fullymatted.
Back to search
PistonHeads

2.9L cayman issues - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Add to repair workspace
Open repair workspace
Original source
5 captured repliesPartial discussion capture · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW

Discussion summary

YOUR RESEARCH2.9L cayman issues - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Leading reported evidence

Replace early

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

The one 2.9 I read about that had its engine replaced early on was a late 2009 model, had only covered 6500 miles and sounded like a manufacturing defect as all 6 cylinders were scored:

2.9L cayman issues - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK
Read full discussion summary

Leading evidence: 'Replace early' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace early' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.

Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.

Read captured replies

1 matching discussions · 5 captured posts examined · 1 partial discussions

Compare 3 other evidence results

Use less than 1 ltr of oil in 10k miles

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

I to, have smoke on start up occasionally but like other have said, think i've used less than 1 Ltr of oil in 10K miles.

2.9L cayman issues - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Use absolutely no oil

Suggestion or failed attempt

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

I've read about the early 2.9 bore scoring horror stories, mine is a 58 plate so as early as they come, will occasionally smoke on start-up, and can sound like a box of spanners although they all do that sir, it uses absolutely no oil.

2.9L cayman issues - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Use almost no oil (only dropped one bar

Suggestion or failed attempt

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

Mine's a March 2009 2.9 which is still pretty early, very rarely smokes on start up and also uses almost no oil (only dropped one bar on the oil gauge over the past year when I covered 16000 miles).

2.9L cayman issues - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK
Frequently discussed actions (4)

These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.

Replace early

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

The one 2.9 I read about that had its engine replaced early on was a late 2009 model, had only covered 6500 miles and sounded like a manufacturing defect as all 6 cylinders were scored:

2.9L cayman issues - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Use absolutely no oil

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

I've read about the early 2.9 bore scoring horror stories, mine is a 58 plate so as early as they come, will occasionally smoke on start-up, and can sound like a box of spanners although they all do that sir, it uses absolutely no oil.

2.9L cayman issues - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Use almost no oil (only dropped one bar

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

Mine's a March 2009 2.9 which is still pretty early, very rarely smokes on start up and also uses almost no oil (only dropped one bar on the oil gauge over the past year when I covered 16000 miles).

2.9L cayman issues - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Use less than 1 ltr of oil in 10k miles

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

I to, have smoke on start up occasionally but like other have said, think i've used less than 1 Ltr of oil in 10K miles.

2.9L cayman issues - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK
Coverage and how to read this overview

Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.

5 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.

  • PistonHeads: 1 discussions

0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.

0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.

Generation: 20261026T222516Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources

POST 1 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Posted this in the general area but should have posted here. I'm just wanting someone in the know to confirm what I've read on PH and other websites is correct . I'm just about to pull the trigger on a 2010 Cayman 2.9 and want to know I'm not buying in to a lemon . As most of you can already guess I've ready through page upon page of scored bores and IMS failure resulting in 12k bills ect ..... Am I right in thinking: 2.9 engine has no IMS to go wrong 2.9 is closed deck and has the A91 dfi block with improved cooling paths 2.9 had some scoring issues cause by piston rings ? Not the usual gen 1 "s" problems . This was then rectified " I recall 3 different part numbers " the final one being problem sorted. If the last point is correct , what year was this problem sorted and is there any way to tell if the potential 2010 car I'm wanting will have the duff piston ? Any info much appreciated

POST 2Original post

Block is called 9A1 and the 2.9 is not DFI. I've read about the early 2.9 bore scoring horror stories, mine is a 58 plate so as early as they come, will occasionally smoke on start-up, and can sound like a box of spanners although they all do that sir, it uses absolutely no oil. I do abuse the engine and while the rest of the car shakes and rattles the engine has proved bomb proof (touches wood).

POST 3Original post

Mine's a March 2009 2.9 which is still pretty early, very rarely smokes on start up and also uses almost no oil (only dropped one bar on the oil gauge over the past year when I covered 16000 miles). It's done just over 40000 miles. The one 2.9 I read about that had its engine replaced early on was a late 2009 model, had only covered 6500 miles and sounded like a manufacturing defect as all 6 cylinders were scored: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... Before I got mine a year ago I couldn't find any other definitive examples of engine problems to worry about. The only issue being frequently snapping manual transmission cables which, sure enough, happened to me after a few months (left me stuck in 3rd which was fun). Fortunately there's an upgrade kit that stops it happening again you can have fitted when it does go, but not ideal if you don't have an OPC warranty that covers it (cost me about £800 all in at an indy who had a gen2 S come in with the same problem the day after mine). But in terms of the engine, so far it hasn't missed a beat with me - I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one.

POST 4Original post

I did not have any major mechanical problems with my 2.9L, as it is based on a decade(s?) old design it comes with some likeable traits such as carbon build up which produces a tapping sound on start-up. This disappears once the engine is warm. Its a great little engine and I miss mine.

POST 5Original post

another 2.9L owner here . I've had the car for around 2 ½ years without much trouble. I to, have smoke on start up occasionally but like other have said, think i've used less than 1 Ltr of oil in 10K miles. The only issues i have had are broken window winder and warped disc's. The car is great, love the drive, my brother has a 997 Gen 2 and it handles much better than that.

This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.