Apart from the performance, I really like the sound of the VQ35DE..In my opinion, no other engine makes such a clean, robust sound under acceleration..I have a 2005 Nissan Altima SER with the same VQ engine and don't plan to ever sell my car. It still drives and pulls like new even though it has 288,000 miles.
Thank you ;) There is a lot of chassis and brake mods on it. Bilstein PSS16, H&R sway bars, Cusco front A Arm and rear suspension links. More front and rear negative camber (-2° at the time of this video) 18" wheels with more offset, 245/40 front and 265/40 rear tires. At that time it was Pirelli PZero. AP Racing front brakes and Pagid Ceramic pads. Bucket seats, electronic mod to totally disable ESP. Stock engine, Air filter + MREV2 + intake spacer + full exhaust, oil radiator baffled oil pan.
Thx for taking the time to spell out exactly what you've done with your old Z. I own a '99 Miata now and love it, but miss having a lot of torque. I don't live near any fun roads, nor do I track the Miata (I have an BMW E30 race car for fun). I could either turbo the Miata, or get a HR 350Z. I kind of wish for a more solid vehicle for long road trips, so the 350Z may be the winner here for me. Oh, I spent the month of May, 2013 working at Rent4Ring at the 'ring, as an instructor!
the sheer VIOLENT sound of your vehicle sends shivers down my spine. An amazing little car, nice driving, and one hell of a track. Much respect for the USA! CALIFORNIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, No kidding that was perfect shifting and awesome driving. Really enjoyed this video, sound video and even seeing the 1.5g left you did and sometimes 1g braking. You really pushed the car whole time, only once a little to much but you corrected the step out with no problems.
Still one of my all time favorites! The driving, the sounds, the feel, everything, it's perfect (except the idiot in the mini bus at the end) Thanks for sharing. Still love the 350!
+Taurim Wish I knew the whole back story about the car (all the mods, how it got to Germany, etc.) I'm in the US and I could kick myself for trading my '07 PPW. One of the best cars I've ever had =) Please don't EVER take this video down!
+Liveoneut : I was the owner of this Z from 2008 to 2013 and using it as a daily driver (in France) and trackday car. I've done quite a lot of mods on the car, especially on the brakes and the suspensions so it can handle extreme track use. (you can read about the mods in the comments below). If you look at my TH-cam channel, you will find a lot of videos of this car at the Nürburgring and other tracks like Spa or Le Mans. I sold it to buy a more extreme trackday car : a Lotus Exige (you will find videos of the Exige too) :-) The Z was a very fine and fun car. But it was way too heavy for track usage. Really expansive on brakes and tyres costs on track !
This is a very impressive time. Annoyingly a minute faster then my best in my 350z. I shall be making a note of your set up info for future reference...
@JohnRS82 : Not yet this year. I have some work to do on suspension bushings. I will probably use my Clio 3 RS for the first trip to the ring (not planned yet). Standard endlinks seems a bit weak to me. I use Whiteline endlinks. The length is adjustable so you can adjust the position of your bars. It may be necessary to avoid interference if your car is lowered.
Congratulations man!! Excellent driving skills on an exceptional (and difficult) track. I tried the ring once, with a Clio RS Cup (RSR car rental), and managed to do a 9.29 lap (BTG). So your 8.11 is impressive. On attend avec impatience un petit 7.59......
The engine itself is stock. There is some modifications on the intake plenum + exhaust headers, cats (now decat) and catback + a remap. There is also an oil cooler an a bigger oil pan.
@zcarver25 : The shape is perfect and the increased weight gives a very good feeling. The default is during winter or in the sun, the metallic knob becomes very cold or very hot !
@swthurman :The car is a 2004 280 hp 350Z. There is a lot of mods : AP Racing front brakes, Pagid RS29 ceramic Pads, Bilstein PSS10 shocks, H&R sway bars (36 and 23mm), Cusco adjustable front A Arm and rear suspension links + a good geometry. 8.5x18 and 9.5x18 alloys with Michelin Pilot Suport Sport (not cup) 245/40 and 265/40. Inside : Recaro bucket seats. Engine : oil cooler, MREV2 + air filter, inox exhaust (incl. headers), remap.
@scenehouser : Thanks ! AP Racing front brakes (6 pots, 363x32mm), Pagid RS29 ceramic Pads, Bilstein PSS10 shocks, H&R sway bars (36 and 23mm), Cusco adjustable front A Arm and rear suspension links + a good geometry. 8.5x18 and 9.5x18 alloys with Pirelli PZero (not Corsa) 245/40 and 265/40. ESP is totally removed (yaw sensor in the center console disconneted). It is not possible to totally disable stock ESP (always active under braking) and it's very annoying.
