2005 Porsche Boxster 987 2.7

2005 Porsche Boxster 987 2.7

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Discussion

is200

73 posts

138 months

Wednesday 24th February 2021
quotequote all
I've got a Dec 2005 2.7 with the M96.25 engine. I did some research before buying and one bit of info I came across was on the porscheclubgb.com site:

https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=9615...

"M96/25 engine. Up to engine number 61.504715 had the smaller IMS bearing, which although obsolete can be changed/upgraded by removing the transmission only. From engine number 61.504716 a larger IMS bearing was fitted, and cannot be removed without stripping the engine."

The upgraded bearing was fitted from around April 2005 from what I've read but also failure does not seem that frequent on the 2.7.

Just to add, not sure if this is 100% accurate, just what I read on another forum, my engine starts 61.6xxxxx so I'm happy!!



Edited by is200 on Wednesday 24th February 16:20

CJM36

Original Poster:

203 posts

51 months

Wednesday 24th February 2021
quotequote all
is200 said:
I've got a Dec 2005 2.7 with the M96.25 engine. I did some research before buying and one bit of info I came across was on the porscheclubgb.com site:

https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=9615...

"M96/25 engine. Up to engine number 61.504715 had the smaller IMS bearing, which although obsolete can be changed/upgraded by removing the transmission only. From engine number 61.504716 a larger IMS bearing was fitted, and cannot be removed without stripping the engine."

The upgraded bearing was fitted from around April 2005 from what I've read but also failure does not seem that frequent on the 2.7.

Just to add, not sure if this is 100% accurate, just what I read on another forum, my engine starts 61.6xxxxx so I'm happy!!



Edited by is200 on Wednesday 24th February 16:20
Awesome! Probably is April 2005, I think with all the different and sometimes contradictory info out there it is near on impossible for anyone to be 100% accurate, but you've put it well.

Read you have a YouTube channel, whats the name? Thanks!

shalmaneser

5,930 posts

194 months

Wednesday 24th February 2021
quotequote all
The M96 engines which have tended to be the most troublesome are the 996.2 and 986.2 motors, the 3.4 from the 987.1 and apparently most of the 997.1 lumps. But even then it's far from a dead cert something will go wrong.

The rest seem to be pretty solid all things considered. And of these motors I've listed I'd be more concerned about bore score than IMS bearings. People used to get hung up on rear main seals (RMS) but at the end of the day that's just an annoying bit of oil weepage, really not the end of the world.

CJM36

Original Poster:

203 posts

51 months

Wednesday 24th February 2021
quotequote all
shalmaneser said:
The M96 engines which have tended to be the most troublesome are the 996.2 and 986.2 motors, the 3.4 from the 987.1 and apparently most of the 997.1 lumps. But even then it's far from a dead cert something will go wrong.

The rest seem to be pretty solid all things considered. And of these motors I've listed I'd be more concerned about bore score than IMS bearings. People used to get hung up on rear main seals (RMS) but at the end of the day that's just an annoying bit of oil weepage, really not the end of the world.
Very useful, thank you!
My Boxster has a tiny weep from the RMS but it is tiny, and although I spare no expense on the car and fix everything that goes wrong, I'm rational and I won't be away to pull a 'box just to replace it until it gets worse or needs a clutch.

is200

73 posts

138 months

Wednesday 24th February 2021
quotequote all
CJM36 said:
Awesome! Probably is April 2005, I think with all the different and sometimes contradictory info out there it is near on impossible for anyone to be 100% accurate, but you've put it well.

Read you have a YouTube channel, whats the name? Thanks!
I'm Rav, yep I have a Youtube channel where I've done a few minor bits on the Boxster and on my other cars as well as some random stuff. Something to do during the lockdowns.

Link is below if you want to have a look, forgive some of the video quality, new to all that, working on improving!!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVZQK4xhRFAlr9dG4...

Not sure if you are on it but boxa.net is a really good forum.

Cheers,
Rav

CJM36

Original Poster:

203 posts

51 months

Wednesday 24th February 2021
quotequote all
is200 said:
I'm Rav, yep I have a Youtube channel where I've done a few minor bits on the Boxster and on my other cars as well as some random stuff. Something to do during the lockdowns.

Link is below if you want to have a look, forgive some of the video quality, new to all that, working on improving!!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVZQK4xhRFAlr9dG4...

Not sure if you are on it but boxa.net is a really good forum.

Cheers,
Rav
Perfect, thank you! Hope everyone else checks your channel out too.

