Hi guys, new member here from the Michigan area. Im looking at picking up a 2004 xlr with less then 10k miles on her in a couple of days and had a few questions on what I should look for. Is there any known issues or problems that I need to know about. I heard that the radiator and power roof had some issues. Can any cadillac dealer look up the vin# and tell me what issues and services have already been performed or can they only tell what has been done to it if they only serviced it? Please any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Tony.

Hi guys, new member here from the Michigan area. Im looking at picking up a 2004 xlr with less then 10k miles on her in a couple of days and had a few questions on what I should look for. Is there any known issues or problems that I need to know about. I heard that the radiator and power roof had some issues. Can any cadillac dealer look up the vin# and tell me what issues and services have already been performed or can they only tell what has been done to it if they only serviced it? Please any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Tony.
Welcome ot the XLR Forum.

1. 2004 XLR Known Issues: Please read through the posts in the technical section here. Much has been posted on the known issues for all models. I recently completed a post for another member regarding a known issues by model year. To access it and lots of other posts on the subject please use the search function.

2. YES the cadillac dealer can provide you with a service history for the car.

3. Also obtain a up to date CARFAX on the car. That way you'll know what has occured with the car over the years.

4. You didn't say but is this a purchase from a Cadillac dealer? If so try and obtain a GMPP warranty. It may not be posssible but it is the only warranty that covers the top and all of the parts and labor. If not get a CPO Warranty.

Please let us know the outcome of your purchase.

Regards

Jerry

Unless a 2004 xlr sat for a couple years unsold and unused as a demo, a cpo warranty is no longer available. Cadillac's age limit for cpo is 4 years from in-use date. And, if you get a newer xlr within the cpo window, be aware that Cadillac offers no extended coverage plan at all beyond the cpo warranty's 2 years.

Cadillac is designing and building some terrific vehicles these days, but their lack of serious extended warranty coverage implies a considerable lack of confidence in longer-term use. Yeah, there's the 100k powertrain coverage, but that's only a part of the many electronic and mechanical parts on a modern car. If Cadillac really wants to be a world standard they need to step it up. Lexus, for example, will provide a 3-year cpo warranty on vehicles as old as 6 years / 70k miles, and sell you at least another 3 years on top of that.

Thanks for the quick response. The car is being sold by a private owner. How expensive are the tops(parts) to fix if and when the do go bad? Can any cadillac dearler pull the vin to see what has all been serviced on the car or must it be via the cadillac dealer that actually serviced it? Thanks again for all the help.

Any (cooperative) GM dealer can pull your car's history.

If I knew when my top was going to have issues, I would be psychic.

The most expensive component of the folding top is the hydraulic pump: $1600

You have plenty of time to start reading ALL of the posts in here before you pick up your car. Get hot! You will undoubtedly find answers to any questions you can think of. . . and a few you may never have considered.

CC :cheers

The two things I would look for on the history report is the radiator and headlight assembly replacement. The early ones got some crazing from the DLR's which was fixed with upgraded plastics on newer verison. Usually does not start showing until after 20,000 miles. I've got over 58,000 miles and never a top issue and I use it a lot. Any GM dealer can pull the history report for you.