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RMS Mystery Solved

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After extensive research I have put the following facts together which should cure potential & actual 996, boxster & 997 purchasers concerns regarding the infamous RMS issue.

The RMS facts: -

The Chance of experiencing RMS Failure.
996,997 & Boxster owners have an approx. 35% chance of suffering RMS (rear main seal) failure (40% Reenlist poll, 30% PCGB Survey + misc other evidence).

An unlucky 5% of owners will require more than one RMS replacement.


The Symptoms:-

In the vast majority of cases an RMS failure will mean a small but noticeable sweating of oil & possibly a small film of oil will be seen when the car is on the ramps or worst case scenario a few drips will appear on the garage floor.


The potential & actual results of an RMS failure:-

Oil spots on your garage floor.

In theory the clutch could be contaminated with dripping oil although in practise there are no (or very, very, very few) reported cases of this ever happening..

There are no other problems associated with having a failing RMS, it has never, repeat never caused engine failure.


The cause:-

Many, many theories but no actual evidence, I would imagine Porsche's silence on the issue means they don't even know or they would have cured it by now.


The Solution:-

The very rich & very unlucky owner that has a carpeted garage & had an RMS failure outside of warranty can get it replaced for approx £700, $1,000.

The very unlucky owner that does not have a carpeted garage or more money than sense can wait until the clutch needs replacing at which time a new RMS can be installed for the price of the seal (£$ no money)

60% of owners will never experience the problem.

The vast majority of the 40% of owners that have experienced RMS failure have had it replaced under warranty & have never experienced the problem again.

The unlucky 5% that have had multiple RMS failures have had their engines replaced if they live in the USA "for a very small oil leek !", where as Porsche UK seems to think their UK customers are less likely to have carpeted garages & therefore can live with a small oil leek.


I must surely being missing something, the RMS issue very nearly put me off buying a 996 & I am sure it is one of the causes for the depreciation experienced on these cars.
Thank you internet RMS hysteria, you have has saved us second hand Porsche owners a fortune.
 
I would suggest it is not the RMS causing failures (in mainly earlier engines) having read through the excellent piece in this months 911 & Porsche World mag on how Autofarm are dealing with older water cooled 996/Boxster engines.
Having run older cars for a long time a bit of "leakage" here and there has never really bothered me.
I have been told that a friends 996 has just gone bang and although out of warranty by a long way he has been supplied with an engine at, allegedly, cost. I shall be talking to him tomorrow to find out the details.
I would also suggest the depreciation is caused by the cars being far too expensive in the first place and hitting their true value when they get into the real world of the used car market.
The same depreciation applies to M3's, Z4's, TT's, Jags, Astons etc and they have had bigger issues, widely known in the trade and by knowledgeable owners using forum's, that would affect their value than the odd drip of oil on the garage carpet/floor.
The afore mentioned magazine is well worth the money this month for that article alone plus a review of the much maligned 964 engine.
cheers
DPH
 
Sorry Steve,

your figures on RMS failure don't stack up.

The Survey I conducted on behalf of the Club showed 24% of Boxster owners and 18.5% of 996 who replied had experienced RMS failure. This was two years and one year ago respectively

So far as I know, this is the only definitive survey done anywhere.
 
Just had a call from the OPC whilst they were doing the warranty inspection..

Guess what..... RMS strikes again. This is the second time i've been caught with this one on 2 cars now.

Bloody annoyed about this !
 
ORIGINAL: penfold944

Just had a call from the OPC whilst they were doing the warranty inspection..

Guess what..... RMS strikes again. This is the second time i've been caught with this one on 2 cars now.

Bloody annoyed about this !

Is this an inspection before taking out a warranty?
 

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