Re: What To Fix First (archive)

The trucking company called Saturday afternoon and was an hour or so away from my door step (still haven't told the wife I bought the car, oh well, too late now). Step one was to get it detailed since the "wife Factor" needed to be supressed as much as possible. By the way, not sure if the board was aware but I purchased this car from pictures only so you can just imagine the anxiety I was feeling when the truck pulled up. Anyway, on with the story. I signed a bunch of papers and the trucker jumped in and car and cranked it for a minute until the battery died. Yes, great way to start possesion. So we rolled it off the truck, shook hands and pushed the car in to the detail shop.

The next morning I replaced the battery and the engine still wouldn't start. Next step was spark plugs which I purchased last week. All the pulgs where black with gas, which is odd because the trucking car said he drove the car up the ramp on to his truck. So new plugs went in (thanks to this board I knew that the tool kit in the trunk was the secret to completing this mission) and fifteen minutes later she started right up. Now for a quick visual inspection before I take it for a spin.

So I crawled under the car, air dam cracked, front skirt behind the dam bent, oil pan rewelded..., obviously someone use this car as a snow plow or something. Exhaust ok, wheels original, and then as I got to the diff I noticed the rear sway bar on the left side was just hanging in place held by the SLS sensor arm (think that's what it's called). The sway bar bracked that is welded to the frame channel looked like it was torn off. In addition, the lower CV boot at the wheel was in shreads. Is everyone thinking what I'm thinking ? You bet..., The Trucker !!

I don't want to bash the fine people who ship our cars but IF he did put the chains on the sway bar isn't this the incorrect point of attachment for this car and don't you think he'd know better ?

So the test drive was pretty tame, just up and down the street listening for funny noises.

This is what I found.

1) front end needs TR bushings, shocks.
2) drive line needs center support bearing
3) diff needs new seal
4) CV boot (done this morning)
5) rear sway arm mount needs to be rewelded and sway bar replaced
6) exhaust joint behind cat needs to be re-fitted
7) exhaust brackets re-hung, whole exhaust hangs very low.
8) four wheel alignment

As for the interior.
1) front seat need to be re-covered
2) need radio code
3) M badges missing from front seats
4) sunroof wind deflector keeps sunroof from closing
5) digital temp gauge (ambient I believe)is showing -300 degrees
6) And the weirdest thing I've ever experienced is the auto door lock going up and down uncontrollably for about ten minutes. I might have to do an exorsism on this car

All in all the car seems to have good power, all the gears work, syncros seem to be in good shape. No clunking in to gear however the clutch pedal/pressure is a litle soft.

Will post some pics soon, I think I did ok for 5k even though I know I will spend 2k more over the next few months.

Phil.

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