GrahameJ

I agree with Veilside and an elbow pad helps prevent this. Here is mine::

You can't see where the door was key scratched but that's because you are all looking at the stubby

Here is a photo....

The pad is nothing special, just 10mm medium density foam cut to shape, covered in black goatskin leather and glued onto the console, but it works and stops my elbow hitting the button I'll try and get a photo for you so you can get the idea. In the meantime, if your arms are the same length as mine, you may notice your elbow lines up with the button when the gear lever is at the back of the gate. that's drive position for my auto, and I'd guess 4th gear if manual JDM cars have the button? In Sport mode, does the car just hold onto the gears to higher revs? For me, normal mode is oversensitive up to 1/8 throttle openings, but then has a lot of throttle pedal travel if I accelerate up to speed joining a motorway, especially if you have to follow someone on the slip road doing 35 to 40mph. So, as yet I haven't tried Sport mode.

Thanks guys. I’m really enjoying driving the car. It’s responsive, steers well, and corners flat without body roll. A bit too responsive at low speeds and throttle openings at first, with my right lead foot more used to operating a cable throttle and it’s return spring for many years. After some initial tests in my retro Puma trainers, that has now been sorted with some Sparco kart boots. :-)

Finally got the door repainted to get rid of the key scratch. The painter re-sprayed the door, blending into the wings, and then clear coated the whole side with lacquer. It looks a good job to my eyes so I'm happy now. I did attempt to airbrush out the scratch myself, but this left an interesting hologram effect under my clear coat due to the slightly different shades in the silver base coat paint. So at this point I went to a Pro! :-) Other mods - Yes it does have a stubby now courtesy of TarmacSportz. Excellent reception on Radio 2, but nothing much else due to the JDM radio. I now have a Sony Bluetooth DAB radio ready to fit, once I have figured out how to remove the A pillar trims without braking them. I can't find a video of the Zed, but most other cars show the trim removed by pulling from the top to remove them. I also have a cushioned leather pad on the rear of the centre console. It stops my elbow from hitting the auto gearbox mode switch, and unexpectedly turning on Snow mode.

Spotted a silver 350Z cruising at about 3000rpm on the M6 southbound at Junction 27 around 09:00am.

I can't vouch for Gtechniq, as I havn't used it, but Aquapel does also have an advantage for old high milage windscreens in low sun conditions, reducing the glare from small stone chips. It's American made, but you can buy it on eBay.

I don't know if it is "hydrophobic", but 'Aquapel' is very good at shifting rain off my windscreen. Unlike Rain-X, it chemically bonds to your windscreen, and lasts about 6 months with one coating. It works best at +50mph, where rain and spray fly upwards off the windscreen. For example, in heavy spray on the M6 this morning I was using intermittant wipe, whereas other drivers had their wiperrs going at full speed.

**04 BUY - Gunmetal 350Z M6 near Preston at about 17.30pm. Maybe not a club member - still had the original bee-sting aerial.

Payment Sent. It had to be done!

Ok, thanks for the advice.

Here is the only photo we have of the damage, which is now said to be confined to the door. It's not very good quality, so I don't know if any conclusions can be made as to how to fix this.

Hi Perhaps i didn't explain that well enough. The invoice was addressed to me from the Japanese supplier and I paid it.

The clue is in the name Japautoagent, who are acting as an agent not a supplier. The car was paid for in Japan to get it on the boat. The video of my car was taken when it was dropped off at the yard in Japan, proving it was ok at that point. The Japanese supplier is now reqesting the loading report from the shipping company. If it happened in transit, then I have full cargo insurance until it left the dockyard in Newcastle.

The car was picked up from the docks by the MOT garage in Newcastle, so not sure where I stand at the moment. :-(

I'm not a happy bunny. My car has been key scratched down one side in the shipyard at Newcastle :-( The mechanics from the MOT garage up there noticed it, when they went to pick it up. I've no idea as yet of the extent of the damage, but it looks like I will be needing some recommendations for paint refinishers in the Lancashire area.

My 350Z arrives from Japan this week. It's a rust free Zed with 11,000 miles on the clock, You might find it difficult to get an low mileage example like that in the UK.I bought the 2004 Nissan Fairlady 350Z Auto, 11,000 Miles via Paul Bowden at JapAutoagent in the UK. He has been very helpful in trying to get me what I wanted. http://japautoagent.com/ Tel 01625 560505 and ask for Paul. You can mention me if you like. You can see a video of the car at:

. I tried to delete this thread when nobody answered, but as it is now getting quite a few views I may as well let others know what worked for me. Wheels: RAYS Volk Racing GT-7 Front: 8j + 37mm offset Big caliper support Rear: 9j + 38mm offset 5 hole pcd114.3 Spacers: 15mm front and rear Tyres: Continental SportContact 5 Front: 235/45 R18 Rear: 255/45 R18 So far the car seems planted on the road wet or dry. No problems with brake caliper clearance, arch rubbing etc. No problems with traction control, which it did originally with Yokohamas. Roads include Motorways, A roads, B roads, country lanes, farm tracks, pot holed car parks and a multitude of different types of speed humps.

