ZiggyBuster

Hi, I am thinking about buying this used 2005 Acura TL for my 1st Acura. Whats up with the red thing on the engine? Is this stock?





thanks...
Z

ggesq

iTrader: (1)

painted engine cover- not stock.

Manach

The red things just the engine cover. Yes its a stock item, no the color isnt stock. Its just painted.

ZiggyBuster

Why paint the engine cover? Would that make you leary about the car, or is that pretty typical on Acura's? I am a total amatuer, Never owned any non-American car before....

Its seems like a super good deal. 2005, 35K miles, $17,500.

Be-in my TL

Chances are the guy is probably a performance guy if he likes to work under the hood, but that is also considered cosmetic. He may be like me and just change the car to meet my perfectionist side. Otherwise, it sounds like a great deal.

There is a list of things to check for...
remember to check for repaint and frame damage. Also take it for a drive with the radio off. Check for whining and grinding. When you drive, make sure things are smooth and respond accordingly.

ecliptics

bodymatched engine cover his grills painted too

ZiggyBuster

you guys are good. thanks so much for the help.

Do you see anything else painted? or unusual?

Does that void any warranties?

Here are the other pics.

ZiggyBuster

edited by GGESQ

thanks again, I look forward to this forum when I finally get a TL.

BLACKURA_NY

iTrader: (6)

the only thing i see wrong, is that its parked on the sidewalk!!!

but FYI, the engine cover looks cool, and doesnt void the warranty on anything

Will Y.

The car looks stock except for the paint on the engine cover and grill insert- stock ride height, no changes to other exterior body trim, suspension or exhaust tips.
How is the interior-- any photos? I'd check to see if there are any changes to the interior trim, info/navigation screens, etc.

The TL is basically an American car- designed, assembled and sold in the US- by the domestic wholly-owned subsidiary (Acura) of a Japanese corp. (Honda).

Welcome to AZ!

Blazing GT

actually the car looks fine
umm take off the Body side molding


welcome to AZ

ricgrrarrow

+1

lopopo

+2

aSPECtL06

I don't think the car has even been bought yet and you guys are already on him about that!

The car looks good, the engine cover and grill match looks very nice and aesthetically, through pictures, seems to have no problems besides the body side moulding.

ZiggyBuster

You mean that door protector strip? How do you go about taking something like that off? here are pics of the interior. What do you guys see there?

ZiggyBuster

ha, What do you see other than some kids sippy cup in the cupholder in pic 2...

TzarChasm

Looks to me like it's in really good shape. Hard to tell from a picture, but it looks like someone who took care of the car.

Krazylegs

Is there something up with the carpet by the glove box? Is the leather on the driver’s seat cracked? Looks like the interior could use a good cleaning and conditioning with Lexol and the dash and steering wheel could use some 303 Aerospace protectant. Does it look like it was a smoker’s car? Does it smell when you turn on the AC? Other than that, the interior looks pretty stock. I don’t see any holes for i-pod adapters, radar detectors, ect. IMHO the painted engine cover is a good sign. It means that whomever did that had a love for their TL, and most likely took very good care of it. Is that the original factory paint Job? There is a possibility that he had some body work done, and there was some left over paint so he opted to have his engine cover painted with the extra paint. Why would he pay to have paint mixed for this job unless he was a real MOD nut. I don’t see any other MOD’s to this car.
Welcome to Acurazine and good luck with your purchase.

ZiggyBuster

edited by ggesq

OP- requesting someone to do a carfax check is prohibited by Acurazine.

Please see the link for an explanation: https://acurazine.com/forums/car-talk-5/%2A%2A%2A-carfax-dmv-org-other-vin-lookup-threads-requests-%2A%2A%2A-346937/

jingy08

you can also should get an independent inspection done. It can be done for $150.

blkaspec

that just look like the carpet has been pulled out and away from the center stack, which doesnt look to be an issue.

good luck with the purchase that color is kinda rare

Krazylegs

Pay the $150 for the inspection. It will tell you if there were any engine codes that have went off. It will tell you if there was any body work done. It will tell you if you need new brakes, tires, have bent rims. They will test the fluids in the tranny and see if that looks good, and tell you anything else that could go wrong. Much worth the $150-. A carFax history report won't tell you as much. I have baught 4 Acuras. All of them have turned out to be great trouble free cars.

