I am looking to buy a 300Z and need to know what to look out for and what to avoid when buying a Z, I have owned a 2 seater in the past but it went back after 3 weeks due to it being a 'shed', I need some help, thanks in advance.

 

Ok..here's a 'small' list apart from the basic things that I could think of and that you might want to check :-)

 

Engine/Mechanical-stuff:

-Have a compression-test done

-Check ECU for error codes, if everything's ok it should show code 55.

-listen for weird sounds during test-drive. (whining, rattling sounds from the engine bay is generally not a good sign)

-after you drove the car hard during a test-drive, let the car idle and open the hood and see if smoke is coming from the area around turbo's or on the bottom of the car from the cats-area.

Also check if blue smoke is coming from the exhaust (this might take a little while, so let the engine idle for a few minutes)

-maximum boost-level on a stock 300Z should be around the first and second positive line on the stock boost-meter. (which is around 9psi, 0.6bar)..although the stock boost-gauge might not be very accurate.

If it doesn't go past the first positive line it's probably in safety-boost and something is wrong.

if it wanders off the scale, the boost has been increased...and without the right chip (JWT) this is NOT good.

-oil pressure should be between 30 and 60 psi during normal driving.

-Timing belt should have been replaced every 60k miles..make sure this has been done !

 

(Automatic) gearbox-stuff:

-try to avoid automatics from '90/early '91,

especially higher mileage ones..

-check (dipstick) oil-color and smell of gearbox-oil (dipstick is behind the engine)

Dark or black oil and/or burned smell is generally not a good sign.

-Do a Automatic-gearbox diagnostic

-check for oil leakage from gearbox/differential

-check for grinding.

 

Body-stuff:

-Lift up any rubber seals on the car even around the windows & look for a paint edge.

-Check every wheel well & even see if you can lift up the edge of the liner to see if there is a paint edge.

-Pop the hood & hatch. Check the bolts that hold the quarter panel on, should be covered with factory paint & look like it's never been removed, if it's been removed you will know it because it's near impossible to line it back up & not show where bolt location was previously.

-Check the gaps on both sides of hood, should be small & equal. Check the gaps right under door where fender meets door, make sure same on both sides.

-Check gaps on both sides of bumpers front & back.

-Open doors & look through hinge ares for messed up sheet metal on the pillar.

-Check in back upper hatch seal area for signs of wreck.

-Always look in the spare tire well.

-Look for OEM glass & always check for cracked windshield this is easy to miss & not uncommon.

-Look up under the bumper at the frame that connects to it, look under hood area at that also, this is what gets straightened from a head on collision.

-Whatever you do NEVER & I mean NEVER buy a car at night! Even if you go where lights are. In the day look down the body for dings & depressions especially since Zs are durasteel.

-I don't use a magnet since I can generally knock & tell if has bondo but feel free. Owners will look at you funny & get irate sometimes...hey, if they don't like it, don't buy it, this is NOT a small investment. If the owner knows the car is excellent they will have no problem whatsoever letting you check it up & down, normally they are pretty proud when it's really clean.

-I prefer stock paint that has been maintained.

-Check the calipers, see if they look all the same.

-Check lights for condensation..though sometimes this is not indicative or wreck, check the seal area & alignment around the lights very hard to get to factory spec.

 

 

Also it might be worthwhile to try to get someone from this forum to come with you if you think you have found one that you're considering to buy :-)

 

-Eric

 

Thankyou Eric, now I just need to find someone who lives in the Birmingham area who will come and veiw a Z with me when I find a decent one!

 

Thanks again. :o)

 

Matt.

 

Check your 1st posting.

 

CheerZ

 

Johnny @ Grasshopper

 

Matt,

 

Remember its worth taking your time and not buying the first one you see unless its worth it.

 

Check the link below, tips on what to look out for when making your purchase on an Import but relevant to all Zeds. Emphasis on bodywork and avoiding cars that have been in a prang.

 

Also most definately get it HP checked before you part with your money.

 

http://www4.bs.monash.edu.au/oz32/Tech/NewZ.htm

 

Good Luck!

 

lymon

Error code 55 comment above? I have never ever seen error codes on my Z is this good or bad?

 

 

You have to initiate this yourself.

 

here's some info on how to do this:

 

ECU diagnostic

 

quick way to show error codes

 

-Eric