Allegedly the reason the original owner traded it was to buy an '04 Roadster.

 

My '03 Track has 6k miles with only the tire feathering problem. Had the TSB done at 5k which helped with the noise. Too early to tell if it's a long term fix. I had the window streaks but they went away on their own. None of the other problems we've all read about have happened on my Z. It's been garage parked for a couple of months while the snow hangs around but I can't wait to dust the cob webs off.

I've been reading as many of the tire feathering related posts that I come across in this forum and others and have concluded that part of the problem is with the stock tires. Therefore, I'll run these tires bald and go with another model or different brand altogether.

 

They don't have any tours coming to Florida as far as I know. I wish they would come down here. Are you planning on going to see the them?

I use my car mainly for driving from Gainesville to Orlando (250mi round trip). I sometimes drive it on campus (UF), but I've only had bad experiences. A bike rider hit my car while I was driving and fled the scene, a car hit my rear bumper, and there are cops all over the place. I don't plan to park on campus because the spots are too small so I just take the city bus. But everytime I drive her, it's like the first time I'm driving it--pure excitement.

 

let's see tire feathering, grease streaks[almost gone], drivers window motor died[ replaced], on second set of tires and waiting on a permenant fix, when the feathering is figured out I will be one happy camper. This is my third Z and by far my favorite, best looks and handling by a mile, I wanted a road car and the Z fits the bill. Don't care about blowing others away at lights or in traffic but I do like to open it up every now and then or put it thru some tight turns. I have confidence that nissan will figure out a way for us to get some decent milage out of the tires. So get your vehicle back to the dealer, the vast majority of posts about dealers has been pretty positive. my own dealer has been very good[ West- Herr Nissan] Just got new tires after the flip-flop can't wait for the weather to break next month cause as soon as the salt is off the roads I am off to florida probably do about3,500 miles in 10 days or so, The funny part is I ve never noticed any pull or other issues with steering or handling. So Hang in there Doc, the ride is worth it!

 

Purchased 11/4/02 ~ 24,000 miles

I had slight feathering at around 7K miles, which the alignment and tire rotation abated. The road noise is a little loud but well worth the fun this car provides.

I also had the grease streaks which disappeared on their own.

It seems reading the problems posted on this board have made you paranoid and pessimistic. You should try just enjoying the car and let the dealer fix any problems as they may appear while its still under warranty.

I love my car. I wish you luck with yours.

 

oh by the way 12,500 miles and loved every mile of it!

 

Well, just got back from the dealer, and they didn't even have me down for a service appointment! That's a poor start. The SW didn't seem even vaguely knowledgeable or interested in the problem. He did acknowledge that the Master Tech who is no longer there did authorize tire replacements, which NNA (now?) does not authorize. Maybe that's why he's gone...helping out the customer too much.

Anyway, I'm curious...to those of you who have said "the dealer went out of their way to deal with my feathering problem"...just what did they do? That is, beyond the initial TSB, which is clearly all these folks are going to do.

 

i'm about to engauge in an epic battle with nissan. i've just discovered slight tire feathering at 14,500 miles.

i've already had my tranny and shift fork replaced, window greasing fixed, auto up feature on the window fixed, ebrake worked on, radio replaced (first one ate cd's, second one made my speakers pop. i ended up just putting my own in there)

things that are still f-ing up:
*pass. window still pops down half way if i use the auto up
*pass. visor, rear view mirror, and plastic piece by a-pillar rattle like an sob. i've been told that they can't fix it (w/o them even trying...after all "we didnt buy these cars to be quiet inside")
*gas tank door sticks out enough that i can stick my pinky finger in the gap. again, i've been told that they can't fix that.
*tire feathering

not to mention that when they replaced my tranny, they put a dent and chipped the paint on my pass door. they "fixed it" 3 f-ing times until i got so fed up i accepted the **** poor work. you can see the waves when looking at a reflection of a sunset or something of that sort.

i love the car, but for the love of christ, this is rediculous.
NNA offered a friend of mine to swap out his 03 track for an 04.5. they would keep the payments the same, basically just switch out the vin on the loan.
i'm hoping in can raise enough hell to get a deal like that. (i also bought mine used)

 

Nismo,

Im going to see them when they open for APC on April 1st at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, CA. Should be a good show.

 

nothins perfect doc. go to an M3 forum and you'll see them complaining about blown engines. whats more, if BMW finds out youve been racing(and they have been known to watch at big track events and record vins) they wont honor the warrenty.

mitsubishi, youd probably start having problems with your tranny and clutch there too, same for the STI.

simply put any sports car these days is pushing the envelope, and drivetrain problems are almost an unavoidable issue, the technology is finally surpassing the materials.

hope they fix it without too much whining, and it lasts you forever. The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence.

