Help needed

[tnanidis]

Hi guys, desperate advice needed.

I have a 996, 3.6 X51 upgrade with very low mileage that has suffered an IMS failure. I actually narrowing escaped an accident when it occurred!

This was just one month after I decided not to extend my porsche warranty!!! Not one of my brightest moves.

I am over the mourning period now and I was wondering if anyone has any advice on what's the best way to proceed:
Independent engine rebuild or OPC engine replacement with a hope of a good will gesture from Porsche.

I would of course like to spend as little as possible, but I also want it done properly. Are these engines ever the same again after a rebuild following such a catastrophic failure?

Thanks to everyone, this has really dented my faith in the marque!

[BertBert]

It's going to be your choice how to go. I'd want the least cost option (of the ones that produce a good outcome obviously).

If you can get it done by Porsche with a goodwill gesture then that be the most cost effective. You don't say age or miles of the car so hard to say whether you'll get one or not.

Other than that get a quote from POrsche and quotes from the reputable indies and choose the most cost effective.

I'd not worry at all about rebuilt engines as there is no stigma attached in my view.

Bert

[Porkupine]

I think problem with Porsche, is that they usually insist they have to strip the engine to inspect before they provide quote or decision on Goodwill (from HQ). Hence, by the time they have done this, it is often difficult and cost prohibitive to ask them to put it back together to take somewhere else.
On this occasion, I would like to think they would provide goodwill, being only one month out of warranty, but then again, Porsche customer service on these issues isn't great, and I am assuming the car must be around 8 years old now?
The other experts you can call for quote and advice are hartech.

Good luck

[petop]

The 996 C4S i bought had a engine change (IMS failure) in Feb this year with Porsche Guildford, they charged the previous owner £16k all in.

[madala]

A word with Hartech would be a good starting point......good luck.

[STiG911]

I'd say if your cars been OPC maintained while in your hands, you'd have a good case for insisting on goodwill from Porsche to fix. Having said that, there is the risk as someone's already pointed out, that the answer may still be no once your engines in bits.

[tnanidis]

Thanks guys I really appreciate it. The OPC as you said want to strip the engine down first. They feel it's unlikely for Porsche to contribute as the car is over 8 yrs old despite the low mileage and previous warranty.

Thank you anyway, what a nightmare.

[reedman]

Sorry to hear about your engine.

Is the X51 a power upgrade?

Call Porsche and find out the cost of a new engine.
If it's 15K and Porsche will give you 50% good will.

Call Hartech see what he can do.

Be seated for both calls.

Good luck,

[rob.kellock]

Unlucky. When the IMS went on my 3.6 C4 996 at 5 1/2 years and 42000 miles old with full Porsche service history, the excuse given for not extending any good will was the fact that my car had never had an extended warranty. If your car has enjoyed an extended warranty for years then you may have better luck than I did.

All in, it cost me around £10k at Bolton OPC although that coincided with the (rest of) the service needing doing and the brakes. I didn't pay for any strip down examination.

The scary part is once they got the go-ahead to fit the replacement engine, the car was ready 2 days later and so was the bill. Car was noticeably better afterwards and no stigma attached to it - it has been re sold by Bolton twice since.

[Ian_UK1]

madala said:

A word with Hartech would be a good starting point......good luck.

I would agree with this. A Hartech rebuild should be less costly than a replacement engine from Porsche. They can also include many upgrades to effectively make the engine (relatively) bullet-proof for the future. By comparison, a Porsche replacement engine will still have all the same weaknesses as the one that just let go on you.

The Hartech preventative upgrades are held in high regard - primarily because there seem to be no incidents with the engines once the Hartech team has applied their magic - and this should hopefully be reflected in a higher resale value in future.

Smaller initial outlay, their wealth of expertise, intelligent upgrades to give me peace of mind and a chance to recoup at least some of the cost at resale time would certainly steer me towards Hartech.

[tnanidis]

Excellent I'll give them a call today.

This is such a blow I should have stuck with BMWs!!

[rob.kellock]

Ian_UK1 said:

a Porsche replacement engine will still have all the same weaknesses as the one that just let go on you.

Not sure that's entirely accurate - I think the design has been refined slightly along the way?

OPC engine would come with 2 year unlimited mileage warranty too.

Obviously, Hartech are highly regarded on here.

[Ian_UK1]

rob.kellock said:

Not sure that's entirely accurate - I think the design has been refined slightly along the way?

OPC engine would come with 2 year unlimited mileage warranty too.

Obviously, Hartech are highly regarded on here.

AFAIK, with a new Porsche motor:
1) The cylinder liners are still the same material, still too thin, still open-decked and still go oval.
2) The IMS bearing, whilst higher-rated, still has seals that prevent the engine oil from lubricating it and is still prone to failure.
3) The cooling issues have not been addressed, so bore scoring is still just as likely.
4) For a subsequent buyer of the car, there is still the prospect of any of the above issues occurring.

On ther other hand, a Hartech-rebuild can address all the above. Treated with appropriate care and mechanical sympathy, it should be able to be driven 'as though you stole it' more-or-less with impunity. Great for the current owner and for any potential, future buyer.

Edited by Ian_UK1 on Monday 14th January 13:32

[thegoose]

tnanidis said:

...
This was just one month after I decided not to extend my porsche warranty!!! Not one of my brightest moves.

Wouldn't life be great if we had a crystal ball handy when making decisions? Look at it this way, you have circa £1000 in your pocket towards whatever needs doing.

tnanidis said:

I would of course like to spend as little as possible, but I also want it done properly. Are these engines ever the same again after a rebuild following such a catastrophic failure?

As already stated, a rebuilt engine should actually be better. You'll also have the knowledge and security of knowing that you've run it in properly and sensibly, something that you can never be sure of with any used car (I'm assuming you didn't buy this car new).

[tnanidis]

Thank you to everyone for their kind replies. I contacted Hartech and they seemed very knowledgeable and professional. I've also got an independent recommendation, I guess it's decision time, bite the bullet and fork out the cash, I want my baby back!!

[metsta]

if it was my money it would be the hartech route and keep the car for ever? good luck mate

[Ian_UK1]

Would be good to know how you get along.

[cayman-black]

How the hell does Porsche get away with this engine design fault? way to common.
Good luck to the OP.