I have been thinking of buying this s5 from a budy for 750. He said it smokes a lot and might need to be rebuilt or replaced. I was just wondering if he is right. My experience of working on rotaries is slim to none, but I do understand how they work and most the parts so no need to put it in slowman's terms.

 

Honestly an S5 that starts and drives is easily worth that. I'd pay almost that much for a parts car.

That said if you want to haggle him down a bit, buy a compression tester and do a compression check:

http://www.rotaryresurrection.com/2n...ion_check.html

This might not work if the engine just has bad oil rings. So I'd also make sure to note if the engine consumes oil, and if the oil that is in there smells of gasoline. Either case would require a rebuild.

 

As long as it runs smooth and isn't super high mileage I'd say it's generally rebuild-able. If it runs very rough, or barely at all, it's probably an apex seal and that is a lot more expensive than just coolant seals or oil seals.

 

I'd offer him $400. Personally if the engine is about to go (which sounds like a strong possibility) I wouldn't bother but that is me.