350gt-8 Opinions

[GTS4nMore]

Hi All,

I'm considering the purchase of an 350GT-8 sedan, have any of you have or heard of any negative experiences with the gearbox etc?

Anyone know if they can be serviced by nissan? I have read that they are not the same type/style as the Murano & Maxima...

Thanks for your help.

[kleenbeats]

Hi All,

I'm considering the purchase of an 350GT-8 sedan, have any of you have or heard of any negative experiences with the gearbox etc?

Anyone know if they can be serviced by nissan? I have read that they are not the same type/style as the Murano & Maxima...

Thanks for your help.

Let's put it this way my gt-8 has been at the shop since may (see my old post about my tranny issue). Countless hours spent trying to track down the problem, numerous different specialists and a whole heap of headaches laterI still don't have my car back. If your transmission has any sort of problems get ready for the headache of a lifetime. Nissan doesn't want to know you, transmission specialists are clueless and there is simply no paperwork around (except in Japanese). The transmission also uses a special oil called traction fluid and will set you back 800 to fill. If you put normal oil in it will f**k the rollers so be very very careful.

Also, the cost of a new one installed is about 15k. There's a bloke in NZ who specialises in this paticular model cvt and he's about as helpful as a brick on your balls. Non of the common scanners work on them except this guys and he will not give it out.

Some people will try and tell you that they are similair to the murano/maxima but they are not, totally different.

In saying all that they are a great car...haha... I'm hoping that the findings from mine helps open up a way to repair them so other owners don't have the same issues in repairing them.

Things are starting to look up with some recent news and once the problems fixed I'll be sure to let yall know...

[GTS4nMore]

Hmmm,

Thanks for the horror story!

I do hope you can get it fixed soon.

I think I might go with a 300GT instead if I can find a nice one....

[WazR32GTSt]

the 350GT sedan comes in a 5sp auto version also as far as i know, its not very common though.. its just called a 350GT not the 350GT-8

pretty rare but i think they're available..

EDIT: actually not sure if this is correct as i can't see any for sale without CVT.. i'll try to do some research

the CVT transmission isn't unheard of in australia.. they are standard in audi A4's, nissan murano, and a few others. i'd be surprised if there wasn't a CVT specialist in many states

Edited October 21, 2007 by WazR32GTSt

[kleenbeats]

the 350GT sedan comes in a 5sp auto version also as far as i know, its not very common though.. its just called a 350GT not the 350GT-8

pretty rare but i think they're available..

EDIT: actually not sure if this is correct as i can't see any for sale without CVT.. i'll try to do some research

the CVT transmission isn't unheard of in australia.. they are standard in audi A4's, nissan murano, and a few others. i'd be surprised if there wasn't a CVT specialist in many states

Oh for sure there is definately cvt specialists and I think at sometime or another I've probably had dealings with most of them.

The problem is the cvt found in the gt-8 is radically different. Nissan do not sell parts for it nor do they provide a workshop manual on rebuilding one of these beasts (I've seen the all the workshop manuals for the v35 series and the section on the tranny itself is very basic) .

Also your thinkinf of a 300gt which is a 4 door

[-= SKiZO =-]

Sorry to hear Will, i was wondering where you went! That really really sucks. Time for a manual conversion.

Crossing fingers mine doesn't die, cause at the moment I am absolutely loving the CVT "gearbox" and I'm very happy I didn't choose one of the other options.

[kleenbeats]

Sorry to hear Will, i was wondering where you went! That really really sucks. Time for a manual conversion.

Crossing fingers mine doesn't die, cause at the moment I am absolutely loving the CVT "gearbox" and I'm very happy I didn't choose one of the other options.

Hey man cheers, I been here lurking in the shadows with envy haha

It has indeed been a tough road but I think there on top of it (hopefully should know this week).

I also love the gearbox and hope the solution unearths a bit more info in how to repair it.

The main problem I've found is that an elite few know the info but have been very hesitant to give it to me.

The other problem has been cocky transmission places that go in gun ho saying they they have cvt experience.

