I've just put a deposit down on an imported '90 300TT auto - now nervously awaiting the RAC report!

 

Everything appeared ok. No smoke of any description came from the exhaust, (engine hot or cold) the gearbox felt seamless and although the steering felt ok to me apparently the garage is going to change a couple of bushes anyway! The only thing that I picked up on was the exhaust note; how intrusive should stock pipes be? I mean it sounded great but I thought maybe it might be blowing somewhere – I guess the RAC will find out.

 

I managed to get the garage to include a Clifford alarm/immobiliser in the price and a cam belt change so I was reasonably pleased with the deal but they wouldn’t wear an additional cooler for the ‘box and they want an extra £100 if I decide I want a turbo timer linked to the Clifford system (the car already has a timer fitted but it will not be compatible with the new alarm)

 

So anyway, RAC check permitting, I hope I will soon have a dazzling black Z on my drive. The only questions I have are;

 

1. Should I get the turbo timer fitted?

2. How much should I pay to have the gearbox cooler fitted?

3. Should I change to mobil 1 immediately? (the garage has already performed a service!)

 

Cheers everyone!

 

 

1. Why not if you want it. Be aware that most turbo timers reduce the Thacham Alarm category from 1 to 2. Check with the fitter.

 

2. ?

 

3. Change to Synthetic Oil as soon as you can. Most people opt for Mobil 1 although there a other good oils out there.

 

A "stock" exhust should not sound load at all. In fact the car was always put down for having an exhuast that was too quite. You must have a hole or non-stock exhaust / no-cats.

 

Where are you based?

 

Good luck.

 

Thanks for your comments Jez.

 

If the RAC find any 'minor' faults the dealer says they will rectify FOC so hopefully this will include the exhaust! Anything major and I get my deposit back.

 

I'm based in West Wiltshire.

 

My pennies worth :

 

1) I definitely would. Having said that, if you drive the last 2 miles of every journey without positive boost, you don't need it.

 

2) I think the SE cooler is around £500 ish.

 

3) Definitely go for synthetic. Personally I run Castrol RS. Some people will swear that their oil is best - personally, I haven't run separate Z engines from new on a variety of oils and then stripped them down. I doubt anyone has - so just go for your personal preference (but probably wise to stick with the big names). And, hey, hot exhaust gases smell so much nicer when you run synthetic !

 

On the exhaust front, it sounds as though there's something up. I'd recommend getting a discount rather than a repair to the standard exhaust - one of the first things you'll want is a nice exhaust.

 

Welcome to 300 ownership ...

 

Dave

 

 

i'm probably going to be villified for this but speaking from past times with various machines i would shy away from a fully synthectic oil unless your car has less than twenty thousand miles or has been built in the last six years. synthetic is good yes but the 300 engine was never designed with this oil in mind. have you seen mobil 1 when its changed its like water and an engine like this is built with tolerances for expansion within the chambers etc but with an oil this thin its not good.

 

Tooley. Go on to twinturbo.net and try a search for Mobil 1 or Synthetic, you will find 100s of posts to change your mind.

 

 

Correction - the SE auto oil cooler is £249 + £49 fitting (based on latest catalogue).

 

Dave