Hi, I thought i'd start a build thread as a log of the journey with my import Z.

Afetr a horrible accident in my previous car i borrowed a budget amount for a run around, but as i was missing my previous pride and joy i was browsing piston heads to see what i could save for. As many people will understand the feeling when you click on to a site and see the car you've always dreamed of owning going for the same price you would puut done on a shitter. I was very sceptical but took the gamble. The car only had 43990 on the clock when i bought it with a few niggles. I got a history of previous mot's (some japanese so have no idea what they say lol) and was told the previous owner had it sitting for three years and decided to move so sold the car (last taxed 2011). At this point my brain was juggling do i go for it or not knowing that if it has been sitting that long theres gonna be a few teething problems. I made the jump enjoyed it for a little and decided to park it up enjoy my holiday and then slowly work on her once i recovered from the financial shock of the crash and the need for a new toy.

The engine bay is clean as a wistle and the rest can be improved lol. I got it on a set of lifts and checked out the underside. The underside has a lot of rust but also looks solid. Whilst i was underneath i buffed down the majority of the underside and undersealed what i could just to protect her a little.

As my luck usually goes when i put money into a car ... another thing breaks.

My list of work to start includes:

fixing the drivers door as it now doesn't want to open

check vibration at n/r

check rear brakes (rust has not worn off from the disc where it has the fronts)

all service and maintenance items

treat rust on skirt to prevent it spreading

then... all the fun bits, changing and repairing bits for new/improved parts and keeping on top of the maintenance.

My smart phone broke in the crash so waiting for the pennys to repair it (not in any rush as using a temp phone) so pictures will be scarce at the beginning of the thread

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127121294@N06/sets/72157646314363277/

Not quite sure how to upload photos from flickr so jsut posted link sorry, i'm terrible with computers

1998 model with a lot of rust? Something wrong there...

it's an import that was left on a driveway for three years, impoirts do have a tendency to rust i know. the engine runs sweet as a nut and all mot certs back up the mileage

Imports rust, sure, no different to the UK models, but if they're not being used, the underside should remain dry. I'd be very suspicious of its history/model year.

all the mots back it up and the log book has a corresponding chassis number as being registered april 1998

Wondering whether it would be 98 as import year and it's actually an earlier model. That does tend to happen with imports, their year registration in the UK is often mistakenly put into the year of manufacture box when the DVLA are issuing registration documents etc....

If it's an import, the log book would only contain information from the date of import. It may be a genuine 1998, but for the underside to be covered in rust after being stood for a long time would mean it hasn't had much exposure to UK roads and that is why I am suspect of its year of manufacture.

 

Being registered in 1998 does not mean it was manufactured in 1998.

Edited August 22, 201411 yr by Funkysi

it was imported january 2004 also just looked at auction papers from after that and the mileage also tallys up there

Get some more photos up. Specifically of the interior.

it was imported january 2004 also just looked at auction papers from after that and the mileage also tallys up there

 

If it was imported in 2004 and your log book says it was first registered in 1998, there's definitely something amiss. The UK log book would only give it's first registration date of that when it was in the UK. Year of manufacture however again has to be stipulated.

Not sure where your going with that as this is the first import i have owned. I just checked every piece of paper i have from adverts, mots certs, import cert, vosa import check and reciepts ands things look quite good. Most of the rust was surface rust which buffed off and one skirt. the rest is quite clean except for shabby interior cloth interior

I'd have thought it would be pretty obvious where I was going with it. For a 1998 model Z32 that's only really seen 4 years of use on UK roads to be covered in rust (your words) means something isn't quite right irrespective of the UK documentation.

 

Photos of interior trim generally gives a hint as to what series the car is from.

I am not trying to be an ass....but something doesn't seem right. I might be wrong, but trying to help. :)

i understand just generally thinking it was an old car and if all tallies up to chassis number not sure what is dodgy, i had a uk revision 3 MR2 that was garaged most of its life with only 34000 on the clock and there was surface rust on the underside and i bit of rust which was treated on the inside the door. fairplay i should have got under it more as the link arm snapped whilst i was doing 60 on a country lane. Also previous to that i viewed a 2001 mx-d that the arches had rotted through to the battery and owned previous to that a jag x-type which was a hump of shit with this seizing up left right and centre and that was an 04 plate.

 

oh well i'm gonna slowly get her up to a good if not great standard. Just gotta learn the car and get as much advice and maybe assistance along the way

My 91 had 60k on it when I bought it 10 years ago, it didn't have a spot of rust on it and still doesn't.

 

Well, that's what we're here for! There's a lot of knowledgable people on here and a lot great info locked away in the search engine. Be good to see more photos of your car. If it is a 98, it would be one of a small handful of late model cars! :)

fingers crossed it is then lol. photos will come as i work on the car and get my phone fixed

Well there are only about 4 or 5 in the club I think! :)

mine was is a1992 manufacture s2 imported 2003 like new then only23,000 know 40,000 and still looks new no rust anywhere

My 89 had lived outside for the vast majority of its life it's not rotten at all. It is still a 15 year old car though one that does rust.

Send me the chassis number, I can give your exact build date off nissan system tomorrow.

Surely you can have a look at the white tags on the seat belts to determine the age (unless they have been replaced at some point)

Send me the chassis number, I can give your exact build date off nissan system tomorrow.

 

how do you pm on this site?

 

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i haven't looked at the tags to be honest, just been going by my documentation for age

You have to be a subbed member Ben, you could also check the boot carpet, also has a date tag and the rear light cover, the date is imprinted into the plastic and the vin number in the engine bay states the date.

thamks guys