Thank you ;) I sold my Z 3 weeks ago and replaced it by a Lotus Exige NA (see my latest video with my first trackday with the Exige). The Z is built like a tank (and weights like a tank too...) ! You have to add and oil cooler and front big brakes for any serious track usage. The stock suspension is also too soft. The 313hp model is an excellent choice with a better and more fun engine than my 280hp Z.
With stock front camber, front tires shoulder wears rapidly. With more negative camber, front tyres works better in the curves, giving a little more grip. Not necessary at the rear. To change the balance of the car, it is easier to adjust front and rear sway bar stifness (with adjustable sway bars). Harder front + softer rear = more under steer but better traction and vice versa. With camber + sway bar stifness + relative tire width you can adjust precisely the balance of the car.
@10eleven : Nothing except ABS. I modified my 350Z to totally disable ESP with a switch on the 12V line to the ESP yaw sensor so I can totally disable the ESP. On a stock Z the ESP remains active under braking, even when disabled with the dashboard switch. It is a very annoying feature when you drive on track at the limit.
@Ronaldo9thelegend : the engine is stock. little mods to the intake, headers, no cat and a remap. Output is 297 HP on the dyno. What makes the car fast is the brakes and the chassis ;-)
@TheNameIsMrGame : I'm using PSS10. The advantage is that you have well tuned hydraulic presets. With KW v3, you can adjust compression and rebound separately. But you will have to find the correct settings by yourself.
Yes for the Cusco Arms, they include stronger bushings on the front and ball joints on the rear. The handling is definitively more accurate ! I've done an ECU tune on dyno too (took half a day and several pass). It was 265 HP stock (without mods) and 297 HP now (tune + mods). It wasn' cheap either :-(
Wow, looks like you got a lot more grip with the 245/265 setup compared to the 245-all-around setup. I see you going thru corners in 3rd that you did in 2nd when you had the old tire setup. Again, great job rev-matching! -fellow Z33 driver
@3ridetec : Thanks ! AP Racing front brakes, Pagid RS29 ceramic Pads, Bilstein PSS10 shocks, H&R sway bars (36 and 23mm), Cusco adjustable front A Arm and rear suspension links + a good geometry. 8.5x18 and 9.5x18 alloys with Pirelli PZero (not Corsa) 245/40 and 265/40. ESP is totally removed (yaw sensor in the center console disconneted).
It is not stock at all ;) But engine stock (280 hp version) except remap, filter and exhaust. AP Racing front brakes, Pagid RS29 ceramic Pads, Bilstein PSS10 shocks, H&R sway bars (36 and 23mm), Cusco adjustable front A Arm and rear suspension links + a good geometry. 8.5x18 and 9.5x18 alloys with Michelin Pilot Suport Sport (not cup) 245/40 and 265/40. Inside : Recaro bucket seats. Engine : oil cooler, MREV2 + air filter, inox exhaust (incl. headers), remap.
Thank you :-) I think that sooner or later you will install a big brake kit ;-) I tried brake ducts before upgrading to AP Racing and I totally fried my Brembo calipers at Spa Francorchamps (with Pagid RS29 brake pads and good discs). Stock 350Z front brakes are undersized for serious track use.
Robertas S. i found a stock higher mileage in a manual for $5.5k and it took awhile. The manuals are either modified and overpriced to high hell or junk salvage/rebuilt
@Speed1175 : It is not stock. AP Racing front brakes, Pagid RS29 ceramic Pads, Bilstein PSS10 shocks, H&R sway bars (36 and 23mm), Cusco adjustable front A Arm and rear suspension links + a good geometry. 8.5x18 and 9.5x18 alloys with Michelin Pilot Suport Sport (not cup) 245/40 and 265/40. Inside : Recaro bucket seats. Engine : oil cooler, MREV2 + air filter, inox exhaust (incl. headers), remap.
A lot ! Bilstein PSS16, H&R sway bars, Cusco front A Arm and rear suspension links. More front and rear negative camber (-2° at the time of this video) 18" wheels with more offset, 245/40 front and 265/40 rear tires. At that time it was Pirelli PZero. I'm now using Michelin PSS, stronger bushings and -3° front camber. Stock ESP (always active when braking when stock). Nothing on the engine internals. Air filter + MREV2 + intake spacer + full exhaust, oil radiator + sensor + baffled oil pan.
I like how you waived to the other car as you passed. lol. I didn't notice any understeer either btw. Looks pretty balanced actually. Nice heal toe action too.
Thank you ! There is no LHD S15 and I never saw one so I can't tell. A S14/S14a needs a lot of mods for track usage and I don't think it is really effective chassis wise. Some with the right mods deliver a lot of HP but I don't like a turbo engine on track. I'm definitely an NA guy :-D
@aidan21 : no, on the Nürburgring during Touristenfahrt, we time the laps from the Bilstein Bridge at 0'36 to the Gantry at 8'47". It is called a BTG lap.
