black 944 lux - opinions please

lux man · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:21 pm

I've been looking out for a 944 and found this one locally. It drove very well, but I have a couple of questions I'm hoping you guys can help with;

1 - one headlamp was nice and bright, the other was extremely dull - bit like it was just a sidelight bulb. Is this a big job to fix, or simply a new bulb? The actual headlight unit on the dull side felt a bit loose in the housing - again, is this easily sorted?
2 - when going to full beam the headlamp got no brighter, but the rectangular lamps in the bumper came on - is this correct?
3 - the car had passed its MOT yesterday, but the ABS lamp was on. The owner told me he disconnected the ABS because he prefers the car without it, and that the car passed its MOT like this. I was under the impresson that a car fitted with ABS had to have working ABS to pass an MOT - comments please.
4 - there is bubbling under the paint at the base of the windscreen pillar, and just above the windscreen. It felt solid when I pressed against it. Is this just cosmetic or something to worry about?
5 - passenger electric window doesn't work, but spare regulator is provided - is it a big job to swap this over?

There is paperwork covering the last few years, some back to 1997 but it is not complete. The owner tells me he did the belts whe he got the car three years ago, but there is no paperwork to support it. He is into classic cars and got this one to replace a Lotus Excel. He told me he prefers to work on teh mechanical side of things, and that he wants to move onto another project now that this one is done. As I said, it drove very well and looks presentable. I'd be grateful to hear from you regarding the points I have raised, and on the car in general.

Thanks for reading

tr7v8 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:45 pm

lux man wrote:

I've been looking out for a 944 and found this one locally. It drove very well, but I have a couple of questions I'm hoping you guys can help with;

1 - one headlamp was nice and bright, the other was extremely dull - bit like it was just a sidelight bulb. Is this a big job to fix, or simply a new bulb? The actual headlight unit on the dull side felt a bit loose in the housing - again, is this easily sorted?
Possibly, could be earth or wiring fault, strange bearing in mind point 3 below!
2 - when going to full beam the headlamp got no brighter, but the rectangular lamps in the bumper came on - is this correct?
Sounds like bulb or wiring fault, lights below are driving lights so correct that they come on.
3 - the car had passed its MOT yesterday, but the ABS lamp was on. The owner told me he disconnected the ABS because he prefers the car without it, and that the car passed its MOT like this. I was under the impression that a car fitted with ABS had to have working ABS to pass an MOT - comments please.
It shouldn't have passed MOT like that, all sounding "iffy" If it is on continuously then sounds like either a wiring issue or a knackered ABS ECU.
4 - there is bubbling under the paint at the base of the windscreen pillar, and just above the windscreen. It felt solid when I pressed against it. Is this just cosmetic or something to worry about?
Probably ham fisted windscreen removal & fitting in the past. Needs sorting ASAP as it will write the car off if left.
5 - passenger electric window doesn't work, but spare regulator is provided - is it a big job to swap this over?
Probably 2-3 hours, fiddly rather than complex.

There is paperwork covering the last few years, some back to 1997 but it is not complete. The owner tells me he did the belts when he got the car three years ago, but there is no paperwork to support it.
They need doing again after 3 years so irrelevant but points towards sloppy attitude to me.
He is into classic cars and got this one to replace a Lotus Excel. He told me he prefers to work on teh mechanical side of things, and that he wants to move onto another project now that this one is done. As I said, it drove very well and looks presentable. I'd be grateful to hear from you regarding the points I have raised, and on the car in general.
All that glistens is not gold, be careful!

Thanks for reading

Edited to add: It is a bastardised car as it has an S2 front on the Lux shell, badly aligned to boot looking at the panel gaps.
Also I'm sorry but anyone who spells that badly cannot want to sell a car.

lux man · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:54 pm

Thanks Jim, I think I'll pass on this one!

JW590 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 10:08 pm

Yes, take Jim's advice and walk away.

My first 944 I had was in 1998, it was a 1989 guards red 2.7 Lux, and it was a beauty. That black one is just what Jim said, but I'm not old enough to be allowed to use such language :lol:

simkin911 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 10:26 pm

Agree with the above. What else is hidden?

What about http://www.coullcars.co.uk/page_1265640610523.html

Blue s2 <£3k - not much info but may be worth a call? I'm in Edinburgh/Midlothian and I'm guessing you're in West Lothian somewhere - so it's not a million miles away... may be worth a call.

J.J. · **Posted:** Thu Jan 06, 2011 3:44 pm

Buy on condition. But look at any you can get to. The more you see the more you learn. Join the club!

lux man · **Posted:** Thu Jan 06, 2011 4:58 pm

J.J. wrote:

Buy on condition. But look at any you can get to. The more you see the more you learn. Join the club!

I see from another part of the forum that sme if you guys meet up at Bo'ness. When's your next meeting?

Anyway, heres another car I've found. Bit of a drive away, but possibly worth it. I've spoken briefly with the seller who tells me the bonnet struts are weak and could do with replacing, the sunroof leaks and the passenger door pull is missing. He also said there is evidience of paintwork over the years, and evidence of the sills being repaired but to a good standard. Other than that everything works as it should. The tyres are a matching set of budget tyres (I think he said CEAT) that he says are OK for grip in the wet. What are peoples opinions on this one?

poprock · **Posted:** Thu Jan 06, 2011 7:57 pm

lux man wrote:

I see from another part of the forum that sme if you guys meet up at Bo'ness. When's your next meeting?

Us Scottish club members meet up at Bo’Ness Motor Museum on the first Wednesday of every month at around half-seven. You’d be very welcome to come along in February if you like. Plenty of 944 owners to share advice.

Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

black 944 lux - opinions please

Who is online