Another New M35 Owner.

[Vesza]

Hey guys,

Just joined up to SAU... been a Toyota man, will miss my soarer! But I've decided to bite the bullet and get me an M35 250t. It's Should be getting delivered sometime next week!

Anyhoo, after reading through the forums I've noticed there's a few trouble spots with the M35's. It seems like the compliance exhausts normally fitted are way to restrictive which causes the already overboosted ceramic turbos to crap out. So, should I be getting a new exhaust ASAP? How many other people have had turbo problems?

If there are any other preemptive things or trouble spots I should be checking out, could you guys please post them up?

Cheers

[iamhe77]

Welcome. You will forget about your V8 Soarer in no time

Yep, you will find a heap of info on these 'ere boards...

A fair few have had the turbo replaced, it is something that you can expect to do at some time (usually around the 100-120,000km mark).

Exhaust should be upgraded anyway on turbo car, but it depends on what exhaust is fitted.

Mine was an extreme example of a restrictive exhaust and I think it is the one your are referencing.

The stock, untouched front pipe is okay I suppose (bit small in diameter though), but you really would be better off getting a 3" turbo back exhaust as the dump pipe is massively restrictive.

There are a couple of guys that are concerned about their transmissions and one has been rebuilt (damage is suspected to be caused at compliance when Dextron III fluid was used - USE ONLY NISSAN MATIC J or compatible fluid).

I personally have no issue with my transmission and change the fluid once a year (originally used Matic J but am now using Nulon 100% Synthetic ATF which is compatible).

An external transmission cooler will help (Repco stock the PWR items for around $110).

Radiator can also be undersized depending on how you drive and where you are situated.

Not really much else to be overly concerned with (off the top of my forgetful head).... just remember to post pics of your new M

Edited February 12, 2010 by iamhe77

[andy65b]

welcome on board..

You should have lots of threads to read on SAU about the M35.

Cheers

Andy

[scotty nm35]

Welcome Vesza, another M35 hits the streets.

Soon we will outnumber the C34's...

[nickcorr]

Yes Welcome!!

What version did you get? And where are you based?

[Vesza]

Yes Welcome!!

What version did you get? And where are you based?

Thanks for the replies guys. Haha the soarer was an awesome car though, loved that V8 sound and smoothness, not bad for 1992! Even by today's standards

The M35 I'm getting is a 2003 250T, with leather, sun roof and adaptive cruise. I was thinking of getting the ARX because of the LSD but figured I wanted this car to be more of a cruiser rather than bruiser (with minor mods for a bit of extra zing). That's what the AE86 is there for!

Hmm... I also really liked the look of the Axis and there was a couple for 23k... but twice as many km's and no cruise control... then again, who knows if the km's on mine are even close to genuine!

EDIT* Oh I'm based in Geelong, VIC

Edited February 12, 2010 by Vesza

[Cephas]

I was having overheating problems with mine.

Turns out the radiator was about 60% blocked.

The tubes are very thin and will block easily. Its a pretty cheap replacement.

[Vesza]

I was having overheating problems with mine.

Turns out the radiator was about 60% blocked.

The tubes are very thin and will block easily. Its a pretty cheap replacement.

Yeah, wouldn't surprise me if they hadn't done a single coolant change over in japan. But I'll be sure to keep an eye out for it.

[Angus Smart]

Enjoy! there are not really many problems with them other than the turbo (mines yet to have issues @ 120,000k)

Brakes are a bit shit house, get some slotted rotors for a 350z touring(non brembo) for the front with some decent pads.

Air filter is from many jap cars. i think i searched a wrx or similar and got a k&n one for about 60 bucks

otherwise enjoy! i've put about 20,000 on my car since owing it and not had any issues at all.

[Vesza]

Enjoy! there are not really many problems with them other than the turbo (mines yet to have issues @ 120,000k)

Brakes are a bit shit house, get some slotted rotors for a 350z touring(non brembo) for the front with some decent pads.

