Hey everyone,

I am in need of a car again and I found a Mark VIII for 950.00. Guy says runs fine, airbags go low overnight but car raises back up when started.

Is the airbag thing a major issue? Car also has 190K miles.

Is it worth it,

Thanks in advance.

Here is the Ad:

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/ctd/1002225601.html

If you have tools and know how to work on cars that car could be made to be driveable, but I would be ready to dump $1000 in repairs in the first 6 months of ownership.

As far as the air ride, if it goes down like that it might pump back up, for while, but one day it won't. I would decide now if you want to keep it air ride or convert to coils if you buy it and either do the conversion or fix the bags right after buying it.

I would probably do Coils, My 94' had them and I liked it.

Things I would do myself are fluid changes, tune-up, filters, etc.

BTW, what is the price difference of replacing bags vs. coil spring swap?

Thanks for your quick response.

If you have the spare cash to do the repairs I'd go for it.... but if you are strapped for cash I would not.

Ok cool.

Added the second part late

But what is the difference price wise: air bag replacement vs. coil spring swap?

About a $100 more to stay air.

If that's the case I would definately go coil, that way I wouldn't have to worry about them for a long while.

Any idea of total cost of coil's plus labor?

I'll update after I test drive it and thanks for all the quick responses.

Mike

100 bucks difference and you're gonna switch to rough riding coils?

Wow...

Keep the air. You're looking at an extra hundred bucks and the air will outlast the coils. It's lasted 15 years on that car.

100 bucks difference and you're gonna switch to rough riding coils?

Wow...

Keep the air. You're looking at an extra hundred bucks and the air will outlast the coils. It's lasted 15 years on that car.

Do you happen to know the total cost by chance parts+labor?

Thanks.

I also had one other question: He said all four go low overnight, is that the airbags, compressor, or?

Here's the place to go for parts air or coils.

American Air Suspension (http://www.americanairsuspension.com/cart/products.php?cat=3)

My crystal ball is in the shop getting a tune-up, so I don't know what parts and labor will cost. I saw a thread earlier where max quoted new OEM bag prices.

But if it's dropping overnight, it's the bags (or soleniods, but that's rare). And chances are, only the front bags are bad.

And if you can do oil changes and tune-ups you can do the bags. It's really not that hard.

My crystal ball is in the shop getting a tune-up, so I don't know what parts and labor will cost. I saw a thread earlier where max quoted new OEM bag prices.

But if it's dropping overnight, it's the bags (or soleniods, but that's rare). And chances are, only the front bags are bad.

And if you can do oil changes and tune-ups you can do the bags. It's really not that hard.


That's good to know that it's not that hard. Would definately save me some mullah.

Keep the air ride, ive had both and coils suck. Not to mention you can trick out the air ride to do neat things and it already does cool stuff on its own. It lasts for a very long time.

If you want prices - go to www.google.com and type in mark viii air suspension parts, i recommend getting pieces from american air suspensions, or you could look right on this very website and theres a shatload of advertisments littered everywhere for the air bags.

I wouldnt even think of having a shop touch the car, with some handtools and a jack the bags are not that difficult to change in the driveway.

If you are not or cannot able to work on cars shop price would be a little up there as labor is almost 80+ dollars an hour in some places....if i had to guess, i'd say coil springs would cost more if doing the swap at a shop because then you might remove other parts of the system and its more of a custom instead of a replacement part (in thier eyes) even though its just as easy.

Don't buy that car if you can't do simple wrenching on your own....

I love coils over bags. My car handles better. Still need that rear Addco bar.

You don't need Addco bars until you ad sub frame connectors...

Go Cardinals!!!!!!!

i would try and low ball the guy first

If I were to ever buy another Mark VIII I would NEVER do the coil swap again! The air rides 10x better.

If I were to ever buy another Mark VIII I would NEVER do the coil swap again! The air rides 10x better.

Are you serious????

With respect to RedCell, a properly equipped Air Ride Mark VIII will outhandle a coil converted MArk VIII.

If you didn't want air ride why not just buy a Thunderbird?

Don't buy that car if you can't do simple wrenching on your own....

