It could happen to you......

[grc0456]

Sorry to hear of your problem with the car’s engine. That really sucks, and would crush me if it happened. One thing is for sure, no matter if you are running the original IMSB, have replaced it, or are running with one of the aftermarket fixes (I am).....you should a) change the oil at least every 5k miles and inspect the filter for ferrous debris (UOA also a good idea) and b) drive the car like the Dr. intended.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[thstone]

I am on engine #4. After the failure of engine #1 and the failure of engine #2, it becomes much less of an emotional impact and I have come to realize that its just the way it goes with these cars - the engines are a replacement item and I treat them as disposable. Thus, I keep a spare engine on hand to immediately swap-in since the current engine could fail at any time.

While there are a LOT of ways that an engine can fail, it is surprising and rare that your engine failed with less than 50K miles.

Plan for the best but prepare for the worst. My advice to everyone is to start saving NOW into a replacement engine fund so when it happens you have the money (and the mindset) to weather the storm.

Why? Because there is no other car that you can buy for less than $10K and have this much fun. Over 5 years, even if you put in $2K per year for repairs/maintenance and have to replace the engine once for $4K-$6K, you're still only in for a total of ~$25K and there is no other car that you can buy that will deliver this much enjoyment for that little of money. And after 5 years, you can still sell the car for $5K and have spent only $20K total.

[10/10ths]

....original poster, do you know WHAT grenaded your engine?

[911monty]

New owner.....cant sleep IMS ?s
I have wanted a Boxster for over 4 years now but I got a BMW Z3 2.5 instead, Its been a great car and I have enjoyed it, but I got the Boxster bug again several months ago. After alot of looking I found a beautiful 02 S. Its speed yellow with alot of extras and it only has 33k miles. I got the records from the local dealer and it got the RMS replaced in 06 and 07. The dealer also replaced the IMS "flange" in 07 and 08. Would this be considered the same as replacing the bearing? There are no leaks now and it runs great. I put a deposit on the car and Im suppose to finish the deal on Tuesday..........Any advice, comments, suggestions? I know all you seasoned Boxster owners are sick about the RMS and IMS problems, but please help a newbie out. Thanks in advance, Steve.
nobrakes is offline Report Post Reply With Quote Multi-Quote This Message Quick reply to this message
Reply

First off I want to say I am sorry this happened to you. However I hardly ever take things at face value. The above is your first post, now you say you had bearing changed and name LN IMS. What is the real answer? Somehow I don't expect we will hear back but this strikes me as tossing a grenade in a room and slamming the door.

[Porsche9]

Prematurely blown engines is not just a Boxster issue. I recently had a pristine 2009 Mini Cooper S with 66k lose compression on one cylinder due to a direct injector being stuck open and washing the cylinder wall clear of oil and scoring the cylinder wall. This happened within 60 seconds of the issue occurring.

I could have decided to plug in a used engine, rebuild the existing one or sell it as a roller. Selling it as a roller was the best financial option so that's the path I went with the car being sold with multiple offers in 2 hours and I moved on with my life. Life is too short to worry about it especially in the case of a sub $10k car that is easily replaced.

[Porsche9]

BTW - every Porsche in my signature had potentially expensive issues, some of which have occurred.

03 Carrera and 02 Boxster we all know about their weaknesses
944S2 - failed valve springs requiring a top end overhaul, premature water pump failure, timing belt failure - not good on a interference engine
89 Carrera 4 - lack of head gaskets causing leaks, premature failure of the rubber damper on the clutch, complex four drive system prone to expensive failures
78 SC - failing chain tensioners, blown air boxes

Cars aren't perfect, we as enthusiasts are just much more aware especially in the internet age.

[mikefocke]

Aren't we up to 28 modes of failure now? Up to 20 years old. Nothing is perfect. Especially an engine designed with a severe shortage of resources.

But boy are they fun.

[black pegasus]

I thought I'd wanted one of these cars. I've even drove a few. But nevertheless I don't think this car is for me. Porsche used the customer to propel its transition to water cooled cars all the while leaving them in the dust as well as their lustrous history.

[DWBOX2000]

So what was the purpose of that ad? It lists all these horrible problems and mentions one solution. Were they trying to scare folks the from water cooled cars? If I saw that, I would have turned off and probably not bought a boxster way before they even got to the IMS.
That seems like air cooled propaganda to me. Maybe The secret order of 911 guys funded this footage to prevent the expansion of water cooled Porsches. Seems like a conspiracy to me. 😄

[pilut2]

Originally Posted by black pegasus

I thought I'd wanted one of these cars. I've even drove a few. But nevertheless I don't think this car is for me. Porsche used the customer to propel its transition to water cooled cars all the while leaving them in the dust as well as their lustrous history.

