Sup,

Please excuse my dumb question.
Can 2004.5 be labeled as 2005? When did 2005 production start?
How do I make sure I have 2005 and not 2004.5?

Thanks

 

easiest would be to identify if your model has a seat lifter (front/rear) for the driver. if it does, its an '05. also all models in 05 have tire pressure monitors standard now, but that only applies if you have a lower trim 05 (base or enthu)

 

You can buy Ultra Yellow ;D
2005 only color...

 

so tell us, do you have an'04 or an '05 ?...,....

 

There is no official 2004.5. A number of changes were made in the spring of 04, but only minor ones. So some who bought an 04 after that time call it a 2004.5.

Look at your VIN number, and compare it to this chart. You can easily see what year it is:

 

From what I can tell the 2004.5 has all the running changes that are in the 05 except for the 5AT rev-matching and the now standard TPS.

 

From the Nissan www.nissan-techinfo.com website where they list the service manuals available for the Z:

2004 Nissan 350Z Coupe/Roadster Service Manual (Coupe VINs up to D*4T160000,E*4T060000) (Roadster VINs from D*4T102001 to D*4T110000 & from A*4T002001 to A*4T010000)

2004 Nissan 350Z Roadster Service Manual (VINs up to D*4T102000, A*4T002000)

2004.5 Nissan 350Z Coupe/Roadster Service Manual (Coupe VINs from D*4T160001, E*4T060001) ( Roadster VINs from D*4T110001, A*4T010001)

Nissan does not sell the mid year cars as 2004.5 (on the window sticker) nor can the VIN info state a half year designation other than the serial number section at the end. It seems the 2004.5 running changes started to appear on cars built 10/2003 and later. My 2004.5 Touring Roadster was built in 7/2004 so it's definitely a 2004.5 according to the VIN range statements and the fact that it was built just before the 2005 MY change over. The 2004 Touring Coupe that I had before the roadster was built in 9/2003 and it did NOT have any of the 2004.5 running changes.

There's enough of a difference between a 2004 and a 2004.5 for them to have revved the service manual for the car.

 

Interesting - my Z's VIN isn't done at the T plant - instead it has M so I wonder if the serial arrangement is different. It's E*4M then the serial number. Just about to pick it up next week so I can't imagine it being an early 04 model...

 

05's started production in 8/04 i believe...also, the vin for 05's has "5M" before the last six digits. when i was about to buy the z one car had production date of 7/04 and was selling as an '04, another car had production date 8/04 and was selling as an '05.

 

Any place to find out the production date? Mine's not the T production facility but rather the M (wonder if that's a newer 04). Just curious really. I figure since it's M, and 05's are M, maybe they finished up the 04's at a different plant...

 

The last alpha in 350z vin is either T (oppama plant) or M (tochigi plant). I beleive Nissan moved production to Tochigi in jan 04. So most late 04's and all 05's are M.

 

yeah the key to make sure your car is 05 is to look at the vin...the "5" in 5M****** signifies that it is a 2005 model. so even though your car may have the "M" it may be a later model 2004 like "tmsjz" said.

 

This is a very informative thread, maybe it deserves a place in FAQ