@super55lb : I have a small aluminium arm holding the bullet cam attached to the back of the passenger bucket seat with a big hard drive magnet. I attached a metal plate at the back of the seat to receive the arm and the magnet. So it is easy to install and remove the camera in a few seconds. The metal plate shape holds the arm in position so the field of view is always OK.
@boyjkl1121 : no it's not. On the stock Z, the ESP is always active when you brake, even when disabled with the dashboard switch. To remove everything except ABS on mine, the ESP yaw sensor in the center console is disconnected so it can't work ;-)
The stock 280 engine power output at the dyno was 265 hp. Now it is 297 ;) AP Racing front brakes (6 pots, 363x32mm), Pagid RS29 ceramic Pads, Bilstein PSS10 shocks, H&R sway bars (36 and 23mm), Cusco adjustable front A Arm and read links + a good geometry. ESP is totally removed (yaw sensor in the center console disconneted). It is not possible to totally disable stock ESP (always active under braking) and it's very annoying.
@indiv1dual : yes probably, especially if it is a SRT6 ! But some improvements may be necessary on the brakes. (like a vast majority of the sport cars on the market).
Thank you. you've managed a good time with good driving. I have a z and as stock I would be reluctant to take on a track like that with varying conditions pushing like that cause I think I would end up in the wall. Obviously the mod that you have done make a significant difference to the dynamics of the vehicle. does the car understeer or oversteer more with this set up. its a very good acheivement with a modest sports car.
ABS is not unplugged (no manual repartition, Electronic Brake Distribution) but ESP is inoperant (yaw sensor disconnected). No rollbar in the car because I use the car on the road in France and that kind of modification is not legal and very visible !
@mavtais : Thanks ;-) Car was way too twitchy with 245 all round. It was fun on a little track but definitely dangerous on the Ring ! 265 rear tires made a big difference ! Car is still neutral (I like it like that) and it can easily oversteer but it it not dangerous like it was with 245 !
@Gozirra21 : Thanks ;) The white hatch is a RenaultSport Clio 200 Cup (I also own one). A very fast an nimble 200hp hot hatch. I think he was not happy to be overtaken by a ludicrously heavy 350Z ;-)
@DcEvoIX : I also have an oil temp gauge. Without an oil cooler, the temp can go very high ! For sustained track use, an oil cooler is mandatory IMHO. It is known on the 370Z because there is a protection sensor. There is no such protection on the 350Z !
@vabeachbully : you have to do some mods to improve oil cooling and add a baffled oil pan. You also have to improve the front brakes, the car is heavy !
The sensor is located just behind the gear lever. You have to find which wire is -12V or +12V (can't remember the colors). Cut the wire, add a switch and put it somewhere is will not be toggled accidentally. When you toggle the switch, the ESP fails and is desactivated. Il will be OK next time you restart the car.
@Quidproquo07093 : Thank you ! I've done more than 300 laps with 2 cars (350Z and a BMW 330 Ci). I can do aprox. 60 laps with a set of front tires and 40 laps with the rear tires.
All mods are written in the comments below. If you look at "official" Ring lap times in Wikipedia, the 2004 Z and the 2009 FRS have the same time : 8'26" (full lap) with the same test pilot. The main problem to track the Z is the too small Brembo front brakes. It's also quite heavy and suspensions are way too soft. The FRS also have weak front brakes and the front end is really too heavy. Both need at least bigger front brakes to be seriously tracked.
There is not a lot of differences between Euro and US versions, I think the wight is the same. I can gain some more weight by removing all of the interior but I don't want to do that. I want my Z to be usable on the road.
It's been about a year since the last time I watched this video. Still entertaining. I'm sure it will be next time I watch it again (In a year or so, ha ha!).
It's just a hobby ;) The 350Z can be OK for track use but you have to take care of the brakes and oil system. Front big brake kit, baffled oil pan and oil radiator are almost mandatory. If you want to have fun, you have to totally disable the ESP (disconnecting it via the dashboard is not enough).
There is a viscous coupler LSD on the 350Z but it's not very good compared to a Quaife or a multiplate LSD of course. The lack of a real LSD is not a problem on the Nürburgring where there is almost no tight corner.
I agree 100%, the MX5 is so well balanced now, hate to upset that. I'm doing more long distance drives than cutting up curvy roads, so the 350Z wins there. The fact is, I live in an area with boring roads, and we're talking about my daily driver, need buckets of tq. Thank you again for your comments. Enjoy your Exige!!
