ianboom

Cheers, couldn't finish the write up as my tablet wouldn't let me edit the bottom of the post, so on my laptop now! Afraid it won't be modded as i keep buying a car, spending loads on it and selling it 12 months later at a loss! I keep changing my car too as i can't settle on a car i really like. The Zed's growing on me and it'll be nice to spend driving it instead of working on it! Problem now is, I want to go to Japfest at Donnington, but the wife and son both want to go, but i only have one spare seat lol!

I looked at a few 350z's last year, but all were (in my opinion) overpriced as all had body damage from peeling laquer to rusty bonnets and car prk scars. Roll on this year and i took the plunge-my budget was £6500ish, i didn't want to pay more for a 'mint' car as it spends all day on a Tesco car park. About a month ago, i picked up a non GT off a trader who works from home, (i'll happily name them if wanted) for £5400. I really wanted a GT for the sub woofer, but the non GT had leather and was in really good condition. When i viewed it, i had my 9 year old with me-piece if advise, leave the kids at home. My son's pretty good, but becomes a pain when he's bored and was a real distraction. It had 1 months mot, but i took it to a friend's garage on the way home and it passed no problem-advice, sell your car with a full mot! First week of ownership, i treated the leather to a good clean and had a good look round the car, expecting to find loads of issues. To date i've found a few chips which i've touched up, one car park door ding and have noticed the front bumper has been poorly resprayed. Also think the axles are clicking. Service book says service due in a couple of weeks. Heated door mirrors don't! Rear tyres are budget (were on every car i viewed!) but new and grip quite well, fronts are mismatched and getting low. Fixed mirrors, was fuse in engine bay. Week 2, did the rear axle mod and cured the clicking. Found car crunches from first to second when very cold. Oil level is hard to read on the daft dipstick, (have learnt to remove it, wipe it and leave it 5 mins before dipping it to check the oil) Aux belts are cracked and have chunks missing out of them. Week 3, replace oil (only 1.5 litres came out-no wonder i couldn't read the dipstick), changed the oil filter (pattern part was fitted, why? Genuine filter and washer cost me £6), has a pop charger so no air filter needed. Changed trans oil and added molyslip (car is slightly better, but haven't done many miles), replaced belts, changed brake and clutch fluid. Week 4, 2 new Falken tyres on the front. Ordered ZE914's instead of 453's, but they wanted £50 to return them, so stuck them on (they've got to be better than the old tyres and if it snows i have loads more tread). So, to sum up, i think i got a car that suits what I want at a price I'm happy with, although I should've haggled a couple of hundred more off the price. All the things I meant to check went out of the window as it was raining, my son was playing up and i was too taken in by the car to check it over fully-all circumstances when not to view a car! I don't think there are any cheap Zeds without faults, but the majority of problems can be sorted cheaply by searching this and the US forum. Ian.

I know they're half the price new and in a different league, but look at the reliability of a Renault Clio Rs200. Mine was just over 2 years old and needed a new box-this seems to affect about 15% of cars. The 'leather' peeled of the steering wheel and the cloth material on the recaros wore through. Steering rack failure is very common too. My wife has a Clio 197 that we bought at 4 years old, it's had new bottom ball joints-£400, handbrke cable, inner track rods, wheel bearings etc Still, on a £35k car i'd expect them to be tripping over themselves to help you, especially as they may get repeat business. Good luck!

I'm thinking of fitting a standard air box so i don't have to declare anything to my insurance company. Is everything there so I can swap it out fo my pop charger?

Went on a locksmith course and was told never to use wd40 on a lock as it lets fluff and debris stick to the lock wafers/pins! We use graphite powder-good stuff but messy!

From the video it looked like the drain plug was at the back of the sump, so my thoughts were, the oil would drain to the back beyter ith it on a low ramp.

Two conflicting replies I have to do the gearbox oil to, but they delivered the wrong oil and are sending the new stuff out tomorrow sometime, bit annoying as i could warm the car up and do both changes ath the same time!

Hi, i plan to do an oil and filter change tomorrow on my '54 plate zed. I had the rear of the car up to fix the clicking rear axle, but not the front yet. Warched a how to video and it looks like i may be able to change the oil by putting the front wheels on my low ramps and leaving the rear on the floor as the sump plug appears to be at the back of the sump. Can i do this or do i need to jack the rear up too? Thanks, Ian.

