Nissan GT-R can't take aftermarket wheels, unapproved race tracks are out

[sunrunner_pei]

Filed under: Aftermarket (http://www.autoblog.com/category/aftermarket/), Tuners (http://www.autoblog.com/category/tunertuesdays/), Sports/GTs (http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/), Japan (http://www.autoblog.com/category/japan/), Supercars (http://www.autoblog.com/category/supercars/), Nissan (http://www.autoblog.com/category/nissan/)
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/02/gt-r_cross_450-op.jpg (http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2008/112_0802_nissan_muzzles_japanese_gtr/index.html)

MotorTrend's Scott Kanemura sat down with Michizio Niikura, the president of MINE'S Motor Sports, the first aftermarket firm to get its hands on the new Nissan GT-R. The conversation centered on the roadblocks Nissan has put in place to stimy high speeds and limit modifications to the GT-R.

We've previously reported (http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/22/nissan-gt-r-recognizes-tracks-via-gps-removes-speed-limiter/) on how the GPS system fitted to the GT-R would remove the 111 mph (180 kph) speed limiter when the car arrives at a track, but according to Niikura, it will only work on pre-approved racetracks. However, the GPS sensor doesn't automatically remove the limiter by itself, it has to be manually changed by navigating through a series of menus on the GT-R's touch screen. While having to go to a Nissan-approved track is daft in its own right, it's even worse when you leave. After the track day, owners are required to head on over to a Nissan High Performance Center where a $1000 safety check is performed. Don't do it and the factory warranty is void.

Another rumor that began circulating after the Tokyo Auto Salon has also been confirmed: aftermarket wheels are out. Supposedly, all the GT-Rs on display at TAS had to be driven in on the stock rollers, jacked up and then fitted with the tuner's chosen wheels. Due to a sensor mounted on the valve stem, if the GT-R is driven with aftermarket rims, an error code is thrown on the dash. And although MINE'S has fitted a custom exhaust to their shop car, they've found that any modification to the intake system causes the ECU to go haywire.

While all these findings are disturbing draconian GT-R owners here in the U.S. won't have to worry about the speed limiter/track day issue. Nissan has said that the GPS system won't be implemented here in the States, but the future of tuning the GT-R remains questionable.

[Source: MotorTrend]

Top tip Zac!
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[Silversmok3]

Wow.

Ungoverned,unlimited Corvette ZR1 FTW......

[GMFWDFAN]

The new GT-R is ugly anyway. I've tried my best to like that car and it just looks uglier and uglier to me. :-/

[car audio dave]

nissan will find that they are shooting themselves in the foot. the only market for these cars are enthusiasts who undoubtedly will want to g over 111 mph and will no doubt want aftermarket tires.

i give it 6 months on the market before nissan has a service bulletin where they correct this.

[matts]

nissan will find that they are shooting themselves in the foot. the only market for these cars are enthusiasts who undoubtedly will want to g over 111 mph and will no doubt want aftermarket tires.

i give it 6 months on the market before nissan has a service bulletin where they correct this.



yeah, i agree. if i'm spending that much money on a car don't tell when and where i can go over 111mph. they're nuts to even think that's gonna work. they're sure enough off the rockers to limit my speed.....and THEN charge me $1000 because of it? Nissan, you're nukin futs. :(

i can see the safety standpoint of it, but wow. alot of cars on the road currently have a speed limiter at or around 100mph. but to have a high performance car with one on it........at 111mph no less????

"yeah, i'll take my viper and let it fall on it's face at 120mph". i'd be PISSED the first time a honda civic passed me. 111mph probably won't even be enough to do a 1/4 mile run (or 400 meters i guess):lol:

[Matt95GT]

:gay2: Sounds like Nissan is becoming the Sony of the auto world.

While the GPS speed-limiter has its merits (don't need to go that fast on the street) the fact that Nissan can C-block you from using unsanctioned tracks, then charge you $1,000 for a checkup afterwards... complete BS.

And the wheel thing? That's even worse. Nissan... you f-ed up.

[Wallflower]

The wheel issue is due to the TPMS system. All you have to do is move the sensor over to the new wheels. The issue that may come is getting the ECU/BCM reflashed for the correct pressures of the new wheel/tire package.

Read the last line of the article guys .... the limiter is not activated here in the states.

[Matt95GT]

The wheel issue is due to the TPMS system. All you have to do is move the sensor over to the new wheels. The issue that may come is getting the ECU/BCM reflashed for the correct pressures of the new wheel/tire package.

Read the last line of the article guys .... the limiter is not activated here in the states.

The new tires should still be inflated to factory specs... if that sensor can be moved over that easily. You probably can't have the ECM/BCM reflashed... nobody cracked the Sentra Spec V ECU yet.

I did read that... point is Nissan shouldn't be dictating control over your purchase, no matter where you live.

[Silversmok3]

The wheel issue is due to the TPMS system. All you have to do is move the sensor over to the new wheels. The issue that may come is getting the ECU/BCM reflashed for the correct pressures of the new wheel/tire package.

Read the last line of the article guys .... the limiter is not activated here in the states.

