Andrew

Hi folks, i have a working xtrail sat nav unit in my 03 350z import. It took me so long to get this that i am considering removing it from the car on sale to put in a later model 05+. So - does anyone know are the reader units the same on earlier and later models. If not, what are the differences? My unit is an 04 xtrail unit. The reader slots right in perfectly and the connections at the back are perfect (minus tv). I don't want to find it doesn't even fit say an 06 350z. Anyone know? Thanks Andrew

interesting, could be i need to bed them in a bit. Amazing it could be worse with the S2000. S'pose point is wouldn't it be great if the car actually applied the power to the road from 1st. You lose tons of momentum painting the road black. Could probably get out punched by a Volvo T70 full of wardrobe and clutter if we don't have a perfect tyre/conditions/ECU combo. ok, sorry - sarcasm a bit much there Will wait tillthey are bedded in a bit more. Very pleased with the rumbling noise reduction. Car is silent inside at low speeds.

Hi folks, got new Falken 452s fitted. Used a group called Philip White tyres in Northern Ireland. Absolutely brilliant job. Laser tracked / balanced. New car altogether. No noise. I'd consider actually crossing the water again to get it done with them. Very impressed. Each 'computer' on each wheel they got in for apparently £2000 or so. And 350z was actually stored in the computer database which is a new one on me. Normally garages look blankly and 'have a go'. Downside now. OK, maybe i'm being picky here i agree and maybe the tyres need to 'bed in'?? Bone dry road, sun splitting the sky. Turned out of a junction in a quiet country area, accelerated hard from 1st /maybe 10mph and the 'slip' message was flashing like a beacon. Very very slight 'slalom' also. 2nd on ok. Let's stop kidding ourselves - hard 1st gear acceleration on this car, in my opinion at the moment, goes 'nowhere' compared to more expensive cars. If the 350z acually got the power to the road it would be some car. But it just doesn't. Or is that harsh? I love this car but you have to say... I've driven a 911 and the difference in getting the power to the road from 1st gear is overwhelming. But then that is maybe an unfair burden to put on the 350z. I'd guess the S2000/Boxster are similar to the 350z. Has anyone done 0-60 timed runs? What were the times / did the car stick? aside: i am selling a Nissan Sat Nav DVD i used in the 350z from a Nissan xtrail. Have updated to the latest disc as needed a couple more countries but this is very up to date. Was a 2004 xtrail disc. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... &rd=1&rd=1 Andrew

Thanks lads.

Hi folks, when you are getting tyres changed e.t.c. in one of these places that does wheel balancing/alingnment, is there anything i need to be telling them e.g. are there particular settings which i would be better to clarify? What are they? I'm terrifed i find a load of uneven wear on new tyres because someone at xfit or something has never seen a 350z before. Is it worry for nothing? Thanks

Surely Michelin are the best of all? No one has put on Michelin's then changed to something else have they?

Excellent - thanks for this very much.

What are the sizes for the standard wheels - non GT wheels. I can't remember are those 18" wheels, the standard ones? CAn you vary the tyres sizes or do i just stick with the Bridgestone sizes... Thanks

I was actually half considering Michelin's on the front and something better in the wet on the back - maybe Continental or something? Anyone mixed it up like this? Is it a mistake?

Hi, i have these Potenza's which i was told give off a droning noise when feathered slightly. I never saw a solution to this and it sounded like a car design flaw. HAs anyone put tyres on they would honestly say don't feather like this? I am replacing the Potenza's and want to get something which will give me a quite ride for a change at low speeds. Michelin? Thanks Andrew

Sorry - also forgot to say. I could be mistaken, but my understanding is they do create different map discs for each and every car...you only need to look on ebay. Whether the differences are significant or not i don't know. But what is said above suggests all they do is stick different labels on the discs for different cars. Is that allowed?! Or are we saying those are all identical...? i.e if you have two of the same version but one for a primera, one for an xtrail... They certainly aren't sold on that basis. The prices differ for a start.

Thanks - makes sense to me. Someone should tell the Nissan lads though. When you call up they aren't selling map discs which are 'common across cars'. They have it packaged up very neatly so it sounds as though each map disc is only for a specific car. 2 dealers told me what i was trying just wouldn't work as the whole disc package is very specific. Then again, that isn't surprising i suppose. Now all i need is the Zed program disc to get that 'look and feel'. Now there is a real waste of money...

That's a clever thought - thanks. It could be something like that that would do it. First off though, i don't think my stickers were a high enough standard. I was wondering - you know those old plastic stickers you used to get with bevelled writing. Is it possible to get them done with a luminous text which would light up itself from the light from the screen....not sure. Need to have another look at these buttons to understand how they sit better. The holes could work. Can't remember where the light underneath comes from

Sorry naivety in full flight here - can we not put some list together of everyone who needs the buttons. Then get some contact who could get the part - i got an offer from a chap in jap parts importing or suchlike with an offer of £350 + VAT or something. It was a bit less than a dealer. If we have a mass order, could we cut the price. I'd happily pay £200 to end the headache but Nissan after £400. No chance. Or is there another way? Are there any plastic manufacturers?! Give em labels and jap buttons. Tell them same size please different labels.