I'm always using heel&toe. You lose time if you drop a gear out of a corner to put the same back again immediately after, especially with the 350 280hp engine wich have a very "round" torque curve.
Nothing. The big mods are on the brakes, shocks, suspension arms and swaybars + some mods on the engine for track usage : oil cooler, oil pan with baffles, oil temperature sensor and gauge...
@DcEvoIX : I'm only using good roar tyres : Michelin Pilot Supersport. Mods include : AP Racing front brakes, Pagid RS29 ceramic Pads, Bilstein PSS10 shocks, H&R sway bars (36 and 23mm), Cusco adjustable front A Arm and rear suspension links + a good geometry. 8.5x18 and 9.5x18 rims with 245/40 and 265/40 PSS. This is a 280 hp model with some modifications on intake and exhaust + a remap, oil cooler and a baffled oil pan. 297 hp on the dyno.
I measured my stock battery at 18 Kgs and the Odyssey 8 Kg. The spare do weight 17 Kg. I do have Borla catback too. Engine output is 297 HP on the dyno (not bad for 280 HP model which gives aprox 265 HP stock on the same dyno) On track, brakes mods are your biggest friend ;) Front stock Z brakes are severely undersized and can not handle heavy track use, even when fitted with performance pads and air scoops.
Well done man! Probably could've shaved a second or so off if it wasn't for the traffic blocking the optimum line going into the Wipperman curves, but still an excellent time.
This is not a 370Z but a 350Z. It's almost stock engine wise but chassis is definitely not stock. Front AP Racing big brakes, Bilstein PSS10 shocks, bigger sway bars, Cusco adjustable suspension arms and a good alignment.
If you disable the ESP with the dashboard switch, the 350Z ESP remains active during braking and it is very annoying on track. I disabled it totally on my Z with a switch on the power line of the acceleration sensor in the center console. When the switch is set to off, a fault in the ESP system is created and disables it totally (2 orange indicators lit on the dashboard). Only the ABS remains active. I always drive my Z on track with the ESP disabled this way.
Geometry : -1.6° front camber and -2.2° rear camber. 15" toe in front & rear. 30mm lower car. Bilstein PSS10 set @ 10 (harder). H&R anti-roll bar set on the hardest setting. Front Cusco A-Arm and 4 rear Cusco suspension links without bushings on the inner side. Engine posted 297HP after remap (280 model, 265HP stock). Rota P45R wheels 8.5x18" and 9.5x18" with PZero 245/40 & 265/40. AP Racing 363x32 front brakes, Pagid RS29 pads all round. Front brake cooling ducts under the car.
@2005pierric : You lose time by going too far on the right at the Adenauer Forst entrance. It's a common mistake. It is also faster to sacrifice the first left to exit faster from the right. There is a straight after it. But I agree with you, my line could be cleaner at AF in this lap.
It's always really fun to see a situation where it's the car's limits that have met their maximum, not the driver. Fantastic driving man. Kudos.
Thank you :-)
Apart from the performance, I really like the sound of the VQ35DE..In my opinion, no other engine makes such a clean, robust sound under acceleration..I have a 2005 Nissan Altima SER with the same VQ engine and don't plan to ever sell my car. It still drives and pulls like new even though it has 288,000 miles.
Automotive poetry!
Smooth throttle control, perfect downshifting and total commitment to every corner.
And that glorious noise.
Cracking video chief!
It's good to see a Z properly thrashed 👍🏻
Dude you're PRO, awesome driving.
Thank you ;) There is a lot of chassis and brake mods on it.
Bilstein PSS16, H&R sway bars, Cusco front A Arm and rear suspension links. More front and rear negative camber (-2° at the time of this video) 18" wheels with more offset, 245/40 front and 265/40 rear tires. At that time it was Pirelli PZero. AP Racing front brakes and Pagid Ceramic pads. Bucket seats, electronic mod to totally disable ESP.
Stock engine, Air filter + MREV2 + intake spacer + full exhaust, oil radiator baffled oil pan.
Thx for taking the time to spell out exactly what you've done with your old Z. I own a '99 Miata now and love it, but miss having a lot of torque. I don't live near any fun roads, nor do I track the Miata (I have an BMW E30 race car for fun). I could either turbo the Miata, or get a HR 350Z. I kind of wish for a more solid vehicle for long road trips, so the 350Z may be the winner here for me. Oh, I spent the month of May, 2013 working at Rent4Ring at the 'ring, as an instructor!
the sheer VIOLENT sound of your vehicle sends shivers down my spine. An amazing little car, nice driving, and one hell of a track. Much respect for the USA! CALIFORNIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Z is truly an underdog, not enough people know of its true potential!
