Advice on a 355 GTS I found

stop guessing on the cel you must pull codes so you know for sure.

I have gutted cats and have no cel.

 

Easy stuff to work through except for the crank seal.

 

The codes were pulled - the PPI says CEL on for Catalyst left and right due to being below threshold central cat ECU failure due to the Capristo bypass valve.

Crank seal is super minor he said. Not even dripping. He said no reason to do anything with that yet.

Does that make sense?

 

Yes that does make sense. Often, seals will "seep" a very slight amount of oil, or it could be the grease that comes with a new seal melting and weeping out. If you were to inspect any 2 year old vehicle closely you would find at least 1 or 2 seals doing this. To me, a dripping seal is one that needs attention.

 

Does that CEL make sense? What's the best way to solve that?

 

There is lots to learn on that and voluminous info on here about it. It may need new cats, possibly fixed with minicat extenders. Not a deal killer imo.

 

The cat's... not as simple as "just unplug the battery for 2 minutes and it will reset". Run some searches, I have seen some interesting threads on that one with 355's. Solvable for certain yes, and not a deal beaker no exactly as John says but to be clear.... expect aggravation.

 

The seller will currently take 73k. Based on the info I've provided, good deal or bad deal?

 

Have you seen the car yet? I mean, in-person? No way I'd spend that kind of money sight-unseen on the car "with needs".

Based on what you've said already, it sounds like an example of deferred maintenance to me.

 

Is that a virtual dealer? In other words, are you able to communicate with the actual owner/seller and verify it's location?

Here's the VIN (from the BaT ad) for future reference - ZFFXR72A5V0107930

 

Times are tough, market is down, it is what it is, go in with lower offer.

 

Dealer hasn't seen the car. Seller lives in Germany now. Communication is through the broker who talks to the seller's realtor who then talks to the seller in Germany.

The vin from BAT is off by a digit. The one I sent is correct.

 

Sounds really phishy to me. Can you repost the VIN, I didn't see it earlier.

I didn't think it would be possible for BaT to misidentify the VIN.

 

ZFFXR42A5VO107930 is the actual vin. When I ran the one with 72 in it doesn't find anything.

The odd thing is that in the BAT auction they show the carfax and it shows like 15 records. When you run it now, it shows 1. The records disappeared.

 

The vin with 42 is also shown in the image of the carfax on the old BAT auction. It's just a typo in the description section.

 

Thread Post------ ZFFXR42A5VO107930
Wades-------------- ZFFXR72A5V0107930

 

Currently on eBay as well.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/254608120991

Still, I'd go and look at it first.

Considering that the AutoCheck states only three owners it certainly has been around.

 

Figured out the carfax issue! The broker ran it with a O instead of an 0. Found all records on Cardax now.

 

Not sure how many 97, Red, 355 GTS, manual gb, with CD Apline stereos of the same model are out there, its the same car I think.

 

Here's the AutoCheck history from the eBay ad.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Yea, I fixed the carfax. Also clean there and follows the 30 pages of records the car has as well.

 

He also said 73k is as low as they'll go or it's being shipped to him in Germany

 

Ahhh yes... the old creating urgency bit.

 

All of this really depends on what you’re willing to put up with after you buy a 20+ year old car. If you dig it - go for it. Make sure you have a good shop and tech that will take care of issues that will arise. F360 F430 are less of a headache to deal with for these reasons... I would not buy unseen though...


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I had interest in this car as well but decided to pass


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