 

Or maybe he was getting rid of it due to the problems? Go to his house and see if he has a roadster now.

 

i dont want to keep blowing smoke up your a** but i thought i would add in my $.02 since my story somewhat mimics yours. I also bought my car used last october. main difference here is that i bought mine when it had 11K miles on it. i had no prior knowledge of the feathering issue and by the time i came in for the routine 3k oil change, my car was sitting just under 15k miles. at that time i was told my fronts were shot and when i looked the inside tread was already down to where the belts were showing. this gets at your next question. since i was over 12k miles nissan turned down everything that i asked for and my dealer had to pay for my front tires themselves. it really wasnt all that hard for me cause i could easily play the faulty product card because as a dealer they should have known about the feathering problem while the car was on their lot in order to perform the TSB before anyone came to buy it.

to address all this other stuff; I too have the grease, getting less as the days go on. i have the touring and had to replace the bose amp, this is the only thing that i am kinda pissed about still. and i also have some general creaks cracks and buzzing coming from the door panels especially in the cold. despite this though i love this car and am willing to work through all of this. in fact i cant wait till spring to start getting new shoes for her and even a sound system. so keep your head up and always feel free to post any other questions cause by now you can be sure of one thing: you are probably not the only one that is having the problem and there is always someone out there that can help.

 

yobri & shimz

http://www.teamomni.net/teamomni/omnigyrlz/set_04.htm

*NWS*

Sorry for partial hi-jack

Her name is Sonia, she is rediculous.

 

Bought mine used with 4K miles on it......it now has 9K miles and i have had ZERO problems with this car. The fit and finish are incredible, the engine is very smooth (i often forget to go from 4th to 6th because its so smooth). Awesome car!!

 

I love mine... I have 24000 miles on my 03 Enthusiast. Only problems Ive had would be slight feathering, but I just took care of that with some 19" wheels and tires.... what better reason? I also had my drivers dide window poop out, but that was replaced. Now everythig is just dandy.

Also, had you bought an M3, they dont tell you about the special M3 motor oil that it needs for $60 a quart, and it burns about a quart a month. Check it out.

For $30k, the 350Z is a helluva car.

 

27000 miles and still kickin Boxsters asses! Still gettin looks! still hittin the 150's! Still gettin grease streaks on the window! but WTF! For $30K SHI*! It doesn't get any better than this! I love my Z!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

26,000 tire feathering grease streaks bose prob otherwise nothing.

ok maybe trunk not opening all the way when popped even with tons of wd40

 

I now have 16,000 miles. Had the feathering (fixed and got new tires); had the Bose TSB (sounds great now) and had the grease TSB done (no problems whatsoever).

Why ***** about having the problems, when they agree to fix them? If they don't, file a Lemon Law claim and get rid of the car.

Enjoy this great car...quit dwelling on the little negative things!

I've had 4 BMWs......had to take them in for problems too. They're cars.....machines......not perfection.

 

Call Nissan Customer Service. 8,200 miles, I had the feathering problem in November, took it in for service, the SM said their was no feathering, but did the TSB anyway.

2/11/04 I called Nissan Customer Service and told them I had the feathering problem and the dealer was not responsive. Two days later the Nissan Rep called and wanted to know if I could take my Z in on 2/16/04. I did, the TSB was done again, and my new tires are being put on this friday.

I also had two other issues, the drivers seat was lose and there was a cracking sound under hard accel in 1st. The seat was fixed today as was the cracking sound!

The dealer is massively different once Nissan Customer Service gets involved.

Good Luck and
Happy Z'ing

 

Yup, I'm in the 25k miles range - Vin 771 delivered 8/20/03 (yes, release date)...

I barely have the window grease. Someone told me that the first 1000 cars were evaluated much more heavily than the remaining production cars - ie they made sure to check all tolerances etc. I'm even usually pretty late getting oil changes.

All told this car has once again reinforced my belief that Nissan is the premier car company with outstanding design, manufacture, and performance. The only thing I wish they'd work harder on is getting the customer service at dealerships up to a better mark. Of course this is not a Bimmer or a Benz, but some of the experiences most people have had w/ Nissan dealerships leave a bad mark on the entire company...

Nissan is coming up, the 350z is currently their flagship. Get your probs fixed and then go out to one of your regional meets (no meets? start one!). . . I'm pretty much planning on buying a FX35 in 3 years (once the 3 year lease's come back) too, so I can attest that I believe in the success of the "new" nissan.

Good luck!