996 Turbo DIY...

[steve singh]

Keep looking at the 996 turbos in the classifieds...

Are things like turbos, alternator, starter motor, fuel pump, heat shields, spolier struts DIY'able by an average person at home?

Recognise the engine has to be dropped out ? However heard people doing this at home without a four poster ramp?

Love the car, however whilst I can afford to run the car even through an OPC, I wouldn't be keen to have to have every job done by a specialist as this will be a weekend car only and cost of ownership comes into play...


Thanks.

[Rockster]

steve singh said:

Keep looking at the 996 turbos in the classifieds...

Are things like turbos, alternator, starter motor, fuel pump, heat shields, spolier struts DIY'able by an average person at home?

Recognise the engine has to be dropped out ? However heard people doing this at home without a four poster ramp?

Love the car, however whilst I can afford to run the car even through an OPC, I wouldn't be keen to have to have every job done by a specialist as this will be a weekend car only and cost of ownership comes into play...


Thanks.

Given someone with a reasonable level of automobile mechanical expertise and equipment the items you mentioned can be replaced by a home mechanic, though they do not seem to be all that frequently in need of replacing.

My 03 Turbo with over 104K miles has needed none of the items you listed replaced. In fact, even some wear items are original like the clutch even the brakes. The only things on/in the engine that have been replaced are the spark plugs. Oh, and an idler roller bearing, a clutch accum/slave cylinder and the power steering tank with a defective valve.

If the engine has to be dropped of course you need to be able get the car high enough in the air so there is sufficient clearance to get an engine lift under the engine to support it securely/safely -- one wants to avoid dropping this engine -- and then lower the engine down and roll out it from under the car.

[Vixpy1]

Many things require the rear bumper off, but other than that, everything like turbo's are very accessable, anything on top of the engine is slightly different though.

[NBTBRV8]

You should be fine, but ideally you want a 4 post hoist. Much easier than rolling around on the ground. I had to change my alternator and power steering pump and these weren't "too" bad to do.

[steve singh]

Thanks guys - really appreciate the responses.

So based buying well at the outset and some basic diy stuff at home - what's the thoughts on likely annual mechanical/electronic upkeep (exc brakes/tyres/routine servicing)?

Would £3k p.a. cover it on average?

[davek_964]

steve singh said:

Thanks guys - really appreciate the responses.

So based buying well at the outset and some basic diy stuff at home - what's the thoughts on likely annual mechanical/electronic upkeep (exc brakes/tyres/routine servicing)?

Would £3k p.a. cover it on average?

£3k excluding brakes / tyres / routine servicing? That sounds very high unless you're planning about 50k miles a year!

My last two services on the turbo have cost be between £1,500 and £2k each I think and it's not needed anything else in between. One of those was a minor, but I needed some other stuff done (including brakes, which I planned to do myself but once it was being serviced anyway...). Other was a major, but a leaking steering rack added to the cost.

I reckon £2k a year covers my mechanical stuff quite easily on the turbo (and was my daily car until a couple of weeks ago). Tyres seem to last me ages, so not a big expense.

[mez3]

steve singh said:

Thanks guys - really appreciate the responses.

So based buying well at the outset and some basic diy stuff at home - what's the thoughts on likely annual mechanical/electronic upkeep (exc brakes/tyres/routine servicing)?

Would £3k p.a. cover it on average?

I hope 3k a year covers it!

I've had mine just over a year now and so far I have spent in total

£1000 major service plus coil packs( didn't need doing but done them anyway) this included a new ignition switch too,
£240. Wheel alignment
£500 new water pump
£800 4 new tyres
£35. New number plate light units
£200 recon Bosch starter ( had my own rebuilt)
£1200 bucket seats as standard porsche sports seats not good for me at all.

Touch wood it's been great over the past 6000 miles.

Couple of trips abroad etc, water pump went 10 miles after returning from my last trip which was very lucky.

I intend to get the wheels refurbed and the front calipers done in the summer.

So I have spent about 2 k on servicing and repairs in my first year of ownership which is not bad considering the amazing car that it is.

I didn't need the tyres tbh as the bridgestones were well legal but with a car like this I just feel safer with new rubber underneath me. I sold the old ones on eBay for 250. ( don't know who would want s/h tyres on a 400 hp car, just crazy)

Good luck with your search, they are superb cars.

[EvoSlayer]

Providing you have decent access to the underneath most things are DIY'able. The turbo is no more difficult than anything else to work on. I've had mine for just on 6 years now and to give you an idea here's some of the stuff I've tackled from the comfort of my own garage...

All 3 water radiators
Both air-con condensors
Brakes - Pads, discs, calipers, brake lines, fluid and brake light switch
Clutch accumulator
Both turbochargers replaced, oil lines and various heatshields
Turbo/Intercooler hoses & D/Vs
Intercoolers replaced
Exhaust & manifolds
Fitted 5bar FPR
Fitted IPD Intake
ARB & droplinks
Replaced Engine/Transmission mounts

...And a load of mundane stuff like changing plugs/coilpacks, oil and various filters etc etc, and probably a load of other stuff I've forgotten about!
So far I've never needed motor taking out and much of the time it's just a case of taking a load of stuff off until you get to the bit you need.

Car visits OPC once a year for an annual inspection which gives me an opportunuity to chat through any issues with techie and for him to point out anything I've missed!

Get one bought

Edited by EvoSlayer on Monday 4th February 15:02

[Rockster]

steve singh said:

Thanks guys - really appreciate the responses.

So based buying well at the outset and some basic diy stuff at home - what's the thoughts on likely annual mechanical/electronic upkeep (exc brakes/tyres/routine servicing)?

Would £3k p.a. cover it on average?

Let's see: Excluding brakes, tires, routine servicing? Ok, what's that leave? Wiper blades and light bulbs and washing and waxing.

I'd say £300 p. a. (easy) would cover it...

You can set aside £3000 p. a. if you want and after a few years you'll have a nice bundle of money tucked away.

[NBTBRV8]

I fitted many of my own parts to my 996t and supplied all parts to the OPC when I took it in for a "service". This way they stamped the book as having a full service history yet I did most of the work. Minor services probably cost me 100-150gbp and majors about 250-300gbp including parts. It was a pretty cheap car to own.

If you can't do any of it yourself then expect it to be a expensive car to own.

[steve singh]

Thanks for the additional responses - seems running costs should be ok.

I've now got the fun (& long) part to come - start browsing the classifieds to get a feel for the market !

[sundayjumper]

mez3 said:

£1200 bucket seats as standard porsche sports seats not good for me at all.

Sorry to go O/T but I'm not finding the sports seats comfortable in mine either and have been pondering buckets too - which ones did you get ? I'd also like to get my seating position lower as right now I don't have enough headroom to wear a helmet, so I can't do any track days