Hi everyone! I'm going to see a 1982 928 auto next week. It'll be my first so I need your advice.
The car is champagne gold and in the photos the dealer sent me it looks great. BUT I think I can make out some rust at the bottom of the sides from wheel to wheel. Is rust a common problem on the underside of 928s? If so, is it likely to be just cosmetic or actually dangerous?
Sorry for my ignorance, but I feel like I've found my perfect car and I don't want any surprises.
The car has apparently done about 50,000 miles and everything seems a bit TOO perfect.
Is 7000 bucks a fair price?
I'm in Japan so I have no-one to help me inspect the car. I've read the faqs, any extra tips?
Thanks

 

There is a strip of stone chip protector that runs along the lower edge of the car, it may be this you are seeing this in the photo's as it has a rough wavy finish. I doubt you will find a 928 with that much visible rust.

My advice is to not buy one with visible rust on the sills or rear quarters. what you can see will be a fraction of what's lurking - if you have to fix it in a few years time the cost of new sheetmetal and paintwork could easily match what you paid for the car in the first place.

I speak from experience here as I have lost a rear quarter panel on my auto to the tin worm, this has kept the car off the road for a year while I weigh up what's best to do with it. Just as well i've got two!

Cheers
Dave

 

The galvanized steel body should not show any rust, unless it has been fixed in an unprofessional way. I'd be highly suspicious of visible rust, unless it is really small and at or near an edge or a weld where the zinc might have come off.

Keep in mind that German manufacturers also used some goo inside the body shell, for additional rust protection. I've seen this goo make its way out through water drainage holes. Once it catches some dirt, it can look like rust, too!

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by DaveW:
<strong>There is a strip of stone chip protector that runs along the lower edge of the car,
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Hello Rising Son
This are only on newer models, and not the 1982 models.
As Nicole said the 928 is seldom rusty , due to the galvanised plate and aluminium plate (The front up to the doors (incl) are aluminium and the rear is galvanized steel plate, BUT aluminium can corrode and even galvanized plate can rust!
The places to look are the bonnet edges (around the wheels) - All the way far down at the sides - The rear bonnets behind the wheels - The edges and bottom of the doors - And look at the underside of the car on a car lift - If you go deeper, look under the rear bonnets (remove the inner bonnets)
Only buy a healthy car - The cost for repair is far more than the extra price for a good car.
Good luck! <img border="0" alt="[byebye]" title="" src="graemlins/wave.gif" />

 

There is a convertible 928 in my neighborhood that is supposedly IMMACULATE and when I went to see it I found VERY visible rust in the door sills!! so rust CAN exist on 928!?

 

I found a spot on mine, just above the passenger door on the frame. Still trying to figure out what to do about it.

 

I also have a rust spot, been there since we bought the car; driver's door sill, lower back, right where there is a seam.

 

These are photos on my website taken from my restoration project of the PRDATR...

<img src="http://patedwards.net/images/restoration/exterior1.jpg" alt=" - " />

<img src="http://patedwards.net/images/restoration/exterior3.jpg" alt=" - " />

<img src="http://patedwards.net/images/restoration/exterior4.jpg" alt=" - " />

 

Wow, thanks everyone!
I'll try to post a picture....
(Give me an hour or so)

 

Ok, did it!!

Here's the link:

<a href="http://www.momentoffame.com/snapshot.html?id=36452" target="_blank">http://www.momentoffame.com/snapshot.html?id=36452</a>

Please tell me what you think

 

Mmmmmm whats the VIn on it? S4 style wing, no sign of S spoiler at rear, but the sills look like my 83, with rough stone chip protector uner the paint.
?? Need the VIN!!!
jp 83 Euro S AT 45k

 

Now that, is a reason to pull that spoiler and check it now. Mine leaks water into the rear upon heavy rain. I'm going to pull it off ASAP. After seeing these pictures, I'm afraid of what I will find.....

Anthony Tate
79/928 Silver Metallic

 

I'm going to see it on Monday. I won't know the vin till then.
Stone protector? Cooool!

 

Whoa - look at that wing! It's ready to launch into space!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Interesting car... The side moldings were definitely retrofitted, as they are mounted higher than usual.

As I said in my earlier post - rust typically happnes at edges, or where the zinc coating has been damaged. An accident repair is one example of how that can happen. Generally, I would expect welds to be weaks spots also.

 

A Euro S w/50k looks good.
I'd still pay for a PPI or try to find a fellow 928 owner to do at least some basic checks.
Light, wipers, Havc, TT, PWR steering, leaks ...
Take her for a run use the Auto like a standard up and down. See if the kick down switch is functioning, idle isn't to rough, doesn't stall at lights... Look for paint over spray in the wheel wells and underneath her beautiful behind.
Stone guard is that rough pebble finish down at rocker panel level -below bottom of doors-.
That wing is unique but, perhaps a little much.
Good 'looking' ride, I hope things work out for you. If she runs like she looks start saving for a radar detector or carry a lot of cash .
BTW I have it on my Weissach. Stone guard that is.