s13silvia

Much appreciated guys, I'll take a look on there see what's what. I was acctually put off Mercedes massively when my dad bought his CLS, the interior is cramped for such a big car, the spring suspension is crap, the mudflaps scrape on absolutely everything, for a 40k mile car lots has already gone wrong - cheap-ish stuff, but still; the interior is quite dated looking. The E-class variant has more room inside but the handling and comfort characteristics remain. But for such a luxury brand the main problem for me was the level of comfort - it's shocking!! My 1992 Honda Vigor and the old mans 1991 UZZ32 soarer are worlds ahead in terms of interior silence, seat comfort and journey enjoyability. I'm buying the E55 for the engine primarily but can I really expect the level of comfort to be that much better than the base-level models?

CLS even! Same chassis year as the E55 I'm looking to purchase

Anyone here owned or driven an E55 AMG (W211)? I'm looking to swap the 300zx TT in for a mildly tuned E55 (approx 550bhp). I have a fair mind about the general driveability as my dad has a CSL and I've driven a poverty E-class before. Even the CSL v6 t-diesel isn't slow and gets to 130 in no time at all, the diff is exceptionally good but the auto-changes aren't as quick as modern cars; though the hydraulic block can be swapped out for a more responsive unit. The AMG has air-suspension so hopefully it will be a little smoother, the CSL isn't a patch on the UZZ32 soarer with adaptive air suspension but hopefully the AMG will be a similar level of smooth. I expect repair costs to be on a par with the 300zx, would this be an accurate assumption? I don't expect it to be as exhillirating in quite the same way; im aware I could make the Z32 just as quick if not quicker but there's something I really, really like about the E55 appearance and that v8 exhaust note is just sublime. Any advice?

It's simple, top gear became a huge financial success when the show was more about slapstick comedy with cars as the delivery method. They tried purely with actors who were huge motoring enthusiasts, and probably have a considerable wealth of knowledge; it failed miserably- so back to comedy it goes. I'm not the first to say it but I didn't really like what the show had become with Clarkson, May and Hammond. I really like their presenting style, and the way they bounce off each other on tv, I enjoyed the content in their earlier episodes but it became too outlandish for my taste. But it's a corporate call, money dictates what shows become.

It's not a cheap hobby that's for sure. I just wish when I was younger I got addicted to smoking, gambling, drinking, drugs and hookers... not only would I have saved a fortune, but I'd have gotten laid more often to boot.

Still trying to work away slowly at her.. got a rear brake light perspex strip, and even though i cut everything away around the centre it just refused to sit flush in the middle and ended up cracking when the inner clips went in.. still, i've managed to 'mend' it so it's invisible.. luckily still looks the part! Got some super thin sealant I need to rub off with remover, but overall done an alright job of installing the spoiler myself, just needs the outer bits smoothed and painted. Get her lowered, sort out the travesty that is the sills, then she'll look pretty much exactly how I want her from the outside!

Cracking shout Gonzo!! I'll give them a call

True :( - there's a vs evo in the uk on a green Z, it was on FB marketplace as spares or repairs im sure about 8 months ago, the car was only peanuts but he wouldn't break the exhaust off it and I cant have another car in the driveway.. Sames, but im in a fortunate position regarding container shipment so can justify paying a wee bit extra, i mean that one looked like it was brand new condition nearly so even at 800 it's not a bad deal by any stretch. @bird If you wanting to sell the mint one fire me a wee email bud? dlongmu@hotmail.com - Im sure this doesn't contravene any rules as I'm not looking to sell anything here, but please let me know if I am I don't wanna cause a ruckus.

Bleedin' 'eck.. that's some trip you have planned bud, brave man taking a Z that far, but good on ya!

I didn't get it at all lol. The price was below 200 before I opened my gob and drew attention to it lol.

Are you selling yours Bird? Is it in as good condition as the one on yahoo auctions?> - - - Updated - - - I was the other bidder on the exhaust, my max bid was £800 I couldn't realistically go any higher so fair play pal.

Is it just me that wears a paper-bag whilst driving and when exiting close my eyes until I'm clearly out of sight? You all need to drive some rustier clunkier Z's :-D

I have a bit of renewed interest in my Z32, but before I start investigating my mild overheat I want to replace every coolant hose in and around the engine because I know for a fact I have about 3 leaks in mysterious places. So does anyone sell an uprated silicone kit?

Xenon headlights were on the table, but I think the price for them is extortionate and won't improve the look that significantly.

I've lost heaps of my photos, but money always used to be the stopper - failing that it was either boredom before the end, or fear of mechanical failure and costs. I'm not aiming for extreme modifications, but I have a very particular mindset I guess would be the way to put it Jeff. Most cars I keep fairly simple, but focus on little mods which usually cost a ******* fortune hah. Few cars I finished was 405mi16 in red, lowered on centrelock motorsport wheels, heaps of crx and civic ef's, heaps of 200sx, heaps of silvias s12, 13 and 14 which had problably 15k worth of rare jap wheels through the years, R33 GTST full GTR exterior conversion with GRACER kit and blitz technospeeds in 18x10 et22 - later converted to spec 2 gtst with nismo kit (that was pricey, never finished cause got the fear of engine failure.. boy who bought it drifted it for 3 years without failure :p) , my old z32 had 99 spec front and some zeit BIMS ganadors, evo 8 mr seats and coilies, looked ok. My micra did full SR20 conversion with new shafts, mounts, poly's, coilovers, pulsar brakes, watanabe's full new tucked loom to mix with micra interior loom etc. proper little sleeper. My plan for Z32 was very specific: Veilside EC1 rear spoiler (got it, at cost of around £1500) 99 spec front (got it) + accesorries Ganadors (got it) 18x10 and 18x9 Blitz technospeeds (got them, dont ask how much, and refurbed them) Z1 99 spec front lip without the middle-gap. 99 spec rear brake light perspex new rear bumper as previous owner drilled parking sensors into it 99 spec plastic skirts or possibly stillens coilovers GTR R35 style exhaust rear diffuser coilovers full wet-lay carbon interior DC5 black seats 350z brakes (got the brackets so far) Not a very long list but aquiring these bits and getting them shipped and painted doesn't come cheap as you'll know.

