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Latest message from BOSE...

Old Sep 26, 2003 | 01:28 PM
  #1  
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I sent another message to Bose. I was surprised to get an answer so quickly. A new message with same 'ol B.S.\

I wrote:


It has been almost 5 months since I wrote to you regarding the poor quality of the
Bose system in my Nissan 350z. You responded by acknowledging that the system was less than satisfactory and stated that you (Bose) was working on a solution. Your letter stated that you would follow up on this problem. You have not. Please advise.

Sincerely,
former Bose enthusiast,


they wrote:

Thank you for the follow up. We are working with Nissan for a resolution to this problem you will notified by Bose Corporation or Nissan as soon as a something is available.

Thanks for your patience I know it has been five months since you contacted us and we hope to have information as soon as possible.Thank you for choosing Bose Corporation.
Patty Bolack
Consumer Relations Division
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Old Sep 26, 2003 | 02:43 PM
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Nothing will ever happen according to the people at Nissan. The people I talked to said we bought the car knowing what it sounded like so we are stuck and that is why I have started to change mine out to after market system
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Old Sep 26, 2003 | 02:57 PM
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Here's the most recent one I received. A little different "canned" response but basically the same thing.

Hello Thomas,

Thank you for your inquiry. Bose Coporation has acknowledged the factory installed system is not performing to specification in the 2003 Nissan 350Z. We have been working with Nissan Motor Corporation to resolve this issue.

We will forward any information as soon as it is available. We apologize for the inconvenience this situation has caused.

Thank you for choosing Bose Corporation.

Patty Bolack
Consumer Relations Division
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Old Sep 26, 2003 | 03:40 PM
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"The people I talked to said we bought the car knowing what it sounded like so we are stuck"

I beg to differ. Many like myself who purchased the car early on, had to place an order for the car since very few if any, dealers had them in stock. We were strictly going by what was advertised by Nissan, a "Premium" Bose system. We had no clue what the stereo sounded like. Now as for the people who puchased a car that was on a dealers lot, heard the stereo, and still paid for it, I would say that situation might be a little different.
I personally would have had the dealer subtract the price of the stereo from the purchase price. That would have been fair.
Luckily for all of us, the car drives like a dream.

Last edited by SeanRod; Sep 26, 2003 at 03:43 PM.
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Old Sep 26, 2003 | 04:53 PM
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Approximately two weeks ago the CD6 stopped playing CDs in my "Tour". Got the "Check Disk" message on the display. Got the same message from all disks. Reported problem to the dealer. They do not repair the unit, so they ordered a complete unit. Was installed today at Reliable Nissan, Albuquerque, NM. It might be my imagination but the system sounds different. A "big" improvement in the 7 speaker sound quality. Maybe until Nissan and Bose resolve the problem, assuming it is not a speaker issue, insist on a "new" CD, Radio, Tape unit.
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Old Sep 26, 2003 | 05:15 PM
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Ron, i would really like to hear your new Bose H.U. We could do a test and set everything the same and listen to the cd/radio and see if there is a difference in the "new" one. That would be very interesting to see if there has been a change.

Then we can turn the damn thing off and listen to the Borla's...
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Old Sep 27, 2003 | 09:04 AM
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A few months ago I also had the check disc problem and got a new head unit. I think the better SQ is in your head though. However, I sat in an 04 Touring and noted a few things about the Bose. The HU is black and not the same color of grey as the rest of the dash like the 03. It sounds REALLY good in comparison to mine. There are features in the HU that are not in the 03's (menu functions). It is the speakers I think that are the crappiest part in our Bose systems.

FYI, Nissan goes to Bose and says, "We want a sound system for XX dollars." Bose says, "this is what you get for that amount." The problem lies with Nissan cheaping out on the system and not Bose making inferior products. I am sure that bitching to Bose is not the right tree to bark up. We need attention from Nissan. I am sure that the "resolution" Bose is attempting to come to is how to get Nissan to pay for better speakers for us and not trying to figure out how to make a better speaker/system. The 04's are in fact cured, IMO, of the problem. They have a different HU at the minimum and possibly different components altogether.
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Old Sep 27, 2003 | 09:17 AM
  #8  
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Default BOSE form letter

I recently received this reply from Bose myself. I thougt you guys might want to add it to the collection.


Dear Bose Customer

Thank you for your letter. We acknowledge this problem in the sense that we did in fact get your letter. Please accept this smoke screen as our way of stalling you until you lose interest.

