Thinking of buying a Boxster ? - MUST READ !

[78F350]

Originally Posted by KyleBus

Thanks for the response! What type of maintenance and repairs should I be expecting yearly?

Fluid changes, tires, brakes, and clutch are the most common. Searching the forum for more specific info on these will give you the details. Of course the clutch, tires, and brakes will probably not be needed every year, but fit into that 2-$3k budget over time. Oil change can run about $80-$100 and the coolant is just silly expensive compared to an average car. Search and read up. It's all been covered.

There's lots of support here, Pelican parts: Porsche Boxster 986 (1997-2004) / 987 (2005-2008) Technical Articles | Pelican Parts, and rennlist forum

[KyleBus]

Hi everyone, just got back from checking out the car from the link I posted a few days ago. In the ad it says there is a "crack in rear quarterpanel paint, black tape over it right now to cover it up"

To specify the location of this a little better, it is located right above the vent that leads to the engine on the driver side (where the sticker covers in one of the photos below)

I'm curious if you guys think a body shop would be able to fix this or if i would have to have that whole area replaced, and what you guys think that would cost..

Thank you in advance!

[78F350]

I'm curious if you guys think a body shop would be able to fix this or if i would have to have that whole area replaced,...

I'm still pretty new to these cars, but I think that area actually takes some significant stress from the roof mounting points and mechanism. Not that the whole car will split in 1/2, but it needs a qualified professional to evaluate it.

You can get lots of opinions here though. I'd stop-drill the cracks and put a stainless doubler over it with sexy looking aircraft rivets every 1/4 inch. Maybe a few bullet hole decals to top it off. (Sure you want opinions?)

*I'd suggest starting a new thread rather than continuing here.

[dagdisco03]

Not 100% sure what I'm seeing in the pic but to me it looks like a bunch of bondo under the paint. A cheap repair gone bad. If it is bondo like I'm thinking a body shop will say it needs a quarter panel and you will be looking at a whole lot of money for that type of repair. The body does not support the top so don't worry about that. You could do the same as the owner and sand it down smooth some bondo and spray can paint it. That's cheap and easy and will look that way but on the color you could get away with a lot and from 5 feet away no one will know.

[986judy]

My 2000 Boxster 2.7L has run beautifully for 14yrs. Normal wear and tear but at 95,000 miles, all I had to do this year was replace the AOS ($114 part) which I did myself.

In the past SIX years, I've only had to replace the brakes, battery, tires, oil and the water pump and do the normal 90,000 Service. She runs like a champ!

[bramwell]

That articles are very timely since I'm thinking to buy boxster.

[myboxsters]

Jumping in this weekend. 2008 yellow boxster S. 44k miles. 1 owner.

offer made today pending PPI from an independent. could be carving up the curves Sunday

[traceylee1]

I've had my 99' Boxster for about 7 years! it has 160,000 miles on it. I change the oil and tune it up regularly. I've only had to replace the water pump. No problems with MY Boxster!!!

[mcdandc]

Originally Posted by dagdisco03

not 100% sure what i'm seeing in the pic but to me it looks like a bunch of bondo under the paint. A cheap repair gone bad. If it is bondo like i'm thinking a body shop will say it needs a quarter panel and you will be looking at a whole lot of money for that type of repair. The body does not support the top so don't worry about that. You could do the same as the owner and sand it down smooth some bondo and spray can paint it. That's cheap and easy and will look that way but on the color you could get away with a lot and from 5 feet away no one will know.

wow, nimby

[Porsche9five1]

Hello board. I am looking into a 2005 Boxster Base with 40,000K miles on it. It is a 1 owner car with the following options.

2005 Porsche Boxster
Exterior:
Arctic Silver Metallic
Interior:
Black Standard Leather
Warranty Start:
June 22, 2005
Additional Equipment
342
Heated Front Seats
446
Wheel Caps with Colored Crest
680
Bose Surround Sound System
AN
Black Standard Leather
M6Z
Floor Mats Interior Color
P12
Self-Dim Mirrors & Rain Sensor
P74
Bi-Xenon Headlamp Package
PPB
Preferred Package Plus
V9
Black Top
X1
Arctic Silver Metallic

How many have replaced thier IMS vs. just routine maint?

If you have replaced your IMS, cost?

TIA

[kk2002s]

I have not at 78k miles
Search will give you so much information you will get some ideas
From what I understand 2005, while being a 987 model, may still have the M96 motor that the IMS can be replaced without removing and Splitting. Or it could be the M97 motor that has the revised larger IMSB. This bearing appears to be a more robust bearing for street/daily driving

good luck

[jdlmodelt]

If I had read this post ahead of time. I would never own the Boxster I own today. 1999 Boxster that at 37,xxx miles the engine blew in 2008 and the PO had a new Porsche replacement engine installed. I purchased it in 2013 with 57,xxx miles on it for $12k. I'm super happy I did what I did, even in ignorance. I was LUCKY that the engine had been replaced with the Porsche solution. Granted probably not as good as Jake Raby's but still. It's a pure joy to drive aside from worrying about deer jumping out in front of me or making sure I park way out in the south 40 parking lot so my car doesn't get door dings.