Air filter is from many jap cars. i think i searched a wrx or similar and got a k&n one for about 60 bucks

otherwise enjoy! i've put about 20,000 on my car since owing it and not had any issues at all.

That's what I want to hear! I won't really be thrashing mine anyways, as mentioned before just for a comfy cruise, with a bit of kick.

[pixel8r]

Got mine at 80,000kms. Since then it has done 34,000kms.

Only "fault" was the throttle body got too much soot caked on it and needed a clean (was stalling etc since the butterfly was getting stuck and not allowing enough air through on idle). Cost $0 to fix and took ~2hrs - I am not a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination.

Turbo is still going fine, and my car is mechanically 100% stock. The exhaust is somewhat restrictive, but from experience I've found that the flow-on effects from just changing the exhaust on a turbo car can be very expensive collectively. Its one of those things, you cant change one thing without affecting several other areas.

The auto gearbox is pretty laggy at times, which I think mainly comes down to heat. A better trans cooler should help.

My brakes are now starting to shudder when slowing down from higher speeds (80km/h +) - probably need machining.

Other than this it really has been a very reliable wagon.

I also owned a series 2 stagea before this for 2 years. It had some initial problems (turbo & suspension) but once these were fixed it never had any other problems. I put 70,000+ kms on that one (yes I do tend to do a lot of kms each year - I love driving).

[Jetwreck]

I wont run through my list of issues.......I think theres a word limit!!!!!

Sorry going though a hard time at the moment with mine.......they are generally pretty good cars!.....apparently

[Vesza]

Got mine at 80,000kms. Since then it has done 34,000kms.

Only "fault" was the throttle body got too much soot caked on it and needed a clean (was stalling etc since the butterfly was getting stuck and not allowing enough air through on idle). Cost $0 to fix and took ~2hrs - I am not a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination.

Turbo is still going fine, and my car is mechanically 100% stock. The exhaust is somewhat restrictive, but from experience I've found that the flow-on effects from just changing the exhaust on a turbo car can be very expensive collectively. Its one of those things, you cant change one thing without affecting several other areas.

Sounds promising! Yeah I guess once you start changing things like a restrictive exhaust on a turbo car the boost will naturally increase, turbo life shortens, gearbox/diff cops more abuse etc. I'm prob hoping to keep mine stockish for awhile as I do about 80km of driving a day.

[pixel8r]

Sounds promising! Yeah I guess once you start changing things like a restrictive exhaust on a turbo car the boost will naturally increase, turbo life shortens, gearbox/diff cops more abuse etc. I'm prob hoping to keep mine stockish for awhile as I do about 80km of driving a day.

You can certainly modify these stageas reliably, but my point was that it all costs and I am unable to justify those costs in my current situation. The exhaust and turbo would be the 2 most expensive mods, and maybe aftermarket ecu as well. I went down that road with my last stagea and it was rewarding, but too expensive for me to do it all over again.

[mxfly]

I too am one of those who have found our cars to be amazing and very rewarding to drive. The only problems I've had are brake shudder which thew rotors needed skimming and some strange suspension noise when you go onto driveways on full lock.

[scotty nm35]

I too am one of those who have found our cars to be amazing and very rewarding to drive. The only problems I've had are brake shudder which thew rotors needed skimming and some strange suspension noise when you go onto driveways on full lock.

Its just the metal stopper for full lock rubbing up and down on a metal plate. Nothing to worry about but you can rub a bit of dry lube on it to shut it up.

[mxfly]

Hey thanks Scott, i'll give that a go!

[andynogo]

Obviously brake shudder is a common thing- the RX I drove the other day had it too...

[scotty nm35]

Obviously brake shudder is a common thing- the RX I drove the other day had it too...

Andy, I have had brake shudder from every Jap import I have owned. I dont know what causes it but the disks just need a skim with the brake lathe, $20 a corner. (or a GTR/Brembo upgrade.)

[Vesza]

I heard the brakes are a bit sub par... but coupled with the weight and performance of the car, it doesn't surprise me if the brakes cop a serious hiding, lol. Unless they're over tightening the wheels after fitting new tyres at the compliance place...