steve3000

What a morning! I'd finished fitting new brakes all round at the weekend, after Z failed her first MOT (must say thanks bigphill for parts & advice). Thought all was well for today's retest but she almost didn't make it though... Parked up outside the MOT garage, one hour to spare. Quite a steep slope in their car-park, so handbrake on full and release brake pedal... Z starts slowly rolling backwards... ARG! 10 minute drive home, whip the ashtray out to find the handbrake adjuster - doooh! can't find my 10mm deep socket... whip the jack under the diff and lift rear of car, wheels off, and start fiddling with a screwdriver at the brake shoe adjusters... 10 minutes later handbrake much firmer, wheels on, car down, back round to MOT station with 5 miniutes to spare. In the end she passed perfectly, well pleased! Steve

Has your windscreen been replaced? The fitters have to remove the top part of the seal over both doors when they do this. Hopefully your's just needs refitting correctly. That a look at the service manual (find on the internet) under windscreen replacement, also can search on the forums - that'll tell you all you need to know about refitting the door seals, it should be fairly straight forward! BTW If anyone is thinking about getting their screen replaced - my advice is to stay and watch the guys doing it very carefully - I had my screen changed recently by a national windscreen company (I left them to do the job without watching) - I am now persuing them to repair damage they caused when fitting the screen! Steve

I'd heard some cars imported before March 2006 were not given PLG...but I think this must be a mistake/misinterpretation of the SVA paperwork by DVLA. I'm on a couple of scooby forums and there's a massive amount of variation people see on their V5s when importing them, it can be even more confusing if the car was manufactured before 2001 (not a problem for Z's tho!). Some 'errors' do come from what was filled in on the SVA paperwork, but most find the differences are down to how the guy at the DVLA copied the SVA paperwork into the computer as he issued your V5... My last import had a 19980cc engine, according to it's V5

Got my Tax renewal letter today, £185. If your JDM was registered with PLG tax class (check the V5) it won't be affected by the enormous tax hikes and is only set to rise by £15 next year! (2008-2009 cost is £185, 2009-2010 is £200) Most imports registered in the UK before March 2006 will have been given PLG tax class, but if you're thinking of buying an already-imported Z, definately check the V5. After that date, every car imported will be registered based on its CO2 levels = big tax hike for Zs. Steve

Hello, I need a couple of things done on the Z (fuel damper, sparks and brakes) and looking for a garage not to far from the Hitchin/Stevenage area who'll know their way round a Z and do a good job. Can anyone recommend a garage? Thanks, Steve

All depends on timing though, I bought a spare one for £30 on ebay earlier this year Steve

Thanks everyone - especially Phil for the numbers! After a long discussion with Nissan (Marshalls Cambridge were very helpful actually!), we have worked out a way to get import Z details on their computers - just use the 18-digit 'Model No.' (including dashes at the end) rather than the VIN number - it's on the same chassis plate in the engine bay, just below the VIN. I am tempted to try this myself actually, I've looked at the service manual, but it talks about using tension gauges etc. Does anyone have any tips on this or written a guide/how to? Cheers, Steve

Hello, I need a bit of help here. Booking my 2003 Z in for a service in Cambridge nissan at the mo, also needs a new set of Aux belts, and they asked me for the VIN number or registration... Gave them the registration, but it's not on their system (no surprise - I told them it's an import!). Gave them the VIN and they can't enter it on their system (are all JDM VINs in the Z33-012345 format?). The guy tells me there are loads of options for the drive belts. Now I can't believe nissan have changed more than a couple of times in the lifetime of the Z, but he's convinced there are about 10 options per year...? Anyone had success in getting an import Z vin number understood by UK nissan? Steve

Good luck, he never replied to me Steve

Didn't spot this post til today, but the missus had almost exactly the same thing on the same road on Wednesday! She had just passed the resurfacing works on the A602, with a 4x4 in front of her - no problem through the works, but the stones are left spread over the road for a long way after - and as the cars got up to speed, the 4x4 shot a huge one at her. Made a really deep chip on the passenger side of her Fiesta's screen !! - if it can't be 'glued' this'll be the second new windscreen in 4 months! Good idea with trying to claim the cost, definately worth a try! Steve

