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Don't Buy a Porsche?

geoffpfc

geoffpfc

New member
I've just read an article in January's PP which was submitted by R11 and gave details of a technical presentation that they had at one of their monthly meetings, I won't go into detail as you can easily find it in the "Regions" section, but basically the author is saying not to buy a 996 or 997 Gen1 as they WILL suffer an engine failure in the region of 75k miles, either bore scoring or IMS failure [:mad:], as we know there is a possibility of a "class action" in USA - I've sent the article to Porsche GB and await their reply with interest!
 

ORIGINAL: Chris_in_the_UK

Hi Geoff - I have managed to misplace my PP - who was the presentation by?
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The presentation was by a club member who had experienced this failure.
 
Doesn't make a lot of sense when the majority of 996 cars out there have now done more than 75k ???.
The numbers don't add up, yes we all know there are engine failures but I also know machines do break.


Or am I just seeing rolling shells?
 
All engines will fail at some stage, that can't be too controversial - it might take a million miles or maybe even more but physics takes over in the end!

The class action in the USA has been and gone. Porsche took an economic view and compromised it without admissions IIRC.

If there is ever one in the UK, I still have all my receipts...
 
I agree, we all have read that these faults can occur, but not for everyone, hopefully driving style may play a part - I go very carefully on track days [:D]

I was surprised that such a sweeping statement would make it into print as that sort of scaremongering does not help residuals, the only problem that I have is that the car is faster than the driver [&o]

I have had a reply back from Porsche GB and they say that they have read the article and they say "Porsche do not agree with the article in that there is an inherent defect; as many 996 and 997 Gen 1 vehicles have not suffered these problems" - I can sleep easily now [:)]
 
Hmm... My Carrera coupe 2002 facelift Lapis Blue was fine at 28000 miles. Unfortunately, by 38000 miles it had a new engine.

My IMS self destructed. There is lots of considered advice on the Hartech website and some potential pre-emptive measures you can take these days. I was unlucky for sure and at the time (2008) I was the first person on the PCGB 996 forum to suffer this problem.

My car came from a good home and had full Porsche service history but I am sure statistically that for every 1 that breaks 40 or so are probably ok. The 2002 cars do fall within the window of dates of cars that Porsche settled with in the American class action.
 
I think it's very rare above 70k odd miles. Also, no point replacing the engine with one without the mod, which some people seem to do.
 
Interesting how it never seems mentioned much that the 3.4 is less prone to failure as even the engine numbers on the list in USA class action supported the statement.
 
I looked after my 2001 996 C4 fastidiously from new - extra oil changes and never trashed - at around 30,000 miles the IMS went and it needed a new engine. Porsche were not interested in helping.

I now have a 996TT as I believe they are pretty much bullet proof. I would not buy a non-turbo 996 or a Gen 1 997. My friend who has a Gen 1 Cayman (2005) also had an IMS failure. Luckily he was still covered by a Porsche Warranty and they replaced the engine.
 
Ah, that's it then - we are all doomed. ........[8D]


ORIGINAL: AndrewEllinas

I looked after my 2001 996 C4 fastidiously from new - extra oil changes and never trashed - at around 30,000 miles the IMS went and it needed a new engine. Porsche were not interested in helping.

I now have a 996TT as I believe they are pretty much bullet proof. I would not buy a non-turbo 996 or a Gen 1 997. My friend who has a Gen 1 Cayman (2005) also had an IMS failure. Luckily he was still covered by a Porsche Warranty and they replaced the engine.
Click to expand...
 

ORIGINAL: AndrewEllinas

I looked after my 2001 996 C4 fastidiously from new - extra oil changes and never trashed - at around 30,000 miles the IMS went and it needed a new engine. Porsche were not interested in helping.

I now have a 996TT as I believe they are pretty much bullet proof. I would not buy a non-turbo 996 or a Gen 1 997. My friend who has a Gen 1 Cayman (2005) also had an IMS failure. Luckily he was still covered by a Porsche Warranty and they replaced the engine.
Click to expand...


At what mileage did the Cayman engine let go?
 
I looked after my 2001 996 C4 fastidiously from new - extra oil changes and never trashed - at around 30,000 miles the IMS went and it needed a new engine.
Click to expand...

So, the advice is "my Porsche engine broke when driven carefully, therefore 100% of Porsche engines WILL fail if driven carefully"? Of course not: some will fail and some won't. You weren't saying that, and I also don't read the comments in the Essex Region column as the OP does.

The comment that "the author is saying not to buy a 996 or 997 Gen1 as they WILL suffer an engine failure in the region of 75k miles, either bore scoring or IMS failure", is just plain wrong. It's like saying all human hearts will fail at one set age: they all will stop one day, but most will go on for a good number of years regardless of the unfortunate early failures. Trying to find an average failure point only creates a false perception for those either side of it.

The article in Essex region's PP column should be taken as written. It does say that around 6% of engines suffer the failures from the known weaknesses, so please relax and don't lose too much sleep! [8|]

 
Unless you are lucky enough to be in the 6%...

Worst surprise of all is that once you give the OPC the go ahead for a replacement motor they can fit it in a couple of
hours and then you get a 5 figure bill to pay before you can take your car away.
 
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