I bought a 1998 Boxster 2.5, did I make a huge mistake???
 

Hello, I just purchased a 1998 arena red Porsche Boxster with the 2.5 engine and 5 speed transmission. I couldn't pass it up. It has 26k miles, has always been garaged and basically in mint condition. I owned a Porsche 944 years ago so I understand a little about their ownership. Are these cars the ticking time bomb that seems everyone is saying or has their problems been over hyped due to forums (negative always gets more exposure)??? Please be honest with me.

I've had a 99 for four years now and I'm thrilled with it, so it wouldn't be a mistake in my mind. Are you enjoying driving it?

I don't think they are ticking time bombs, but they will cost a bit to maintain. The 2.5 has a dual row imsb that is less likely to fail than the later single row bearing. The only thing I would worry about with your car is the low mileage. A small number of the older cars had porous engine blocks that would show problems before 50k miles. You are probably ok though due to age and mileage. Enjoy the car. Did you get a good deal?

Welcome over!

I have a 1998 and as long as it's been kept in good shape you shouldn't have a problem.
I've had to change the rotors and the brake pads no biggie.

Yes horrible mistake. I should probably take it off your hands for $1000 to save you from all the pain and anguish. :)

I LOVE THE CAR! Its beautiful, handles great and is just a blast to drive! It's hard to really enjoy the car though when in the back of your mind you think it could blow up any moment:eek:!

I can handle high repair costs (as long as there not frequent). I can perform many maintenance repairs myself (oil changes, brakes). What scares the **************** out of me is the total engine failures I keep hearing about! I can't afford that:eek:! That makes the car a total loss! The total loss of an investment of this size would be financially devastating:eek:!


I can't find any real statistics on the likelihood of failure or what years have the worst record and should be avoided. I would just like to find some good news about these cars that would make me rest a little easier:).

I just want to be able to enjoy my new sports car without having to be paranoid:D.

No, you didn't make a huge mistake. Virtually all 986 and early 987 Boxsters are selling very cheaply in relation to the design, handling, performance and status they provide and one of the reasons for that is the issue with respect to the IMS bearing. Porsche, of course, will not provide numbers but a glance at the poll on this site shows that about 92% of respondents have not had an IMS faliure. Admitttedly, this is a relatively small sample size, still.....

If you are not a gambler, upgrade the bearing and replace the clutch at the same time. The $3000.00 or so invested will not only provide peace of mind, but should add significantly to resale value for an educated buyer. And even when you add 3K to the purchase price, I can virtually guarantee that you would be hard pressed to find any other car that can provide as much bang for the buck!

Brad

Great car. Mine has 78K and is very strong...no drips, very few rattles (all related to top)and as mentioned, the 1998 has the more robust double row IMS. Don't be easy on her. The harder you drive, the higher the oil pressure and that will make sure oil gets to the bearing. Since I did all the "catch up" maintenance, I have only had to do oil changes. That is 2 years, about 8000 miles.

Topless is a prime example of the wonderful, caring people on this forum that will even dig into their own pockets to prevent another's anguish. And to prove that I am even more wonderful and caring, I will give you $1500.

Congrats...

The IMS issue gets a lot of airplay because the consequences of a failure are very costly. If you want peace of mind, replace the original IMS bearing.The thinking is that older low mileage cars tend to see these failures because the IMS bearing seals develop small leaks that diminish the bearings lubrication.

You have two options: ship the car to Flat 6 Innovations for the IMS Solution at about $3500 plus transport. They make it really easy to do this. Or, have a local, experienced dealer or independent shop, install a IMS Retrofit for about $1800 assuming you keep don't replace the clutch or rear main seal at the same time. Alternatively, you can install the IMS Guardian, which is a device that will tell you ahead of time if the IMS bearing is about to fail.

Other than that item, expect $1500 to $2000 per year maintenance depending on whether you drive a lot or do the labor yourself. Make sure you change the oil more frequently than the factory recommends. People tend to change oil between 3000 and 7500 miles.

Enjoy...

