Buying my first Porsche but I need your mechanical advise

Hello, First of all I'm Portuguese and although my English is good, I apologise if I use any incorrect word. I'm about to buy my First Porsche, a 996.1 Carrera 2, from 1998 with 80.000km in great shape. Today I took it to a garage I trust (but not used to Porsches since I live on an island with no Porsche dealer) and he said it all looks great with two exceptions: 1. There's as oil leak on both sides of the engine, where he thinks it's only both valves cover gasket, does that makes sense? 2. The gearshift was making a clicking noise on idling, but he said the shifts look good when driving, any idea of what can it be? 3. I'm unsure if the IMS was replaced but it doesn't look like the screws were ever touched. If I buy it should I replace it anyway? Please check the attached photos and video. I'm thinking on using it as my daily driver and, to me, it's a dream but also a big investment, so what are your advises? Also, since UK us out of EU it's very expensive to order from UK, so anyone knows an online store in the EU where I can order parts without customs ? Thank you all!

I would be hesitant to buy a 1998 that will be used as a daily driver, if I don't have easy access to parts/ independent Porsche mechanic OR don't know how to do the mechanical work it will need myself (much less the tools you'll need). Having said that, a common source of leaks is the RMS. Assuming it's the original engine, yours should have a double row bearing like mine (2000 C2). I replaced mine anyway with the IMS solution for peach of mind since I had to get the engine dropped for other repairs anyway. The bearing that came out of the engine on mine was perfectly fine.

The RMS seal is dead center in the back where it connects to the transmission. If your oil leaks are coming from somewhere on each side of the engine, two things. 1st, pull off a rear wheel and see if you can find out where the leak is coming from. If you can't, #2, have the area you can see cleaned real well and as it leaks you might get a better idea of where it is coming from. My guess, if it really is from both sides, is oil coming out of a gap in the coil packs from a replacement that wasn't torqued properly, in which case, it is an easy fix. Also, your video is not here.

Sorry I'm a little confused, what the RMS? so its not the gaskets?

RMS is the rear main seal. It is a source of leaking oil but it would not be coming from the side of the engine. I'm not convinced yet that it is a gasket either. Google "996 RMS" for more info. Need more photo evidence as I suggested.

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The leaks on the side of the motor are from the spark plug tubes. Just plan on doing some mainainence. Change the spark plugs, tubes and gaskets and coilpacks. Its a basic tune up. not sure if they ship over seas but thiis is some of what u need. https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_In...kaAg4BEALw_wcB

Parts available within EU from https://www.rosepassion.com/ https://partsworks.de https://teile.com/ Leak could be from the spark plug tubes or the variocam adjusters. Leaking RMS shows oil dripping from the black steel coolant pipe running across the bottom of the engine between gearbox and engine. Looks dry to me from the picture

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yes that was dry, so you think its just from the plugs??

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Yes. We all do. Easy to check though. Take off rear wheel and look.

Valve covers almost never leak, the spark plug orings always do when they get old. The AOS on bank 1 also leaks. Yes to replacing the IMS bearing, do it soon. Porsche parts are expensive. Get used to it or don't own a Porsche

That looks like a nice "early model" with only 50k miles....That's good all in itself as it has the Dual Row IMS and also the Iron Piston Plating "Ferrostan" that is very durable... The oil leak you show is coming from the "bellows" of the AOS, very common problem after 25 years..( I'd recommend the UAOS as an upgrade) Also as mentioned on the 996.1 cars the spark plug tube seals will leak with age and can be replaced during Spark Plug renewal... If the clutch shows any sign of needing attention I would upgrade to the "IMS Solution" to never worry about it again during the clutch re-fresh.. LIke ​​​​​ @yelcab says, the valve cover gaskets never leak if sealed properly, so one negative mark on the Tech that said that ( shows they are not very familiar with the M96 engine) Enjoy the car !! Probably one of the few good ones left in the wild !!!

Well my valve covers leak as well on my 98, I will get it reseal when I have the clutch done and some more preventavive work! I mean after 27 years and 100k miles I would expect that being normal in my case. @Porschetech3 , why do you think that's a negative mark for the Tech that saw the car in question? I am just asking to understand if this is common or not. Mine was leaking from the spark plug tubes as well and got those replaced when I got the car 3-4 years ago.

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Because the "valve cover" is actually a "machined fit" matching the head due to having cam bearings as part of the cover. They are "machine matched and numbered" and when sealed properly with a very thin film of 5900 never leak ... Every oil leak on a 3.4 I have every diagnosed, after carefull cleaning and verifying was either improper sealing by a previous Tech or was the vario-cam solenoid, or the AOS Bellows, or the pressure vent on the bank 2 cover...or spark plug tubes ...........never " just a valve cover leak".....