Suspension lifespan - what mileage to replace?

[23109VC]

I'm looking at used boxsters.

one "must have" item is the M030 suspension.

I can either find a car that doesn't have it, then buy/install it on my own - thus getting brand new suspension.

OR

find a car that has it already.

if I go the latter route - and assuming the car has had the upgraded suspension from day one - then depending upon the mileage of the car, the suspensino may need to be replaced soon.

i've never owned a porsche, but from othe cars i've owned, it's not uncommon to need new shocks by 50-75k.

If I get a nice, but USED boxster, that has 50-75k mileage - am I realistically going to need to replace suspension, bushings, etc pretty soon? if that's the case, then HAVING to find a car iwh the M030 already installedmight be a waste of time if i'll just be replacing it soon anyway...

maybe it would be wiser to find a car that has all the OTHER options I want, the right mileage, year, color, etc... and then just buy/install the M030 and have it be fresh/new.

what is the lifespan of the OEM setup assuming normal driving? (not a track monster that's been abused)

[edevlin]

At about 55K my 2000 base boxster seemed to be getting a soggy suspension, at least to me, so I replaced it. That was a little over a year ago. I think most folks seem to get a much longer life out of their suspensions.

Ed

[23109VC]

my dad's car has about 72k on it.

it has decent tires. the suspension is stock.

it still feels pretty darn stiff/tight. not brand new stiff - but I didn't think it felt like it was soggy or in need of immediate replacement....

just curious what kind of lifespan most of you have been able to get.

[ppbon]

Unless the struts leak, there is no need to replace them.
The part of the suspension that eventually sags a little bit are the springs,
My car has now 171,000 miles on the OEM M030 Struts, but I replaced the springs at 120,000 miles.
BTW I calculate that about 11,000 of those miles are hard track miles.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

[RandallNeighbour]

Lower control arms up front seem to wear out prematurely compared to my other cars.

Remember, the term "suspension" entails a lot more than struts, 23109VC <-- btw, that's a very odd screen name

I would not shop for a boxster and select it because it has the M030 suspension on it as the deciding factor unless the car was pristine, had low miles on it, a detailed service file, a picky first owner, and a fantastic price.

It may cost you $2500 to put a new set of sport struts on the car after you buy it, but finding a clean, low mileage boxster that had an owner who kept up with the car would be my first priority if I was buying another boxster.