Buying a Boxster.... Finally - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Qckslvr · 10-30-2018, 07:58 PM

Apparently I have been a member of this forum for a long time! So here is my first post... And like all noobs very redundant post at that

I have wanted a Porsche of my own ever since I drove my father's 912. It had an 1800cc stroker motor with dual down draft Webers. Sadly when dad passed the 912 went to a brother and he sold it a week later..... The fury I had is for another post LOL

So after many years of looking at Boxsters, and being scared to death of the dreaded IMS failure I am ready to buy. Granted I am somewhat of a mechanic, but who wants to buy a car for huge money just to drop the transmission and throw another 3k (clutch and IMS) at a car they just bought.

I have found a super clean 2001 Boxster S. The owner has been very upfront with everything he has done to the car. It has 110,000 miles on it, new top, 1 year on a clutch and ceramic bearing IMS (I was so happy when he mentioned this), and a nice double din Pioneer with full audio system. Now it does seem to have flaw, a finicky driver side power window. Seems to work fine most of time, but then it will decide not to. I have done my reading, and feel this is something I can fix with out issue. The car has had regular maintenance at a very reputable Euro car shop.

So, as I pack my used car inspection bag and hail a Lyft, I wonder.... What should I look for. Leaky valve covers I know are common. I don't have a code reader, but I might borrow one from work. Will an 01 Boxster store codes? and will the codes that kill a car always cause the CEL to blink or stay on steady? Also after reading a bit it seems I need to listen for possible timing chain slap on start up.

Any other advise is greatly appreciated

Thanks!

redciv1 · 10-31-2018, 05:29 AM

Congratulations, this is after you have looked at the car, but everything you described to look for is correct. As far as CEL, first check to make sure that it actually lights up initially on start up. CEL is only for emissions related issues for the most part. Was the RMS changed when the clutch and IMS were changed out as well?
My timing chain rattles at initial start up for maybe a second at the most but never while driving and from reading from other Porsche owners, it is something that Flat 6 engines do but not a deal breaker unless rattles are constant while driving.