CJM36

Original Poster:

203 posts

51 months

Wednesday 24th February 2021
quotequote all
So, as promised, whilst I have a minute, here is a quick list of things I plan to/would like to do in time - hopefully a good few before travel is allowed again. I have also probably missed a few things, but regardless:

Exterior Cosmetics:
- Have the little imperfections seen to by a PDR specialist
- Polish fog lights
- Paint brake callipers (I know its sacrilege but I LOVE the yellow of PCCB's, would suit the car so may go that colour)
- 'sport edition' front splitters
- A different set of wheels (Carrera Sports)
- New rear mud guards (beginning to look tatty and discoloured)

Interior Cosmetics:
- All black plastics (like centre console) refurbed
- Restore drivers bolster (one of the previous owners must have put a bit of weight on it getting in and out)
- AC button resto - stickers as temp solution most likely
- Sports plus seats if I can find
- Steering wheel refurb

Suspension:
- New top mounts
- Lowering springs of some sort

Other stuff:
- Alignment
- Exhaust upgrade of some sort (be that carnewal using the existing one, or a new one all together)
- New discs and pads all round
- GT3 brake ducts

I know for a fact I will have missed stuff, so I'll chuck more on if I think of them.

CJM36

Original Poster:

203 posts

51 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
quotequote all
Yep, I forgot to add that I will be looking to change the tyres in the next few weeks - likely Michelin PS2's

shalmaneser

5,930 posts

194 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
quotequote all
Have a look at Goodyear Asymmetric 5. Really good value and getting some great reviews, the PS2 is getting on a bit now. I've got the Asy5's on my 996 and they're lovely.

Magnum 475

3,507 posts

131 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
quotequote all
is200 said:
I've got a Dec 2005 2.7 with the M96.25 engine. I did some research before buying and one bit of info I came across was on the porscheclubgb.com site:

https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=9615...

"M96/25 engine. Up to engine number 61.504715 had the smaller IMS bearing, which although obsolete can be changed/upgraded by removing the transmission only. From engine number 61.504716 a larger IMS bearing was fitted, and cannot be removed without stripping the engine."

The upgraded bearing was fitted from around April 2005 from what I've read but also failure does not seem that frequent on the 2.7.

Just to add, not sure if this is 100% accurate, just what I read on another forum, my engine starts 61.6xxxxx so I'm happy!!



Edited by is200 on Wednesday 24th February 16:20
There is some ambiguity around this. I have a mid-2005 3.2S. I had this upgraded to the LN IMS bearing just after I bought it. The guy who did the upgrade said he had *never* seen a 3.2S with the larger bearing. It seems to be a safe assumption that pretty much all the 3.2 987s had the smaller bearing. There may be one or two that didn't, been it *seems* to be that the change happened in the 'S' cars when the 3.4 was introduced.

The vast majority of 987 2.7s will have the larger bearing. Only the very earliest cars would have been fitted with the small bearing.


CJM36

Original Poster:

203 posts

51 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
quotequote all
shalmaneser said:
Have a look at Goodyear Asymmetric 5. Really good value and getting some great reviews, the PS2 is getting on a bit now. I've got the Asy5's on my 996 and they're lovely.
Thanks for recommendaing them, I'll definitely give them a look as PS2's, as you said, are getting on a bit. Plus I would imagine are more expensive than the Goodyears

Harfi88

459 posts

61 months

Monday 1st March 2021
quotequote all
I have PS4's on the rear of mine, they are fantastic tyres so much more grip than the Continentals that were on it.

croyde

22,701 posts

229 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2021
quotequote all
Nice thread. Has given me the hankering for a 987 again.

Had one back in 2005 in Seal Grey.

I have just bought a Duster as my current daily. I'd highly recommend it if you are still looking. Cost me £10.5k brand new.

As to the rubberised paint. I still have the umbrella that came with my 2.7.

It's rubberised handle has become all sticky and it's peeling. 70% alcohol isopropyl is great at getting rid of it. Quite a bit of rubbing with a cloth will sort it but it will take it back to the base plastic if you are not too careful and you'll then lose the texture.

CJM36

Original Poster:

203 posts

51 months

Thursday 18th March 2021
quotequote all
croyde said:
Nice thread. Has given me the hankering for a 987 again.

Had one back in 2005 in Seal Grey.

I have just bought a Duster as my current daily. I'd highly recommend it if you are still looking. Cost me £10.5k brand new.

As to the rubberised paint. I still have the umbrella that came with my 2.7.

It's rubberised handle has become all sticky and it's peeling. 70% alcohol isopropyl is great at getting rid of it. Quite a bit of rubbing with a cloth will sort it but it will take it back to the base plastic if you are not too careful and you'll then lose the texture.
Thanks!

My grandfather got a Duster not too long ago, and having driven it, I would consider one. Although since he didn't want to essentially give away his owned from new, 2008 Berlingo, with very low miles, he gave it away - to me. The garage offered him next to nothing, and he was fond of the van so wanted it to go to a good home. However, it now has me thinking, I can make it swallow bikes and all the crap the Mini would have to, and sell the Mini for a hot hatch. Hmmmm...

CJM36

Original Poster:

203 posts

51 months

Thursday 18th March 2021
quotequote all
Been a while since I posted, but I have just been busy driving Berlingo's and Mini's, making my brothers Mazda RX8 run for the first time in a year, and various work bits.

Since last time, I fitted the summer wheels and tyres. Cleaned inside the arches at the same time, not as in depth as I would have liked but daylight was against me. I have ordered new clips for the cover in the frunk, as one broke recently - £18 for one online, £5 for one from Porsche Aberdeen. Guess where I bought from. Still a rip off for a clip that size, but that is Porsche Tax.

