Part or sell

[Foglght]

So, I've about had it with the touring. I went to the SAE world congress stuff at Cobo center on Monday, and when I got out later that night, the radio was still on, along with the odometer and the OBC. Wouldn't start, battery died. Finally got a push start from my buddies.

So, now it needs:

1. Rear wiper arm
2. New front strut mounts
3. Steering box
4. Tensioner pulley
5. new high beam
6. wiper transmission assembly
7. possibly a cluster?
8. Metal heater core lines
9. Fix clutch squeaking
10. New differential
11. LKM for "low beam" message
12. Rear wiper squirter does not return to closed position

Total repairs needed ~ $1,500

I've put like $3k into it already in the first 8 months of owning it. Very tempted just to trade it in or part it out. I don't mind working on my own cars, but when I have a double digit list of crap that is wrong with my car, it annoys me.

[dansgt]

sounds like you didnt check the car over well enough before buying it...

[David325e]

Thats neither here nor there.

OP, if you can find a touring near you that you like pick it up and strip this one for parts or you and sale. If not, sink the final 1500 in and have the car you want, plus one that you have 1st hand knowledge of its good condition. Don't want to trade one partially done project to start another and don't want to end up spending 4k to save 1500.

[4500 RPM]

I've got an LKM for you for $25 shipped

Clutch squeak requires white lithium grease and you taking the knee panel off and spraying away.

Some may have a random high beam for you, including NikosX. I threw away a cluster with no front glass, wish I saw this earlier.

[AquilaBMW]

I think it depends on what it cost you to acquire the car in the first place - if it was minimal and the additional $1500 you are talking about will give you the car you want, them keep it and move forward.

I felt the same way about my car after I got it, but I have decided that I will keep working on it and either use it as a learning platform and get another later where this one will be a donor car. Or, just fix it and know that I have the car I want and know everything about it.

As far as street values go, there are still Tourings out there with people asking up to and over $4000 and they will have issues of various kinds. One I look at in LA went from $2900 to $3200 on CL this week. There are a couple of 525iT's in the Bay Area for $4000 - $4800.

I am pretty much with David on this, but you have the final decision on what it is worth to you.

[Foglght]

I've got an LKM for you for $25 shipped

Clutch squeak requires white lithium grease and you taking the knee panel off and spraying away.

Some may have a random high beam for you, including NikosX. I threw away a cluster with no front glass, wish I saw this earlier.

Clutch squeak type sound coming from inside transmission. Plus, the throwout bearing is starting to make noise when clutch is depressed.

I think all of it would take me about 3-4 days to fix if I could just come home and do it all, which I just might do.

Though the biggest problem after that is the rust on the fuel door, and under all 4 doors. Someone tried to fix it before, and its rusting again.

I also can't find anyone with a 3.23 diff that will fit this car and 4k rpm on the highway/diff whining is making me not want to drive the car.

[Binjammin]

All that adds up to 1500.

You need to give yourself a reasonable estimate of parts value, and how long it will take you to recoup that value parting it out. Figure how much that will bring in, and weigh it against the amount you want to spend on another car. The amount you'll bring in likely won't be enough to make another car that much more affordable, at least not in any reasonable amount of time.

For $1500 you can have a really nice car, all put together. Start a WTB thread and get the parts cheap. Sadly I don't think I have any of them, but I'll look around if you'd like.

[Foglght]

All that adds up to 1500.

You need to give yourself a reasonable estimate of parts value, and how long it will take you to recoup that value parting it out. Figure how much that will bring in, and weigh it against the amount you want to spend on another car. The amount you'll bring in likely won't be enough to make another car that much more affordable, at least not in any reasonable amount of time.

For $1500 you can have a really nice car, all put together. Start a WTB thread and get the parts cheap. Sadly I don't think I have any of them, but I'll look around if you'd like.

