5th RMS......is it a record?

Car's in to my OPC to have its 5th RMS done. Is this a record? Engineer called to say that the crank bore hole is ovaled and the engine is SNAFU and needs replacing. (duh! like I didn't already know this!). So.......now awaiting call from PUK on what happens next. I.e., who pays for it. My OPC is deep into deliberation with Reading and probably PAG. I just hope that they do the right thing. I should know the outcome later today. fingers crossed......

Best of luck!!

How are you counting? The car came new with a seal, so that is number 1. Then you have had a few replacements. How many times has the seal been replaced? I want to see if you have the record. Jean has had 4 replacement seals. If you include the original from when the car was built then that would be a total of 5 seals. He then had 3 replacement engines put in, and is waiting for the 4th replacement to be put in. If you include the original engine then that would be a total of 5 engines.

I think Robyn's had 6 or 7?

Jeff, 5 replaced and the original. So I guess 6. But ....... I have literally just got off the phone from my OPC who said "they are waiting to hear back from PAG to find out the next action". That was in regard to the fact that they have at last acknowledged it needs a new engine. So the action they are awaiting is if PAG will authorise a replacement (probably rebuilt) engine. If I get a rebuild then the 5th won't count. I am still on my original engine..... I would hate to think how much hearache Jean has had to go through. Sounds like he has the record for both seals and engines!.....although I may pip him at seals if they just decide to put a 5th in.

Good luck.

Best of luck Berny. Keep us informed.

With your 5 replacement seals then it is time to call Guinness, and also for Jean's 4 replacement engines. If Porsche had not tried to 'fix' Jean's seal issue by replacing the engine after the 4th seal replacement leaked, then he would be a contender for the seal replacement record. Once this engine in a box goes into Jean's car it will be the 5th engine his car has seen.

Oh My Gawd! This is extremely worrying. Maybe I should just put up with my leaking RMS. At least it seems healthy otherwise!

5th motor.... well the theory that was posted earlier citing a PAG engineer about a misaligned transmission being the cause of all these RMS problems certainly comes to mind... perhaps they should replace the tranny... what the heck eh? 5 engines... couldn't hurt to replace the tranny...! holy #$%#

But I know from Jeff's other postings that some of these engines have been replaced because of noises and bits of metal floating about in the oil soon after them being fitted. Basically, bad rebuilds. But it is still a very good point.

Thanks for the thoughts guys. Alas there's still no decision. My OPC are awaiting for Porsche to make a decision who is going to pay for the engine. They said "Technical have now passed it to customer services and customer services are still yet to give them an answer". The car is currently up on the ramp in pieces, I mean even the engine and gearbox! Apparently the crank is out of the engine! They promised to have an answer for me tomorrow. The longer this waiting game goes on the more I am thinking the worst. And from the tone of voice of the service manager I think I am getting a message that he is trying to tell me that the answer will very likely be that PAG will NOT pay for the new engine. But I will just have to sit it out another night for the answer. This waiting game is heart breaking. I guess my heart must be in good nick otherwise I am certain I would have had a heart attack by now with all this stress and frustration. This whole affair is is very trying. I am not getting any work done. Not sleeping or eating and I am not exactly the best person to be around right now. Oh and BTW, I started smoking again after giving up 10 months ago....... I just hope they have enjoyed this punishment they are giving me. Is it just me or am I right in thinking this should be a straightforward decision. I buy a 996 (my 3rd Porsche) and at 27,000 miles it gets an RMS problem and the gearbox begins to whine. The car's been treated like a baby. Polished and cleaned, garaged. Never tracked. No accidents. Always serviced by the book and by Porsche. It has been in and out of the workshop for more Rear Main Seals than anyone probably on a worldwide basis, I have written to both PUK and PAG. I have phoned Germany and spoke to their worldwide service manager. I have obtained the support of many Porsche owners worldwide through internet forums. I have threatened legal action. I have threatened to go to the media. And on top of this PCGB has done the RMS survey and discussions are still ongoing. Wouldn't you think that in view of all this they would want to make ammends and just fix the damn car? What is taking them so long?

Looks like I'll be keeping my 99 given it has gone so many miles without an RMS leak... what's the point of getting a new one if this is what we have to put up with... SERIOUS QUALITY CONTROL ISSUES HERE GUYS.. very sorry to hear about the 5th engine... my advice... stop smoking... don't stress... get a good lawyer and get THEM to stress and start smoking. Time to consult a lawyer who has dealt with crap like this... once he has filed against them you can contact all the newspapers local to you and tell them of your story.. I"m sure they will be more than willing to publish it... I've read in several publications over the last 5 years that the profits in the 911's are outrageous and "Porsche is making a killing" - why don't they stand up and fix their product then? how are their quality standards different from BMW if this is the crap they dish out? RMS are more common than you think... I have a buddy who "waited" to get the 2000 because he thought the 99's where buggy... guess what! 2nd motor going in!!! Here in Canada a new 996 costs $130K (tax in)...what's the point... if I want garbage and problems I'll buy a Ferrari!

Jean picked up his car yesterday, which he has not driven in several months due to the prior engine replacements. One of the mechanics we know at our local dealer put it in over the weekend. So far with just a little driving Jean has not noticed the vibration problem that the 3 previous rebuilts had. Hope engine #5 does not leak or the cycle will start all over again.

