Lessons learned?: Buying a "used low mileage engine"....

[pcs5978]

There is no VIN on the engine case. The VIN is on the chassis. As I said in my posting on this thread, if you have the VIN, confirming the engine case # is a relatively straight forward matter. Porsche dealerships have a database - Porsche POSES - that allows them to access information about a given car using VIN. If you only have the engine case #, getting the VIN is much harder.

With a VIN you can pull a CarFax. CarFax reports are not always comprehensive, but currently it's the best source. They can contain a lot of information that's handy if you're thinking about buying a used motor.

For example. Right now there's a 3.2L M96 listed for sale on e-bay. The seller says it's from a car that had 200 miles on it. Pulled by Gemballa with some sort upgrade. The listing says it should be selling for >$15000, but he has it listed for $4995. So, the guy's in to charity for Boxster owners with blown motors? I asked the seller for the VIN. Guess what, he didn't have it. Anyone who buys this thing is asking for trouble.

Remember. As long as there is no illegal activity associated with the chassis of the car - the part with the VIN, then there is virtually nothing illegal with any transactions involving auto parts that come from that chassis - almost anything goes. Motors, transmissions or any other high-end part can be patched up and sold with false representation, and there is no criminal legal recourse. If the chassis is stolen, that's another matter.

[jmatta]

Howdy Phantom!

In my best CaddieShack voice, I say "Well, we're waiting"

Great story and education; unfortunately a costly one for those involved.

[Brucelee]

Again, I want to remind all invovled not to reveal any names of the parties to this transaction. Since there are legal considerations, the forum can take it in the shorts.

So, sanitize the information so that the instructive lessons remain while avoiding this legal calamity we all want to avoid.

Thanks much!

[jmatta]

I think it is appropriate to respect our host; afterall, this is a great forum.

How about posting details on the Flat 6 website?

[Jake Raby]

No worries..
No names will be mentioned in the forum.

This guy is in enough deep crap that we don't need to embarrass him in front of his peers to get our satisfaction..

It'll all be a matter of public record soon enough :-)

[Brucelee]

Thanks guys!