WTB - Immobilizer 2002 Boxster S

[JFP in PA]

1. Immobilizer's can only be programmed to a car's DME once, they cannot be reprogrammed.

2. The only way you can put a used immobilizer into a car is to also have the matching DME and keys from the car it came from, and install them as well.

3. Could well be cheaper, and a lot easier to just have a dealer program and install a new one, keeping all the original other stuff.

[78F350]

I have a couple that are P/n 996.618.260.07 and I'd sell one as a set with the DME, immobilizer, key and ignition for $500. I don't know the specific difference between the .03 and .07 and I recommend that you find one with the correct part number unless your mechanic says he can work with it.
I will post pictures and specifics if you are interested. The one I'd send is from a 2002 S with Tiptronic.

[78F350]

Digging a little deeper in the Pile-o-Parts, I found a 996.618.262.03 that is not a complete set. Again, I'm not sure if it will work for your car, but if your mechanic can work with it I'll sell it shipped for $220.

[john12312]

Check with Qmulus on this forum. He fixed my wet immobilizer a couple of years back. He did a great job at a very reasonable price. Been working great ever since. I wrapped the repaired immobilizer in 3mil plastic and duct tape to avoid a repeat.

[Qmulus]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

1. Immobilizer's can only be programmed to a car's DME once, they cannot be reprogrammed.

2. The only way you can put a used immobilizer into a car is to also have the matching DME and keys from the car it came from, and install them as well.

3. Could well be cheaper, and a lot easier to just have a dealer program and install a new one, keeping all the original other stuff.

1. This information is not correct. Immobilizers can be re programmed _with the right equipment_. The factory tools cannot reprogram immobilizers through the diagnostics, but you can directly program the electronics. Going this route you can also retrieve the data from damaged immobilizers in 90% of the cases. That last 10% may have had its data corrupted. That is important as it allows you to retain your original key remote programming. In general, if you have a damaged immobilizer and find another good used one of the same part number, the data can be read off of the damaged immobilizer and put into the good replacement and EVERYTHING will work. BTDT many times. Are you sure that it is 260.03 and not 260.5 or 263.03? I have noticed that ECU Doctors buy up all the good used immobilizers from the Porsche salvage yards. Why would that be if they couldn't reprogram them? Truth is, they get more money for those after reprogramming than the dealer gets for new ones. Buy for $50-$75, sell for $1195. Nice profit. Even if they have to buy a new replacement and program it, they make $500+ I don't get how they get people pay so much. Then again, I am not a good businessman...

2. This is the WRONG way to go about the issue. This gives the car receiving the immobilizer, DME and key fob(s) the "identity" of the car that those parts came from. Unless you keep track of the VIN from the donor car, you will not be able to add keys or do any programming of the car in the future. BAD idea. Porsche keeps track of the programming codes in their systems for these cars by VIN. If the electronics in the car don't match your VIN, and you need a key, a DME, or other programming, they will throw up their hands and tell you that you need to replace everything. Again...

3. The only real problem with going this route is that if the damaged immobilizer won't communicate (so you can retrieve the remote codes), and you don't have the original tag from the remotes with the programming codes (who does) you will need new remotes. IF the part number the new immobilizer is exactly the same as the damaged one, you can directly transfer the data from the damaged one to the new, with an exception or two of the very earliest immos which have new firmware.

Will I do a youtube video on what data you need from the old one, how to do it and what equipment you need? Sorry, but no, for many reasons. I am a bit surprised no one, especially some eastern European guys haven't already done that. Maybe they have, I have never looked. Compared to the other stuff out there that gets hacked, this is child's play.