997 gen 1- should i be worried?
Discussion
I’m seriously considering getting a 911 997 Gen1 for me and Mrs BrownSpeed to share, for probably 3-4000 miles a year. My budget doesn’t stretch to a gen 2. Having trawled various forums I’ve heard all about the ”issues” with IMS bearings, bore scoring and bore ovality. Before we go any further- I own a TVR fitted with the alleged “chocolate speed 6" engine. if I believed all I read on these, wouldn’t own one; I've learned that forums tend to be populated by people helping others with their problems, and nobody tends to post about how reliable their cars are. My only advice so far has been- buy one with a rebuild!
So; I’m interested in your thoughts; how realistic are these problems?
What sort of percentage 997Gen1 have these issues?
Is the 3.6 more robust than the 3.8?
Is there a mileage where things start to go wrong?
Should I just play it safe and get a dacia sombrero instead!
Any support is greatly appreciated.
So; I’m interested in your thoughts; how realistic are these problems?
What sort of percentage 997Gen1 have these issues?
Is the 3.6 more robust than the 3.8?
Is there a mileage where things start to go wrong?
Should I just play it safe and get a dacia sombrero instead!
Any support is greatly appreciated.
Just back from 450 mile round trip to Anglesey in my wife's 997. Such a great car for the money.
Loads on here about problems.
Bottom line? Buy as late a one as possible so you get the upgraded IMS bearing (post 2006) and run it under Porsche warranty if you are concerned re scoring (thought to be bigger problem in 3.8). You will have to use OPC but at your mileage hopefully only 2 yearly visits.
As for probability and mileage. Hard to say. We had new engine at 7500 miles on 2004 997.1 but our 8 year old one is going strong at 45,000 and I have only ever added a litre of oil between services in all those miles - none in the last 4 years (heavy oil use being the first sign of trouble).
Loads on here about problems.
Bottom line? Buy as late a one as possible so you get the upgraded IMS bearing (post 2006) and run it under Porsche warranty if you are concerned re scoring (thought to be bigger problem in 3.8). You will have to use OPC but at your mileage hopefully only 2 yearly visits.
As for probability and mileage. Hard to say. We had new engine at 7500 miles on 2004 997.1 but our 8 year old one is going strong at 45,000 and I have only ever added a litre of oil between services in all those miles - none in the last 4 years (heavy oil use being the first sign of trouble).
If your looking for a 997 everyone says avoid the 3.8 and go for the 3.6, they are not so prone to the known issues with the 997 engine.
Yet if you go for a 996 they say go for the 3.4 as they are not so prone to the known issues as the 3.6. Yet that would be the very same 3.6 as found in the base model 997!
I've also heard similar with the 3.4, 3.2 and 2.7 987's and 3.2, 2.7 and 2.5 986's
So all in all who the hell knows!
I'm very much with you in that the Internet is quickly filled by the stories of woe from the unfortunate few whilst those that keep on keeping on have little or no interest in telling their tale, and who would read, take note or share it if they did?
Says man with a 3.6 C4S and his fingers very firmly crossed whilst touching wood.
If you can live with a Speed Six TVR then a 3.8 997 really shouldn't worry you, get it thoroughly inspected and buy with you head.
Yet if you go for a 996 they say go for the 3.4 as they are not so prone to the known issues as the 3.6. Yet that would be the very same 3.6 as found in the base model 997!
I've also heard similar with the 3.4, 3.2 and 2.7 987's and 3.2, 2.7 and 2.5 986's
So all in all who the hell knows!
I'm very much with you in that the Internet is quickly filled by the stories of woe from the unfortunate few whilst those that keep on keeping on have little or no interest in telling their tale, and who would read, take note or share it if they did?
Says man with a 3.6 C4S and his fingers very firmly crossed whilst touching wood.
If you can live with a Speed Six TVR then a 3.8 997 really shouldn't worry you, get it thoroughly inspected and buy with you head.
Edited by Roberty on Monday 23 May 06:34
Just to add something to this thread:
My 997 C4S 56 plate has just hit 94k miles. A faulty AOS caused some serious heart palpitations however I've enjoyed some fairly hassle free motoring. Recent compression test at 9E was phenomenal. Ken was somewhat surprised.
Yes there is a risk - but remember the internet has a tendency to collate the horror stories. You'll never see a thread from people like me who continue to use the car daily because I don't feel the need to post every time I reach I milestone of mileage.
My 997 C4S 56 plate has just hit 94k miles. A faulty AOS caused some serious heart palpitations however I've enjoyed some fairly hassle free motoring. Recent compression test at 9E was phenomenal. Ken was somewhat surprised.
Yes there is a risk - but remember the internet has a tendency to collate the horror stories. You'll never see a thread from people like me who continue to use the car daily because I don't feel the need to post every time I reach I milestone of mileage.
Splurge997 said:
Just to add something to this thread:
My 997 C4S 56 plate has just hit 94k miles. A faulty AOS caused some serious heart palpitations however I've enjoyed some fairly hassle free motoring. Recent compression test at 9E was phenomenal. Ken was somewhat surprised.
Yes there is a risk - but remember the internet has a tendency to collate the horror stories. You'll never see a thread from people like me who continue to use the car daily because I don't feel the need to post every time I reach I milestone of mileage.
where`s that "like" button?My 997 C4S 56 plate has just hit 94k miles. A faulty AOS caused some serious heart palpitations however I've enjoyed some fairly hassle free motoring. Recent compression test at 9E was phenomenal. Ken was somewhat surprised.
Yes there is a risk - but remember the internet has a tendency to collate the horror stories. You'll never see a thread from people like me who continue to use the car daily because I don't feel the need to post every time I reach I milestone of mileage.
Thanks Splurge- just the response I was hopping for. Yes, I know that some of them may have issues, nice to hear that some also don't spontaneously combust when the pass 40k miles too!
BTW- what`s an AOS valve? I have a TVR, I don't even know what ABS means!
maybe I'll reconsider about buying that Dacia now!
brownspeed said:
where`s that "like" button?
Thanks Splurge- just the response I was hopping for. Yes, I know that some of them may have issues, nice to hear that some also don't spontaneously combust when the pass 40k miles too!
BTW- what`s an AOS valve? I have a TVR, I don't even know what ABS means!
maybe I'll reconsider about buying that Dacia now!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=993885Thanks Splurge- just the response I was hopping for. Yes, I know that some of them may have issues, nice to hear that some also don't spontaneously combust when the pass 40k miles too!
BTW- what`s an AOS valve? I have a TVR, I don't even know what ABS means!
maybe I'll reconsider about buying that Dacia now!
Air oil separator:
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