I worked things out with the seller and he's refunding some cash to help cover the issues I have with the car. Even with the things I found wrong, the car does have a great drivetrain with a very recent timing belt and Sachs clutch.. the AC blows ice cold, brakes are new all around.. I guess I can't complain too much.

I need to get the following and I'm looking for recommendations on where to get the best deal for my dollar.

Front wheel bearings
oil pressure sender unit
manual steering rack
passenger side power window switch


I'm also looking for a carbon fiber dash kit for an 83. I saw the other post and could only find 85.5 and up items.

Thanks!

 

Kev,

Wheel bearings for the early cars are dirt cheap. Just go into any auto parts store and aske for bearing numbers 2 and 4. That's inner and outer per side, so you'll need two of each.

You're best bet for a window switch is to find a 924 or early 944 in a junk yard.

Try <a href="http://www.bimmerparts.com" target="_blank">www.bimmerparts.com</a> for the oil pressure switch.

Why do you need a manual rack? Is it bad or do you want to replace a power rack with a manual one? Either way...good luck. The manual rack was only available on the 83 model year. They are getting hard to find. If you do find one and plan to replace a power rack with manual don't forget to order new tie rods.

It's nice to hear of another early 944 in NH!

 

I think I saw a manual rack on eBay. You might check it out.

And add one more early 944 right next store <img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />

 

Kev,

You might try disassembling your window switch and cleaning the four metal contacts. Should take no more than 15 minutes. This problem is notorious on our cars. If it doesn't work then email me. I have an old style switch that i'd be willing to give you, but have no way of testing so try cleaning your switch first.

 

Don't know if anyone makes dash kits for the 924 but they pretty much have the ssame dash as us pre 1985 guys.

My passenger side window switch worked intermittently but from the driverside I could run either window. Most people will just buy a new switch but you can try cleaning the old one (if it is the problem)
You can wiggle the switch out by gently (twenty year old plastic!) taking a small flat blade screwdriver alternating at the top and bottom insert the screwdriver pry out gently a little at a time and the thing will pop right out. Once you get it out unplug the connector at the back then take it to a flat surface lay it face up (little springs inside will fall out!). Now the face of the plastic rocker is only held in by the pivot points, gently pop it off, you will see two tiny copper S shaped contactor/springs. Note where they contact and gently clean (I drip a little electrical parts cleaner and one stroke of superfine sandpaper made it shiny again. Then a tiny dab of grease on the pivot (don't get it on the contacts)
then snap the whole thing back together. It's not as bad as it sounds, took me about fifteen minutes and hey if you screw up the switch you were going to buy a new one anyway!

 

Hey, a couple locals and some good advise from far away.. I love that there is a 944 community ready and willing to help

I found a remanufactured manual rack at Autozone for $211 + core. My car has manual steering..also has had bad boots long enough to make the passenger side of the rack have about 3/4 inch of play up and down when you grab the tierod bar close to the inner end there and push straight up on it.. It's also pretty tough to turn the car..like it's all gummed up inside.

The guy I bought the car from is refunding enough to fix all these things so I want to do it now and forget about it.

I'll try cleaning the switch tonight..

There's another local NH guy whose handle is SydViscious (or something close to that)..I need to email him as he's offered to help me pull my dash apart and make the defroster controls work again..After thismornings frost, I think I better hurry up and do that

 

Hey turbokev,

There's an excellent mail-order place out here on the Left Coast that has always been able to come up with the right part for a great price. It's called German Parts & Restoration (GPR); <a href="http://www.gprparts.com" target="_blank">www.gprparts.com</a> or 800 321-5432. Online catalog is a little confusing, so it's best to call. Ask for Dave (the owner) or Jim.

Good luck!!

 

No affiliation, but in 8 years of 944 ownership, the best prices and service I have gotten on replacement parts have come from 3 suppliers in the following order:

1. Ian's Euro Parts -Pompano, FL
Tel: 1-954-968-3766

Web: <a href="http://www.ianseuroparts.com" target="_blank">http://www.ianseuroparts.com</a>
-----------------------------------

2. Zim's Auto -Bedford, TX
Tel: 1-800-356-2964

Web: <a href="http://www.allzim.com" target="_blank">http://www.allzim.com</a>
-----------------------------------

3. Vertex Auto -Miami, FL
Tel: 1-866-668-0660

Web: <a href="http://www.vertexauto.com" target="_blank">http://www.vertexauto.com</a>
-----------------------------------

Ian's absolutely rocks on used parts, BTW.

Good luck!

 

As far as service goes I'm voting for Paragon.

I spent too many hours trying to find the cheapest price on Konis. If I got two shocks here and two there I would have saved $5. When I orderd them I discussed springs etc with Jason, something the other places had no idea about. When I told him I could save $5 if I bought them elsewhere he offered to match the price. I then reminded him of the time he just spent with me on "free" advice and paid his original asking price.

When I ordered the oil cooler alignment tool from Performance, the sent me the wrong year tool after I waited a week for something to come in that was "in stock" when I ordered it. No biggie since the job was done before the part came, and my brother has an '84.

I just used my $100 PCA certificate to buy an alternator from Brumos. The first one was bad out of the box. The second one wasn't in stock so after anoter 10 day wait it came in. When I ordered the second alternator I ordered the oil cooler seals (2nd try). They didn't tell me the part wasn't in stock. Now I have an alternator that works, and am waiting for the seals. I haven't driven my 944 in a month because of back orderd parts from a porsche dealer. I could have gotten the seals from the local dealer and cut out the UPS from Fla to NY.

Somehow my $100 savings from PCA is costing me more than if I just bought the part from Paragon.

Cheapest place? Paragon!