Startup Don’t be alarmed if there is a rattle at engine startup from cold. · This often happens before pressure has b

Startup Don’t be alarmed if there is a rattle at engine startup from cold. This often happens before pressure has built up in the hydraulic valve lifters. It should disappear within 5 seconds or so. Occasionally, you may see a puff of oil smoke from the exhaust at startup. This is common, but should disappear after about 10 seconds, and should only happen infrequently, ie. Once in every 30-40 starts perhaps. Transmissions Manual Check for smooth operation and changes. Note that when cold the change from first to second gear can be slightly stiff, but this should disappear when warmed up. Listen for noises when accelerating and on a trailing throttle. All parts are now available for manual transmissions, so they can be repaired rather than replaced (as was the case until December 2006). Tiptronic Check for smooth changes (up and down) when in automatic and tiptronic mode. Check both tip switches on the steering wheel are working, and also check the tiptronic display in the instrument cluster operates correctly. At present, internal transmission parts are not available from Porsche, but some independent specialists can source them and repair rather than replace the transmission. Tiptronic transmission has proved to be very reliable. Running Gear Suspension A clonking sound when driving slowly over bumps may be heard. This usually means a worn anti-roll-bar drop-link (c£30 each). Creaking sounds often indicate a worn lower suspension control arm (c£150 each). Brakes The brake disks are prone to corrosion, particularly the inside faces of the rear discs. It is surprising how bad they can get without being able to feel anything unusual through the brake pedal. (c£120/pair plus fitting) Tyres Tyres should be worn evenly across the tread. Tyres should be of matching brand across axle (preferably all four corners) and should all be of equal ‘N’ rating. Uneven wear suggests geometry problems (c£150-250 for a 4-wheel alignment). Tyres – 17inch F/R cost from £110/£130, and the optional 18inch F/R cost from £120/£180. Documentation VIN Number The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is located in three places: behind the base of the windscreen on the passenger side, on the driver side door-catch panel and on the front bulkhead in the luggage compartment to the left of the battery. Check out the VIN Decoder on the FAQ pages. VIL Number The VIL (Vehicle Identification Label) can be found in 2 places: A white sticker under the bonnet and a white sticker found in the ‘Guarantee and Maintenance’ booklet. The country code will signify for which market the car was made, and C16 signifies the UK. A missing VIL under the bonnet could suggest the car was involved in an accident requiring the bonnet to be replaced. A missing VIL from the ‘Guarantee and Maintenance’ booklet could suggest a duplicate booklet and/or a personal import. Check out the Option and Paint Code lists on the FAQ pages. Service History A full service history is very important when considering a 996. Expect the car to be serviced at an OPC for the first 2-3 years (the warranty runs for 2 years), thereafter any well known independent will do. The 996 needs to be serviced every year or 12,000 miles, and has to be serviced at an OPC or an approved centre so as to not invalidate the warranty if you buy one. Check the stamps in the service book.