sasha@lazytrips

My excuse for plodding along is the apparent complete lack of petrol in the tank that I was informed of by the car about 10 miles before that point. Hence the crawling along at 85.

Saw two today. Flashed both, got a hazard light flash back from the Azure. Not sure which black one it was as it was pulling onto the A419 somewhere in the Cotswolds as I was going past. Only saw it at the last moment. Didn't get either numberplate or any details.

Saw a GM (I think) 54 plate. Exchanged waves. I think it had a K1, although I may be wrong here. The Dotz Hansos looked mint, but looked like they could have been spaced to push them out a bit more or it could just be my poor eyesight. P.S. I am so getting those Hansos on my car at some point. I've been meaning to do so before I even got the thing

I'm not due for renewal for some time yet, but for information purposes, would you insure a 24-yr old with the Z?

I used to see quite a few zeds around, so never bothered posting. Haven't seen many at all recently. Probably down to the time of the year and the weather. Saw a silver 370z in a multistorey in central Nottingham yesterday (28th). Parked directly opposite. I have to say, the grills on them really put me off. Looks like a gaping hole in the bodywork.

Hi, I had exactly this happen to me a few weeks ago. After weighing up replacing parts, replacing with an aftermarket exhaust, etc, etc, I decided to save on the headache and took it to a local garage I know quite well to weld it. I know how it feels that getting new parts/exhaust system may feel like a long-term investment and all that, but I prefered to part with £70 and forget about the issue. The guy put strengthening plates around the joint to ensure it doesn't do it again. ever. I might at some point in the future go and get a shiny new one, but I decided to leave that decision for when I felt appropriate, rather than being dictated by the exhaust.

Seems that CS can't accomodate Shame given his reviews.

Mine isn't due, but when it will be, are you guys still not quoting to under-25s?

Any more recommendations? I'd like to sort something out today. Does anyone know if CS do bodywork? (ie. removing old bumper & brackets, spraying & fitting new brackets & bumper)

Hi, It looks like I'll be fitting (incl. spraying, etc) a new rear bumper + parking sensors. Ideally, I'd like to do this ASAP and this is going to go through an insurance company. I've got one bumper which is growing on me that I can source from z-store unless somebody offers a superior alternative. Can somebody recommend a bodywork shop in or near Nottingham for the work to be done? I don't mind travelling a little for better service. The local Nissan garage "recommended" a couple of bodywork 'establishments'. After checking these out, I wouldn't take my 10-year old Megane there. Thanks, Sasha

Chilli: You have pm. *** I have been given the green light by insurers to find a garage of my own to do the bodywork. If anyone on here works in one or can recommend one, I'm game. I am not entirely sure what is/isn't damaged. There is not too much to see on the outside, but the bumper is cracked in a number of places, is out of place and pushed to one side atm. It looks like it *could* be repairable, but to be frank, I'd prefer a new bumper in any case as I don't want to lose value through this incident. So to cut it short, I'm open to offers for a replacement provided that it is roughly in line with what I'd be paying for stock. I've contacted Nissan and delivery dates for stock don't sound good.

If any traders have anything in stock or at short availability, please feel free to post here or pm me. Called Envy and they don't have much at all. Orders are pretty lengthy too.

Yep. I couldn't get through to my own insurer, but managed to speak to the other party's (More Than). They were excellent and helpful. Should get a phone call sometime soon regarding repairs. We'll see what happens with that. I got the feeling that they have some flexibility. The question is, if I can sourse non OEM stuff, how long would I have to wait for the parts to arrive? eg. Aero Wivern looks like a mint example and from the prices I got from Nissan direct, is not too different to a standard bumper.

Thanks guys. It looks like it'll end up costing a bomb anyhow, so I guess I'll have to sort it out through insurance. Just hoping I get a decent bodyshop. The local official Nissan garages "don't do bodywork work".

I've seen a number of decent ones on z-store in the £400-500 area, including the do-luck. I'm guessing that as a rough guide, I'd be looking at £200-250 for a spray & fit.

Thanks for the few posts. If I am to go through with the bumper replacement, I'd only realistically want to replace it with a new one as 1. it won't be coming out of my pocket and 2. it's not worth getting something that won't be as good as what I'll get if I go through the standard insurance processes.

Does anyone know how much sourcing, spraying & fitting an OEM bumper would turn out to be?

Well. I wanted to find out what money I'd be looking at if this was sorted outside the insurers, as it may be in the other party's interest as well what with cheaper insurance prices, etc.

Hi all, Got smacked in the rear on the way home today and am wondering what my alternatives are with regard to repairs. The other party is 100% at fault and has admitted this. I am not going to be replacing the entire bodykit while I'm at it, although there's the never say never to the possibility of doing so in the future. Can anyone tell me how much I would be expected to pay for fitting a rear bumper (including associated costs, eg. spraying, parts, etc)? I am based in Nottingham. How much would an OEM bumper cost? If I was to purchase an aftermarket bumper on its own, which ones would work well without replacing side skirts, etc? I don't want one which would sit too low. (eg. like the look of the Do-luck Aero Wivern, Buddy Club & Bomex on z-store) How much would I realistically be looking at? Another problem is that at least one of the parking sensors is broken (car makes a continuous loud noise in reverse gear). I rather like having reverse parking sensors. Can you replace a sensor on its own or do you have to replace the whole system? How much would that be and would most bumpers be compatible with fitting rear parking sensors? *** Basically, it looks like the rear bumper needs replacing and 1 or 2 parking sensors are broken. I may be able to replace with non OEM equivalents. What would you do in my place? Thanks, Sasha P.S. The car is a black 04 350z with GT spec.

Mine is currently in mid-air, exhaustless while join is being welded. My local garage will reinforce the join with plates as well. All in all it's 5 times cheaper than fitting a scorpion, which was the alternative I was considering. I'll probably fit one of them in the future at some point anyhow.

How is it that I, too, had exactly the same thing happen to me today? Mine's completely come off at the join between the rear and the front (pretty much directly in line with the rear wheels. To me it looks like a pretty straight-forward weld. Any ideas on how much it would cost to weld and/or reliability?

Unfortunately I was too keen to get it finished and go to bed to take any pictures. Needed to go to work in the morning

I've got a Z fob and another fob that resembles the door handle/Rays alloy style indented squares. Don't know where they came from as I got them from the previous owner. I much prefer the latter and use that.

Thanks for this Zmanalex, BUT I've just fixed it Took the whole thing apart, got to the motor. For some unknown reason (I didn't do anything to it) the gear thing wasn't lined up properly and was at an angle. So it could pull one way, but not the other. I first thought the power was cut to it as it wasn't even making a tiny noise, but the power was there. All it took once I got to that stage was a few whacks of a big heavy spanner and it went back into place. Put it all back together and it works Hurrah!

Thanks for this. Will try to give it a go. Will test the switch first to make sure it's not that, then see if I can play with the motor bit.