Hi! new 350z owner!

[celiboom]

Hi evrybody!I'm new to this forum. I just bought a 2003 350z. I realy can't find the model because I don't know the differences between models. I think it's the performance model because that is what is written on my nissan Bill. It has the GPS and OEM crappy sound system with sub etc...

The car is have an extended nissan platinium 7 years warrenty. I've done the inspection at my local nissan in order to be able to transfer the warrenty to my name. The car have 30 000 miles on it. It drives very fine except for the grinding 5th gear transmission problem. I've talk to them, they test drove it and it did the grinding problem. Now they said that they want to see my transmission oil service record in order to pass it under warrenty. I don't have it. They said the car should have transmission oil changed every 10K miles or 2 years. C'mon, my car is very low mileage.What should I do? change and go to another dealer? Email nissan canada?

Also, I want to convert my car to systhetic oil. Do you think that is a good idea? witch oil brand are you using? motul?

Last thing, I can feel a big vibration in my shifter. is this related to the car because it is RWD?

Other than that, I love my car and realy enjoy driving it.

Sorry for my bad english, I'm a francophone!

Thanks!

[bryan d.]

Welcome to Nico,

From what you said you have the touring edition.

The grind from what I've heard is pretty common in the early Z.

[celiboom]

maybe but they could change it under warrenty no?

[Mr. Z33]

It also sounds to me like you have the touring edition. Post up some pics and we will be able to verify which model you have. I have had my 03 since November of 07 and it only had 5600 miles, and have been running synthetic in it ever since. I run both Mobil 1 5W-30 and Mobil 1 oil filter. I would def recommend synthetic

[bryan d.]

I've read on these forums that its a design in the transmisson itself something nissan wouldn't replace. My advice to use is to use the best transmission fluid you can buy. Anyone can correct me if I'm wrong.

[ZedHead]

I believe my 03 is starting to shift a little rough. At only 15,xxx I think thats a pretty bad design by Nissan. I baby the thing too, its always been babied, rev-matched when shifted.

I'm going to try a better oil in the transmission this year to see if it helps. A good quality oil like royal purple or redline should help it live a little longer.

I've never heard of doing a transmission oil change every 10k. Can anyone verify? Seems way to often. The rear diff should be done at the same time?

I also run mobil 1 and love the stuff, always have. Works fine for a street car. Guys use RP and AMSOil ( ) but its no necessary for a mild performance car that rarely if ever sees a track. I'm running my oil through analysis every time I do a change if any one wants to compare wear rates.

Congrats on the new purchase. Its a blast

[BusyBadger]

Congratulations on the purchase! Sorry to hear you're having problems transmission problems (it's usually 3rd gear not 5th though) and problems with your local dealership.

I'd explain everything to them, starting with the fact that you bought the car pre-owned from them. I fail to understand how the dealer can expect you to know the history of a car that you have just purchased - It's their responsibility to know the history of the car they sold you, not yours. It is your responsibility after you take ownership of the vehicle. I'd suggest contacting Nissan Canada in order to explain the situation to them as well.

And I've got no idea what they were smoking when they said to replace the transmission fluid every 10,000 miles - looking at the maintenance interval in the factory service manual it only lists INSPECTION at 15,000 mile intervals. The factory service manual is your friend.

NICO FSM Page

As far as engine oil goes, like most here, I've always used Mobil 1 5W30 synthetic. I personally use the Gold Cap variety, but it's probably overkill since I change it every 5,000 miles or so. The oil I run in my gearbox is Redline MT90 GL4 and while we're on the subject of fluids I use ATE Super Blue brake fluid.

Welcome to NICO!

[bmike818]

Welcome to Nico!!!

I use Mobil 1 5-30

[Mikes350Z]

Congrats and welcome to Nico. I also bought a 03 350Z but mine is an auto. I wanna say I have the Touring model. I'll be switching to Mobile 1 upon my next oil change.

