Buying used 240sx - I NEED HELP! - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

XxDriverxX · 02-22-2002, 03:24 PM

Hi everybody.

I recently had a person from my class offer to sell me his car, it's a 1992 240sx SE, with 220,000km on the engine.  It has a small hit on the back bumper, a few rust spots, but nothing to big.  It's fully loaded with leather interior and a sunroof. 4 wheel steering with spoiler.  The inside is very clean.

I took it for a drive, I noticed that the engine jumps up a couple of time before it stars.  Is that a big problem?  All i need to saftey it is new tires. He's willing to throw in good condition used tires, which makes the car a total of $2000 Canadian.  Thats around $US1600.

What should I be carefull of when buying a 240sx?  The only think thats scaring me is the 220,000KM on the engine, other than that, am I safe?  What advice can you all give me when I go see it again? What can I check? What should I ask?

Thanks all in advanced..

Yoshi · 02-22-2002, 03:48 PM

If I were you, I wouldn't treat this any differently than buying any used car.  If you're really serious about it, take it to a reputable mechanic (if you don't know one, ask friend and family, someone will know).

You said you were buying it from someone in your "class", how old are you?  If you're still in high school I'd guess that your income isn't as high as you'd like (and I apologize now if that's incorrect), I ask because of the engine mileage.  The price seems about right for the car, but the miles/km are leaning toward the scary side.  Do you plan to do an engine swap or a rebuild?  Chances are, a car with that many miles will need a rebuild or replacement sooner than later.  If that's the case, know that you'll be spending at least 1k (ballpark US $) to have that done.

On the plus side, you mentioned that it's an SE, you mentioned 4wheel steering (HICAS), which means there's a 90% chance you also have a VLSD and ABS with the car.  the VLSD is a huge plus if it has one, and if that were the case, it would be worth buying the car for the parts alone  (ie, if you parted out the car, you'd get way more than $1600US for it).

The extra tires is a plus, tho not really that big a deal.  Take it to a mechanic you trust.  Not a friend, not a family member that "knows a lot about cars".  Take it to a trusted and liscensed mechanic, then decide if it's the investment for you.

XxDriverxX · 02-22-2002, 04:07 PM

Hi..

thanks for the advice bro..

Yeah I am in highschool, and yeah, it does have ABS.. And yeah, I do have money, but I dont want to waste it all on a car. This will bemy first car if I get it, and I'm really nervous about the milage. I'm taking it to a mechanic for sure, you can count on that <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

I also read this on MSN-Carpoint:

"These cars have a timing chain that has a tendacy to break with high milage. If that happens, you're looking at $2,200 or so to fix it. I had it happen on an '89 that I owned at it was pretty much ruined. On my '92 one of the guides broke and Nissan informed the mechanic to not replace the guide because it wasn't worth it and the mechanic told me if it starts rattling to sell it before the timing chain breaks. "

What is that all about? I dont really understand it. Can someone help me with it? How can I spot it out on this car..?

Also.. If I do end up requiring another engine, or a rebuild, how easy is that, and how expensive is it, i mean, rebuild vs. new engine?

Any advice and tips will be greatly appriciated. Thankyou all <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

(Edited by XxDriverxX at 4<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>9 pm on Feb. 22, 2002)

DuffMan · 02-22-2002, 04:35 PM

Um, no a timing chain will not break. It can jump teeth if the  tensioners are sticking, and things get bad enough.

XxDriverxX · 02-22-2002, 07:47 PM

Any more tips?

lazical · 02-22-2002, 07:59 PM

If you're buying the car and planning on rebuilding the engine, I can tell you from experience that it's not worth it. I had my SOHC engine rebuilt, guess how much it cost? $1875.23 US. That's right. The mechanic said that any other engine rebuild would cost about half that price. Our engines must be "special" or something. Either way, I'd save your money and invest in another 240sx with less miles.

mbmbmb23 · 02-22-2002, 09:36 PM

Why rebuild the SOHC, just swap in a rebuilt DOHC.  Get one for cheap, and slowly rebuild it in your garage when you get money.

m

XxDriverxX · 02-23-2002, 01:36 PM

so overall.. I should get it?  Even if it blows up onme, the parts might be worth it?

