Introducing my 98 SSE. And previous rides.

[98SSE]

Just dropping in to introduce myself. Been a bonneville owner for about 5 years now, had 3 so far and a olds 88. My current is a 1998 SSE with every option but the SC and sunroof. Got it with 143k 7 months ago and now has 168k with no plans of stopping. Had some of the common issues with a car this age such as rusted wheel wells, rocker panel, and strut towers. All in all its been a great car especially for the age. Only mods are GP 40th anniversary exhaust tips, tint, K&N, rain guards, and tinted fog lights.

[98SSE]

Here are some of pics of of the repairs that have went on.

The air/heat only came out of the defrost/floor when I got it. Did some research here and found the vaccum connectors had collapsed. So I replaced those and the air mix actuator.



After the winter we had I decided to finally fix the rocker on the driver side. don't have any shots before the panel but it was totally rusted out and the skirt wouldn't mount on it. Still need to paint it but it will work for now.

[BlackHawk99]

Very nice! 96-99 SSE trim packages are my favorite!

Looking real good

[1oldman]

I like what you've done to the car. Looking good! - BC

[crash93ssei]

Looks like it will be properly maintained from here on out, this body style has aged very well, they don't look brand new anymore but they certainly don't look like they are 15 years old.

[98SSE]

Thanks for the feedback! When I got it the passenger wheel well had rusted completely through and was leaking water so the car had a nice "funky" smell to it. Did a cheap fix to it with some bondo on the inside and coated the wheel well on the outside with some rubber coating. Definitely not professional by any means but this is my work car so I let it slide. I've always like these cars since I was probably 10, so when this one popped up on CL I grabbed it. Couldn't be happier with the comfort (Even for an older car) and reliability. My future plans are some 00-05 SSEI wheels and maybe a front leather bra for it. Been looking into the HIR bulbs as well.

Here are some pics of my old daily driver I gave to the wife so we could get rid of her Dodge Intrepid. Been shopping around for another car for her so I can get mine back but shes not wanting to come off of it now lol.

[nos4blood70]

A nice pair of Bonnes! The 98 looks like it was well cared for. The SE is nice too, don't see too many bench seat cars out there.

[98SSE]

A nice pair of Bonnes! The 98 looks like it was well cared for. The SE is nice too, don't see too many bench seat cars out there.

Thanks for the feedback. The 98 was in pretty good shape when I got it though it did have a few quirks. Nothing that can't be fixed. I will admit the pictures make the seats; especially the driver, look real good. Since I drive a lot for work they take a beating. Keeping my eyes open at the junkyards for some new ones though.

The 01' I bought off an older couple who got it from her dad (Original owner) so it was in really good shape. We've put over 35K on it and drove it to multiple states with 0 problems. It to had its common issues like headliner/sun visors, water leaks, clunk sound/vibration but once again, nothing to extreme.

Found a few pics of my 94 Olds 88 I had for about 3 months. Pretty much how you see it is how I got it. Had to fix somethings on it as well but I drove it for 15k miles then sold it for what I paid for it. Only had to do oil changes. And yes, at one time there was 3 and sometimes 4 cars with pretty much the same colors lol. Just sort of happened that way, not on purpose I swear.

[DJC906]

I would agree that the 96-99 sse/ssei are my favorites, yours has held up really well.

Nice fleet of "champagne" colored cars you got too.

[98SSE]

I would agree that the 96-99 sse/ssei are my favorites, yours has held up really well.

Nice fleet of "champagne" colored cars you got too.

Thanks man, appreciate the feedback. As much as I like the champagne color, 3-4 at a time is too much lol.

This weekend I'm planning on buffing/waxing the paint, probably hasn't been done in 10+ years. I think I will be able to clean it up pretty good. Also going to out the final touches on the rocker panel and wrap that project up as well. Pictures will follow. Saturday morning might make a little road trip and pick up another 99 SSE, has 92k on it and they're asking 1400 OBO. Exterior needs some TLC but the inside would swap over perfectly into my car . There was also a SSE in the junkyard last week same color I could pull the front bumper and fenders off of and swap onto this one. I feel there is a few dollars to be made as well as parts that can be swapped over to mine.

