Well, I finally got home with my "new" TL this afternoon. There's another thread where I discussed this, but wanted to start a new one with the actual arrival. It will give me a timeline of ownership I guess.
I traded a buddy of mine my 3 remaining diesel Mercedes for this '05 TL. He has wanted my '95 Mercedes for over a year now, plus I really got tired of the spousal apparatus complaining about having a "fleet".
I traded a 1980 240D, a 1985 300TD {wagon}, and a 1995 E300D.




My buddy and I identified a TL with manual tranny and he purchased it. Pics from the auction:




It was delivered from Ohio to Kansas looking like this:




I drove it home today from Wichita and my buddy collected the '95. I cleaned the interior up a bit too.








It was almost dark so the pics are a tad blurry, especially the interior shots above. I really am impressed with the feel of the leather, especially the rear seats. Very cushy! Front seats in good shape too and I'm pleased with the feel of those also.

So, I do have a few issues:
As I've read on here quite a bit, I've got the "shifter jumping out of 3rd" issue. Time for the GM elixir I guess.
Side view mirrors turning brown. Need to get some replacement glass for them.
One of fogs is inop {next to left headlight}
It only came with one key and one remote. Looks like it is the "driver 2" remote. I guess I will get the single key/remote switchblade type I found via searching last night. Didn't mark the thread though. Doh! Can't remember if the dealer will program that or not.....
I can't get the bluetooth to connect. More searching required.
And since it came from Ohio, I'm very disturbed by the various metal pieces with surface rust. Will POR-15 most of that eventually.
So, here it starts. I'm pleased so far. I'm FAR from smooth with the clutch though. I've driven a ton of standard tranny cars over the years, and this one is most particular! It'll come though.
I'm not likely to do much in the way of modding. For me, more plastic is never the answer. Old school I guess. I just mainly want to get it as clean and in as good of shape as possible, and try and keep it that way. I work out of my car, so there will always be 300-400lbs of tools and parts in the trunk.
Digging it so far.....

I'm glad I found this site. It appears to be the best one of the few I discovered. Lots of modding, but plenty of technical info too from what I can tell.
And, just so I fit in better: dude bro, bro dude, dude, dude, bro.....
Yep, great! Another smart arse..... Guilty.....

 

Duuuude!
Congrats, bro!

 

Congrats!

 

You may need the trunk tray.

 

looks like the 06 my Ma had at one time... Congrats. Get that fog light checked out.

 

Congrats and welcome!

-Before doing anything drastic with the tranny, I would suggest doing a Drain and fill using GM syncromesh fluid.

-Brown spots on glass- go to the dealer and get new mirror lens. Easy to install, however make sure your mirrors don't click while you put them in reverse and have a mirror mode selected. If so you will need mirro actuators which is the next thing to remove when you replace the mirror lens. (Your already there so why not)

-Yes the dealership can program another key to your vehicle. They need to cut a key and use the factory scan tool to reprogram the system telling it your adding a new key.

-If your using a black berry phone they always have issuses connecting with bluetooth, however it seems more or less a real bluetooth issuse rather than a phone issuse. This is also very common with these TL's which require the bluetooth unit to be replaced. It is located right inside where the maplights and sunroof switch is. That cover pops down starting with the sunroof switch then using your fingers inside that slot pull down evenly. It's held in place with 4x screw's I believe. (It's been a while since ive done one)

-The carrying 400 pounds of tools may seem alright but it's not. you will eventually blow out the rear shocks. Your car is going to ride noticably lower in the rear as the front will sit higher. As your driving and going over bumps you will be stressing the rear suspension more so. Best suggestion I can tell you is get a trunk rubber mat and place the tools as close to the rear seats as possible.

 

Nice car!

Interior looks so much cleaner than mine lol

 

Looks virtually identical to my '04 manual except for the fact that there is a model year difference between them.

Enjoy!

 

nice ....def a good trade imo....enjoy the tl is a real comfortable car

 

congratz on the car!

 

Enjoy the TL Jimmy-keep'er clean!

 

Welcome and enjoy.

 

nice car!.. Good trade!

