US Nissan Owner Takes Case to Tokyo Stock Exchange After Rejection of Limited Nismo Kit | Carscoops

      The kit has a price tag of nearly $25,000, but it is not available for sale outside of Japan.

      A Nissan owner in the US is interested in obtaining the brand's rare DOHC conversion engine kit.

      Nismo Heritage Parts will manufacture only 300 L-series upgrade kits.

      Installation can only be carried out by certified L-series tuning professionals.

      Nissan’s Nismo Heritage Parts program provides newly made components for some of its most celebrated models, like the R32, R33, and R34 Skyline GT-Rs. While many of these parts can be shipped to fans worldwide, one owner recently found that not everything is accessible to those in the United States.

      This owner shared their frustration on Reddit regarding Nissan's refusal to sell a particular Nismo part.

      In their post, the individual, who identifies as a “Nissan owner and shareholder,” did not mention which part they were attempting to purchase (details to come), but asserted that Nissan North America refused to sell it, the dealership’s parts department also rejected the request, and Nissan Consumer Affairs provided no solution.

      Why is Nissan not selling it?

      The Reddit user reported that Nissan explained the part cannot be sold outside Japan. They were informed that if they truly wanted the part, they would need to send their car to Japan for installation.

      Unhappy with that response, the owner stated they submitted a governance inquiry to the Japan Exchange Group as a shareholder, filed a complaint with the ADR depository, and even reached out to Nissan’s Board Secretariat.

      As they noted, “Why does Nissan publicly promote parts that US customers cannot purchase?”

      What’s really going on?

      As is often the case, this post doesn't capture the entire situation. To begin with, the Nismo Heritage Parts program lacks a US website, and the frustrated owner is likely referring to the Japanese website, where Nissan has every right to showcase its parts without exporting them to the US.

      After all, it is a Japanese website meant for Japanese consumers. Additionally, there’s the matter of the specific part the owner seeks.

      A later comment from the poster indicates they wish to purchase an expensive Dual Overhead Camshaft (DOHC) conversion kit for Nissan’s L-series inline-six engines. This kit includes a new cylinder head for the L-series engine, along with modifications like an increased bore, a new head tensioner, sprockets, a chain guide, and a block tensioner. New ignition coils and gaskets are also part of the package.

      This setup allows the classic inline-six to generate up to 300 hp and 221 lb-ft (300 Nm) of torque.

      Nissan’s website states that only 300 units of the DOHC conversion kit are anticipated to be produced, with orders set to begin in January of next year. Nissan also specifies that the installation must be done by an L-series engine tuning specialist. Furthermore, it is quite pricey, costing 3,850,000 yen or $24,700.

      It remains uncertain whether Nissan is aware of this particular customer’s grievances and if they would be willing to sell him the DOHC kit. However, it seems unlikely, as Nissan establishes its own policies and has not indicated that the kit is available for customers in the United States.