924S - Gearbox and central locking questions

[SianB]

I'm currently looking at buying a 924S and think I'm almost there! Thanks to everyone who answered my power steering questions last week.
I've test driven a car which I'm really keen on, however there is a whirring noise from the gearbox in all gears directly relational to road speed. I've been told by a few independent specialists that a new gearbox is needed - Has anyone else experienced this? Does it need the new gearbox straight away, or dependant on putting up with the noise can I continue to run it? Will it get alot worse?
Also, I need to have a Cat 1 alarm & immobiliser fitted and the car doesn't have central locking, is this just a matter of fitting a pair of solenoids or is it more complex?

Any advice gratefully received.
Sian

[domster]

Gearbox problems can't be diagnosed online easily. They may be serious or they may be minor, but more often than not they are expensive... your g'box may suddenly break on you or it may go on for years... who knows? Luckily, replacement boxes in breakers for the 924 should be available and relatively cheap (but still 200-300 GBP at a guess). I'd budget at least 500-700 GBP on the box issue.

Cat 1 and central locking is pretty easy. Solenoids can be added and a cat 1 alarm just wired in. But budget 150 GBP for the central locking and 350 GBP for the alarm.

I have to say that spending all this money (inc power steering stuff) on a 924 is a bit silly as you will be spending over a grand on a car only worth a grand or so. And you won't get it back.

If you love this vehicle, fine, but common sense should be nudging you towards a more suitable vehicle. You may find 944s with the bits on you need from about 3k.

Hope this helps
Dom

[SianB]

Dom,

Thanks for your reply. This is a different car to the one without PAS- I should have said earlier, I've decided after everyone's advice against that one.

This one is still the 924S with the 2.5 litre 150 bhp engine from the 944 rather than the 2 litre VW/Audi engined 924, and I'd rather have the best of these than a leggy 944. One day I'll get a 968CS :-)

I've budgeted on a grand for the gearbox work, which I could do straight away, just wondered if it necessarily needed to be done immediately.

Again with the alarm and solenoids its roughly what I thought, just wanted to check it wasn't going to be too complex a job!

[domster]

SianB said:

Dom, Thanks for your reply. This is a different car to the one without PAS- I should have said earlier, I've decided after everyone's advice against that one. This one is still the 924S with the 2.5 litre 150 bhp engine from the 944 rather than the 2 litre VW/Audi engined 924, and I'd rather have the best of these than a leggy 944. One day I'll get a 968CS :-) I've budgeted on a grand for the gearbox work, which I could do straight away, just wondered if it necessarily needed to be done immediately. Again with the alarm and solenoids its roughly what I thought, just wanted to check it wasn't going to be too complex a job!

alarm and solenoids easy for any hi-fi/alarm fitter

gearbox could be urgent; very difficult to say - it may cost less than a grand if you're lucky

[diver944]

There could be a VERY slim outside chance that it just needs fresh gearbox oil (or the existing oil has all leaked out A lot of people have had good results using Swepco gear oil from www.berlyn-services.co.uk

It's surprising the number of 924/944 owners who dont change their gear oil regularly

[iguana]

Interested to know what sort of ££ you are thinking of for a nice 924s, as to me a leggy 944 lux is a £500ish car, not like you have to search too hard for them either & yes a later 924s (ie 160 bhp not 150bhp) is pretty much the same car under the skin as a 944lux but a 944 is still a lot more desireable. Mint 924s surely can't crack the £2k barrier anymore?

Noisy 944 boxs can go on for ages tho before they die, my S2 was noisy for a good 20k, just got noiser!

If its cheap enough, go for it but it really has got to be flippin' cheap to have with a noisy box.