Considering buying 1999 986

[jb92563]

The big ticket items are the IMS bearing failure $6K-15K, Clutch, Transmission, and on 1999 and less years the "D-Chunk" Piston failures $2K-15K.

If there is any oil leaks at all on the underside, it will likely cost you some money as it could be an indication of the RMS or IMS needing attention.

I avoided the 1999 and earlier to reduce risk of at least one big ticket failure when I got mine recently.

However, if the maintenance record is good and can be verified with receipts and it has not failed yet, then perhaps it will last a while before things start needing replacement from wear at over 100K miles

Its a crap shoot and if you cant afford to spend up to a couple thousand a year plus some down time now and then its likely not a good choice.

[US monkey]

Originally Posted by jb92563

The big ticket items are the IMS bearing failure $6K-15K, Clutch, Transmission, and on 1999 and less years the "D-Chunk" Piston failures $2K-15K.

If there is any oil leaks at all on the underside, it will likely cost you some money as it could be an indication of the RMS or IMS needing attention.

I avoided the 1999 and earlier to reduce risk of at least one big ticket failure when I got mine recently.

However, if the maintenance record is good and can be verified with receipts and it has not failed yet, then perhaps it will last a while before things start needing replacement from wear at over 100K miles

Its a crap shoot and if you cant afford to spend up to a couple thousand a year plus some down time now and then its likely not a good choice.

That's some good and detailed advice, thanks very much, guys. It seems that the responsible decision is to not purchase this vehicle.

Out of curiousity, how much is a brake job on this car? How much are the pads if I were to do it myself?

Thanks again,

US Monkey

[vitaminC]

Research is good...

Pelican Parts - Porsche Boxster Catalog (1997-04) - Parts and Accessories

https://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/mikesporscheboxsterwebpages

Porsche Boxster Buyer's Tips, Mods, and More

[pothole]

Originally Posted by jb92563

and on 1999 and less years the "D-Chunk" Piston failures $2K-15K.

Incorrect. D-chunk is largely a 996 3.4/3.6 problem. Some 2.5s built in a period 98-99 did have sleeve problems due to manufacturing issues. But this wasn't D-chunk and in any case I doubt many if any of these engines are still running today, they tended to fail pretty early doors form what I can tell, the fault was that bad. In my view, early and 2.5s or 2.7s that are running well today are probably the most solid 986s around.

[jb92563]

Oh yaa, slipping cylinder sleeves on the 1999's.

What was the D-chuck caused by?

In any case if the engine made it over 50k miles and still running then perhaps its not a problem.

[pothole]

D-chunk is caused by the open deck design combined with thin cylinder walls of the 3.4 and 3.6 engines. Not an issue for 986s.