BOXSTER 3.4 RELIABILITY

[Mike Brown]

I am considering purchasing a 3.4 boxster, could anyone tell me if these are reliable engines or are they affected the same way as other 3.4 units, ie IMS and bore scoring etc, many thanks Mike

[mrdemon]

987.1
987.2
981
?

[Trev450]

The pre dfi engine (up to 2009 I think) is prone to bore scoring. The dfi appears to be a lot more robust but there has been some reports of these suffering also.

Ims post 2006 is improved but still not bullet-proof.

[5678]

I've had pretty much the same chat with a Reading based Porsche specialist today.

I was asking about 996 based 3.6 and also 986 3.2 lumps.

The short answer was the only engine he doesn't see with issues is the 2.7. Pretty much anything else (bar Mezger based stuff) shows IMS/Bore issues.

[Mike Brown]

Pretty much as I had thought, maybe I will leave going back to Porsche, thanks all, Mike

[benters]

i had a boxster 2.7 from new, a 987 type and the first time i ever heard of engine issues was on PH. . .to this day its in my top three best cars i have owned.

[mrdemon]

Mike Brown said:

Pretty much as I had thought, maybe I will leave going back to Porsche, thanks all, Mike

it's a very small % of cars over all, I have had 4 Porsche all been ok.

[Carl_Docklands]

Mike Brown said:

Pretty much as I had thought, maybe I will leave going back to Porsche, thanks all, Mike

Don't rule out a 2.9L Gen2.

[smiffy555]

The % of cars with issues is what? Less than 5% of cars produced? Less than 5% of owners on PH?

Mine is a 2006 987 CS gen.1 and has 40k miles on it and no issues.

This whole bore scoring is blown totally out of proportion I feel.

[Mike Brown]

Thanks all, 2.9 have given thought to but they are still a little high pricewise at the moment,but defo maybe way to go, mike

[VonSenger]

smiffy555 said:

The % of cars with issues is what? Less than 5% of cars produced? Less than 5% of owners on PH?

Mine is a 2006 987 CS gen.1 and has 40k miles on it and no issues.

This whole bore scoring is blown totally out of proportion I feel.

where did you get your figures from?

Do a search on autotrader for 996, 997 and boxster with "engine" in the search Window. And thats just the ones that are advertised for sale.

I wouldnt touch one with a bargepole without warranty. Even then given porsches stance on over revs id be nervous.

ive had 5 porsches, id never go back now.

[Gary11]

Carl_Docklands said:

Don't rule out a 2.9L Gen2.

No IMS but still score.

[JNW1]

VonSenger said:

smiffy555 said:

The % of cars with issues is what? Less than 5% of cars produced? Less than 5% of owners on PH?

Mine is a 2006 987 CS gen.1 and has 40k miles on it and no issues.

This whole bore scoring is blown totally out of proportion I feel.

where did you get your figures from?

Do a search on autotrader for 996, 997 and boxster with "engine" in the search Window. And thats just the ones that are advertised for sale.

I wouldnt touch one with a bargepole without warranty. Even then given porsches stance on over revs id be nervous.

ive had 5 porsches, id never go back now.

Like most petrol heads I've always fancied a Porsche but these engine issues are a real turn-off as far as I'm concerned. From what I can tell the water cooled flat sixes have had problems of one sort or another ever since they were introduced and that's over 15 years ago now; the fact Porsche still don't appear to have got on top of all of them is bad enough but the fact they appear to be so quick to slide out from under and leave customers holding a huge bill is even worse. I know BMW had problems with the engines in the early E46 M3's but they sorted it within a couple of years and from what I can gather customers who experienced failures due to faults with the original design were looked after (certainly if their car had been maintained within the dealer network). Porsche's attitude seems to be in stark contrast and frankly stinks IMO....

[boringbeige]

Just go get your boxster and start ennoying it. Forget all the scaremongering. You'd be in the unlucky tiny minority if you have an engine failure. I've got 2 aircooleds, 2 metzger and 2 dfi, done 150k miles collectively in the last 4 years, all have done trackdays, all have been well and truly rinsed. No issues with any of them.

[boringbeige]

Just go get your boxster and start ennoying it. Forget all the scaremongering. You'd be in the unlucky tiny minority if you have an engine failure. I've got 2 aircooleds, 2 metzger and 2 dfi, done 150k miles collectively in the last 4 years, all have done trackdays, all have been well and truly rinsed. No issues with any of them.

[Mayhem911]

+1
I have had seven water cooled Porsches, and have not had any of the stated problems. Had a few issues with diesel bmw's though.Just buy and enjoy, life is to short to be spoilt by internet gossip!!

[BIRMA]

I bought a 2008 3.4s in the form of an RS60 I've had it a year now and its done 30K miles no problems to date. These cars love to be thrashed (once properly warmed up of course) and they seem to be able to do it day after day without bits falling off or failing unlike many half decent cars I've had in the past.
In your case I would be tempted to pay a bit extra and buy from an OPC which will give you a car with the warranty, so if you can put up with being told which tyres you can have you get that peace of mind.
Mine incidentally is just coming out of OPC warranty (although I bought mine privately) and I am very tempted to not bother paying for the additional 2 year warranty perhaps I have too much confidence in the engine after owning the car for a year.

[Gmund]

I was nearly scared away from buying a Porsche by all the incessant hot air regarding IMS, RMS, IBS, RBS, MRI, MFI, bore scoring and all the other CATASTROPHIC engine failures that are discussed on PH every second of the day. I bought a Boxster 3.4S, and can honestly say it's been a wonderful experience with only consumables being required. I'm now planning to buy a 997 CS.

[xxplod]

I have a 2006/56 3.4S. Bought it 3 years old with 37k, now done 82k and it has been faultless. I've replaced 1 coil pack, oil/filter is changed every 10k rather than the specified 20k/2years.
Used daily and returns 31mpg.
Brilliant car!

[Ozzie Osmond]

My dealer says he's never had to dismantle a 3.4 Boxster engine.