Wow, No kidding that was perfect shifting and awesome driving. Really enjoyed this video, sound video and even seeing the 1.5g left you did and sometimes 1g braking. You really pushed the car whole time, only once a little to much but you corrected the step out with no problems.
Still one of my all time favorites! The driving, the sounds, the feel, everything, it's perfect (except the idiot in the mini bus at the end) Thanks for sharing. Still love the 350!
+Liveoneut : Thats an old video now but thank's a lot for your comment !
+Taurim Wish I knew the whole back story about the car (all the mods, how it got to Germany, etc.) I'm in the US and I could kick myself for trading my '07 PPW. One of the best cars I've ever had =) Please don't EVER take this video down!
+Liveoneut : I was the owner of this Z from 2008 to 2013 and using it as a daily driver (in France) and trackday car. I've done quite a lot of mods on the car, especially on the brakes and the suspensions so it can handle extreme track use. (you can read about the mods in the comments below).
If you look at my TH-cam channel, you will find a lot of videos of this car at the Nürburgring and other tracks like Spa or Le Mans. I sold it to buy a more extreme trackday car : a Lotus Exige (you will find videos of the Exige too) :-)
The Z was a very fine and fun car. But it was way too heavy for track usage. Really expansive on brakes and tyres costs on track !
Windscreen looks like my bathroom mirror! Great drive m8!
Still some of the best driving done in a 350z on TH-cam. Nice driving man!
Excellent driving! Love 350Z. You now are in my favourites with "Gan San" and Jim Mero.....
This is a very impressive time. Annoyingly a minute faster then my best in my 350z. I shall be making a note of your set up info for future reference...
If the tires are talking you know she is walking. Nice driving tho
mad respect from the US, I'd like to learn how to track with my Z. thanks to you I will actually look into it.
@JohnRS82 : Not yet this year. I have some work to do on suspension bushings. I will probably use my Clio 3 RS for the first trip to the ring (not planned yet).
Standard endlinks seems a bit weak to me. I use Whiteline endlinks. The length is adjustable so you can adjust the position of your bars. It may be necessary to avoid interference if your car is lowered.
Congratulations man!! Excellent driving skills on an exceptional (and difficult) track. I tried the ring once, with a Clio RS Cup (RSR car rental), and managed to do a 9.29 lap (BTG). So your 8.11 is impressive.
On attend avec impatience un petit 7.59......
The engine itself is stock. There is some modifications on the intake plenum + exhaust headers, cats (now decat) and catback + a remap. There is also an oil cooler an a bigger oil pan.
@zcarver25 : The shape is perfect and the increased weight gives a very good feeling. The default is during winter or in the sun, the metallic knob becomes very cold or very hot !
good driving man, Love your car!
@swthurman :The car is a 2004 280 hp 350Z. There is a lot of mods : AP Racing front brakes, Pagid RS29 ceramic Pads, Bilstein PSS10 shocks, H&R sway bars (36 and 23mm), Cusco adjustable front A Arm and rear suspension links + a good geometry. 8.5x18 and 9.5x18 alloys with Michelin Pilot Suport Sport (not cup) 245/40 and 265/40. Inside : Recaro bucket seats. Engine : oil cooler, MREV2 + air filter, inox exhaust (incl. headers), remap.
@scenehouser : Thanks ! AP Racing front brakes (6 pots, 363x32mm), Pagid RS29 ceramic Pads, Bilstein PSS10 shocks, H&R sway bars (36 and 23mm), Cusco adjustable front A Arm and rear suspension links + a good geometry. 8.5x18 and 9.5x18 alloys with Pirelli PZero (not Corsa) 245/40 and 265/40.
ESP is totally removed (yaw sensor in the center console disconneted). It is not possible to totally disable stock ESP (always active under braking) and it's very annoying.
Looked like you got some air time on some of those hills. Flawless victory!
Nice. That white car at the end probably cost you a second or two. Not a bad showing for a 350z.
Thank you ;) I sold my Z 3 weeks ago and replaced it by a Lotus Exige NA (see my latest video with my first trackday with the Exige).
The Z is built like a tank (and weights like a tank too...) !
You have to add and oil cooler and front big brakes for any serious track usage. The stock suspension is also too soft.
The 313hp model is an excellent choice with a better and more fun engine than my 280hp Z.
With stock front camber, front tires shoulder wears rapidly. With more negative camber, front tyres works better in the curves, giving a little more grip. Not necessary at the rear.
To change the balance of the car, it is easier to adjust front and rear sway bar stifness (with adjustable sway bars).
Harder front + softer rear = more under steer but better traction and vice versa.
With camber + sway bar stifness + relative tire width you can adjust precisely the balance of the car.
