Shortlived Boxster engines survey

[Bobiam]

There has been some recent discussion on another thread about Boxster engines blowing at anywhere form 20K-120K miles.
If this severe problem occurs during the warrantee period, I imagine that Porsche puts in a new engine and you are happily on your way.

HOWEVER, it this happens out-of-warrantee, it is a financial disaster with reported costs of $9000-12000. On older cars, this is 2/3 ot 1/2 of the value of the car!!

If this happened to you, please, please tell us......the milage when it occured, the major fault causing the engine failure, what it cost to replace the engine, and WHAT PORSCHE DID TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. If Porsche paid for replacement of your out-of-warrantee engine, what sort of negotiation, threats, begging, etc was involved with your success at recovering from the loss.

From what we've been hearing this can happen to anyone with any age or milage engine. The experience that you have gained may help the next unfortunate blown engine owner to recover without having to sell the farm or their first born!

Thanks..........

[smartrepair]

Hi

My Boxter MY98 blew with 65000 miles. A broken cylinder liner. The car was out of warranty, Porsche did nothing. Found a used Carrera 3.4 which I instaled by myself...

Well that engine bent a crankshaft!

Regards

Kare, Spain

[kabel]

Haven't we done this already...

Poll: RMS and Engine problem questionaire

[Bobiam]

Originally Posted by kabel

Haven't we done this already...

Poll: RMS and Engine problem questionaire

No....This survey does not relate specificly to an RMS, although if that was the reason for engine failure it would fit here.
The real reason for this survey is to establish some precedence with Porsche in order to exert leverage if we suffer such an engine failure............ and to understand better what is causing these failures resulting in engine replacement.

[kabel]

Ah, well, it may have turned into mostly an RMS specific thread however the thread is titled:

"RMS and Engine problem questionaire" and one of the poll questions is:
Have you experienced an engine failure (yes/no)

There are also threads of this nature on Rennlist and Renntech for anyone that is looking for additional user data with porsche engine failures.

Bobiam, don't take this the wrong way, I'm not trying to be a jerk or anything, just hate seeing multiple threads on the same subject.

I keep my fingers crossed and touch wood, my nearly 100k MY99 is doing fine.

[Bobiam]

Originally Posted by kabel

Ah, well, it may have turned into mostly an RMS specific thread however the thread is titled:

"RMS and Engine problem questionaire" and one of the poll questions is:
Have you experienced an engine failure (yes/no)

There are also threads of this nature on Rennlist and Renntech for anyone that is looking for additional user data with porsche engine failures.

Bobiam, don't take this the wrong way, I'm not trying to be a jerk or anything, just hate seeing multiple threads on the same subject.

I keep my fingers crossed and touch wood, my nearly 100k MY99 is doing fine.

This thread was created to gather serious and up-to-date information about issues that can cost readers many thousand $s. Perhaps there is some redundancy, but there is little harm in sharing info about major misfortunes to help fellow readers/members. If it doesn't apply to someone, they need not read it.
Bob

[Mcassola]

For what it's worth..I purchased a 1997 model with 19k on it about 4 years ago and blew an engine at about 37k. I'm pretty sure it was the sleeve issue as opposed the shaft going bad. Anyway, thank God I purchased an extended warranty through the local porsche dealer (Tech Serve Tech 4 policy) for about $2.7k that pretty much covered everything on the car except the convertible top.

The extended warranty paid the roughly $15k for the new engine after their inspector came out to look at the engine a few times to make sure i was not flogging the hell out of it....or an accidental mechanical over-rev.

[B]My point is this: Do not even think about buying/owning any German car (i.e., BMW, Audi, VW or Porsche) unless it is under warranty. I have bought several of these cars in my lifetime and the extended warranty has always paid for itself many times over. Spend the extra money and get the warranty....you will sleep better at night knowing that if something goes wrong, it's going to cost you NO more than the $100 deductible and that's it. These warranties are also transferrable to a new owner when you go to sell it. The new owner can buy the car worry free. You may also cancel the warranty and the company will send you a pro-rated refund based on time and miles left.

Happy safe motoring to everyone who reads this.

