986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners - View Single Post

johnsimion · 12-10-2008, 06:53 PM

Hi, I just bought a '99 with just under 15K miles on it from the local Porsche dealer, which had just done a 15K service on it. It's an absolute cherry car as best I can tell. Service records show no problems through 2004, except that the previous owner apparently stopped driving and servicing it after 12500 miles, since there are no service records from 2004 until Oct 2008. Had I realized the problems these low-mileage 99s have with RMS and engine failures, I would have questioned things more but I was dazzled by the car and the low mileage and the fact that they had done the 15K service. OK, so I drove it a couple of hundred miles in a week with no issues at all, and believe me, after reading the forums here, I was checking for oil drips with a white tablecloth. Since there were no drips, I was starting to breathe easier. Last Sunday I drove it about 100 miles, brought it home and parked it. An hour later, I came out and checked for drips and found a 3" puddle. This was located near the rear passenger tire. I couldn't see where it was coming from but didn't see any hanging drips anywhere underneath. I then checked the electronic oil gauge and it showed overfull (now it just shows "full"). The dipstick is hard to read but also appears to be very full.

I have an appointment with an independent Porsche mechanic but would like some advice:

1. Could the puddle of oil be caused just by being overfull or some other relatively inexpensive cause? I need to be able to discuss things intelligently with the mechanic . . .

2. I don't notice any problems or smoke when it runs, but it seems to run rich (i.e., kind of stinky exhaust). It starts easily and runs smoothly but sure doesn't seem all that fast -- but then it's only a 2.5L and I have never driven another Boxster so I wouldn't know. Still, it seems like my automatic Scion tC is faster and that makes me wonder.

3. What is the risk that this car may suffer a blown engine, due to being a low mileage '99? (it was made in Germany in June 1999, if that helps). I am a very easy driver and my other cars last forever. I can stand the high maintenance costs but I absolutely cannot afford a blown engine. I realize any car can have a blown engine but it is outrageous that there are so many reports of Boxster engine failure. I thought my Porsche was a pretty car in beautiful condition that might last forever, but if engine failure is a significant risk, I'm better off to resell it in Spring and buy a Corvette or Z car or S2000. By "significant" I mean more than, say 3% or so -- low enough that it is highly unlikely to fail, even if 3% is higher than other cars. I can't live with a 20% chance.

Sure wish I had known this stuff in advance. I feel really dumb.

12-10-2008, 06:53 PM	#12
johnsimion Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 112	Stupid Question Dept. Hi, I just bought a '99 with just under 15K miles on it from the local Porsche dealer, which had just done a 15K service on it. It's an absolute cherry car as best I can tell. Service records show no problems through 2004, except that the previous owner apparently stopped driving and servicing it after 12500 miles, since there are no service records from 2004 until Oct 2008. Had I realized the problems these low-mileage 99s have with RMS and engine failures, I would have questioned things more but I was dazzled by the car and the low mileage and the fact that they had done the 15K service. OK, so I drove it a couple of hundred miles in a week with no issues at all, and believe me, after reading the forums here, I was checking for oil drips with a white tablecloth. Since there were no drips, I was starting to breathe easier. Last Sunday I drove it about 100 miles, brought it home and parked it. An hour later, I came out and checked for drips and found a 3" puddle. This was located near the rear passenger tire. I couldn't see where it was coming from but didn't see any hanging drips anywhere underneath. I then checked the electronic oil gauge and it showed overfull (now it just shows "full"). The dipstick is hard to read but also appears to be very full. I have an appointment with an independent Porsche mechanic but would like some advice: 1. Could the puddle of oil be caused just by being overfull or some other relatively inexpensive cause? I need to be able to discuss things intelligently with the mechanic . . . 2. I don't notice any problems or smoke when it runs, but it seems to run rich (i.e., kind of stinky exhaust). It starts easily and runs smoothly but sure doesn't seem all that fast -- but then it's only a 2.5L and I have never driven another Boxster so I wouldn't know. Still, it seems like my automatic Scion tC is faster and that makes me wonder. 3. What is the risk that this car may suffer a blown engine, due to being a low mileage '99? (it was made in Germany in June 1999, if that helps). I am a very easy driver and my other cars last forever. I can stand the high maintenance costs but I absolutely cannot afford a blown engine. I realize any car can have a blown engine but it is outrageous that there are so many reports of Boxster engine failure. I thought my Porsche was a pretty car in beautiful condition that might last forever, but if engine failure is a significant risk, I'm better off to resell it in Spring and buy a Corvette or Z car or S2000. By "significant" I mean more than, say 3% or so -- low enough that it is highly unlikely to fail, even if 3% is higher than other cars. I can't live with a 20% chance. Sure wish I had known this stuff in advance. I feel really dumb.