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YOUR RESEARCHSoon to be on 996 Market
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Replace (both rms and ims) a year ago
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I've had mine changed (both RMS and IMS) a year ago.
Leading evidence: 'Replace (both rms and ims) a year ago' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace (both rms and ims) a year ago' (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.
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Upon the pending sale of the S2 - my wife and I will be on the market for a 996. I highly considered the 993 but since my wife will want to drive it often I prefer the 996 due to it's more daily driver comfort and convenience (though I've driven a 993 C4S and loved it). I have read the buying guide and will definitely be doing a proper PPI and checking up on the 2 major areas of concern RMS and IMS bearings.
- Extended Warranty or should I buy CPO? I want to buy from private as to save as much middleman markup - but again the RMS and IMS problems worry me.
- On the 993s several of my friend welded the exhaust baffles (I think that's what they are called) together to improve power and the sound - is this possible on the 996?
- x51 power package. I get a lot of different information in my searches. This was a pricey option of $17k but what were its major benefits? Are there retrofit kits and are they worth it? I will likely get the x51 oil pan baffle as I will use the 996 for some track events (but I won't drive the car too hard).
- C2 in winter. Is it very hard to drive in the snow or should I settle on a C4 as my wife will drive it but she's just a novice (taking her first DE in September). Her daily driver will continue to be the Acura TSX. My S2 in the snow is a hoot and pretty stable even with all season performance tires (not snow tires).
- Victor Motorsports on eBay. They have a bunch of "reasonably" priced cars but I've heard good and bad - on Roadfly there's a huge thread on some lemons they sold.
- Aero kits. I would like to get one with an aero kit but not a "need". Are there any decently priced conversions out here - such as the "whale tale" - which it seems you can buy a whale tail kit on eBay that mounts to the stock rear decklid. Anyone buy and install this before?
Thanks.
Joel
- Extended Warranty or should I buy CPO? I want to buy from private as to save as much middleman markup - but again the RMS and IMS problems worry me.
I'd recommend one or the other
- On the 993s several of my friend welded the exhaust baffles (I think that's what they are called) together to improve power and the sound - is this possible on the 996?
Search PSE exhaust mod. It will sound glorious
- x51 power package. I get a lot of different information in my searches. This was a pricey option of $17k but what were its major benefits? Are there retrofit kits and are they worth it? I will likely get the x51 oil pan baffle as I will use the 996 for some track events (but I won't drive the car too hard).
x51 is an awesome package if you can find a used car with it. The benefits are 25 more hp and a faster reving motor. It is very pricey to add after the fact
FYI, '02's and later have updated baffles
- C2 in winter. Is it very hard to drive in the snow or should I settle on a C4 as my wife will drive it but she's just a novice (taking her first DE in September). Her daily driver will continue to be the Acura TSX. My S2 in the snow is a hoot and pretty stable even with all season performance tires (not snow tires).
My '02 is great in the snow (with proper tires). If you get a PSM car and snow tires your wife should have no problems with a C2
- Aero kits. I would like to get one with an aero kit but not a "need". Are there any decently priced conversions out here - such as the "whale tale" - which it seems you can buy a whale tail kit on eBay that mounts to the stock rear decklid. Anyone buy and install this before?
There are a ton of good options out there that will mount to the stock deckild. Misha has some nice kits.
There are a lot of extended warranty threads on here. The consensus seems to be that your mileage will vary. I would not have purchased my 996 if it wasn't CPO, didn't want to pay premiums and have a warranty company disappear or deny a major claim. Some people have had great luck, definitely search the recent warranty threads
I think I'm going to try to find a car with a CPO or an extended transferable factory warranty remaining. As rare as the IMS and RMS failures are they are devastating and having that warranty sitting behind you should make me feel better.
Now if only I can stop also looking at NSXs. I need a car with a back seat for a young child.
Devastating?!
It's a
SEAL
. I've had mine changed (both RMS and IMS) a year ago. I didn't know I had it and now youd never know it was fixed. I was never devastated.
Get a CPO car for the security....I did the same. But do yourself a favor and ignore all the doom-mongers that foretell great disaster if you have a little leak.......
Maybe the RMS seal is not devasting but the IMS is a bearing that if it fails normally requires a new engine or a rebuild.
The RMS leaks seem to be more common and talking to Imagine Auto (they are a local Porsche shop in Kansas City) mechanics who fix these cars say that the RMS failures are still common and they have seen late 996s and even some 997s with leaks and failures. They noted that sometimes the RMS needs several replacements on a single car and note that a major factor for the failure likely is the block casting where the seal adheres to may no longer be flush for a proper seating surface.
Seems there are 2 camps: those who say it's not a big deal and those who are very wary and say to take caution and cover yourself for the eventuality.
Well I'm in both camps. Cover yourself for the possibility (get a CPO) but it's really not a big deal.
If it really scares you that much, maybe you should go for that NSX after all.......
996's are so cheap, that if something major goes wrong you can just pay for the fix yourself and it's still a bargain.. I think extended warranties are a rip-off and wouldn't do it if I were you. A CPO would be nice, but then again, it would just mean it costs more up-front. You can buy a 996 in the low 20-thousand range, replace the engine if it blows up, and still have paid less than someone who bought a more recent model with lower miles that was CPO. Chances are that you won't have any issues at all with your engine, anyway.
C2 in the winter is a great car - just throw some snow tires on or just run some all-seasons like Goodyear F1 all season, or Bridgestone re960as.
It is going to be tough to find a 996 with any remaining factory warranty unless you get an 05 C4S or Turbo. The last year of the 996 C2 was 2004. and most of those have been in service for their 4 years or are dang close to running out. Shouldn't be too much trouble finding a CPO. Someone offered up an 40th Anniversary car. IMO this is about the best of all worlds. It has the beautiful turbo front bumpers, it has the X51 package, and has the great GT Silver color.