I think that may be overstating that a bit. The supply of second hand Boxsters and Carreras is big relative to the what Porsche has traditionally seen. Even if there were no IMS issue at all, the average buyer would avoid an out of warranty German car that requires specialized labor and expensive parts. Porsches have a huge reputation for being expensive to maintain. That imbalance between huge supply and limited potential buyers is going to put the advantage towards the buyer and not the seller on an indefinite basis. For the IMS to be a reason for depreciation, enough of the buying public would need to know what an IMS is in the first place. A first time buyer of Porsche will by and large only become aware of the IMS by doing online research. Once they've actually done that BEFORE the purchase (unlike our OP it seems), which I'm guessing only a fraction will actually take the time to do -- and even fewer will pony up for an actual Prepurchase Inspection (also unlike our OP) -- they will also learn in short order that the IMS issue is simply a matter of doing some preventative parts swapping. For nearly every reference to IMS there is a reference to LNE or Flat6 on all these forums. So you get the warning with the solution in virtually every thread.

Frankly I have to wonder if air-cooled Porsches were manufactured in the large numbers that Boxsters/Caymans/996/997 were if they would be holding value like they do. There simply aren't enough buyers with the means or nerve to buy an out of warranty Porsche to absorb the huge prodution numbers no matter how over or under-engineered the engines might be.
Rebuilding an air-cooled engine is just as big a case of wallett shock and awe for a buyer on a limited budget as the threat of an IMS implosion. As my mechanic said about antique 911's, "you just have to be ready to drop $10K". Most with modest means don't have a $10K emergency cash fund for real life emergencies let alone such a sum for a man toy budget.

p.s.
Meat Head, loved you on All In the Family by the way, if a blown engine is going to put you in the poor house then you should probably try to flip the Boxster for a tidy profit. Porsche ownership is inherently stressful and inherently expensive. Labor really sin't the big expense it's the parts. I had my Boxster in for repais a couple years back, it took weeks to get it back and the repair bill was over $5K. You could easily have back to back repairs in this car that can equal a third of the car's purchase price.
The best thing to do is to buy a certified pre-owned Porsche if you are the paranoid type or can't afford to lose your whole investment.

TPIWWOP

(This Post Is Worthless Without Pics):D

Don't listen to those cheapskates. I live right next door in Ohio and I'll give you $1501 any day.

Welcome to the club!!!

I don't think you made a mistake. Remember everyone has an opinion.

I have a 1999 Boxter that I purchased 3.5 years ago with 104,000 on the clock.

I now have 183,000 miles. I am quite happy with it. I've had to take it to the dealer for the cam adjusters on both sides, the AOS and a water pumps.

I do my own oil changes, spark plug changes and full break jobs. If I can, you can too. And save alot of money. I change my oil & filter every 10,000 miles and use Mobil 1 15W50.

After reading this Forum, Excellence Magazine and Renn Tech's Forum, I would purchase the IMS Guardian, change the water pump every 60,000 miles and enjoy my new Boxster.

I now want a 1999-2002 911, attached is the link to the 911 a Dallas Dealer who is offering me a 2001 with about 75,000 miles since it did not sell during his Ebay auction. I just need to figure out where to store it while I determine how to break the good news to my wife:

I didn't sell the #290876270500 <blockedhttp://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290876270500> - 2001 PORSCHE 911 SUNROOF KEYLESS ENTRY POWER WINDOWS AFTE... <blockedhttp://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290876270500> . You can still purchase it for the price you've offered, US $9,500.00. If you are still interested please reply with your full name and your address.

Enjoy the Boxster!!

MNC-I

Sorry, I forgot the web address:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290876270500>

MNC-I

Welcome to the best of the Boxster forums! You are handy with a wrench so don't worry too much. Get the Pelican Parts.com - 101 Projects for Your Porsche Boxster and the Bentley manual. There are lots of great DIY projects on this forum as well as Pedro's Garage. DIY Projects: Do-it-Yourself Repair and Maintenance for your Porsche If you get stuck, there are plenty of people here that will help out. If you don't want to spend the money on the replacement IMS, get the IMS Guardian or even cheaper, a magnetic drain plug. Cut open your oil filter after a change to check for metal. Like others have said, drive it hard. Remember, those with a problem are the ones who post, most owners are oblivious and just out enjoying the great car that is a Boxster:cheers:

If you don't take it, I might have too! Seriously, you have to at that price:eek: If you need some help with it, I'm close by.

^ that 101 Boxster Projects book is also available digitally on Google Books for your smartphone or tablet. Handy. Didn't see it on Kindle.

