Help on a 1991 420SEL that I'm looking at buying. The car has 158,000 miles on it. The paint and body is 8/10. The interior is 8/10. the engine?
They are asking $1,500 knowing the car will not pass smog. I had a California pre-smog test done so I could get and idea has to what the problem might be. All levels way too high gross polluter.
The HC,CO and NO way way high and the timing was set at 12 degree's after top dead center when it is suppose to be 12 degree's before top dead center.
The smog shop said it needs O'2 sensor and Cat Converter. The shop estimate was for $2,000. I can get than done for cheap so not too worried about these items. What concerns me is why would someone set there timing so far off. Everything in the car works just like it did when it was new. I'm wondering if someone tried to change out the rails and timing chain and got things screwed up and there fix was to adjust the timing. The car doesn't really smoke at all. The car is a donated car and the charity is trying to sell it and I offered them $900 reluctantly and they came back at $1000. It has new brakes and the tires are decent, needs shocks for sure. So is this project worth it or just run from it.