greg928GTS

First I'd like to thank everyone for their input so far here on this forum. I have only been here two days and the response and thoughtful input to my questions has been great.

I've made a list of the problems that I currently have with my 1989 928 S4, auto, 100K miles. A little voice inside my head says "don't look back". A lower mile GTS that has been well cared for may be a better option than me facing down this list of work.

On the other hand, I really know my car well and buying a lower-mile GTS doesn't mean I won't have a list of problems too.

To get into a GTS I'd have to sell my SL600, which I've only owned for 6 months. I think my best friend would buy it, he's been bugging me since I bought it. He's really into Mercedes. But I've really enjoyed the 12 cylinder convertible. If I kept my 928 and fixed it, I think I could probably negotiate keeping both. (This is a marriage issue in case you were wondering) If I had to chose only one, I'd take my beat up 928 over the SL.

What do you think?

Here's my list:

Mechanical:
Needs timing belt
Check tensioners, rollers, seals, etc…
Cam and oil pump sprockets
Doesn’t need a water pump, but probably should change it when doing the TB
Change accessory belts
Change thermostat
Check thrust bearing
Check Main seals
Check radiator hoses
Check motor mounts
Transmission flush service
Suspension needs work, probably shocks, springs, bushings, and alignment.
Other components will need to be inspected and possibly replaced, like
ball joints, tie rod ends, wheel bearings, CV joint boots, CV joints, etc…
Check ride height
Power seats don’t move well
Air conditioning doesn’t work well when the gas pedal is pushed hard. Sitting at idle, there’s plenty of AC, and if driving very lightly around town there’s
plenty of AC, but as soon as you start driving a little harder, or on the
highway, the AC drops right off.
Used to have a rear driveshaft seal leak, but that has gone away. I think sitting
every winter has been hard on this car. I’m thinking that the seal dried up
just enough for a leak to develop and as soon as I started driving it on a
weekly basis, it lubricated up again and the leak stopped.
Engine needs a tune-up at the very least. It doesn’t seem to have the power that it had when I first bought it. Sometimes I wonder if all cylinders are firing. But then again, I easily did 150 mph in it a couple of months ago.
Feels tired when accelerating from a stop.

Noise issues:
Lot’s of road noise inside the car. Some of this is tires, but a lot is from interior panels that are loose and open rear speaker holes. I would like some
serious soundproofing done to the interior when I have interior work done.
Brakes squeal in reverse
Lots of rattles on door panels. I would like to have the door panels rebuilt and
securely re-attached to the doors.
Big rattle from back hatch area, could be rear wiper

Electrical:
Battery used to go dead quickly, but that has not been the case this year
One of the computer functions on the left stalk is not working
Clean ground connections in engine compartment and other important areas
Some dash lights not working

Interior cosmetic:
Dash has a few small cracks around the defrost vent holes
Rear panels by side windows are severely warped
I’ve installed a custom stereo system, so I have empty speaker holes in the rear
All the carpeting is loose or worn and needs to be replaced
The little panels next to the center console are loose and broken
The shelves under the dash are missing
Door panels need work

Exterior cosmetic:
Paint is tired, not real bad, but lot’s of little things
Front air dam is loose
Rear wing is damaged
Wheels need polishing
Small rust spot on drivers door sill
Drivers mirror needs to be replaced
Windshield crack
Cracked fog light

Other:
Leak from the top of the back hatch
Missing underbody sheet metal
Needs new tires
Front air louver system not working and loose. I’d like to have this taken out

Imo000

If your car really needs all the things you've listed, better sell it FAST. That list is nothing more than a money pit!

It's hardly the case that a poor running engine "only" needs a tune up.

By the way, what year is you 928?

Sorry for the negative reply. I prefer to be straight up when it comes to sugestions.

greg928GTS

Maybe could've been a little more diplomatic, but I don't really take it negatively.

1989 928 S4, auto, 100K miles.

Does a poor running engine that has problems other than needing a tune-up effortlessly take a 928 to 150+ mph?

Yeah, I can see the money pit too. But let's say I had all that work done and it ended up costing $20K. Could I buy a comparable car for $20K? Probably not.

