toffeeblock

Hi, my 2006 350Z does not have the "Bose" upgrade, just the standard Clarion/Bose head unit (refurbished to stop CD skipping) and the Bluetooth/steering controls system. It also has the in-line FM Dension link and cradle which works ok, however the sound quality is pretty poor so I am thinking of upgrading the system but don't know where to start. I don't need a drug-dealer ground-shaking sub-woofer, or sat-nav / DVD player, just something that gives: - a clear sound at reasonable volume (for passengers, not pedestrians) - CD / radio and ipod connectivity (and charging), USB would be nice too. - bluetooth - retains as many steering controls as possible I've see the post viewtopic.php?f=17&t=16403 which tells me which cables etc. I may need, but I am not sure where I would get the most benefit from a sound quality viewpoint. - new speakers - sub - new head unit - new amp Anyone have any ideas about where to start to get the most value for money? I'm replacing my tyres, pads and discs tomorrow so haven't loads to spend on ICE, reckon a few hundred quid max, but could always upgrade more later. Cheers, Toffeeblock

Had a P1 yesterday with Nissan Basingstoke, no problems with them using my own oil and filter (used Mobil Synth from Opie), £171 for service. Could have saved a bit more if I'd told them to leave the screen wash alone! Doh, live and learn. And they replaced my corroding wiper arms under warranty, which I was half expecting a battle over. Try a different dealer, and mention the owners club so they may be more accommodating to avoid bad press on here. tra toffeeblock

Mine got replaced recently (an 06 too) with no problem and it certainly IS a known issue. Give their manager a call and mention you are a member of this forum and that you can show him it's a known problem (as they get refurbed and reused) ..... it should cost the dealers nothing anyway as it's a warranty item. If you get no joy, try another dealer - making sure St Albans know that you will be posting your experience of them on this forum (and going elsewhere for servicing). Don't let them stall you until after the warranty runs out!!! Also, if you have Rays check they are not bubbling at any point (mine were slightly around the hub where the spokes join) - got all four of mine replaced with refurbishments under warranty - this too is a known problem.

Chesterfield - I find your remarks personally very offensive. I am a recent graduate in Basket Weaving from the Central University Of Newcaste Upon Tyne (C**T) and as I am...... a) a wheelchair bound lesbian, with an eye patch, c) suffer from repetitive strain injury, d) from a single parent background resulting in me suffering from Absent Dad Syndrome (ADS) ......I have found it very difficult to find a graduate job commensurate with my vast worth to society. To add insult to injury, due to the shockingly low levels of benefits I have received, I have been finding it increasingly difficult to afford to run my 350Z. In fact I could barely afford a 2006 model and nearly settled for an 03 import. Fortunately however I have just been offered a 120k salary to work part-time for Brixton Council as an equal opportunities / social work adviser.

I had similar scam emails when I tried to sell my old car on autotrader, there's a difference between the bankers draft being 'given value' rather than 'cleared' and although the cashier may accept the cheque, and you think all is well, and then pay the "difference" to some nominated (baddie) account (say for shipping) the bank then later rejects the amount and takes the full lot back - leaving you in debt by the "difference" you paid. See.... http://www.autotrader.co.uk/safety_and_ ... drafts.jsp If something sounds too good to be true it normally is. A 350Z being the exception of course!

Well I'm glad that's all cleared up then. I wish the OP success in finding the best car for his cash, with or without the GT pack. I am loving my first 350Z and this forum is a great help too.

Parkers website says "The modifications arrive after upgrades in 2006 offered an improved quality interior and factory-fitted satellite navigation option, as well as cosmetic tweaks, such as LED rear lights." Parkers must be wrong then re. the lights, my bad. My point is that my non-GT "...STILL has xenon lights, led rear lights, bluetooth, steering wheel phone/hi-fi controls, Rays alloys etc." As far as I can tell, the only differences between base models and GTs are: Cruise control Electric driver's seat Electric passenger's seat Heated seats Leather seat trim (sourced from Parkers website - may be wrong of course). Rays seem more common on GT models as far as I can tell, but mine came second hand so not sure what was optional. In any case the OP may get a great deal if he looked beyond the "GT only" search, I know I did.