If you are totally risk averse, a Boxster or any other older high end sports car, is not for you. I have owned mine for three years and she is absolutely one of the best purchases of my life. At almost 19 years old she runs and drives like a brand new car, and looks fantastic. The fun factor and permagrin while driving her more than offsets the purely financial side of ownership. If you are going to play, then you have to pay! If she does blow up, I'm sure that I will briefly question my decision making. But that won't erase the joy of the experience.

Life is meant to be lived. Driving a Boxster certainly makes you feel alive!!

[grc0456]

Originally Posted by pilut2

If you are totally risk averse, a Boxster or any other older high end sports car, is not for you. I have owned mine for three years and she is absolutely one of the best purchases of my life. At almost 19 years old she runs and drives like a brand new car, and looks fantastic. The fun factor and permagrin while driving her more than offsets the purely financial side of ownership. If you are going to play, then you have to pay! If she does blow up, I'm sure that I will briefly question my decision making. But that won't erase the joy of the experience.

Life is meant to be lived. Driving a Boxster certainly makes you feel alive!!

Well said! That's why most of us are here. Sh#t can and does happen. Plan for it. Now would I be devastated in my M96 went ka-boom - yes, I would. But I try to take all steps I can to make sure that won't happen. But remember, as others have said, these cars are 13-20 years old.

In the meantime, it's a nice early winter day here in New England, and as soon as my car is done at the indie (having her annual check-up, and getting braided brake lines installed) I plan on feeling alive later today!

Carpe Boxster!

[black pegasus]

Duplicate post

[black pegasus]

Originally Posted by pilut2

If you are totally risk averse, a Boxster or any other older high end sports car, is not for you. I have owned mine for three years and she is absolutely one of the best purchases of my life. At almost 19 years old she runs and drives like a brand new car, and looks fantastic. The fun factor and permagrin while driving her more than offsets the purely financial side of ownership. If you are going to play, then you have to pay! If she does blow up, I'm sure that I will briefly question my decision making. But that won't erase the joy of the experience.

Life is meant to be lived. Driving a Boxster certainly makes you feel alive!!

I'll just stick to my 86 air cooled 911 and you can have fun in your ride. I was just stating that reliability is no more with the water cooled 986s. This is a 986 forum and I respect that you enjoy your rides but reading the op's situation makes me not opt for a 986.

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by black pegasus

I'll just stick to my 86 air cooled 911 and you can have fun in your ride. I was just stating that reliability is no more with the water cooled 986s. This is a 986 forum and I respect that you enjoy your rides but reading the op's situation makes me not opt for a 986.

I hope you don't stay locked in your house because you read the news once.

[black pegasus]

Originally Posted by particlewave

I hope you don't stay locked in your house because you read the news once.

Oh so only one 986 engine has blown?
Silly...

[Jager]

Originally Posted by black pegasus

I'll just stick to my 86 air cooled 911 and you can have fun in your ride. I was just stating that reliability is no more with the water cooled 986s. This is a 986 forum and I respect that you enjoy your rides but reading the op's situation makes me not opt for a 986.

How many miles on your 911?

[black pegasus]

Originally Posted by Jager

How many miles on your 911?

220,000 miles

[jdraupp]

Originally Posted by black pegasus

I thought I'd wanted one of these cars. I've even drove a few. But nevertheless I don't think this car is for me. Porsche used the customer to propel its transition to water cooled cars all the while leaving them in the dust as well as their lustrous history.

The water cooled cars saved Porsche from bankruptcy (specifically the boxster) and are more reliable and durable especially in use as a daily driver than the air cooled cars are. If you've really put 220k on an 86 911, then you know how much work you've had to do to that car. Boxsters need maintenance too. However, all engines fail. Nothing is impervious. Hope your 911 motor isn't next. For the amount you can get a boxster vs an air cooled 964 or 993, I'll take a boxster with a slim chance of motor failure any day.

[stephen wilson]

Each to their own, but you're missing out by passing up the Boxster. Because of IMS fears I bought a 987 ( I don't track the car ) , it's been probably the best purchase of my life. Other than annoying top issues it's been trouble free. I agree, you can't beat it for the money. I test drove almost every modern sports car in the price range, and none handled better. The BMW's had good power, but less confident handling.

[Porsche9]

Originally Posted by jdraupp

The water cooled cars saved Porsche from bankruptcy (specifically the boxster) and are more reliable and durable especially in use as a daily driver than the air cooled cars are. If you've really put 220k on an 86 911, then you know how much work you've had to do to that car. Boxsters need maintenance too. However, all engines fail. Nothing is impervious. Hope your 911 motor isn't next. For the amount you can get a boxster vs an air cooled 964 or 993, I'll take a boxster with a slim chance of motor failure any day.

Plus they will run circles, especially an S, around a 964 or 993 in terms of overall performance especially in the hands of a typical driver.