It should work. By closing the butterfly valve gas flow and hence noise will be restricted. The same affect as adding a smaller diameter baffle in the tail pipe, as I have seen photos of people doing on this site. The ecu will compensate and adjust the fuel accordingly. If it didn't, everyone on here fitting their performance exhausts would have to get the ecu's remapped to avoid running too lean. The Jaguar F-type has a button to achieve the same thing: "Meanwhile, the active sports exhaust involves a flap that opens up at 3,000rpm and unleashes some serious sonic fury. Or if you choose, you can hit the exhaust button and have open at all times. Just don't expect your neighbours to thank for that. It's loud, very loud, with the flap permanently open." http://www.techradar.com/news/car-tech/new-jaguar-g-type-the-sports-car-rebooted-1155404 http://www.jaguar.co.uk/jaguar-range/f-type/f-type-models/f-type-coupe.html I was behind one the other day as it accelerated into a 50mph limit, and it was bl@@dy loud!

Hi JetPilot, I know that too well after racing for two seasons in the British Harley Davidson championship on most UK race tracks, as a support race to the British Superbike championship! ;-) Nearly all the top runners used un-silenced straight through megaphone exhausts, breaking the 105db limit at the time. The race stewards regularly met with the race organisers to discuss this point. So let's just say you can use the switch to avoid annoying your neighbours. :-)

This may be a useful bit of kit for those of you failing noise tests at Track Days: An Exhaust butterfly valve to restrict the sound when needed, controlled electrically by a rocker switch. http://www.ebay.co.u...=STRK:MEBIDX:IT Quote - "The ECV was created as an alternative to the standard silencer typically fitted in the tip of performance exhaust systems to lower the sound output. The angle of the valve can be modified on the fly from within the cockpit to provide complete control over exhaust decibel output. For Modifying 76mm Exhaust Systems. Kit comes with 2 steel flanges to weld onto the original exhaust should you need to" http://s1203.photobu...0195-1.jpg.html Just remember you have to go fast past the pits in case anyone is watching, but you also have a button just in case the sound level steward has a meter there! ;-) Note - the steward isn't always in the pits, but can be on the exit of a corner where max revs are being reached. :-( Before anybody asks I am not selling the kit and do not know the eBay seller.

Thanks all for your welcome messages. My Zed is currently enjoying cruising in the Mediterranean, somewhere off Sardinia at the moment. In the meantime I can start on some mods. The first mod I will be making is to the airbox courtesy of Flyboy and a second-hand box from eBay. I also bought some door cards off GT4 Zed, which I am hoping to cover in leather. I also want to put new tyres on when it arrives. Now at the risk of starting a tyre war (I have read a lot of threads searching), I’m looking for tyre sizes (not brands) that will fit my rims without rubbing the arches and that are not prone to aquaplaning in the wet. This Zed will be a daily driver and there is frequently a lot of standing water on the M58. Wheels are: RAYS Volk Racing GT-7 Front: 18 x 8j + 37 offset Rear: 18 x 9j + 38 offset – so slightly wider than stock. Stock size tyres will fit at Front: 225/45 x 18 and Rear: 245/45/18, but can I go bigger without aquaplaning? E,g. Front: 235/45 x 18 and Rear; 255 or 275/45 x 18??

Hi Ekona, Bid price at the Japanese auction in Kobe was 7,200,000 Yen, so a good Zed is worth millions! :-) That translates to about £5000 to get it onboard the ship. As it stood that would amount to £7,900 ready to go on the road in the UK, with a full year's road tax, MOT, speedo converted, derestricted etc and all fees, shipping insurance, import tax, VAT paid. I guess a good UK model can be obtained for that price, but the object was not to save money, but to get a good low mileage example without any rust. If anybody is interested in importing a JDM model, then I recommend Paul Bowden at Japautoagent, who has a wealth of experience and guides you through the process at every step on the way. He came recommended to me by a mate at work who has used Paul a few times. http://japautoagent.com/ Tel 01625 560505 and ask for Paul. You can mention me if you like. I hope this helps everybody.

Hi Jimmy, thanks, it will be arriving mid August and I can't wait! :-)