Been a while since I posted anything, but was hoping for some advice or guidance. 

My imported 2003 350z recently failed its MOT on front control arm ball joints...amongst other things.

I ended up purchasing new Dorman upper control arm assemblies L (521-605) & R (521-606) and seating cones (40173-AL500), but they dont fit the knuckle. Control arms fit the subframe fine.

Where have I gone wrong?

Thanks in advance for any help

This is my first post here and I’m excited to join the community. I’ve always dreamed of owning a 350z since it first came out, and I’ve finally taken the plunge and bought one from a Japanese auction. My previous cars were economy models like the Hyundai i20 and Skoda Fabia, so this is a significant step up for me.

Here are the details of my new pride and joy:

• 35,000 km on the clock
• Blue
• Looks clean
• Automatic
• Spec T (I believe this is similar to the GT without cruise control)

However, I have almost no experience with maintaining a car myself, no experience with sports cars, and none with importing a car. I’m wondering if this might be a midlife crisis decision, but here I am, and I’m eager to learn. I’d appreciate any advice or opinions on the following matters:

1. Initial Maintenance: I’ve read that it’s wise to change all rubbers and liquids before driving an older car with low mileage. I plan to service the car afterwards, but should I get the MOT done before or after these changes, considering it’s an import?

2. Fog Lights: Some friends mentioned that the car might pass as advisory if it doesn’t have rear fog lights from the factory. Is this true? If so, why do so many people install those square fog lights?

3. Maintenance Resources: Can you recommend any good resources for learning more about maintaining a 350z? I plan to keep an eye on the oil and change it every 3,000 miles or sooner, but my knowledge is quite limited, and I want to learn more.

4. Rust Proofing: I’m considering getting an underbody coating for rust proofing. However, I’ve read and seen that arches tend to rust easily on UK cars due to how the sheets are smashed together. Is there any way to prevent this?

5. Import Costs: I’ve covered the Japan-side costs and am in touch with freight forwarders for the UK side, but it feels like I might be missing something. Here are the costs I’m aware of:

   • Customs clearance (including terminal handling, documentation, and import clearance levy)
   • VAT and duty
   • Servicing, changing oils, MOT
   • Insurance

6. Additional Advice: Are there any other areas I need to be aware of? Any specific topics I should look into? There’s so much information out there, and I feel a bit lost on where to start.

To provide more context, I am attaching auction sheet of my car.

Thank you all in advance for your help. I’m looking forward to becoming a part of this community and learning from those who know these cars best.

Finally got round to swapping the old japanese sat nav that could only ever show a nissan logo and nothing else lol

After some searching I found a sat nav unit that fits behind the cubby hole in place of the old screen so all you see is the screen of the new sat nav , looks like a factory fit , £85 squid on amazon , bluetooth so I can stream music through it and it's linked to the stereo so all sounds come through speakers 

I pulled out the passenger lighter socket an linked in 2 new wires live an earth , so now I've left the cigarette lighter socket behind the panel and connected a USB charger in the place the lighter used to be , 

All in all a good mod that only took an hour to do 

Ps no need to access power button as this unit comes on with ignition and goes off when the car is turned off , motorised flap still works fine too 

If anyone wants the link let me know , it only an amazon  cheap but works great and couldn't have been a more perfect to fit in the gap left by the japanese sat nav  

Screen is much clearer than the pictures show

I've recently brought a 2004 FairladyZ. Looks like it was imported in 2009 to the UK. 

Its MoT is coming up and I can't for the life of me figure out where the fog lamp is on this car, there's a switch near the fuel cap button on the right hand side but it does nothing. The car does have the upgraded 2008 LEDs on it if that helps with anything. 

Any help would be much appreciated. 

Will the higher CCA have any effect on the circuit load and does anyone know battery and tray size off hand. Don't want to strip it down yet until after service on fri. Thanks. 

Does this mean i can take it to a nissan garage and get it ulez certified?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thats a real bummer! As its a 53 plate... 

Anyone else know why the JDM is subject to it and UK versions are not as just checked a random 04 UK 350z registration from Autotrader and its exempt...

thought it was for raising / lowering steering wheel but L R wrong way round?

