987 Boxster S Buying Advice

987 Boxster S Buying Advice

Author
Discussion

nigelj77

Original Poster:

196 posts

128 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
Having just sold my TVR I'm now looking for a Boxster S and have kind of settled on it being a 3.4 as from what I have read the post late '05 engines are less likely to suffer the dreaded IMS failure, am I correct in thinking the 3.4 is the "safer" of the 2 engines of am I unnecessarily limiting my choice of cars?

What is the typical life of a clutch, I know it depends on how it's driven but I've seen some with fairly low miles that have had clutches?

Obviously good service history is important, are they meant to have a 1K running in service?

Any other advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Nigel.

Porsche911R

21,146 posts

264 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all

nigelj77

Original Poster:

196 posts

128 months

Thursday 2nd June 2016
quotequote all
I'd heard about bore scoring, I didn't realise it was more common than IMS, I had seen that you can have an inspection done for this, I expect that a car with scored bores will smoke too or can the scoring have started before a point when it will smoke?

So a late 3.2 might be safer, I don't think a 2.7 will have enough go for me, I drove a 3.2 and was quite impressed but am coming from a 4.5lt tvr, had a 320 bhp Subaru last year and my daily drive is an audi S3.

What about clutches, typical lifespan and cost of replacement?

Thanks

Nigel.

Trev450

6,314 posts

171 months

Thursday 2nd June 2016
quotequote all
Oil burning and piston slap are both indicators of bore scoring but can often not be detected until the damage is already done. The safest route is to have a boroscope undertaken by someone who knows what they are looking for.

Clutch life can vary widely as with most cars and is dependent upon how it has been treated. As a ball-park, though, 50-60K and around £700 - £900 at a good indie.

brickwall

5,192 posts

209 months

Friday 3rd June 2016
quotequote all
The Gen1 3.4 is the highest risk engine. The advice I was given was either stretch to a Gen2 3.4, or go for a 3.2 (I went for the 3.2).

Otherwise things to look for:
- Cracked suspension springs
- Corroded air-conditioning radiators (in the front wheel arches)
- Clutch (as above)

They're absolutely cracking cars. You won't regret it.

nigelj77

Original Poster:

196 posts

128 months

Saturday 4th June 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies folks, I drove a 3.2 a few weeks back but wasn't in a position to buy, I was impressed with it but it had patchy history so probably wouldn't have been for me anyway.

I looked at a 07 plate 3.4 a few days ago, low miler but not a great example and it puffed out a big cloud of oil smoke when I started it so I suspect it's not in good health.

When we talk about the gen 1 3.4 is that the first few years when it was 295 bhp? They are at the top of what I can afford, is bore scoring the only issue and what sort of percentage of cars does it affect?

I've read 3.4 boxsters were less affected than caymans, surely it's the same engine?

I'm hoping to look at an 07 3.4 tomorrow if the buyer is around, I am also considering a 3.4 with just over 70K on it but it's further to travel so not so easy for me to get to, there's also a nice looking 07 plate 3.4 with 35k on it but its at a dealer so is really pushing my budget.

I'm getting impatient but don't want to buy a money pit so will have to bide my time.

KMF

525 posts

147 months

Saturday 4th June 2016
quotequote all
i think in my stupid own opinion, either spend on a gen2 (quite a bit more expensive but does not suffer from any of the 3 major gen1 engine problems) or go for a S2000, a car with one of the best engines ever made

bcr5784

7,102 posts

144 months

Saturday 4th June 2016
quotequote all
KMF said:
i think in my stupid own opinion, either spend on a gen2 (quite a bit more expensive but does not suffer from any of the 3 major gen1 engine problems) or go for a S2000, a car with one of the best engines ever made
An S2000 (or a NA Civic Type R of the same vintage) are very marmite engines - you need to rev them very high for them to come alive, so won't suit everyone. Not my cup of tea - but we are all different.

nigelj77

Original Poster:

196 posts

128 months

Saturday 4th June 2016
quotequote all
V tech is definitely not my cup of tea, I'm coming out of a 4.5lt v8 so revving the guts out of something isn't for me.

On bore scoring how frequent is failure, are we talking 1 in 10 or 1 in 100 sort of numbers?

I've been told to buy one that's been used so it hasn't sat with oil draining away from the bores,does this make sense or does it not make much difference?

Mark8303

47 posts

95 months

Saturday 4th June 2016
quotequote all
Worth mentioning, especially as you're coming from a TVR, would be the p.s.e., mine has it and it's the first button I press every time I get in. Mine also has the phone, which I wouldn't bother about and the satnav is outdated now. The full leather is nice and red calipers? Well you have to don't you. Cayman S alloys look good on mine, and Bose sounds good (to me). Mine has a 'weep' from the i.m.s. which my indie says is nothing to worry about and I should wait until it needs a clutch (it's on 45k). Mine is a 987 gen 1 and I bought it before knowing the caveats regarding bore scoring. So far it's fine although I am considering the low temperature thermostat upgrade and I change oil every 5k, sod the 20 Porsche recommend. So far I love it to bits and can't resist getting up the revs just to hear it and feel the rush each time I drive it, although my other drive is a van or a Focus 1.6!

gd

404 posts

187 months

Monday 6th June 2016
quotequote all
I've had a 987 3.4 Boxster S for over 18 months now, it's a March 07 car with 57k miles on the clock, and I've loved every minute of owning it.

