Muz

And please excuse my ignorance but what is a F348 test car? I know of a F348 Ferrari but nothing else .........

Is this for the post 11/2003 Stagea with the VQ25DET? Cheers Muz

Best of luck mate. I have been trying to get one thru the compliance process for 8 months now and doesn't even look like getting there.

This is incorrect as the M35 AR-X does have the VQ25DET motor. I have one and am going thru hell trying to get it complied. See several threads in the Stagea Discussion area

PM'd response cheers Murray

Hi Gary, The problem stems from the change of rules by DOTARS, that with a stroke of a pen, made the same motor as used in pre 11/2003 M35's (VQ25DET) virtually non compliancable overnight. Compliance is currently not available but may be available some time in the future. Unfortunately we have $35000.00 tied up in a vehicle that may or may not ever be eligible for compliance in Australia. Let me be very clear on one point. We researched all avenues before commiting to import this vehicle. Our final decision to import was swayed by the import broker assuring us that compliance was definitely available then and not at some infinite point in the future. Murray

Appreciate your comments, However when that offer was made we were also told by that same person that achieving emissions compliance was a piece of cake hence the decision to reject the offer. A litany of lies and deceit has since followed and when the person in question was approached in early December about making good on his offer to purchase the car the offer was non existent. However, up to this point both my wife and I have been very patient and any gripe we did have was soley with the import broker and not the compliancing shop. The relationship with the import broker is non existent and even after pushing him into providing regular updates and earning his brokerage fee contact with him has been very sparse. The compliancing shop is another story in itself but I won't bore you all with the sordid details! We have contacted the compliancing shop at regular intervals (approx every six weeks or thereabouts) seeking progress updates (not an unreasonable request) and the absolute rubbish that we have been fed has definitely soured our dream of ever owning another import (I own an R34). It is to the point now where the compliancing shop refuse to talk with us over the phone and everything must be done via email! We live in Cairns and our car is in Brisbane so it is not as if we are in their faces every day demanding action. BTW, I made a special trip to Brisbane (in December) to see our car for the first time since it landed in Australia some 8 months ago and try and meet with the compliancer. Unfortunately I picked a bad day and didn't get to meet with the compliancer but did get to see the car which was a shock because my wife had been told by the compliancer that the car would be back in Melbourne getting re-tested. I could go on and on and detail all the lies but really what does it achieve? As for sending the car to NZ or elsewhere, I ask the simple question, "Why should I be further out of pocket?" I would rather sell it to the scrap dealers and spend the money on a winnable court case! Motor swaps and other illegal avenues are not even in our consideration. Muz

Interesting quote and by stating it I can only assume that you condone the passing of false and/or misleading information then.

Just an update for anyone interested seeing as it's christmas. We paid (PM ME FOR DETAILS) to import a car for us back in March of this year and due to their incorrect advice (that being that compliance was definitely available) are still are no closer to driving our car now than when it was sitting on the docks in Japan. Several attempts???? have been made to achive compliance but would appear to be unlikely to ever happen. We are now faced with the distinct possibility of either having the car destroyed or having to re-export it. Either way we go we are going to be substantially out of pocket and probably heading to the legal system (more expense) all because we were stupid enough to believe that a person or persons involved in the importing of motor vehicles would actually know and understand what their business is all about. A very expensive lesson has been learnt. Be very aware! PS. I do realize that THEY are a SAU sponsor so if this post gets me banned so be it.

And he is????? While Im on it ....... and they are????

Who??? Where????

It aint over yet ...... McLaren to appeal!!!! I never would have guessed that! I just wonder if the the same rule applies to the McLaren drivers if the teams in question are found to have cheated ?????? Better than all the daytime soapies put together ..... well maybe not better than DoOL :-)

A good race but I really do miss the variety of past era's. Cheers Muz

I am one of those that this thread applies to. First of all let me say that I did due diligence when investigating the importation of said motor vehicle and yes I do actually accept some small portion of blame for being naive enough to believe that the person/company that I paid $1000.00 to would be up to date with all regulations etc. I researched the DOTARS web site prior to committing to buy said vehicle and if anyone has actually read the site you will understand that it implies that compliance is available for the M35. Full STOP! Nothing is mentioned about pre 11-2003 or anything else. The importing person/company was quite definite in stating that compliance was available. What else should I/we have done? Buyer beware - crap!

EXACTLY!

In line with a cleaner greener world, DOTARS made an arbitrary decision that as at a certain date, ADR 79 would come into being. Same engine now has to pass tougher emissions tests. There is only cosmetic difference between 2003 and later. cheers Muz

To make it through the process the vehicle must be in original condition so all those thinking engine swaps are way off the mark. Just wish it was that easy! And I think the $5000 grand is a total guestimate. Cheers Muz

OK fellas, I have read all that has been said and thank all for the comments. Both Matt and myself were both told unequivocally that our M35's would be right for compliance. We have this in writing although mine is from a different person than Matt's. Concerning the emissions testing it is as Matt has said, they have tried the route of several cats and they simply do not get hot enough quickly enough to burn the noxious gasses that cause the problem. As Matt has also said, the agency conducting the testing has said in very clear language that there is little liklihood of the car passing the tests. The person who is attempting to get the car through this emissions thing is supposedly going to try with a piggy back ECU next week but we have been told so many porkies that we have lost all faith in the alleged experts. Our legal advice is very similar to Matt's and it has been suggested that we give the broker that we used a week to try and sort it all out, otherwise it will be off to court for settlement. Mind you, the alleged expert trying to get the car through emissions has had the car for over three months now and really hasn't achieved anything to date. This car was purchased on the 20th of March 2007 and landed in Australia 2 months later which in itself was another debacle but that's another story. Just as a little side note to all this, the alleged expert doing the emissions testing has at various times suggested that he will buy the car from us if he is not able to get the vehicle approved in a reasonable time frame. The car is a top of the line M35 AR-X with everything. Kinda makes you think doesn't it? cheers Muz

Yes probably before Hamilton and Alonso grew to dislike each other so much!

Huge stuff up by Lowndes and his crew for attempting slicks to start the last race when almost everyone made a pit lane start after having changed to wets. Yes I know that Campbell Little gave the choice to Lowndes but only after he had passed the pit entry on the warm up lap. From there he just went backwards as the the pit stop to change to wets could not be counted as his mandatory pit stop due to being taken outside the CPW (compulsory Pit Window) which meant he had to make another stop sometime during the race. It was at about that point I went and mowed the yard. cheers PS That weather had Winfield Nissan written all over it!

Mate when you get to my age You don't get to be so picky!

Highly edited version follows. Approached broker about importing late model M35. Was compliance available? Yes definitely. Purchased car from Japanese auctions 21/03/2007. Car arrived 21/05/2007, went to comply car, compliance not available for M35 after MY 11/2003. Several long drawn out attempts have been made to try and get car passed for emissions but no such luck to date. Car is to undergo another attempt next week with no guarantee of passing. Compliance person is confident? that it will pass emissions testing eventually, he just doesn't know when. Meanwhile our $35,000 investment (which we have never seen) travels the country on the back of one car carrier or another. Saga continues. If you want to know more, feel free to PM me. Cheers Muz

Nissan can get this bar easily enough. Just go to your local Nissan dealer and tell him to look in the Nissan Options catalogue and there they be. Cost about 1800.00 landed. They come pre-painted. Or there are alays plenty on Yahoo Auctions. Use Slidewize Imports, he is easy to deal with. cheers Muz