Today I called back to 1-800-NISSAN1 and spoke to Dave (x3857) the 350z Specialist for the East Region... supposedly he is a supervisor.

Dave informed me that my only option was to get a repaint done. Nissan would never rebuy the vehicle or replace it.
I asked Dave if a "wet sand" would resolve--as I've heard this would possibly be an option.

Dave stated he would talk to other managers and let me know on Monday.

I told him that I would still like to talk to his manager and Dave declined stating that management would not want to discuss this with me--especially if I wanted to proceed with attempting to get a replacement--as it was not an option and a waste of time.

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I spoke to my friend's son who is a Car Dealership Manager in Florida (not Nissan) and he stated that if I get a repaint that the paint job will be noticable and that even then if they take a paint measure (I guess some sort of a laser or measuring device they'll be able to know that the paint is thinner/thicker than it should be. He said I'll lose at least $3K in a trade just for that... FYI--He's also preordered a 350Z.

He suggested a wet sand, but said it may leave some swirl marks on my black 350z.

He also suggested, which I did not think about, to DEMAND that I get to choose my own wet sander. If I go to the dealer they'll use there own crap and or vend to some local shop--which is what he (as a Dealer Manager would do). He suggested opening the phone book and finding a body shop that does high end vehicles like RR, Ferrari's, Porsches, Auston Martins, etc and DEMAND that they do the wet sand, as he stated, "Have you ever seen a Porscher, RR or Ferrari with Swirl Marks." -- DAMN GOOD POINT.

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OK, so I'm down to the following...

1. Get a buyback/replacement - No Chance, per Nissan
2. Have Nissan bodyshop wet sand - 50/50 Chance
3. Have someone of my choice wet sand - Unknown
4. Keep the car as is and trade in when 2004 and/or Convertible comes out. -- Very Likly.

Still think we should all team up and find us a nice lawyer.
Isn't westpack(?) a lawyer?

 

Let us know what he says about the wet sanding. If that can be done on the clear coat without hitting the color coat, it sounds like a reasonable option as long as another coat of clear is applied afterwards.

 

Ok, here is the latest...

The lady from Nissan Consumer Affairs (NCA) that I was working with and who was/is very helpful, Shelly (x3839), passed my issue over to the "East Region 350Z Consumer Affair" focal point, David Phillips (extension withheld).

David got no where.

I spoke to a personal friend who's son owns a car dealership in Florida. He stated that if I have the car repainted, any dealer can tell and I'll automatically lose $3K-$4K. If I have Nissan wet sand the car then, since I have black, more than likly they'll use the cheapest one possible and in addition, since the car has only 5-6mil of paint--wetsanding will greating reduce the amount of paint and could result in a quicker deterioration. He also stated that I should insist on picking my own body shop to do the wet sanding (he recommended calling a Ferrarri, Bently or RR dealership and use who they recommened--after all have you ever seen a Ferrarri with Orange Peel, Swirl Marks or a poor wetsand... point made).

I contacted Ferrarri of Atlanta and got the name and number of their personal wet sand expert. After talking to him, he stated that if I wet sand the pain with go down to 3-4mil. If this is the case then the paint may chip, peel or deteriorate faster. He suggested just living with it.

David stated that I would HAVE to use the person that Nissan told me to.

Since that was not an option I asked to speak with David's supervisor. David said his manager, Jamie C. (Manager of East Division Consumer Affairs) was not available and did not want to talk to me because David was handling the issue.

David said to drop the issue.

I stated, "Perhaps I should try to attempt to contact someone at Nissan North America Corporate" in Gardena(?), CA to voice my concern... I bet they'd listen to a 350Z Customer--since we're supposed to be treated like a gem."

David's response (and I quote):
"Go ahead, I dare you, no one will listen to you... they'll just come straight back to me."

What David didn't know is that that is the wrong thing to say to me... DARE ME not to do something and I'll drop everything I am doing and prove you wrong.

I utilized some of my resources and was able to locate several Corporate Executives and left then detailed voicemail messages.

I left about a total of 10 messages ranging from CIO, Accounting People, Executive Administrative Assistants, Product Managers, Area Managers and others (names are not important).

