I know this may be a noob question but..whats considred a 04.5...obviously sounds like a Z that has been made in june/july 2004...but then again some Late 2003's are considered 04's...mines february 2004...is that considered 04.5???
whats the difference anyway?

 

I originally found the official distinction between the two on the nissan-tech.com site. You can tell in the VIN numbers:

2004 Nissan 350Z Coupe/Roadster (Coupe VINs up to D*4T160000,E*4T060000) (Roadster VINs from D*4T102001 to D*4T110000 & from A*4T002001 to A*4T010000)

2004.5 Nissan 350Z Coupe/Roadster (Coupe VINs from D*4T160001, E*4T060001) ( Roadster VINs from D*4T110001, A*4T010001)


Mine had a December ('03) build date.

The only major difference was the suspension. There were some minor cosmetic differences like the "padded" console, knee pads, etc.

 

yeah mine has that knee pad as well...what were the suspension changes?

 

One complaint with the '03 models was that the ride was too bouncy. There were some minor changes made to reduce the bounce. Can't say for sure what changes were made.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong on this, but from what I can gather, a true 04.5 was built at a different plant. In early 2004 Nissan changed assembly plants for the 350Z. The new plant is disignated by the letter M (it's the 11th digit in the VIN #). The letter T indicates that it was built in the older plant.

 

sounds legit..im still trying 2 find something that will tell online

 

Not true, mine's a "T". They actually started building the 2004.5's some time in October, the plant swapover took place the last week or two in Dec. if I remember correctly.

 

october 2003? or 2004?

 

Also, my 04.5 came with the new tred design on the Pretenzas front tires

 

yeah same here..so i asume mine is a 04.5

 

where do you get your info??? Mine was built in june of 2004 and i have the euro suspension, knee pads, etc...

 

Check your VIN Number see what letter it has T or M

By the sounds of it you have an 04.5

 

2003.

 

June 2004 would be near the end of the model year run, so naturally you'd have the 2004.5 version. It really all depends on the VIN numbers, especially if your was built late 2003. Remember, they stop building a model year late in the summer and start producing the next model year in fall.

 

i have M...so thats an 04.5...does it really matter when ordering performance parts...so far it didnt..just curious

 

Another great bit of resource found today, my VIN is JN1AZ34D34M*******, also has the knee and dash pads!


Confirmed, I have a 2004.5! Build date 7-29-04 , first titled 1-20-05, confirmed via carfax.

I think the changes did not address the tire feathering issue, I have VERY slight feathering on my Z after 13K miles. I did notice the ride changes while shopping for the Z, drove a few 03 and 05s

Off topic, but dropping the Z off next week at the dealer for 2 new front tires, alignment, axle clicking and passage window alignment! Getting it all done in one pass!

 

Plant code
T: Oppama
M: Tochigi

 

wut about if ur vin starts with J? im sure that is manufactor in Japan correct?

 

Sorry to bring this back... but I found this after I did a 'search' and I still haven't found an answer to my question even though I'm sure it's been discussed before

Are '04.5 models technically '05's? Or are '05's "newer" than the 04.5's? If they are different, how can you tell? Reason why I ask is because if people with 04.5's sell their car, can they technically say it's an '05 model?

 

Technically, they're still '04s since that's what it said on the window sticker and all the other associated documents.