If you ever sell, Im your buyer. This thing is fully sorted now. Very informative video. Hit the subscribe button guys, I have yet to watch a “dull” VideoBob video.
I have a fix for the xlr 2004-2005 suspension module. It's a bypass I built myself, eliminates the need for corvette simulators and also fixes the 04-05 suspension module. If interested message me.
Like you said in previous videos, buy on depreciation and pay cash. Doing your homework before getting into it helps a lot so you don't get burned. When it comes time to sell it, you'll get back what you put into it or more.
I have an 05 that I've had for many years. It was my pimp car back in the day. I installed an 09 front fascia and the v series hood, painted a black stripe on the hood, added 20 inch wheels, painted the calipers red and removed the sway bar from my Z06 and installed it. Stopped driving it 7 years ago because I had a new baby....now I'm trying to get her back up and going as a daily. Already retinted the windows, had to replace both hood shocks so it stays open on its own now, about the add some Bilstein shocks and get rid of that magnetic stuff as they aren't worth the money, my gas door button is acting up, my fuel sender isn't sending the right signals and a tail light I had fixed awhile back......now needs a power supply. It's expensive if you can't do all the work yourself but I'm a Motorhead so it's just a time thing. I have the only one in my city so it's still a damn head turner. I love them but they are potentially a maintenance nightmare.
Fantastic video! Great, useful info ,not just for the XLR, but to anybody who is looking to buy a older vehicle. Thx for sharing, looking forward to next project!!
The biggest mistake Cadillac made was not using the Corvette motor. Magnetic Ride shocks are available, they cost a lot though. I have 3 cars with Magnetic Ride and it makes the car ride like a sports car when you want, and it makes the car ride like a larger sedan when you want it to. I like to put it in touring mode, set the adaptive cruise control and it eats highways up without beating you up. Cadillac's adaptive cruise control is one of the best. My Wife has a Benz, and it's adaptive cruise control gets special mention. These are interesting cars though. GM didn't make a lot of them and that's been good for resale, not so good for repair prices though.
If Cadillac put the Corvette engine in the XLR the cost would have been more than a well stocked Corvette. That was the problem when the XLR was introduced. Most figured why should I pay for a XLR, when you could get a corvette for the same price.
GM ABS modules are notorious for going bad and having to be replaced or "rebuilt" (which basically means repaired). I did mine myself, cut the module open and resoldered all the coils and relays inside, then re-sealed the module with RTV silicone. The most common failure on the GM brake modules us the solder joints crack/fail. Simply resoldering everything has fixed mine, and it's been working great for at least 2 years now. Saved well over $400 over buying a "rebuilt" module. 👍
For my Fellow European Citizens, Cadillac somehow reminds me of Citroën. Very comfortable, safe and always ahead of time. Great Video Bob! Hello from N.J. Keep doing great videos!
Nothing like the MRC shocks. The introduction to the technology was on the 2002 Seville and soon there after, the 2004 Cadillac XLR which is on all top cars now, including Ferrari, Mercedes and many more.
I have a PT Cuiser convertible 06 in mint condition, easy and cheap fixings. Fun car to drive top down without breaking the budget that gives me lots of compliments all the time. Living the dream Bob!
It's so interesting to me when two channels I follow independently come together. I watched your video on the BT45-VETTE Bluetooth system for my XLR-V a while back and then saw you on Hoovie's channel recently and was like "I know that guy!"
That trunk design is a plus. It saves the need for two additional cylinders like the SL and SLK which flips the trunk lid backwards in order to fit the top.
By the way you're speedometer needle catch catches on its way back from the sweep at started from the sweep it start up it kind of comes back and then glitches and then continues on I have a feeling your stepper motors are probably about to go bad. They're not too expensive if you buy the motors and change them yourself but just buying the whole cluster can get very expensive I believe you'll notice overtime that your gages are gonna stop being so accurate the needles aren't gonna move especially
This was kind of the last hurrah for the Northstar. Prior to this, the engine had gained a reputation by yanking its head bolts out, but that was fixed by the time the XLR came around. It was thought that for the price of the car and being that it was marketed as a competitor to European cars, the more "exotic" Northstar engine should be used. And it's quite different from an LS - quad cam with variable valve timing is the biggie. Rated for around 325 hp out of 4.6 liters (440-ish in supercharged form, available 06-09 in the XLR-V) it's no slouch. It can also lose all of its coolant and still get you where you're going thanks to the 8 quart oil sump, too (in a limp mode).
@@mikeripley3266I’ve got an 09 XLR and I agree with you the northstar engine is a great engine , runs good , cruise on hwy at 90 - 95 all day and it like it’s just idling.
