Dealing with a Nissan dealer..Arggghhhh

[Mutl3y]

Will - we're in the same area - that *ahem* "poor" dealership wasn't part of WLMG was it?

[andyzed]

Glad you're getting the problem fixed but leaks is the main reason I opted for the coupe when looking for a zed, having had a similar experience to yourself with a 300ZX Convertible I bought.

 

Car was an Import (as they didn't do Convertibles in the UK only Targa Tops) 18 months old in mint condition but had cream suede door cards leather seats etc. Asked the dealer if it had any leaks as I didn't have a garage at the time and told it hadn't.

After a couple of months noticed small drips coming in between the top of the window and rubber seal only when parked in heavy rain but never whilst driving, (I put this down to there being a positive pressure in the car and the rain being sheeted off the window) took it back to the dealer to be fixed a couple of times but the problem just came back as there didn't seem to be enough pressure between the window glass and the rubber seal on the hood, he adjusted the door hinges so there was more pressure at the top but still the problem came back at one stage he promised to replace the entire soft top but this never happened and he went out of business shortly after Sold the 300Zx after I bought the 350Z but it still had the same problem.

Looks like the 350Z roadster has a similar problem then, if their is not enough pressure against the rubber seal which I always thought was a poor design in the 300ZX.

 

As the previous posters said you can try and bulk out the rubber seal and lubricate it but you have to be careful which compounds you use on the rubber as it can make it worse. My wife has a Golf Convertible and so far no leaks and it's 9 years old but since she got it due to my bad experience with the 300ZX I treat the rubber seals on the soft top and doors etc. with Gummi Pflege Rubber Protection which I also use on the Zed seals as well to stop the seals sticking in the cold weather

http://www.car-care-direct.com/catalog/ ... cts_id=147

[Will370z]

andyzed, thanks for the information. From that other thread it does look like the roadsters have a problem. Pity had a saab convertible before this and it could be in the middle of a force 10 gale and not let a drop in. Still it doesnt sound like the zed.

 

Garage have said they will keep it until its waterproof and i couldnt ask for more than that. I guess if it continues to be a problem i will look to exchange, trade in for a coupe. Pity as i love the look of the roadster. Still, im an optimist and the garage will have it back all 100% watertight in no time im sure.

[Wasso]

I suggest you take your car in on 16 September and put some real miles on that 370 over the weekend

 

Lol you read my mind.

 

Thanks for all the comments and tips guys. Really appreciate it.

 

Sorry to hear you had a similar if not worse experience wasso, really takes the shine off. The 370 should put it straight back on again though.

 

It's only the wheels that aren't cosmetically pleasing, although saying that I'm sure once I get them done I will kerb them or something!!

 

I personally think getting the 370 for Wales is a great idea. The only problem is, if someone gave me a 370 for a weekend I'd cry in pain for wanting one once I'd given it back.

 

Although if I was you - I'd def play the game and get hold of the car for your convenience, but then again, you can't enjoy Wales with YOUR motor - which is the whole purpose!

[Will370z]

A final update and hopefully pass on some good news.

 

Well my trial with the leaky roof is finally over and my roadster is back.

 

Said a sad farewell to the 370 this morning. Must admit the first day i had her i was rather disappointed. Where was the noise?, why put an auto in a car like this?, the suspension was really hard as i could feel every bump in the road (major problem for the roads near me). Also the steering felt very light and I was suprised to find she tram lined a lot and i had to keep correcting the direction regularly. First night i really missed the 350.

 

Then came the drive to wales. Leaving my local roads the suspension wasnt a problem. Taking colins advice i tried again with the paddles. I got used to the Steering and mile after mile i began to fall for the 370. By the end of the welsh weekend i had covered 850 miles and fell in love with the thing and am saving every penny. Would still change the colour, the auto box and add a proper exhaust and it would be pretty much perfect.

 

Here is a little piccy on our journey

 

 

Anways back to the fun with the garage.

 

After the comments from you guys about other Nissan dealers and the issues with my local Nissan garage i have to say that the Nissan dealer in Tunbridge wells has been faultless.

 

- They offered to pay for an issue that wasnt covered by the warranty as i had only had it 4 weeks

- They offered to pay for a non nissan garage to fix the problem when the local nissan garage messed up

- They apologised for the local garage and gave me a 370 while mine was fixed and tested to ensure it was waterproof

- A part was late in arriving so they let me keep the 370 for another 4 days and didnt bat an eye lid when i handed it back with 850 miles added (only had 100 when they gave it to me)

- When i said i would be taking it to the welsh run they said take it and enjoy it.

- Throughout all of this they kept me up to date with regular phone calls on progress.

- Best of all my roadster is back, all cleaned and polished and i have just soaked it with the hose and no leakage at all.

 

The Tunbridge wells garage have been extremely pleasant, knowledgable and have bent over backwards to fix the problem. The 370 was the icing on the cake. Seems they have customer service sorted.

 

Don't mean this to be a massive plug but thought i would write about my experience to show not all dealers are complete buffoons. If you ever need any work done i can heartily recommend them. They are a GTR specialist so know all about the 350's 370's and of course the zeds and im sure they will look after you as they have done for me.

 

Overall very very happy.

[martinmac]

I think they definitely warrant a plug, its about the best service I have ever heard of from a dealer. I actually feel jealous of all the owners who are within range of this plce.

 

Well done Nissan Tunbridge Wells.

[Neilp]

Ive also had suprisingly great service from Alex F Noble Nissan in Edinburgh. I get on great with the guys and theyre always top class with discounts on stuff for me. I think 350zPaul also uses them for his gt-r. Cant really fault them at all.