camelman

Well, the Porsche bug has really bitten me. I'm buying a 1990 944S2 this week, and planning to buy a 1982 928s next week. These will be my first Porsches, so fingers crossed they work out well!

I have a separate post about the 944, but have some specific questions about this 928s. A quick background on the 928s is that it was bought new by a German man, and imported to California in 1998. It was garage kept for its entire life, and passed smog with an exemption certificate. However, in 2008, it did not pass smog and was parked with a non-op registration. In 2015, the owner took it to a shop to repair the head gasket (supposedly the reason it did not pass smog), and had the timing gear replaced then too (not sure if the plastic sliders on the chain tensioner were replaced, but I'll find out soon). It should have been good to go, but then the owner died (he was in his late 70s). His wife doesn't want the car, so the repair shop is selling it on lien. I think I want to buy it, but I am not familiar with grey market import smog rules. Does anyone know how this process will work and what issues I might run across? I'm looking for more than just the published rules, and more about the time and hassle of the process. According to the mechanic, it's ready for a smog certificate, but I don't know if he knows all of the details either.

I've included a couple pics of the car. It has 65K miles and is an automatic. Too bad about the auto, but I'm still interested in the car. Also, it has now sat outside for about 18 months, so it looks pretty rough. I think it'll clean up fine though.

Thanks,
Camelman

The Forgotten On

Grey market cars are easy. So long as the car has not left California and been registered elsewhere since it was titled here you just need to get it smogged like any other non opped car, with all emissions equipment in place.

If it was registered elsewhere you would need to refederalise it, a whole other can of worms.

vanster

It appears to be a decent looking car. Where are you in CA. You might consider coming to Sharktoberfest next month at 928 International in Anaheim. You will meet all the right 928 people with answers and opinions....

danglerb

Pro its a Euro, and I think all 82+ were S models. Nice color of paint.

Con 1998 is a decade past the days of easy imports to Calif, it would have gone through a $10k ish inspection and certification process including special smog bits, as well as a nice new 0 mile odometer replacing the 16 years of Km it had. My smog guy tells me the tests don't use the bar sticker anymore, only the vin, but until you try to smog it how that plays tells you nothing.

I don't personally see an auto trans as a good match to a high revving motor, and if it turns out you have a preference for a 5 spd, no auto will satisfy that.

First picture doesn't scream qualified 928 mechanic to me. May need some TLC (trunk load of cash).

Bmw635

Looks like its missing the Importation tag that shows importer, port of importation and ..... on the driver door jamb. I don't remember the particular but there were 2 tags on my 86 Euro 635.

Like this:https://goo.gl/images/8QTYaT

Mrmerlin

that picture reminds me of my 85 Swiss car that I bought in CA it was from a place near San Fran.
I had to rebuild the engine due to a broken cam pulley and leaking HG and bent valves.
It was a screamer when finished and it had an auto trans with lower gears for Swiss.

Here is whats possible for you

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...blue-blue.html

hlee96

Surprisingly decent interior condition considering it sat for years. Great euro car without the US fed side markers. Try to get it smogged in Cali as recommended or have an out of state Rennlister buy it and have it in legal Antique Car status without all the california laws. Good luck and keep us posted!
-Hoi

camelman

Thanks for the feedback. I'll go ahead with the purchasing plan, although I'll check out that possible odometer replacement to see if there's any further information available on the mileage. I doubt I'll make the Sharktoberfest, but I'll try!

My next step is to get back to the repair shop and take the car for a test drive. If it works out, then I'll be driving it home. I imagine it's going to need fluids changed and a new battery... and hopefully that's all!

Thanks,
Camelman

Wisconsin Joe

No cam chain tensioners on it.

82 has a 16v motor.

And technically, true "Grey Market" imports ended in 88. In 98, the "25 year rule" was implemented, but an 82 would not have fallen under that until 2008.

Either it was brought in prior to that (and your "1998" is wrong or a typo) or it was brought in by someone who had the ability to use one of the exceptions (not exactly sure what those are, I only know that they exist).

camelman

Thanks, that info helps a lot. I have more research left to do, and I'll try to get a much more in depth look at it this Friday.

skpyle

Not sure what to read into this, as it is probably my own ignorance, but I don't think the tach is correct for your 928. It is a 7-grand tach with no shift indicator. I had thought that 928's with the automatic transmission had a 6-grand tach and shift indicator in the dial.

Again, not sure what to read into that.

Looks like a wicked project to get into, good luck!

camelman

Oh man, this is the level of knowledge I used to have with Honda CB motorcycles! I feel myself beginning the fall deep into the tribal knowledge hole of the Porsche fanatic now!

This was a German car that was imported to the USA, so it might have a different tach. Or, as you mention, it might have been swapped out at some point.

SeanR

Most likely is they just swapped clusters with what was available in American. (didn't say English cause we 'merikans)

skpyle

Kinda what I figured. Thanks!

docmirror

You are in luck! That BAR silver sticker is all you need to get by with that car in CA. Once it's in, it is grandfathered. However, it will need to meet the smog limits for the mfg data for that model. I don't know what the difference is from the US smog cars, but it may be significant.

When you take it in, the VIN will alert them. Show the BAR silver sticker, and they may or may not send you to the referee station right away. There's nothing wrong with going to the referee, all of the one's I've worked with in the past have been pretty good about helping you. If to don't go to the referee right away, the shop you take it to is important. Some will do what they can, some will just give you a fail and tell you to bring it back when it's fixed.

Don't loose/damage/modify that silver sticker. In fact, ask if they will get you a new one after you get through insp.