Tigris Garcon

Hey guys, I'm new to Acura and just bought a used 2005 Acura TL with 163,753 miles on it for $1,700. It got some dents and dings but nothing major. The seats are ripped the fuck up and the dash boards has some cracks on it. Also, whenever I start the car it makes this rattling noise but it runs smoothly. I'm pretty sure I need a wheel bearing and definitely need to change the oil. Just wondering if y'all think its a good buy. I need some tips on the type of oil to use and if there's anything you guys know to maintain it better. Thanks I appreciate it!!

Jackass

That car has had a rough life.....a good deal? That all depends on your requirements and if it is what you wanted.

Dash
The cracked dash is unfortunately normal for these cars. My '05 is cracked...just not quite that bad yet.

Seats
Those seats...wow...just wow. Assuming they never ever cleaned and treated the leather...ever.

Rims
That is some serious staining...guessing the car was rarely washed.

Mirrors
Usually this is from someone leaving the heated mirrors turned on all the time. Sometimes, they just do it...

Assuming the rest of the mechanical maintenance wasn't ignored/neglected as much as the cosmetic maintenance was, it could be a good car. Check and change all fluids....especially the oil and transmission fluid. Read up on the auto transmission maintenance on here.

Tigris Garcon

Thanks! Yeah definitely needs some work, I have to take it to a mechanic to make sure it doesn't have anything else that's wrong with it. Is it possible to find seats at a junk yard maybe?

theCoffeeFiend

iTrader: (2)

Personally, I wouldn't put too much money into it. Just make sure the car is running good and mechanically safe. If it was my car..
-I would get a dash mat for the dash
-Seat covers (cheapest option, but might get lucky if you live near junkyards and find better condition)
-For Rims, you could DIY spray paint it. Or leave it. Would make sure the tires are good though
-Body looks rough with rust. Would try to get rid of it somehow without major body work.
-Definitely needs a good cleaning/detail, inside and out.

horseshoez

iTrader: (2)

New mirror glass for the outside mirrors are like $50; the glass portion easily snaps out, unplug the heater element wires, plug in the new glass.

GhostTL09

iTrader: (1)

Yo that car looks like a death trap. I honestly would take that to an Acura dealership and let them check it out for $120 or so just to check on mechanical components to make sure it is safe to drive. I've seen 1996 honda accords in better shape lol. You can get seats usually through craigslist junk yard posts who will post TL's all the time for part-out. Good luck with daily driver and restoration. Does that car vibrate like hell when you turn the heat or AC on?

truonghthe

I though OP bought for a project car, the seat can be easily replace with another good quality seat leather cover, mirror is also another easy fix however the dash and that dent in rear quarter panel isn't easy fix. The car seem like it went through a very rough life.

08KBP_VA

This would be my approach:

1. Get a PPI, in your case a POST Purchase Inspection since sounds like you didnt do a PRE Purchase one. I would stay away from dealer and take to a trusted Indy to assess.
2.Prioritize those issues FIRST from the PPI before attempting any cosmetic stuff
3. Baseline car assuming it passes the technical inspection (i assume no records so no clue if TB or WP or plugs etc have ever been serviced, fluid swaps etc)
4. Then proceed with cosmetic stuff

Tigris Garcon

Thanks for all the feedback everyone! My plan now is to fix the seats and whatever needs fixing related to the engine so I can at least get some money out of it to get a newer Acura.

08KBP_VA

Didnt know you planned to flip it. Personally if thats what your thinking of doin not sure how much youd clear thats a pretty good amount of work that you might be better served driving as is and saving money to put toward a newer acura.

To answer your other question go to car-part.com for seats etc if your gonna go down that route for the seats and other parts.

Good luck

Jackass

I also wasn't assuming you were going to flip it.....I would be surprised if you were able to make much on flipping it. I assumed this was purchased as a project commuter car. At the price you paid plus what ever work you have to put into it, you may be able to get your costs back, but unlikely much profit.

Tigris Garcon

Yeah I wasn't sure what to do with it. I wanted a fairly newer and much cleaner Acura but I didn't have much money so I figured it could at least help me profit to save for a newer one. I like it but I don't want to get attached to it and put a lot of money into it.

nyckid

check craigslist for local parts

WDPanda

Headlights can be cleared for <$50

kliqzero

my dashboard also has cracks in it - anyone know how that happens?

