I've always wanted a 350z and I now have the opportunity to buy one. Its an 2006 with about 102xxx on it. What are somethings I should know about maintenance? The car already has a no name cold air intake, and greddy exhaust. What should be next move be? Lowering, headers, manifold, etc?

help?

 

06's are known for oil consumption, make sure you keep an eye on it. headers arent worth the hassle of installing them for minimal gains (and you would need to tune after, so figure another $700 for that)

 

^^^ This. (Elaborated upon below)

As far as "next mods" are concerned, well, you need to have a goal. Then and only then can anyone tell you what such mods should be.

Personally, exhaust and motor mods are dead last on any Z-upgrade list I'd make.

1. Driver Education - no I'm not kidding. This is the FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT MODIFICATION FOR **ANY** CAR/BUILD. Gives one the ability to truly understand what the car is doing well and most of all, where it needs shoring up. My philosophy is that until you can drive the car to at least 75-80% of ITS capabilities, mods aren't necessary. The car is capable enough out-of-the-box.

2. Good tires and/or lightweight wheels. This is the starting point for ANY/EVERY suspension design. Working backwards as it were. Establish a baseline for handling using tires then move to the next step to keep them planted in all conditions you intend to drive.

3. Suspension - starting with good alignment then a good set of sway bars (adjustable for all stages of tuning - meaning that you may want to start neutral then as you build out the suspension bits with shocks, lowering springs, camber adjustment, etc, you can use the sway bars to go to a "deeper tune", e.g. reduce understeer, etc.) Again, this is all intended to keep your tires happy. RE-Alignment (or at least alignment CHECK) follows every step of your suspension tweaks.

4. The rest of your mods follow on after that in no real order and that includes engine mods, IMO. Adding every bolt-on available, e.g. exhaust tuning, upper breathing mods such as plenum spacers, CAI, etc will yield some improvement but until you go to forced induction, you'll see only minimal amounts of power:handing improvement. IOW, you still won't overdrive your suspension if you followed the above rec.

5. Fun mods. Updated lighting to '06+, body aero, shifter knoob, stereo, that sort of thing, can be done as your priorities dictate and at any time your budget says, "OK, go buy some car junk."

My devalued $.02. YMMV.

Mic

 

3char

 

^^^ GOOD CATCH, n0smoke!!!!

Even me, Mister "Boring and Practical" overlooked that ESSENTIAL! Doy....