ShadowSide

Hey everyone

I have the option to purchase 2 350z's I have been looking at in the last few months.

One of them is a 2004 Track Edition with 120,000km (75,000 miles). It has some nice Nismo bodykit parts and upgraded exhaust. The only con is that the clutch is slipping and while not that bad of a fix, I am concerned that the car has potentially been extremely thrashed as a result. I am getting it fully checked for compression, cylinder borescoped, full body check etc etc.

The other is a 2005 Track edition with 168,000km (105,000 miles) on it. A lot more stock and doesn't look as nice body-kit wise but it doesn't have any repair issues that I am aware of and again would get it fully checked.

I am torn between which to get. I'd ideally like to get a lower km vehicle however the 2005 has the CD009 (I am getting this checked to make sure it has this transmission), but the 2004 has a lot lower miles and a nicer bodykit on it.

Which is the best to get here if both came back with good pre purchase checks?

Also, I heard that I need to avoid early 2004 models and get 2004.5 models. I have been told this is a later model but I am unsure how to check if it is an early or later model 2004? I saw a post talking about the Vin numbers but mine didn't fit anywhere as mine is a JDM import.

THanks!

MicVelo

RHD??

ShadowSide

Yeah it is haha. Both of them are

I live in NZ

MicVelo

Ah got it.

in the USDM, the 2004.5 is actually like a 2004 and 3/4. They are cars built after June 2004 (July-something) so a look at the VIN tag should tell you what you need. Whether that's true globally is unknown (at least by me) This model received the CD009.

As for which to buy.... look first st the owner and whether s/he took care of the car, e.g., service records, receipts, etc. A well maintained, higher mileage car is generally a safer bet than a neglected, lower mile car. Wise to have the cars checked out as you're doing.

ShadowSide

Ahhh gotcha ! It says the car was first registered overseas in October 2004. Are cars automatically registered when built ?

Definitely why I am getting the pre purchase check haha. Would you worry about the slipping clutch or if all the checks come back fine just get that fixed and should be good?

DarkZ03

iTrader: (11)

Who told you to avoid early 04s, this is why I don't just listen to anyone lol. I've had my early 04 since 2011 and it's had minimal issues.
Only breakdown I had was a battery, cam sensor and fans.
That's in 12 years/45k miles

bre240z

I agree with this. I have a 2004 and havent had any issues at all. Currently sits at 114,000 miles. Ony thing ive done to it is change out some front bushings, 2 ignition coils and valve cover gaskets. Got this car with about 70k on it one owner. Car seemed to be taken cared of very well with maintenance history. Only reason i got this one.

ShadowSide

A lot of people said 2002 - early 04s had a lot of issues that were fixed from later 2004 onwards. This is what I have been told though

MicVelo

Accurate but not a reason to totally avoid a pre-2004.5.

As folks mentioned, very few "real" issues. I just sold my '03 with no issues.

What the 2004.5 brought to the table were a few things:

- CD009 transmission
​​​​​​- Revised shocks (fix for early improperly valved units)
- Slight revisions to front suspension - nothing you feel until the tires went bad)

These were all Nissan fixes to complaints about ride quality and irregular tire wear.

Worth it to avoid? IMEO, no. A well kept, low mileage '03-04 is still a fantastic car.

ShadowSide

Oh I thought that the 2004.5 still had the CD008 ?

Everywhere I have looked I got told that the 2005 was the first model with the CD009

MicVelo

https://cdn.z1motorsports.com/upload...ck%20Guide.pdf

DarkZ03

iTrader: (11)

I think the "problems" are overstated, I had both 03 and 04 and like I said before no issues to report. I drove mine in snow as well.