Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Firstly i'm new here, so a big hello there.

I'm looking to buy my first 928, but never having owned one, I'm after some advice.

I looked at an '88 S4 today. It had a few minor niggles, but was generally in quite good condition. It hasn't done much mileage since it's last full service and cambelt change, however the last full service was several years ago. It hasn't been used much since then, and apart from a few corrective jobs, eg new exhaust, new starter motor, and an oil change and filter by owner etc, it hasn't had a proper full service for a while. A few questions i have based on the car i saw today are:

1) What would a full service for a car such as a 928 typically include? Obviously the usual items like oil, oil filter, air filter, spark plugs, coolant change, cam belt replacement etc, anything else?

2) I'm going to get some quotes for the above work tomorrow, but from a 928 owners experience, what would/should i expect to pay a specialist, as a ball park figure for the above service?

3) The current owner mentioned that the aircon doesn't work, and has never bothered to get it regassed. Can not getting it regassed cause long term damage? It may be a sign of something more serious, which I believe can be very expensive. Whilst it would be nice to have working, i probably wouldn't spend £1000 getting it fixed, if that was what it would cost lol!!

4) Whilst looking around the car, i noticed the oil filler pipe, (ie the visible section of pipe that the oil filler cap is directly connected to) had a good half inch of left to right play on it. I'm guessing it isn't supposed to do that. The pipe disappears under the rocker cover, so i can't see where it goes, or how it connects underneath, or if its broken somewhere etc. Anyone seen this before, is this likely to be a serious problem? Also, when peering into the dark gap that the pipe disappears into, I could just about make out pools of oil that have collected underneath the oil filler pipe. I'm guessing the pipe is broken somewhere out of sight, and oil is leaking out of it, although it could also be coming from the rocker covers i guess?

5) The owner hadn't driven it for months before sale, but on taking it to be MOT'd (it has 3 months left, but i asked for a new one to be put on) he is having a problem where it starts and runs ok, but then cuts out after a few minutes. It won't immediately restart, but if left for a while it will eventually restart ok, run for a few minutes, then cut out again. It sounds like a fuel starvation problem but not sure if it's the fuel pump or relay, as i would expect these to work or not work, rather than cause engine to cut out after a few mins. Could it be fuel filter maybe?

Thanks in advance for any help or advice on the above.

Sounds about normal, plus anything that needs doing to the brakes (but presumably anything serious will be flagged-up by the MOT) and if it's an auto then you need to get the flexplate checked. Also, if you are going for a cambelt change then it might be worth getting the water pump done at the same time.



Best option might be to try and contact Paul Anderson in Stroud (http://www.928spares.co.uk/) - he's usually the 928 specialist most people in the SW go to as he works on virtually nothing but 928s and doesn't charge over the odds. The cambelt replacement is a relatively big job so he might offer it at a fixed price (plus parts as required) - you'll have to ask. Be warned, he can sometimes be very difficult to get hold of, if you leave a message on his answering service he often doesn't reply until the end of the day.



No major damage will happen from not getting it regassed as the compressor shouldn't run if there's insufficient pressure, but if it's left "open" then it may deteriorate faster. Recommissioning will be expensive, especially if it was last used with the old-style refrigerants which are now banned, so most owners don't bother, however Richard Armstrong (http://www.ritech-systems.com/928/Maintenance/Air_Conditioning/air_conditioning.html) would be the person to ask.



Doesn't sound good, I believe some fairly major dismantling is required to replace the oil filler neck, but I may be wrong. Are you sure this car only has "minor niggles" - you might want to get it checked out by someone before you buy it?



Could be the pump, or the relay or the filter, but it really depends on how long it goes before it stops as it may not be fuel starvation but, assuming it's an automatic, a symptom of thrust bearing failure. I don't want to be alarmist but if it is the latter then the engine is toast. It probably isn't this if the car was running fine prior to being laid-up, but I'd make sure the seller gets the problem fixed at his own expense before you consider buying it, don't negotiate a discount and drive it away with the problem still present.

Once again, are you sure this is the best 928 out there, it may be worth looking at some more before committing to a purchase.

You have received good advice above.

Could elaborate on the advice given but my main advice is run a mile from this one! Obvious car hasn't been cared for and previous owner not conscientious.

There are loads of good S4s out there, many without such obvious problems, and prices are hardly shooting up while you ponder.

Ignore this if it's a giveaway price. An analogue dash S4 would be under £6K for the very best examples.

If the engine runs for a few minutes and then cuts out until left to cool, it COULD be the thrust bearing. Loe Bank Motors had one in that would run for 15 minutes then lock up, and it was that. It's a huge repair.