996 Engine Failure

[Guest]

Sorry to hear that Justin.
I have said it before and I will say it again. The RMS problem is imminent in all 996 C2/C4 models. It's not if but when it will occur. I would even put a bet on it.

The RMS is completly changeable. I am on my 6th and about to go in for its 7th on Monday. I have heard of people who have had one change then no more problems. But then you take people like me on my 6th. It is not uncommon to hear of people on their 4th although I think I am the current record holder (or at least joint with Tool Pant's friend Jean). I don't think that once replaced it's a problem for life. It's more like buy the car and it's a problem for life.

Pic details: This person in the US had 4RM'S replaced and celebrates it by putting teardrops beneath a tattoo!

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

ORIGINAL: blueSL

I certainly agree with you. I come from recent ownership of a Mercedes SL600, 96, £102k which 8 years on suffered 3 major failures in as many months - gearbox, wiring loom, air bag controller, amounting to nearly half of its heavily depreciated value. So I dumped it for £13k. Truth is, the maintenance costs go up as the car gets older while the value goes down so the proportion of maintenance to value gets to the point where the car becomes uneconomic to maintain.

As for these engine failures, if they really are a significant issue across all cars, shouldn't we be rattling Car, Evo, Autocar, Auto Express' cage to investigate?

And we can all watch the residuals go down the pan if these mags got their teeth into the story (and blew it even more out of proportion). It would have a knock on for ALL Porsches, and all models of 996 will be tarred with the same brush.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for that Scouser, that's put my mind at ease a little, but very sory to hear you've had so many - must take the joy away somewhat... I still 'love it' though, and have no plans to change it in the near future - I guess we should consider ourselves 'lucky' compared to having a passion for Ferrari in terms of running costs, oil leaks and the like..

 

[Guest]

Oh, and great picture by the way[]

 

[Guest]

I didn;t buy this and my last two Porkers for an investment. If I wanted to do that I would have bought a vintage.
I bought my 996 for the long term knowing full well that it would depreciate over time. Apart from property it's the most expensive item I have ever bought. But I bought it to give me a lifetime of enjoyment....at least for 150,000 miles. But it's a lifetime of mysery and worry since it was 28,000 miles old. It goes in for its 7th RMS and a new gearbox on Monday at 40,000 miles. It's disgusting. I don't think we should be blackmailed by falling residual values. We just want what we paid for.

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: justinl

Thanks for that Scouser, that's put my mind at ease a little, but very sory to hear you've had so many - must take the joy away somewhat... I still 'love it' though, and have no plans to change it in the near future - I guess we should consider ourselves 'lucky' compared to having a passion for Ferrari in terms of running costs, oil leaks and the like..

Spot on. Your right. I love it. That's why I want to keep it forever. Can't wait to get it back on the open roads again.

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

Berny, I think you are missing my point. I don't regard my 996 as an investment, and never have. I use it as daily transport, and have no illusion that it will not depreciate in value, but I was hoping this would be at a reasonable rate, as with my 993. What concerns me is that the constant proliferation of these threads is going to make these cars values plummet much faster than they do already. In the worst case they could become virtually unsaleable. My car cost me £32k, a year ago. It would be nice to think that in a couple of years it would realise £18-20k, but if this goes on it will be worth buttons. I know that you have stated in previous posts that you don't give a monkey's, but spare a thought for the rest of us who do.

 

[Guest]

Richard, I do spare a thought for those that are concerned about residuals but what do you propose we do about the situation? Sit back, grin and bare it? I don;t think so. The only way is to fight it and if that means taking it to the media then so be it. I am not alone here. This RMS issue is reaching epedemic proportions. There are some that say it's blown out of proportion but just scour the Internet Porsche forums to see how many owners are aflicted. The Boxster survey even showed 25% of those that responded have or have had it. It's not odd cases. WHat are we going to do if we find out in the next few years that this RMS problem has had long term damaging effects....engines may be blowing up left right and centre and there's nothing we can do about it because we stayed shtum when we were concerned about voicing our dissatisfaction in fear of dropping residuals. The only answer is to do something about it now. Make it public via the media, preferably Watchdog or the like. We've given Porsche every oportunity to answer our cries but to no avail. They obviosuly don't care and gloat on their Billion Euro profits that mugs like you, me and everyone else funded! Sorry mate but my intentions is to shout as loud as possible until PAG either wake up and do something about it or they get kicked up the 4rse to do it by force. No defeatist attitudes. Think about this way, if after all the bad press Porsche do something about it and the problem goes away, then the residuals will go up. On the other side of things, would you be happy to let some poor sod go out and buy one of these cars knowing that they are heading for financial ruin? I think not. It's not me who is defalting your investment, its Porsche. If your that concerned about your residuals then why don't you write a letter to Porsche and tell them about it. At least I am doing something about it. I repeat, all I want is what I payed for. No less.

 

[Pete B]

Berny, I've just been reading through the Porsche 911 hard-backed brochure published by PAG....

