omp

The CD mech's *can* fail. Expensive to fix. There is a very knowledgeable member here (Chris Rogers) who has made a sticky thread about this. Is your a BOSE? If not I am changing my working std CD player with an aftermarket one.

Oi! My other car is a Corolla!

Hey matey, the wife and I pick up our V35 sedan tomorrow. It has the 6MT and drives quite nice. This will be our family every day hack which is why we went 4 door. We took 2 for a spin the first one (the car we went with) had the friction point to what felt approx half (from memory). The other one we took for a spin felt like you had to have your clutch foot up to your ear-hole before it grabbed. I would say that one had a stuffed or starting to be stuffed clutch at a "claimed" 27,000km's.

Added myself to this.

Shannons or NRMA. I will be using NRMA myself as the quote was comparable and I already have the house and other car(s) with them, so payments will be easier. I tried YouI (lol) went all the way through their online quoting system (they had V35 Skyline on there) only to be told at the end "Sorry we don't do imports" lol why are they on your system then? Good for a giggle (which I needed that day). Tried Suncorp, yes they do but bend over. I was actually surprised that NRMA were as competitive being a main stream insurance mob. If you feel NRMA is too much, get a quote from Shannons sent to you and then show it to NRMA to get it matched +10% better again. But it has to be EXACTLY the same, so in other words find out how much NRMA will cover you for, get that amount as agreed value from Shannons, go back to NRMA and then Bob's your uncle. Other alternatives are here http://www.motorman.com.au/insurers.pdf I tried Dawes and fell of my chair and Famous will only insure +30yrs old which puts the wife out as she is under this age bracket. Just Car for me was a lot cheaper (about $300) BUT you miss out on the nice-ties like choice of repairer, windscreen cover, hire car options etc. If this isn't important to you, Just Cars should be the cheapest. Also find out what they mean by agreed value, what I mean by that is some will say "yes we will cover it for $xx,xxx" whilst others will say "yes we will cover it UP TO $xx,xxx". "Up to" are very big key words.......

Well in Just Cars case that is their automatic cover price (they don't do agreed value). And in my case I just want to be able to cover myself properly (I have that right don't I?), in the case where something does happen (I hope not) I would be able to replace it with an equivalent vehicle. I had a look around the dealerships in Brisbane and found (also test drove it) another V35 sedan manual, it was $24k, so NRMA's maximum of $22k wouldn't cover it. Whereas the coupe can be insured for up to $41k through NRMA. What I paid for the car I would be EXTREMELY hard pressed to import one myself. I would be happy for it be insured for $25k but looking at other people's premiums (and they are much younger I might add) it seems a tad odd that I would pay more.

Apparently so, US 350z fits G35 Infiniti, so I wouldn't see why not. http://www.hotchkis.net/nissan_350z_g35_sport_sway_bars.html

Update for today (sorry for new post) Shannons pissed me off today, rang them to see if they could come close to matching Just Cars. They said no (fair enough) she then proceeded to demand answers from me. She asked how much I was getting the car for (less than what I would like to insure it for). She said that is all we would insure it for. I had a quote from them the other week showing for $25k it would cost $1356. She then dropped it down to $19k and told me that it would now be $1100. I have NEVER been asked what I paid for the vehicle, I have been asked "if you want to insure it for AGREED value it will cost you more, that is what you are paying for and why you pay a bit more". She was a right rude bitch too in the way she spoke to me, talking over me as if I was a child. Sent an email complaint and had a reply of "send us your quote number and we will look into it". NRMA will insure a V35 coupe for MORE than a sedan. I could insure a coupe for $10k more than I could a sedan for $10/yr cheaper. Asking why here is the response Thank you for your email. Every year NRMA Insurance analyses the number and cost of claims to ensure that the amount of premium paid by policy holders will cover the cost of claims received over a year. When determining premiums, we look at a range of factors which affect the number of claims and claims costs. These factors can include: the year, make and model of the vehicle, the cost of repairing certain types of vehicles, the availability of parts and the cost of supplying those parts. Each vehicle is rated individually through NRMA Insurance. Just because a vehicle is a coupe it does not necessarily reflect a higher risk than a sedan. Thank you for contacting NRMA Insurance. If you have any further enquiries, please feel free to contact us on 132 132. We are available from 7 am to 9 pm 7 days a week. Yours sincerely, I think this is a bullshit response, the difference could NOT be that much. I may have to stick with Just Car and risk the windscreen option (have that cash always ready to go) as they will insure it for $28750 for $935/yr........

