2003 boxster blown engine :( $6500 ca
 

Yesterday while driving this boxster which i just bought 2 months ago, and thought was bullet proof since its got a ton of service records & IMS retrofit - Kaboom,,,its DONE..all of a sudden engine died and there was oil under the car..described issue to Jake Rabbi and he tells me "The engine has suffered a camshaft/ lifter failure. This is a common mode of failure for a 2003 Boxster. The piece of cam cover was ejected after the lifter failed and was shot through the cam cover"

Cost to fix $5,000-$6,000 i'm not putting that into this car obviously since i was planning on reselling it in the first place and not keeping it-

The good news out of this is i didn't sell the car to who would have been a very sad buyer if it would have blew on them in 2,000 miles...better me then them is how i look at it!

Anyways here is the original ad of the car with pics - I've got a little over $10,000 into the car would like to get around $6500, is that even possible?

plz email me if interested tarek307 at hot mail. c om

http://986forum.com/forums/boxsters-sale-wanted/55537-2003-porsche-boxster-1-owner-ims-retrofit-service-records-%2412900.html

Tarek,
I share your pain. I had a similar situation and decided to rebuild the engine. You have a smarter approach! My conclusion after well over $5000 is parts,tools,materials and many ,many months of study,labor and determination is =bad idea. Yes it is fascinating for a geekish engineer. But it is financially foolish for the average diy Forum member.
For someone who has done all the study,has all the tools and experience, it may be very attractive.
To help your prospective buyer who will need to replace all the lifters - there have been several discussions on the usual Forums about using a BMW interchange part for the 24 lifters. The saving is huge.
You may be able to buy the cam cover and cams from local Forum members. That may make it easier to sell.
BTW I went to school in Ismalia-briefly !
ma'a as-salaama
I hope this helps.

Sorry, but the cam covers cannot be replaced. The camshaft bores are machined into the cylinder head and cover as an assembly, and have to stay together. If you switch covers, the bores will no longer align and the cams will not fit properly or turn.

He might be able to get the damaged cover fixed, depending upon where the damage it.

Thanks for the info man- i'm so disappointed, specially that whenever anyone would say a word about a boxster or a 911 regarding ims i would tell them the cars are bullet proof lol... i bought this one and had total peace of mind that the IMS was done in it- lol...then this happens-

i am now convinced these cars are POS.

ps: i 've never been to ismailia- i think not many people go there unless they are from there or army training - but i hear its beautiful

JFP,
Thanks for reminding me of that gotcha- I had forgotten it. This is not like a Miata is it?
Tarek,
We are the only two people here who even know about Ismalia and the sunrise over the Great Bitter Lake.

Your issue is NOT IMS related. You've lost a camshaft or lifter, and I'd bet on that. The car is an 03, which is the worst in regard to cam and lifter issues. These symptoms match a failed cam and lifter perfectly. I see about 30 a year.

Ok guys so engine isn't "blown" but lost cam shaft - lifter- still an expensive repair

Did they change the lifter tray when they added the hydraulic variocam?

Did they change after 03?

Thx,

Mike

Back to the sale,
Yes, sorry to say, $6500 is too much. I've purchased a couple of these for 3-4.5K depending upon other condition issues. My bid to you would be in that neighborhood. You might be able to attract a bid close to $5000 from eBay, but be prepared for at least one high bidder to flake on you. If the bidder doesn't ask several questions before/while bidding, it is doubtful the bidder is real. I'm for real. Send me a PM if interested. Thanks, Joe

I told him it was worth 3K as it is, guess he didn't believe me.

The 3 chain engine uses a completely different lifter carrier than the 5 chain, along with all other components of the head being altered as well. None of the parts are interchangeable.

This is why 03 and 04 models eat lifters and cams, usually bank 1, cylinder 1, outer intake valve.

So how does one prevent this from happening?

Good question -- I would think clean oil is your only defense.

Maybe there is a way to modify the carrier or the head to provide better oiling
to the lifter area Jake pointed out.

Unless Jake can describe his interpretation of the exact failure mechanism
who knows as he's likely the only one that has seen enough of these to comment.

Mike

Jake i def believe you- i just dont want to throw it away for 3, would much rather buy another one thats wrecked maybe and swap engines- or see what it would take to just fix this one if i can stay around 4k max

Tarek, I'd haul that car to Renegade in Vegas and have them put a LS1 V8 in it!

RN, I called those guys to put some dollars and cents on paper. First of all the conversion kit alone is about even with the cost of buying a used Boxster S engine. Actually a bit more if memory serves. And that's before you even buy the donor engine. If you want some big power with that V8, tack on another $5-10K. But on the bright side you can get your oil changed at Jiffy Lube and no more costly rebuilds (air cooled) or x number of ways to fail (water-cooled).


Tarek. My condolences. What does it cost to get a similar Boxster into your country (tarrifs, etc.)?

You could part it out and get way more the 3k for it. The trans alone can net you 2K, wheels and tires if in good shape $1k, then you have many parts that you could sell off the motor like the A/C unit, starter, Throttle body, alternator, air box, the interior parts and exterior parts. You could get back a lot more parting it out.

oh yes, i'm sure i can do that, however it would be a huge project that needs mehcanical skills & space and i have neither :( Those xenon litronic headlights alone could sell for $700 easy.

Put it on eBay or Craigslist then and hope for the best. The car itself is low mileage, but not being an S model hurts.

well ended up taking $5500 and calling it a day! so long

Ooops, wrong car.