New Owner with a 93 Q45

[SHR XTC]

Hi!! I'm a New Member with NICO and must say that this Forum is great, very informative. I've been reading posts daily and most of the old posts as well.

I recently got a 1993 Q45a with 150K on it. It's Pearl White with beige interior. My boss gave it to me for free since he's relocating out of the country.

I've been reading posts about maintenece and procedures.I was hoping someone could clarify some stuff up for me.

The car was mechanically well taken care of but for the past year it has been sitting in his garage since he was out of the country.

I know it needs a tune up. While I get the tune up done, should I get the "guides" done as well?? On my previous cars I would get a tune up and the timing belt done. I think I read somewhere we use a timing "chain" so instead I should get the "guides" done?? What else should get done while the tune up is done besides the basic stuff (ie. plugs, wire, H20 pump, filters, etc.)??

I plan on getting the transmission fluid replaced. I read about the "Oil Pan Drop" with the removal of the filter and I read about the transmission flush. Both being replaced with Mobil 1 ATF. Are the "Oil Pan Drop" and the transmission flush both the same procedure?? Can somebody elaborate on this please??

Since the car is Q45a, it has the Active Suspension, I know it is still good but I think the struts are no good. If the struts are bad is the Active Suspension bad as well?? I think it's just the struts. Are they expensive to replace due to the car having the Active Suspension?? What struts are recommended??

So far this what I want to do first. Is there is anything else, please let me know.

Sorry about the long post.

Thanks~~

[qship96]

unless you are prepared to put thousands of dollars into this car for guides and rebuilding the active suspension and other items that will be uncovered,I would quickly donate it to charity and take the tax break.A 10 year old , 150000 mile ACTIVE suspension model can kill you financially.

[PalmerWMD]

SHR:

Congrats to a great car.And free even!!

That way you have a bit money left to make it just right :thumbupThe 93 is considered by many the best year as is the ivory pearl quartz paint.

The "a" option was a $4500 option when new and adds some great capability to the car.Similiar systems are only availabe in 2000+ mercedes S and CL class cars.

With luck you may have a very late production 93 which often ahve the new style guides installed, but you should check anyway, By the time a car reaches 150k the front cover should be taken off to check by all accounts.The tuneup (ie replacing plugs, and if you want a TB cleaning) can be done at any dealer , but it will cost a bit since the plenum has to come off (labor),.If the plenum comes off you might as well replace all under the plenum hoses at that time they probably need it anyway.

Be sure to get all new filters, and for the first 6 months do real frequent oil changes with a hi detergent oil (since it sat so long).If you think the struts are no good, you are possibly looking at needed the acculators redone.Not cheap but not teh world either IF done not at dealer but with texasoil recharging method.

Keith, aka "texasoil" is a chemical engineer and a member of this club.If you doesnt catch this post in the next couple of days, you can look for him in our members directory ( link on top).It has our emails and you cvan email him and he will fill you in opn the "a" supension (which i sometimes wish I had).

Again congratulations and welcome to our club!

Fred...

[greg_atlanta]

The important thing is to find a shop familar with the car and let them help you decide what needs to be fixed and what doesn't.

If the car is located in SoCal, there's a good shop in San Diego:

http://www.jerrytucker.net

If the car is in NYC, not sure where to point you... most dealers there are very expensive (from what I've heard here).

Just be prepared for at least $5000 of work in the first year, if not more. It's one of the best cars on the planet, but it can suck you dry. If you like the car and treat it right, it'll be the best sedan you'll ever own.

[Jberger]

Now THAT sounds like a great job!Congrats on the new ride, I think the A models are wonderful but require a ton of upkeep.

It's free, so you really can't go wrong, but understand any used car will require maintance, esp. the A when the system needs recharging.

I'd take it over to Jerry and let him inspect it for you. That will help you baseline the car and understand what to expect over the next 18 months. Then decide what you want to spend and how close to perfect is close enough!

Go ahead and flush the transmission, change all the fuilds, etc.

Good Luck and please keep us posted!

[Q451990]

I would quickly donate it to charity and take the tax break.A 10 year old , 150000 mile ACTIVE suspension model can kill you financially.

And if anyone wants to make a donation like that, I know of a great charity... Send them to Columbia SC

Heath

[maxnix]

Yeah, if the body and interior are good, then I would think it would well be worth it to sink some money into it to return it to new specifications.

It would be a sweet ride, which it well may not be now with a failed active suspension (and who knows what else needs replacing on the suspension alone.)

Get thee to a dealer with the VIN and obtain a printout of the dealer maintenance. Did he give you service records, or was he ashamed he knew he didn't do any, hence knew the car's value?

[Q45tech]

Just make sure it is the car you want for a long haul as putting $10,000 in it over a year or two can be daunting!

Besides the active R&R you have to assume the AC and transmission will fail plus plenum hoses, knock sensors, and valve cover leaks.

In theory the engine can go 300,000 miles [if it was maintained well from day one].

The point is you might be able to find a NON ACTIVE 93 where the owner just got disgusted with spending [spend much of the money for you].

150k is a lot of miles on any car.............that said my 240.5k Q still runs drives perfect after a total rebuild but it consummed $24,700 in the last 5.5 years for R&R and maintenance.....roughly $4500 per year but there was a $7,000 year in the blend.$24,700/141,000= 17.5 cents per mile.

Hard to relate age vs mileage when you get above 150,000 miles and 10 years [93] vs 13 years next month on my 1990Q.I'm still waiting for that MAGICAL YEAR when I spend less than $2,000 to keep the Q up.

The 1990 lost $30,000 in value the first 7 years and 100,000 miles and cost $6,600 in ext warranty and maintenance and repairs.

The point is you gotta be well off to keep up an old lux car so that everything works as brand new.

[Aus94Q45]

Does this officially mean that nothing in life is free?

[SHR XTC]

Let's elaborate on "Free"?? :pface

Thanks for the advice.So far I love the car, always been the passenger but now I'm the Driver!!! :ylsuper

I know I have to make an investment in maintence, it's sounds like an interesting task getting to know the Q.

Thanks~~

Oh yeah....the car is in the Los Angeles Area now, any body know any shops??

[Q451990]

Oh yeah....the car is in the Los Angeles Area now, any body know any shops??

I'll echo Greg's advice... www.jerrytucker.net

They're sort of a West Coast T3. Jerry has a lot of experience with the older Qs. I know it'll be a bit of a drive, but from everything I've heard it's well worth it.

Heath

[landtodd]

Gosh. I'm almost sure I posted here. Did anyone else see it?

[Chally]

see what ?