MRC

[neverinxs]

I currently have a 2000 Boxster that has been a great car. I have recently found a very well optioned 1999, w/19K on it. I have heard stories about catastrophic engine failures on early cars. Was it prone to the 1999 model year? I also understand that Porsche may have corrected the problem in 1999. If they did what vin's were produced after the correction. I don't want to sink a good chunck of change in a low mile 1999 only to be saddled with an engine. Can anyone give me the low down?

[vipola]

I don't know about that engine faillure batch you are talking.. I got a 1999 boxster with (120 000km) and it's running very well..

Just don't forget that the 1999 got a 2.5 engine instead of a 2.7 and that a too low milleage could hide something

good luck

[JCL12]

The 2 big sources of engine failure I have heard of:

1) Sleeve Slip Failure - Only on early models which have some engine defects "repaired" (instead of reworked to print). I think 1997 (USA) is the only year you need to avoid for this

2) IMS (intermediate shaft) failure - ALL models up to and including todays


Sadly, this crap is a worry we all must deal with and just hope it never happens. Following subsequent revisions to the design of the engines (minor tweaks/revs) it is clear porsche knows of the defect and its possible affects, yet they make no real acknowledgement and provide on official relief. (Think about what mazda did for almost all the RX8s).

Makes me strongly consider never buying a Pcar again, but the RMR and the label is such a draw

FWIW, I would never buy a 1999 with 20k miles. That is too low - I would almost be more comfortable if it had 40K worry free miles. The 20k milage on a '99 isn't worth the premium at all

[saaber]

check out this article

describes the failures and this company even remanufactures to eliminate the problem. Too bad they are in England. A good read.

http://www.autofarm.co.uk/pdf/Total911_July06.pdf

and this one:

http://www.autofarm.co.uk/pdf/911PW_Apr06.pdf

[Brucelee]

You know, this whole thing just floors me.

This is a Boxer engine, not very exotic nor complicated. They have been making the same fundamental design for what, 60 yrs?

How tough can it be to make it robust and somewhat easier to repair.

The Subaru guys seem to have figured it out.

[easyc]

Well actually bruce... the boxster M96 is a new engine for porsche..... watercooled!

[kozboxsters]

I just made a request for getting on a schedule for an intermediate bearing replacement on my 2001 Boxster S. My S was purchased a little over three years ago with 1,434 miles on it. It came out of the dealer just shy of $62,000 then the owner spent another $6,000 adding new rims, special exhaust from Porsche and so forth. His enjoyment was accessorizing an already beautiful car. The car now has just over 21,000 miles on it and still looks and works beautifully. Every day the value of the car goes down, but my thought is that another $2,000 or whatever they estimate is worth the enjoyment this car brings. It makes me sick to think I would have to spend $85,000 to get another full leather red interior and all the other things that are on this car just to get a new 2013. For all I know, they still have intermediate shaft bearing problems and if that is the case, it is inexcusable. Wish me luck.

[bmarti13]

Sorry about sending this as a reply, but I can't figure out how to post an original thread. I am a rookie user to this site.....

I found a 2000 Boxster S with 9700 miles. Car has been garaged in Arizona with original owner. This car is upgraded like crazy and I have not been able to find one even close. (Midnight blue metallic, beige interior, upgraded wheels, porsche emblem stamped in leather seats, guages colered to match interior, comes with aero kit, etc...) Middle aged Scottsdale couple that drove the car on weekends and then lost interest.
Car is immaculate inside and out. Owner drove the car about 8500 miles in the first 10 years, and then only about 1200 miles since 2010.
In 2010 he had to replace a siezed fuel pump, had oil change, brake system flush, new tires, etc... I assume due to the fact that it has been sitting.

I verified the service history with the dealership and he has been pretty good on getting recommended services (although not perfect). Service guy told me that there are no prior issues reported on the car, services refused, major repairs, etc....

I test drove the car and it drove great. Although I did not push it very hard. Maybe got it up to 50 mph on side streets. Shifts fine, no rattles, noises, etc...

Question is: Would you guys buy this car? I can buy it for about 20,000 (maybe a little lower).
At first, my gut reaction was that this was a rare find. However, I have been reading so much about cars with 'too low' mileage, and this has scared me a bit.
Any help would be appreciated.