I bought an 06 350Z recently in GM grey, it was not the GT model but in 06 and later cars the non-GT model includes many of the GT features; the only difference is it doesn't have electric leather seats, cruise control or the sub-woofer (all of which I can live without). It still has xenon lights, led rear lights, bluetooth, steering wheel phone/hi-fi controls, Rays alloys etc. The standard seats are still "racing" type and comfy! I was looking for a GT initially but as mine had above average (motorway and fully serviced) mileage it was only 12.5k, and it even had the "paintshield" protection shield fitted. With the balance of warranty this was a great deal (corroding Rays alloys and skipping CD player just replaced for free!), rather than sticking to anolder GT model for the same budget. You may be able to get a more recent non-GT model if you expand your searches. Or a cheaper one and have new seats or sound system fitted (the Nissan systems, even in the GT model, are pretty cack).

Update: CD player and all four alloys have now been replaced, and they even cleaned the car! However the alloys were a set of "refurbished" wheels unfortunately, but apparently the internal cost was still around £4700 !!!! WTF !!!! If they start to corrode again outside warranty, I think I'll just live with it or get chipsaway to do the job for 50 quid a wheel!

I know. I've kept it quiet so far but I am actually a northerner (family is in Warrington), I don't want the locals turning up at the door with pitchforks so don't let on to the southerners please. I've married a southerner though so I am trying to blend in as best I can, but I do draw the line at calling Bath "Barth" and a Bus "Bas". If I add in the fuel costs to travel oop north, it works out about the same overall. But as we can't get gravy in our chip shops here, I suppose that would be a further incentive to visit the north (they are quite happy with the great english traditional chip shop curry sauce though, go figure!).

In case anyone local is interested West Way in Basingstoke have given me their current prices for servicing: P1= £221.34 P2= £308.91 P3= £341.69 BRAKE FLUID =£81.00 COOLANT= £95.94 AIR CON SERVICE = £69.00 I assume all the above include VAT, best to check before you book in though! They also say that they are willing to price match other dealers and are also happy for you to use your own parts/fluids to possibly reduce the cost (but of course they won't guarantee those particular items). I haven't used them myself yet for servicing, so can't make any useful claim how good they are - but they are shortly to be replacing my corroding Rays and skipping CD player under warranty and have been very helpful so far. (Mods - I can't find a thread that consolidates all the latest dealer servicing costs, I'm sure I saw one a while ago, please move this post if there is a better place for it, ta.)

Post now edited to make it a little clearer, thanks! £4250ono. Service history is main dealers, loads of paperwork and owners club magazines to give to any prospective new owner.

My insurance runs out for this very soon, any sensible offers? It's an ideal Christmas present for someone.

SunsetZed: There was another Z owner in at the same time having her boot catch/lifters fixed, she was from Reading so maybe you are right! I told her about my head unit skipping problem and she has the same problem sometimes (but never used the CD much) and booked it in for a warranty replacement anyway. Maybe I'm not ingratiating myself with Nissan, but I think this forum is a great help.

I've only owned my 06 Zed for a month or so but noticed the cd player skipping a lot so wanted the dealer to consider a replacement (This forum helped me with this in a previous thread: http://www.350z-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17692)). Having washed the car the first time I also noticed: - small corrosion spots on three of the four Rays alloys (around the central area of the spokes and obviously not the result of a scrape) - windscreen clip not quite fitted and external trim lifting around one edge as a result I took the car into my local dealer: West Way, Basingstoke who did the following: - took the serial code of the CD player and refitted the original, a replacement/refurbishment is now on order (covered under warranty) - took photos of the 3 corroding alloys to be sent to Nissan HQ, my dealer hopes that all 4 would be replaced (covered under warranty - TBC) - they tried to fix the windscreen clip, despite it possibly not being an original Nissan screen, but they cracked it. 24hours and a courtesy car later I now have a brand new screen fitted (at their cost of course) which also stopped a little dashboard rattle I was suffering. I've only had new Fords before under warranty (who will try and avoid anything being covered) and so far I am very impressed with my local Nissan dealer. Positive experiences with dealers/garages often go unreported, but thanks to forums like this one I think it is well worth making reports (good or bad). I'll wait and see how Nissan HQ respond with the replacement of the alloys, but so far so good with West Way, Basingstoke!