It's always the same response

"none of our scanners work, we've called everyone we know around the world and no one knows anything"

Oh... one thing I did find out that may be of interest is there is 2 types, both very similair but not interchangable.

Other thing is this traction fluid that they use is ONLY produced by nissan and costs a bomb!( 800 to fill the tranny).

I have been to the end of the earth and back and no other oil compnay produces it.

Have you got the cvt pdf from the nissan japan site that explains it all?

I'll keep you updated bro (sorry to jack the thread)

P.S - I'm lucky though, I imported a legnum just before it happened so I got that to cruise around in.

[-= SKiZO =-]

No I don't, I'm happy to share the cost if you have it. I also haven't been able to find a scanner that can see the gearbox. I have a mate at a shop whos $5K scanner can see all the other bits and change all the settings of the BCM, but even it can't see the CVT.

[kleenbeats]

No I don't, I'm happy to share the cost if you have it. I also haven't been able to find a scanner that can see the gearbox. I have a mate at a shop whos $5K scanner can see all the other bits and change all the settings of the BCM, but even it can't see the CVT.

Nah mate it didn't cost me anything I just found it by share chance. I'll send you a link to it later tonight, helped shed some light on alot of things.

Yeah all the usual scanners are useless. As I said this bloke in NZ claims he can scan it with his custom scanner but I can't verify that.

However, I Have had the car successfully scanned by someone and am trying to find out what scanner he used.

[WazR32GTSt]

does it use a regular nissan consult plug?

i have a consult cable and nissan datascan on my laptop..

[GTS4nMore]

Thanks for the input guys, I also love CVTs, I have just sold an Audi A4 1.8T to get something a little cheaper & less costly to maintain.

You have basically confirmed what I was afraid of, even if you have warranty there is no one with the knowledge to fix it, as it is a very different animal to the Audi & murano/maxima type.

Thus I have decided to go for this 300GT:

http://www.sinergymotorsports.com.au/thumbnails.php?album=20

FYI, the 350GT only comes with a Standard type 5spd auto in the coupe & Series 2 (late 2004+) sedan

Example: http://www.sinergymotorsports.com.au/thumb...s.php?album=111

Edited October 25, 2007 by GTS4nMore

[kleenbeats]

Thanks for the input guys, I also love CVTs, I have just sold an Audi A4 1.8T to get something a little cheaper & less costly to maintain.

You have basically confirmed what I was afraid of, even if you have warranty there is no one with the knowledge to fix it, as it is a very different animal to the Audi & murano/maxima type.

Thus I have decided to go for this 300GT:

http://www.sinergymotorsports.com.au/thumbnails.php?album=20

FYI, the 350GT only comes with a Standard type 5spd auto in the coupe & Series 2 (late 2004+) sedan

Example: http://www.sinergymotorsports.com.au/thumb...s.php?album=111

Looks like a tight ride man, they really are a great shape and one that has to be seen in the flesh to be appreciated.

The reason I'm going through all this shit is because I love the gt-8 and want help out other owners. Hopefully one day all the

issues will be ironed out and they are able to be easily repaired and worked on. But until that day people should understand the complications that come with owning one of these cars.

[WazR32GTSt]

that 300GT does look nice

i have yet to see a 300GT in person with beige leather and sunroof

[GTS4nMore]

If any of you are looking for a manual 350GT Sedan, this one is really a SeriesII '04 or '05 model not 2002 like the ad says....

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...em=260166305742

A bargain I think...

[n15m0]

Had my heart set on a 350GT-8 sedan until I spoke to this guy at the import caryard who told me to stay away from them as they were expensive to repair.. Reading the above confirmed it...so what shall I do now...does the 350GT sedan come in standard 5 spd auto?

[n15m0]

Is there such a thing as a 350 GT-8 with NO paddle shift? (meaning its still CVT, but minus the paddle shift?)

[WazR32GTSt]

all CVT-equipped cars have paddle shift as well as the normal tiptronic shift on the shifter

that is, if you want to switch it out of the regular automatic mode