ErnestSw

If you're prepared to work on the car yourself you have lots to keep you busy. If you don't do your own work you need spend at least $5,000.00 to get a good start on your list.
Deferred maintainence is a bitch!

heinrich

It sounds like a very average, fine specimen. You guys need to remember, go buy a GTS. You'll have to do the same stuff. Cost total of all this stuff parts-wise will be less than 2k and the car will run like a top. Go do your due diligence, walk the firy coals like the rest of us, and you'll enjoy your Porsce even more.
Heinrich

Ispeed

The sluggish feel from a stop could be a kickdown switch that is not being switched because of things getting out of adjustment; also you may have some intake air leaks and vacuum leaks (ac problem) that may cause you to run rich and slower.
An '89 S4 a/t is a great car...worthy of the catch up maintenance.

greg928GTS

I just don't have the time to do the work myself. I know exactly what you mean by the satisfaction of doing the work yourself, and I would love to have that feeling too, but that's not something I'm going to be able to enjoy.

That's why I put a price tag of $20K on that list. If I could bring that car to a shop somewhere this month, and get it back 6 months later with that list completely done, I'd gladly write a check for $20K. Life would be so easy then.

ErnestSw

Hey, I'll do it for $20K!!! AND I'll pick it up AND Deliver it!!

heinrich

Greg for 20k I'll fly down there and do it

rixter

Greg,
you need a plan
take the car to the most qualified 928 mechanic (not Joe the import guy down the st) you can find, I'm sure folks here can recommend someone near you
have him do a FULL PPI on the car from front to back and assess the most important things to be done
get the tb/wp and associated items done asap then take each section of the car by importance
you could spread this out over the winter and go into the spring with a new car

greg928GTS

Man, that didn't take long! I knew someone was going to take that offer.

You guys are funny. You need to get your calculator out and look that list over more carefully.

What's a paint job run these days?

How about the interior work?

Did I mention I was very picky?

greg928GTS

rixter, I suspect you are spot on. Probably just what I should do.

John Struthers

Well ...
It's a given. These puppies are a labor of love ...
And judgin' by (your) 'THE LIST' of, basically, time consumning, nerve grateing,
stretching off into the far horizon host of gremlin/sputzie types of itemized tasks virtually,
guarantied to wear the indomitable will, endless patience and grit filled souls of lesser men
down to sad looking, itsy-bitsy, insignificant nubs. But hey! Labor of love right?
A whole lot of love!
Frankly, while I am totally enamoured with my Wunder Weissach and have mindlessly, flailed and failed - squandering way to much of whatever time I have left on the planet - on a number of "minor tasks" I usually don't mind.
Even so, your list is daunting and you risk whatever personal life you once had while blossoming into a deeply, psychotic 928 hermit.
She's your baby, so it's your call.
BUT, since you asked... Pick one.
1. Go for it, and should you ( ever ) finish be proud of what you have achieved.
2. Develope a relationship with Mistress Helga down at the Whippem' Good House of Pain Club for that special complimentary experience.
3. Sell it for $14K - on E bay- and buy a 86 1/2 in good shape.
With the left over cash party your butt off and ignore maintenance for another couple of years.

Ed MD

Set up a priority list, group things together, the "while you are there", but keep in the mind the amount of time needed to do things and try to keep the groups in smaller doable time frames.Nothing is more depressing than having the car in pieces and not drivable. How did you get this list, it might be advisable to get a 'PPI" for a to-do-list. With the long winter, you could do a lot of these yourself. Heck, I took 30 days to do my timing belt, using Pirtle's intructions/list I did one or two things nightly, after work, not taking more than 1-2 hours after dinner. I currently one a friend's 944, that did what you are thinking about...he got a PPI and then proceded to let a local shop do it...the car cost him 6995, the tally of the repairs( nothing major, nor out of the ordinary) added to 5500+...and to maintain marital bliss I bought the car for 7000, and finished minor points and use it for a commute mobile! The parts added to 1150, the rest was labor! i.e. Do simple stuff first, put off stuff like the motor mounts till later, buy the Jageng piece in the interim. And what end point are you looking at? keeping it/ concourse versus drivable versus getting it in shape to sell and then take the budgetted monies for repairs and buy one in better shape, remember to get the car you want you're going to pay for it, either up front or later, and if you don't have the time to do this type of stuff, its better to get the best car you can get and forget the bargains".
Good luck..may the force be with you....Ed M

After I got my second 928, even Helga said that was more pain than she could whip out of anyone!

DFWX

The list is not that long and much of it is common to older 928s or problems nearly all have and must be addressed sooner or later. For most of us, if we made a list of everything our 928 needs to make everything correct is a long list.
Mark