New Guy Checking In

[fins]

Purchased a 2001 S with 27k miles a couple of weeks ago. It was a local car and have spoken to one of the previous owners indicating the car was babied while they had it. The last owner put 200 miles on the car and then stored it. I've searched this forum for a definitive answer but have yet to find it. I'm currently having the hood repainted, ordered a set of Sumitomos, ordered Suncoast upgraded cigarette lighter, planning an oil/filter change, air & cabin filter change and may soon upgrade the radio to a double din with nav. I found a reliable indy shop 90 miles north of me and was wondering what service you would advice to "refresh" the S given how inactive it has been. I'm sure an all-fluids flush is in order but what else?. Incidentally, the car drives wonderfully and have enjoyed ownership for what little seat time I've had with her.

Great forum you have here and I look to learning from you all.

Thanks in advance!

... and the obligatory photo...


[IMG][/IMG]

[rdass623]

congratulations on the new ride. I would advise the fluid change, tires if necessary, but nothing further. drive it for a while and see how you feel. trust me you will be having too much fun to worry about a nav system.

[thstone]

Great looking car and a picture on the first post! Well done!

If you really want to be sure about the maintenance, you could do a major service which would catch everything up to date and give you a clean starting point for the future.

[paulofto]

When you do the oil change give the filter and the oil itself a real good look. Anything out of the ordinary like plastic bits or metal shavings should be investigated. How long was it stored and was an oil change done before storage or did it sit with used oil. Also, you might want to put in a magnetic drain plug when you change the oil.

Not to open a new discussion but you know where I am heading with this . . . . . An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

BTW, You are going to love the car.

[kjc2050]

Fluids, filters, serpentine belt, check the tires, relocate the frunk release to the tow hook, and enjoy it. Nice car: congrats and welcome!

[jdraupp]

With that low of mileage you may want to look into the ims retrofit or even better, the ims solution.

[Jamesp]

Originally Posted by jdraupp

With that low of mileage you may want to look into the ims retrofit or even better, the ims solution.

+1 The car looks just like mine, only better! If you haven't already heard, there is a bearing responsible for keeping the timing chains in place, and very similar to an older Honda timing belt, it needs to be changed occasionally or it can fail, and when it does it is usually time for a new engine. Low mileage cars that sit for years are especially vulnerable to this bearing failing. If it were me, I'd research the dreaded IMS bearing to make an informed decision on how to handle it.

[crooster]

Front motor mount tends to fail.

[fins]

Thanks for the heads up guys and the warm welcome. The indy shop was pushing the IMS solution @$4k (he quoted me based on a previous 911 they completed). I called the Porsche dealers in Mobile, AL and Jackson, MS and was quoted $2500 and $2000, respectively. The Jackson dealer said he'd been a mechanic at that dealership for 10+ years and have only seen 3 failures. He said it should not be a huge concern. So what gives?

[BruceH]

Depends on who you ask, but the low milage cars with infrequent oil changes seem to be most susceptible. The oil gets behind the "sealed" bearing, sits, becomes acidic and then eats away at the bearing, causing it to fail. Frequent oil changes, frequent, enthusiastic, driving will push new oil behind the bearing and thus not become acidic. That's my basic understanding. Since your car is low milage and you are not sure how often the oil was changed, you are a prime candidate to have the bearing replaced. There are tons of threads and opinions not only on this forum but every Porsche forum. Do some reading, and then make an informed decision. I have not replaced the bearing on my 2001 S which has just over 75,000 miles. I plan to replace it when it is time to replace the clutch. Until then, I have a magnetic drain plug, the LN spin on oil adapter, and have my oil analysed when I do my oil changes. I also check the filter for any tell tale signs. It's just something you should be aware of.

Welcome to the forum and thanks for the pic

[jb92563]

Nice car and welcome!

The IMS bearing is a decision you should think about, decide on your plan to deal with it and then forget about it and just enjoy driving the car hard and often.

I have an 01 S as well and with respect to the IMS Bearing, your model may have the dual row bearings as mine does (No IMS replacement needed).
That reduces your odds from ~5% chance of a failure to about 1% chance of a failure which is about the same or better than every other car out on the road.

If you can financially afford a second hand engine replacement for about $6k or a new engine for $15K, you could play the 5% odds (Single row bearing) you'll never have this problem.

