Thinking To Just Sell The Bloody Thing

[rs73]

Saga begins...

Week 1 after compliance,

Car landed... battery flat... due to overworked, only be able to find a new battery after 2 weeks.

Week 3, new battery in... no time to drive out yet or organised RWC

battery flat again as accidentally left interior dome light on one evening after sitting in the car reading some manuals before leaving the garage.

Week 4, wasted on another battery, only had time to warm it up for the next 3 weeks - too busy at work

Week 7, finally had a quiet week at work, planning to get it RWC, should be straightforward, found a mechanic next to office, organised RWC appointment next week, plus unreg vehicle permit for 3 days (RWC shouldn't take that long?)

Week 8, day of RWC. drop off in the morning, garage called back in the afternoon front rotors and pads were way too unroadworthy. WTF

asking around finding parts won't be able to do it in 3 days AFTER the unreg vehicle permit expires. There goes my $46 permit

Week 8 + 3 days, finally picked up rotors & pads. Alas, bad luck found out pad is wrong, picked up rear instead of front. too busy at work again, no time to go back to pad shop to exchange. cancelled RWC appointment at no specific time.

Week 8 + 5 days, finally got chance to sneak out during lunch break and exchange the rear pads for the correct front pads. called mechanic, organised a 2nd attempt at RWC. Called Vicroads organised for another 7 days unreg vehicle permit... $40 plus appointment for 1st time rego $30 plus.

Week 9, drop off 2nd time at mechanic for RWC. All went in sweet. feeling optimistic... ? WRONG not so quite...

Week 9+5 days, 2 days before Vicroads appointment... accidentally left passenger door not closed fully and the courtesy light stays on whole night.

That killed the battery AGAIN! 2 days before rego appointment what a f@ckin... bad luck I had...

Week 9 + 6 days, ran quickly to local autobarn, getting a new battery... 3 batteries in 9 weeks x $130 each = almost $400 and car is not on the road yet.

Week 10 - REGO day. drop in at vicroads, they refuse my car for rego as all invoices/paperwork from japan is done electronically and there is no single supplier's (japanese seller's) actual signature, apart from Consumer Information Notice which is original. Late in for work, stayed back late for work, no aparent choice making another unreg vehicle permit for $40 so I could just get it home...

Week 10 + 1 day, contacted supplier, faxed over an invoice with signature... no originals only faxed documents still - will have to sign stat dec in front of police officer stating that I really purchased that car with no genuine invoice only electronic copies/faxes available...

let's see how tomorrow afternoon 4pm, will have to leave work at 3pm just to get to Vicroads. Rego or not rego after the 11th week, tomorrow will have to rush back to work at around 5pm and work till perhaps 9pm just to get my projects out.

After 11 week, $500 wasted and car is not on the road yet, I should have just sell the damn thing.

[astrotristan]

duuude - what a dick around,

i'd have already distroyed the thing with a bat, drill and hammer, sounds frustrating as

all the best with week 12 --->>

[rs73]

if rego doesn't go thru tomorrow due to other 'insufficient' paperwork according to vicroads 'evrything by the book' rules then i won't have time again till september as 2 colleagues havin babies at work means they'll be on leave and i'll be triple shifted again.

september means rwc expires after 28 days and i have to re-do the RWC again...

[danny_tq]

My battery is screwed as well!

ANyone else having problems with their battery?

I went for a coffee and accidnetly left my lights on for 30min, come back bateryis flat. I get it jump started and drive round for 45 min to charge it, next morning flat.

I boost charge my battery for 5 hours, after that it starts working. The next night i try to drive it...its flat again...

should I:

1. try and charge it for like 12-18 hours on normal charge?

2. buy a new battery?

[astrotristan]

man thats rough

...and no lube in sight

[rs73]

Actually, anyone know of any professional agent/broker that can do my car rego for me as i simply don't have time.

I will be willing to pay for their professional service. Give me a quote ie hourly rate.

[rs73]

My battery is screwed as well!

ANyone else having problems with their battery?

I went for a coffee and accidnetly left my lights on for 30min, come back bateryis flat. I get it jump started and drive round for 45 min to charge it, next morning flat.

I boost charge my battery for 5 hours, after that it starts working. The next night i try to drive it...its flat again...

should I:

1. try and charge it for like 12-18 hours on normal charge?

2. buy a new battery?

2. Buy new battery. $130-ish each time

once it's flat the battery will be dead. cut its life in half, you flat it again, another half, u got quarter left.

basically once it's flat on a V35, there's no point trying to recharge it, just buy a new one and swap out.

the car runs a very power demanding network of electronics, even the light switch won't turn the lights off if there isn't enough power!

how ridiculous... other conventional car wont' turn on lights when there's no power, on v35, it will turn on lights and refuses to turn off

until battery is completely drain out or you pull out the battery terminal in panic.

I thnk what i've learnt in this 12 week is:

1. never buy an import unregistered (buy privately locally or from dealer and just deal with existing rego transfer - much easier)

2. i need a new job that promotes work life balance...

3. i really need a new job that doesn't make me go back to work tomorrow after 5pm and keep working till things done.

(done that before till 1:30am once)

[danny_tq]

2. Buy new battery. $130-ish each time

once it's flat the battery will be dead. cut its life in half, you flat it again, another half, u got quarter left.

basically once it's flat on a V35, there's no point trying to recharge it, just buy a new one and swap out.

the car runs a very power demanding network of electronics, even the light switch won't turn the lights off if there isn't enough power!

how ridiculous... other conventional car wont' turn on lights when there's no power, on v35, it will turn on lights and refuses to turn off

until battery is completely drain out or you pull out the battery terminal in panic.

