Hi All, Just joined this forum after recently purchasing a Twin Turbo, Manual 2+2 Targa Top Red 93 Zed back in November 2014. Can anyone recommend a good workshop for service and repairs? Looking in the Bayside or Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. I am looking for somewhere with knowledge, quality, honest and won't cost an arm and leg for regular service and repairs. Thank All!
hey mate, there arn't many good Z shops around victoria but I can offer you the names of the workshops that have Z32 experience. Black Stallion not sure where their located but that is where Joe Imbesi is located and he is the probably the best Z mechanic in Victoria at the moment, that I know of, the only problem is the workshop charges $100 ph minimum, so not very cheap. Dontex is located in Vermont is were Joe imbesi use to work at. Warren who owns the shop is a good enough guy but there has been mixed reviews from members who have had good and bad experiences with that shop. I personally had some bad experiences with them and wouldn't go there again but I also cant afford to pay the $100 ph charge that shop charges people. I could offer my own personal services if you can't find any workshop cheap enough for your liking. I have been servicing my own Z for 8 years now and have all the tools and follow the FSM to the letter as much as I can. I also can check error codes with conzult as part of the service. Unfortunately, I'm located in Altona and so not really close to the eastern suburbs, but it may be worth the trip if you cant find a cheap enough shop in that area. I wont discuss prices here but if your interested send me a pm and we can work out that then.
Would recommend member Tektrader, extremely knowledgeable & a great laugh, he's in s.e. suburbs. As for shops, to add to Adam above, there's also Z Shop in Glen Iris. I used them all through out uni & they were fine, that was circa 7-8 years ago though
Thumbs up for Dontex I used to take my car there when Joe was the resident Z Guru and I gave them a chance after Joe left and dealt with Warren (fitted my new heater core +a service) and he was great and the price was good too!
Call Joe on 0408337283. He works at Black Stallion motors in Vermont South. He has 20 years of experience working on Zeds. It's the only place I take my car. Cheers
go to joe Yes as mark indicated. Joe is the go.You might pay more for his service, But they give a cheaper deal for labor to us zed guys. 100 dollars an hour. There are not many workshops charging less anyway. Most when they see a zed 32 they would tell you to piss off. The z is not easy to work on. At least you know your in good hands. Good luck with your choice. Cheers Bigmax.
give me a text on 0499900007 im a mechanic by trade and have had a few 300zx and know my way around them very well
Wouldn't suggest Dontex,,, Further from what Adam said, when I bought my zed, I immediately took it to Dontex as they were renowned as the best mechanics for the z32. That is ONLY because of Joe Imbesi. I didn't know this at the time. Joe has passed on some of his expertise, but Joe is the expert here. I dealt with Warren. It started out well. His communication was good, and he seemed like he genuinely cared about his work. I was dropping it in for an equivalent of a 100,000km service, and a thorough inspection. Warren started dicking me around a bit. The car sat with them for a week without being looked at. The work took more than a fortnight to complete. Perhaps I was a little impatient as I had just bought it and wanted to drive my new car, but almost 3 weeks for what is only a couple of hours work is a bit much. When the work was done, he charged a fair price considering the work, a little bit over a grand for parts and labour ($125 an hour). I looked over the car myself an found some off things. I took it to a mechanic near my work, and he confirmed, even though I had been charged for a brake fluid flush and refill, they had simply topped it up. The brake fluid was clearly off colour. I was also charged for a timing belt which was very clearly unchanged. I have since got in contact with Black Stallion in Ringwood, and have spoken to Joe Imbesi. He is THE MAN to go to. Also, if you need parts, this site is a good resource, as well as some of the members. I have done business with AdamZX in the past. Great to do business with, and a great resource of info.
Thanks to all you guys for helping me out with info. I'll suss out the options and go from there. I was thinking of possibly booking the car in with a Nissan dealership....any thoughts on this option?
Please don't go to a dealership for repairs and servicing, unless you have strong ankles that will support your weight to be dangled by whilst you cash falls into a troff.
Do NOT go to a Nissan dealership with a Z32. Even though it is a Nissan, and was sold locally, they know very little about the Z32. Especially so if your car is turbo. Seriously take your car to one of the zed specialists mentioned above.
For general servicing and repairs I'd suggest DM Automotive. They are very good. Owner knows Z32s having owned them which makes life easier. You won't be charged an arm and a leg either. 2/5 Vesper Drive, Narre Warren VIC 3805 (03) 9704 9212 http://www.dmautomotive.net.au/ For massive mammoth mechanical things, I'd go see Tektrader (Graham). He is Zed God.
nissan dealerships In regards to "do not go to a nissan dealership, as they don't know what the car is" I'm a mechanic. I've worked for several import places, had heaps of cars, currently working for Nissan dealership in Melbourne, I know my way around jap turbos even zeds very well. Maybe other dealerships have no experience but my boss and I certainly do.
Thanks everyone. I will look into all of the suggestions. And yes Coatesie, I agree that some dealerships certainly will have some knowledge of the car as a lot of mechanics are into their japanese turbo cars. I visited a Nissan Dealership in Brighton East where I was told many of the mechanics owned silvias and skylines. Which dealership do you work at? I am interested in dealerships because they have good procedures for checking safety and access to top of the line equipment and diagnostics tests.
Hmmm.. I think that making the assumption that "non dealer" mechanical workshops do not have access to the same safety equipment and diagnostic tests is a silly one. I would argue that a dedicated Z specialist or Jap import specialist will help you more than a Nissan Dealership will. Just try ordering parts for the twin turbo through a dealership and see what fun experience that will be. Unless you're lucky and find a Nissan Dealership who has extensive years working on the Z32 Twin Turbo. Anyway, sometimes we have to learn the hard way. So I wish you luck and fortune with your dealership experience in regards to the Z32.
Car is booked in with Joe Imbessi at Black Stallion Motors for tomorrow. Also dropped in to see Warren at Dontex. Warren seems great too and provided me with a great written quote for servicing work I queried about. Will try them next for comparison. Thanks all!!