@10eleven : Nothing except ABS. I modified my 350Z to totally disable ESP with a switch on the 12V line to the ESP yaw sensor so I can totally disable the ESP. On a stock Z the ESP remains active under braking, even when disabled with the dashboard switch. It is a very annoying feature when you drive on track at the limit.
@Ronaldo9thelegend : the engine is stock. little mods to the intake, headers, no cat and a remap. Output is 297 HP on the dyno. What makes the car fast is the brakes and the chassis ;-)
wow the grip of that z is amazing I hope I can get mine to that point when I get it this spring I can't wait I'm so impatient lol
@TheNameIsMrGame : I'm using PSS10. The advantage is that you have well tuned hydraulic presets. With KW v3, you can adjust compression and rebound separately. But you will have to find the correct settings by yourself.
Yes for the Cusco Arms, they include stronger bushings on the front and ball joints on the rear. The handling is definitively more accurate ! I've done an ECU tune on dyno too (took half a day and several pass). It was 265 HP stock (without mods) and 297 HP now (tune + mods). It wasn' cheap either :-(
Wow, looks like you got a lot more grip with the 245/265 setup compared to the 245-all-around setup. I see you going thru corners in 3rd that you did in 2nd when you had the old tire setup.
Again, great job rev-matching!
-fellow Z33 driver
@3ridetec : Thanks ! AP Racing front brakes, Pagid RS29 ceramic Pads, Bilstein PSS10 shocks, H&R sway bars (36 and 23mm), Cusco adjustable front A Arm and rear suspension links + a good geometry. 8.5x18 and 9.5x18 alloys with Pirelli PZero (not Corsa) 245/40 and 265/40. ESP is totally removed (yaw sensor in the center console disconneted).
Very good driving!! That Clio in the end goes pretty fast aswell!
insanely good driving.
you need to get to the gym though bro, skinny ass arms
Callum Buckley : Bigger muscles won't make me faster. So light is right ;)
fair point
Love this video, I keep coming back to it.
It is not stock at all ;) But engine stock (280 hp version) except remap, filter and exhaust.
AP Racing front brakes, Pagid RS29 ceramic Pads, Bilstein PSS10 shocks, H&R sway bars (36 and 23mm), Cusco adjustable front A Arm and rear suspension links + a good geometry. 8.5x18 and 9.5x18 alloys with Michelin Pilot Suport Sport (not cup) 245/40 and 265/40. Inside : Recaro bucket seats. Engine : oil cooler, MREV2 + air filter, inox exhaust (incl. headers), remap.
Thank you :-)
I think that sooner or later you will install a big brake kit ;-)
I tried brake ducts before upgrading to AP Racing and I totally fried my Brembo calipers at Spa Francorchamps (with Pagid RS29 brake pads and good discs).
Stock 350Z front brakes are undersized for serious track use.
4:09 thank god someone still knows how to shift properly
obligatory in RWD
You find that people outside the USA are still adept at shifting a manual. I love manual shift cars. My "Z" is, of course a manual... Only way to go.
archangele1 Finding a manual 350Z is difficult in the US.
Robertas S. i found a stock higher mileage in a manual for $5.5k and it took awhile. The manuals are either modified and overpriced to high hell or junk salvage/rebuilt
Shoula been one longer gas press no?
Excellent driving! Great use of heal toe braking!
@Speed1175 : It is not stock. AP Racing front brakes, Pagid RS29 ceramic Pads, Bilstein PSS10 shocks, H&R sway bars (36 and 23mm), Cusco adjustable front A Arm and rear suspension links + a good geometry. 8.5x18 and 9.5x18 alloys with Michelin Pilot Suport Sport (not cup) 245/40 and 265/40. Inside : Recaro bucket seats. Engine : oil cooler, MREV2 + air filter, inox exhaust (incl. headers), remap.
A lot ! Bilstein PSS16, H&R sway bars, Cusco front A Arm and rear suspension links. More front and rear negative camber (-2° at the time of this video) 18" wheels with more offset, 245/40 front and 265/40 rear tires. At that time it was Pirelli PZero. I'm now using Michelin PSS, stronger bushings and -3° front camber.
Stock ESP (always active when braking when stock).
Nothing on the engine internals. Air filter + MREV2 + intake spacer + full exhaust, oil radiator + sensor + baffled oil pan.
Thanks ;)
I use road tyres : Pirelli PZero "The Hero" (the new ones, not the rosso or yellow or nero). 245x40 18 front and 265x40 18 rear.
@Taurim ok thanks for the update I wasn't aware of that, and keep up the good work I dream of some day getting a to lap the ring
I like how you waived to the other car as you passed. lol. I didn't notice any understeer either btw. Looks pretty balanced actually. Nice heal toe action too.
