Epic Engine Fail - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Boxtaboy · 06-27-2010, 07:04 AM

That really stinks, and sorry to see that, but you're what...7 yrs past the warranty period now? I doubt you'll get anywhere with a lawsuit.

hosickjg · 06-27-2010, 07:09 AM

Oh I'm aware its an old car and I am fixing it on my own dime. I'm just bothered that Porsche has build such garbage while taking no responsibility for what they sell. I've owned MANY cars and NEVER had anything major go wrong with any of them at such a low mileage point. It would be nice if they would own up to the IMS and Cylinder issues and offer to cover a percentage of replace costs even on older cars.
However.... that's not the way it works.

Boxtaboy · 06-27-2010, 07:13 AM

A poster here was 2 yrs out of warranty (04 model yr), and had an engine failure...he was not the original owner either, but Porsche still covered half the price of the replacement engine for him. Apparently, they pick and choose who they help.

Bladecutter · 06-27-2010, 08:07 AM

The only thing that we can truly recommend is that you write up a very polite, and un-emotional letter to Porsche NA, and let them know that you loved driving your '99 Porsche Boxster, and just recently had this failure occur to your engine.

Explain in your email that you are now aware that this type of engine failure is common to '99 era vehicles, and if they would have any options that could help you with a lower cost recovery of the driving pleasure that you had with your car before the failure occurred.

Make sure you include the pictures of the D-chunk failure.

And then after that, just wait and see.

They aren't required to give you anything, but if they do, make sure you thank them, even if the option sucks.

BC.

Mauiboxster · 06-27-2010, 02:19 PM

God, I hate coming on this forum and seeing posts like this. I just took my 99 Ocean Blue Boxster with 76,xxx miles for a fun spin around the island. Many turns and down shifts and it did fine.

Question. Does everyone that drives a Boxster think about the IMS failure everytime they go out? I DO!

I have a check engine light on but it drives great and I hear nothing to worry about but I still cant help but think about it every day.

This kind of takes the fun out of owning a Porsche.

Dave928 · 06-27-2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mauiboxster

Question. Does everyone that drives a Boxster think about the IMS failure everytime they go out? I DO!

no way! if it happens, it happens. i drive the car the way Porsche made it to be driven.

what are you gonna do, leave it in the garage and sit in front of it with your head between your knees?

Mauiboxster · 06-27-2010, 03:10 PM

No, I bought mine as a daily driver. I drive it everyday at least 20 miles. I wish I could drive it more. I just always have it in the back of my head that I will be spending 10k (or more on Maui) to replace the engine. Just not what I had in mind when I bought it. Guess I should have done a little more research before I had bought it. The truth is I just figured it was a Porsche and I had nothing to worry about. lol

Brucelee · 06-27-2010, 05:21 PM

My advice: Run Red Line Oil. Change every 7500 miles.

Hope for the best. Go to Church on Sunday!

mikes_box · 06-28-2010, 12:04 AM

just got back from maui and wouldn't have minded driving a boxster up there especially to the top of the volcano... haleakla....my wife and kids got a headache with my driving the chrysler 300 thinking it was a porsche..

kpm · 06-28-2010, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brucelee

My advice: Run Red Line Oil. Change every 7500 miles.

10W40 Redline ??

I have 6 gallons of Redline 40wt Race oil I would love to use, but the race oil is non-detergent

eightsandaces · 06-28-2010, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave928

no way! if it happens, it happens. i drive the car the way Porsche made it to be driven.

what are you gonna do, leave it in the garage and sit in front of it with your head between your knees?

Exactly Dave, thank you! The IMS "sky is falling" worry makes about as much sense as obsessing about the possibilites of cancer.

jhandy · 06-28-2010, 10:20 AM

look at this as an opportunity to upgrade.

If you like your car AND it is in great shape - be honest with yourself, it is not worth putting a new motor in a car that needs other repairs- Then sell your core to someone like Raby or junk yard or people that rebuild these things.

If you are not hung up on your car, Get a used motor (4000) from a yard like LA dismantalers or simular and drop in a new motor. Sell the car at that point to recover some money- be honest about the motor.

If you want to keep it, then Raby is the only one I have ever heard of that can put a new motor in and keep this type of thing from happening again. However be prepared to spend more on the motor than the car is worth. That is why you will keep it...It will be better than before and you will get years and years of fun out of it.

tonycarreon · 06-28-2010, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mauiboxster

Does everyone that drives a Boxster think about the IMS failure everytime they go out?

i can honestly say during my 1300 mi. 2-day trips to dallas (and back) it does not enter my mind at all. just me, the car, a road and some gasoline ready to burn.

as others have said, drive it well and change the oil. if you can afford to get an IMS retrofit/upgrade then do it. but do not let it stop your enjoyment. get out of the traffic and drive it hard when you can. it (and you) will enjoy that more than stop and go 20-mile daily commutes.

the probability of having a car that will not have an IMS problem is more likely than one that will.