A&Q about 350Z
Q:
Guys,
I noticed that alot of people with 350Z's are having way more problems than those people with G35 Coupes. Now, they are esentially the same car....no? I mean, yeah, the G35c has more luxury amenities and better ergonomics and all, but the drivetrain, transmission, ect... (mehcanicals) are identical. So, my question is: why doesn't the G35 Coupe have probelms that the 350Z has i.e.: 3rd gear grinding, replacing tranny, greas streaks, tire feathering, etc... I have come to the conclusion that the G35c is really not assembled by Nissan, but by another 3rd party assembly plant? What are your thoughts on this matter?
"The point of having a sports car is not to go from point A to point B...... it is the point!"
A:
the only thing i can say is i never go to any g35 forums, so are we sure that they don't have similar problems? is the G35 available in a manual transmission?
if they don't have similar problems, then by virtue of what you said, we would align the problems with an assembly problem, not a design flaw.
interesting concept. not exactly sure.
edit: i went here:
i found 6 pages (9 per page) of G35 TSB's. that's like 54 TSB's. if i remember, you could count the Z TSB's on two hands and a foot.
here's a few that look similar:
Service Bulletin Num : 03058
Date of Bulletin: OCT 15, 2003 View Document
Component: VISIBILITY: GLASS, SIDE/REAR
Summary: POP OR TICK NOISE FROM FRONT DOOR WINDOW GLASS
Service Bulletin Num : 03055
Date of Bulletin: AUG 20, 2003 View Document
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Summary: BUZZ SOUND FROM METER CLUSTER AFTER IGNITION KEY IS TURNED OFF / TURN SIGNAL AND WARNING CHIME DO NOT SOUND
Service Bulletin Num : 03052
Date of Bulletin: JUL 31, 2003 View Document
Component: STRUCTURE: BODY
Summary: SQUEAK AND RATTLE REPAIR
Service Bulletin Num : 03050
Date of Bulletin: JUL 31, 2003 View Document
Component: STRUCTURE: BODY
Summary: SQUEAK AND RATTLE REPAIR. SEDAN ONLY
Service Bulletin Num : 03046
Date of Bulletin: JUL 03, 2003 View Document
Component: STRUCTURE: BODY
Summary: A CREAK / SQUEAK NOISE FROM REAR SEAT AREA
could it be that we were purposely (by some evil intelligence out there) divided into 2 camps... those that love the Z, and those that hate it? seems to be a very popular strategy these days - worldwide.
Service Bulletin Num : 02028
Date of Bulletin: SEP 18, 2002 View Document
Component: STRUCTURE
Summary: CREAK OR RATTLE NOISE FROM THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD
Service Bulletin Num : 02080
Date of Bulletin: OCT 06, 2003 View Document
Component: BODY: INTERIOR: SEATS
Summary: DRIVER’S SEAT CUSHION EXCESSIVE PLAY
Service Bulletin Num : 03028
Date of Bulletin: APR 25, 2003 View Document
Component: STEERING
Summary: STEERING DRIFT TO THE RIGHT
oh wait, this is just 2003 info. there's a whole new batch for 2004.
ruh roh.
2003 350Z LeMans Sunset Track with Nav
No mods
Post Edited (Jun 3, 2:54pm)
A:
What problems?????????
zcrazi
A:
Well the tire feathering which seems to be the most talked about issue is attributed to the suspension specs of the 350z. Now the G35 may have a similar suspension but it is set to be more of a luxirous ride. That being said since the specs to which the suspension is set on the G35 is different this may be why they don't have a feathering issue. The other such problems mentioned don't seem to be as prevalent as the tire feathering so who knows what might be the source of the problems origins. Also I was under the impression that Nissan solved the grease streak problem for the 350z, am I right? Also as someone has mentioned without hearing from a mass of G35 owners we can't be sure they haven't incountered problems similar to the 350z. Then again maybe Infinities are assembled at different plants than Nissans, even though it's the same comany.
1977 280z: Intake, exhaust, high flow cat, header, euro damper, cam, MSD, adj. FPR, 3.7 lsd, F+R sway+strut bars, 2580lbs
1984 300zx: intake, exhuast, high flow cat, headers, JWT ECU, F+R sway bars, F strut bar
06 WRX TR
A:
The problem is people are very passionate about the Z.All you ever hear are the bad things.
A:
Start a thread asking for only the GOOD things we all love about it :)
2003 Nissan 350Z Enthusiast Coupe (Fast)
2003 Mercury Marauder (Faster)
1996 Ford Ranger (Don't ask!)
A:
Exactly... Z's are imported.... all of them... every last one came from the exact same plant... well 2 plants.
A:
They drive them all the way here?
*smirk*
2003 Nissan 350Z Enthusiast Coupe (Fast)
2003 Mercury Marauder (Faster)
1996 Ford Ranger (Don't ask!)
A:
the g has feathering but it has much better tires (higher tread rating) so tire feathering doesn't show up until around 20k. i've never owned, or known anyone who owned, a car that needed tires replaced more often than 40 or 50k, though, so i'd still be upset with abnormal tire wear at 20k.
A:
too bad it's not going to.
A:
i wouldn't mind about slightly abnormal tire wear (esp at 20k) either. but the noise it generates would bother me.
A:
As a G35 driver I'll comment on this thread.
I had my MT replaced at 5.5K, 2nd and 6th syncro's went, I am not alone, several other G35 MT's have failed.
I am running 2003 350Z shocks and springs on the car (8.5k on them). The car is aligned to specs that are considered normal for the Z or G35 coupe (sedan specs are too tame and actually screwed up the handling with my setup). I don't have feathering, but I also do not have a lot of miles on my car, 9k. I do not drive the car timidly, I suppose my driving style even's out the tire wear. My tires are Kumho MX 245/40-18/Goodyear GSD-3 255-40-18 (I consumed the rear MX's in 7k.
The Z shocks when used on the G35 have the same bad habit's that Z owners complain about, the longer wheelbase does ZERO to insulate me. But given a choice between weak oem shocks, the Z shocks are superior. And let's face it, at $150 shipped it was a cheap fix, but the bounce is a bother.
A number of early production G's had grease streak problems, I have not.
My dead man's pedal came off for what it's worth, that and the tranny have been my only problems.
2003 G35 6MT sedan
Crawford pleneum
K&N
Acosta Racing high flow cat pipes
Custom true dual X-pipe & twin Injen SES mufflers
Hotchkis/EVO350 sways
Koni coilover front Koni shock rear
350Z VLSD conv
Rouge shifte