Second Hand Nissan GT-R Exhaust Manifold

Yes, the R35 Nissan GT-R (2009-onwards in the UK) does have exhaust manifolds — one per cylinder bank of its twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 (VR38DETT) engine, and they are an integral part of the engine bay layout alongside the twin turbochargers. Because the turbos sit very close to the manifolds, the assembly is sometimes referred to as a turbo manifold or exhaust manifold/turbo housing assembly, so make sure you and your breaker are clear on exactly which component you need. If you are looking for the downpipes or the mid/rear section of the exhaust, that is a separate part entirely.

The R35 GT-R ran from 2009 in the UK and received a notable update around 2011-2012, with further revisions continuing through subsequent model years — and Nissan made incremental engine and emissions changes throughout the R35's life that can affect component compatibility. While the VR38DETT engine code remained consistent across the R35 generation, the specific manifold casting, turbo fitment points, or heat shielding can differ between build years. You should confirm with the breaker that the manifold they have matches your exact registration year, as crossing that 2011-2012 update boundary is strong confirm-with-breaker territory.

Trim level does not affect exhaust manifold fitment on the GT-R — all UK variants, whether standard, Premium, Track Edition, or NISMO, share the same VR38DETT engine architecture, so the manifold is determined by engine and build year rather than trim. You may find that NISMO or aftermarket-equipped cars have non-standard manifolds already fitted, so if buying from a NISMO-spec breaker car, confirm whether the manifold is OEM Nissan or an aftermarket part. The key details to give your breaker are your registration year and whether your car is in standard factory specification.

The GT-R was sold in Japan from 2007 before UK sales began in 2009, and Japanese domestic market (JDM) cars may have different emissions calibration or turbo configurations compared to UK-specification cars even within the same build year. The engine code is the same VR38DETT, but the manifold geometry or fitment points could differ, and using a JDM component on a UK-registered car could raise questions at MOT. Confirm carefully with the breaker that any manifold sourced from a JDM car matches your UK car's specification before purchasing.

The exhaust manifold itself is upstream of any catalytic converter, so the manifold casting is less directly tied to emissions era than the full exhaust system — however, because the GT-R's manifolds sit so closely integrated with the turbos and the exhaust flow path, changes Nissan made to meet evolving emissions standards over the R35's lifespan could affect manifold design. You should match the donor car's build year to yours as closely as possible, and confirm with the breaker whether the manifold came from a car of the same or similar emissions specification to yours. Any questions around catalytic converter compatibility in the wider system are firmly confirm-with-breaker territory.

Give the breaker your car's full registration number so they can verify the exact build year and specification, and specify whether you need the nearside (NS) or offside (OS) manifold, as the VR38DETT is a V6 with two separate manifolds — one per bank. It is also worth clarifying whether your car is in standard OEM specification or has had aftermarket exhaust or turbo work carried out, as this affects what will bolt straight on. The more precise you can be about build year and current spec, the better chance the breaker has of supplying the correct part.