I have a 98 and love it..don't listen to the hype, I believe if you delve into it a little further the percentage of cars that fail are less than 3% (from what I've read myself) I'm 95,000 kms strong on mine and the thought of IMS never crosses my mind. Get behind the wheel and enjoy the ride!

I feel like a complete idiot for not researching the Boxster better before my purchase. I just saw a MINT condition garage kept Porsche with 28k miles and couldn't pass it up! Like I stated earlier, I have owned a couple of Porsches in the past (944 and 924) and was totally prepared for the standard Porsche issues. I knew the early Boxsters had issues but I never heard of the complete engine failures until further research:eek:!

After the initial purchase, I'm not going to have a spare $2-$3 thousand bucks to have the IMS preventative work done:ah:! Honestly I assumed any auto with 28k miles and garage kept would be good to go for a few years (besides normal maintenance). I only plan to put 4k miles on the car per year.

I really love the car! What's not to love, looks, handling and its a Porsche! I don't want to do this but I'm considering putting the car up for around $13-$14 thousand, make a few bucks and try something less volatile :D In my area, a Boxster in this condition will sell fast in this price range. I would rather keep the car but complete engine failure is not something my pocket book can stand:(.

I'm getting the feeling that most of you wouldn't overly worry about the IMS problem. The 1998 seems to have the best IMS set up of all the older Boxsters (dual bearing). That does make me feel a bit better. I do know that the internet can overly amplify issues due to people having a negative experience will always make more noise than those that are happy.

Maybe I could wait until I need to replace the clutch before worrying about the IMS. I never seem to have good luck when rolling the dice.

I do want to keep this car!

Personally, I wouldn't worry so much, but in the end you have to be comfortable. Just keep in mind that any used car can come with surprises. You don't have to change the IMS. Just buy the IMS guardian for peace of mind. The vast majority of cars do not suffer a failure. My sister's Honda van just had an engine failure, it can happen with any vehicle.

As others and I have said, go the IMS Guardian route (a couple of hundred bucks and easy to self install) or just put in a magnetic drain plug if you don't want to spend lots of money up front. The difference between the two is the Guardian gives real time warnings whereas the magnetic drain plug only tells you what is going on at every oil change.

BTW: most folks, who replace the IMS bearing, do so at the time they replace the clutch. It adds $700 bucks or so to the clutch job. 90% of the labor is common between the two jobs.

You guys are great! Thanks for all of your input. I'm beginning to feel a little better about the car. Keep all the info and opinions coming (good and bad). I want to know how you guys feel about the 1998 Boxster.

$13K for a 2.5? Please let know if you actually sell for that.
3.2's with moderate mileage have sold for about that much.

The more robust S model engines are also less prone to D chunk (cylinder liner cracks) than 2.5 Boxsters and even standard 3.4Carreras. Also, and kind of relevant to you, the reason D chunk seems to happen is because these cars been driven lightly with lower mileage....perhaps due to far fewer oil changes over time.

Believe it or not..I just had an offer of $13k for my 98 yesterday (95,000kms -59,000 miles) decided it wasnt time to part with my other love quite yet! I do believe the Canadian market is a little higher than the US though..alway seems to better deals south of the border.
Get in your car and enjoy it..don't waste time worrying!

so if i drive my 01S to Canada, can i sell it for 20K? :D

Depends where in Canada, but around here that wouldn't be an unreasonable asking price. You might have to settle for 18 or 19k if you want a quick sale in the spring.

Moderate mileage is not 28k garage kept like new condition lol! I've seen what what many consider low mileage clean cars lol. My car looks as if it rolled off the showroom floor, has actually 27k miles (in most cars low mileage is a good thing lol).

I was actually wanting info on the 1998 Boxsters reliability not to discuss car values. Look up KBB and you will get a good idea of exactly what you can get for your carin your location. worst case scenario, CarMax will almost always give trade in value for a clean low mileage car.

Keep the coments coming about the early Boxster issues and reliability! I really appreciate it.

Hah! Definitely not a mistake.

My 1999 has 126,000 miles on the original engine and IMS bearing. Runs perfect. If you're worried, replace the bearing.

Enjoy the car!

98-99 are probably the most reliable of the 986 series. Dual row IMS, better chain set, few overheat or oiling problems that later years face. 2-4% IMS failure rate. A garage queen with only 28k is actually at higher risk of failure than one driven daily though. Replacement 2.5 motors are plentiful at dismantlers for $3k or you could drop in a nice 3.4L for more and have Boxster Spyder equivalent performance.

