find a dealer that will do the job.

What about buying a 2013?

2013 SL, without backup camera, buy now 12500usd:
https://www.manheimglobaltrader.com/bu/search/view?se_search_make[0]=NISSAN&se_search_model[0]=LEAF&se_search_date_sale_end=08%2F11%2F2015&orderby=se_search_year&orderdesc=1&limit=50&flag_advanced_search=1&flag_search_submit=1&se_search_id=85793084

2013 sv without QC, buy now 8900usd:
https://www.manheimglobaltrader.com/bu/search/view?se_search_make[0]=NISSAN&se_search_model[0]=LEAF&se_search_date_sale_end=08%2F11%2F2015&orderby=se_search_year&orderdesc=1&limit=50&flag_advanced_search=1&flag_search_submit=1&se_search_id=85793098

2013 sv without QC, buy now 9300usd:
https://www.manheimglobaltrader.com/bu/search/view?se_search_make[0]=NISSAN&se_search_model[0]=LEAF&se_search_date_sale_end=08%2F11%2F2015&orderby=se_search_year&orderdesc=1&limit=50&flag_advanced_search=1&flag_search_submit=1&se_search_id=85793099

Why are there so many bad batteries on the north west coast?
Is there any dealer there, doing bad things like storing cars in the sun?

I would not buy any car without the QC port.

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It's unclear if these cars are actually missing that many capacity bars or if they were in the midst of booting up. At first glance, I also had no way of determining where those cars resided. Where are you getting those prices from?

As for capacity warranty battery after its lost 4 bars or more, see http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?t=13192. Any Leaf-certified dealer should be able to do it.

Wow, if I hadn't bought mine yet and I could get an actual 4+ bar loser '13 SV w/premium package for reasonable price, I'd go for that, since I could get a new battery swapped in for me.

Sounds like I might need to add the 2013 to my watch list! I live in Southetn California so are quite a few 4 bar loss 2011 as well as 3 bar loss 2012. Do you know if the 2013 gets the lizard battery as well?

DiamondDan73 said:

Sounds like I might need to add the 2013 to my watch list! I live in Southetn California so are quite a few 4 bar loss 2011 as well as 3 bar loss 2012. Do you know if the 2013 gets the lizard battery as well?

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Lizard battery didn't become available until 2015 model year: http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17168.

http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?t=18905 says
"1. Those qualifying for a battery replacement under the capacity warranty will receive the latest battery chemistry and technology. ["In general, under the amended
agreement, vehicles entitled to a repair under the terms of the Lithium-ion Battery
Capacity Coverage provided by the Settlement Agreement will get a replacement
battery which incorporates ongoing improvements in battery chemistry. "]"

http://www.nissanleafsettlement.com/content.aspx?c=5620&sh=1 says
"The Amended Settlement removed Nissan’s option to repair, instead of replace, the battery. In other words, if your 2011 and/or 2012 Nissan LEAF™ experiences capacity loss below nine bars of capacity within 60 months or 60,000 miles, whichever occurs first, and you bring your car to an authorized Nissan dealership, the dealer will replace the vehicle’s battery with the newly developed battery currently used in 2015 model year LEAF™ vehicles which is intended to make the battery more durable in extremely hot climates This warranty is limited by the existing terms in the Nissan New Electric Vehicle Limited Warranty."

Off the top of my head, I don't know for certain what Nissan would do on capacity warranty replacements on '13 and '14 Leafs.

That is why I'm looking at the 2011-2012. I need the lizard battery.

Dan, I just PM'd you with a couple questions - let me know.

DiamondDan73 said:

The 2013 aren't part of the law suit. In California and Arizona it can get very hot 110-115. From what I have read, the batteries before 2015 do not do good in the heat.

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even 2015 batteries don't do good in the heat.

I wouldn't avoid a 2014 or 2103 SL just because it isn't a 2015.

Lizard batteries are NOT more heat tolerant. My 2 cents is get the 2011 SL with QC at 8 bars that still qualifies and enjoy it right away after battery swap. It will be like a new car for as long as it lasts in your climate.