I also managed to get the South East Region Phone # (being nice to an Operator at the NNA switchboard has it's privledges). After that I just "drunk dialed" extensions. I spoke to a nice lady there, Dawn R., who while it was not her job role to assist me or listen to me--went above and beyond her job role to assist me.

So far I've gotten a call back from:

Carolyn B. - Executive Administrative Assistance / NNA Gardena, CA
Jim D. - Southeast Regional Executive
Michelle P. - Southeast 350Z Executive
*Not sure of exact titles

Jim is escalating on David Phillips and will work to resolve.
I explain Orange Peel to Michelle and she said she's going to call/visit the JAX port tomorrow to see the extent of the issue.

Progress has been made!!!

Oh yeah, Michelle also stated that a BOSE Fix is confirmed and on the way!!!

They don't call me "sammythebull" for no reason...

 

How about following up the wet sanding with another coat of clear? That should be less obivious than a full repaint and still provide the protection of the original finish.

By the way, I would probably take the repaint if it were offered to me.

 

I understand you wanting it fixed, but it sounds like 2 people told you you should live with it, as its better than the alternative of either a cheap paint job, weak paint, horribly depreciation, and regular PITA.

what is it that you are trying to accomplish at this point? for nissan to redo it with cheap paint? or for ferrari to redo it when they said it wouldnt be smart?

good luck and let us know how it turns out, but I dont see what the best possible outcome would even be.

 

Spoke to Carolyn, a Nissan Executive Specialist.
She seems helpful.
She called me because my voicemails that I left yesterday made it to the ears of some of the right people.

She said she's going to work with me.

I've asked her for a written document of understanding that says "this is what we are going to do", "this is how long it will take" and "this is what we will do if resolution is not obtained."

I just wish I could walk in and trade this vehicle for a one still at a dealer location--with less Orange Peel.

Oh well, maybe I'll just wait until the convertible comes out and then I'll trade it in.

 

I have a Brickyard Touring and it has orange peel. You have to look closely before you can see it, but it is there. I don't care because the color is beautiful and the orange peel doesn't detract from the car's appearance. I will not be having the car repainted. It doesn't detract from the beauty of the color, so I won't be asking or demanding Niissan fix it.

If it were as bad as Sam's I would have the car repainted and damn the loss in resale, but I plan to keep my Z for 10 years. My wife and I are both retired and she has a 99 Maxima w/28,000 miles, so neither car will be clocking commuter or business trip miles. If Sam or any other owner has a really bad case of orange peel, they need to ask themselves if its worth damaging their resale if they repaint it and will the new paint be better.

 

Maybe i was just blessed by jesus himself but there is NO ORANGE PEEL what-so-ever on my brickyard

 

walk outside to whatever car is on your driveway. look at the paint, youll see little bumps in the paint, rather than it being totally smooth. this is the standard in cars today. I have yet to find a car under 100grand that doesnt have orange peel on atleast some cars.

 

sorry testing..newbie here

 

Take a look at this thread and you will see some good photos of it.

https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....0&pagenumber=4

 

sorry this might be a stupid ?, but i talked to nissan on cobb..agent tried to sell the paint protection and some other protection as well...

did anyone run into this.?
are we obligated to buy this protection?

would like some feedback from the metro kennesaw, marietta, etc people..

thx

 

Paint protection is a waste of time. Use some Zaino products. The pain protection the dealer sells is a huge profit margin and won't protect you against scrathes or abrasions from normal wear and tear. If you keep your car clean and wax it often you have no need for dealer markup.

 

My black GM car has virtually none, and I've inspected it inside under bright lights (easiest to see any paint flaws).

On the other hand, I've been able to see it in some silver and gray 350Zs in even cloudy conditions.

I didn't see it on a black G35C I saw this weekend, also inside and under lights. If it was there, it was minor compared to what I've seen on some Zs.

I do think this is an issue with at least the early Zs I've seen.

 

like many have said before, team nissan in marietta (on cobb pky) has shady sales pratices. check them out on the better business bureau site (www.bbb.org)

btw paint protection is standard on all their cars for $1000.