If you have seen my other recent post, you know I have a 745 with some gremlin. That car is run by my daughter and she needs something more reliable. Frankly I just can't spend more time with it.
So I found 945 in the next town. It has 197Kmiles. Want $1500, seemed firm when I tried to negotiate down.
Good: No rust, engine starts and pulls fine, seems a bit underpowered, but hard to tell as I don't usually drive the 8v, auto cars. Tranny shifts fine. No looseness in front end.
BAD: Exhaust gone, front muffler has big hole. Rt. front turn lens gone, no low beams (highs OK), tailgate will not latch, but works by hand, no intermittent wipers, no wiper upon wash cycle, rt. rear window will not go up last inch.
Has code 123 (ECT sensor, what's that?) from socket 2 (ignition), code 224 (coolant sensor signal) from 6 (LH fuel system),
Missing 2 hubcaps.
What should I be worried about here? I have no experience with the 940, although obviously simaliar to the 740.
Anything I should check in particuliar?

Sounds like a great $700 car-- at that rate you could hang a cat-back exhaust (~$250) and a new coolant temp sensor ($40) and intake manifold gasket and spend a weekend at pick-and-pulls getting parts and another weekend installing them (front turn lens, the headlight relay, tailgate latch assembly, intermittent wiper relay, rt rear window regulator and hubcaps-- $100-200 for everything at a good pick-and-pull).

Do you have safety and emissions tests where you are? That can add unexpected expense-- ball joints, tie rod ends, brakes, etc., or an 02 sensor or cat...

Does the AC work?

At 197K miles, I'd want to see it up on a lift. I've had my share of surprises with my 210K mi '92-- I'm in the rust belt and although the body is good, the hard lines on the power steering, the brake backing plates and the oil pan all rusted out.

Good luck!

I would pass on this one:

BAD: Exhaust gone, front muffler has big hole. $150 at least

Rt. front turn lens gone, $60
no low beams (highs OK), - could be anything - needs to be fixed before driving
tailgate will not latch, but works by hand, new latch $50 +
no intermittent wipers, no wiper upon wash cycle, - new switch ?
rt. rear window will not go up last inch. ???

Then:
Has code 123 (ECT sensor, what's that?) from socket 2 (ignition), code 224 (coolant sensor signal) from 6 (LH fuel system),

Sounds like a nightmare. (bad wiring harness)

Overall it appears that this car is neglected and abused. I would keep looking.

too much money for the problems you can see.
how much more for the problems you can't?

Thanks guys, you're right. I think Herb may be closest to my idea. I would be willing to do the work, but I have to get the car cheap, and the question is, do I have the time to do that stuff now? Just got 12" snow, so things got a little less easy to do.
Have looked at a 940 Turbo, see my next post, advice welcome as always.
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84 242Ti IPD bars&springs, 89 745 16v M46 IPD bars, 89 744 16v M46 IPD bars, 90 745 AW70, 91 245SE AW70 IPD bars, 93 245 CLassic M47