As you must have figured out by now we can't really hear the problem ourselves since most of our engineers and technicians are either completely deaf, tone deaf, or simply don't listen to music at all. (Well the director of engineering does have that one Menudo CD...)

This should have been clear from the start since we didn't notice the system sucking when we relased the product intially. If we couldn't hear the problems then, what chance do we have to hear it now? I think you can appreciate our position on this.

As you know, Bose is the world leader in marketing crap as high quality. To maintain our reputation in this area we are doing everything within our power to string you along on this topic. You can look forward to prompt and courteous replies that effectively solve nothing.

We will be working closely with Nissan to keep you busy while minimizing our support costs. By working with the manufacturer of your car we can both imply that something is being done while simultaneously diluting the blame.

Please feel free to contact Nissan directly on this issue. We enjoy getting together with them after work and laughing at your letters. So far the record for striging a customer along is 19 months. We look forwarding to doing better in the future. Bose is all about continuous improvement!

Truth be told, we have no intention of addressing your problem or any other problem. We do, however, hope you will continue to correspond with us indefinetely, or at least until you give up and go away.

Sincerely,
I. R. Snickering
VP of Customer Runarounds
DontBother@Bose.com
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Old Sep 27, 2003 | 12:51 PM
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Originally posted by zh.guitar
Ron, i would really like to hear your new Bose H.U. We could do a test and set everything the same and listen to the cd/radio and see if there is a difference in the "new" one. That would be very interesting to see if there has been a change.

Then we can turn the damn thing off and listen to the Borla's...
Seth, when and where? In my opinion, it is like "night and day". I am thinking I had a bad "In Dash" unit from day #1. If the CD's had not started giving me problems, who knows how long I would have gone with the "old" unit. Even some of the "display" features are different. It now shows, in small graphics, "TNo." above the song on the CD. Also, the "random" play of a CD is there. You go from track #1 to track #10 and then back to #4, etc. etc. etc. Plus, while I enjoyed the massage, the speaker behind the seat is there, you notice it, but don't get the thump in the back. You are right, if all else fail we will just sit back and listen to "Borla".

Complain about the unit. Don't wait on Nissan or Bose! It can only be "replaced not repaired". Told Andy at Reliable CD's stopped playing. No questions asked, "new" in-dash unit ordered. Ordered, received and installed within 2 weeks.
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Old Sep 27, 2003 | 12:59 PM
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Originally posted by Mr. Potato Head
A few months ago I also had the check disc problem and got a new head unit. I think the better SQ is in your head though. However, I sat in an 04 Touring and noted a few things about the Bose. The HU is black and not the same color of grey as the rest of the dash like the 03. It sounds REALLY good in comparison to mine. There are features in the HU that are not in the 03's (menu functions). It is the speakers I think that are the crappiest part in our Bose systems.

FYI, Nissan goes to Bose and says, "We want a sound system for XX dollars." Bose says, "this is what you get for that amount." The problem lies with Nissan cheaping out on the system and not Bose making inferior products. I am sure that bitching to Bose is not the right tree to bark up. We need attention from Nissan. I am sure that the "resolution" Bose is attempting to come to is how to get Nissan to pay for better speakers for us and not trying to figure out how to make a better speaker/system. The 04's are in fact cured, IMO, of the problem. They have a different HU at the minimum and possibly different components altogether.
Perhaps it is in my head, but I just received the unit, and feel it is better. Maybe my timing was right? Maybe Bose, knowing they have a problem are sending out 04 head units to replace complaints from 03 units. You put both on the work bench and they look identical. What you hear and see (i.e. "Menu Functions") are there that weren't there before.

Find something wrong with curent unit and request "new" unit.
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Old Sep 28, 2003 | 07:37 AM
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What new functions do you have and what do they do?
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Old Sep 28, 2003 | 06:46 PM
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The additional function in the '04 Bose system is a selection to turn the "Audio Pilot" either on or off. The head unit alone is not the only change for '04, the amp has been given a software change to allow more bass.

If you want action on poor performing '03 Bose systems, contacting Bose is only a secondary means of expressing your dissatisfaction. A better way is to contact Nissan consumer affairs at 1-800-Nissan1 and lodge a formal complaint. Have your VIN number handy when you make the call. Make certain that the rep you are talking to gives you a reference number for your complaint, additionally get a direct phone number and extention for this rep. Give him/her a follow up call every 2 to 3 weeks. The more complaints they have the sooner the issue will be resolved.

