DJF1

So I'm looking at an S4 and the car is advertised as having below 100K miles, its an 89 so digital odo.
The seller sent me pictures of the car and the bolster wear on the drivers seat tells me this car most likely has more than 100K on.
I have read that while the digital odo is more difficult to tamper with, non the less its possible...Here are the pics. What is your opinion? can there be so much wear on a <100k mile car?
TIA

Nicole

That's within range - it all depends on how the car was used, and what climate it lived-in.

Look up www.fibrenew.com for an affordable way to get this fixed - providing the leather is not hard as card board.

Otherwise, you can always have it redone nicely by Rob Budd or Paul Champagne.

danglerb

The rest of the seat looks pretty good. Bolster wear can be really nasty for a bunch of reasons, so points off as it needs fixing, but I would look at service records or carfax to back up mileage claims.

Bertrand Daoust

+1.
Yes they can look like this at 100k and quite easy to fix too.

Leon Speed

I have an '89 and the seat looks like that. Mine supposedly has abou 80K miles. keep in mind that these cars are over 20 years old. If the car was driven frequently but for short distances, it could look like that.

Bilal928S4

Actually the bolster condition has more to do with how many times somebody has gotten in and out of the car and less with mileage of the car.

Landseer

A habit of carrying a wallet or comb in the back pocket, or having a belt like a weaved belt in blue jeans can take a toll.

Good luck with the potential buy! Gotta love these automobiles.

heinrich

Fat driver? .... for 100k, that driver seems to have REALLY not given a flying fig about his car, to be honest.

DR

The PO was a leftie and was always packing..... ask me how I know. J/K (sort of)

Not surprised at all at wear showing like that with that mileage....plus, it could have been a wimpy cow that donated it's hide for that particular section...LOL.

heinrich

HAHAHA!! Well that's true ... living in the soviet socialist republic of Wershington State, one tends to forget there are others in this great country who still have their freedoms. Of course, a lef-handed pistol-wearer would definitely have done that to the car

dr bob

That wear is consistent with the mileage. My '89 with many fewer miles needed some rehab at 60k for the same damage, just on a smaller scale. There's a thread you can search for that shows the restoration process and results. I'm on a PDA so it's tougher finding/ posting links. That thread was started by JPTL per my recollection, and had some great tips beyond what I shared.

Don't eliminate the car for that seat condition alone. Get a thorough mechanical PPI from a known 928-savvy mechanic and the rest of the value will be apparent. Budget at least $5k for first-year rubber parts and deferred maintenance parts costs. And your labor...

cpayne

Not bad at all. Want to trade? and as you can tell from the wear, I have a huge ***

DJF1

Thanks Guys for all your insight. I feel a bit better about the car... for sure PPI will take place if the seller accepts my offer... just wanted your experience on this and I hope to join your ranks soon! I've been obsessing for a while getting my own shark!