Probably time to sell it to me now for $2k and avoid all that nastiness. :)

M96 equipped engines are not most cars. The way a car looks is one thing. The condition of a low mileage engine after nearly 15 years is quiet another. If your engine goes it won't matter how pristine the rest of the car looks, it's a roller/parts car that won't sell for anything near $13K. Actually its shocking how little these cars are worth minus an engine. It's almost as if you're buying an engine and they're nice enough to toss in two seats and a steering wheel.
Wear on items like shocks, tires, seat leather can be repaired, great if they're pristine like yours but they aren't "Game Over" to your investment even in they're bad shape. Put it this way, many Porsche buyers will avoid a low mileage car in pristine shape that had only annual oil changes, using an oil from the dealer now believed to be inferior for long oil change intervals, sat for weeks or months at a time, constantly short shifted, the tach barely visited north of 3K RPM, etc. and will instead opt for a daily driven 2.5 with plenty of blemishes with plenty more oil changes and a list of repairs on known Boxster weak spots.
unsolicited Advice: if someone looks at your car without a Prepurchase Inspection and is otherwise unfamiliar with Porsche, don't negotiate too hard if they make an offer in your general ballpark. If the next owner is someone looking to use it as a daily driver and starts ramping up the mileage at some accelerated rate its not seen before, they may be a candidate for a surprise.

Where in Indiana are you? Prices in Indianapolis for a 1998 Boxster are the same as anywhere. I'm looking all the time.

I'm asking for mechanical issues and advice about the 1998 Porsche Boxster with the 2.5 engine and 5 speed transmission. I'm worried that I may have gotten in over my head with this vehicle lol! I'm worried that I let the low mileage (great for most cars lol) and the fact that the car is flawless (heated garage kept) influence me to make a bad purchase. I'm into this car for well under $11k. I thought it was a steal until I read about the engine failures:eek:!

I'M NOT WANTING TO ARGUE ABOUT CAR VALUES! However, there is a reason KBB asks for your zip code. Every area has different demands. I'm not a Boxster specialist and that is why I'm asking questions here and wondering if I made a mistake! I have looked at prices all over the country through Autotrader, Cars.com and Craigslist and could not find a Porsche Boxster of any year with less than 35k miles for under $13,000! I could be wrong, that's why I'm asking questions about the car on this site!

I'd say you got a fair price. But theres not much wiggle room for the IMS upgrade, and any of the other pricey mods if youre looking to come out even on the flip.

Mileage isnt as much a consideration for the typical buyer as much as is year, engine size, pricey options, glass rear window,etc and for some things like location (no winter miles). But most important are records and whether it can pass a purchase inspection with flying colors. If youre freaking out about reliability take it to a porsche specialist for a full top to bottom inspection then youll know if you should be happy or should be concerned. No one here can tell you that for sure. And since your repairs fund is less than two years maintenance it would be in your interest to know what you may be facing. Id order an oil analysis after the first oil change from blackstone labs as well.

P.S.
Post some pics of the car. Its a 986forum tradition

You seem to be copping a bit of an attitude. People are trying to help you so maybe back off on the caps lock and listen to what you're being told, know what I'm sayin'?

You asked your question and you have several answers. Pick the one you like. If you think you made a mistake, then you made a mistake. If you're going to lose sleep worrying about mechanical failures, you made a mistake. If you can't afford a couple of grand a year for maintenance, you made a mistake. Given your limited budget, if you're not the type to learn to do your own repairs and maintenance then you made a mistake. These cars aren't for everyone, and maybe they're not for you.

I'm copping an attitude lol. I've expressed my gratitude to all that have given me information (good or bad). I answered the person that kept brining up how much I estimated I could get for the car. I'm just going by KBB (that is what all local dealers use). Honestly I thought it was kind of rude to hijack the thread and start talking Boxster values lol (no big deal). That's the bad thing about the internet forums, things can be taken out of context.

Actually you were the first to bring up the perceived market value of the car. After that people are going to offer their take on your take. Nothing unusual or rude about it. Par for the forum course.

My bad, I guess......I really didn't think anything about it. Everybody has been great with all the info that they have given thus far. Attitude was not intended lol.


Hey guys, keep all the info on the 1998 2.5 Boxster coming! It is a learning experience for me. I like to get as many opinions as possible.