[NFSP 350]

Congrats on the Z. I bought my 04 last year. I find the shifter vibration just how it is. As soon as I got mine I asked them to look it over at Nissan. Had a light rattle in the transmission. They ordered a new transmission. Acted no diffrant. Personally I wouldnt run Mobil 1. I always have used Mobil 1 but today I actually did an oil change & switched to Castrol Synthetic. My cuz has a G35 and showed me a thread on his G forum, a guy had his oil tested & Mobil1 broke down twice as fast as Castrol. But I never had any known problems with Mobil1.
Modified by NFSP 350 at 3:14 PM 1/28/2010

[bmike818]

That's thinking with your dipstick!

...had to

[RemixZ]

Rock on your purchase! First thing first in this order; buy a BlaZtII/software cable, up your timing by 2 and get some #6 cold sparkplugs... then go CAI, Plenum Spacer, Testpipes/Ypipe, sway bars, suspension lower that beast!, then get nitrous or fi! In that order Im installing the test/ypipes...

I got a used '03 Touring last summer. It has the 3rd gear issue too.. kind like my '90 z32 woa whats new... As with my z32 I replaced the transmission oil with Redline M90...Though it didn't work as well as it did on my z32, it sure helped. I still on occasion grind when quick shifting from 2nd to 3rd... or when downshifting to go faster from 4th to 3rd... But overall the new oil and reving up helps...

Also, while your at it change the transaxle (differential) fluid too...I used redline gl5... But, whatever you do don't put gl4 grade(the m90) into your diff... Why? something to do with the teeth or gears... I forgot....

Oh and FYI: I use for my engine - AMSOIL 0/30

Post some pics!!

[JDMZ32]

Welcome to NICO and congrats on the new Z! Like everyone, I strongly recommend synthetic motor oil. Mobil 1 5W-30 in my NA Z32, but if I had a Z33 I'd run the same. And it's odd that Nissan told you it was the "Performance model" considering there wasn't one until the Nismo a few years later. Well, I guess there was the S Tune, but I've never even seen one of those.

[celiboom]

Hi everyone! thanks a lot for the answers.

Here is crappy pics i've took this weekend!

Enjoy!

[BusyBadger]

And it's odd that Nissan told you it was the "Performance model" considering there wasn't one until the Nismo a few years later.

Thanks for playing, try again.

"Performance" was one of the five original trim levels: Base, Enthusiast, Performance, Touring and Track (listed by price, lowest to highest). Performance was like an Enthusiast with VDC instead of TCS, 18" wheels were also standard and it was only available in 6MT. The Performance model was dropped from the lineup in 2006.

[JDMZ32]

Thanks for playing, try again.

"Performance" was one of the five original trim levels: Base, Enthusiast, Performance, Touring and Track (listed by price, lowest to highest). Performance was like an Enthusiast with VDC instead of TCS, 18" wheels were also standard and it was only available in 6MT. The Performance model was dropped from the lineup in 2006.

Well s***. Learn something new on here everyday. I've definitely never heard of "Performance" only the rest. Cut me slack - I'm a Z32

[BusyBadger]

No worries.

I'm surprised the Performance model made it as long as it did. To me it didn't really seem to add much of anything to the Enthusiast. I'd imagine that most potential buyers that really wanted the VDC option could have purchased the Touring with little or no real objection.

But then that's coming from me, the guy that thinks the Base should have been dropped, with the Enthusiast taking its place, and the Touring and Track available as the two other trim levels. Everything else that was "trim specific" should have been added as individual options.

Celiboom-

Love the colour! Brickyard red has been one of my favourites for a long time now. And no need to apologize about your spelling, your English is far better than my French!

[dasoupdude]

[QUOTE=celiboom]Hi everyone! thanks a lot for the answers.

Here is crappy pics i've took this weekend!

Enjoy!

Dang, brickyard is such a nice color

(i use formula shell, synthetic 5w30)

[celiboom]

Thanks everyone! I'll change all my fluid to systetic next time.

I will post better picture this summer when it's going to be clean.

For now here is a pic of my bike took last summer