Ordered some clips, will probably order thr battery cover and wiper arm cover soon too-cheaper new than used from a breaker! Still after the badge though.

After the 'Z' on the 350z boot badge-fed up of my son saying i drive a nissan 3507!

I'd like to be Hannah Spearitt's underwear drawer! Seriously, i had sod all as a child. Everyone had nike or adidas trainers and i had woolworths! Roll on 20 years, I had a good job, bought a house at the right time etc, paid my mortgage off early, no sad ending, i'm comforttably off don't owe any money and spend it carefully. I spend my spare time doing things on my bucket list, had lessons in drifting, flying, supercars etc. Lots of money doesn't make you happy, look at all the celebs who jave messed up! Enough money to be comfortably off suits me. I'd like more holiday from work and more leisure time! Ironically, there was some training here Monday and everyone was asked to list dislikes and loves-they all put love money! Would love to be able to drift. Ian.

I work for Tesco! But i work for maintenance not retail! I went to a meeting and parked my 2 year old Clio cup in the far corner of the car park meters away from any other car. I was working on the roof an hour later and noticed 3 cars parked around mine, but still nothing else around us for several meters??? Xmas eve i parked in a space right next to a curb, there was an 18" gap to the white line. I came out at 3pm to a trolley dent in my door-as i left a big gap, somebody decided to squeeze through with a trolley. I fixed petrol pumps for 16 years and could go on!!

Cheers, wil order some clips! Will have a look at the p&p, looks like the badge will be the difficult part-need a car breaking because of a rear end shunt! Randy, you just insulted the entire population of Solihull! lol! Solihull-home of Land Rover, Birmingham airport, the NEC and thor hammers which say made in Birmingham on them!?! Ian.

Thanks all! It was actually one of the cheapest cars i looked at. It's not perfect, but i have to park on a supermarket car park all day and itwas the cleanest sub £6500 car i could find. Ian.

Hi, as per title i'm after the 'Z' on the tailgate next to the '350' badge, the nut cover off the rear wiper arm and a battery cover without broken clips at the front Some push clips from around the battery would be nice too! Strange request, but little things that i want for my new zed Cheers, Ian.

Sorted for now! Found the relay where the subwoofer would sit (mine's a non GT-what a huge waste of space!) but it was ok, Deciphered the wiring diagram and checked the body control module (when i eventually found it) and the 20a supply fuse had blown. Put a new fuse in and it seems fine at the moment, Find it strange the 20a fuse went and not the 10amp inside the car=if I have no more problems, all i can assume is somebody swapped the fuse with another for some reason? Will have to put the car back together at work tomorrow as I have a strip of plastic from around the battery that i can't find a home for! Ian.

Hi, not had them working, but had the mirrors off and all the wiring is there. Found a wiring diagram, but now need to find the rear defogger relay location to see if there's power there!

Firstly, apologies if I've posted in the wrong area, I've been a member for a while, but not had a zed or posted for months! Anyway, I have a '54 plate 350Z that the heated rear mirrors are not working on. I'm pretty good with electrics and have found no power at the fuse by the gas pedal. Does anybody have a wiring diagram for the car or know where the fuse is fed from? Also, is the Haynes manual any good or should i look elsewhere? Thanks, Ian.

9 months and a clio RS200 cup later, finally a 350Z!

Thanks for the welcomes! Looked at 2 more today, £6700 low miles but loadfs of dents and a '53 plate, really overpriced, then a 113k miler, pretty good nick, but not worth £6k! Will keep looking. Would really like a blue gt with around 85k on the clock and a part service history so I can service it myself. Second choice colours orange and grey. Love the 'orange trim!' Must be a UK model. Don't mind a few marks as I'm an engineer for a 'large supermarket' and my car spends all day on a car park

Hi, new to another car forum! Sold my 3.2 V6 TT, which was followed by my wife's old Clio 182 over the Winter. Now after a 350Z. Looked at 3 today, all were over priced pups! £6500 for a '54 with 3 different shade panels on the driver's side!? Will keep looking! Cheers, Ian.