Go Back   986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners > Porsche Boxster & Cayman Forums > Boxster General Discussions

Post Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-05-2016, 11:43 AM   #1
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Maryland
Posts: 46
How many of you work on your own cars?

I am still kind of new here. I have spent a lot of time researching the Boxster. I will admit that I never really cared for them until now. I had no idea there were quite a few modifications you can do to them. Audi transmission swaps, 3.4L-3.6L engine upgrade, many 911 OEM upgrades. Since 2002, I have gotten into cars so much that I enjoy buying older cars and fixing them up myself. Most of my cars I own didn't run when I bought them. In fact, I am looking for a Boxster with a blown engine to buy.

Anyway, I am still kind of confused about the people who own Boxsters. The three cars makes I am used to have a huge following of DIY'ers. Threads about rebuilding engines in the basement or garage are common. That doesn't seem to be the case with the 986. I'm not really sure why. The Boxster engine doesn't seem that complicated compared to other engines. Am I missing something?

Do many of you do your own work or do you take them to a shop? If so, do you tackle major jobs like clutch installs, suspension component upgrades/replacement yourself? What do you take your car in for service at the dealership/independent Porsche service center?

Prelude Guy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 12:04 PM   #2
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Emerald City
Posts: 885
Garage
I think you'll find many boxster owners aren't afraid to turn a wrench. At least a majority of us on this forum have done some jobs on the car ourselves. That said, I know where my knowledge, garage space and tools on hand will require me to farm a job out. I have a great indy mechanic that gets that I'm an enthusiast and is helpful in understanding I enjoy doing some of the work myself.

I've done brakes, the starter, spark plugs and tubes, motor mount, all oil changes. I took the car in for an aos change because I didn't have a garage (job is a real pain anyway) and another time to have a nagging code figured out. Ended up being an o2 sensors which I could've done myself, but I couldn't figure out the cause, he did. If I took it to a dealer or even my indy for every job, I couldn't own this car.
jdraupp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 12:06 PM   #3
01101
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: CT
Posts: 587
I do my own work. This has only gone so far as AOS and plugs and coils so far on this car, but I've gone deeper on other cars, and I'm not [too] scared.

Timing belts, cam seals, turbo swaps, suspension swaps on 2.7t Audi S4s, clutches and timing on subarus, various other work to Jeeps. I'm no professional, but I'm not totally incompetent.
alm001 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 12:07 PM   #4
Registered User
 
flaps10's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Tacoma
Posts: 430
No one touches my vehicles with a wrench but me.

You will find a large number of enthusiastic Porsche owners who whip out the checkbook because they can, a small percentage like myself who do all their own work, and the remainder are those who dabble in some of the maintenance items. That said there is no shortage of keyboard commandos who profess to know all and aren't afraid to say so.

There really aren't that many mods you can make without huge money, but enough cross compatible components from other cars of the same ilk to give you some room to make your car your own.

Get Wayne's book (101 projects for your boxster) and the Bentley Manual. Neither will get you through an engine build but will solve many of your day to day tasks. Use a torque wrench on everything and don't assume it's like your other cars.
flaps10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 12:10 PM   #5
Registered User
 
kk2002s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: S. New Jersey
Posts: 1,239
Garage
Personally I do all my own work. This car won't really work for me unless I do. I haven't had to do major stuff yet, clutch, IMSB, engine internals but it's just a matter of time and when it's time, I'll just figure it out, buy the right tools and getter done.
There is a large disparity on this forum of varying levels of DIYer to those who only have shops fix these cars.

These cars are pretty complex then again what modern car isn't

I would say that a 986 S with a 3.6 motor would be the ticket
__________________
2002 S - old school third pedal
Seal Grey
kk2002s is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 12:24 PM   #6
Registered User
 
flaps10's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Tacoma
Posts: 430
Quote:
Originally Posted by kk2002s View Post
snip

These cars are pretty complex then again what modern car isn't
Compared to our V10 TDI Touareg the Boxster is a shopping cart. Outside of the M96 engine my year of boxster is as simple a car as I could possibly hope for.
flaps10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 12:25 PM   #7
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 57
Quote:
Originally Posted by Prelude Guy View Post
I am still kind of new here. I have spent a lot of time researching the Boxster. I will admit that I never really cared for them until now. I had no idea there were quite a few modifications you can do to them. Audi transmission swaps, 3.4L-3.6L engine upgrade, many 911 OEM upgrades. Since 2002, I have gotten into cars so much that I enjoy buying older cars and fixing them up myself. Most of my cars I own didn't run when I bought them. In fact, I am looking for a Boxster with a blown engine to buy.

Anyway, I am still kind of confused about the people who own Boxsters. The three cars makes I am used to have a huge following of DIY'ers. Threads about rebuilding engines in the basement or garage are common. That doesn't seem to be the case with the 986. I'm not really sure why. The Boxster engine doesn't seem that complicated compared to other engines. Am I missing something?