If not then a $2000 replacement soon would be the best course of action as you are right in the danger zone with a lightly driven car with low miles.

You can look up your VIN in the Court case with Porsche and if your VIN range is excluded from the class action then its because you have the dual row bearings.

You'll have to do some digging on the forums to find that post.

In the mean time the car likes to be driven hard so don't be afraid to put the hammer down in the twisties.

I also highly recommend a Porsche Performance Driving School as you will be a safer driver and learn to drive that Porsche like it was meant to be.
You'll also be amazed at what your car can do and have so much fun that you may take the course more than once like some folks do.

PS: Don't fret over the IMS too much, just make your decision and enjoy the driving.

[fins]

jb92563, thanks for the valuable input. Will definitely going on the hunt VIN range info.

[fins]

Found it:
• Model year 2001 - 2005 Porsche Boxster vehicles manufactured with an IMS between May 4, 2001 and February 21, 2005 with VINs in the following ranges:
o WP0CA29851S620508 - WP0CA29831S620619
o WP0CB29811S660405 - WP0CB29801S660492
o WP0CA29821U625959 - WP0CA29891U627644
o WP0CB29861U664289 - WP0CB29841U665473
o WP0CA29892S620061 - WP0CA29802S620238
o WP0CA29832U620061 - WP0CA29892U626107
o WP0CB29802U660062 - WP0CB29892U664319
o WP0CB29862S660062 - WP0CB29852S660344
o WP0ZZZ98Z2U602762
o WP0ZZZ98Z2U640813
o WP0CA298X3S620068 - WP0CA29853S620222
o WP0CA29813U620061 - WP0CA298X3U625002
o WP0CB29803U660063 - WP0CB29803U663240
o WP0CB29853S660068 - WP0CB298X3S660227
o WP0ZZZ98Z3U604185
o WP0ZZZ98Z3U640971
o WP0CA29854S620061 - WP0CA29824S621085
o WP0CA298X4U620061 - WP0CA29854U621568
o WP0CB29804S660061 - WP0CB29834S660555
o WP0CB29854U660061 - WP0CB29834U661824
o WP0CA298X5U710067 - WP0CA29815U711852
o WP0CB29885U730069 - WP0CB29835U731310

[fins]

My VIN: WPOCB29801U662232

VIN RANGE: WP0CB29854U660061 - WP0CB29834U661824

Looks like I fall within. Can anyone confirm? I got cross-eyed trying to compare.

[SoCalBlackbox]

I would say no, maybe some people who understand serial numbers and such can chime in and explain.

As I understand it the only way to tell for sure is to take it apart.

[paulofto]

Fins, I don't think you are in any of the ranges indicated. Your VIN is before any of those listed. That said, it is still good practice to perform preventative medics. Frequent oil changes and filter inspections.

FYI, your VIN is WP0CB29801U662232, not WPOCB29801U662232.

That is a 'zero', not an 'O'.

[fins]

Originally Posted by paulofto

Fins, I don't think you are in any of the ranges indicated. Your VIN is before any of those listed. That said, it is still good practice to perform preventative medics. Frequent oil changes and filter inspections.

FYI, your VIN is WP0CB29801U662232, not WPOCB29801U662232.

That is a 'zero', not an 'O'.

Thanks for the correction.

[madmodz]

I recommend you buy the Porsche boxster service manual. It is worth it's weight in gold. Check ebay for one.

[Retroman1969]

I don't have any advice, but that sure is one beautiful Boxster!

[BobRickel]

Beautiful car. Welcome to the forum. I bought a 1997 with only 40K miles on it and had the same concerns. I decided that peace of mind and dependability were my biggest concern. I had my local indy mechanic drop my motor and I did the EPS IMS repair (see attached video) While he was @ it I had him change every rubber hose, the water pump (was already starting to get some play), Plugs and plug tubes, fuel/air/oil filters, Air/oil separator tank, rear main seal, front engine mount, transmission fluid and any other thing I could think of that would leave me on the side of the road. I spent about $2200 on all of this between parts and labor. I have since put almost 5k on it and she is purring like a cat. I have no reservations about jumping in and running up to the mountains and running her hard.
Here is the video:


Have fun and play hard with her.