Nissan

Skyline R34 (BNR34/ER34/HR34) inspection checklist

1998-2002 · 15 things to check before you buy, taken from this car's known problems.

All engines

highImport compliance certificate

Look for: Vehicle must have valid Australian import compliance (SEVS plate from RAW). Examples without proper compliance can be unregisterable.

If you find it: Verify compliance plate physically present in engine bay. Get a workshop manual VIN check before purchase. Avoid 'grey' imports without documentation.

~$3000-8000 if missing

highRust on rear quarters, sills, boot floor

Look for: JDM vehicles often spent decades in Japan's humid climate. Rust hides under sound deadening, in sills, on boot floor, and around sunroof drains.

If you find it: Pre-purchase inspection by Skyline specialist essential. Lift the boot carpet, check sills with a magnet. Walk away from rusty examples.

Any · ~$2000-10000+

highTheft risk (high)

Look for: R34s, especially GT-Rs, are major theft targets with values spiralling. Original immobilisers are easily defeated.

If you find it: Modern immobiliser, tracker (e.g. Tag), secure garage. Don't park where it's visible to the street.

Total loss

highTiming belt failure

Look for: RB20 has a timing belt that must be replaced every 100k. Failure = bent valves.

If you find it: Belt + tensioner + water pump kit. Diesel/JDM specialist or competent DIY.

From 100k km interval · ~$1500-2500

mediumModified state - tune quality varies wildly

Look for: Most R34s have been modified. Tune quality varies from professional dyno work to dodgy back-yard chip changes. Bad tune kills RB engines fast.

If you find it: Get a fresh dyno report from a known Nissan tuner before purchase. Factor in a fresh tune in your purchase budget.

Any · ~$1500-5000 to verify/redo

mediumInsurance availability

Look for: Many mainstream insurers won't cover imported sports cars, or charge severe premiums. GT-R values mean agreed-value policies essential.

If you find it: Use specialist enthusiast insurers (Shannons, Just Cars, Lumley). Get agreed value, not market value.

Variable

2.5L RB25DET 'Neo' single turbo (R34 GT-T)

highOil pump drive collar

Look for: Same RB family oil pump issue - drive collar fails causing oil starvation.

If you find it: Upgraded billet oil pump drive is near-mandatory on any tuned RB.

From 150k+ km · ~$500-1000

mediumStock turbo cracking (ceramic wheel)

Look for: OEM ceramic turbine wheel can shatter under boost increase from chips/tunes. Sends shrapnel into the engine.

If you find it: Most owners upgrade to a billet wheel turbo (Garrett, Borg, etc) at first opportunity.

Any · ~$1500-3000

mediumPlenum cracking (modified examples)

Look for: Stock plenum can crack under sustained boost beyond ~16psi.

If you find it: Aftermarket plenum (Plazmaman, GReddy) - common upgrade.

Modified · ~$800-1500

mediumCooling system inadequacy (modified)

Look for: OEM cooling barely adequate for stock power - inadequate above ~250kW.

If you find it: Aftermarket radiator (Koyo, Mishimoto), oil cooler, larger intercooler.

Modified · ~$500-1500

2.6L RB26DETT (R34 GT-R BNR34)

highOil pump drive failure (catastrophic)

Look for: OEM oil pump drive collar known weak point - shears under hard use. Engine destruction follows.

If you find it: MANDATORY billet oil pump drive on any modified RB26 (Tomei, Nitto). Many owners do this preventively.

Modified/high RPM · ~$800-2000

mediumStock ceramic turbines (similar to RB25)

Look for: OEM twin ceramic turbines shatter under increased boost.

If you find it: Aftermarket twin steel/billet turbos or single-turbo conversion. Mandatory if power is increased.

Any · ~$3000-6000

mediumATTESA AWD pump failure

Look for: Hydraulic AWD coupling pump can fail - vehicle defaults to RWD-only.

If you find it: ATTESA pump rebuild by Skyline specialist.

From 150k+ km · ~$1500-3000

2.0L RB20DE (R34 25GT base)

mediumOil pump drive gear

Look for: RB family oil pump drive collar is known to fail on high-km units.

If you find it: Upgraded billet oil pump drive (Tomei, GReddy).

From 150k+ km · ~$500-1000

mediumCrank angle sensor (CAS) failure

Look for: CAS develops faults causing intermittent misfires, rough running, stalling.

If you find it: Replacement CAS unit. Common JDM part.

Any · ~$300-600

2 minor things (low severity)

lowSpeedometer in km/h (some examples)

Look for: JDM speedo originally reads to 180km/h with 180km/h limiter (Japanese gentlemen's agreement). Some imports keep the limiter or have JDM-only speedo gear.

If you find it: Limiter delete via ECU tune. Speedo conversion or aftermarket gauge for higher range.

~$100-300

lowHICAS rear steering fault

Look for: Hydraulic rear-wheel steering develops faults over time. Many owners eliminate the system entirely.

If you find it: HICAS lockout kit (~$200) removes the system. Or full rebuild.

Any · ~$500-1500 / $200 lockout kit

From FlamingCars' Nissan Skyline guide. It's a checklist of known problems, not a replacement for a professional pre-purchase inspection. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.