SO have been looking for a while now and I finally found one. Its a basic 97 SE tan with tan cloth. It does have bucket seats but doesnt have steering wheel controls or TC. Has a little rust and needs a new intake manifold. The overflow was dry and it had coolant in the oil. They are asking 1900 for it. I figure I could get them down to 1500. It has 130k miles. What does everyone think?

Why, not to sound dumb, but does this happen often with the coolant in the oil causing it to have those problems. It still runs and it has not had problems. What are the chances that it wont have problems?

Read this:

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...e=article&k=38


If the owner wasn't quick enough, the damage is already done, and it'* only a matter of time. We've lost a good dozen motors AFTER the upper repair.

How can I tell if they didnt catch it in time? The oil was just changed on it 500 miles ago. It still ran and it ran pretty well, but it was a bit slugish. If I go back tomorrow what should I look at? Thanks

That price seems a bit high to me even at 1500... i sold my 97 sse with 146k miles on it for 1800 and it was loaded up with everything... and had a rebuilt engine and trans from the pontiac dealer.....

You can tell if they didn't catch it in time by buying this car, replacing the intake manifold and the upper and lower intake gaskets, driving the car, and then having a bearing crap out on you a month later, then finding a used engine without this problem, buying the used engine and performing an engine swap so that you ultimately have a car you can drive.

If that doesn't sound very appetizing to you, you could alternatively pass on this car and buy any other Bonneville that hasn't had its crankcase sitting in coolant.

In short, you can't tell unless you were to disassemble the engine to see if the bearings are corroding. We're trying to save you the trouble I just described, by telling you to skip this car unless you're okay with performing an engine swap if this one fails, which it very well might do if you buy it and address the current intake problem. Because that'* what you'll be looking at.

To me, I can't justify it. It is far easier to buy a car that doesn't have a failed intake to begin with.

You came to this forum to ask for advice and you have got it, from several of the most knowledgeable people in this area. If you read through the forum you will find numerous posts from people that have LIM gasket or UIM failures and are told to not let the coolant remain in the oil for even a couple of days! Sooo, you decide. I understand your excitement to get a Bonne, but I think you should pass on this car and keep looking. I think you would really enjoy an optioned-out SSE, SLE or SSEi. You'll probably pay more, but still alot less than the cost of the repairs and initial cost of the SE.

X2 pass on it unless they give you a written 1 yr motor warranty.