Tried NRMA's "beat by 10%" and failed. They said they would only insure a 2003 skyline (sedan) to a maximum of $22k, whereas the just car online quote said $28k. For NRMA to do the 10% offer, the quote has to be identical, ie I have to get a quote from someone else for $22k. I tried lowering the Just car quote online, but it kept it at $28k no matter what I put the purchase price at. I would have to call and explain I don't want to insure it for $28k, but $22k. Not keen to do that as when they drop the agreed value every year it is already $6k behind the 8-ball. Tried Famous and Dawes, with no go. Famous no because the wife is under 30 and Dawes because they want to ram my arse. So I guess my choices are Just car insured for $28k for just under $1k a yr. I have a mate with them and he doesn't rate them well and he told me they aren't to keen to shell out if the time comes. NRMA for $22k for under $1k a yr or Shannons for $1300 insured for $27k with all the good options such as windscreen replacement etc. Rather annoyed as I have a perfect driving and insurance record and that includes when I owned my fairly modified 180sx for 6 yrs which I got down to quite cheap (last I paid was just over $1k with engine/driveline conversion, big stereo etc).

Well I might play that game then, call NRMA and ask if they will price match Just Cars. Done an online quote for me and the missus on Just Car was $935. Thing I have to remember and allow for is Just Car don't have windscreen cover etc. So it may be bit over that with NRMA. It would be simpler for me since I have the house and other car (both current cars, one is going) with NRMA. I also opt for the hire car option when in reality we probably don't need it for the 2 car family..... I did an online quote with NRMA (surprised to find imports on there actually) and it was $1395 full comp with windscreen cover. Weird thing is I have always had windscreen cover on all my cars, except my first car which I had to get a windscreen for (cheap it was a '77 mazda 323) I have never had to get a windscreen. I just know if I take it off Iwill need it the next day. I tried Shannons and they want $1356 full comp but they cover windscreen, hire car etc.

Is this a coupe thing or do the windows in the sedan stuff up as well?

No mate, I live in the outskirts of Brisbane. As far as I am aware it's not to bad, there are much worse....

WTF? I rang those guys as we have both cars (yet to receive my V35 sedan) and the house with them and they wanted $1490 agreed value of $25k! I am 34 and have a perfect driving and insurance record.

Hey guys, not so much a newbie (joined back in '03), just a chap who has gotten another import. Back in 1998 I bought a 180sx which I had for 6 yrs. Later during that time I got done over hard core by dodgy mechanics, hated the 180sx and sold it in 2004. Bought myself a brand new corolla in '05, met a lass and got married, got a Camry last yr as a bigger car (no kids yet). The wife was keen to get rid of the Camry as she isn't really a fan and she knows I always had a soft spot for the imports. She agreed we could get another import but it had to have 4 doors. We looked at a few options and I initially wanted a JZX100 Chaser, problem is they are so dated looking now and the boot is tiny. Had a look at a few stagea's, Legnums and Gallants (hate under the bonnet) and also at V35 Skylines. I wanted a manual and picked out this one which I get in a few weeks (yet to be complianced). It is an '03 350GT, 6MT, I guess you could call it a base model as it has standard air con and no BOSE. It will do us just fine, for what we got it for over importing we wouldn't of saved much. It still has the plastic on the door sill metal trim pieces and only 1 key has been used the other key it still inits plastic. He had seat doilies (sp) but they were removed, I would have been keen to keep them. I only have the link to carsales, I will decide wether to remove the trim or not when I get it. V35 Sedan

I am pretty sure it is like a lip that comes down, on the front bar. But if you don't have the stock bar it probably has been removed.

