Not on the 3.8 as well ?

[nsm3]

Had my 2 year service on the C2S yesterday (20-08-04, so one the first ones on the road in the UK?) and guess what, they changed the RMS as it was leaking!

The service guy reckons that the replacement is a new design of seal and the problem should never re-occur? I can't say that I ever noticed any oil on the garage floor so it could only have been a minor leak.

Not wanting to start a doom and gloom thread as they had on the 996 forum, but anyone with an older car may want to think about getting this looked at?

 

[Alex L]

I recalled an old thread on this on the Rennteam site: http://www.rennteam.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=199157&an=0&page=0

 

[nsm3]

I understood that the 3.6 unit in the C2/C4 997 was at risk with the RMS as it is pretty much the same as in the 996, but I had thought that the 3.8 unit was totally new and would have had the "problem" designed out?

That did affect my decision to buy the C2S as I had set out to get a C4S (996) for about £10k cheaper but got the jitters after reading the "engine failure" posts around the internet. I had similar concerns with my E46 M3 which had the big end bearings replaced under warranty, due to a design flaw.

I don't suppose it is a huge problem, so long as people maintain their warranties? The OPC service guy has got a £14k engine replacement situation with one customer who didn't think it necessary to take out the warranty!

 

[Guest]

Mine C2S was first registered in Jan 05

Do you think it needs a check up?

I'm assuming this will be covered by warranty right up until the first service...

 

[Mark_Bennett]

I'm afriad that you were seriously misinformed if you were told the 3.8 was a new engine design.
The M96 engine series is basically the same from the 2.5 Boxster introduced 10 years ago to the 3.8 997 of today. There are some small improvements along the way of course (intermediate shafts were redesigned across the board a few years ago, various different variocam disigns used) but basically the same eingine block is used in the whole range with only bore/stroke differences giveing the different capacities.

The RMS problem (which is only a small oil leak in most cases - the name Rear Main Seal sounds worse than the result if it leaks!) has been with us through something like 3 or 4 seal designs, and a similar (or larger) number of fitting tool redesigns.

There is not really any point in "getting it looked at" unless you have noticed you are losing oil - a drop every few days on the garage floor isn't going to hurt, but if you are having to top the oil up then yes you need to think about getting it changed. Of course it might well be an idea to take a look just before the 2 year service so that you can get it done under warranty - if needed!

Whoever got you to spend 10K on a "S" to get a redesigned engine needs a damn good talking to though - the engines are the same (NOT what you wanted to hear I'm sure, but you were bound to find out sometime...[:'(])

 

[nsm3]

You only have 4 months to the service, so if you keep a regular check on your oil levels and haven't got pools of oil under the car you shouldn't have any issues.

However, I bought "Used Approved" so my warranty doesn't expire until Sept 2007 when the car is 3 years old. If you have had yours from new, yours will expire in Jan'07.

If it was me, I would get the car in 6 to 8 weeks early, ask them to check it as you know about mine and get them to approve the warranty extension a month early?

It would be a shame to run over by a few weeks and then have to fight to get them to accept your car for extended warranty, which I understand has happened before?

 

[Rob Edwards]

Hi
Mine is going in for a 2 yr service about 3 weeks before it's actually due, and it's getting the extended warranty inspection at the same time.
Therefore, any leaks or worrisome happenings will be dealt with under factory warranty and then I have the peace of mind for the next 12 months.
Bit of a no brainer really - anyone who skips extended warranty on a car this complex and expensive really needs to have their head felt (IMHO!)[]
I do feel sorry for the guy faced with the 14K bill though (surely more than just engine and labour to refit?) - Thats gonna hurt[:'(]!
A lesson for us all!
Rob

 

[Guest]

NSM3,

I bought mine in September last year as Used Approved.

I hope this means my warranty runs to at least September '07

 

[nsm3]

As far as I know, your Used Approved Warranty will "kick in" at the end of the Factory Warranty period (this is the case with mine and I believe is the norm)?

Therefore, your factory warranty period will be up in Jan'07 and the Used Approved will run until Jan'08.

 

[sotoole]

Its time Porsche offered a competitive warranty and offer 3 years rather than the EU minimum 2 years. Another tactic is to say that you think it is leaking oil before the warranty is up, get them to check and obviously record the investigation and then when the warranty expires, if RMS really does appear in a few months you may have some claim with them that they missed it originally. My C2S developed an oil leak at 7k miles but from the top of the engine block so advisable to check regularly.