32 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHNewbie needs Help with purchasing 996
Leading reported evidence
Replace engines
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
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Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
They have replaced engines with sleeve failures and other catastrophic events, but no IMS.
Leading evidence: 'Replace engines' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check final amount, and drive it home' (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
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Suggestion
If there isn't anything that causes you to get sick to your stomach, write a check for the final amount, and drive it home.
Check service history, previous owners (if available) history and paperwork
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
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Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
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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
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Suggestion
Check Service history, previous owners (if available) history and paperwork.
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 · Original poster
I have agreed on a price already but i am not committed to buy until i inspect the car myself.
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 · Original poster
Also I am in the Raleigh area; any recommendations on a reputable/reasonable repair facilty.
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.
32 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.
1 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
I misread your location and am still getting over it.
Goodmorning, I am ready to pull the trigger on a 2000 996 c4 with 25,000 miles. However after reading all of the catastrophic engine failures related to the ims shaft on this forum and others I am begining to second guess my decision. Can you offer some advice or insight on whether i'm making the right choice. Also I am in the Raleigh area; any recommendations on a reputable/reasonable repair facilty. Finally what are your thoughts on purchasing an extended service contract. Thanks
get a PPI, get a warranty and/or get an IMSR - drive it like you stole it everyday
get a car with paper history and no accidents.
it aint easy to sleep if you dont.....but if you can get a warranty you will sleep better
I personally would shy away from a 996 with low mileage especially if its priced as a low mileage car. If there is no significant premium on it, then consider doing a preventative IMS bearing swap...
Or look for a 996 with a new engine in its history... I did just that before the bearing swap option was available.
Sorry, couldn't help myself.
If you feel anxious, you probably shouldn't do it. You can mitigate your fears by doing an IMS upgrade, or purchase an aftermarket warranty. If I were nervous, I'd do the upgrade and skip the warranty.
You still need some other money tucked away for repairs/mods.
I think I'd also spend the money on the upgrade rather than the warranty. Beyond that, just make sure the PPI is good and that you have service history and records, and you should be fine. There's obviously no way to guarantee that there won't be an expensive problem aside from buying a new car. All you can do is make your best effort and take your chances, but this is true with any 10+ year old car. I've got over 97K on my 996 right now, and I don't worry about it.
I was just in your shoes and last week I brought a 2004 C2 home. I had a PPI and the car checked out. I'm probably going the warranty route since, for a similar price, it will cover an IMS bearing failure
and
other expensive items in the car.
FWIW, the service adviser said in his three years working for the dealer, he's only seen two IMS bearing failures.
Jim M.
I think service advisers are "trained" to say that. My PO got the same line from Manhattan Motor Cars after a new engine was put in to the tune of 15k+
@ Malcontent - very nice ! Welcome
@ OP - Just make sure you do a PPI with someone who knows about our cars. Spend the extra $$$ if needed but do it right the 1st time. Check Service history, previous owners (if available) history and paperwork. Don't get too scared on the other stuff. If you can get extended warranty, etc.
Good luck on the hunt!!!
For your PPI call Tolga at European Performance on Hillsborough. They do a very thorough inspection and don't pull any punches.
And there are lots of Porsche (and 996) folks in the area - just ask if we can help you look at a car.
X2...
I just brought home an '03 from FL. I shopped for several weeks until I found what I felt to be the right buy. My car has quite a few miles on it, however, it was a 1 owner car and I have a full service history.
you know what's funny, is that i contacted european performance and talked with tolga. He said that they have had an ims failure in there shop, nor do they perform the upgrade from ln engineering. Thought that was kind of odd.
Dave - You're buying the car in Chicago, driving it home to have a PPI done by a local wrench? Sorry, friend, but you have the sequence of events wrong.
1. Find a car you think that you like - right color, features, mileage, add-ons, price.
2. Find an independent shop to do the PPI BEFORE you come out to look at the car and/or buy it.
3. After reading the PPI results, and talking to the mechanic that did the PPI, then decide to renegotiate the price on the car, or decide to buy it.
4. THEN and only then, fly out to look at the car personally. That's the final view. If there isn't anything that causes you to get sick to your stomach, write a check for the final amount, and drive it home.
5. Get the oil changed, and everytime you get into it, smile with every mile.
larry
What? A newbie that came for advice and then followed it? Unheard of!!!
Glad you did - Welcome and may you have many happy hours of driving ahead of you!!
larry
I actually did have a ppi done; thats how i found out about the oil leak around the valve cover. I have agreed on a price already but i am not committed to buy until i inspect the car myself.
Sounds great! We can't wait to see it.
If interested, bring it out to Brier Creek on a Saturday morning. We usually have 20-30 PCA members doing breakfast at Jason's Deli starting around 8am.
On the first Saturday of the month the Italian, British and muscle car guys show up too - we had over 200 cars last Saturday, including 4 new Ferrari 458 Italias! It ain't quite Cars and Coffee, but not bad for little old Raleigh.
I've had that same conversation with both Tolga and with Jimmy Ellison, who owns the shop. There is no question that Jimmy could do the modification if needed as he is a master Porsche engine builder. But so far none of the hundreds of M96 cars that they service have brought them a IMS failure. They have replaced engines with sleeve failures and other catastrophic events, but no IMS.
You really wonder how many IMS failures actually happen. I know that I don't lose sleep over it... but I do cringe every time I read yet another new "my engine failed" post.
When someone asks "Should I buy one of these time bombs?" I say, look at the number of happy owners of pre-2009 M-type engine cars, Boxster & 996, there are here on Rennlist. Compare it to the number of OMG IMS failure threads there are. I bet it is a pretty small percentage.
Can one of the Moderators do that without making it a big project?
Anyway my point is there are many high mileage M- type engines still providing miles of smiles for their owners.
That would be a great comparison in regards to how many happy m96 owners vs not. I would love to check out the gathering this saturday however I will still be driving back from chicago. Will try to get up there next time though RPM.
