|
jb92563, I think it is dangerous to look at the serial numbers listed in the settlement to conclude that an engine is a double-row: we know that it excludes cars built prior to May 4, 2001 even though cars built prior to that date can have the single-row bearing. It is also dangerous to look at the Porsche engine serial numbers that are listed in the Porsche parts catalogue as that is the CUTOFF date for dual-row bearings: inotherwords, while engines after that will be single-row, ones before that may also be single-row.
While the safest method of determining whether you have a dual or single row is to remove the transmission and inspect the cover/bearing, it kind of defeats the purpose. Once you have gone that far, you may as well replace the bearing.
What Porsche has made clear is that they did not introduce the single-row bearing when it first introduced the 2.7 and 3.2 engines; rather, it was a mid-2000 'upgrade'. AFter its introduction, they continued to use up their supply of dual-row bearings until that supply was exhausted and hence, for a period in the 2000 and 2001 MY, a car could have either. Presumably the LAST engines to have the dual-row bearing would be those listed in Porsche's parts catalogue :
2.7 engine serial number 12851 (last 5 sequential numbers)
3.2 engine serial number 11237 ( ditto)
I am assuming that the May 4th, 2001 cutoff date for inclusion in the settlement coincides with the installation of those engine numbers - ie., after that date ALL engines had single-row bearings. But who knows?
While Porsche has not given the specific date for the INTRODUCTION of the single-row bearing (apart from it being a mid-2000 change), I have opined in the dual versus single-row thread that it was at some point in the 2000 calendar year, rather than the model year: in Europe, where the car is manufactured, 'model years' are largely irrelevant - what we would call a 2000 MY Porsche is a 1999, if built in 1999.
If I am correct, then we can conclude that no engines manufactured in 1998 will have a dual-row bearing (denoted by a Y in the engine serial number prior to the last 5 sequential numbers).
We can also conclude that engines produced in calendar year 1999 ( denoted by a Z) would also have a dual-row, as they were produced prior to the introduction of the single-row in the year 2000.
Engines produced in calendar year 2000 and 2001 may or may not have a dual-row bearing, up until the serial numbers listed above.
The 2000 MY Boxster had a very long production run - while Porsche usually start production of its next MY in late July or August, production started in February of 1999 at the latest (as that is when the first 2.7's and 3.2's were shown at auto shows and made available for testing). Consequently, production of the 2000 MY Porsches continued for about 18 months until late July or August of 2000. Unless the engine was replaced/rebuilt, the only 2000 Boxsters that should have the single-row bearing, therefore, would be ones with engines manufactured in the year 2000. Some engines built in 2000, of course, will stiill have the dual-row bearing, but it is impossible to ascertain which.
The 2001 model year Boxsters, unless they had an engine built in 1999 installed, can have either bearing until the cut-off point for the dual-row in 2001, at the serial numbers listed above.
Again, I would be interested in hearing if anyone with an engine that was produced in 1998 or 1999, that has not been rebuilt, has a single-row bearing. If I am correct and Porsche was referring to an introduction of the sinlge-row during mid-calendar year 2000, rather than model year, there should be none. If they were referring to mid MY, then likely only the earliest engines (1998 production) would be absolutely safe.
Brad
|