 

congrats man looks great

 

Dude! You totally sniped that car from me! I looked at that car on eBay several times and finally put in an offer for $1000 below his asking price. Next thing I know it's sold. Then I found an '06 MT6 locally and picked that up, but it was about $4000 more (after taking into account the increased price of shipping on the one from Ohio).

I like that color more than the Silver though. Is the paint in pretty good shape? I really like that darker grey color. Then again, here in Utah is gets pretty hot in the summer and I was a little concerned about a darker colored car so maybe it's for the better. This one's in immaculate condition so I have no regrets. But it sounds like your's only has a few minor imperfections. Good buy.

I don't know what to tell you on the corrosion. That's ohio winters I suppose. Definitely try the GM synchromesh for the tranny though. I put it in mine about a week ago. It was shifting flawlessly before, but I noticed it's a slight bit smoother when downshifting now. Remember to get the "Friction Modified" stuff. It's suposedly better than the standard synchromesh.

You'll get used to the clutch. I came from a 5-speed Accord and it's like going from a big rig to a car. I must have killed the engine about a dozen times my first week driving it. Also, the engine is so quiet that you sometimes have to rely on the tach for RPM's rather than the hum of the motor. It's a ton of fun once you get the hang of it though. After about a month with mine I'm really starting to feel I've got it down. Between the short travel on the clutch and the short shifter, I don't think I could ever go back to the Accord. I was zipping through rush hour traffic last week and having way too much fun. It was like a video game. I see why people get in accidents with this car.

Good luck and congrats! I'm sure it will treat you well.

 

Welcome and congrats on your purchase, If I didn't have nbp I would definitely go for your color. Enjoy it, and take care of it!

 

Great trade and welcome to AZ!

 

those are som clean MBs you had..

welcome to the family...

 

Nice, ebony int and 6mt ftw

 

You sound mechanically inclined, and on the right path for most of the things you want to get back in order...
Check out this thread on the clutch, similar backround with driving manuals my whole life...hated the TL, particularly in 1st and 2nd until I did this.

Good luck and congrats! Great color!
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/if-you-have-6-speed-mt-hate-shifting-read-me-738245/

 

Glad it finally made it home, congrats

 

Congrats on the Type-S. Register her at www.myacura.com and save the Navi/Radio codes there for safe keeping.

 

I've been getting quite a bit of helpful and thoughtful posts above. Thank yall very much! My Mercedes website was the most helpful forum I've ever been a part of, and I have so many buddies there from all over the country. World too I guess.
This website appears to be the Acura equivalent, and I'm glad to have found it. Now granted, there is less technical and way more modding over here, but that is more a function of the type of car and also the age of many of the drivers. But I could quickly tell that this forum also has substance, so again, I'm very glad to have found it.
Yall sure do some cussing though!!

I've been working out of the car this week, and I think I was a bit heavy on my tools/parts weight estimate. I think it's only about 200-250lbs in the trunk, and the car does fine with it. I did fill that thing up though.....




I am extremely OCD, so it is packed about as effectively as possible.

This is funny, but my left foot is killing me from the clutch. Something about the throw/action of the pedal has torqued off my ankle. Nothing good about getting old.....
Still lots to square away, just an awful time of year to have spare time! I really really need another key and fob. One linked to this site in an ad banner seemed high, but what the heck do I know. I guess I'll call a dealer so I at least know what that costs and can better make my decision. Gotta have it though. I hate spending $$$ like that just for a key/fob. {switchblade type probably}
Well, off to do some more searching. The early days of forum membership is always a search-a-thon. That is, if you're doing it right...... :wink:

 

that was a lot of reading haha but

 

I wish everyone else would depend a month searching the site so more of us aren't cussing to folks about them asking questions about things that have already been answered 10k times because others haven't done what you have. Im glad you are enjoying the site. Aill-in-all we are a very gregarious/prolific site. Anything you need to know about you car, if iyn has not already been answered, I can be, and will be with no angry cussing. Most of us love modding because just like the Infinity V6's, the Acura J-series motors make awesome gains with the simple add-on parts. We have a broad age group here so if you like you car the way it is or you like to put on a set of plus-1 size wheels and keep it moving, by all means do it but its like tattoos for most. Once you get one, you must have more. Keep enjoying the site sir But if you need ANYTHING, I'll be the 1st of many followers. I answer it to the best of my abilities or throw you to a member that best can in the subject. But its like getting a medical opinion get more than one answer then post what you got to bring it up for discussion IF it already has ot been. or you'll get the Acurazine forum cussing sailors. Again welcome anwe cant wait to see your car transform whether its a set of speakers or A-Spec kit, rims, or engine parts. Be safe...

