Dear Gravitt,

Hope you're well. To hanacaptain's sound advice I'd add only that you should not drive the car even 10 feet, until you have changed the timing belt, timing belt tensioner, idler pulley and water pump. If you want a shop to to this work, DO NOT drive the car to the shop: have it towed or put on a flat-bed truck.

The reason: the 960's engine is of an "interference" design. If the timing belt breaks (or if there's a failure in one of the other items above-listed) valves strike pistons. Bent valves require a head re-build, which costs about $2,500, if done at a shop. If a valve should knock a hole in a piston, the engine is ruined.

This may sound alarmist. But I've read too many posts from those bewailing the nasty results of failing to be sure that the timing belt (or tensioner, idler pulley, or water pump) had been changed.

If the prior owner does not have documentary proof that the key parts have been replaced - a receipt with date, mileage, and a list of parts changed - get these parts changed and do not drive the car, until the work has been done.

If you do not know well the shop at which this work is done, ask that the replaced parts be returned to you, along with the boxes from the replacement parts. In this way, you can be "sure" that your car has new parts.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

Congratulations on you acquisition. I have a 1995 960 and love the way it drives. You can install the seat heaters without changing the seats. The heaters are pads with heating wires built in. You can slide them in between the leather and foam bottom and back cushions. You will need the console switches, and the green relay that is attached to the seat bottom cushion. You should be able to find all these in a junk yard.
However by far the most important thing is to get the timing belt changed immediately if you don't have documentation that it has been done. It is due at 70,000 miles. If it fails, the engine will be ruined. You should change the tensioner, idler bearing and water pump at the same time. Failure of any one of the components is the same result as a failed timing belt. Not sure about your smell, but it could be associated with a failing timing belt component.
Hope this helps.
John