I'm about to buy my friend's bone stock 05 SSL Evo 8 with 98,000 miles. what are some general things to look for on a higher mileage evo?

 

Proof of service records and then comparing those to what the scheduled maintenance is (look in owners manual). That's a good place to start. Then other obvious things, like fluid levels, fluid leaks, engine health, trans shift quality, brakes, clutch feel, suspension noises, ect...
Good luck!

 

+1.

 

Besides what the rest said also Make sure the 60 K service was done (water pump, gasket, timing belt, tensioners, balance shaft belt, tensioners etc)… if not factor in the 60 K parts are 635.00 and 585 in labor estimate only of course. I read a t-belt broke around this many miles due to neglect, senseless tuning.

 

I didn't pay that much for my timing belt kit, I think it was closer to $400 from RussellM.

 

I got my evo at 83k miles. At 90k I took it in to have it serviced and I never new if the timing belt was replaced at 60k so i had it done then(better safe than sorry). Also had tensioners replaced, fluids, other minor things checked/done and it all came out to about $700ish.


OP try to get maintenance records.

 

I used this "what to look for" section:
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...oking-evo.html