Cars Arrived From Japan, Now To Start Planning.

[Nzguzzi]

Arrived yesterday.

2005 pnm35 Axis S

3.5L

Came with new set of Yokohama tyres

103,000km on clock

Seems mint, was a grade 4.

Drives real tight.

Leather interior.

My questions.

What should be the first thing to upgrade?

I want to keep factory wheels and factory exhaust.

What's standard fuel economy for a PNM35 3.5L?

Edited May 11, 2014 by Nzguzzi

[PN-Mad]

Expect 9-10litres/100 on the freeway, and up to 15/100 round town doing short trips.

First upgrade is to do all the fluids/filters in the car to set yourself a base line service schedule. Unless of course you have the cars exact service history, which pretty much no one gets. Ask the compliance joint what they serviced. Set of plugs wouldn't go a miss either.

A good set of brake pads. It's a heavy car with comparatively small brakes.

And clean out the plenum and PCV oil re circulation section in the intake manifold. It collects some rubbish over time.

That'll keep you busy for a good few weekends and the wallet empty for a while.

[Nzguzzi]

Good to know.

It's booked in for Wednesday to be complied.

Will get full service, plugs, filters, fluids, brake pads.

Some guy down the road specialises in Nissan auto trans flush, fluid flush.

i will go see him after the car gets through compliance.

[PN-Mad]

Just make yourself aware of what stuff they are going to use and do. Trade brake pads are pretty shit. Do some research and see if you can get some decent ones, they will greatly increase your faith in the stopping of the car.

I guarantee they won't change the internal cabin filter, not the fuel filter, as it's in the tank. If you want it done, specifically ask. Plugs are platinum or iridium or something, they aren't cheap.

Auto trans fluid MUST be matic J or the other one people use is the nulon 100% synth that is matic j compatible.

Will they do the front and rear Diffs and the transfer case as well?

Trust me, there is a LOT of serviceable fluids to do on this car!

Looks greta btw, black car!

Hard to keep clean and swirl free!!!

[KiwiRS4T]

If you are going to keep the stock wheels (they look fine) I would get some spacers to make them more flush with the body (20mm or so possibly different front and rear). This is mainly cosmetic although it will increase your track a little. Also jump on the current group buy for front and rear sway bars - that will lessen the floating on corners even with the stock shocks.

[Nzguzzi]

Thanks for the info.

Also for the double din fascias to install touch screens.

Is there a better brand or shop that sells them?

All air con buttons still work etc......

I do have a mate who lives in Japan if this helps.

[Nzguzzi]

Looks greta btw, black car!

Hard to keep clean and swirl free!!!

Yes, I can see this will be adding a few extra hours of work to my tennis elbow.

I have an electric polish machine with the foam pad, left over relic from when I was a panel beater.

As much as I love a show room finish, shopping mall car parks quickly loose my proud smile

[300CHONG]

+1 interest in this thread. Got a 2004 350RX in Pearl White on the docks in Japan.

[PN-Mad]

+1 interest in this thread. Got a 2004 350RX in Pearl White on the docks in Japan.

Nice man, rwd or awd?

Colour, specs, any pics?

[300CHONG]

It's a RWD, 56,000km grade 4B, Pearl White.

I'm a bit of an auto n00b, so any and all advice, education, direction, lies, truths, helpful opinions etc etc would be appreciated...

[PN-Mad]

Nice pick up mate, glad to see some more series 2 cars popping up!

[Nzguzzi]

+1 interest in this thread. Got a 2004 350RX in Pearl White on the docks in Japan.

How much did you pay in total to get on the boat? ( car cost, agent fee, FOB transport )

Going to NZ or Australia?

Total cost all up for mine complied was $9438.20 NZD ~ this includes all cost, tax, shipping, fees.

Compliance was straight through, nothing required. ~ Grade 4

Edited May 15, 2014 by Nzguzzi

[300CHONG]

Is it the 3.5L engine?

How much did you pay in total to get on the boat? ( car cost, agent fee, FOB transport )

Going to NZ or Australia?

Total cost all up for mine complied was $9438.20 NZD ~ this includes all cost, tax, shipping, fees.

Compliance was straight through, nothing required.

Yep, 3.5L Engine.

Imported to Australia through North Shore Prestige, and they're doing compliance as well.

Mine will work out around $15K AUD.

It's on the high seas at the moment, landing end of May, and I should be in it around mid june...

There's so many options for what to do, and so little money in the wallet

[Nzguzzi]

Nice pick up mate, glad to see some more series 2 cars popping up!

The 2's have the nicer interior

Got some serious grunt the 3.5L

[Nzguzzi]

Yep, 3.5L Engine.

Imported to Australia through North Shore Prestige, and they're doing compliance as well.

Mine will work out around $15K AUD.

It's on the high seas at the moment, landing end of May, and I should be in it around mid june...

There's so many options for what to do, and so little money in the wallet

Is that a cheaper buy than through a car dealer?

Ie .. Are you getting a better car cheaper than whats for sale in the yards?

I know Australian compliance can be expensive, so is your import duty.

In New Zealand it's just the 15% gst and $350 compliance fee

[Nzguzzi]

Just get a full fluid service, change filters including cabin filter ( switched my air con on... Smelled like old socks

To save some $$$ do easy jobs yourself , spark plugs, air filter, cabin filter.

Get good shop do the fluids, fuel filter, radiator flush, transmission fluid.

Then learn to do the engine oil change and filter yourself, and the basic everyday running service stuff.

Reason why I suggest first service in country done by pros, you can get a service log book stamped, keep receipts.

This goes a long way if you ever sell it later.

[Nzguzzi]

It's a RWD, 56,000km grade 4B, Pearl White.

I'm a bit of an auto n00b, so any and all advice, education, direction, lies, truths, helpful opinions etc etc would be appreciated...

Nice, you got the turn signal mirrors, they rare. Those look like original Axis factory option ones.

[PN-Mad]

NZ has access to much cheaper cars than Aust. That's the fact of life.

We are stuck with paying 50-100% more over here. That's just the market. Different compliance system. As I understand it can cost a importer $50,000+ to do the evidence package for a new model. They have to make that back up.

[300CHONG]

Yep, cheaper than a dealer, and able to look for specific options with an importer...

Seen similar cars for $20-25k through dealers, plus research suggests odometer playing...

I wanted low kms, and there weren't many 3.5Ls around either. I also got dual sunroofs in mine

Shipping, stamp duty, compliance, rego & taxes all up are around the $7k mark, and the compliance is going to take 2-3 weeks...

Mods I'm looking into are 19 or 20" wheels & slight lowering, audio stuff (with carplay when it's available), then exhaust and shift kit maybe... expensive exercises, but doable over 2-5 years, I think...

[Nzguzzi]

Yep, cheaper than a dealer, and able to look for specific options with an importer...

Seen similar cars for $20-25k through dealers, plus research suggests odometer playing...

Yes, I laugh when I see 2005 models with only 43,000k on the clock, 100,000 is more like it. You do get an odometer cert with an auction car that shows last 3 private owners...... Well I did