Do many of you do your own work or do you take them to a shop? If so, do you tackle major jobs like clutch installs, suspension component upgrades/replacement yourself? What do you take your car in for service at the dealership/independent Porsche service center?
I rebuilt my last 2.7 boxster engine and put it on here with photos. Search on threads I've started and you will find it!
Sideways Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 12:32 PM   #8
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Emerald City
Posts: 885
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by flaps10 View Post
Compared to our V10 TDI Touareg the Boxster is a shopping cart. Outside of the M96 engine my year of boxster is as simple a car as I could possibly hope for.
Lol! I was gonna say they are complex but at the same time they aren't.
jdraupp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 01:07 PM   #9
Motorist & Coffee Drinker
 
78F350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 3,653
Garage
Quote:
...Anyway, I am still kind of confused about the people who own Boxsters. The three cars makes I am used to have a huge following of DIY'ers. Threads about rebuilding engines in the basement or garage are common. That doesn't seem to be the case with the 986. I'm not really sure why. The Boxster engine doesn't seem that complicated compared to other engines. Am I missing something? ...
There is probably a lot more inexpensive aftermarket support for the other cars that you have worked on. People do rebuild and upgrade the M96s, but for most of us the economy of doing it does not make sense. Have you priced new rings or rods?

Plenty of DIY stuff going on. It's just a smaller family than Honda-tech.com and has never been moderated and set up in a way to make it easy to see it all.

As the others have said, many of us do maintenance such as brakes and suspension work. Fewer, but still many have changed our own IMS bearing and RMS. The ones that have done a full splitting-the-case rebuild in the home garage are few.

Flaps10 kept us all entertained and informed last year:
http://986forum.com/forums/diy-project-guides/54170-my-diy-engine-rebuild.html

Many of us will long remember the triumph of Gonzojive over the dropped set screw:
http://986forum.com/forums/performance-technical-chat/55481-dropped-set-screw-into-ims-bearing-flange-hole.html

There's been some good V8/LSX threads and posts...

and keeping up with the story of Jcslocum and family is a good DIY journey:
http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/59015-1st-boxster-7th-porsche-we-now-have-4-family.html
__________________
I am not an attorney, mechanic, or member of the clergy. Following any advice given in my posts is done at your own peril.
78F350 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 02:58 PM   #10
Registered User
 
BYprodriver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: O.C. CA
Posts: 3,709
Garage
[QUOTE=Prelude Guy;478835]I am still kind of new here.

Anyway, I am still kind of confused about the people who own Boxsters. The three cars makes I am used to have a huge following of DIY'ers. Threads about rebuilding engines in the basement or garage are common. That doesn't seem to be the case with the 986. I'm not really sure why. The Boxster engine doesn't seem that complicated compared to other engines. Am I missing something?

/QUOTE]

Engine is very complicated, many Porsche specialist shops will not consider trying to rebuild one.
__________________
OE engine rebuilt,3.6 litre LN Engineering billet sleeves,triple row IMSB,LN rods. Deep sump oil pan with DT40 oil.
BYprodriver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 04:47 PM   #11
Registered User
 
LAP1DOUG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 414
Quote:
Originally Posted by flaps10 View Post
No one touches my vehicles with a wrench but me.

You will find a large number of enthusiastic Porsche owners who whip out the checkbook because they can, a small percentage like myself who do all their own work, and the remainder are those who dabble in some of the maintenance items. That said there is no shortage of keyboard commandos who profess to know all and aren't afraid to say so.

There really aren't that many mods you can make without huge money, but enough cross compatible components from other cars of the same ilk to give you some room to make your car your own.

Get Wayne's book (101 projects for your boxster) and the Bentley Manual. Neither will get you through an engine build but will solve many of your day to day tasks. Use a torque wrench on everything and don't assume it's like your other cars.
HaHa - I'd say this guy nailed it. Most P-car owners around here take their car to the latest trendy Indi mechanic. But, more importantly than what others do is what you want to do with the car, and how easy or difficult that is:

Surprisingly, I would say these cars are layed out fairly well for working access once you get under them or inside the engine covers. Easier than some things on my BMW's by far.

The Bentley manual together with the 101 book will give you pretty much all the information you need for everything but an internal engine rebuild. Porsche regarded the engines as a replaceable unit, so no shop manual type info is readily available. If you want to do engine work, I would suggest first taking Mr. Raby's 101 and 102 engine rebuild courses.

Good luck
__________________
Kippis

986S
991S
Van Diemen RF97
LAP1DOUG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 05:00 PM   #12
Certified Boxster Addict
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 7,669
Here is a pic of my Boxster up on my lift last weekend - you get the idea...