Thank you ! There is no LHD S15 and I never saw one so I can't tell. A S14/S14a needs a lot of mods for track usage and I don't think it is really effective chassis wise. Some with the right mods deliver a lot of HP but I don't like a turbo engine on track. I'm definitely an NA guy :-D
@aidan21 : no, on the Nürburgring during Touristenfahrt, we time the laps from the Bilstein Bridge at 0'36 to the Gantry at 8'47". It is called a BTG lap.
@super55lb : I have a small aluminium arm holding the bullet cam attached to the back of the passenger bucket seat with a big hard drive magnet.
I attached a metal plate at the back of the seat to receive the arm and the magnet.
So it is easy to install and remove the camera in a few seconds. The metal plate shape holds the arm in position so the field of view is always OK.
@boyjkl1121 : no it's not. On the stock Z, the ESP is always active when you brake, even when disabled with the dashboard switch. To remove everything except ABS on mine, the ESP yaw sensor in the center console is disconnected so it can't work ;-)
@sonic911 : when upshifting yes. When downshifting I always use heel&toe to keep the revs in sync.
Good job on pushing the car to its limit. Enjoyed every second of the video.
The stock 280 engine power output at the dyno was 265 hp. Now it is 297 ;)
AP Racing front brakes (6 pots, 363x32mm), Pagid RS29 ceramic Pads, Bilstein PSS10 shocks, H&R sway bars (36 and 23mm), Cusco adjustable front A Arm and read links + a good geometry.
ESP is totally removed (yaw sensor in the center console disconneted). It is not possible to totally disable stock ESP (always active under braking) and it's very annoying.
Outstanding Run! Great effort!
@indiv1dual : yes probably, especially if it is a SRT6 ! But some improvements may be necessary on the brakes. (like a vast majority of the sport cars on the market).
Thank you. you've managed a good time with good driving. I have a z and as stock I would be reluctant to take on a track like that with varying conditions pushing like that cause I think I would end up in the wall. Obviously the mod that you have done make a significant difference to the dynamics of the vehicle. does the car understeer or oversteer more with this set up. its a very good acheivement with a modest sports car.
YOU SIR DRIVE LIKE A BOSS
ABS is not unplugged (no manual repartition, Electronic Brake Distribution) but ESP is inoperant (yaw sensor disconnected). No rollbar in the car because I use the car on the road in France and that kind of modification is not legal and very visible !
@mavtais : Thanks ;-)
Car was way too twitchy with 245 all round. It was fun on a little track but definitely dangerous on the Ring ! 265 rear tires made a big difference ! Car is still neutral (I like it like that) and it can easily oversteer but it it not dangerous like it was with 245 !
Impressive. nice driving.
+SamBell : Thank you !
Fantastic driving! I'm saving for a Zed!
@theluxstig : Thanks ;) I'm using AP Racing front brakes : 6 pots calipers and 2 parts 363x32mm discs.
@PreviewHD : It is a 2004 model with the 6 speed manual gearbox of course.
@JohnRS82 : I was previously using RE050A (245/40 and 275/40). PSS have a better grip and slightly better wear resistance : love it :-)
@Gozirra21 : Thanks ;) The white hatch is a RenaultSport Clio 200 Cup (I also own one). A very fast an nimble 200hp hot hatch. I think he was not happy to be overtaken by a ludicrously heavy 350Z ;-)
@DcEvoIX : I also have an oil temp gauge. Without an oil cooler, the temp can go very high ! For sustained track use, an oil cooler is mandatory IMHO. It is known on the 370Z because there is a protection sensor. There is no such protection on the 350Z !
@vabeachbully : you have to do some mods to improve oil cooling and add a baffled oil pan. You also have to improve the front brakes, the car is heavy !
The sensor is located just behind the gear lever. You have to find which wire is -12V or +12V (can't remember the colors). Cut the wire, add a switch and put it somewhere is will not be toggled accidentally.
When you toggle the switch, the ESP fails and is desactivated. Il will be OK next time you restart the car.
@Quidproquo07093 : Thank you ! I've done more than 300 laps with 2 cars (350Z and a BMW 330 Ci). I can do aprox. 60 laps with a set of front tires and 40 laps with the rear tires.
been waiting to see a 350z do the ring, good vid
@jakno3 : No problems at all. But I'm always using heel&toe during downshifts.
All mods are written in the comments below.
If you look at "official" Ring lap times in Wikipedia, the 2004 Z and the 2009 FRS have the same time : 8'26" (full lap) with the same test pilot.
The main problem to track the Z is the too small Brembo front brakes. It's also quite heavy and suspensions are way too soft.
The FRS also have weak front brakes and the front end is really too heavy.
Both need at least bigger front brakes to be seriously tracked.
There is not a lot of differences between Euro and US versions, I think the wight is the same.
