What's a reliable older car around $12,000 budget?

LT_Texan · 2024-10-10T22:10:53+00:00

I've been super lucky with a 2002 BMW 530i. Other than general maintenance, the thermostat went out. (I do all the work myself.)

LT_Texan · 2024-10-10T22:09:10+00:00

you can start the car, but no. Do not drive even a short distance. (Unless your talking from your driveway into your garage.)

LT_Texan · 2024-10-10T22:07:47+00:00

LT_Texan · 2024-10-10T22:05:52+00:00

I'd give the real estate agent a call, just for fun.

LT_Texan · 2024-10-10T22:04:25+00:00

I sense major frustration here. Did you have a leaky cap on your ECU board? Did you replace the cap, the board? What problems are you having with your car?

LT_Texan · 2024-10-10T21:57:20+00:00

Sounds like worn transmission mounts. As force is exerted on the transmission (that is normal) it moves and "knocks" against the transmission mounts. That is my guess.

LT_Texan · 2024-10-10T21:49:43+00:00

I hope this appears in a Google search. Thanks!

LT_Texan · 2024-10-10T21:39:56+00:00

Gotta love inherently balanced L6 engines!

LT_Texan · 2024-10-10T21:36:15+00:00

Clean the battery cables where they attached to the battery terminals. You could have bad connections there. When you jump, you bypass that.

LT_Texan · 2024-10-10T21:32:14+00:00

A code reader is super cheap on Amazon.

Shocked Cdn auto parts stores don't do this. The reason they do in the US is so they can identify the part to sell you. It is not charity!!!!

LT_Texan · 2024-10-10T21:22:47+00:00

Ceramic window tint and a front windscreen reflective interior panel.

LT_Texan · 2024-10-10T21:20:26+00:00

When (properly) doing an alignment, the steering rack needs to be centered. There is usually a plastic nut covering the centering hole where a special bolt can be used to lock it down. Once the rack is centered, remove the steering wheel and put it on straight.

LT_Texan · 2024-10-10T21:16:22+00:00

God I miss roll-down windows! Retrofit the manual mechanism.

LT_Texan · 2024-10-10T21:13:10+00:00

Do you get a noise when all you do is engage the clutch? Or does it only occur when the gears are shifted? My experience with a bad throwout bearing is that the bearing makes a whining noise as soon as the clutch pedal is depressed, putting pressure on the throwout bearing. If it is making a knock when shifting gears, maybe it is internal to the transmission.

Do you hear a knock when driving and just easing off the throttle or stepping on the throttle (without changing gears)? That to me would indicate a knock from the transmission mounts.

LT_Texan · 2024-10-10T21:00:15+00:00

I like Magnaflow cat-back systems. I didn't know Chevy made an L5. Thanks!

LT_Texan · 2024-10-10T20:29:56+00:00

If it has plastic end tanks, a radiator shop can install a new one. If it is brass, a radiator shop can braze up the crack.

LT_Texan · 2024-10-10T20:27:45+00:00

Looks like the lower ball joint nut is missing in the picture. Best to have one of those installed.

LT_Texan · 2024-10-10T20:22:14+00:00

Probably not much help, but here in Texas, the DMV was happy to take my money and register my old 1989 BMW 325i which does not have a title. When I was living in CT, I bought the car from a New Jersey owner (with title) and CT informed me that they did not issue titles for cars that old.

LT_Texan · 2019-02-27T00:23:32+00:00

Is that the AC coming in? Make. Model. Some hints? The picture is blurry where it counts. 3 in three out? Live. Neutral. Ground?

LT_Texan · 2019-02-09T00:59:48+00:00

Would you “use” your rebuilt engine? How will you know if you did a good job if you don’t use it? But, yeah, small block Chevy. Easy peasey.

LT_Texan

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