13 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHMay be purchasing a 996 c4 tomorrow, guidance needed
Leading reported evidence
Check camshaft deviation
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
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Suggestion
Take it to a specialist and have them check the camshaft deviation.
May be purchasing a 996 c4 tomorrow, guidance needed
Read full discussion summary
Leading evidence: 'Check camshaft deviation' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check camshaft deviation' (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.
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 · Original poster
Should i possibly have a relatively "simple" repair on my hands and have a great car?
May be purchasing a 996 c4 tomorrow, guidance needed
Replace ppi
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
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Suggestion
Won't replace a PPI, but it will give you piece of mind knowing what the codes are and potential issues to think about.
May be purchasing a 996 c4 tomorrow, guidance needed
Run car
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
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Suggestion
for what is worth, I recently bought a seemingly great running car for $14k that had all the issues listed above (except no CEL yet).
May be purchasing a 996 c4 tomorrow, guidance needed
Use car lot somewhere
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
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Suggestion
Doesnt surprise me a Porsche dealer doesnt want to spend a nickel on this car when it will end up on some used car lot somewhere, but the fact they are only giving a vague description of what is wrong would make me pass unless I thought after adding $20k it was still worth it (in my case, it was).
May be purchasing a 996 c4 tomorrow, guidance needed
Use car lot somewhere
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
Doesnt surprise me a Porsche dealer doesnt want to spend a nickel on this car when it will end up on some used car lot somewhere, but the fact they are only giving a vague description of what is wrong would make me pass unless I thought after adding $20k it was still worth it (in my case, it was).
May be purchasing a 996 c4 tomorrow, guidance needed
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.
13 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 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: 20261026T091943Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
As title says,
I have been on the hunt for a 996 Turbo for around 3-4 years now. Obviously in that time, prices have gone way up.
After driving a handful of turbos and a few 3.4 c2's and a c4.... i realized that for the money difference, i don't necessarily *need* a turbo. I have a E63 AMG that's plenty fast, and the price point and size of the narrowbody 996 is appealing, now.
So, i just located a car and need you guy's advice. Details
2001 Carrera 4 coupe, 6 speed manual, 129k miles
Black/ Graphite grey full leather
P01 Comfort
P02 Technic
P44 Carbon package
And some other options.
The car is at a Porsche dealer ~20 minutes from me. I went and drove it today, and it's great. Clutch feels great, transmission goes through all gears fine, No weird engine noises whatsoever. All functions work as they should other than the ashtray being stuck. No visible leaks, no smoke on cold starting. Looks to be very well taken care of for 129k miles
But
It has a CEL on for a "Timing issue" As the porsche dealer says. I haven't been able to get the codes from them.
I can get the car for a very, very good price, IMO.
Considering it runs perfectly smooth, rolls through the rev range up to 7000 properly, starts without any noises... Should i possibly have a relatively "simple" repair on my hands and have a great car?
I don't mind working on it myself. I've done engine work on my M156 AMG, Lots of work on other Mercedes's, and used to do some aviation maintenance on piston and turboprop planes, so i'm not scared of learning this platform.
Thanks!
Absolutely this, could have guide failures, start of ims failure etc. If a Porsche dealer is selling it for a very very attractive price, there's typically a reason.
Get an invasive ppi (pre purchase inspection) from an independent Porsche 996 specialist.If you do not ,be prepared to pay 20k + just to fix engine properly if it needs a rebuild.A lot of sad stories on this forum.I am not an alarmist just a realist.Good luck with search there are many fine cars out there.
for what is worth, I recently bought a seemingly great running car for $14k that had all the issues listed above (except no CEL yet). I�m paying $8k to address them.
Luckily I paid so little for the car I think it�s still a decent deal overall... at least that�s what I tell myself
A CEL for a timing issue is one thing I wouldn�t ignore before a purchase. Maybe an evap code, or something like that is okay to brush off. But a timing issue at the very best is possibly a variocam solenoid/sensor; and at its worst is an IMS or chain guides.
If you are serious about getting a 996, you may want to consider getting the dramatic software to easily bring your laptop and plug it into every Porsche you look at. Won't replace a PPI, but it will give you piece of mind knowing what the codes are and potential issues to think about.
Obviously it would be a waste of money if you are not serious.
Seems they are looking for a quick sale before they send to auction. Or, its significant and they know it and are not being truthful - why wont they tell you what the codes are?
Some dealers dont even want to fix minor issues on trade ins if they anticipate the car will be leaving their lot soon (auction). I got mine at a dealer auction - it was listed for 2 weeks by a dealer before they dumped it. Busted coolant tank, bad coil pack, wheel bearing. Dealers know what they want on their lot and what they dont.
Doesnt surprise me a Porsche dealer doesnt want to spend a nickel on this car when it will end up on some used car lot somewhere, but the fact they are only giving a vague description of what is wrong would make me pass unless I thought after adding $20k it was still worth it (in my case, it was).
I�d pass unless it�s a ridiculously low price.
There�s a reason a Porsche dealer isn�t fixing the problem that causing the CEL.
There�s plenty of nice 996s for sale that will be much cheaper in the end.
Make sure the carbon is in decent condition/ not a lot of cracks on it since it can crack easily if sat outside with uv light for a while. Even my car with 27k miles has a carbon crack on the steering wheel... Still urks me
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