1. The system does not perform as advertised.

2. It was the only system offered for the Touring Model

3. The system carries a warranty

4. Bose has admitted the system is not performing the way it should

5. The '04 systems perform satisfactorily, therefore there is a fix for the problem.

5. Nissan sold you the car and must honor the warranty

6. Nissan may not do an "across the board" fix on these systems, opting to fix only those systems for which there are "official complaints" registered through Nissan consumer affairs.....that is why it is important to make the call
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Old Sep 29, 2003 | 01:30 PM
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So is there anyone that has their 03 unit replaced with 04?

If so did nissan replaced only the head unit or head unit and the amp?

And most importantly did the sound quality improved?
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Old Sep 29, 2003 | 04:21 PM
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Originally posted by Wedge
The additional function in the '04 Bose system is a selection to turn the "Audio Pilot" either on or off. The head unit alone is not the only change for '04, the amp has been given a software change to allow more bass.

If you want action on poor performing '03 Bose systems, contacting Bose is only a secondary means of expressing your dissatisfaction. A better way is to contact Nissan consumer affairs at 1-800-Nissan1 and lodge a formal complaint. Have your VIN number handy when you make the call. Make certain that the rep you are talking to gives you a reference number for your complaint, additionally get a direct phone number and extention for this rep. Give him/her a follow up call every 2 to 3 weeks. The more complaints they have the sooner the issue will be resolved.

1. The system does not perform as advertised.

2. It was the only system offered for the Touring Model

3. The system carries a warranty

4. Bose has admitted the system is not performing the way it should

5. The '04 systems perform satisfactorily, therefore there is a fix for the problem.

5. Nissan sold you the car and must honor the warranty

6. Nissan may not do an "across the board" fix on these systems, opting to fix only those systems for which there are "official complaints" registered through Nissan consumer affairs.....that is why it is important to make the call
Are all the speakers exactly the same?
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Old Sep 29, 2003 | 04:21 PM
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I dont want the black radio tho, Id take the crappy sound to have the radio match.
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Old Sep 29, 2003 | 04:45 PM
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From all indications, when the head unit is replaced, you retain your "old" face plate to include ***** and buttons. Do I know if the unit was 03 Vs 04? No! Sitting on the bench at the dealer, could not tell. I can say the sound is better! I noticed immediately, while I have base, I don't have that heavy base through the back seat of my "Tour". Base is equal, depending on how you adjust it, CD and Radio. I can now let the unit select at random, songs from different CD's. I know for a fact this did not work from day #1. Thinking about going to the dealer and asking for operation manual on 04 CD6 unit. This might be one way of determining what I have.
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Old Sep 29, 2003 | 05:11 PM
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To my knowledge...........the speakers in the '04 are the same. The speakers were not the problem.


If you have a selection on your head unit to turn off the audio pilot, then you probably have an '04 head unit.

The head unit alone will not solve all the problems........there has been a change to the amp as well I think.
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Old Sep 29, 2003 | 07:02 PM
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If the capablility to turn off the "audio pilot" is there, I don't know where. If you know tell me! Thats why I am planning a trip to the dealer to find out a little more about the "audio pilot". I am assuming the Nissan "Master Tech" at the dealer would not know an 03 Vs 04. He just took it out of the box and installed.

I have Bose equipment in my home. The sound from the "Mini Cubes" is great! When you say "amp", something internal to the "in-dash" unit? Will return to dealer within days in hopes of looking at an 04 manual.
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Old Sep 29, 2003 | 08:41 PM
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The amp is in the trunk and the 04 Bose HU is black faced.
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Old Sep 29, 2003 | 09:23 PM
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Originally posted by Mr. Potato Head
FYI, Nissan goes to Bose and says, "We want a sound system for XX dollars." Bose says, "this is what you get for that amount." The problem lies with Nissan cheaping out on the system and not Bose making inferior products. I am sure that bitching to Bose is not the right tree to bark up. We need attention from Nissan. I am sure that the "resolution" Bose is attempting to come to is how to get Nissan to pay for better speakers for us and not trying to figure out how to make a better speaker/system. The 04's are in fact cured, IMO, of the problem. They have a different HU at the minimum and possibly different components altogether.
Well I agree with you partially. The fact that Bose would willingly allow this unit to go out the door with their name plastered all over it, however, indicates that they are at least partially responsible. If the sound is so crappy as to be embarrassing, I think either they'd fix it or refuse to put their name on it. They did neither. Both companies are responsible.
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