Cheers, just called the local dealer who agrees and is going to take the serial number tomorrow and order a replacement/refurbished item. Fingers crossed in 1-2 weeks time it'll all be working.

Hi, recently got my first 350Z , which is an 06 plate. All good apart from the head unit which, like many others have experienced, is skipping like crazy - even after using a cleaning CD. Could anyone advise if a replacement should be covered by the warranty, even if I am not the first owner? The previous owner had a Denison FW Ipod Cradle fitted which means that someone has been poking around the back of the head unit at some point - not that that should be a problem as this made no mod to the head unit, just that Nissan could say (if they were like many other manufacturers) that this voilates the warranty for this item. I would like to know how far to push this with the dealer. And advice or references I could quote to them? Cheers.

Hi, I am based in Basingstoke and travel up the M3 to Camberley each day - though at 6.30 in the morning so hard to spot in the dark. I don't see many other Zeds around. See plenty of Audi TTs ( they are sooo common ) on their way to London, which makes me so happy I have a Zed !!! Mine is an 06 Gunmetal, no mods (yet) - only had it a few weeks.

Welcome, I got my first Z two weeks ago too and am really impressed with it. I am the same age and found Elephant.co.uk a good price, make sure you add the missus or mother and that may help keep the costs down (surprisingly). They also accept company car no claims, if you were to forego the company car, which just needed a letter from the employer.

PM Sent re radar detector - I'll take it!

Now that I have my first 350Z my previous car is up for sale. It is a Mazda MX5 Mk2 1.8iS. It's a lovely, reliable and fun car, and with the new alloys / exhaust and various chrome fittings etc. it doesn't look too girly. £4250 ono Details are: 78k miles Long MOT (July 09) Tax (Jan 09) Full service history Excellent condition New 15" Alloys / Toyo Proxie tyres and stainless exhaust at last MOT Cambelt replaced. Recent Mk3 style Mohair hood with heated screen Sony Hands-free Bluetooth CD player with front USB and Aux connections Chrome style bar Manual gearbox Central locking Electric windows, mirrors Power steering, ABS I have loved and cherished this reliable and fun car. Location: Basingstoke, close to M3 J6 or 7. More photos at following link: http://mx5oc.co.uk/photos/photoalbum.aspx?albumid=1530

Re: the Radar detector. Just bought my first Zed and a radar detector may prove very useful . However, I can't find much useful info. on the web for this model. Is it a UK model? Does it work well? How long does it run for when charged? Oh, and is it still available for sale? If so, would paypal be ok for payment?

The dension "ice link one" is in my car (just got the car last week and had to do a bit of research to find what it really was) and this is a hard wired solution but uses various FM frequencies - not as a "transmitter" but as as proper wired link. The cradle looks really smart and charges the ipod too. You can't control the ipod via the hi-fi or steering controls, but the sound quality is pretty good - as good as a decent FM broadcast anyway and as it isn't broadcast as such there is no naff interference that you might get with an ITrip for example. See www.dension.com It seems to struggle with my old 3G Ipod but my wifes IPod mini works fine, just check their compatibility chart for your particular ipod model. Hope this helps. Oh and just seen another post that includes the link to the same thing at Halfords... http://www.350z-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16932

Hi, I am picking up my first 350Z tomorrow (2006 standard model) and it appears to have the Paintshield (or similar) fitted on the front portion of the bonnet and around the front edges of the wings. This is great as the car has quite high mileage and is still in top nick and has no "road rash" to speak of. But, does anyone know how to handle this when cleaning/polishing/waxing? I have the Meguiars polisher which does a great job, but am a bit worried if this (or any other polish/wax) would do damage. Cheers.

I've been looking for my first 350Z, but have to admit only looked at standard GT cars so far. Just out of curiosity what effect do all the mods have on your insurance? My insurer (Elephant) says that even if they insure a modified car any replacement parts in the event of a crash would be for stock parts which seems a bit unfair as the charge extra insurance for any little mod at all! Also, does the lowered suspension give you any trouble with speed bumps?