 

Well crap! {nice way to start a post}
I've had my TL less than two weeks, and I've already got the largest door ding of my life!!

The iPhone pic just doesn't do it justice. To the base metal in two different spots, plus a wicked dent!
It was very windy that day and I guess somebodies door got away from them. There is a reason I basically dislike people........
Still digging the car although the 3rd gear popping situation is quite annoying. Seldom make it through an entire day without it happening at least once.
With work, won't be able to try the GM elixir for at least a couple more weeks.
BTW, does anybody have any good pics of their TL with the black all weather Acura floor mats? Are they black or that kind of dark gray?

 

damn well you are still living so smile. Dude just take your care to acura and get the 3rd gear tsb done. If you do stuff on your own then take it in after, they'll be D%^Ks and will NOT cover it saying you fluid of choice. Any car maker/dealer will do anything the can to get out of doing warranty work because it comes out of the dealers profits...

 

2005 with 97K miles. I'm guessing my cars warranty days are long gone.....

 

damn man sux to see that ... try to get pdr done on it and touch up the scratches

 

Just try. My dealer would do it. Their still are some good dealers out there. Did you sign up on acura.com with your vin# to see what service nif any the Acura dealer had done? It'll tell you if the 3rd gear tsb was done or not. TSB is sorta like a recall so just go in. Let us know what they said. If they wont do it then use sychromesh. It's great stuff but it can only do so much for an already messed up 3rd gear. A good gear fluid is used as a preventative for these things.

 

I'll give it a try Desmond. Thanks..... 

 

Jimmy, the GM synchromesh friction modified fixed my 3rd gear popping out issue.

 

NP Jimbo..lol. It's worth a try right...?

 

Darn right.

Columbus took a chance. Look what happened.......

 

Congrats! I really like the Anthracite color and 6MT FTW!

 

Congrats! I just picked up my '05 TL (6spd/Navi) about three weeks ago. I drove three hours each way to pick it up, 6spd/Navi-optioned TL's aren't too easy to find and I couldn't beat the price. my friends all ask why I drove that far, I tell them, "You wouldn't understand"

Sometimes I think the trunk is too small (given that the rear seats don't fold forward), but it looks like you're doing alright!

 

The trunk is too small!! I'm fighting through it though.
I hope you are having a better time with 3rd gear than I am.....
I didn't think much of them before, but the bum warmers are one of my favorite options!!

 

What happened to your TL? It looks like it just swam in the river . But after you cleaned it, it looks perfect and very nice. Congrats.

 

It came from Ohio {unfortunately} The car was covered in salt brine from the snowy drive.

 

Just for my timeline purposes:

Got a spare key made for the TL today. Finally.
Went to a local Acura dealer last week, and it was $65 bucks for the key and to cut it, then an hours worth of "shop time" to program it to the car. Their shop rate is $140 an hour!!!! That is higher than Mercedes for Christ's sake!!!! Who does Acura think they are??? But I digress.....
However, they only charge $130 an hour for "key programming", so it was going to be $195 from dealer for just a key.
Called a local automotive locksmith. They had it for $95 bucks for the key, cut and programmed. Much better!
Called A-1 Lock and Safe. Their price was $60 bucks for key, cut and programmed!!

So for around $64 bucks I got an Ilco key, cut and programmed. Not bad at all, considering. I've got a buddy with a G35 who only has Ilco keys, and his works fine.
Now for a second cheap FOB from ebay and I'll have my spare set.
I just hope we never need one for the wife's FX35.......