3rd RMS - Dealer Gave Me A New Motor!

Yup, third RMS in 30k miles on my 02 Coupe and the dealer volunteered to install a new engine. In fact, I got a 2005 997 engine, albeit without the engine mapping that ups the power from 320 to 325. I don't care about that anyway but I do care about the supposedly beefier intermediate (sp?) shaft which, according to my master tech, should finally make the difference. Not that I would know what that was, but hey. Then again he told me that last month he had a 997 Carrera S with a RMS. Another interesting fact is that the motor is new but is labelled reconditioned. The tech told me that is a game PCNA plays so that the dealer can charge only $7K under the warranty instead of $ 20K. Engine feels strong as my old one although I have to break it in again. Another bonus since it happened right at the 30K mark...no paying a grand for the 30K service. Just a few hundred for the air/pollen filters.

Sounds like you got your engine just in time before your warranty runs out? I am looking at buying a 2002 911 coupe that has had a RMS at 9600 miles, and is going out of warranty in December of 2005. (See previous post). What do you think your dealer would have done for you if you were just out of warranty? My fear is buying this vehicle and needing an engine replacement out of warranty.

My warranty runs out in October of 06. I don't know what the dealer would do. As much as I love the car, your very question has me concerned too. Thinking of trading it in for a GT3. Different block, no RMS issues as far as I know.

Hey PK996C2: I think this is the first we've heard happen on this forum. Very interesting. BTW: you can make it even cheaper for yourself by replacing the pollen and air filter by yourself, and just paying for parts. It is the easiest thing in the world to do!... Cheers.

Never heard of a 997 engine being dropped in a 996 by a dealer. Why didn't they replace it with a 996 engine. I'm confused on this one.

PK996C2 Not to bust your bubble, but what you got was a 996 motor that was manufactured in 2005. There are too many changes to the subsystems of the 997 base engine to put it in an older 996. Remember that certain models of the 996 are still being manufactured in tandem with the 997. If you look at the S/N on the bottom left side of the case next to the sump you will see a number like: M9603AT665XXXXX Which is a M960 engine (M960 3) that is a rebuild unit (AT) 6 cyl (6) , version (6), manufactured year (5), and the rest is the actual S/N There are a number of improvements in the 05 996 engine, including a redesigned IMS cover and seal, and use of Torx bolts, but these engines can still leak, mainly through the case bolts, not the RMS. If you can read german, here is an interesting thread on case bolt leaks on the 05 engine case redesign. If not it has pictures as well. I have been through this routine as well in my 02 996. Here is one thread on my first 05 996 engine And the second 05 996 engine I would recommend that you be very careful during the first 1000-2000 miles to break the engine in properly.

OE is probably right, you got a m96AT engine, nothing wrong with that. That's a bogus story your dealer is stroking you with re the 20k/7k line more than likely. Don't pull your hair out over the RMS thing, if it goes it goes, a 800$ fix, future engine replacements are unlikely. Just enjoy your car!

Yea I agree I am not going to let a little seal ruin the love i have for my Porsche. If it leaks fix it, I have an 04 C2 with 34 K on it, and the dealer has changed the seal twice. The only problem i have with a new motor is this, my current one runs VERY, VERY strong, if the new motor does not perform the same way i will be disapointed for sure..............

OE, Thanks for your super informative post. I checked the serial number and it is M96/0366500321. Conspiciously absent is "AT" or, since I do speak German and was able to check out your links, Austauschmotor, ie Replacement Engine or reconditioned. So I'm fairly certain that it is a new engine. Whether from a 2005 996 or 997 is, as you and others pointed out, irrelevant. But just because I am curious if the master tech was full of s..t (scary thought given that he should know more than you!), do you know if a way to determine whether it is a 996 or 997 engine? I'll call the dealer and if I find out, I'll post. Also, how did you get the extended warranty on the new engine? My dealer is telling me it can't be done. I've asked the regional tech rep to call me on that so I am escalating it but I sure would like to be armed with the data from your experience. And thanks, I am trying not to use full throttle and keep it unde 5k RPM. I need to get some miles on this thing since I have a DE at the end of August.

Congratulations, you have a "new" motor. M96/0366500321 is a new motor S/N, so be sure to keep in under 4500 rpm for at least the 1st 1000 miles. I guess the PCNA is out of AT motors here in the US, so they pulled one off of the line. Interesting trivia is that my first 05 motor was S/N 00085, the second was 00159, and now they are up to 00321. Looks like there are a lot of replacement motors going out these days. You will need to escalate the warranty issue up the Porsche Service chain of command. It can be done, but it is on a case by case basis. You will need to file a formal complaint with PCNA first, through their Customer Commitment Group. Also, if your car has been in more than 4 times and out of service more than 30 days for the same issue, you may have cause for remedy under lemon laws statutes in your state. P/S: the Pollen Filter only costs about $35 and is a simple DIY. Don't pay $200 for a 5 minute replacement item. Here is how you do it. Lastly, the 30K is a simple DIY exercise, but if you don't feel up to the task, out here in the high rent district of California where I live, the going rate for a 30K is $399 (less the 2 year brake bleed, which will add another $100). Don't pay more than that. The main difference between the 15K and 30K is the addition of an air filter. Don't get suckered into paying $800 or more for this work.

M96 is a 996 engine. As OE and others have stated you can't drop a 997 engine in a 996.

My '99 had the RMS replaced twice while I owned it. PCNA picked up the tab both times and the 2nd time (maybe even both times?) the car was out of warranty. One of the reasons I upgraded to the GT3 was to never have to deal with this again...and now my GT3 had the RMS replaced too (I'm not the only one, go look at the threads on the GT3 section). Go figure...

That appears to be incorrect. I was at my dealer today and looked at the engine serial numbers of a 2005 and 2006 997. Both start with M96 just like my 996. For grins I looked at a 997S and it starts with M97. The master tech confirmed again that except for some minor changes, the engines are the same.

Then I defer to the more knowledgeable like OE, etc.

Are you absolutely certain you have a 997 power unit in your car!!!! That sounds a bit odd. What does your repair paperwork say the part number is for the 997 power unit?