bronto

My St Louis seller had N Dakota plates. No PPI, but we agreed to meet in Denver, 1/2 way to California. I figured if he could make it to Denver with no obvious problems I'd probably make it the rest of the way. TB & WP were done 12k miles previous. I also knew he would be in school in CA an hour from here in a couple months. Discussion of his plates didn't come up. I knew I had a few days in CA to get it registered, and that my existing insurance covered new purchases up to 30 days.

We made it back fine, with only some little aggravations, but I think I was dang lucky. My mechanic's post pi revealed lots of minor deferred maintenance and hoses that were as brittle as twigs. We were very lucky we didn't wiggle things too much.

928autobahndreamer

I just got a call from Eric Steinel, the mechanic doing the PPI. He sounded very knowlegable and had a laundry list of things that were not perfect with the car. The brake lights did not come on, and will need to be fixed prior to coming home. Several hoses/rubber bits are aging and leaking. The rear tires are getting worn. The windshield wipers are worn. One of the windshield washer sprayers was not spraying. The switch to turn on the lights turns in its housing and has to be turned farther than usual to get the lights to come up. The CV boots are dry and brittle but not leaking yet. Minor cosmetic blemishes on the body. Some rash on the wheels (aftermarket 17s). Cracked fog light housing on front on one side. Transmission fluid needed flush (or a top up until it gets home). One of the accessory belts is making an RPM dependant noise. He is going to look into this further tonight. Also, the AC does not blow cold, and he states will need a heater expansion valve. The clock is fogged up and not readable.

That is as much as I can remember as the conversation went quickly and my heart was pounding waiting for the list to stop. I knew that there would be a lot of issues, and it sounds like he gave the car a thorogh going over. He is going to retension the belt as the PO had the TB/WP done at a local Porsche dealer less than two years ago and 2000 miles ago and it was never retentioned. He is also going to check the torque tube and check for the dreaded thrust bearing failure.

If all of this checks out I will be bringing this beauty home on Saturday. It does look like I will have a few projects to work on when she gets home. So, I will be needing a lot of rennlist help as I plan on doing this all myself.

Does anything in this list sound too terrible bad or pretty much what to expect?

nosnow

Those repairs sound pretty typical.

If you are driving pay special attention to the old rubber.... (fuel lines, tires, coolant hoses). If it is weak/old it will have a tendancy to fail when driven at temperature for long periods.

Jack Riffle

Steve, I am very glad to hear that Eric found no real deal breakers. No brake lights would account fror that light on in the dash. I almost had time to stop in at Steinels today to see how things were coming along. On the down side, the weather is forecast to really take a downturn toward the end of the week. BTW, there is a DMV office less than 10 minutes from Erics shop if that helps you. With a signed and notarized title it shouldnt take long to get a temporary tag to drive home on. Good luck, stay in touch.

Fogey1

I talked to the local BMV office here in Zanesville (way south of Cleveland) (740.455.2767). There are also, I think, some private agencies authorized to do the work. Google license services, license bureaus, etc. You may also be able to do a bunch aof overnighting and/or rely on the seller to figure it out, or a dealer may be able to issue a temp plate. They're just cardboard and magic marker. I don't think the car needs to be present to get the temp tag.

Or you can always take the plate off your current 928 and travel with it. If you get stopped on the way back, what're the odds the minion will know the model year diff or check the vin? Of course, that would be wrong. ;-(

BTW, 16V or 24V?

Larry Velk

When I thought I was going to buy a car in Ohio (I posted the horror story - didn't buy it) I took a plate from home. I didn't want to get stopped periodically on the road. Allstate (don't laugh), I THINK covers any new purchase for at least 24 hours - better check. The airport guys said plates were common in luggage - I warned them it was in there as it would look odd in the X-ray and I was on a oneway.
PS. Interesting to hear our Wisconsin DMV was so accomodating.

928autobahndreamer

I have it figured out (actually my wife made a few phone calls while I was at work). As long as I have the title signed in the presence of the notary on site at the BMV in Ohio, they can issue a 30 day temporary tag for $10.50 on the spot. Easy enough.

I am sure glad the PPI process is over. I felt like I was getting into this deeper and deeper and I haven't even seen the car in person yet. So far I have had the car flatbedded to the shop, the PPI done, all fluids topped off including a low transmission fluid, absent brake lights troubleshot and fixed, loose hoses attached to mounts, pre-trip inspection with wheels torqued, wiper blades replaced and tire pressures adjusted. So, without actually having the title in hand or ever having seen the car I am in this about $1000 including plane tickets .

Things still to be done include refreshing all of the old rubber bits (this winters project and will include vacuum lines, fuel lines, PS hoses, coolant hoses, cam tower gaskets etc.. and all of the other WYIT tasks that you guys compel me to do), heater expansion valve, AC, rear hatch support struts, CV boots, trasnmission fluid flush, leather seats reconditioned, clay bar and polish, and .......who knows what else, but this is all I know of for now.

The rest is good news, Eric Steinel said that the car has "good power, and performs well". The rest of the PPI showed no TBF with no crank endplay. After the belt was retensioned the RPM dependant noise in the engine went away. The body is straight with no signs of previous accidents. Over all I am hoping this will be a good car.

In case you didn't see my previous thread here are some pictures of the car.

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Car looks nice. I'll bet there is a dollar amount that each of us has put into the purchase of our cars whether it's inspection fees, title and license, shipping and first critical repairs. So far $1K sounds a little light, but I wish you the best. Looks like you will have a lot of fun.

kiesan

I bought this in, of all places, Columbia MO and drove it 2100 miles home to Seattle with insurance but no plates and not yet registered in my name:

http://www.redlabelmoto.com/details.asp?srID=151

I did the exact same thing with this car all the way from bfe Illinois:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showt...hreadid=305479

I'd be interested to hear what the deal is with your headlight switch. Mine does the same thing but still makes the lights come on properly.

928autobahndreamer

Dave, I'm afraid that this is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what I will be spending on this car, but I feel like the PPI was very thorogh by someone who really knows 928s. This mechanic has a great reputation and works on a lot of sharks. With tax and registration, the first 6 months insurance, PPI, initial repairs to make it driveable home, and everything else I will have $11K invested. I think I got a pretty good deal. It will still need about $2k worth of parts and most of the winter to do the top end refresh. Then I am sure I will have issues come up that will eat my 928 budget. If not in a few years, hmmm....supercharger?

Kiesan, is that Eurovan the old Walts Bicycle shop VW? I've riden to some group mountain bike weekends in that thing . As far as the light switch goes I have no idea. Remember, I have never even seen this car in person . If I figure anything out I will let you know

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

It's a little like adopting a child or a dog or a cat. You are signed up for whatever it takes. You can budget, but you do what is needed. I've done it many times. Best of luck!

kiesan

Nope, but I had my PPI done with Walt's and Walt himself picked me up from the Columbia airport after 4 connecting flights from Seattle. Some great guys at that shop. This pup/Eurovan was the product of a very savvy Russian gentleman who bought it at an auction down your way after some doctor was done with it. It had never had anything but kids in it when I got it. Ivan probably doubled his money on me but I didn't care as in VW-crazed Seattle this rig is $15g's or so.

Columbia MO... $5900 baby!