What the hell is going on??? This is getting ridiculous.......speaking about PAG Engineers. I think a representative from Porsche should certainly step in a calm Porsche owners. Silence has often lead to many corporate downfalls. I am seriously thinking of getting rid of my c2. I have never had any problems but the statistics repesented on this and OTHER forums is just to overwhelming to ignore! If you go to any Porsche site , you will for certain hear about RMS problems and blown engines. Incredible........... Cheers and safe driving.

You have more patience than me Scouser. They would have eaten mine long ago. That's how they learn......take em' all back ! I have said it for 2 years now, I believe this RMS issue is planned just to keep warranty work and slow dealerships busy. There is NO explanation as to why Porsche engineers cannot stop this.

I don't believe that you would find that the percentage of RMS problems experienced by readers of this Board is represntative of Porsche owners world wide. Most people who experience serious problems with their cars are motivated to visit a web site to seek council and to see if their prolem (s) are experienced by others. There's no doubt that the RMS problem on 996s is significant, but I don't think you'll find it as bad as the statistics on this Board would lead you to believe.

Looks like I'll be keeping my 99 given it has gone so many miles without an RMS leak... what's the point of getting a new one if this is what we have to put up with... SERIOUS QUALITY CONTROL ISSUES HERE GUYS.. very sorry to hear about the 5th engine... my advice... stop smoking... don't stress... get a good lawyer and get THEM to stress and start smoking. Time to consult a lawyer who has dealt with crap like this... once he has filed against them you can contact all the newspapers local to you and tell them of your story.. I"m sure they will be more than willing to publish it... I've read in several publications over the last 5 years that the profits in the 911's are outrageous and "Porsche is making a killing" - why don't they stand up and fix their product then? how are their quality standards different from BMW if this is the crap they dish out? RMS are more common than you think... I have a buddy who "waited" to get the 2000 because he thought the 99's where buggy... guess what! 2nd motor going in!!! Here in Canada a new 996 costs $130K (tax in)...what's the point... if I want garbage and problems I'll buy a Ferrari!

You won't believe the outcome. It's quite unbelieveable. My OPC called to say that PUK can't come to a decision so they are building my engine/gearbox/car back up and will hand it back to me on Friday. They have diagnosed and requested a rebuilt engine and new gearbox but PUK can't decide if they will pay for it. Since there is no answer my OPC has no option but to give me the car back as it came into them. (At least I will get another RMS....the 6th RMS in the same engine! I think a call to Guinness Book of records is required) I read 4 things here: 1) There is no way in the world that PUK will agree to replace my engine FOC. At best they will ask for a handsome ammount of cash towards good-will. If my gearbox claim is anything to go by I would say they will ask for 50% of cost. The math is clear enough. 5 RMS replacements = new engine. So if they can't make a decision based on that data then the outcome is obvious: go fish! I told you stateside guys before, PUK have a policy "never" to replace engines for RMS problem cars. Well I think this proves it. 2) I am fairly certain that PAG, the factory have not been involved in this decision. In fact I doubt that PAG are aware of my problems at all. But in the past I have called Germany and spoke to the worldwide service manager. She referred me back to PUK! 3) The idea that PUK take every case by its merit is a load of sh*te. How much merit do they want for Christ's sake! I have total powertrain problems and the engineers have replaced my RMS so many times that they even know the engine # off by heart! 4) I am (and we all are) wasting our time. Porsche simply don't acknowledge the RMS problem. As far as PUK are concerned, if they offer any good will then they think they are doing us a favour. I think its time to come real with this. I will pay for a recon engine and gearbox and then sell the freakin Porsche and count my losses.

Berny get a 996 tt .............. no RMS problems there.

You should try to contact a magazine (one that doesn't advertise Porsches) and publish your story.. I would keep calling germany directly and get a few names of individuals that you can send a "package" to - a package with all your receipts work orders and documented problems and a concise explanation of what has been going on and the relevant timeframes. You should also mention that if this is not resolved this package will arrive at the doorstep of several hi profile auto magazines... at this point the ball is in your court myself.. well.. I'm putting off purchase of a 997 until I am comfortable there are no RMS leaks on those ones either... maybe 3 years down the road vs next summer as I was originally planning... I can understand if there is a problem and they fix it... ONCE. given the frequency of your issue and all the other owners having the same issue there is seriously something wrong here and you don't have to take the grief for it... they should step up to the plate without busting your ***** and show you some support. good luck Peter

Even if I had the money for a TT I would never again buy into Porsche.

That is too bad Berny............but I understand completely.........any thoughts on what you are thinking about next? Perhaps a used M5 or M3.....

Dunno. Undecided. I may go for an RS6 but I just can't decide at the moment.

An RS6 would be sweet............as fast if not faster than your 996.......nice choice, not to mention the ease of upping the power. I think MTM offers a 60 hp chip/flash upgrade for the RS6...........510 hp-Quattro-4-door.....hmmmm

Since when has AUDI had reliable quality... everybody who owns an AUDI has problems ... nothing but problems... get the new M5 instead...

I know alot of Audi owners who love them.........Also JD Power just ranked Audi as the number 1 german luxury manufacturer..........ahead of BMW and MB.

Sorry to read that Porsche did not do the right thing. Better luck with future cars - what ever they may be.