Bad neon brakelight on a gen2 and "how much would you offer" questions

[MediumD]

I looked at a gen 2 on Thursday, considering picking it up if I can talk them down from the $4400 they want to something reasonable. It's a silver 97 base with a few problems like the front bags leak, the windshield is cracked, and it made a pretty decent oil cloud on startup but stopped smoking within a few seconds (seems like valvestem seals?)

Anyway the main issue is the neon brakelight. I brought my mother along and had her look, she says it didn't light up when I hit the brakes. It looks weird, as if there's a reflector and a lens but nothing in between (is the whole assembly just a neon filled bulb or what? The reflective surface on the back had some weird black spots on it, maybe as if water had entered somehow?

So gen 2 guys, what's the deal? If I picked this car up what would I have to repair/replace to get the light to work? What would you offer on a 97 base with the aforementioned problems and 117k mi? (I might drop by today when they're closed and snap a few pics.)

 

[chicken]

sounds like water got into the assy, last i heard is ford discontinued the assy thats ok cuz its upwards of $800!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! there is a guy on the "other" markviii site known as "glitch" he makes replacement balast and bulbs for a reasonable price, someone will chime in with more info. with all the probs i think you should be able to get the price way down, just tell them how much it will cost to make it road worthy

 

[1wykdmk8]

Here is the info that chickenboy was referring to.......

 

[chicken]

i figured you would be the one to post it

 

[1wykdmk8]

:shifty: You know it.....

 

[jerryjfunk]

Wouldn't you rather spend $800 more and get a '98 LSC with 105K miles and headlights and taillights that work? Of course, you'd have to pick it up in Staten Island.

I'm just sayin'...

 

[MediumD]

So I guess moisture has gotten in there and killed the ballast?

The HIDs on this 97 work fine. jerryjfunk, meet me in Ohio and you have a deal Nah seriously I picked my ETC up from Hartford, CT, and I swore I'm NEVER going more than 2 states away for a car again. Of course I'd love a 98 LSC since 98 is the last year and has the one way clutch "fixed," but it's hard to find a nice looking gen 2 here. I decided I want a gen 2 or 96 LSC, and 96 LSCs are even harder to find, so this 97 base will suit me fine. The small performance improvements on an LSC don't matter if I'm going with gears/stall/spray.

I've got a guy who's going to carfax it for me since he has an account, carfax doesn't show everything but it doesn't hurt to run one anyway.

Anyway, here are some pics I just took if some of you want to tell me what you think I should offer. The chrome on the nose is messed up, the rest of it and the paint is in excellent shape though:

 

[98MK8]

I'd look around a little bit more if I was you. That's alot of problems. Or if you have a nice shop with cement floor, a lift, tools, and some mechanical knowledge you can harp him Waaaaaaaaay down on the price and fix it up. Otherwise that sounds like alot of money you gotta put into it. I think you have to pull the motor to get the heads off if it's a valve stem seal, actually i thought i read somewhere in order to just get the valve cover off you have to remove the motor. JMO.

 

[MediumD]

I don't have a lift but I do have the capability of fixing just about any problem a car can throw at me. Last summer I separated and transferred my Eldorado's engine, trans, and everything else from a bent subframe to another one. I don't do glass, but I'm friends with the owner of a chain of glass shops so that's covered.

No way I'm paying 4400 for that car, but I don't really know how much I should offer. Probably nothing over 3k.

 

[chris]

If you do get it you have to $hitcan that awful pinstripe. JMHO Good luck with the hunt.

 

[MediumD]

Aww I actually kinda like the pinstripes. It's the chrome fender trim I'm questioning. If it were any color but silver it would be gone ASAP but I don't mind it.

BTW, if anyone needs a free AutoCheck (carfax knockoff) use this link and replace the X's with your vin:
http://fostermotors.earthcars.net/c...id=koonscollegeparkford&vin=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[tda13]

I would not give 4400 for the car. I bought my 97 LSC for 4000 and it looks good, works good and runs real good.... new tires to boot.

 

[04SSHD]

should have bought mine a few months ago. It sold for $3000 and had working HID's, 107k miles, and was in alot better shape than that one. And was in So. Cal, not too far from NM

 

[MediumD]

Yeah, there's no way I'll pay 4400 for it. Tomorrow if I can I'm going to offer somewhere in the mid 2000s and see where it goes from there.

Once again, the HIDs on this car are fine...