AMIC

It looks like maybe the navi DVD is not in the drive. Better make sure you have that or else it's $200 to get a new one.

Nasty188

Make sure your sound system is in proper working order if not mistaken you should have a total of 8 speakers , 3 in the back , 1 on each front door and three on the dash , sometimes poeple like to up grade there system but before they sell it they strip it so just check if it's all there..... hope everything goes well.

ggesq

iTrader: (1)

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ggesq

iTrader: (1)

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ZiggyBuster

Just talked to the dealer. The car has a salvage/rebuilt title. He said they bought it from an insurance company. They repainted the grill and engine cover at that time as the rest of the work.

He says that what they replaced is as follows;

Radiator and fan
Condensor
Driver side airbag
front bumper
hood
front left fender
front left lights

No engine work needed or done but obviously i am concerned now. Does Acura warranty still apply???

I think I could prolly get this car for about $16000

Opinions?

aSPECtL06

I say you should still run that private inspection just to be sure. A salvage car is not always bad as long as you make sure it is in perfect working condition when bought. I am also pretty sure that you can purchase the Acura extended warranty after you buy the car.

ZiggyBuster

[/QUOTE]It looks like maybe the navi DVD is not in the drive. Better make sure you have that or else it's $200 to get a new one. [/QUOTE]

My wife has an '05 Honda pilot with nav. 4.62 Will a burned copy if that work?




With what I know now I will definitely be getting an inspection. Who do you have do those? How do you go about getting an extended warranty when it is not being bought from an Acura dealer?

aSPECtL06

As long as you possess and Acura, I think you can go to a dealer and purchase the extended warranty. Might want to call your local Acura dealer to find out some more information on that if some members here don't chime in on that within the next hour or so.

As for the inspection, I am not so sure about who would do it. This is my first time hearing of a private inspection but it's a good thing you will be getting it done.

And for the burned Navi disc, I don't think that will work because then people wouldn't be looking to buy Navi discs all the time in Black Market. The dealer you are buying from should have that with them.

VQPower37

i would find a car with a clean title ... u r investing so much money into it, u wanna make sure that is reliabe ... juss my 2 cents

ZiggyBuster

its not an Acura dealer though. Just a car lot with like 20 cars on the lot. I am willing to bet they are all salvage cars they fix and sell.

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

cars that have a salvage or rebuilt title have no warranty unless u buy some. if all that was replaced it was either stolen or was in a frontal accident and there had to be some frame damage done.

Krazylegs

Run! Call a couple of Acura dealers in your area to see if they will do the inspection. I still would not buy it. There may be some engine codes that they reset after the crash that only an Acura dealer could find. Stupid that they painted the engine cover. Obviously the repair work was not done by a certified Acura dealer. The salvage title will always follow the car. so resale value will always be poor.

ZiggyBuster

he said no frame damage, but, he is a car salesman wanting to sell me his car... If it was just stolen Id be all over this. It was definitely in a frontal accident...

Krazylegs

Salvaged. A.K.A. Totaled

ZiggyBuster

I guess I really should let go of this one. Darn, I figured it was too good of a deal to be true...

AMIC

I personally would not buy a salvaged title vehicle and I think you are making a good decision to move on. Just as an FYI, the 4.62 navi DVD will not work in an '05 TL. You need a 3.xx version (the orange disc).

Will Y.

I would on a salvage title-- frame is likely to have been bent by a front-end collision where an airbag was triggered and radiator was replaced. You might want to call an Acura dealer to confirm, but I also thought a total or salvage title voided every warranty.

Look forward to finding a pristine TL from a lease return or someone moving out of state!

Cdat

Just Say No TO Salvaged titles. Run away as fast as possible. And if you decide to get it don't expect a warrenty from Acura.