Evaluating 1997-2002 986s for Purchase
 

I'm new to the forum and wanted to get some opinions on vehicles that I am currently evaluating to purchase.

Option #1 -1999 with approx. 110,00 miles. New Motor installed in '02 by Porsche at 39,000 miles due to IMS failure. Clean title and Car fax 3 owner car. Recently had AOS replaced, passed smog and with PPI done by the seller from a reputable independent Porsche shop. Approx 70,000 miles on the replacement motor and clutch, but likely IMS is Porsche original and not retrofit. Car is super clean.


Option #2 - 2002 with 96,000 miles on it with a new clutch, IMS from EPS and a motor swap at 80,000 due to IMS failure. The motor is used form another car with similar mileage and installed by reputable independent Porsche specialist. This car is also a super clean two owner car, but presently needs an Oxygen sensor to pass smog that will be replaced tomorrow.

Both cars are priced within $1,000 of each other. The question is whether a used motor swap at 80K miles with new clutch and Ceramic bearing on a 2002 model is preferential to a new Porsche motor and clutch replaced at 39,000 miles on a 1999 model without the proper IMS retrofit,?

What do you think?

How long since the IMS was done? Any documentation on the reason it was done?

Keep in mind that the engines are different, 2.5 versus 2.7. Other differences listed here.

Just learned that IMS was done 2000 miles / 5 months ago on the 2002 as it failed and took out the motor. Not sure I would trust a used motor that only got swapped 2000 miles ago. Too many unknowns.

So...
First car, the '99...
The car had the motor replaced but who knows what really happened? Doesn't matter as the motor was replace. You basically have a '99 with ~70K miles.

Second car doesn't sound as great as there are WAY too many variables. The whole IMSB was replaced due to failure has been discussed lots of time on all the boards. The variables are what was done to the motor to get rid of all the metal crap in it after the failure?

Lets pretend each car has a sound motor. What do you know about any suspension work?
When was cooling system serviced (water pump, coolant tank replacement)?
Brakes?
Tires?
Battery?
Gearbox oil changed?
CV boots?

The list goes on and on. None of the buffet items above get the press of the IMSB but pick just a few and you're in for more than pocket change.


From your description, if I had to choose just from those two cars, I'd be heading toward the '99 as I just don't feel as confident about the IMSB story on the 2002.

Best of luck.

I wrote an article which is published through The Knowledge Gruppe on this topic:

https://lnengineering.com/news/tech-tuesday-buying-porsche/

Addresses the main mechanical issues.

Update: Walked away from both of them. Many other cars to choose from with more coming on the market daily so the search continues.

Great article with a lot of sound advice and thanks for posting the link.

Porsches grow on trees out there in California. Heck there's probably more there than in Germany. Your budget will dictate a lot, but don't hesitate to pass on one if you're not comfortable. I'd be careful of anything with over 100k on it. A suspension rebuild can get very expensive.

For a long time 20% of all Porsche's made were sold in CA. China sales have probably changed that.