[marsheng]

Originally Posted by saaber

http://www.autofarm.co.uk/pdf/Total911_July06.pdf
and this one:
http://www.autofarm.co.uk/pdf/911PW_Apr06.pdf

Pages missing !! 404

[will2002]

Originally Posted by JCL12

The 2 big sources of engine failure I have heard of:

1) Sleeve Slip Failure - Only on early models which have some engine defects "repaired" (instead of reworked to print). I think 1997 (USA) is the only year you need to avoid for this

2) IMS (intermediate shaft) failure - ALL models up to and including todays


Sadly, this crap is a worry we all must deal with and just hope it never happens. Following subsequent revisions to the design of the engines (minor tweaks/revs) it is clear porsche knows of the defect and its possible affects, yet they make no real acknowledgement and provide on official relief. (Think about what mazda did for almost all the RX8s).

Makes me strongly consider never buying a Pcar again, but the RMR and the label is such a draw

FWIW, I would never buy a 1999 with 20k miles. That is too low - I would almost be more comfortable if it had 40K worry free miles. The 20k milage on a '99 isn't worth the premium at all

-----------
Hello, in response to your comments above: I recently purchased a 2002 Boxster from a Rover dealer in NJ. looks & ran great, 38k, two owner car. car was traded in & received major service for oil seal leak, new clutch, etc from sister Porsche dealer. have copy of $4200 service invoice. important point in decision to buy this car.

6 weeks later, catastrophic engine failure. IMS failure! I have driven many cars totaling almost 2 million miles & have never experienced an engine failure.

fortunately, the dealer included a used car warranty at the time of purchase, so the repair/engine replacement was covered. (fyi - re-manufactured engine was supplied by Vertex in Miami, FL. includes one year warranty from time of purchase, 11 months to me by the time I got the car back).

one week after I got the car back, I needed to return to have the headlight switch repaired/replaced, also covered. so far I have spent $350 on repairs for one remote replacement (key).

both a major failure and incredible luck that it happened under warranty, from a terrific dealer; Princeton Rover. they treated me VERY well. cannot imagine facing the cost of an engine replacement.

I will keep the car for now, but it will probably be both my first & last Porsche.


good to luck to all readers. will2002

[jetspanner]

good evening all , just thought to share with you my experience and provide some feedback , Boxster 2002 2.7 single row , 60k miles (95k km) I'm the third owner but the first doesn't count much as he only had the car for 3k km . Oil leak evident , no debris in filter . RMS dry , IMS leaking , I replaced it with an LN part , the removed bearing was in good shape - apart from the fact that it was leaking - beginning of the countdown I guess , The previous owner is a friend ,he had always maintained the car and regularly changed the oil , probably the reason the bearing was in good shape ??? I also changed the clutch and the coolant tank . Very very happy and glad I did the job . Thanks Steve for advice :dance:

[AddictionRacing]

I just found out today that a noise I heard at an autocross this past Sunday was due to intermediate shaft failure. It has 67,700 miles or so on it and I've owned it for six and a half weeks, or under 2000 miles. It's a '99. I've been a Porsche nut for nearly 20 years, finally got one, and am now regretting ever buying one. I should have grown a brain and bought the Honda instead.

I've been quoted $11k for a new factory 2.5 installed or $15k for a new factory 3.4 installed.

I don't have the dealer work on the car, so Porsche is not aware of the failure, and I'm sure they wouldn't care to know and wouldn't do anything about it if they did know. I'm just sorry to be an idiot German car lover. I may never own another Porsche.

[Brucelee]

Originally Posted by AddictionRacing

I just found out today that a noise I heard at an autocross this past Sunday was due to intermediate shaft failure. It has 67,700 miles or so on it and I've owned it for six and a half weeks, or under 2000 miles. It's a '99. I've been a Porsche nut for nearly 20 years, finally got one, and am now regretting ever buying one. I should have grown a brain and bought the Honda instead.

I've been quoted $11k for a new factory 2.5 installed or $15k for a new factory 3.4 installed.

I don't have the dealer work on the car, so Porsche is not aware of the failure, and I'm sure they wouldn't care to know and wouldn't do anything about it if they did know. I'm just sorry to be an idiot German car lover. I may never own another Porsche.

My condolences. This situation is unacceptable in my mind.