E51 · NE51 · ME51 · MNE51
Nissan Elgrand E51 import check
E51 is the factory model code for the Nissan Elgrand E51, built for the Japanese market from 2002 to 2010. Other versions carry NE51, ME51 and MNE51. Every genuine car has a chassis (frame) number that starts with its code, such as E51-. That number is the one thing that links its Japanese history to its UK records.
E51 at a glance
- Model code
- E51
- Make
- Nissan
- Model
- Elgrand (E51)
- Body
- MPV
- Built
- 2002 to 2010
- Engine
- VQ35DE (3498 cc naturally aspirated petrol)
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Japanese trims
- X, V, VG, Highway Star, Rider
- Chassis number format
- E51-nnnnnn
From our own model library, compiled from public sources and not yet checked against a second source. UK records sometimes drop the hyphen or the leading zeros of the serial; our check allows for that.
Reading the E51 chassis code
- E51 is the 3.5 V6 with rear-wheel drive. N adds four-wheel drive and M marks the 2.5.
- The later front-wheel-drive Elgrand is the E52.
| Code | What it is | Engine | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| E51 | Elgrand (E51) | VQ35DE | 2002–2010 |
| NE51 | 3.5, four-wheel drive | VQ35DE | 2002–2010 |
| ME51 | 2.5 V6 VQ25DE, from 2004 | VQ25DE | 2004–2010 |
| MNE51 | 2.5 V6, four-wheel drive | VQ25DE | 2004–2010 |
Have a chassis number? The chassis decoder reads it for you.
Is it a genuine E51?
Unlike the later E52, the E51 Elgrand is rear-wheel drive (or four-wheel drive).
Known problems to check on an E51
- Power sliding door and tailgate motors, cables and catches: run each one through a full open and close
- Rear air conditioning leaks and blower faults
- Rust under the sills and around the rear subframe
- VQ35DE oil consumption on high-mileage engines
These are common issues for the model, not facts about any particular car. Ask the seller about each one.
Before you buy
- Ask whether the speedometer has been converted to mph, and when, so the MOT mileages make sense
- Check every seat belt latches and the rear seats slide
The E51 on a Japanese auction sheet
- The sheet names the car エルグランド (Elgrand), with ハイウェイスター for Highway Star.
Most imports were bought at a Japanese auction, and the inspector’s sheet records the grade, mileage and every mark on the body. Ask the seller for it, then run it through our auction sheet translator to read it in English and check the chassis number and mileage against the UK record.
Recalls in Japan for the E51 family
Japan publishes every recall with the chassis numbers it covers. Run a recall check with the car’s chassis number to see whether any apply to it.
MOT record in the UK
Nissan Elgrand
- 33% of 27,494 first MOT tests failed in 2024 and 2025, 11% lower than the UK average for cars of the same age.
- Most common advisory: Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge (17% of tests).
- Most common failure: Position lamp: not working (3.6% of tests).
From DVSA’s anonymised MOT data, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Kilometres, miles and the first UK MOT
An E51 sold new in Japan has a speedometer in kilometres. When it is imported, the speedometer is either converted to miles or left in km, and the first UK MOT should record whichever the dial shows. Mistakes here are common, and they’re where mileage problems hide.
We put the Japanese auction mileage and every UK MOT reading on one timeline and check the crossing: whether the readings agree after converting, whether the km figure was written down as miles, and whether the first UK reading is lower than the car had already done in Japan. See an illustrative example.
Questions
What is the chassis code for the Nissan Elgrand E51?
E51, with NE51, ME51 and MNE51 for other engines or drive layouts. A Japanese-market Nissan Elgrand E51 has a frame number that starts with its code, then a hyphen and a serial number. You’ll find it on the V5C and on a plate in the engine bay.
Which years was the E51 built?
From 2002 to 2010, with the VQ35DE (3498 cc naturally aspirated petrol) engine and RWD layout.
What should I check when buying an E51?
Power sliding door and tailgate motors, cables and catches: run each one through a full open and close. Rear air conditioning leaks and blower faults. Rust under the sills and around the rear subframe. VQ35DE oil consumption on high-mileage engines. Ask whether the speedometer has been converted to mph, and when, so the MOT mileages make sense. Check every seat belt latches and the rear seats slide. Also check that the Japanese auction mileage lines up with the first UK MOT, because km and miles are easily mixed up.