Carrera51

Hi guys:
Figure this is the best place to seek some advice. I came across an 89 S4 auto that has been sitting outside for over a year. Black with linen gray (I think that is the color) interior. The car runs, but is due for a timing belt and all the other things associated with that service. I figure I would have to change all fluids. Interior is in decent shape. Seats are not ripped but need to be soaked in leather treatment, and it only has two dash cracks. Paint and trim are going to need some work. Rear spoiler looks terrible for baking in the sun. right side tail light is cracked. It will need tires as well. Mileage is around 110K.

A wholesaler near my office has it and I don't know if there are any service records. I am tempted to make an offer on it since I have wanted one of these for a while. What would be a fair price for a car like this knowing that it needs an immediate major service and other items.

Thanks for your input!

rgs944

If the rear spoiler is in that bad a shape that is not a good sign for it to be a worthwhile project.

mickster

Offer $1000 and prepare to spend $5-10000 on parts before paint. Better to find a good interior and paint with catch up maintenance. Is the body perfect or are there missing bits? Pictures would help. Lots of VA members could do a visual.

Landseer

Its pretty hard to say for sure, prices are all over the place on these.
I'd be thinking $4 to $6K ish on your intitial description. $2.5 to $4K if on the rougher side.
Body, interior and mechanicals are the three kings.

A few pictures including engine bay would help.

I'd team-up with seller, get it up onto a lift, drop exhaust and bell housing cover, loosen the coupler bolt and get an endplay measurement on the crankshaft. Prove this achilles heal is OK.
This link by Bill Ball is my go-to refresher https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...pictorial.html

Chances are you are looking at some refresh, assuming engine and trans are OK, of approx. $5K parts.
Immediate replacement of engine bay fuel lines is the most important.

As automatic S4 is concerned, 89 S4 automatic itself is a very good unit due to the rearend gearing 2.52 and lack of PSD.

Good luck with this!!!! I hope it works for you and another shark gets refreshed and on the road for a 911 owner.
There are some NOVA and Richmond experts on this board that might be able to help also.

Carrera51

Thanks for the replies. I know what you mean about the pricing I have seen looking around on the web. I'll snap some photos of the engine next time I see the car. I did pop the hood and it's fairly clean inside. Didn't see any apparent leaks or signs of furry residents. I would get it on a lift for sure before money was discussed. It boils down to me feeling bad for it seeing it sitting there decaying and I want to get it back on the road where it belongs.

Doesn't seem to have any missing trim pieces. Paint is dull but I have seen a lot worse. Radio antenna rubber is dried out with pieces missing. I have a few photos on my phone. Will pull them off and post them.

mickster

I based my pricing on this being a wholesaler and as a starting point for negotiation. He probably got the car for $2-4,000. Sitting a year, will want to get money back now. If you want to get it back on the road, then price is less important than passion-as long as it doesn't have thrust bearing failure.

Carrera51

Here are a few photos. I stuck the sunshade in it to protect the dash a few months ago.

89FrontPorsche

That car is in very good condition, considering it's neglect. The black paint will buff out very well with Meguiars compounds and a good hand on a buffer. The interior will come back to life with some Lexol. Spray it liberally and let it sit and soak then soak it again, rubbing it with your hand. The leather will eat it up. Keep soaking it overnight repeatedly then, do one more treatment with a soft terry cloth and buff it. You'll be glad you did.

I have the same color interior. Contact me off-board to get some photos of how to restore the carpet. It can be done.

If you don't want it, I'll take it. I want a black one.

Mechanicals are just a necessary part of 928 ownership. If you have a garage, be prepared to do some crawling around and time on your back. Fuel lines, as mentioned is an ABSOLUTE must. My other '89 burst a line and the car burned. Don't let that happen. My replacement '89 is also due and I'm not driving it until I change the lines.

Vacuum lines, circuit board cleaning...all necessary tasks. Probably a good car, given the mileage.

Good luck, we're all counting on you.

jcorenman

Mark,

It's pretty hard to say anything without eyes on it, or good pictures. Black is single-stage paint and should polish out nicely, IF it is original and has no deep scratches. The mileage is not an issue, but it will certainly need TB/WP as you mentioned, and lots of rubber parts renewed. It takes time, if you do your own work then that helps keep the cost reasonable.

The interior would either be "linen" (almost white) or "classic gray". [Edit: It looks like Classic Gray from the pic's]. If the leather is not cracked or worn through then the seats will probably clean up OK as mentioned. Dash-cracks are a deduction, size/number doesn't really matter.

My biggest concern with a car sitting outside is whether there were any leaks. Pull up the small carpets behind the seats to check for moisture or funkiness from a rear-hatch lack. Also have a good look around the CE panel and pass-side footwell area for leaks from the cowl area past the heater box (the recirc flap is right above the CE panel).

AO and worf928 have put together a couple of great PPI checklists, here's Andrew's thread:
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...d-comment.html

and Dave's inspection article and tables:
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...ml#post6975867

Carrera51

Thanks for all the information guys. I'm a 944/911 guy so I don't know much about the 928. My father in law has one so riding in his got me interested in them. I have garage space so I can get it inside to work on it.

Jim: I'll check for leaks. It didn't smell damp when I opened the door to take the interior photo, though that was back in September.

89FrontPorsche: If my wife totally shoots this down, I can put you in touch with the seller if you are interested.

89FrontPorsche

Thank you, sir.

With a little time and some effort, it would glow.

I have had six or seven 944's. When I rebuilt my first 928, an '87, I was in hog heaven, even if it was an automatic. Just the acceleration was enough to make me re-think boulevard cruising. I have a 944 restoration project on the go. Some kid blew the engine up. There's a hole the size of a dime in the #4 top cylinder wall. It mystifies me. Cylinder head is fine. Pistons are fine too.

Can't figure it out.

Have a new block and am accumulating the other parts to do all the internals to "zero-time" the engine. Should last a good while once rebuilt. I do tend to miss shifting gears...and the 944 is to be my "econo-car".

Hope the 928 finds its way home to your garage. It deserves a good owner.

Cheers

Carrera51

Forgot to mention, this car has rear A/C. Anything I should be concerned about?

hb4

Typical problems are failure of O-rings in the connections, expansion valve failure, and leaks where the evaporator coil copper lines connect. All parts and lines are fairly accessible. I replaced the O-rings, expansion valve, and evaporator (used) for about $400.00 plus refer recharge. Some people do a rear AC delete, so known good used evaporators can be found. I didn't notice much difference once the Rear AC was repaired and reconnected, so removal is certainly a lower cost option.

Good luck with your search, and hope to see you and your new 928 at some PNW events. Next one up is the XXX Drive-in Porsche day in Issaquah in May. Always a good 928 turnout. Can't beat those '89s.

Carrera51

Removal of it was going to be my next question. Are most of the system parts under the rear center console? Thanks for the info!

hb4

Evaporator and expansion valve are under the rear console, solenoid valve is under the passenger seat. Lines pass through the floorboard under the seat and go forward under the car to a pair of connections just aft of the engine. This is where mine were capped, although it's not optimal since it leaves a couple dead-ends where oil can collect. I don't think there's another way to do it without replacing a very hard to remove AC line.