Done throttle reset and throttle open close procedure .

Now I have a the lights on still but I'm actually getting a little response from the accelerater pedal , it's actually responding going up to 1500 rpm when foot is to the floor so my mechanic plugged his snap on diagnostics in and the two fault codes have gone and now I have two different fault codes that wasn't there previously .

The codes are :

P1122- ETC PERFORMANCE PROBLEM

P1126- ETC MOTOR OPEN CIRCUIT/THERMOSTAT FUNCTION .

The throttle body is not opening when I put my foot down could this be the problem do you think ?

Thanks lee.

Does anyone have any idea what this little button is/does on the inside of my center armrest storage compartment. It doesn't look retrofitted because it's so neat and tidy. My car is a 2004 JDM imports (with leather electric seats spec) 

Has anyone out there installed the HKS Fan & SpeedController?

This thing is suppose to be the same as SLD type3 (cuts the 180km/h speed limit), and it also lowers the temperature for cooling fans to come on.

I got this from a local junk yard, but the salesman thought it was just a fan controller, So he just gave it to me as the Z I got it off was pretty trashed from head to toe... anyhow...

I couldnt find any wiring diagrams or such anywhere, just wondering if anyone has installed it before or better yet, has got a installation manual or something.

------------------------

OK! The installations ends up to be exact same as SLD type3...

Since my JDM speedo only goes up to 190 km/h, and now my car can go beyond that... can I just simply swap out the whole cluster with a Canadian/Australian cluster?

Thanks!!

Cal.

cheers

just swapped out my JDM Navi unit for a Xtrail unit and it seems to work quite happily with the display - now just need to go on a lengthy trip to see if it makes sense and can keep up

I have a few Jap cables with nowhere to plug them in but chuffed the unit recognised my location, spoke to me in English and I've managed to work out the buttons.

To replace the Navi need to take off the front surround so you can get a ratchet down the side to remove the screws.

Need to get to the rear to declip the cables by removing the driver/passenger foot door trim and side interior. I then managed to get the "luggage floor finisher upper (rear)" prised out without removing the boot trim. Getting it back in is a bugger put a bit of careful bashing got it flush.

Managed it in around 2 hours and I'm a novice.

Hope this help someone.

I have tried two wired scanners that claim to do JDM but don't work and have a Bluetooth Elm with the idea of using NDS II.  That's no worked either...

Ahv read loads of threads with no definitive answer (the Bluetooth Elm and NDS II was said to work, ahv E'd the NDS people case ahm doing something wrong).

Anyway, any help appreciated...

Would like to get the codes before I remove anything... 

Cheers...

I have a 2003 japanese import and 1 of the ebay 15 pound bluetooth OBD adaptors

My Fairlady Z is in need of new front shocks. However, I just learnt that the JDM models apparently have a firmer suspension setup versus the UK ones. I'm not very clued up on suspension parts, so my query is whether I can replace the shocks with UK-spec ones. I presume the mounts are all the same and that the shock stiffness is the only difference?

For example, would these Tein EnduraPro shocks be compatible with my car? She's also got huge 19-inch Work wheels fitted (245/35 R19 at the front) so I'm not sure if that affects anything.

I've searched for the original part numbers (found via the EPC-Data website, super useful for JDM Zs) and haven't had much luck finding equivalent parts from UK/European retailers. I'd rather not have to import OEM ones from Japan, given the price and shipment hassle!

If I'm understanding suspension design correctly, would fitting UK-spec shocks simply make the ride a bit softer? That would probably be a good thing, given I live in London and the roads here are horrendous! Especially with my skinny tyres...

Thanks,

Lexi

Trying to get the rhd parts was a mission and a half 

Most of it from China as they were obviously the cheapest if you happy to wait 4 weeks 

I also ordered a set of momo pillows and belt pads from them 

https://www.350z-uk.com/topic/129191-2006-fairlady-z-z33-insurance-trouble/

Does anyone know what this on/off button does? It lights up and I hear a buzzing noise to the rear of the car...

My car is a manual 2006 JDM rev up.

Not sure if standard or a modification

Cheers