Unfortunately I have to sell it as I'm getting a company car, and my other half says either the Boxster or the 997 turbo have to go, and I just can't part with the turbo.

I wouldn't worry about the IMS or bore scoring. The IMS issue was sorted out (mainly) on the 3.4 cars, and the bore scoring seems to be much more of an issue for the Caymans than the Boxsters (according to Baz at Hartech - I'd read his posts if you really want to understand this and have a few ours spare, I'd hazard a guess he knows more than Porsche do about their engines). And if you really want to, buy a low-temp thermostat and change the oil every 6 months.

I had mine checked out fully before buying it, and did a borescope as part of this (as a result of reading the scare stories on here), and it had a clean bill of health. And it's not skipped a beat so far, a thoroughly enjoyable car that I will be very sad to see drive away.

Look out for an ad on here in the next week or so :-(

Mike Brown

585 posts

186 months

Monday 6th June 2016
quotequote all
Had mine three years bores checked and fine,never missed a beat great great car, don't be put off the
Internet is to scary and mostly full of bad news not good,looking to get a PSE FITTED Porsche. Good luck Mike

nigelj77

Original Poster:

196 posts

128 months

Monday 6th June 2016
quotequote all
I guess you can be unlucky with either a 3.2 or a 3.4 and nobody wants to suffer either of the failures.

Both the 3.4s that I was considering have sold and there's little remaining in my sort of budget so I either wait or look for a 3.2 of which there seem to be a few with prices varying from 10 to 15K.

Is there much to choose between them in terms of performance, the figure say not but what about real world?

markoc

1,084 posts

195 months

Monday 6th June 2016
quotequote all
I think the next edition of EVO has a 987 buyers guide so keep an eye out.

I have a 3.2 987 S. Worth looking out for sports seats and the sport chrono package (switchable exhaust being the best bit). Having had a 986S I was happy with the 3.2 - plenty of scaremongering around about most variants of the boxster/cayman engines. Buy one that has been well maintained and get it inspected.

I'm 18 months in with mine and having that "fancy something different" feeling, but can't think of anything that would be as fun or practical.

DavidJG

3,507 posts

131 months

Tuesday 7th June 2016
quotequote all
Or do what I did...... Get a nice early 3.2S and have one of the many IMS upgrade options fitted - either uprated bearing, or an external lubrication pipe that squirts oil into the bearing. 3.2 doesn't suffer from bore score, so an uprated 3.2 appears to be a good option. Of course, failure rates for uprated bearings are unknown, but they seem to be a good option.

lj04

371 posts

190 months

Tuesday 7th June 2016
quotequote all
I spent about 2 years looking at adverts before I purchased my Cayman S. Must have seen a couple of hundred cars only 2 mentioned a reconditioned engine, so I believe the failure rate to be less than 2 %

nigelj77

Original Poster:

196 posts

128 months

Tuesday 7th June 2016
quotequote all
There seem to be arguments for either a 3.2 or a 3.4 which has me totally undecided.

I've spoken to a couple of dealers about one of each, a nice looking 3.2 which sounds to have been very well cared for during it's 65K miles, on for £12.5K and a 3.4 with FSH and only 39K (although is advertised as having 35K!!!) which is on for £16K.

Tbh I think the 3.4 is overpriced but is coming from a big franchise so perhaps I can get it for what I'm willing to pay.

I notice the 3.4 needs it's roof re-tensioning, this seems pretty common on 3.4 age cars and less so on 3.2, is it a big or expensive issue to put right?

I'm hoping to view both cars on Friday afternoon as they are about 30 miles apart.

Thanks for all the replies so far.

markBXTR

28 posts

93 months

Wednesday 8th June 2016
quotequote all
Hi, I've had a 2005 3.2 Boxster S for the past three years without any issues. I've decided to keep it long term so had the IMS checked out. It turns out that my car has the new non serviceable bearing fitted straight from the factory. I was very surprised to say the least. Only cost £600 instead of £1200, had a Carnewal full GT exhaust fitted (sounds awesome) at the same time, so no charge for fitting as the exhaust needs removing to check the bearing.

My car was registered April 2005.


markBXTR

28 posts

93 months

Wednesday 8th June 2016
quotequote all
They removed the gearbox etc and checked.

nigelj77

Original Poster:

196 posts

128 months

Wednesday 8th June 2016
quotequote all
It's a painful situation, pay 1200 quid and replace what could be perfectly good bearing or leave it alone and risk catastrophic failure or go for the 3.4 and hope the bores don't score.....

Forecast at the moment might stop me getting to drive the cars I was hoping to this weekend, can't see many garages handing over the keys in torential rain :-(