I can gain some more weight by removing all of the interior but I don't want to do that. I want my Z to be usable on the road.
It's been about a year since the last time I watched this video. Still entertaining. I'm sure it will be next time I watch it again (In a year or so, ha ha!).
Very nice line. Well done.
It's just a hobby ;) The 350Z can be OK for track use but you have to take care of the brakes and oil system. Front big brake kit, baffled oil pan and oil radiator are almost mandatory. If you want to have fun, you have to totally disable the ESP (disconnecting it via the dashboard is not enough).
Awesome driving man. Props!
I got a z as well, but I can't drive it anywhere near that fast xD
Great driving man, the car sounds awesome.
There is a viscous coupler LSD on the 350Z but it's not very good compared to a Quaife or a multiplate LSD of course. The lack of a real LSD is not a problem on the Nürburgring where there is almost no tight corner.
what a beast, this guys brave
I agree 100%, the MX5 is so well balanced now, hate to upset that. I'm doing more long distance drives than cutting up curvy roads, so the 350Z wins there. The fact is, I live in an area with boring roads, and we're talking about my daily driver, need buckets of tq. Thank you again for your comments. Enjoy your Exige!!
I'm always using heel&toe.
You lose time if you drop a gear out of a corner to put the same back again immediately after, especially with the 350 280hp engine wich have a very "round" torque curve.
@V6POWA : a full lap is approximately 20 to 25" longer. So It would be a 8'31 to 8'36".
great driving skills, great video!
@Nemmeh7501 : Thanks ;-) It's a nice and fun car but there is a lot of mods to do to make it a good trackday car.
@dirtydave79 : Thank you. Never took a class in driving. But I drove only RWD cars for 25 years (and drove them fast :), it helps !
Nothing. The big mods are on the brakes, shocks, suspension arms and swaybars + some mods on the engine for track usage : oil cooler, oil pan with baffles, oil temperature sensor and gauge...
@DcEvoIX : I'm only using good roar tyres : Michelin Pilot Supersport. Mods include : AP Racing front brakes, Pagid RS29 ceramic Pads, Bilstein PSS10 shocks, H&R sway bars (36 and 23mm), Cusco adjustable front A Arm and rear suspension links + a good geometry. 8.5x18 and 9.5x18 rims with 245/40 and 265/40 PSS. This is a 280 hp model with some modifications on intake and exhaust + a remap, oil cooler and a baffled oil pan. 297 hp on the dyno.
I like you're way to go, good drive!
I measured my stock battery at 18 Kgs and the Odyssey 8 Kg. The spare do weight 17 Kg. I do have Borla catback too. Engine output is 297 HP on the dyno (not bad for 280 HP model which gives aprox 265 HP stock on the same dyno)
On track, brakes mods are your biggest friend ;) Front stock Z brakes are severely undersized and can not handle heavy track use, even when fitted with performance pads and air scoops.
Well done man! Probably could've shaved a second or so off if it wasn't for the traffic blocking the optimum line going into the Wipperman curves, but still an excellent time.
Thank you ! It's difficult to have a clean lap during Touristenfahrt.
fair enough, good run btw. very good control.. barely any oversteering..
@jvs8864 : Thanks. If I remember correctly, I ordered it in Japan via Suruga Performance.
This is not a 370Z but a 350Z. It's almost stock engine wise but chassis is definitely not stock. Front AP Racing big brakes, Bilstein PSS10 shocks, bigger sway bars, Cusco adjustable suspension arms and a good alignment.
If you disable the ESP with the dashboard switch, the 350Z ESP remains active during braking and it is very annoying on track.
I disabled it totally on my Z with a switch on the power line of the acceleration sensor in the center console.
When the switch is set to off, a fault in the ESP system is created and disables it totally (2 orange indicators lit on the dashboard). Only the ABS remains active.
I always drive my Z on track with the ESP disabled this way.
Geometry : -1.6° front camber and -2.2° rear camber. 15" toe in front & rear. 30mm lower car. Bilstein PSS10 set @ 10 (harder). H&R anti-roll bar set on the hardest setting. Front Cusco A-Arm and 4 rear Cusco suspension links without bushings on the inner side. Engine posted 297HP after remap (280 model, 265HP stock). Rota P45R wheels 8.5x18" and 9.5x18" with PZero 245/40 & 265/40. AP Racing 363x32 front brakes, Pagid RS29 pads all round. Front brake cooling ducts under the car.
holy crap... nice driving!! keep it up and stay safe :)
@2005pierric : You lose time by going too far on the right at the Adenauer Forst entrance. It's a common mistake. It is also faster to sacrifice the first left to exit faster from the right. There is a straight after it.
But I agree with you, my line could be cleaner at AF in this lap.
very nice driving. Good job!