Nissan
GT-R R35 · 2008 – present
VR38DETT wide open, valves pinned, in the car that's been telling people it's old since 2008.
- Fits R35 GT-R with valved Nismo and aftermarket back-boxes
- No effect on ATTESA, VDC or launch control
- Plug-and-play install
- Reversible, no coding
Free UK shipping
2-year warranty
Fully reversible
The honest pitch
What this actually does to your GT-R
The R35 has had thirteen model years of small refinements and one constant complaint: stock, it sounds quieter than a car making this much power has any right to.
Open Valve fixes the symptom without touching anything mechanical. The VR38 finally sounds like 565+ horsepower from outside the cabin.
Fitment
Nissan GT-R R35
Years
2008 – present
Install time
~10 minutes
Tools needed
None
Long read
The Nissan GT-R valve story
The R35 GT-R has had thirteen model years of small refinements and one constant complaint: stock, it sounds quieter than a car making this much power has any right to. The VR38DETT is a turbocharged 3.8 V6 that, on full song through a proper aftermarket exhaust, sounds incredible. On the factory exhaust, with the OEM valve map, it sounds like a slightly fast Skyline.
Most R35 owners run an aftermarket valved exhaust at this point — Nismo, Tomei, Cobb, HKS, all common. The valve programming on most of them follows the OEM logic. Open Valve overrides the close command at the actuator.
Single-module kit (most R35 valved back-boxes use a single actuator). Two-module variant available for systems with bank-separated actuators.
Install — step by step
- 01
Raise the car.
- 02
Locate the valve actuator on the rear silencer.
- 03
Disconnect 2-pin connector, plug module inline.
- 04
Velcro or bracket-mount module body.
- 05
Refit any displaced underbody trim.
- 06
Pair fob, test.
In the box
- One valve override module (one per actuator)
- Two-button RF key fob (CR2032 pre-installed, spare in the box)
- OEM-pattern connectors — no cutting, no splicing, no scotch-locks
- Printed install card with model-specific photos and a workshop QR link
Fitment notes
- ·All R35 GT-R model years (2008–present).
- ·Compatible with OEM and most aftermarket valved back-boxes (Nismo, Tomei, Cobb, HKS).
- ·Bank-separated dual-actuator systems: order the dual-module variant.
Nissan GT-R — FAQ
Does it work with my aftermarket exhaust?+
If the system retains a factory-pattern valve actuator (Nismo, Tomei, Cobb, HKS variants all do), yes. Pick standard or bank-separated kit at checkout based on system.
Will it affect ATTESA, VDC or launch control?+
No — all chassis systems are independent of the exhaust valve.
Will it throw a warning light on the dash?+
No. The module sits in the signal path between the ECU and the actuator motor. The ECU sees a normal actuator response back, so there's nothing to flag. We've shipped thousands of these and not had a single check-engine call linked to the module itself.
Is it reversible?+
Yes, fully. Unplug the module, plug the OEM connectors back into each other, refit the trim — about three minutes' work. There's no permanent change to the car, no part cut, nothing in the ECU. Dealer service visits, MOT, sale to a new owner — pull it out and it's like it was never fitted.
Does it work with an aftermarket exhaust?+
If the aftermarket back-box retains the OEM-pattern valve actuators (most do — Akrapovic, Milltek, IPE, Capristo all run the factory motors), yes. If the system is a straight-through with no valves, there's nothing for the module to override.
What about the OEM 2008 valve map?+
All R35 model years supported — 2008 onwards, all facelifts, including Nismo variants. The pinout has been consistent across model years.
Does dealer diagnostics see anything?+
No — invisible to Nissan Consult.
Disclaimer
Open Valve modules are intended for off-road and motorsport use only. Please confirm your car has factory valve-actuated exhaust before ordering — if you're not sure, message us first. Professional installation recommended. Use at your own risk.
