How to Obtain Engine # To Check IMS - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

solo118 · 02-11-2021, 07:37 PM

Hi All

I know this is mostly a 986 forum, but I know you are always helpful and knowledgable on all Boxsters!

I am looking at a 2005 Boxster (base 2.7 engine, tiptronic) Build date is March, 2005 as per the door jamb.

I know of the IMS issues on 986 and SOME 987 cars, and I know that they were upgraded at some point in 2005 starting with engine # 04716. The car I am looking at is about an hour away, so I do not want to waste anybody's time if it is the older version of the IMS as the added cost is just not worth it.

Without getting physically under the car, is there any way to get the engine # by either a VIN Decoder, or possibly reaching out to a Porsche dealership where it was last serviced? I also thought the engine # might be noted on the owner's manual, but that is a long shot.

Any help is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

JFP in PA · 02-12-2021, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solo118

Hi All

I know this is mostly a 986 forum, but I know you are always helpful and knowledgable on all Boxsters!

I am looking at a 2005 Boxster (base 2.7 engine, tiptronic) Build date is March, 2005 as per the door jamb.

I know of the IMS issues on 986 and SOME 987 cars, and I know that they were upgraded at some point in 2005 starting with engine # 04716. The car I am looking at is about an hour away, so I do not want to waste anybody's time if it is the older version of the IMS as the added cost is just not worth it.

Without getting physically under the car, is there any way to get the engine # by either a VIN Decoder, or possibly reaching out to a Porsche dealership where it was last serviced? I also thought the engine # might be noted on the owner's manual, but that is a long shot.

Any help is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Engine numbers were never useful in determining which IMS was in it, and in 2005 they could have gone either way. The only way to know which IMS is in a 2005 is to pull the trans, clutch, and flywheel, then look at the center bolt. Any other method is simply wishful thinking....................