New second hand 997.1 paranoia

[Bossitt]

I have just traded in my 52 plate 996 for a 56 2006 manual 997.1S 34000 miles, I don't know if it is just me but for the first few months I get massive paranoia when owning a new car.

I was quite aware of the problems that I could have inherited when I purchased my 996, but I have perfect trouble free motoring. I have read all the horror stories of scored bores, rms and ims on line and I was wondering if any Porsche buffs here have any hard statistics of these major failures. Especially for my year and model.

I have just spent 30k on my new 997, my mrs would kill me if I announced a 10k engine rebuild over dinner.

Thanks guys

Tim

[andrew]

have you finished dinner yet ?

[Dicky Knee]

There are a couple of threads pinned at the top but not sure how statistically reliable they are. Buy a Porsche warranty and put your mind at ease (probably opened a can of worms on that topic as well!)

[mollytherocker]

Have you got a warranty from where you bought it from? If so, it might be worth getting the bores scoped to check for scoring whilst it still has a warranty?

[Bossitt]

Yes, there is a 12 month warranty with my vehicle. I have a friend who works at Nottingham Porshe, he has offered to take it in for inspection at their workshop. I think the sooner the better!

I have to admit that my new car runs tight and engine is quiet, but reading threads on hear this means nothing.

[petop]

I would of got the mate to check it over first but at least it has some form of Warranty.
But that aside, if your happy with it then just drive it. I have a 996 C4S and i get in it and drive. The IMS went on it, new engine in 2 years ago but i dont let it worry me, hey you cant get hit with lightening twice right!!!!!
Im selling my Porsche though and not because of any mechanical worries etc but i have the situation to be able to buy an Aston V8 Vantage. But would i go back to Porshe when get bored with the V8 noise, yes in a heartbeat but i just have to try a bit of hand-built British'ness!







If anyone is after a C4S........

[Bossitt]

What was the cost of your ims failure

[petop]

New engine supplied and fitted by Porsche Guildford, total cost 14k
There was other stuff done to it but all in all thats the price.

[Hilux2400]

This might interest you:

http://www.renntech.org/forums/topic/45853-2005-99...

[av185]

My 07 57 plate 13000 mile C4S cab tip piston slapped in December 09 just before the standard 2 year OPC warranty expired......my Xmas could have been tainted but OPC delivered.....

I tried for a new engine for the warranty benefits, but the OPC insisted on total rebuild presumably to avoid possible future warranty claims.......

Ran the car to 19000miles without problems and sold August 2010.

OPC rebuilds c £15k, good specialists c £8k depending on what they find........

[GregorFuk]

I bought a 2008 997.1 in November of last year and I went in with my eyes open so made sure it had an OPC warrantee (18 months). I'll keep it serviced by Porsche and when the time comes renew the warrantee (If I still have the car). I figure that's about as much as I can do and will get on with enjoying the car. The fact that I don't see the road sides littered with dead Porsches tells me all I need to know.

Pistonheads is a terrible place for putting the fear of god into people and amplifying every problem to epidemic proportions.


BTW. I also own a E61 535D, another ticking time bomb if this forum is to be believed.

[BillTheButcher]

GregorFuk said:

Pistonheads is a terrible place for putting the fear of god into people and amplifying every problem to epidemic proportions.

Not just PH. Every owners' forum I've been on is the same.

[fastgerman]

BillTheButcher said:

GregorFuk said:

Pistonheads is a terrible place for putting the fear of god into people and amplifying every problem to epidemic proportions.

Not just PH. Every owners' forum I've been on is the same.

The point being that people only come online to complain.

Figures I've seen point to <5% failure on the 997.1

[GreatPretender]

Bossitt said:

Yes, there is a 12 month warranty with my vehicle. I have a friend who works at Nottingham Porshe, he has offered to take it in for inspection at their workshop. I think the sooner the better!

I have to admit that my new car runs tight and engine is quiet, but reading threads on hear this means nothing.

Assuming the terms of your warranty are robust, then spend the next 12 months monitoring oil consumption and levels of exhaust soot.

Excessive amounts of either may indicate a problem. Otherwise (notwithstanding the bleedin' obvious) you're fine.

As most have said, the problem is very rare.

[mollytherocker]

Bebs said:

GregorFuk said:

Pistonheads is a terrible place for putting the fear of god into people and amplifying every problem to epidemic proportions.

That's exactly what I thought 10 months ago when I purchased a C4 for my wife from 911Virgin.
It is now at Hartech for a 5 figure engine rebuild..

This is the problem, if you have no issues during your ownership, you tell everybody its all overblown and you cant see what the fuss is about.

If your engine blows, Porsche are the biggest wkers in the universe, you will never buy another, you ask whether you can sue them etc etc.

I will say it again, its not if with these engines, its when. The question is whether it will happen during your ownership. I suppose that depends on how long you keep it, but nobody really knows.

My view is get a warranty or maintenance plan or put some money away just in case. Then enjoy the car!

[Tom9971]

Hi All, I have been lurking in the background of these forums for several years, ever since I picked up my first time bomb, a 2005 Boxster with 65000 miles. 2 years later, it had cost me nothing but servicing.... so I was feeling lucky and traded in for a bigger time bomb, a 997.1 C4S, so far its been perfect, now sitting at 88000 miles, and costing me nothing but a little oil every six months... Enjoy these cars, they are brilliant and fun and fantastic value. Meanwhile, my "wonderful" daily driver, a feeble BMW 3 series, has just presented me with a bill for 4k, after a mysterious auto transmission noise spelled disaster..

[Zoin]

Bebs said:

That's exactly what I thought 10 months ago when I purchased a C4 for my wife from 911Virgin.
It is now at Hartech for a 5 figure engine rebuild..

Same here. Decided the whole issue was exaggerated so didn't have my IMS upgraded. A few weeks later, it was at Hartech, costing me a little shy of 5 figures.

Agree with Mollytherocker, either get an iron-clad warranty or put the funds aside. Then enjoy it. No sense in being blinkered.

[alfaspiderman2]

Bebs said:

That's exactly what I thought 10 months ago when I purchased a C4 for my wife from 911Virgin.
It is now at Hartech for a 5 figure engine rebuild..

and are 911V covering that under warranty?

[Martian O]

petop said:

New engine supplied and fitted by Porsche Guildford....

petop said:

...hey you cant get hit with lightening twice right!!!!!....

You can if it is an OPC supplied engine, no future-proofing upgrades on their replacement lumps!

[Bossitt]

Am I right in saying that the later 2006 997s have the stronger ims bearing or is this not true, if it is true is there any serial numbers that can show this?

Also is the upgraded ims of better quality?

I have noticed their is a thread on this conversation who's 07 ims failed in 2009.