Always wanted, now I own!

[fisdadsbonneville]

Hey everyone! I'm Ryan. I'm currently in Indianapolis and I just bought my first Bonneville! I once owned a 1990 Pontiac 6000 and I have liked every generation of Bonneville's since 1987. I have always loved the body lines of the 2004-2005 GXP's more than nearly any car on the road... The front and rear facias, the 18" 5 spoke wheels, the stance, the cladding... there is nothing about these cars that I don't absolutely love. Until recently they have always been unavailable to me. When they were new and nearly 40k, I was to young and to busy driving the crap out of my little 5 speed 88 Cavalier Z24. When I finally bought my first new car in 2009, it was a Mazda3 Hatch because my wife at the time dictated the mpg requirements. I went back to school in 2010 and my friend gave me his old 2001 Oldsmobile Alero. I have always loved the looks of the Alero as well. I have spent the past 5 years customizing my Alero and I have enjoyed burning up nearly $13000 over 70000 miles. She won a couple of trophies and turned heads everywhere she went. Sadly I decided to trade Allie in last week on my new 2005 Bonneville GXP. For the first time I had found one under $10,000 in good enough condition to jump on. I got what I believe was a fair enough price for my Alero trade and drove home my new Bonneville this past Friday 3/14/14. She had 156,400 miles on the clock. She is black with every available option. Yes she has the HUD, Sunroof, dual power and heated seats, OnStar, XM, Monsoon, Steering wheel controls and there are Zeibart plugs all over the car to prove that it has been rust proofed and treated when it was new! Other than some minor details and refinishing needed on one spot of the trunk lid and a couple little spots on the hood this car was in great shape! I got her home and after taking her to get the best wash Mike's had to offer, I did a good wax all around. I later changed the fog light bulbs to silverstars, which btw is a pita for a bulb replacement! Then I found out that my bulbs were fine but the wire to the housing on the drivers side was messed up and in need of repair on the bulb housing. This diagnostic and replacement of bulbs became a 2 hour project lol. I also put some silverstars in the plate light sockets since those were burnt out and did a wipe down on all of the leather with Maguires. Then I topped off the Dexcool. The coolant reservoir was about a gallon low, but I see no smoke, no leaks, clean oil that had 1700 miles on it and my temp gauge stays firmly a 210 when it's at normal operating temp.

Whenever I get a car second hand I tend to play catch up on any unknown maintenance. I plan to do the following within the next 60 days. I am a little tight on money as I just bought the Bonneville and I am also in the process of shipping in my new Autocross ready Alero from South Dakota.

I need to do the following:

Scan for "check the stability system" I'm thinking a wheel bearing sensor
Replace the spark plugs
Replace the spark plug wires
Replace the brake pads and upgrade to drilled rotors
Replace the fuel filter
Change to synthetic, high mileage oil from Mobile 1
Replace the air filter
Replace the thermostat (how hard is that on this car?
Replace the cabin air filter
Rotate and balance the tires
Get a 4 wheel alignment

Am I missing anything that I should knock out on this car while I'm at it? I don't seem to have any leaks or lights on.

I did notice some things that bother me. If anyone can help me locate some parts or would be able to assist or do some repairs I would appreciate it. I hear that someone on here is a parts guru from all of my searching over the past few days, but I can't remember exactly who? I think his name started with 00?

My gauge cluster illumination isn't working properly:

I spoke with the Chevrolet Dealer locally and a replacement gauge cluster is $250 plus $150 labor to program and install the cluster. I took the dash apart thinking that I could replace the standard twist socket bulbs and made it all worse. I used to have only half of my speedo dim, now most of the cluster is dim and today my oil pressure gauge stopped working. It still sweeps at startup, but then just sits all the way down.

My stereo display only lights up halfway. The clock is blurred out to the left
My drivers power seat switch doesn't illuminate in the dark
My HUD unit is only illuminating half way
My dash light switch to set the delay was missing the black knob and doesn't push in and out. It only comes out if I pull it out with pliers. I'd like to replace the switch with another with black knobs
My black steering wheel controls paint is peeling off of the "pre set" button a little
I just noticed that my windows are "tinted". Its the bs tint that you can't even tell is there unless it fails. Mine is beginning to bubble on the rear windshield.
My ash tray door has some tiny scratches on it as does my shift knob on top of the stainless plate
I do have a tiny vibration between 60-70 MPH like many of you do, but it doesn't really bother me.

Nothing listed is anything that would concern me as far as the drivabilty of the vehicle. I did purchase a small 3 month/3000 mile warranty that covers the power train just in case my mechanics find anything that needs addressed right off the bat.

I have only put about 150 miles on the car since I've had her, but I already love her! She's still awaiting claiming her own name. I'm not any good at taking pictures, but here is a quick stab at it that I just took.

[Crankjaw]

Wow Such a Beautiful Car!!!

Enjoy!! =D

[nos4blood70]

Looking great! You found yourself a gorgeous GXP. The mileage is up there for the N* so make sure your mechanics give it a thorough look over.

As for the illumination, there are write ups for fixing the radio, heated seat, and HUD indicators. Cluster is more challenging. Andrew(harofreak00) is our resident illumination fixer and he can do it to you if you ship it to him for a small fee.

Welcome to the forums.

[fisdadsbonneville]

Wow Such a Beautiful Car!!!

Enjoy!! =D

Thank you! Other than some minor things I am very happy!

[fisdadsbonneville]

Looking great! You found yourself a gorgeous GXP. The mileage is up there for the N* so make sure your mechanics give it a thorough look over.

As for the illumination, there are write ups for fixing the radio, heated seat, and HUD indicators. Cluster is more challenging. Andrew(harofreak00) is our resident illumination fixer and he can do it to you if you ship it to him for a small fee.

Welcome to the forums.

Thanks!

I bought a powertrain warranty for the short term. I know enough about mechanics that I am confident that she's okay for now, but I will have a couple pros do a look over as well. I keep getting a service stability ding on startup, but I'm assuming a wheel bearing. The seats heat like they should but the drivers warmer button doesn't illum. I took the cluster out to do the bulbs but it's more than I am comfortable with on my own. I can't solder very well. I am already speaking with Andrew in regards to the illum repairs.

The headlight and fog light lens repairs are the only things I expect to be costly since it appears to be smooth and not rough.

[1oldman]

You have one FINE LOOKING RIDE! I lived between Mooresville and Plainfield for 16 years. Winters were beautiful as long as you didn't have be out in it. - BC

[CMNTMXR57]

Service stability system has nothing to do with the wheel bearing.

Reference this thread;
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=14974&p=203215&hil ... em#p203215