[jdlmodelt]

Originally Posted by traceylee1

I've had my 99' Boxster for about 7 years! it has 160,000 miles on it. I change the oil and tune it up regularly. I've only had to replace the water pump. No problems with MY Boxster!!!

You're my hero. I have a 1999 as well and that is what I hope to see mine trending towards.
90,xxx and climbing.

[rick3000]

jdlmodelt, do you know if it was in fact an IMS failure on your '99?

I ask because the '99 has a different IMS design than the years commonly associated with IMS failure. An RMS or slipped sleeve failure would be more likely.

[davismorris717]

I am need to know about boxster..because i m buying it.!

[arthrodriver]

Wanted to say how good this thread is. I will copy #111 as a procurement aid. It is interesting to me that while the Italians are usually credited with sensuous and striking design,the main reason I want a Boxster is the attraction to the body shape. When I park beside one it beakons strongly. Female curves? I guess so. Having owned Corvair, TR-4, original Lotus Elan, on and on ,the Boxster reliability is a revelation. I was considered marathon man to street the Elan for 58K commuter miles. Do I have any business looking at a low slung roadster at my age....yep. The wife drives the C 63 AMG and I drive ( wait for it) an 85 Fiero and 91 Nissan 2000 (the low end car Porsche could not build?). A used Boxster would be perfect, especially the light 1999 model. Kudos to great people here.

[arthrodriver]

After sleeping on my mebership acceptance here I would like to make a suggestion to those asking about Boxster qualities. There is a widely read thread in DIY here which will take some reading , but worth it. The comments made by flaps10, the author( great job) and other responders do reflect on Boxster engine and maintenance .
For what it's worth here are some observations.

I remember when pegging the tach was my main objective while driving and it is still good sometimes. But flaps10 found "spun" rod bearings. This should not happen. Someone suggested oil starvation, as in max cornering with WOT. I do not recall any pics of an oil pressure gauge on the dash. It is not so hard to put in a warning buzzer linked to the oil pressure sender. Maybe racers will respond.

Next, flalps10 commented on the rod bolts used. The pictures are really shocking. The removed bolts are totally threaded . In most hipo engines rodbolts resemble the ARP ones. So, yes, corner cutting at Porsche did occur. The better to produce the car at its price point and make it available to many. Another shocker is the piston wrist pin retainers. Wire??? Wire??? The last time I saw this was on a JC Whitney VW replacement. Why not circlips?

Flaps10 found a foil seal, as in "your coolant jug has not been opened," in a cooland passage. Yikes. Well ya gotta trust, I guess.

Finally, I do not know the piston material, but probably cast, making sense for this stock engine, but a risk for those considering turbo or supercharging. Flaps10 did not mention any crack detection done at his engine shop. It would be good to know if any of the parts underwent magnaflux or "zyglo" (aluminum) testing.

These comments are meant to coax readers to look around this form and push their knowledge. Lots of good stuff. None of this blather has diminished my great interest in the Boxster. I hope to own one someday.

[Bdrude]

I am about to roll over 160K Miles in my 98 Boxster. Other than the occasional airbag light I have had no major issues. Drive it hard and often!

[Abettinger]

Good morning,
I am brand new here and have been searching for a Boxter S...I've found 2 of them and could use insight...

Boxter 1 is an '05 with 32,500 miles on it. It has all the options on it - including the Chrono, PASM and 19" wheels. It is a manual transmission. It is advertised as always garaged, has all the service records and in excellent condition. The pictures look it as well and the price is reasonable. The question I have is regarding the use of the car...the first owner had it for 5,000 miles (1 year) and second owner for the balance of the time. The carfax that I ran shows a flywheel replacement at both 7,000 miles AND at 14,000 miles and it has had two sets of tires mounted according to records. it seems very strange to have the flywheel replaced twice so early... What advice would you give me regarding this car? Run, ask for more info - what? I will do a PPI on any car, but don't want to invest the extra unless it is a sound car in person and on paper first.

Car #2 is an '06 with 62,000 miles on it. It has the automatic w/ triptonic and is very nice looking inside & out. Not many options on it and it has 18" wheels. Drove it twice and enjoyed it, but the second time it had a system fault - return to workshop light show up in the dash...the carfax on this one shows multiple owners and the part about this one that is concerning is that the last 2 owners had it for 7 months to a year and it has ended up at local car dealerships and most recently was traded in at a Porsche dealer and then sent out to auction. I was all ready to send this one in for PPI, but something about it was not adding up.

[ravirv]

Just a thinking of i have a boxster it si so nice moment.It is for using the race.I will become a excellent racer.