GT Driver

Hi all Has anyone on here used non-oem lower compression (banana) arms such as those on Ebay? I am wondering if they are of any use or to avoid completely. I need to replace the passenger side one and was going to do the driver's side also while I'm at it. OEM ones are like £250 a pop and right at the moment I can't really budget for two of those + delivery to Ireland. It'd be something like 760 euros. Any advice would be appreciated - thanks.

Hey Arran, as a matter of interest how much quieter are the ART decats in comparison to say the Horsham ones you had on? I've been on the lookout for decats to fit to mine- but I want to run the decats with the stock exhaust system.

^^ Nice Does that have a DCT transmission or is it manual?

This has car crash written all over it! Be careful... (and remember you have to use all the revs in the M to make it go - they're happiest when being thrashed ) It does sound like it has the word crash written all over it but I'll be taking it uber-handy! The M3 is worth like twice the value of mine

In terms of styling, I think the e46 M3 was never intended or made to be as 'flamboyant' looking as the 350z. Purely because the M3 is based off the regular saloon - with a bigger wheel arch flare, quad exhaust tips and the unmistakable grill on the side panel distinguishing it but at the same time retaining the original look. Ze Germans like the little things. It is subtle and to somebody with no interest in cars it probably looks the same as any other 3 series out there. The Zed really stands out, well in Dublin/Ireland anyway where they are not as common (thank you, motor tax!). I have the Nissan badge de-badged at the rear and people really look on in awe as to what the hell type of car it is. So I was chatting to my mate last night (the M3 owner in question) and he said he has never drove a 350z and would really like to. So we are going swapsies for the weekend and will probably head out on a toned-down hoon. Should be interesting!

Just to comment on the noise - my mate who owns the M3 loves the 350z noise... more so than the M3 he says... and my exhaust is stock. The rasp off the M3 is very distinctive - it's rambunctious and aggressive whilst the Zed sounds a bit more 'tuned' (to quote him) Edit - both the Zed and M cars in question have stock exhausts

A mate of mine has a 2004 E46 M3, with the SMG transmission. I am quite surprised (as is he) at how little difference in performance there is between the two cars - particularly on the Irish 'B' section roads during a spirited run. On paper, the M3 putting out an extra 60 horses with similar weightings (think the M3 is slightly heavier). As a matter of interest, does anyone have experience in owning both cars? How did they compare and which did you prefer? I've only driven my mates one for a few miles so can't really comment other than the car seems well planted and has a serious rasp under full flet. Didn't get to throw it into many corners. Oh, and reverse took me a while to find on that SMG box!

Just an update - fitted 2 used oem shocks to the front on Saturday (bought a member on here, thanks Phil!). Rattle has disappeared. The driver's side was in such a bad state that I have to put the rattle down to the spring when under compression/rebound - it was obviously loose or something. The sound did disappear under braking though, when there was some load applied on the spring. The shock was in a bad state, fluid/oil leaking all over it. Myself and 2 other car-mates fitted both shocks. Relatively straightforward job to do, really helped having assistance though especially when trying to get enough clearance to get the shock up out. Glad my Z is now hoonable again!

Just to confirm -it's the test pipes I'm interested in, not the HFCs.

Just wondering if any traders on here sells these or if there are any used ones for sale?

Pm sent RE Berk Decats.

Hi, I have a front driver's side shock absorber that is leaking and it's not damping as well as it should be. Need to replace it but have been advised to replace in pairs so I need a full set for the front. My Z is a 2005 VQ35DE in UK Spec. Anyone have new OEM ones for sale? If there are any aftermarket ones similar to OEM spec I may consider those too. Thanks.

The general consensus so far is to start with the droplinks. Which actually makes sense from a cost point of view and purely based on the fact it's a rattle instead of a clunk - and I've driven a Z with a knackered banana arm and it was most definitely a knocking noise as opposed to a rattle.

Thanks for the replies. UPDATE: Just had a call from the mechanic. The front driver side shock absorber is leaking - but it's not so bad that affecting it's handing (yet). But he doesn't think this is source of the rattle though. This may be the cause of the increased bump steer noted in my first post. Again, nothing noticeable on the the banana arm. He told me on the phone he checked the droplinks and they looked ok. If the droplinks look ok from a visual inspection - is there any way to rule it out?

I was only out on a hoon with a Cayman last week. It was not the S version though, so 2.7? Anyway, the Zed kept up with it no issue. We had a few straight stretches where he was in front and we both planted it; the Zed gained on it no problem and I even had a passenger on board. Both our cars are stock. The was a E46 M3 (smg) at the hoon too and there was not much between that and the Zed either.

My car has gone into the garage to diagnose a rattle / clatter at low speeds over rough ground. The noise disappears under braking - I am thinking it's the banana bar bush/ball joint from all the threads I've read on here. Initial inspection by the mechanic has not pulled up anything obvious. It's more of a rattle rather than a clunk/knock. As if something is loose underneath. I have a little more bump steer than normal but other than that the car is still reasonably planted. Where a visual inspection doesn't determine it's the bush; or a applying the pry bar doesn't show any noticeable movement on the ball joint end - just wondering what you guys think is the best course of action - replace the whole arm (£250, ouch) or just start with the bush replacement first (£35)? Thanks guys

Lovely! Well wear.

82k miles on mine. Still going strong.

Here is a video comparison of my car (silver, stock exhaust) vs a stock exhaust system with just a scorpion backbox (black Z)

A friend of mine sent me a picture of a Le Mans Blue parked up in Horsham around the corner from East Street. Looks immaculate! Anyone on here?

Quick question, just for my own understanding: Under normal easy-going driving conditions the voltage gauge reads pretty much exactly on 14v. However, when the car is pushed on a 'spirited' drive (up and down the rev range a lot) this reading drops below 14 - to say 13.5.. (I know the gauge is not the most accurate) Why is this the case? When regular easy-going driving resumes the needle slowly makes it's way back towards 14. I did the alternator belt recently and I don't believe it is slipping. Thanks!

Are you sure you checked all the fuses? sounds like it is blown. The side lights, rear lights and number plate lights are all on the same circuit. The fuse in question is a 10a fuse and is located in the box hidden behind the battery. As you're looking down on the box I believe it's the first 10a (red) as you work your way from the top down.

I bought this from Zmanalex - 'came from a low mileage 350 and is in good shape'. I never needed to fit it in the end. It's for the front axle - I've given the hub surface a clean down but could use another clean prior to fitting. Looking for €50 which works out at about £35. Please note if you are in the UK I will have to post as I am based in Dublin, Ireland. Thanks.

Tarmac Sportz are doing them for 15% off until the end of March. £464 for the Resonated system.

PM sent RE Cobra Exhaust.