[98SSE]

Not much to update on, I did however get a alignment and detailed my car. Washed, clay barred, waxed, and buffed. Came out pretty good for doing a basic job. Also got the wheels cleaned up as best as I could. With the new struts/mounts/and alignment it drives like a new car, also greased my balljoints and tie rod ends. Need to get a front set of tires, thinking about just matching the 2 in the rear (Cooper Response) and being done with it. All in all I'm pretty happy with it.

[zuper8]

your car is beautiful! I think 96-99s are so sharp in white. I like the exhaust tips too

[98SSE]

your car is beautiful! I think 96-99s are so sharp in white. I like the exhaust tips too

Thanks for the compliment! I really like the progress you've made with your car, the wheels especially set it off. Looking for a set for mine as well.

Things to do in the upcoming weeks are to replace my headliner with my new one (Sagging and falling down in places) and repair the cigarette lighter my wife broke this weekend. I guess she really wanted her phone charged lol. I'll pull one from the junkyard and replace when I change out the headliner.

[98SSE]

Today was spent cleaning my car and installing a leather cover on the front and got to wash/wax it again. No luck finding the cigarette lighter for the headliner, it will come with time. Plan on replacing that and the headliner all at once. Thinking about getting a set of HIR bulbs also. Here's how she is looking as of tonight.

[98SSE]

Got a little update. Friday my car hit 170k , then that night my coolant elbow ruptured . Got a ride from our friends down the road to get my tools and the metal elbows I had sitting on my work bench, luckily we were close to home. Took about an hour but I got it fixed, then proceeded to dinner. Spent the better part of today cleaning the mess up that was made when the elbow exploded, while I was at it I also replaced my thermostat, oil change, and gutted my stock air box and clean my K&N filter. Going out of town for training next week so needed my car in running order. Trip will be around 400+ miles total, but I'm not sweating it at this point.

[labonnevillastrangiato]

That car looks so nice and clean! Great job looking after it, but I will caution you on the bra: I had one on my previous '93 and I couldn't believe how much dirt and junk actually got trapped under it, smooshed against the hood. When I removed the bra and cleaned the mess up, the front of the hood was all scratched to hell. Just my personal experience, please watch for that. Love the amber fogs, btw. Bulbs or special lenses?

Adam

[Saturn Simon]

A nice pair of Bonnes! The 98 looks like it was well cared for. The SE is nice too, don't see too many bench seat cars out there.

It must be highly rare. I didn't even know you could get a bench seat in a 2000+!

[1oldman]

That car looks so nice and clean! Great job looking after it, but I will caution you on the bra: I had one on my previous '93 and I couldn't believe how much dirt and junk actually got trapped under it, smooshed against the hood. When I removed the bra and cleaned the mess up, the front of the hood was all scratched to hell. Just my personal experience, please watch for that. Love the amber fogs, btw. Bulbs or special lenses?

Adam

trim and body shops suggest you put a clear bra under the "regular" bra to prevent the paint from being damaged, or take the bra off every couple weeks and wash it. - BC

[98SSE]

Thanks for the feedback.

As far as the bra, before I put the bra on I clay barred/wax/buffed the car, and plan on keeping up on cleaning underneath of it also. Seen my dad scratch the front of my step-moms car from a bra from not keeping it clean. If I can find some of that clear bra I'll definitely install it. The fog lights were done with some Lamin-X film, real easy and I love the look.

I still haven't seen another bonnie with a bench seat up front since buying my 01 . Probably because it looked way better with buckets and a floor shifter lol. Never sat in the bucket seats to compare the difference, but my seat is comfy. Maybe you had to order it or something?

[98SSE]

Not much to update on, still driving her daily and just rolled over 172k this week and climbing fast. I do have a few questions someone might be able to help me out on.

1. My tie rod ends are needing replace but I cannot for the life of me get them off. I've tried heating them up and breaking them loose and also soaked them in PB Blaster with no luck. Anyone have any tips? They're pretty bad off and would like to replace since I have the new ones sitting on my work bench. Any help would be appreciated.

2. Lately when taking off my car has been lacking power but clears up after giving it a little more gas. Only does it every now and then but I'd like to take care of it before it becomes a problem. Awhile back I had cleaned the throttle body and was thinking it might just have gotten gunked up afterwards. No CEL at the moment, it does come on every now and then for an O2 sensor but not when the car is lacking power.