S2 project - revised budget

[Robbo149]

OK, my new S2's been in at Strasse today for servicing & belts doing & they've just called to let me know they've found a few other 'little' things that need sorting -

A couple of the tensioners/pulleys need replacing,
A section of fuel line needs replacing (actually had an advisory note on this on the MOT),
A bush in the gear linkage needs replacing,
The dizzy cap & rotor arm are in a sorry state,
The brake calipers all need a stripdown,
There's a slight water leak from an elbow joint.

That's on top of what it was costing me for the service and belts doing.

Grand total: approx £1300

Whoever said you need to budget £1500 to spend on any S2 wasn't far wrong!

Oh well, in for a penny, in for a pound (or several). At least I can be happy in the knowledge that I'm saving a nice S2 from going to ruin.

Cheers,
Robbo

 

[Alpine]

my first service cost £2,200 (needed new camshafts) so you should think yourself lucky !

 

[cuffn]

Robbo

Just to let you know you are not on your own (if it helps)! I have just had the same experience (although had to spend a bit more than you []) the other week with a number of calls from Jon Mitchell's garage with other bits that needed doing - even though I gave him quite a big list to start with! It strikes me that if you are looking to keep your car and run it regularly then it is worth keeping it up together, although it is still painful when you have to part with the money to get it back!

 

[James_G]

Robbo, I sympathise entirely. Like you I have recently bought a bridge spoiler S2 and similarly my first bill was a touch over £1200, but I equally like to think that I am keeping another nice S2 on the road. And hopefully the track.

Good luck, and here's hoping that there's nothing else and you can enjoy a few miles - in my case 1500 since that bill.

 

[Robbo149]

It's not that bad really, I bought the car cheap so had budgeted on having to spend money on it. I've set aside a grand for bodywork too!

I keep wincing every time my phone rings. Just hoping they don't find anything else too expensive! I'm getting kind of paranoid about it needing a new clutch, so fingers crossed.

Cheers,
Robbo

 

[zcacogp]

I think it is the hartech buying guide which speaks of 944's needing an expensive 'birthday' to re-furbish a number of parts, all of which seem to fail at around the same point (15-18 years old.) Brake calipers, fuel lines, clutch, cam chain (and possibly shafts) are all included in this ...

Once done, the replacement parts should last another 15-18 years or so, so it should put you in a good position for the future.

(I am quaking at the prospect of a new clutch at the moment. My existing one is fine, but it's original at 135k miles, and I suspect it will be the next big bill!)


Oli.

 

[edh]

could be a lot worse...and it will run well after all these are done

What's the main cost on that £1300? - most of those things look relatively cheap? (unless they are dropping the rear suspension to get at the fuel line)

I'd be interested in their cost for the calipers - and how that compares with sending them away for a refurb.

Is there any reason you think it might need a new clutch? (apart from it being one of the more expensive jobs on the car)

 

[Robbo149]

Hi Ed,

the initial cost for servicing & belts was around £600, I would imagine a caliper refurb isn't cheap, & I guess the other 'little' jobs just add up! I'll let you know the individual costs when I get my bill.

The clutch is partly paranoia as it's such an expensive job, but I've noticed once or twice a slight judder when pulling away. Seems better if I use more revs?

Cheers,
Robbo

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Check whether they're doing the oil seals whilst they're changing belts, rollers etc. I didn't and had to have the belts done again after 18 months as the oil leak was contaminating them. Also water pump - for the price of the part now it's an expensive job if it were to go in the next year or two.

With all four calipers at over £100 each, plus all the odds and sods, it doesn't sound that expensive.... []

 

[edh]

Oh I see - £1300 including servicing & belts - that's not too bad at all really....

You'll get a car with a better gearchange, better brakes, it'll run better, and you'll have already addressed one of the achilles heels - caliper plate lift.

I've never had a clutch go on me (ever), so I may not be the best person to comment - I had a 924S that occasionally juddered (maily when it was damp it seemed). It had always had a fairly high bite in the 18 months I owned it. The next owner was planning to swap the clutch, but still hadn't got round to it a year later when he wrote it off on a concrete bollard on the way to Le Mans[] (at very low speed, but given the value of a 924S it doesn't take much...)

 

[edh]

Good point Paul

I had to do the belts / seals on the 924S a month after the previous owner had done them [8|] (and instructed the garage NOT to do the oil seals, even though they were leaking [])

He had cleaned up the mess very nicely - the undertray was spotless viewed from above - until you got about 6 inches from the front. I didn't remove the tray when I looked at the car, just peered down the front of the engine to look for signs of leaks. It wasn't until a week later when I noticed oil dripping from the bottom of the front covers that I discovered the problem. Having said all that, the car was in great condition apart from that, and turned out to be a great buy.

I've had the belts done on all of my 924/944's just after I've bought them - It's great for peace of mind over the subsequent couple of years

 

[Robbo149]

Got it back last night - final bill £1600!

A couple of extra bits not listed previously: They've replaced all the belts including PAS & alternator, pulleys/tensioners, oil pump drive?, oil seals, replaced a leaking seal in a cooling pipe elbow, flushed the cooling system, replaced part of the gear linkage (£100 part). Probably a couple of other bits I've forgotten too.

It now feels so much smoother & a lot livlier, pulls a lot harder, the gear change is now silky smooth & the brakes work!

I'm still convinced it's going to need a new clutch at some point though. I'm getting a bit of judder, but it only seems to be happening when the car has been driven then stood for a few minutes, then when I pull away that's when I get the judder. It's fine when cold & only does it for the first couple of stop-starts after it's been driven then stood a while?!

Cheers,
Robbo

 

[Diver944]

ORIGINAL: Robbo149

I'm getting a bit of judder, but it only seems to be happening when the car has been driven then stood for a few minutes, then when I pull away that's when I get the judder.

Mine has been like that for the past 8 years and 80k miles so you might be lucky. Every year for the past few years I have said at service time 'check the clutch I'm expecting I need a new one soon', but every time they say it's still okay. I suppose at some point it will just break and leave me (or the Mrs ) stranded [].

It gets worse in heavy congestion, stop start traffic through a town centre when it has a chance to get hot, but otherwise it is fine.

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: Diver944
It gets worse in heavy congestion, stop start traffic through a town centre when it has a chance to get hot, but otherwise it is fine.

My symptoms precisely. Been like that (probably) since I bought it ...

I'll offer you a sweepstake on which one goes first. First to fail can claim a pint from the other owner ....


Oli.