Ditto on the 98 running awesome, Uusimma Finland built units represent!

20% would indeed be a scandal.

But even 2% is truly outrageous given its competition.

Further, we wouldn't even be having this debate if Porsche simply released the data it has or at the very least gave a ball park figure of "to the present we've documented X number". But they haven't put that out which should make you wonder:
If you're sitting on data that would extinguish rampant internet rumors that tarnish your name why would you just continue to sit on said data? I'm guessing its pretty bad.

People have said that these rumors may potentially drive down the price a prospective buyer is willing to pay, but I put that squarely on the foot of Porsche's doorstep. Look at how much trying to bury poor execution or design is costing Toyota by simply failing to acknowledge it. It could well be that a microscopic number of Toyota's (given the millions of cars they produce) are affected by their reported problems but by simply failing to own up to the problem and level with the market, in a timely way, it is now costing them tens of billions. Stupid.
While Toytota's mistake is a safety issue, the mistake, in principle, was the same. Let the public find out about our mistakes on their own dime. Which means the people who are probably in less of a position to shell out such an expense, buyers of second hand cars vs. those with the means to take on new car depreciation, are going to bear the brunt of these repairs. That will certainly shrink the market of prospective buyers in this new economy where people are trimming back on indulgences and taking fewer risks.

Check Engine Light
 

Good day, I have a 2006 Boxster S and check engine light came on yesterday and it said visit workshop. Then later that day, the engine starting to almost stall in 1st and 2nd gear. Then this morning when I turned it on, a white smoke with very very bad smell came out of exhaust for about 5 min and the engine would stutter up and down. Called the dealer and they said have it towed in!

Pretty depressing so far as I have only had this for 2 months. It's certified pre-owned and I do have a couple years in waranty but hope this is nothing big?

Actually, I recently learned that the Ford 4.0 SOHC V-6 engine in a lot of Ford Trucks (Ranger Pickup, Explorer, F-150, etc) also has a sort of IMS that drives the camshafts, similar to the Porsche.

Those engines also seems to have fairly high rates of noise and failure.
At least they have noises first to let them know something bad is going on.

They don't actually have an IMS bearing, from the little bit that I've looked into it, however. The problems that they run into are related to the tensioner assemblies failing, causing the camshaft timing to go out of whack, and then pistons meet valves at high speeds, causing massive damage, and big engine replacement dollars spent.

Sometimes, the tensioner assemblies fail in such a way, that the parts punch a hole either into the engine block, or the valve cover assemblies, which then sends shrapnel down into the engine, taking out other important parts.

Not good, either way.

This engine family was originally a pushrod engine, that was modified to accept a cylinder head design that had overhead cams. The original camshaft location in the block was used to house the IMS that feeds the chains to the cams in the cylinder heads. Just an under engineering example.

BC.

That's a good point, OHV engines drive the pushrods through intermediate shafts (or more correctly, the cam). The unusual thing about the M96 is that the engine was designed as OHC from the beginning and Porsche still chose to use one.

nice. maybe i'll start taking bets to see which goes first - my ford or my porsche. :)

OK. I have an '01 Boxster with 34k original on it. I guess I am in the group that should worry based on year and such low mileage? Is there a mileage cutoff where say, after a certain ballpark miles the issues lessen? Most of these post suggest the IMS failures occur at fairly low miles

Dennis - I don't beleive anyone has been able to make a direct link between mileage and failure (except maybe Porsche and if they have they aren't sharing). PM me your email address and I will email you a copy of the June 2010 Excellence Magazine article that my help shed some light on some of your questions.

It's your AOS...Air Oil Separator :cheers:

Well and logically put. I'd probably be more animated if my car were a casualty though, $10k or more for a crate motor would sting a bit.

P.S. Pedro, whenever I see your avatar I think "Why is that guy shaving with a wrench?" :cheers:

or he,s rabid

Hi
 

Hi sir,
Can you also PM me a copy of the Excellence Magazine article , really like to read more about this .

thanks in advance

coreseller...feed that mut will you. Oh, he's a drug sniffing dog. Send me a dozen of those, please.