Not trying to high jack, but I'm also considering a 2003 Deville. I'm used to driving MBZs, Jaguars, BMWs (still have one) but always wanted to buy a Caddy. Had one in high school a 95 Fleetwood. But around here either young people get them and ruin them with hydraulics and crazy paint jobs or find a stock ones but the old bats don't want to sell them. And not trying to wait until one of them finally kick the bucket.
Heard the Northstar is notorious for head gasket failure and or head bolt separation. Even the MBZ, Jags, BMWs don't have that sort of problem (Although they have their own certain issues that usually don't ruin an engine or require engine removal). And the tons of listings with Northstar Caddies from 95-2001 with head gasket issue or over heating seem to out number ones that show no issues in the description. How about a 2003 deville, did they solve the issue by then?
Even with Jag and BMW V8 around 1998-2002 the ZF transmission had weak A-drums which (which usually lasted about 60,000-90,000 miles) was fixed by 2003 and the ones that still had it could be fixed easily for about $700 or so and no more problems. Yet I heard about Caddies one their 3rd engine and still have over heating, or ones that don't even make it to 60,000 at a tune of $2500-$5,000 a pop. IS that most people who got the Northstar engine not used to maintance of high performance engines and thought it could be treated like most American motors (I.e run it until it breaks at about 200,000 miles). Heard most repeated issues is due to people trying to re use the head bolts. In the Jag BMW MBZ world, that is common sense to NOT, NEVER EVER, resuse the head bolts. Is this something new to Caddilac owners and thus is why many keep having over heating problems over and over after replacing the haead gaskets?
In the early ones I heard sometimes carbon clog up stuff and help cause the over heating problem because people don't put their foot into it. In the MBZ world it's recommended to drive it at high speeds (somewhere legal) every so often or else sticking valves and carbon gunking can happen in those cars too and cause un even oil distribution and sticking carbon fouled parts.
And of course heard reports of people using water or some other cheap coolant. WTF? In any high performance engine, I would assume that one should never use pure water and only the recommended coolant. I remember back in the day before yellow stuff was sold on the self and it only came in green, MBZ made yellow coolant (W126 era) and when shopping for one for me or others, I automatically walked away if there was any sign that green coolant been put in there or nay other coolant than MBZ yellow. Now the list of recommended coolant for MBZ have expanded but still, none are green.
Now I assume many of the problems like the head gasket and head bolt thing is due mostly to improper maintance and people not paying attention. But since I never owned one I figure I ask here. Is the 2003 Deville good stuff if properly maintained or do that head gasket issue happen no matter what once it start to reach in the 120,000 mile range even with proper maintance? My 560SEL MBZ reached 250,000 miles no issues at all besides regular maintance wit hthe biggest thing is timing chain and tensioners and it still would be going if I didn't leave it in Germany. 420SEL, 1500,000 miles+ still running, just sold it. Jaguar XJ8, now tha tcan be a tempermental beast but nothing major and no leaks, mostly little electrical niggles and that weak A drum just bought a new one with the reinforced updated A-drum no tranny problem since. The BMWs 328i coupe 07 not a single issue. 528e running rich but eventually with patience ran down the problem, pretty cheap. BMW 7 series, little electrical issues here and there never stranded but annoying when the dash look like christmas tree and a pain in the butt to reset lights after services but no major issues.
The old 95 Fleetwood, would buy one if any one know of some old guy that is about to die and ready to sell and happen to be somewhere near el paso.
Heard the Northstar is notorious for head gasket failure and or head bolt separation. Even the MBZ, Jags, BMWs don't have that sort of problem (Although they have their own certain issues that usually don't ruin an engine or require engine removal). And the tons of listings with Northstar Caddies from 95-2001 with head gasket issue or over heating seem to out number ones that show no issues in the description. How about a 2003 deville, did they solve the issue by then?
Even with Jag and BMW V8 around 1998-2002 the ZF transmission had weak A-drums which (which usually lasted about 60,000-90,000 miles) was fixed by 2003 and the ones that still had it could be fixed easily for about $700 or so and no more problems. Yet I heard about Caddies one their 3rd engine and still have over heating, or ones that don't even make it to 60,000 at a tune of $2500-$5,000 a pop. IS that most people who got the Northstar engine not used to maintance of high performance engines and thought it could be treated like most American motors (I.e run it until it breaks at about 200,000 miles). Heard most repeated issues is due to people trying to re use the head bolts. In the Jag BMW MBZ world, that is common sense to NOT, NEVER EVER, resuse the head bolts. Is this something new to Caddilac owners and thus is why many keep having over heating problems over and over after replacing the haead gaskets?
In the early ones I heard sometimes carbon clog up stuff and help cause the over heating problem because people don't put their foot into it. In the MBZ world it's recommended to drive it at high speeds (somewhere legal) every so often or else sticking valves and carbon gunking can happen in those cars too and cause un even oil distribution and sticking carbon fouled parts.
And of course heard reports of people using water or some other cheap coolant. WTF? In any high performance engine, I would assume that one should never use pure water and only the recommended coolant. I remember back in the day before yellow stuff was sold on the self and it only came in green, MBZ made yellow coolant (W126 era) and when shopping for one for me or others, I automatically walked away if there was any sign that green coolant been put in there or nay other coolant than MBZ yellow. Now the list of recommended coolant for MBZ have expanded but still, none are green.
Now I assume many of the problems like the head gasket and head bolt thing is due mostly to improper maintance and people not paying attention. But since I never owned one I figure I ask here. Is the 2003 Deville good stuff if properly maintained or do that head gasket issue happen no matter what once it start to reach in the 120,000 mile range even with proper maintance? My 560SEL MBZ reached 250,000 miles no issues at all besides regular maintance wit hthe biggest thing is timing chain and tensioners and it still would be going if I didn't leave it in Germany. 420SEL, 1500,000 miles+ still running, just sold it. Jaguar XJ8, now tha tcan be a tempermental beast but nothing major and no leaks, mostly little electrical niggles and that weak A drum just bought a new one with the reinforced updated A-drum no tranny problem since. The BMWs 328i coupe 07 not a single issue. 528e running rich but eventually with patience ran down the problem, pretty cheap. BMW 7 series, little electrical issues here and there never stranded but annoying when the dash look like christmas tree and a pain in the butt to reset lights after services but no major issues.
The old 95 Fleetwood, would buy one if any one know of some old guy that is about to die and ready to sell and happen to be somewhere near el paso.