996 Engine failures

[CHN]

The wife has just test driven a 2001 996 and loved it, but after a bit of reading by me, I'm concerned about the rate of engine failures. I know this isn't a new car but even so, I'm not going to spend the money if the risk of catastrophic failure is high.

Its got a full dealership service history, just over 80k on the clock, does this mean that potential probems would've been put right at servicing?

Do we have any happy 996 owners on here who've had no significant problems? Would a decent warranty cover the documented problems?

I would really appreciate some advice on this as.

Cheers

[J4CKO]

Loads of info on this in the Porsche section, been covered quite a bit !

[rezza]

I had a 2000 model C2, complete engine rebuild at 65k due to cracked liner, car was serviced by opc regularly.

Its a design flaw, cost 10k to get sorted (new liners and a few other bits and bobs refreshed).

Rezza

[CHN]

10k is not much less than you can actually buy the things for now. The more I look into it the more it just doesn't make any sense.

[uktrailmonster]

CHN said:

10k is not much less than you can actually buy the things for now. The more I look into it the more it just doesn't make any sense.

On the other hand they are great cars and most of them are pretty reliable. Running costs are also quite reasonable for this level of performance. If your wife really liked the car then I'd take the small risk of a major failure.

[gibbon]

CHN said:

10k is not much less than you can actually buy the things for now. The more I look into it the more it just doesn't make any sense.

So based on one internet opinion / experience your off the idea?

Righto, great research there.

[CHN]

If we were talking 3 or 4 grand for repairs I wouldn't have an issue, but £10k is another level.

I appreciate that they're great cars but is it really worth the risk? Are their plenty of owners on here with the higher mileage cars who've had no issues? Is it bad luck or is it definitely going to happen at some stage soon?

[CHN]

gibbon said:

So based on one internet opinion / experience your off the idea?

Righto, great research there.

I've read plenty of sources, this one in particular gives a good write up,(http://www.autofarm.co.uk/pdf/Total911_July06.pdf) but I'm also aware that the Internet is full of people who've found fault with things so I'm looking for a more balanced view, thats why I'm posting this, hoping to find plenty of owners who've had long and happy 996 ownership to balance things out.

Interestingly, in the article above, the specialists both stated that neither would have one personally, which begs the question.

Also, I'd like to know about warranty cover, would it cover the documented failures, and if so has anyone actually had to use it? If so, was it a battle, refused etc?

[uktrailmonster]

CHN said:

Interestingly, in the article above, the specialists both stated that neither would have one personally, which begs the question.

Josh Sadler (owner of Autofarm) does personally own a 996 and thinks they are great cars. They are prone to serious engine issues and if it bothers you that much, just buy one that has already been rebuilt by Hartech or Autofarm - there isn't really a premium for cars with rebuilt engines and there are a good few around if you are not in a big hurry.

Or simply don't worry about it so much like the vast majority of content 996 owners out there.

For research, read Hartech's various bulletins which contain all you need to know. Hartech also offer an excellent warranty/maintenance plan for these cars, but may not be practical unless you happen to be local.

[Nobby Diesel]

Better still, buy a Turbo.

[CHN]

uktrailmonster said:

Josh Sadler (owner of Autofarm) does personally own a 996 and thinks they are great cars. They are prone to serious engine issues and if it bothers you that much, just buy one that has already been rebuilt by Hartech or Autofarm - there isn't really a premium for cars with rebuilt engines and there are a good few around if you are not in a big hurry.

Or simply don't worry about it so much like the vast majority of content 996 owners out there.

For research, read Hartech's various bulletins which contain all you need to know. Hartech also offer an excellent warranty/maintenance plan for these cars, but may not be practical unless you happen to be local.

Cheers, I'll have a read of Hartechs stuff. Your advice sounds sensible on all fronts, I was all set to purchase but the horror stories sort of took the wind out of my sales. Thinking about it, even fitting a new engine would only cost what most standard new family saloon cars would lose in 5 years of ownership.

[Johnfrancis]

Ive had a 996 with no problems and a Boxster that blew its engine....both serviced well and driven the same. Once youve had a catastrophic failure you wont buy another one.

[Magic919]

There is a small chance it'll go wrong. It could be less than £5k, depending on how it goes. I run 2x 996 and maybe one will fail eventually. Have changed the IMS on one and the other needed a new RMS. Non-Porsche warranty is a bit of a lottery.

[Kananga]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Just been quoted almost £8k by one of the well known specialists for a rebuild following an IMS failure (having taken the engine apart and assessed the damage). When it's done, it should be bullet proof as I don't think there are any reported instances of the rebuilt engines blowing up again...

... Unless anyone has knowledge/experience otherwise?

[CHN]

Is it possible to get the preventative/upgrades and rebuild done cheaper without witing for the engine going pop?

[Kananga]

I think the IMS / bearing can be replaced (cost of c.£1-1.4k iirc), which is meant to help prevent failure, but I'm others are more knowledgeable.

[fastgerman]

Going by Hatech's pricing, they are one of the cheapest to maintain (see the stickied warranty thread if doesn't copy well):



Miles/year 6K 12K 18K 24K
944 996 Boxster & Boxster S £44 £55 £88 £121
944 S, S2 & 968 £50 £66 £105 £138
944T, 993, 996 Turbo GT2 GT3 £60 £75 £115 £143
911 3.2 £62 £82 £120 £165
911 964 £72 £105 £150 £200

[MrC986]

Dependent on where you are, you could always pay a good indie to do a full PPI including a look at the inside of the engine before you buy? At the end of the day you are buying a car that cost upwards of £60k new though & sadly some people try and run them for the same cost as a Mondeo and drive them hard from cold on start up.

If you find a well looked after car with a Hartech or Autofarm engine people do seem to pay a premium or alternatively try & find a good indie who has just carried out the same upgrade on one of their sale cars.

FWIW, the internet can be great but there are many many cars that have run without any problems well beyond 100k miles. Good luck & dont be easily put off as they are incredibly good value.

[CHN]

MrC986 said:

Dependent on where you are, you could always pay a good indie to do a full PPI including a look at the inside of the engine before you buy? At the end of the day you are buying a car that cost upwards of £60k new though & sadly some people try and run them for the same cost as a Mondeo and drive them hard from cold on start up.

If you find a well looked after car with a Hartech or Autofarm engine people do seem to pay a premium or alternatively try & find a good indie who has just carried out the same upgrade on one of their sale cars.

FWIW, the internet can be great but there are many many cars that have run without any problems well beyond 100k miles. Good luck & dont be easily put off as they are incredibly good value.

I just managed to find one with a rebuilt engine by a specialist, contacted the seller and it sold 2 hours ago... I'll keep looking

[rich_s]

I know they are a different engine but do many 996 Turbo engines go bang? assuming they haven't been tuned too much.

Rich