Re: '87 5K CS Quattro

["Hien Pham" <hienpham@mindless.com>]

Wallace, thanks for the suggestion. I'll be taking a second look at it
today. I am quite sure that the hydraulic system leaks, since I found an
empty bottle of Pentosin in the trunk that looks like it has just been
opened, yet the oil level in the reservoir is only about 3/4 of an inch from
the bottom.


>Hien -
>
>It's probably a bad deal. The range of prices for these cars is quite
>small: $1500 for the one you looked at, with lots of problems, up to
>maybe $5000 for one in very good shape with plenty of repairs done.
>(Note that a high asking price doesn't guarantee that it's in good
>shape!)
>
>The amount that you can spend fixing these cars, however, is huge. You
>mention that the brake warning comes on. The direct cause of that is the
>low brake mineral fluid you found (it uses Pentosin 7.1, not ordinary
>brake fluid). It's probably low because it needs a new p/s pump and/or
>rack. Each is about $200; the rack is a pain of a 4-hr job to change.
>
>The clicking noise from the glove box could be a relay getting turned on
>and off, or it could be a stripped gear in the A/C programmer. You can
>find those at junk yards, but they're more than $100 new.
>
>You'll almost certainly find that the turbo coolant pump ($120 at
>discount) is dead and it probably took the after-run relay ($85 but can
>be fixed cheap) with it. And who knows, maybe you'll need a new clutch
>($800) a couple of weeks after you buy it, like I did. Beware a stiff
>clutch pedal.
>
>So after you spend a couple of thousand dollars fixing things on this
>"bargain," you end up with a car that still has exterior damage and
>interior problems. It's really wise to look for one whose previous owner
>took good care of it. I wish I had found one in better shape. HTH.
>
>- Wallace
>  '87 5kcstq 153k
>
>Hien Pham wrote:
>>
>> I am about to buy one for US$1500. `87 5000CS Quattro.
>>
>> It has a cracked windshield which need to be replaced. I can get it donwe
>> for $110, used.
>>
>> Small dent on top right rear corner. Small paint crack on left rear door.
In
>> Pearl White. Looks pretty new. Interior leathee needs a few stitches.
>>
>> Major worry is a brake alert light in the dashboard, which might have to
do
>> with AbS sensor, and an incessant clicking noise coming from the glove
>> compartment.
>>
>> Is this a good deal for fifteen hundred bucks ? ? What causes that
clicking
>> noise ?
>