GhostTL09

iTrader: (1)

cracks from poor material and design

horseshoez

iTrader: (2)

The best inexpensive fix for your dash:

• Coverlay Mfg| Dash Cover Coverlay 30-408LL-LGR

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

61. The seats, you can get replacement skins and install them yourself
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2004-2008-A...ZUPpXU&vxp=mtr
(Ebay seller has the gray set for $652.59, see if he can price match or reduce the cost on this listing provided)

2. As for the dashboard, get the coverlay kit and install the cover as directed
http://www.carparts.com/details/Cove...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

3. As for the mirrors, you can just replace the glass, and lubricate the mirror actuators while you have the mirrors off.
Order them off of any site as long as they are oem style with the blue tint and heated.

4. Interior and exterior detailing. You can do this yourself over a weekend. If you have a friend who knows how to use a buffer or you know how to use one, buff the paint and headlights. Wax and finish with a sealer for the outside. Inside, deep clean the carpets, trims, headliner ect. After this, install the new leather and dash cover. Wait til the seats are out of the vehicle to really clean up the carpet.

I don't know what state you're in, but in some states you can't sell a vehicle that is unsafe. Spend some $$ and have the vehicle inspected top to bottom before getting deep into this. If you're only looking to flip the vehicle, make sure the vehicle is SAFE and everything that needs to be addressed as far as safety is fixed. Doing an oil change is also a good thing. Since these have aged, it is hard to make enough profit (if you do make profit) to use that money for a newer Acura. If you can't unload the vehicle, you might as well keep it for yourself. Either way, if you fix things here and there, it won't be as bad for you to keep for a while til you save up for another vehicle.

Chad05TL

Once you get below 2,000 on a car, it's going to be hard to lose any money provided you can clean the carpet and give it some TLC and clean the headlights.. Cars just dont depreciate below 1,000 if it runs. Anyway. Fortunately, right about now, there are a lot more TL's on craigslist that are parting out. And many are at salvage yards being parted out. So, you will find it easier and cheaper to get replacement items like the seats. and the carpet if you want to go there.
And that floorboard kick panel just needs to be realigned.
And that door mirror is easily replaced by another online or salvage.
And please take off those dealer decals off the trunk.. haha (mcbrides)

Acura wholesale parts
https://www.acurapartswarehouse.com/
https://www.oemacuraparts.com/

Jersey craigslist
$180 dashboard https://philadelphia.craigslist.org/...404839114.html
$400 dashboard https://newyork.craigslist.org/jsy/p...442199714.html
Trim panels https://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/p...441853699.html
Tan seats: https://newyork.craigslist.org/que/p...441115631.html

Fyi, if you swap the seats, it will cause the airbag light to come on. The system has to be reset. And I think it takes a special device to do it.

Chad05TL

THat ... plus when the dashboard is hot and then it cools off real fast, like you roll down the windows, if you hear a huge POP and you dont know where it came from, it is likely the dash just popped open a crack.
Last summer I got in my car and it was hot inside and I took off and rolled down the windows and drove about 50mph and since internally, the dashboard was hot and expanded, I think when the rush of cooler air ran over the outer layer, it quickly shrunk and when it did that it pulled apart and created a separation, aka crack.
Even when the material just gets real cold, it contracts.. And POP.. it separates.
So I think it doesn't always have to be hot and then cool off quickly to crack, even though that is how it happened to me.. But I think just hard cold temps can do it too, like from sitting outside overnight. Northern cold type temps.
I have a few smaller cracks being in dallas but its not even 1/4 as bad as what I see above.

tsuintx

LOL! Those front seat bottoms look pretty much exactly like those on mine. Rear seat on mine is pretty much perfect, though, just dirty. The dash? Yeah, got a bunch of cracks, too.

Mine seems to have been owned by a teenager for the last few years and she sure didn’t take too good care of it. Luckily the insurance company saved it out of further damage due to a dent to the rear door and I bought it for $275. Replaced the door and side mirror and it looks much better already. Once it finally gets warmer here in DFW, I need to work on the interior. Pretty sure it’ll clean up good and luckily there are no broken pieces etc. (other than the front seat bottoms, of course...). With the door and mirror, fees, taxes, registration etc. I’m about $750 bucks in it so far.

Oopps... Sorry for the highjack.

Scottwax

I've been looking for a couple years for better used seats for my Accord, no luck, everything else is either worse or so marginally better it isn't worth spending the money. In your car, it might be easier since most people tend to take good car of the more expensive TL.