XxDriverxX · 02-26-2002, 03:35 PM

I bought it!!!! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

My mechanic says it just needsasmall tune up, nothing big.. Wish me luck all!

thanks

02-22-2002, 03:24 PM	#1
XxDriverxX Leaky Injector Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Ottawa, Canada. Age: 41 Posts: 122 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Hi everybody. I recently had a person from my class offer to sell me his car, it's a 1992 240sx SE, with 220,000km on the engine.  It has a small hit on the back bumper, a few rust spots, but nothing to big.  It's fully loaded with leather interior and a sunroof. 4 wheel steering with spoiler.  The inside is very clean. I took it for a drive, I noticed that the engine jumps up a couple of time before it stars.  Is that a big problem?  All i need to saftey it is new tires. He's willing to throw in good condition used tires, which makes the car a total of $2000 Canadian.  Thats around $US1600. What should I be carefull of when buying a 240sx?  The only think thats scaring me is the 220,000KM on the engine, other than that, am I safe?  What advice can you all give me when I go see it again? What can I check? What should I ask? Thanks all in advanced..

02-22-2002, 03:48 PM	#2
Yoshi Post Whore! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Washington Age: 47 Posts: 3,003 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: Yoshi Feedback Score: 1 reviews	If I were you, I wouldn't treat this any differently than buying any used car.  If you're really serious about it, take it to a reputable mechanic (if you don't know one, ask friend and family, someone will know). You said you were buying it from someone in your "class", how old are you?  If you're still in high school I'd guess that your income isn't as high as you'd like (and I apologize now if that's incorrect), I ask because of the engine mileage.  The price seems about right for the car, but the miles/km are leaning toward the scary side.  Do you plan to do an engine swap or a rebuild?  Chances are, a car with that many miles will need a rebuild or replacement sooner than later.  If that's the case, know that you'll be spending at least 1k (ballpark US $) to have that done. On the plus side, you mentioned that it's an SE, you mentioned 4wheel steering (HICAS), which means there's a 90% chance you also have a VLSD and ABS with the car.  the VLSD is a huge plus if it has one, and if that were the case, it would be worth buying the car for the parts alone  (ie, if you parted out the car, you'd get way more than $1600US for it). The extra tires is a plus, tho not really that big a deal.  Take it to a mechanic you trust.  Not a friend, not a family member that "knows a lot about cars".  Take it to a trusted and liscensed mechanic, then decide if it's the investment for you.

02-22-2002, 04:07 PM	#3
XxDriverxX Leaky Injector Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Ottawa, Canada. Age: 41 Posts: 122 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Hi.. thanks for the advice bro.. Yeah I am in highschool, and yeah, it does have ABS.. And yeah, I do have money, but I dont want to waste it all on a car. This will bemy first car if I get it, and I'm really nervous about the milage. I'm taking it to a mechanic for sure, you can count on that <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> I also read this on MSN-Carpoint: "These cars have a timing chain that has a tendacy to break with high milage. If that happens, you're looking at $2,200 or so to fix it. I had it happen on an '89 that I owned at it was pretty much ruined. On my '92 one of the guides broke and Nissan informed the mechanic to not replace the guide because it wasn't worth it and the mechanic told me if it starts rattling to sell it before the timing chain breaks. " What is that all about? I dont really understand it. Can someone help me with it? How can I spot it out on this car..? Also.. If I do end up requiring another engine, or a rebuild, how easy is that, and how expensive is it, i mean, rebuild vs. new engine? Any advice and tips will be greatly appriciated. Thankyou all <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> (Edited by XxDriverxX at 4<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>9 pm on Feb. 22, 2002)

02-22-2002, 04:35 PM	#4
DuffMan Post Whore! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: in a cardboard box Posts: 2,517 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Um, no a timing chain will not break. It can jump teeth if the  tensioners are sticking, and things get bad enough.

02-22-2002, 07:47 PM	#5
XxDriverxX Leaky Injector Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Ottawa, Canada. Age: 41 Posts: 122 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Any more tips?

02-22-2002, 07:59 PM	#6
lazical Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 16 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	If you're buying the car and planning on rebuilding the engine, I can tell you from experience that it's not worth it. I had my SOHC engine rebuilt, guess how much it cost? $1875.23 US. That's right. The mechanic said that any other engine rebuild would cost about half that price. Our engines must be "special" or something. Either way, I'd save your money and invest in another 240sx with less miles.

02-22-2002, 09:36 PM	#7
mbmbmb23 Zilvia Contributor Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Charlotte, NC. Posts: 1,776 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: mbmbmb23 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Why rebuild the SOHC, just swap in a rebuilt DOHC.  Get one for cheap, and slowly rebuild it in your garage when you get money. m

02-23-2002, 01:36 PM	#8
XxDriverxX Leaky Injector Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Ottawa, Canada. Age: 41 Posts: 122 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	so overall.. I should get it?  Even if it blows up onme, the parts might be worth it?

02-26-2002, 03:35 PM	#9
XxDriverxX Leaky Injector Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Ottawa, Canada. Age: 41 Posts: 122 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I bought it!!!! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> My mechanic says it just needsasmall tune up, nothing big.. Wish me luck all! thanks