"...are matched by the same remarkable standards of durability found on every generation of 911 engine"

"As always, the engine in the new 911 is hand-assembled to the most exacting specifications. Each unit is then subjected to rigorous performance and load testing. If any imperfection is detected in a particular engine - even one that would go unnoticed on the road - the unit is automatically rejected"

Do I understand you correctly about the multiple failures being caused by the engine being out of tolerance at the manufacturing stage?
So on one hand Porsche trumpet their skills at manufacturing in their advertising literature but in reallity.....
This used to be called misrepresentation, didn't it?

 

[Guest]

Pete, you have it one. Total misrepresentation.
Proof: car fully serviced by the Porsche dealership since new. 1st RMS at 28,000 miles, 5th at 40,000 miles.
Suggest engine replacement at 40,000 miles, gearbox replaced at 41,000 miles. ......and I have to pay for them both!

Where does that fit with "...are matched by the same remarkable standards of durability found on every generation of 911 engine"

The part I don't understand is that they know I have had two previous Porsches and they know I
am in the market to get another car as mine is getting on a bit. They also know how active and
vocale I am in these Forums. Given the problems I have had, wouldn't you think it would be prudent
for them to just fix up my car, make a me a happy camper, keep me in the family and best of all shut me up?

There's a book with a title that sums things up for me. The content is not related but the title says everything.

 

[Guest]

RMS problem in the 997: it's official

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/showthread.php?t=179949

 

[Guest]

Scouser,

I've been following all your posts across the boards on this issue for quite some time now and believe you should be awarded a medal for your endurance and determination.

In one of your recent rennlist posts you said "...my current Porsche will be my last one."
I can't say I blame you at all and I find this rather sad, as I know how much you obviously cherished your 996.

What I'm interested to know is, what will you buy next instead? because whatever it is, it might be OK, 'but it's not a Porsche.'[]

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: concept
What I'm interested to know is, what will you buy next instead? because whatever it is, it might be OK, 'but it's not a Porsche.'[]

Yes that is going to be a very tuff decision. I haven't decided yet. I would love an AMV8 but it's way over my budget at
the moment. have owned AM's before and they can be just as troublesome. I am thinking of going back to an older
Porsche. I have my eye on a beautiful 930 turbo flatnose cab that is currently owned by one of the Porsche family!
The other thing to do is to just sit and wait with this car for a while longer. It's only done 40k and a new gearbox goes
in on Monday (I seem to be saying this every week but my OPC have had trouble locating one). If it doesn't hassle me
any more I may keep it another year....and wait for the GT3 prices to drop some more []

One thing is right though, Porsche is in my blood and that is harder to give up than cigarettes. I dunno, I am mixed up, financially broke and dissapointed fom the experiences with this Porsche. If I find a feasible way out of Porsche I will jump at it.

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: Scouser

One thing is right though, Porsche is in my blood

Thought as much![]

I may keep it another year....and wait for the GT3 prices to drop some more

Now you're talking!

 

[blueSL]

But what's the reliability of a GT3 going to be like? Many will have been worked hard and things like clutches, brakes, tyres will all have taken a beating. The idea of 911s being bullet-proof seems a distant memory. Though to the owner of the G reg 964 C4 parked in Moreton in Marsh this morning, how could you let it get into that state?

 

[Guest]

Yes, but a GT3 does not use the Boxster/996 engine, but a child of the mighty 962 endurance engine, as does the Turbo. If only Porsche produced a GT3 'Lux', like the good old days (the 911 RS Touring, as opposed to the RS Lightweight, for example). You know, a GT3 with some suspension movement and ground clearance for those of us who are beseiged by road humps, and rear seats, and comfortable, adjustable front seats and no pointless roll cage....... in fact a 996 with a proper engine! Is that too simple?

 

[garyandjanet]

The 996 engine is not all that bad (runs for cover) yes they are some problems, but the majority love and enjoy the car, for the money, they is nothing else like it []

I think the survey shows that (runs for the hills)[]

 

[bones]

Yes that's too simple, personally I wish the current GT3 was the base model for the '911' range and the 996 didn't exist. The GT3 is a 'harder car' - thank the car God - I hope they never make a softer version.

 

[Guest]

Whoa! Don't get me wrong. I am just suggesting that there is an obvious (too me, anyway) variant that could be offered, that is a GT3, but with all the creature comforts of a 'normal' 996, which is an alernative to the C4S type of route. A 2 wheel drive 6-speed 996 with a stonker of an engine. The GT3 RS lap time (in the wet) on Top Gear looks more and more impressive, the more exotic cars the Stig throws around that track!

By the way, how many would be prepared to pay the GT3/Turbo engine premium, if it meant they would be able to stop worrying about RMS and so on?

Answers on a postcard.

 

[Tool Pants]

Berny, I was in the back lot at my dealer today and took this picture for you. I should have pulled off the blue tarp for a full view.

At least in the US we have the dignity to put broken parts in a box in the back lot so the customers can't see them.[]