Tayzzer22

iTrader: (3)

I bought a used 03 Base 350z and am taking it in for my first minor service (7500Mi service. and my car currently has 38K miles on it). I do not know what has been done to it in the past, and when I purchased the car about 4000 mi ago, I had the car checked out by an AAA garage which gave it two thumbs up. My question..

I already know that I'm bringing my own oil (amsoil 5w-30, and K+N oil filter) but what else should I bring with me? It seems like they just check a crap load of stuff.. I just want to be ready if any of the stuff they check (fluid-wise) is low. Anything non stock I should use for better performance?

According to the "Nissan Premium Maintenace Schedule" they:

*Replace engine oil and filter
*Lubricate Propeller shaft (better lubricant out there? or don't bother?)
*Road Test
*Rotate tires/adjust air pressure (Get this from free from my tire company)
*inspect the following:
- all lights (Can definitely do myself)
- Automatic transmission fluid (uhh.. I have a 6speed)
- Axle/Suspension parts
- Battery fluid level (probably will skip until battery dies)
- Brake pads, rotors, drums & linings (will probably research how to do this.. any links for this?)
- Charging/starting systems
- Clutch Fluid (can I get anything better than stock? or don't bother?)
- Coolant level/top off (anything better than stock? or don't bother?)
- Differential oil (anything better or don't bother?)
- Engine air filter (will skip - I have a popcharger)
- Exhaust system
- Front drive shaft boots
- Front Suspension ball joints
- Horn operation (HAhahahahahaaaa!!!!)
- Limited-slip differential oil (anything better or don't bother?)
- Manual transmission oil (Anything better or don't bother?)
- Power steering fluid level/top-off (Anything better or don't bother?)
- Propeller shaft
- Radiator hoses
- Shock Absorbers/struts
- Steering gear and linkage
- Steering linkage ball joints
- Washer Fluid level/top off (Don't care)
- Wiper blades (Don't care)

Thanks guys!!

zand02max

iTrader: (22)

No propellor shaft on the Z. Skip the ripoff dealer and do the oil/filter change yourself. Don't bother the road test, they will wreck, scrape your wheels, or redline your Z!

Ensure you put a new crush washer on your oil plug! Nissan parts sell them for about .80. I would wait until the 30K service and maybe take it in, but def. not to a Nissan Dealer, they will rip you off!

Save your hard earned money and DIY!

davidv

iTrader: (2)

That’s about it.

savvy

iTrader: (1)

wow they really stretch it far to add more bullets to their list of stupid crap...check horn operation? Are you freaking kidding me?

NoahzBurnt

iTrader: (10)

i just add mods every 3 months and get an oil change while i'm at it...the dealer requested I never bring my car back....nothing is stock anymore

mg350ZR

dbasal

Grab your ankles and bring a pillow to bite

The Brickyard Rat

iTrader: (1)

I have oil changes done by local shop I trust but do go to the local Nissan service dept for 30,000 mile service. I have a good relationship with dealer service & trust them. They do "regular" 30 G service; if they discover something (which they did not) they would call for approval to proceed.

Tayzzer22

iTrader: (3)

Hahha!! That seems to be the general census! Since the car is used, it is at 38K mi at which I'm doing MY first 7500mi service. Sorry, I thought I mentioned that (guess not).

The only reason I'm not doing the oil change and filter change is that I don't have a way to jack my car up to get underneath. And even though someone mentioned being able to jack just the back end up, seems like that would keep the car at an angle and not all the oil would be able to leak out.

And do you guys have any suggestions on better performance alternatives for the fluids mentioned? Seeing as how I haven't done any services on the car myself yet, I don't know what needs to be topped off or replaced so I just wanted to be ready for it.

Thanks for the replies!

TurboSteve

iTrader: (6)

I have been taking my Z and my wifes Mazda 3 to the Nissan/Mazda dealer in town and havent had any problems. It's 10 bucks for the oil change each... Why WOULDNT I want to take it there!

geomark

iTrader: (2)

Get Rhino Ramps for your oil changes. Crush Washer? I didn't even see one of those when I changed my oil. How important are those?

Tayzzer22

iTrader: (3)

I have seen these at a local car shop.. but how would you get all four wheels up? I see how you can get either the front or the back up, but then I wouldn't be able to slide the other two ramps under the car to the other wheels.

How cheap are hydraulic lifts? Lol!

TurboSteve

iTrader: (6)

why would you need all four wheels in the air... just drive up on the ramps with the front wheels, get under car and drain oil

Tayzzer22

iTrader: (3)

because if you are at an angle, the oil that collects in the side of the oil pan will not drain out.

Still do anyone have recommendations on replacing the fluids of the car with better higher performance alternatives? (brake fluid, transmission oil, clutch fluid, coolant, lsd oil, power steering fluid, etc) I'm already going to replace the oil with amsoil synthetic