Dispeling M96 engine rumors

I'm on my 3rd engine after less than 82,000 miles - after my second engine failed, Jake Raby spent more than a half hour of his time trying to diagnose over the phone, and then explaining to me, in detail, the options I had.

He never tried to sell me his services, or pressured me in any way - he simply presented the facts. A few months later, I had the chance to visit flat6. Jake took me on a tour, and showed me the failed engines he and his crew had torn down, and showed me the upgrades he'd made to help extend the engines life.

He struck me as a passionate, honest and an extremely detailed person...and with my own eyes I saw the customer cars with failed engines sitting in his parking lot, the failed lifters, the dozens of engines with bad IMS, d-chunked or had cracked heads.

I just suggest, before you judge, give him a call, or if you're close by, pay him a visit. You'll be impressed with his shop and his character.

[gRed04]

Originally Posted by Fred Demara

I'm on my 3rd engine after less than 82,000 miles -

Wow, I have to wonder out loud why anyone would continue to pour money in any type of car with that kind of major failure rate.

Makes me shake me head just like when I read about 5 yr old cars being parted out because of major failure and the cost to repair exceeds the value.

Originally Posted by gRed04

Wow, I have to wonder out loud why anyone would continue to pour money in any type of car with that kind of major failure rate.
.

Yeah, I agree, it's really a shame. The car drives better than anything other car I've owned - the key for me has been "taking the plunge" and doing the work myself, which greatly reduces the $$ that one has to pour into it.

[landrovered]

I will not drive a car that I can not work on myself. I am sure that the warranty repairs will be quite traumatic for me on the new Cayman S. Perhaps they will let me do the work and just supervise?

Originally Posted by landrovered

I will not drive a car that I can not work on myself. I am sure that the warranty repairs will be quite traumatic for me on the new Cayman S. Perhaps they will let me do the work and just supervise?

landrovered, just curious - did you get an extended warranty? and if you mind me asking, how much was it?

thx

[navair]

So, does anybody have hard data for the production cut in of the single row IMS bearing vice the older (and "better") twin row? I have an '02 (may 2002) 'S', hoping mine has the dual row. I missed a chance to have the bearing changed out when I had the clutch done at 40K (almost free due to a RMS leak fixed under warranty), dammit!

[Chris02BoxsterS]

Originally Posted by navair

So, does anybody have hard data for the production cut in of the single row IMS bearing vice the older (and "better") twin row? I have an '02 (may 2002) 'S', hoping mine has the dual row. I missed a chance to have the bearing changed out when I had the clutch done at 40K (almost free due to a RMS leak fixed under warranty), dammit!

I'm just completing a DYI IMS bearing replacement myself with Charles' LN kit, hope to turn the key tomorrow or Sat. My '02 S is a single row bearing setup which made replacement straightforward with the tools from LN. Clutch disk and CV boots done at the same time 23.2K miles, two hard DE days, I'm 3rd owner. No play in shaft was found but edge bits of the seal were missing.

From Pelican Part Tech site:
Boxster Double Row:
Engine Number up to 651 12851 (M96.22)
Engine Number up to 671 11237 (M96.21)

Boxster Single Row:
Engine Number from 651 12852 (M96.22)
Engine Number from 671 11238 (M96.21)

996 Double Row:
Engine Number up to 661 14164

996 Single Row:
Engine Number from 661 14165

I've heard from Jake this may not be 100% accurate so I pulled my trans before ordering a kit. PM me if you want more info as I just did this over the past month.

~ Chris

[landrovered]

The 98 boxster is long out of warranty and I do the work on it. The 2010 Cayman S is standard warranty, it is ordered and not here yet. But I am not a fan of extended warranties as a rule.

I have an 03 Range Rover HSE and I looked at an aftermarket warranty on it but after getting into the nitty gritty of it, there were too many exemptions to make it worth while to me. Like it only covered failures for oiled parts. For example a blown head gasket is not covered because it is not an oiled part.

It sounds like you like to get your hands dirty as I do. I am meticulous about my vehicles and most average auto repair shops quality of work is far below my minimum standard, so I do it myself.

I have a friend with a very sucessful Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche shop. He used to be a factory mechanic at Lamborghini, he is Italian. Not a "pimp my ride" kind of place but a real repair shop, he actually worked on a Veyron recently. I have learned so much hanging around his place. What I learned is that his expertise is in his head because he uses the same basic tools that I do. Nothing special, he just knows what he is doing and does it well.

I will have the Cayman S serviced at the dealership during the warranty period but after that it is mine!

Originally Posted by landrovered

It sounds like you like to get your hands dirty as I do.

When I have the time, I love it. I test drove a 09 Boxster a few weeks back - I remember the salesman saying it was a basic 4yr/50k warranty - but I never got the details if they had an extended "Factory" (which I'm sure they do). Normally I'd be with you on the extended warranties, but if was say, 3k for a 7year/100k for powertrain, I'd get it...but that's just me.

Sounds like your experience with 3rd party warranties is about on par with what I've heard. Which is too bad - be nice to have a good reliable extended warranty without any loopholes.