The fact that you have to REFLASH THE ECU just to change wheels is ,IMO, bad engineering.Especially considering that it wont stop the majority of GTR owners from modding their cars.
If you've got the bread to buy a GTR, a few extra sheckles to pay a tuner to hack the ECU will be chump change.

As far as the GPS is concerned, call me crazy, but adding it to the US market would be a good idea.It'll prevent junior( or some other uneducated fool) from taking a GTR on a 160 MPH cruise-and killing someone in the process.

[Matt95GT]

As far as the GPS is concerned, call me crazy, but adding it to the US market would be a good idea.It'll prevent junior( or some other uneducated fool) from taking a GTR on a 160 MPH cruise-and killing someone in the process.

That was my thinking too, but it isn't going to stop someone that's determined... the old "install a switch on the VSS wire" and possibly disconnecting the GPS antenna (if it reads that speed instead of VSS) would get around that.

It was the "having to go to a track with Nissan's blessing" and the post-track day $1,000 checkup that bothered me.

[Silversmok3]

That was my thinking too, but it isn't going to stop someone that's determined... the old "install a switch on the VSS wire" and possibly disconnecting the GPS antenna (if it reads that speed instead of VSS) would get around that.

It was the "having to go to a track with Nissan's blessing" and the post-track day $1,000 checkup that bothered me.

I wouldnt have an issue with the GPS feature: As long as the guy writing the check can ask for or remove the feature. Similar to AMG Mercedes' policy of removeing the 155 limiter at the buyer's request.

As far as the track day matter is concerned, that's just one more reason Euro guys are gonna wanna crack that ECU.If only to delete the record of that weekend at the 'Ring.

At any rate, I don't see someone who had to bust their hump to buy this car having an issue with the limiter.
My issue is some felon, or general asshead getting possession of this car and abusing it.Someone reckelessly travelling at 111 MPH can do horrible damage ,much less 180.

[Nighthawk243]

yeah, i agree. if i'm spending that much money on a car don't tell when and where i can go over 111mph. they're nuts to even think that's gonna work. they're sure enough off the rockers to limit my speed.....and THEN charge me $1000 because of it? Nissan, you're nukin futs. :(

i can see the safety standpoint of it, but wow. alot of cars on the road currently have a speed limiter at or around 100mph. but to have a high performance car with one on it........at 111mph no less????

"yeah, i'll take my viper and let it fall on it's face at 120mph". i'd be PISSED the first time a honda civic passed me. 111mph probably won't even be enough to do a 1/4 mile run (or 400 meters i guess):lol:

Hell, my G5 tops out higher than the GT-R would. :lol: (112)

[matts]

My issue is some felon, or general asshead getting possession of this car and abusing it.Someone reckelessly travelling at 111 MPH can do horrible damage ,much less 180.


a felon?? :lol: someone abusing the car? what do you care?

you can do damage with a car going the speed limit on the freeway. this argument can go on for days about speed being a good/bad thing.

[Vampyrate]

one of the few times that im glad to live in the states and not in japan for a dream car of mine

[GMFWDFAN]

Hmm...if the U.S. GT-Rs got that 111 mph governor, I'd be happy to race one on a loooong open interstate. The GA cuts out at 127, so after I took an hour or so to catch up I'd be able to pass one!!! :lol:

[Silversmok3]

a felon?? :lol: someone abusing the car? what do you care?

.
Id care if it was my car. But in any case, Nissan should have just done the same thing Chevy did with the first ZR-1: Make a valet key that locks out the last 100 HP.

No GPS,no governors, just a regular and a 'Power' key. Of course, the power key would have to be painted red :D.

[Gimli]

I did read that... point is Nissan shouldn't be dictating control over your purchase, no matter where you live.

Actually, Nissan is giving MORE control over your car with that features. EVERY car in Japan has to be governed to 180kph, that's not the manufacturer's choice, it's law. What they're doing here is actually allowing you to overrule the governor when you're off-road on something they have actually verified to be a race track (probably a government-imposed condition in order for the car to be allowed on the road).

[Matt95GT]

Actually, Nissan is giving MORE control over your car with that features. EVERY car in Japan has to be governed to 180kph, that's not the manufacturer's choice, it's law. What they're doing here is actually allowing you to overrule the governor when you're off-road on something they have actually verified to be a race track (probably a government-imposed condition in order for the car to be allowed on the road).

In that case, the article was poorly researched/written. But... that whole wheel thing is still retarded.

[Vampyrate]

ive driven cars on the track with a CEL or SES light before, and it was something that i did on purpose to free up some ponies... but that is just something in the programming that cannot be overwritten. you can still drive on aftermarket lighter wheels, but not for off-course driving. they are trying to build a safe, yet fun car from the sounds of it

[Trudgn]

ive driven cars on the track with a CEL or SES light before, and it was something that i did on purpose to free up some ponies... but that is just something in the programming that cannot be overwritten. you can still drive on aftermarket lighter wheels, but not for off-course driving. they are trying to build a safe, yet fun car from the sounds of it
I may be wrong here, but depending on your SES code, doesn't that make an open loop or a limp mode that makes your car run worse?

[Vampyrate]

usually yes, but this wasn't a domestic that i was driving. i am talking mainly mr2s and elantras