I don't have all the answers and never meant to convey that I did. I do find it funny that a lot of members were quick to shoot down any possible way to accomplish adding cruise without really knowing. My guess is that those functions that you talk about like VDC are by default off and may never be looked for by the ECU until activated. I know with all switches required for the cruise installed in a base, I just get a flashing dash light when activated. I wanted to take on this project and asked if anyone new a tech with the consult II and never got one response. I gained a lot of information looking through the forums and wanted to share this project with everyone, but it never got past the hardware install phase. still interested in trying to get it working.

 

Does your base model already have the throttle motor installed. (vacumn control unit that pulls and sets the throttle when the cruise is set.) Is the second brake switch installed to dissengage the throttle and the cruise? These are items that would not be cost effective in a car without cruise.

 

The Z uses "drive-by-wire" so there is no vacuum speed control like that what used on old mechanical linkage throttles. Everything is controlled by the ECU. Cruise control is an ECU function that has been omitted from the Base model.

 

I agree with DavesZ#3 response, I bought and installed the clutch and brake switches myself. The switches were really inexpensive and easy to install. The brackets and wiring are already on the car so it was a no-brainer, I think the switches were like 25 bucks a piece. I am convinced the missing piece is the ECU.

 

And how much is an ECU going to set him back? Seems like one expensive and complicated "mod". Maybe he could buy DevilZ's? lol

 

Exactly^^^^ That's why people half-jokingly suggest trading the Base for an Enthusiast. By the time you made CC work on a Base, you could have got one with it.

 

Can we STOP HATING on this guy? I have an 08 base. Yes, long trips are a pain w/out cruise. But the people that don't own a Z still drool! And I did save about $2000.
Did pay extra for the side/head airbag option - sweet!
Thinking, naked feet + small pillow = GOOD TO GO!

 

There was one guy on another forum who did the retrofit. He needed the ECU, a new accelerator pedal assembly, the buttons and he also had to do some wiring.

Possible, yes... worth it, no.

 

I looked into getting an ECU from a different model and it wasn't all that expensive for a used one, I think it was like $250 or something like that. The biggest hurdle is getting someone to program it to the vehicle; keys have to be married to the ECU or something along those lines. I never have seen in any forum that anyone accomplished this mod, so it would be interesting to see what year Z it was accomplished on. Again the year Z that this thread is written for is a 2006, which I believe already has the correct wiring harness needed for this mod. Switches are really an non-issue on this year Z, steering controls contain the radio and cruise control buttons, so that is like a two for one on a base model and the brake and clutch switches were inexpensive.

 

no one is hating on the base they are just saying for the cost of adding CC it would be cheaper to just sell it and trade for an enthusiast. and unless this guy has lots of mods to his car there is no reason to try and add CC to his current car