Broken Engine Carrier... Anyone else?

[willyum]

Reposting since my other attempt seems to not have made it through...

I recently acquired a very cheap 2000 Boxster S 6-speed. It's in a dilapidated state, but still seemed to have good bones on it, rife for fixing up and tuning up.

I'm a first-time manual driver, so I imagine my skill (or lack thereof) was putting the driveline through its paces. I'd feel a pretty violent clunk on 1-2 shifts, as well as clunking during accelerating/braking. I figured it was worn engine/transmission mounts magnifying my novice shifting.

I took the car to my local Porsche and they gave it a very cursory inspection. I had a MAF code, clutch switch code, stored P1341. I had worn/leaky struts and dry CV axle boots. Sure, all par for the course. They basically told me to fix the MAF to get the car running right first. $350 out the wallet...

I then took the car to a local Euro specialist. A few hours later I get a call saying they don't want to proceed with inspecting the car because the engine is falling out of its cradle. Given the liability, they wanted to wash their hands of my poor Boxster. They had never seen anything like it.

I got some QuickJacks and threw the Boxster on for a look. The engine was sagging forward, basically resting on the underbody cover plastic.

The engine carrier was broken.



There was only one stud left in the four holes in the frame where the carrier would normally be fastened.
Well, except for one piece of a stud that was sheared off at some point and still stuck in the threads.


All of the threads seemed fine, still.
The engine mount with the rubber insert was intact (less the expected wear of the rubber).
Has anyone seen a carrier break like this?




The Euro mechanic suggested a major rear or side impact.