__________________
1999 996 C2 - sold - bought back - sold for more
1997 Spec Boxster BSR #254
1979 911 SC
POC Licensed DE/TT Instructor
thstone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 06:21 PM   #13
Porsche "Purist"
 
Paul's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 2,123
Garage






and my latest project:

__________________
1998 Boxster with 7.8 DME, 2005 3.6 liter/325 hp, Variocam Plus, 996 Instrument panel
2001 Boxster original owner. I installed used motor at 89k.
1987 924S. 2002 996TT. PST-2
Owned and repaired Porsches since 1974. Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.
Paul is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 06:26 PM   #14
Registered User
 
stelan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Austin
Posts: 395
I do all the work on all my cars except for transmission, alignment and a few things that I don't have tools for
stelan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 07:02 PM   #15
Mig
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 91
Garage
I do too. I really got into it more when my new (to me) 2007 Cayman S had a slipping clutch. I had to decide between giving the work to a shop or investing in a lift and doing the work myself.

I ended up buying a mid-rise MaxJax lift. It's been put to good use; 5 clutches, an engine swap, and an engine rebuild (not all Porsches).

Don't get a lift!! You'll never leave the garage again. ;-)
Mig is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2016, 05:59 AM   #16
Registered User
 
jb92563's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 1,665
Since my 986 is a Hobby and a 2nd vehicle I do the work myself when ever possible. When its not possible its only because of lack of time or tools, and sometimes I weigh the savings of DIY and invest in the tools instead.

I was always a tinkerer so taking things apart, fixing and customizing have always been in my genes.

So far its only been a few things, AOS, ECM replacement, Underdrive pulley, fuel filter etc but I'm always surprised that its fairly easy to work on despite the mid engine location.

I think there are folks that are interested in the driving and then those that are interested in tinkering DIY. All are enjoying it in their own way.

One BIG bonus is this forum, the wealth of knowledge, willingness to help each other, share info, ideas, opinions and assistance.
It makes owning and maintaining these older cars much easier and perhaps inspires those on the fence to try some DIY as well.

Can't say enough on how great all the folks here have been.
__________________
"It broke because it wants to be Upgraded "
2012 Porsche Performance Driving School - SanDiego region
2001 Boxster S, Top Speed muffler, (Fred's) Mini Morimotto Projectors, Tarret UDP,
Short Shifter, Touch Screen Dual Din Radio, 03 4 Bow glass Top (DD & Auto-X since May 17,2012)

Last edited by jb92563; 01-06-2016 at 06:02 AM.
jb92563 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2016, 07:54 AM   #17
I am my own mechanic....
 
Timco's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 3,433
Did my clutch and rear end. And the shift lever leak.
__________________
'04 Boxster S 50 Jahre 550 Spyder Anniversary Special Edition, 851 of 1953, 6-sp, IMS/RMS, GT Metallic silver, cocoa brown leather SOLD to member Broken Linkage.
'08 VW Touareg T-3 wife's car
'13 F150 Super Crew long bed 4x4 w/ Ego Boost
Timco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2016, 08:39 AM   #18
Registered User
 
mikesz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Cranston RI
Posts: 902
Garage
I do, I am cheap and I am as good as a mechanic as any I have encountered so far. I have also done some improvements based on the experience of others on this forum.
__________________
99 Porsche Boxster
mikesz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2016, 10:26 AM   #19
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 107
Am I the only one to admit it?

I never do any work on mine. I spent eleven years working on two VW buses using the Idiot's Guide. Did everything but the trans (x1) and the short bloc (x4!). When I got a new Ford van for my new business I swore that if the biz didn't make enough to pay someone else to do that dirty, uncertain, irritating work it was a failure. Thankfully the Ford didn't have any problems for the first seven years.

I don't mind getting my hands dirty - with sawdust, glue & stain. But the dirt that falls into my eyes as I'm trapped under the damn thing with my arm in a stupid position and the wrench falling off the nut continually... I'm very happy to be rich enough to pay someone else to do it.

But working on the bus was the first useful thing I ever learned without going to a class. It gave me confidence to learn furniture-making with only Fine Woodworking as a guide.
__________________
2006 Boxster S (987), Lapis blue, blue soft top, detachable hardtop, sand full leather, bi-xeon, 19" Carrera S wheels, 11 spk Bose & windstop, 6-CD changer, heated power seats

Rapid motion through space elates one; so does notoriety; so does the possession of money.
pierre shags is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2016, 12:20 PM   #20
Registered User
 
pony13ca's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 202
When I got this car, I assumed that I would do most of my own work. I put in a coolant tank, and a water pump. Put in a new stereo and tablet. But I took it to my indie, for the clutch and ims. That job scared me a little. So I guess I do some minor stuff, but leave the big stuff to the pros.

pony13ca is offline   Reply With Quote
Post Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 03:44 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page