I thnk what i've learnt in this 12 week is:

1. never buy an import unregistered (buy privately locally or from dealer and just deal with existing rego transfer - much easier)

2. i need a new job that promotes work life balance...

3. i really need a new job that doesn't make me go back to work tomorrow after 5pm and keep working till things done.

(done that before till 1:30am once)

Best of luck mate, hope all goes well evemtually. I htink its worth having one more shot, its is an amazing car, and I always get quite good attention for it, from young people all the way to 70y.o. married couple!

WHat battery did you buy? Just a standard one? recommend any brands?

I actually have a 12 month after market warranty I bought when i got the car from dealer/importer, should I use that or just skip the hassle and spend the $130.

cheers,

Danny

[AndyD]

Umm i must be very lucky my car went to kamakaze motors in nunawading they picked it up for me from quarantine flat battery jump started all good towed it to their workshop , they complianced it,they roadworthied it found 3 things wrong -number plate light,castor bushes, tie rod end, they fixed it, they supplied R.W.C now just waiting for the compliance plate to arrive and pick it up next week with a permit drive to vicroads and put plates on. Jason is the man to speak to top bloke very professional knows his shit and great prices.

[rs73]

Don't be too sure AndyD. All will be sweet until the moment you arrive @ Vicroads. happened to a mate of mine too. They'll just dick you around with stupid thing and just wasted your time.

Re batteries:

1st battery - Century NS60LS with two terminal sizes, traded in the dead jap battery and get like $20-30 off with the month's promo.

Killed by interior dome light

2nd battery - Bosch BNS60LS - same as century, just branded differently. bought outright $120+ from supercheap, didn't keep my century

receipt as i wouldn't have thought a new battery will be dead by such a stupid thing after running fine for a week. my garage was brightly

lit by neon light that an interior dome light won't be visible on/off if you don't actually look at it.

Killed by courtesy light under passenger door.

3rd Battery, back to Century, NS60L $130+ - similar to 1st but only 350CCA instaed of 400CCA like the first 2. But this one has small terminals only instead of dual size. seem to start alright. just finger cross i don't happen to leave a light on or a door open overnight. the car sucks too much power! traded in the 1st century for 10% off the price as there's no promo with century anymore to trade old batteries. and I panicked as it's the last day to find battery before goin to vicroads for rego appointment. cant be bothered trying to find the original bosch receipt.

still have the 2nd bosch on my garage floor - flat, unsure what to do with it. just hoping the 3rd one will last, now i'm double checking every single thing in the car before leaving it.

[AndyD]

Is it possible your alternator is shagged or are thier any aftermarket electronics in the car that may not be wired correctly and drawing power all the time? Just a guess i have no real experiance with electronics but ive seen some crazy jap wiring in some otherwise stock looking cars.

[rs73]

don't think so - wiring done by chris rogers. all origianl dealer wiring with immoblser etc that is in a scotch locks has been removed totally on compliance

1st battery killed by interior domelight

2nd battery killed by courtesy light under door

it's nothing but my very bad luck with this car.

[MaXiMuS007]

Rianto,

You know I had problems too but none of them were from VicRoads!

1. Delayed at freight forwarders/docks for 3 weeks due to incompetence

2. Delayed getting car towed from docks to RAWS (1 more week)

3. Got to VicRoads, RWC had incorrect engine number on it! (had to drive back to mechanic)

4. Car scratched by RAWS (though they have agreed to at least give it a minor cut & polish to reduce the damage)

It's fun and games importing but it's so worth it once it's on the road. You get everyone from Muzzas to old men in Audis trying to work out what it is (not to mention the odd idjit who thinks its a GT-R )

[WazR32GTSt]

rianto, who did you buy the car through? j-spec? prestige? etc.

this is the main reason i bought locally as all this shit was already done and they even organised the rego themselves. i just picked up the car!

hope it all goes well, good luck

[NISMO]

Rianto, speak to Craig at J-spec. He should be able to guide you through what else may need to be done to register the car. Especially from a paper work perspective.

As for actually doing it, as far as i know it has to be you. As it's going in your name.

My battery went dead, but only after leaving the lights and radio on overnight. Still the next morning i topped it up with battery water ( it was empty) and have not had a problem since. This was well over a month ago.

[Chris Rogers]

so do i book a ticket

[rs73]

Waz, imported the car myself.

Nismo, I know it's not j-spec or prestige's problem, i got all paperwork it's just they keep asking for ridiculous things and just wasting more of my time, plus I don't have time to organise some of the things in person. So it's more issues with me and my time issues - too much work!

Chris, I will let you know tonight, as i will be going to vicroads again this afternoon at 4pm. I belieev I should have the things required, but I'll probably make a stat dec @ local police to state that all my documents are done electronically!

[danny_tq]

ummm

slightly off topic, but still related.

how much CCA do people recommend for our v35 coupe batteries since it has so many electronics?

whats the minimum?

I heard the stock was 550CCA!?

Edited July 16, 2008 by danny_tq

[MFC05]

bad luck mate, looks like ur cursed ur V35 dosent want you to drive it, hope it goes well it worth it stuffing around for !

[AutoTrust]

Rianto,

For starters, all of your batteries have a warranty and you should have been able to return the first one under warranty.

If you run a battery dead flat it will not halve it's life. The only thing that will kill a battery is to store it on concrete.

You have to expect problems with paperwork when importing a car because as you know there is a lot to it. Import brokers have more pull with their suppliers or agents in Japan and when there are problems they are fixed quickly. The import process also has a procedure to reduce the risk of problems like these from happening. You need original documents.

You have had a fairly large amount of hassles and this will hopefully help you enjoy your car more than if it was easy breezy.

Don't sell it, love it.