Good discussion on the NorthStar engine. Data always seems to point to stay away if you are on any kind of budget. I see a 2005 Bonneville GXP on CL for $3500 and 185k miles earlier today. Made me think it was repaired years ago, but after reading this thread; any Northstar over 100k seems like a high risk with no a matching reward for the risk.

Its something that is a nightmare to work on well unless you have a lift in the back yard
and willing to drop the engine & trans out to work on it.
Take it on a long trip and have some thing simple as the starter go out
with a tow and cost to remove & replace is right at $700 $200 for tow and $505
for starter and labor from Peb Boys called to confirm.
I worked on the other great cad eng the 4100 what a nightmare.
seams every thing is ok for about 120K.
Then they would take out the crank bearings not from lack of oil changes.
But the nice crap cheep block would shift and if you did not have the block
mains alignment honed.
IT would brake the crank or block mains {we saw 8 like this}
The block aluminum quality GM uses is worse then a beer can.
still on the nothstar engines
Why is it Cadillac makes the most worse engines GM ever had short of the old 425 the 472 or the 500
So if you buy one cheep and know to only use it for short trips its ok I guess.
Knowing its a throw away car.

Can you not write any better than that?

He never has that I have seen.

Some people can turn a wrench great, but can't proper English the interweb nearly as good.

It'* just one of them things...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Having a N* engine is like dating a beautiful woman. High performance and you want all your friends to see you with it, but high maintenance and sooner or later she will dump you.

Well said sir.

If anyone is interested mine is for sale. Pearl white with gray interior. Currently good condition and running good with 192K mi on the clock. Engine has been studded by local Northstar guru in Palatine, Illinois. Mostly highway miles @ 120 miles a day for work. Other then replacing the head gasket in the past it has not been all that needy other then regular maintenance its been getting for the miles.