Welcome Unfortunately that's the US service manual and they have a different security system. Give it a go by all means, but I've tried it on my JDM and couldn't get it to work. However I'm sure that Nissan UK can do something to similar for not too much £££ - I read somewhere (on the other Z forum? ) recently someone had bought new keys from Japan and had their JDM Z coded to accept them by Nissan for around £50...so presumeably the reverse is also possible??? Worth asking if you're near an import-friendly dealer. Steve

Yes, but they have the JDM NATS system, which is CAT 2 immobiliser only as standard (transponder in key type). Can test it by taking the key apart, remove the black transponder chip from next to the key-blade (this usually just falls out, so be careful - don't loose it!). Leave it insde the house then try to start your car with the key - won't happen. No other alarm as standard, the flashing light is just for show! Any imported car will have had a CAT1 alarm or CAT2-1 upgrade fitted to pass SVA Steve

PM sent.

Wanted to come but no can't make it. Had hoped to recover from my leg op in time (was two weeks ago) but tried the Z this afternoon and can't push the clutch pedal in more than twice before the leg gives up... Will still be in Wales visiting friends for the weekend - but in an automatic fiesta instead, so will keep my head down! Hope the weather stays good for you all! Steve

Hello, I was having ~1k quotes too, with 7 yr ncb! Found a few places eventually though. Greenlight (who were really good on my last car - heavily moded) came close on the 350z - they also do optional track day top-up insurance at a good price which is worth considering it that's your thing. If your Z is an import that'll up the premium a bit, Admiral ended up best for my import although don't cover cost of replacing any mods (but will insure the car with them on). Steve

I've just been tearing my hair out at AVG! Why does it insist on reminding me to "upgrade to version 8"...not when I switch the computer on, but half way through an epic Civ IV game online, causing the connection to drop (arg!)... Rant over Other than that it's fine, and yes, set the scan for early hours or once a week/month/year and it'll be a lot less intrusive. Steve

Wow, those look really good! Are all those pics with the clear lens at the back? And are the ones you linked to a direct swap for the original bulbs? ...or is that fitting different? Cheers Steve

That's the perfect description. Had this in the dry on the slip road to the motorway yesterday morning - I've just moved from a turbo'd motor to the Z and it felt like the old turbo was back to haunt me(!) Steve

Awesome install work there and some great ideas!

I was surpirsed by that Z being an import - someone's obviously gone to a lot of effort to make it look UK spec. Even looks like the wiper and indicator stalks are the UK way round too? Was definately a good move to steer clear of that one! Steve

Ok, bit of a strange one I know... I'm after a broken OEM headunit (skipping/missing channel/etc) - ideally one you're about to throw out! Any age, UK/JDM/US would be fine. Charcoal grey unit would be nice but I'm not fussy. I'm after the internals to try some experiments... Many thanks, Steve

Likewise It actually worked out cheaper to insure the 350z and the missus' ford fiesta with both of us named on each car, than it would to insure just me on the 350z with a single car policy... Steve

Ideal for replacing your keyfob casing. I bought these off ebay a while back hoping to replace the casings of one of my old JDM keys which was showing signs of age. Anyway I didn't realise the JDM keys were a different shape(!) - so couldn't use these uk ones - and they're up for sale as follows: One keyfob £10 posted, or both of them for £16 posted. Condition of both is very good, both contain imobiliser chips and remote locking electrics, although one keyfob is missing the bottom securing screw (see pic). Cheers, Steve (Also spotted similar ones on ebay at the moment, http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :IT&ih=013 )

Hi, cheers for the advice and info Does anyone know if this problem is usually down to the Amp or the headunit? I've done some searching on the forum and most say it's solved with a new h/u - I assume these still use the BOSE amp?...or is there an easy way to wire up an new h/u direct and disable the BOSE amp? Cheers, Steve

Thanks guys, I'm missing all sound on the left, so wanted to track down the cabling and amp! Had a peak in the boot and can see the edge of the amp behind the foam on the left. Couldn't easily remove that foam cover though (in the 5 minutes I tried!), seems to be stuck in behind every piece of plastic trim going? I guess I have to remove the back centre plastic piece with the light in it - any hints on removing this without breaking it? Cheers, Steve