I have driven the car whenever the opportunity presents itself, but that tends to only be restricted to the weekend and within the bounds of my constituency, as requested by the sausages trying to run Scotland.

Here it is looking shiny on an essentials detour;



I recently booked Goodwood FOS, optimistic, I know! Will be road tripping down with a mate in his MX5, hoping it goes forward.

My efforts outside of work and the likes has been focussed on putting right a Citroen Berlingo - the van needed a new steering rack, brakes all round, top mounts and a new injector. Worth keeping it on the road as it is 1 owner, and utterly immaculate. It is already carpeted fully in the rear, and has had a new set of steelies which cost less than the tires the van is now on.

What will I do with the van? Well, the dog loves it, so whenever I take him out he sits in the back keeping a watchful eye on my driving standards. I also plan to put bikes in the back all summer long, and in winter, I may try and kit it out to make a return to motorsport - karting specifically. I had a great time at it a few years ago, just a dad and lad set up with a transit, but we really challenged at the front in most events, I even managed to get a few awards and championship wins. I tend to be very humble but I am simply too motorsport and car centric to not talk about my karting. I had the opportunity to get into single seaters, but my parents couldn't sacrifice that sort of capital, nor would I have wanted them to - it would have meant my dad selling his beloved, at the time, 987 Cayman S, which is something he worked so damn hard for. I am still trying to find that car, and his first Porsche - a Blue Cayenne S (955).

The Mini; well, now that the Berlingo is there for the using, has been used even less - washed more times than it has been fuelled this year. So, with a diesel van, a less sensible daily is now an option. Golf GTI, Clio RS, Audi S1, etc...

When I have driven the Boxster recently, I have heard the beginnings of what appears to be typical top mount wear. I will likely do all top mounts and new shocks and springs in the next couple of weeks, perhaps upgrade from the standard Bilsteins, price dependant.

Lastly, here is my old mans 718 Cayman T on a really good local road, managed to take it out and give it a decent drive - I love the way he specced it, 918 Buckets, Manual, and very little other options - there is a long story behind this car and the experience he had with getting it - this is a replacement one, not the first one...

And soon it should be replaced by a GT4. I would be ecstatic for him, he reckons that'll be a car he keeps forever. I believe that. He also reckons it is the last car he will ever buy. I know him too well to even entertain this idea.

CJM36

Original Poster:

203 posts

51 months

Saturday 3rd April 2021
quotequote all
Little update.

Friday saw the allowance of local travel here in Scotland, so it would have been rude not to go for a drive. Me and a couple of mates had pre organised a drive for Friday, having all of us had the afternoon off. They had both recently acquired new cars, one a Fiesta ST-2, another an NB MX5. First time seeing the new cars, which was cool.


Heaveho

5,279 posts

173 months

Sunday 4th April 2021
quotequote all
Magnum 475 said:
There is some ambiguity around this. I have a mid-2005 3.2S. I had this upgraded to the LN IMS bearing just after I bought it. The guy who did the upgrade said he had *never* seen a 3.2S with the larger bearing. It seems to be a safe assumption that pretty much all the 3.2 987s had the smaller bearing. There may be one or two that didn't, been it *seems* to be that the change happened in the 'S' cars when the 3.4 was introduced.

The vast majority of 987 2.7s will have the larger bearing. Only the very earliest cars would have been fitted with the small bearing.
There's a sticky on Boxanet that would indicate the 3.2 received the larger bearing from a specific chassis number onwards in 2005..........in theory mine falls into the later category. However, there's been years of conjecture about this, and I've never seen anyone post a pic proving the point, so I guess I'll find out for sure about mine when it needs a clutch. Or the bearing fails.............

CJM36

Original Poster:

203 posts

51 months

Sunday 4th April 2021
quotequote all
Heaveho said:
There's a sticky on Boxanet that would indicate the 3.2 received the larger bearing from a specific chassis number onwards in 2005..........in theory mine falls into the later category. However, there's been years of conjecture about this, and I've never seen anyone post a pic proving the point, so I guess I'll find out for sure about mine when it needs a clutch. Or the bearing fails.............
Boxanet is useful, I should really use it more!

Just ordered stuff to give the car a service before heavy use over summer. Not to replace the stamped ones by specialists, but just for my piece of mind in between services. And I feel it is good practice anyway.

Heaveho

5,279 posts

173 months

Sunday 4th April 2021
quotequote all
CJM36 said:
Boxanet is useful, I should really use it more!

Just ordered stuff to give the car a service before heavy use over summer. Not to replace the stamped ones by specialists, but just for my piece of mind in between services. And I feel it is good practice anyway.
Boxanet has been an endless source of help to me, and the vibe is pretty chilled, which is a relief after this place sometimes! laugh

CJM36

Original Poster:

203 posts

51 months

Monday 5th April 2021
quotequote all
Agreed, so useful as well!