Thinking of buying a Boxster ? - MUST READ !

[t2-bxtrs]

Folks,
How much of a deciding factor would a Rear Main Seal Leak (final decision for purchase) after all checked out good on a low mileage(23K)03'S ??

[Perfectlap]

RMS is not the biggest expense you can have in a Boxster or Carrera but there is no gurantee that replacing the seal will fix the leak. You could end up with another RMS leak a short while later. The shaft could be out of center in a big way and throwing another seal at it is just a band aid solution. I would pass on this Boxster unless they offered you a substantial reduction, at least $4-5K or a extended factory warranty on the drive train.

[jarquis]

I have a 2004 Boxster that I've owned from new since July 2005.
In January I had the rms leak so had that replaced.
3 weeks ago, at only 10,181 miles the intermediate shaft did it's party trick and wrecked the engine. Porsche replaced it with a reworked one.
Today I take it for it's free detail after my recent 'inconvenience' only to have the/a power steering line break before I got to the dealer!
Am I really unlucky or is the reliability I can expect from Porsche?

[ROMES]

weird ive had my boxster for 5years now over 100k miles...only issues i had so far was the AOS @ about 80k and my "drain holes" were plugged apparently its our responsibility to make sure plugs dont get plugged! well anyways it ended up flooding into the cabin and my head unit for the security/key was ruined couldnt lock the doors and couldnt do it manually due to the fact there is no key hole on my doors :troll:

[Brucelee]

Originally Posted by jarquis

I have a 2004 Boxster that I've owned from new since July 2005.
In January I had the rms leak so had that replaced.
3 weeks ago, at only 10,181 miles the intermediate shaft did it's party trick and wrecked the engine. Porsche replaced it with a reworked one.
Today I take it for it's free detail after my recent 'inconvenience' only to have the/a power steering line break before I got to the dealer!
Am I really unlucky or is the reliability I can expect from Porsche?

My neighbor's 04 had the IMS at around 12K.

Go figure.

[Norminhouston]

No way I would own any Porsche without a warranty. Too many horror stories lately.

[rick3000]

I would not worry about the horror stories.

Think about it. How likely is someone without a problem to search the internet and join a Boxster forum vs. a person who has a problem and is searching the net for answers? You get a lot more people posting problems. Of the 200,000 Boxster owners, how many have posted on the net about engine failures?

The numbers on the internet are disproportionate and slightly biassed. That is just something to consider, when your considering the horror stores.

[Brucelee]

Originally Posted by rick3000

I would not worry about the horror stories.

Think about it. How likely is someone without a problem to search the internet and join a Boxster forum vs. a person who has a problem and is searching the net for answers? You get a lot more people posting problems. Of the 200,000 Boxster owners, how many have posted on the net about engine failures?

The numbers on the internet are disproportionate and slightly biassed. That is just something to consider, when your considering the horror stores.

Actually, there are TONS of IMS failures on reputable Porsche websites.

No one is claiming that this is a statisticaly valid sample.

However, to ignore the chance of a 12K meldown is not necessarily smart either.

I sat next to a Corvette head on the plane yesterday. We tried to remember examples of total engine failure in the C5 and C6 models.

Could not cite even one.

Does it prove anything? Nope.

However, I have owned plently of vettes and never was concerned about the drive train in any way.

Can't say the same for Porsche experience.

Bottom line, Porsche has some design work to do, IMHO.

Still, I love the Box, only with a warranty please./

[73Lifeliner]

Originally Posted by Norminhouston

No way I would own any Porsche without a warranty. Too many horror stories lately.

I agree. My wife's 02 at 21,000 miles RMS began leaking but no issue with that since. But, the alternator and water pump both go out within 2 weeks at 45,000 miles of one another not to mention the brake light switch and top parking brake sensor.
Got to love em. This week we pick up an 07 we just purchased but has a warranty until Dec 2013.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by 73Lifeliner

I agree. My wife's 02 at 21,000 miles RMS began leaking but no issue with that since. But, the alternator and water pump both go out within 2 weeks at 45,000 miles of one another not to mention the brake light switch and top parking brake sensor.
Got to love em. This week we pick up an 07 we just purchased but has a warranty until Dec 2013.

Anyone who buys a used Porsche with a warranty is paying for the repairs, the price of the repairs just happens to be built into the price of the car. That is why a car with warranty is usually anywhere from $2,000-$4,000 more than similar vehicles without a warranty.

My experiece from owning two BMW's that I bought CPO with warranties is that the warranty is about break even - meaning that the $2,500 premium that I paid to get a car with a warranty is about what I would have spent on repairs over the life of the warranty.

No surprise there, the dealers know what is likely to faill and the costs to repair the cars and set the CPO price according and the private market follows the same pricing model.

Since I really didn't save much with the warranty, I had no problem buying a nice '99 Boxster without any warranty. I'll pay for whatever needs to be fixed and come out about the same.

Neither, buy American. I' sure you have noticed the changes in the cost of items ranging from food to property tax. Well if you have ever complained about this, or wondered why prices were going though the ceiling, it has partly to do with the fact that nobody is buying American products. This leads to America producing less products, and a shrinking economy.

[embryoguy@mac.com]

regarding the RSL.

i recently took my car to a porsche event at the dealer and they gave me a "free" inspection. they told me i have a rsl leak. but ive never seen a drop of oil on my garage floor. how urgently should i take care of this?

i know its been discussed this is a common /major issue, but my question is im not sure if the dealership just told me to take some more money off of me.

thank you for your thoughts in advance.

[rick3000]

It's RMS, Rear Main Seal, not Rls. It sounds to me like they are trying to steal your money, an RMS leak, means oil is leaking. If there is no leak then you can't really have an RMS leak.
You didn't say how they claimed to have determined you have a leak, but I doubt they would be able to tell without at least getting under the car, and even then there would be no way to be sure without a more thorough inspection. It could be another issue that they noticed (but wouldn't the dealer now the difference?)
I would seriously doubt any dealer that claims your car has a leak, when nothing is leaking.

[joetaf27]

Guys.. reading about all the engine failures and RMS leaks.. I was looking at purchasing a 97-99 with about 80k miles on it. Is it safe to say these issues are past this stage? Do they normally occur in the earlier stages of engine life?

[RandallNeighbour]

Don't let these two issues scare you off. The new issue of Excellence stated that only one in five M96 motors had catastrophic maladies and many of them were replaced under warranty. The RMS is a gasket and when it starts leaking, you replace it... and the clutch parts too since you're right there to save on labor.

I would not buy a 97-99 model though, and this comes from someone who owns one. Suspension wear becomes a costly issue in cars with 90k or more on them. Save more money and by an 03 or an 04 S with the 3.2 motor in it... the much newer car, lower mileage, glass rear window in the top, bigger motor with more torque, and the all-important glove box are all things you will not regret waiting to get in your Porsche.

I wish I had waited. Learn from my experiences and buy the newest Porsche you can find with the lowest mileage on it and the largest engine they put in the model you want to buy.

If you buy a 12 year old boxster, you will spend as much in repairs in the first three to four years of ownership as it would cost three or four years later to buy a much newer one.