Hi Bob . You have so many cool things . Here I am in Mexico just wishing I could do the things you do . I love your show . Cant wait to meet you some day . I'll hold the camera for you ...jajaja thanks again for you doing and sharing . Shell
My business partner had one of these he was always complaining that he didn’t have the V but I thought it was plenty fast and it rides super smooth. I’ll take one of these over a c5 or c6 vette any day
@@rebert69 Bilstein didn't make them. Why would they mess with rebuilding them? The fluid is magnetorheological and is used in very few shocks, relatively speaking. BWI is the manufacturer of the OEM shock.
Had it first year, 2004, too. Also, rain sensing wipers, heads-up display, heated/vented seats, two driver memory for seat/mirrors/steering wheel, reverse obstacle sensors, DVD player, 9 speakers. Lots to break!
Mahalo for emphasizing the FUN experience driving a car represents. Over here... driving is NO fun at all. Driving through Honolulu... except at maybe 1 in the morning, is no fun at all 😆
I believe how much you spent on your XLR because I own one..... Update: Bought a USASPEC BT-45 Vette, did the install and it is awesome. They made the install harder because I didn't realize the blue locking tab revealed the release tab. I think you mentioned it, but I didn't figure it out till bout 30m into it. Once I got that, the install and setup was as you explained, To bad you can't add photo's cause I've been working on an upgrade to the crash loops by replacing them with stainless steel. As well as polishing the crash loop cradles on the Wind Reflector.
I had an 06 XLR and the actuator pumps for the roof went out one by one within a 2 month timeframe. At that time, assuming they could find one, it would cost me $600 per actuator, not including labor. I sold the car back in 2015. It became a money pit.
On all convertibles, when one cylinder goes, you replace all of them in one shot. Otherwise, you will just be swapping them one by one. Top Hydraulics is the place to get the replacement cylinders.
No, the GMX215 was collaborated with lexus, not porsche and Mercedes. At the time, the only hard top convertible worth its weight in salt was the Lexus convertible. I believe it was the sc430
Bob its the same for my 86 Cadillac Coupe Deville coolant the most important to keep it on the road as well as all other fluids . 179k+ clean one owner my family car.
They were hella expensive, then used prices came way down. I picked up an '04 with 85K on it and lots of receipts a few years ago and have enjoyed maintaining it ever since. It's not a Corvette, but it sure is fun.
Great vlog as always. You got a GREAT buy on that car. The cars are great...I know. I own a 2006 XLR as well. I might sell mine if anyone is interested hit me up...just saying.
By the way... this system will not bring (brake) the car completely to a stop. I have the same system on my 2005 STS. It keeps the distance between your car and the car in-front and nothing more. Go ahead and see if it stops completely on its own. 😂 Too bad the XLR does not have the multi-color HUD system as in my STS.
Even better (?), my 2004 XLR has it too. He forgot the rain sensing wipers, back-up alarm and two driver memory settings for seat/wheel. Heated/ventilated seats, as well. The maintenance suggested in this video is solid.
Awesome video man. I live out here in Vegas too. Been looking to get one of these myself. Give us an update on any work you may have put into that Northstarr. I had a 2004 Deville so I'm just wondering if the ones in these XLR's are any different.
Kinda mostly. RWD, head bolt issues resolved, rear transaxle. Kind of the final bestest of the Northstar, especially with the supercharger -V pushing over 400 to the drive wheels. Transmission is slow-shifting by any modern standard.
Wish we had these cars in the UK. They're just so cool, without even trying. The kinda 'if you know, you know' kinda cool. Thanks for the video Bob. Keep living the dream, and letting us come along for the ride 😉. Peace out brother...
Near 3:00 coming from Galveston Texas. I dig your videos exclamation point and was hoping you could give some advice on opening the the convertible top my fluid level is a little bit low the trunk does open and close with low fluid that makes me think I got a leaky cylinder I've recently purchased the car and trying to figure these things out other than bypassing the micro switch can you offer any other advice how to get the top to function so I can figure out which cylinders are leaking?
I followed your directions on the little switch for the top and twisted the two wires together and my top still don’t work. There has to be some other issue ; 2006 XLR
I have an 2004 XLR when i got it the trunk worked was having trouble with top going up or down. Had my girl friend hold the switch while was watching it. the the hyrolic pump guit working so now the trunk dose not work the switchs still work but the hydrolic just don't kick in. I tried the fuse number 44 but its good. is there another one i am missing I just got this car and I love it that is the only problem im having it only has 48000 miles on it.
Thought you were gonna part this out? I didn’t really like it until the top went down. Trim is nowhere near a German car, very plastic and are they f-body indicator stalks!? Good for $12-15000 though. Different
yep bills are high even on a old tarar or whatever 100 an hour gets nuty .so people changer your oil way more the factory say 10k plus you killing it lake speed jr on yt the oil man shows test 4500 miles on top shelf is an ok number but do test oil samples then you will know and not have gummed engine i see loads with 8k give or take oil changes dead gummed up