I wonder if you can order the buttons in the states? One thing - that picture looks like the new 350z panel. the 03/04 variation is slightly different, so depends what year car is. Can i find a dealer in the US and make the order if it turns out to be worth it? Guess they will turn it down and refer me to UK dealer.

Yeah - there is a trail on here somewhere if you dig, including pics. There was a chap Michael put some very useful pics up. If you are stuck let me know. Basically however, it is a doddle. Although, the hardest bit is that damn boot lining. Tough stuff, expect a few cuts. Try not to break it ! All you need is a new DVD reader. I got an xtrail one. I reckon, any reader where the front looks identical to your Jap one will work but i can't be sure. Slight game of chance. If u get a picture of the back of yours and a picture of the back of the one you want to buy. You won't have TV socket. Then basically you are going in from the boot and removing the hard plastic lining behind the speakers so you can get at the back of the unit. Disconnect (battery first!) and unscrew reader. My xtrail one had two brackets on either side but they unscrewed and the unit fitted perfectly. You lose the TV cable connected into the Jap unit (tape it up). Other cables the same. Plug in, put your lining back in place.

Hi there, for the standard uk birdview sat nav there are two discs. One is called 'Programme CD-ROM' and you install this first. The second is the 'Map Data DVD'. Does anyone know exactly what they each do/ are for? The reason i ask is, i bought an updated set off ebay but they aren't exactly for the car obviously - they are for a primera or something. The bottom line is the new 'Programme CD' wasn't recognised. So i installed the old one again. Then rather than put in the old map disc, put in the new map disc. The result? All appears well. The new countries are there e.t.c. There are roads on them so those are there!! I thought maybe i'd end up with blank maps or something. Basically, all appears well despite my 'mixing and matching'. Am i about to discover something wrong?! Is the data cd just for language or something? I don't understand why i appear to have got away with a cheap update. Cheers Andrew

It's amazing all this stuff is for sale and it doesn't do anything really. I know when i got mine imported the guy wired something into the ECU which allowed it to run up to 170 mph or so on the rolling road. Whether that means he has taken away the self correcting feature i don't know. I have the box in the car. I was reading posts on 350zmotoring.com there. Those boys seem to have been tinkering a lot. Quite interesting...

Well folks, this should start some debate....this is what the guy in the US selling this impressive looking piece said... It may be ADVERTISED as being "immune" to attempts to increase horsepower but if that were true then it would not be marketable to even put performance parts into production for the vehicle but it's one of those most popular modded vehicle's on the market right now. Their are aftermarket intake systems, exhaust systems, supercharger and turbo kits, etc... Scientifically speaking a vehicle's motor (regardless of computer governing) requires air, fuel, and fire (spark) to generate power. Increasing any aspect of those three elements or all three elements will thus increase power.

Yeah - it was an xtrail one i used, but the button panel is different.

Also, if an imported car has been de-limited, surely that chip will disable any 'selflearning' the ecu has? Thanks Andrew

Folks, i've read on here that you definitely can't increase HP on the 350z - does that apply to imported cars? Are we saying devices like this are then being sold in a misleading way as this one clearly suggests a large increase in HP.....? Cheers http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-03-0 ... 5811QQrdZ1

Hi folks, have managed to get the Sat Nav working on an import using the same screen e.t.c. so it looks like the original Birdview system. One downside i still haven't worked out how to replace the Japanese button panel, without paying some £400 for a new one? Very difficult part to source, if not impossible. Anyone come up with an ingenious solution to this? I have a couple of questions/points related to this: Thought maybe putting new labels on the buttons, but the problem is you lose the light effect with you have lights on - can't see labels at night. Stupidly had them all beautifully made out before i realised this. 1) Looking at the Nissan Patrol, the buttons look very similar. Could be something there. 2) Are we able to buy things from a USA dealer? The dollar is so weak.... Quite irritating that the final piece to the puzzle can only seem to be solved by forking at some £400 when i replaced the reader and got new map discs for some £200.

Thanks v much - two questions: 1) What is 'japlac' above? Where do i get it? Is that the actual name on the tin!? 2) Do chipsaway fix up without removing wheels e.t.c. / on the spot? Thanks a lot

Hi, got some very light scuffs on the standard 18" wheels (non Ray). Don't want to completely refurbish. Tried one silver paint but it is completely different colour. ANyone ever found a paint which is a great match. Do Nissan do a wheel touch up kit? Thanks