Ah I see, sounds fine then. It is a choice between an R34 or EVO 6....thus far I was looking at 15yr import but just to darned old and of course the 15yr rule change. Thanks Pete

Oh ok so it is the only problem you have had so far? How about others? I have had experience with Nissan coil packs before as I had my old 180sx since '98 ( i had to replace a few), but thats gone to a new home now. BTW the coilpacks sit on top of the spark plugs, which are located between the 2 cam covers under the cover that is there. Not so easy to see on a 34 due to the big NEO cover there but on R32/3's etc easy to see.

hmm I was interested in getting an R34 4door manual, I am not sure if I will get one after these problems here.

Sheesh I know how you feel! I lost my car for approx. 18 months due to a faulty engine rebuild.......I am now selling (and have sold) the car as it feels tainted even though it is 110% now.

Blowing the headgasket, passenger side between cylinders 1 and 2.....

I WAS very keen on trying some RB26 cams for my RB20, I also have a set of adjustable cam gears here which are yet to be fitted. With these adj. cam gears in would the RB26 cams work then or is it the whole "ramp on the cam lobe thing" that throws everything out of wack? If so what cams would be recommended? I have a std rebuilt RB20 (apart from Trust headgasket

Unless you chip your Xbox/Playstation 2. A number of those dirt cheap DVD players (under $100) that I have seen (I don't have one but my friends do) can play them......

Sorry to hi jack the thread but in reply to bobjones, Chevy454 con rod bolts fit into RB20 rods but the rods require the smallest of machining less than 15 thou, but the bolts are the right length and have the same shape head.......

So every step along the way my workshop has been honest, the scary thing is that some people are not. Currently, in this workshop there is a 180, with a $15K engine, when we pulled it down, no forgies as told, and the reason for the engine failure...standard bottom end bearings in the WRONG way... Hey thats my car! Lol! I knew it didn't have forgies in it as I only wanted a std rebuild. I was supposed to watch the rebuild but didn't, I wanted to see how an engine was rebuilt so badly (I have never seen it before) I guess I went to the right place! Other mistakes he did miss-aligned camshafts (both) 2-3 teeth out (The fella didn't know why it didn't run properly so another shop diagnosed this as ECU so I had microtech fitted which did not solve the problem obviously), sealant in the oil pump which caused low oil pressure and destroyed 3 std turbo's and of course the lucky special upside down bearings! The conversion cost me $16k at the time but $6.5k of this was fixing the engine rebuilders stuff-ups (but includes microtech (missdiagnosis unfortunately but it shouldn't of had to been diagnosed in the first place), 3std turbo's, my new turbo(T4-T3 hybrid), new clutch (as the last one I thought was shagged as it slipped and felt weird-pedal went soft/hard at different points) when the new clutch was being fitted it is how my mate changing the clutch found the 2-3mm endfloat in the crank, new oil pump + fitting, other bits and pieces. Now factoring in the new rebuild it will of pushed my simple RB conversion over $20k, if it cost me $10k with std rebuilt RB20 I woulda been a lot happier. The funny thing is the guy who stuffed my engine up has a chip on his shoulder at ME! Lol! funny little fella! He works at his old mans shop and at first he (the young fella) said they would pay for everything, then his old man said he offered no warranty as I was involved in the conversion (I fitted fuel pump organised wiring loom etc but NOT the engine build)! So they are only paying for new crank and bearings only and removal and refitting of the engine only. I have had to pay for everything else (head rebuild/re-co etc) lucky it was only the bottom end that was stuffed the head was ok no foriegn matter. Funny thing his business card says "guarantee's on all work" Hmm may have fun with that. Oh yea sorry for the long post

Apparently you lose low down torque on an RB20 with RB26 inlet manifold. But anyway they had to make an adaptor plate for it all to fit.