19 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHPurchase of 996 with rebuilt engine
Leading reported evidence
Repair "
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
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 performed work without a confirmed outcome
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.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
My engine was "rebuild/repaired" after IMSB failure and under similar circumstances as described by Macster.
Leading evidence: 'Repair "' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'oil pump' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Clean side of the engine's oil system' (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 performed work without a confirmed outcome
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.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
IMS and RMS were repaired when the engine was rebuilt, but for some reason the clutch was not replaced.
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 performed work without a confirmed outcome
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.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I replaced the AOS, water pump, belt, oil change and am doing the plugs soon.
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 suspect a cause
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.
Suspected cause
The IMSB failed but the owner shut off the engine promptly so there was no collateral damage beyond the IMSB other than one or two damaged chain tensioner guide rails and probably an oil pump.
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
Primarily he verified that there was no bearing debris on the clean side of the engine's oil system.
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
oil pump
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Identified cause
1
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
Discussions that suspect a cause
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.
Suspected cause
The IMSB failed but the owner shut off the engine promptly so there was no collateral damage beyond the IMSB other than one or two damaged chain tensioner guide rails and probably an oil pump.
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.
19 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: 20261026T122219Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
I am in the process of reviewing the possible purchase of a 2001 996 Porsche which has had the engine totally rebuilt due to an engine failure caused by a IMS bearing failure. According to the owner he was sitting at a stop light and his engine died (did not drive car with the IMS failure). IMS and RMS were repaired when the engine was rebuilt, but for some reason the clutch was not replaced. At the time of the failure the car had 30,000 on the OD (2010). The cost of the rebuild was $12,000. The car now has 33,000 on the OD currently and looks like a new car. The engine rebuild was by Boston Sports Car. To Own a Porsche has always been my dream; the selling price is $28,500. Please advise as I want to buy a dream and not a nightmare.
Thank You for any advise you can provide.
I think you mean "the ASKING price is $28,500". That's pretty steep even for that low of miles and a rebuilt engine. Without knowing much about the car, I'd say that the selling price will be much closer to $20,000.
There's TONs of 996 models at that price. I would keep looking for a car that has had all the maintenance done if you want your "signature" model. You have to wonder about the shop or owners judgement in not having the clutch replaced what else could he of skimped/overlooked/took shortcuts on. Remember you are buying the owner. Also think with your head and not with your heart on something like this. It's really easy to get the emotions involved.
Ragtop - also don't forget that the search is half the fun. Alpine's advice is very true. Take your time. Drive lots of different variants of the 996. I looked for 2 years before I bought mine. I originally was looking at only 2002-2004 C4S models. Ended up with a '99 C4 Aero that I love. Mileage is definitely secondary in importance to maintenance history when it comes to how much you'll spend in future maintenance costs. For example, the low mileage car you are looking at now needed a rebuild despite (or maybe because of) its low mileage. But the market will always value (overvalue) low miles when it comes to selling price. Bottom line, don't fear the higher mileage cars just because of the miles - look at condition and maintenance records. It is possible that a higher mileage 996 may require less maintenance on a go forward basis than a low mileage (and especially uber-low-mileage) car. Plus the higher mileage car will almost certainly cost much less to buy. My 2 cents worth.
+1 kc, I bought my 04 C4S Cab with 106,000 on the odo. A lot of the work (RMS/IMS) has been done. I replaced the AOS, water pump, belt, oil change and am doing the plugs soon. Got it for a decent price because of the "high milage". I plan on keeping my car and going to 200- 300,000 miles. So it did not matter much to me, but was more about price and previous maintenance. Cheers
Case in point, my car was probably one of the lowest priced examples at the time with relatively high miles. PO did almost ALL the maintenance that can go wrong with these(AOS, CLUTCH, RMS, Water Pump, Alternator, etc). In the 4 years of ownership, I've only had to change out the coil packs and spark plug tube o-rings(~$250). Put in new spark plugs but didn't need it. This is more than what could be said of some of these owners that bought low mileage and now the time is becoming due to do all those things that usually go. My mod tab though is a different story...
The cars resale is $23K to $24K which is probably what the seller is looking for. It sounds like a great deal if you can talk him down a little. You are looking at a car in new condition with 3000 miles on the engine. Go buy it before it gets away!
I would also check to see if the engine rebuild has a transferable warranty.
KrazyK please explain your statement "you can't just rebuild after a IMSB failure" I am not knowledgeable about the Porsche 996 engine. Need all the help I can get.
Actually, you can rebuild after an IMSB failure. I came upon a 996 engine for a rebuild at Burlingame Porsche.
The IMSB failed but the owner shut off the engine promptly so there was no collateral damage beyond the IMSB other than one or two damaged chain tensioner guide rails and probably an oil pump.
BTW, I took pics of the engine apart and posted them here some time back but I do not know how to point you the pics.
The key, well one key of many keys, to a successful rebuild is to be able to verify the engine is a good rebuild candidate.
The tech went over some of what he had to do to verify the engine met with Porsche's rebuild guidelines. Primarily he verified that there was no bearing debris on the clean side of the engine's oil system.
After decades of dreaming owning a Porsche since I was 7 years old my dream came true I was fortunate to have beginners luck by buying a 996, Cabrio 04 with just 4000 miles
I will keep this car for as long as possible but I came here to the experts to tell me what should I do maintenance, tips, recommendations, anything.
Thank you for helping this newbie!!!!!
If I had spent any time around here before I bought my car I probably wouldn't own a 996 and the dealer where I got my car probably knew that as well as they wouldn't let me walk out that night in spite of my "ridiculously low offer". The minute I mentioned the internet the deal got done! Of course when the smoke cleared I didn't really get the "smokin deal" I thought but I did get a good car overall at a fair price. Do your homework but don't let "paralysis thru analysis" take over. Every day you spend shopping is one less day driving!
That car makes me sad. It looks beautiful but it that car has been sitting for most of it's life. I hope it is good to you when you actually start putting real miles on it.
The engine rebuild was performed by Boston Sports Car. Do not have docs yet. Indy shop (EPE) has documents and will be using them when they do the PPI.
