Hey guys I've been looking or a jeep to buy for a good 2 months now and I have already made my mind up on getting a STOCK XJ and building it up myself. Instead of buying a lifted and possibly abused xj. Anyways, I would really like to stay under the $2,000 budget. Lower the better. I already have a DD truck, but this would be for trails and to drive on the streets occasionally. Its a 96 Sport 4 door. i6 and 184k Miles. Yeah I know thats a lot but I've seen threads on here with people getting around 250K miles on the i6. So I'm not too worried about milage. He says its got good interior and runs and drives great. NO RUST other than a little surface rust on the top that the owner claims he has already cured.AC/Heat works, No problems other than damage to the windshield and passenger side door. I know I can replace the windshield around here for about $100, Ive done it on my previous vehicle. But it almost looks like the frame is bent a little bit. The windshield frame. I asked how he damaged it and he said he hit a trailer at work. But if you look in the pictures, you can see the door is fine but on the top of the door where it connects to the windshield it looks like it is a little bent. Is this fixable? Could I just get an old xj windshield frame from a junk yard and replace it? Anyways, the guy is asking 1200 or best offer. I know I can get it for $1,000. I Personally think this is a steal IF I can get the damage fixed for under $300. Here is some pictures let me know what y'all think! Thanks in advance for everyone who helps I really appreciate it and this forum!

 

If it was mechanically sound I'd buy it. The windshield fame could be pulled out easily I would think.

 

I wouldnt let that scare me, should be able to yank the windshield out, and have a frame shop hook up pullers to that post and get it straightened out fairly well. Might cost a few hundred at the frame shop, but well worth it, those guys know exactly where and how to hook up and pull it out right. A good bodyshop/frame guy will do it and install the new glass also, that way you know it was done right and the glass fits.

 

Ask the seller if you can have a repair shop look at it beforehand. It's better to know what you're walking into ahead of time.

 

buy it

 

I'd be worried about that bent a- pillar. If a piece of metal gets bent and you bend it back again it's not going be be as strong as it used to be. That a-pillar is fairly important in terms of structural integrity of the roof.

This all becomes more important if you plan to wheel it and potentially roll it over. Without a roll cage I wouldn't want to be in it off road.

 

I'm going to get an inspection at an inspection shop before I make an offer, but I figure it can't be much more than $300 to fix it as it does not look bent to bad. And I see where you are coming from, Black Label, but I'm not going to wheel it THAT hard to the point where theres a chance I'm going to roll over. What else do you guys think? Sound like a good deal for only 1 grand?

 

Bent A Pillar = Totaled ! who knows the structural rigidity of the rest of the Unibody. I wouldnt pay more then $250 and I'd turn it into a buggy

 

LOL, the rest of the unibody should be fine and the pillar can be pulled out or replaced. I would pick that up for 1K if then engine ran good and fix it myself. Bet it could be fixed for about 200 bucks with your own tools and replacing the windshield yourself.

 

Is it possible to just bent it back with a come along by myself? Theres an auto glass shop near me that will change windshields for $105. SO if I can get that pillar straight I won't have to spend much at all hopefully. Also, I called a houston frame collision shop, and I sent pictures of the jeep for a quote on repair, He said about $800 for everything! but thats top quality shop. I just need to frame bent back I don't care about making it look pretty again.

 

If you don't mind having a windshield that doesn't seal, sure. Did you ask them if they were going to pull it out or weld in a good piece? That's a ****ty place to have body damage. I'd honestly keep looking. This thing is just a headache for the cost.

 

It's far from totaled lol. Pull it back and support it. Everyone here thinks **** needs to be perfect which is B.S.

 

800 bucks? I don't believe it. Especially considering it would have to be repainted...

OP, once you fix it up you're going to be in it around $2000... you can get a running, driving, non-salvage titled XJ for $2k. Easy.

 

It's not going to be easy getting the a-pillar banged out to take a shield again. If it was, you'd think the seller would of done it. He'd still be better off finding another Cherokee.

 

This.