Servicing Our Nissan Note e-POWER NISMO S

My husband bought a used Nissan Note e-POWER NISMO S earlier this year. It was a 2018 model with just 3,900 km on the clock, navigation, and every available factory option—a very well-kept car that he decided to buy on the spot. Before long, it was time for its legally required 12-month inspection.

The Note is mostly used for my husband’s commute and driving around town, but he has also driven it between Tokyo and home and taken it on several trips. About nine months after taking delivery, the odometer read 11,692 km. That means it had covered around 7,800 km since we bought it. That’s quite a bit of driving!

When he bought the Note e-POWER NISMO S, my husband signed up for Nissan’s Maintenance Pack, a prepaid plan that includes regular six-month inspections and oil changes at a discounted price. So this time, the inspection, engine oil, and oil filter replacement would essentially be covered at no extra cost.

“I’ve never been to a Nissan dealership, so maybe the whole family should go along for a change,” I said beforehand. Unfortunately, our younger daughter had come down with a bit of a cold, so we decided it was best to stay home.

Spotting the Nissan Kicks

It was a day off, but apparently there were hardly any customers at the Nissan dealership. I wonder if the pandemic was keeping people away.

Inside, my husband spotted a Kicks, a model he’d been curious about for a while. Like the Note e-POWER, the Kicks is an SUV that runs on electric power, with a gasoline engine generating the electricity. He’d seen it described on YouTube as a stylish compact SUV with a roomy cabin. But after seeing it in person, he said the interior didn’t feel as spacious as its exterior suggested.

The rear seats aren’t as spacious as the Note’s, he said, but the higher seating position meant they didn’t feel cramped. I’d love to take one for a test drive sometime.

As for the Note’s inspection, it took about an hour and a half. The work included:

Statutory inspection, computer diagnostics, rear brake drum service (nut and lock replacement, wheel cap replacement), engine oil and oil filter replacement, navigation map update, and a fix for a noise near the rear-view mirror

All of that was covered by the Maintenance Pack.

Cabin air filter replacement, in-car Cléberin treatment (disinfection and deodorizing), and Foam Max car wash

These were optional services. The total came to ¥11,800, including labor, parts, and tax. Seeing the bill, my husband chuckled:

When you’re used to Porsche servicing, this feels incredibly reasonable—but I guess this is what a typical bill looks like. Even a simple oil change on a Porsche costs a lot… haha.

In any case, I’m glad the Note’s inspection went smoothly. It’s been a while, and I’d love to take it out on the highway for a longer drive again!