The only way of getting a perfect one would be to import one, and then I'd be looking around 10k all in for a minter.. so few 'good ones' come up in the uk (that are acctually, honestly completely rot free) that I'd be waiting a long time to find one. For the 8-10k outlay I could make my z32 bodywork mint, and refresh the engine. HOWEVER, for me to make it the way I'd want it I'd still be looking at spending a further 8-9k in body/suspension/interior mods as I'm extremely particular about what parts I use, I never ever accept substitutes. I'm sure I have some sort of mental issue where I simply can't be satisfied with any car unless it comes out exactly how it is in my imagination :p . That fee would apply to any mint Z I purchase too so realistically it's just never going to be worth it. Going by posts on here I'm a bit like Si.. extremely anal about what goes on my car; whilst his is obviously in far superior condition to mine, I would imagine it's exactly how he wants it to be? The Laurel however is already precisely how I want it aesthetically (just had rear aluminium strut-spacers made to raise the rear as it was as high as the tein coilovers went) - and the fact I already have a full engine/running gear/wiring/brakes etc with the Z means my initial outlay is much less than if I were to source an RB26; even an RB25. The VG30 would be no more a headache than an RB, and pleanty people have done the RB swap in them. On a side note the Laurel's ride is also better than the Z32 ten-fold, and that's on it's arse to boot. Z32 is still standard suspension. It's a pleasure to drive, better than my old man's merc.

Haha honestly I never heard of PowerZed - I had a look and the name Jimmer does ring a bell afterall (my memory is very poor so apologies for that). That's reassuring. I've never been one to beat on an engine but it would be nice to have a 'modern' level of power for the odd occasion, the poor Z barely keeps up with hot hatches these days :p Here's a little look at the Laurel:

Thanks for the approximates Jeff. 4k is an acceptable amount! I was under the impression a good VG could handle 400-450 without forging, but possibly not? I have about 4k worth of accessories on the Z in secondhand value so it makes more financial sense to put the engine in my c32 laurel (good shell, coilovers, alloys, tyres etc), rather than plumb a further 4-6k into fixing the rear quarters, rear bumper, full sills, underbody, front wings and full respray the Z requires. I can fabricate, weld and pretty confident I can swap it successfully (Ive done a full-custom swap before with custom wiring loom etc). I cant see Z prices going up like the other jap sports cars, so dont see it being a worthwhile investment right now :( Plus the laurel gets sooo much attention compared to the Z, it just lacks performance.

Would he be on this forum? Any chance he could give me an idea of the financial outlay on here?

*not to mention EGR delete and new coolant + vacuum hoses all round

So I've decided im parting with the Z32 due to rot. It's a C-word after all the money I've spent on parts... but the cost of the below work, PLUS rebuilding half the body would just make it completely inviable. I'm not going to be able to sell it complete, so I can all-but write of the £3000+ I paid for it. I was close to RB26'ing my old datsun Laurel, but figure since I have an engine/box and all ancilliaries/electronics/ wiring already at hand I'd be more sensible spending the 5k I would on an RB26 on the VG instead (however I don't know how far 5k goes as of yet - so a bit of advice would be great). The problem I have is my Z32 overheated, clutch slips and I would like a full check/service/potentially rebuilt with fresh head gaskets and ARP studs to ensure everything is tip-top before converting it. I'm out the country so much now it's not something I can feasibly manage so who is the GO-TO-GUY in the uk? I want around 400-450bhp but don't want to forge it unless absolutely necessary. Engine spec: factory VG30dett manual. Blitz ECU Blitz BOV's ARC SMIC's (changable for a FMIC which may be necessary in the confines of the datty) factory turbo's (I'm tempted to plumb for some AMS manifold's and GTX28's if the rebuild cost isn't obscene)

the 370z is a cracking car, and probably a better 'Z' car than the 300zx. It's precisely what a modern 240z should be. The 350z is nowhere near as asthetically pleasing unfortunately, and there doesn't seem to be anything you can do to improve the situation... However, the supra is just an abomonation, and what makes it worse is that the concept was SO right in every sense; so why the hell turn it into a car with the headlights sitting too close, and looking cheap the way they sit flush with their surroundings - and the centre "vent" in the bumper looks bloody awful. The proportions are all wrong - from the side it looks just like an older Z4...

haha thanks guys! :) yeah - weirdly i wasn't sold on the wheels AT ALL until I put the rear spoiler on, and suddenly they look right... strange thing car asthetics

So the poor girls been neglected lately.. just fitting up some body upgrades now, still have a LOT of sealant removal to take care of on the boot before I can affix the spoiler.. Please excuse the absolute mountain of fibreglass dust!

So I'm really pissed, I go to fit my new spoiler with optimism, then realise the 'factory spoiler' isn't factory at all but a fibreglass one. Upon further investigation it's been installed with about 2" thick of tigerseal. I've tried heat, wire, cutting parts of the spoiler and it simply will not come off the boot. At the silly prices I'm seeing rusty old boots for on ebay, is there anybody with some slick tips on removing this thing without warping my boot panel?