Questions from a prospective Boxster owner - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Mark_T · 09-05-2012, 01:00 PM

The IMS issue is basically a bearing that can fail in the engine and destroy the engine in the process. While there is no hard data on the actual number of cars affected, it is generally estimated at between 2 and 5 %. Some peeps lay awake at night worrying about it, others never give it a thought. I would be in the latter group.

There was no fix forthcoming from Porsche for the 986. There is a company, LN Engineering, that make an upgraded bearing that can be retrofitted and is said to solve the problem. Most people do that upgrade at the same time they do the clutch and RMS. I expect that's when I'll do it. In there anyway, why not?

Dunno what the life of the clutch is - haven't worn mine out yet. As I'm at 130000 km I expect it will be within the next couple of years.

mnc-i · 09-07-2012, 09:23 AM

Here is my two cents.

Basic maintenance on a Boxster should be cheap and easy.

1) I have a 1999 Boxster that I bought three years ago with 104,000 miles. I have 170,00 miles on it now.

2) I do my own oil & filter changes every 10,000 miles. I either get Mobil 1 10w/40 High mileage at Walmart in 5 gallon jugs or Royal Purple 20W/50 in one quart containers. I am waiting for Mobil 1 Extended Performance to come out in 10W/40 or 20W/50 weight. My oil filters and drain plug washers come from Pelican Parts. I am a retired Soldier so I have access to a lift ($4.00 per hour) and all the tools I can use for free on post at the auto craft shop. Plus they have mechanics to give you pointers.

3) I've changed all four rotors and brake pads at the auto craft shop. All the parts I got from RockAuto except for the brake kit (extra springs, nuts, bolts and brake sensors that I got from Pelican Parts). The total cost of the pads and rotors was $162.00. It took me three hours on the lift ($12.00).

4) I've changed my spark plugs numerous times. I go to Pelican Parts and look up the proper spark plugs and then go buy them from RockAuto.

5) I just bought four (4) oxygen senors from RockAuto for $84.00 each, but I had a muffler shop install them for me.

6) One of the easiest things to replace is the accessory drive belt on the engine. I have not done that myself because when it is time to replace it (according to Excellence Magazine) you should also replace the water pump too and I just take it to my local mechanic. Excellence Magazine recommends the belt and water pump be replaced every 60,000 miles. I've had them replaced twice now.

Just my two cents.

MNC-I