I need the diff. more than anything besides figuring out why the odo and stuff stays on. Never ran into that problem before. Only place I can find a diff at is Diffsonline, and they want $750 for one with LSD. I just don't want to pay that. I know I'm on borrowed time with this differential making noise, so who knows when it will go.

If I get another car, its going to be a new CTS sportwagon.

Some days she drives like a dream, but the other day it was my worst nightmare.

[Binjammin]

I need the diff. more than anything besides figuring out why the odo and stuff stays on. Never ran into that problem before. Only place I can find a diff at is Diffsonline, and they want $750 for one with LSD. I just don't want to pay that. I know I'm on borrowed time with this differential making noise, so who knows when it will go.

If I get another car, its going to be a new CTS sportwagon.

Some days she drives like a dream, but the other day it was my worst nightmare.

Diffs can be found all over the place. Ebay, junkyards etc. I can scrounge for one if you're willing to pay for it, I'm sure there's others with diffs too. I'd say expect to pay $300 for a good diff.

Diffsonline is run by a bunch of good guys, and their stuff's legit. I don't know that I'd run it in a street car, but for a race car? No question.

You'd be lucky to get enough out of your touring quick enough to make a down payment and MAYBE one more payment on that sportwagon.

Keep it and do it as a hobby, spend a little here and there.

[Foglght]

Diffs can be found all over the place. Ebay, junkyards etc. I can scrounge for one if you're willing to pay for it, I'm sure there's others with diffs too. I'd say expect to pay $300 for a good diff.

Diffsonline is run by a bunch of good guys, and their stuff's legit. I don't know that I'd run it in a street car, but for a race car? No question.

You'd be lucky to get enough out of your touring quick enough to make a down payment and MAYBE one more payment on that sportwagon.

Keep it and do it as a hobby, spend a little here and there.

I've been looking everywhere for a medium case 3.23 LSD, with no luck. If you can find one, I'll pay tomorrow. Though before all that happens, I need to stick my touring up in the air and find out whether or not the P.O. put in a large case diff or stuck with the medium case diff. Apparently, its a 3.73, and from my understanding could have been a large case M5 diff, or a medium case from something else. I just don't have anything to compare it to for determining medium or large.

[Binjammin]

If it's bad, it doesn't really matter what's in there, does it? I'll start looking around.

[Foglght]

If it's bad, it doesn't really matter what's in there, does it? I'll start looking around.

Large and medium case have different size pinion shafts? I'd like a direct replacement.

[kipwinger]

I have a 3.46 and a 4.10 both open diffs. If you can't find one locally, let me know.

[4500 RPM]

Didn't a guy in Germany have a similar problem with a cluster? Ended up being a stuck relay or something in the cluster?

[Foglght]

Didn't a guy in Germany have a similar problem with a cluster? Ended up being a stuck relay or something in the cluster?

Yeah, I read that thread. Tried to PM the guy to find out whether or not that was a long term fix. I have to leave the car in the garage unti I have time to really take a look at it.

I didn't want to break the M roady out until it got warmer, but no choice now.

[4500 RPM]

I also have a high beam for you, discovered that today. :)

[Frzninvt]

It was BBatt that had the cluster problem. They guy in Germany that just bought that awesome Touring. He replaced the cluster if I recall correctly.

[kalevera]

I've been looking everywhere for a medium case 3.23 LSD, with no luck. If you can find one, I'll pay tomorrow. Though before all that happens, I need to stick my touring up in the air and find out whether or not the P.O. put in a large case diff or stuck with the medium case diff. Apparently, its a 3.73, and from my understanding could have been a large case M5 diff, or a medium case from something else. I just don't have anything to compare it to for determining medium or large.



I have a couple of 3.23 opens available. Pretty easy to install a LS unit in an open rear end....

[Foglght]

Isn't that the same price as buying one that already has it?

Then again, I already have a 3.73 LSD, so I could swap them.

[4500 RPM]

The idea is to swap the LSD guts.