Porsche NA Response to Motor Swap Date Request

[imon_2nd]

Hello, JFP.

I've read about that Federal case. Since I'm the 3rd owner and the only records I have are from the 2nd owner, I have no way of contacting the 1st owner.

The 1st owner's privacy and any other rights would not be endangered if Porsche provided only the engine replacement date. Furthermore, there is no longer any contractual obligation between Porsche and the 1st owner or between myself and the 1st owner.

I agree with you that I can and will service the car per odometer mileage, warning lights and my own senses. Nonetheless, I'd feel better knowing whether I have 50,000 miles on the replacement motor or 90,000. Either is possible given that the odometer is close to 100,000 miles.

Cheers,

Dave

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by imon_2nd

Hello, JFP.

I've read about that Federal case. Since I'm the 3rd owner and the only records I have are from the 2nd owner, I have no way of contacting the 1st owner.

The 1st owner's privacy and any other rights would not be endangered if Porsche provided only the engine replacement date. Furthermore, there is no longer any contractual obligation between Porsche and the 1st owner or between myself and the 1st owner.

I agree with you that I can and will service the car per odometer mileage, warning lights and my own senses. Nonetheless, I'd feel better knowing whether I have 50,000 miles on the replacement motor or 90,000. Either is possible given that the odometer is close to 100,000 miles.

Cheers,

Dave

It is not a contractual obligation; under the federal ruling it survives contracts, Porsche simply does not own the information, the previous owner owns it, and they cannot release it without his or her written permission. This unfortunately is both black letter law, and a pain in the butt for those of us that hold the actual service records, but it is the way it is. This law cost anyone servicing cars real money everyday, because we are required to show we exercise due diligence in protecting this data (computers or files stored in secure locked rooms away from areas if public access. We now actually store it off site, specially to demonstrate we are acting in good faith; and it cost me money every single day).

[imon_2nd]

Understood, JFP.

I provided Porsche with the engine serial number. If Porsche wanted to be helpful, they could tell me the date the engine was manufactured. That information belongs to Porsche. (I know, still doesn't tell me how long the motor sat on a shelf before it was installed.)

All I can tell from the number is that it's a replacement engine, 7th version of the M96, made in 2004, and is the 65,245th unit produced. From inspection, I can tell it has the "captive" IMS bearing, which requires splitting the cases to replace.

If you can guesstimate the date of manufacture, please advise.

Cheers,

Dave