916 Spider 1998

[Beatle]

OK, looking to buy one of these.  Before I go take a look, What are the most expensive 'gotchas'?

138,000km
Twinspark / Manual
Looks to be in fine condition paint and trim wise.
Parked up for a while.
Full electric hood reportedly working fine
A/C reportedly working fine

I'm expecting immediate costs/jobs are:
-Timing belt/waterpump
-All suspension bushes (known squeaks)
-Tyres (known old/flat spotted)
-Brake fluid flush/bleed (anything funky needed to fully bleed brakes on these)
-All other fluids

I'd be doing mechanical work myself
I don't have an OBD reader.  Recommendations?

Never owned this series or the TS (Owned a 2.5 156 auto and a 3.2GT).
What am I looking for engine health wise?  I hear cam wear is an issue?

What are the recommended mods or upgrades?
-Suspension, strut braces?
-Gearbox fluid?
-Engine oil

Easiest way to distinguish Series 1 from Series 2?  Sills are body colour and has blue Momo leather interior, so I assume S2?

Cheers,

[bazzbazz]

I think you'll be needing a new battery if it's been parked up for a while.

If you have a windows laptop you can use, the best diagnostics would be MultiEcuScan with the appropriate adapters.
However before you buy a copy & adapters you need to remove the drivers Fuse Box Knee Panel and check for an OBD port, usually mounted at the top right of the opening. If you don't have one you'll need the 3 pin adapter and connect to the individual ECUs separately.

Cam wear is usually only if the previous owner has been less than up to date with regular oil changes or has been using wrong oil.

One important thing to check is to make sure you are able to test drive and start the car when it's stone cold, make sure it idles ok, then take it for a drive, stopping occasionally to make sure the idle is operating correctly. Do this till the car is fully warmed up. The reason being is that this will be a cable operated throttle and the idle is controlled by a "Idle Stepper Motor" on the side of the Throttle Body. These items have a habit of failing with old age and are no longer available, if it does fail you'll be searching the wreckers world wide for a replacement.

Engine oil used to be 10w40 but was changed to 10w60 many years ago to help with the aforementioned camshaft lobe wear.

Gearbox oil is 75w85 GL4

Engine wise CF1 engines have a metal camshaft cover, CF2 have a plastic cover.

[cc]

the ride is less harsh if the springs are replaced all round.
Electric hoods can be difficult. Manual ones arent heavy to raise or lower and dont stop working..