I can do alot of the work on my cars but have never touched suspension. Just assumed it was a tough job.

Go Cardinals!!!!!!!

Yes, go Cards:headbang:

If you didn't want air ride why not just buy a Thunderbird?

I can think of 16 more reasons why to buy a coiled mark over a bird. And a motor that doesnt have bb with little over 100k.

To put in coils or swap out the front struts you will only need simple hand tools... the only specialty tool would be a pickle fork, they run about $10 at the auto parts store for a cheapy.

To put in coils or swap out the front struts you will only need simple hand tools... the only specialty tool would be a pickle fork, they run about $10 at the auto parts store for a cheapy.

I'll update whether or not I buy the car. The only thing that's scaring me is the 190K Miles.

Meh.... trans $300 used... motor should be fine up to 300k if it was maintained and you don't drive it like a pissed off teenager... XRLVIII a member here drove his 95 up to 405k when it was stolen.

I have been looking at this car as well, LT1 Caprice with 165K, 55K on the tranny w/ a few extras. 2000.00

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee249/azfordf100man/3n93o63p21201371g691e798fafc9d80911.jpg

Just for the heck of it, here is my Mark VIII that I miss dearly.

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee249/azfordf100man/IMG_0498.jpg

Had an awesome Exhaust too:

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee249/azfordf100man/th_MVI_0440.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee249/azfordf100man/?action=view&current=MVI_0440.flv)

I'll update whether or not I buy the car. The only thing that's scaring me is the 190K Miles.
My old 93 has 219,000 on it & it's been getting flogged for 5 years. my brother has it now & it still runs like a champ, of course it looks like sh!t on wheels.

Well, I didn't buy the 93', but.......... I am back in the Mark VIII club.

Picked up a torreador red 97' with only 83K miles, very clean for 2000.00.

Only thing I noticed was one of the HID's is burnt out..... yikes.

Otherwise, very nice car and I will post pics soon.

Thanks for all the help.

Mike

Not bad!

Shoot Mafioso a pm... he can hook you up with a kit to fix those discontinued HID's.

Kid isn't it past your bedtime. :D

Just got home!

Why the hell are you up?

Just got home!

Why the hell are you up?

Couldn't sleep. :D

lols... me neither!

Here's a couple of pics, car is pretty dirty:

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee249/azfordf100man/IMG_0672.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee249/azfordf100man/IMG_0673.jpg

Damn, at first glance I thought that was a Grand Marquis! The wheels & the fender trim really F^ct me up.

Eventually I will probably remove the fender trim but the wheels will have to wait for a while.

looks good!

fender trim needs to go bye bye

Looks good for 2 grand!

The more and more I look at the fender trim, the more I hate it. Gonna have to do something about it soon.

I like those meshies!

With respect to RedCell, a properly equipped Air Ride Mark VIII will outhandle a coil converted MArk VIII.

and out autocross a 68 corvette..dont ask how I know this..haha

I can do alot of the work on my cars but have never touched suspension. Just assumed it was a tough job.

Very easy.. it won't take more than an hour a bag for your first time. Otherwise 30 min... So don't worry...

I'll update whether or not I buy the car. The only thing that's scaring me is the 190K Miles.

I've got a 93 Mark VIII with 226,000 miles and it's a great runner. If you want a Mark VIII and can do your one work, and want to get one below $1,000 the miles are not a problem... what you need to do is make sure your typical used car issues are looked into.. leaking oil, tranny function.. etc...

Kid isn't it past your bedtime. :D

Pepps you were long gone before the Kid went night night at the beach party LOL

bbs wheels = fail

panthermike,
I hope those fender trims are the "Lee Press-on nails" kind..
hopefully they aren't screw/riveted.
I agree.. remove them!

I dont like the bbs style wheels either, not on that particular car.
The bbs wheels did look good on the mark 7's.

Are you gonna try and find some chrome 10 spokes for it? (shameless plug)

I hope the fenders aren't riveted either. Not a big fan of the wheels but they'll have to wait. Not sure yet what kind of wheels I'll go with.

If you ever ditch those wheels I might be interested... keep me in mind :D

I will:Beer