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YOUR RESEARCHC2 Aero w/ accidents or C4 Viola Mettalic
Leading reported evidence
Check ims bearing at time of clutch install
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Owner of C2 has no proof of IMS being changed as it supposedly happened at an unknown date prior to their taking ownership but they do have a receipt of a clutch and flywheel change and mechanic noted checked IMS bearing at time of clutch install.
Leading evidence: 'Check ims bearing at time of clutch install' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check ims bearing at time of clutch install' (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.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I�ll post more pics including some interior shots once cleaned , detailed and sorted.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
They look much better now but still may eventually switch to OEM black ones.The defroster trim however was completely curled, cracked and unusable so replaced with new one ( OEM black).
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Discussions that contain suggestions
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Suggestion · Original poster
This example is case in point , Auto Check only showed one accident vs two for the black C2, luckily I checked both as Carfax then showed another accident.
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Check ims bearing at time of clutch install
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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
Owner of C2 has no proof of IMS being changed as it supposedly happened at an unknown date prior to their taking ownership but they do have a receipt of a clutch and flywheel change and mechanic noted checked IMS bearing at time of clutch install.
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Suggestion · Original poster
This example is case in point , Auto Check only showed one accident vs two for the black C2, luckily I checked both as Carfax then showed another accident.
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Suggestion
However everyone is fricken hell bent on a clean carfax that it is damaging the value of cars that do not actually have significant damage done to them.
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Suggestion · Original poster
The remainder of the carbon fiber in the interior ( shy of the steering wheel, which I�m trying to source a 3-spoke replacement) I was able to clean , polish , and treated with 303 Aero protectant so hopefully it maintains its current condition w/ proper upkeep.
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Suggestion · Original poster
I�ve spent the bulk of the time it�s been sitting in the garage having the window regulator fixed and trying to clean the, let�s say, �neglected� interior .
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.
61 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.
2 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
After a lot of discussion with the owner of the C2 w/Aero , we were able to come to an agreement that worked for the both of us pricing-wise given the history and current condition of the car.
Read and scoured the forums here for quite some time but finally needed assistance myself as I plan to make my first 996 purchase within the next few days. The search has narrowed to two cars a 99 C2 with Factory Aero, 77k miles or a 99 C4 in Viola Metallic, 92k miles. I have run into some what of a roadblock as far as deciding which to go with. I will highlight the cars pros/cons below. Both cars have had Pre-Purchase Inspection completed. Both cars paint and interior are in very similar condition. Very good paint and body on both with no major dents or dings to either. Condition wise cars are nearly identical. Both have clean titles. My budget for the purchase of a car is roughly $18k as I wont to leave some room for maintenance and upkeep costs.
99 C2 w/ factory Aero kit , Turbo Twist wheels, car is black with black interior , minimal options from the factory but had complete OEM carbon fiber interior trim added at some point in the cars life. Has 77k miles with a reported IMS bearing change, unknown date of completion (no receipts done two owners ago) also has new clutch , ac compressor, all done in 2018, and reportedly had mechanic look at IMS bearing during this time to confirm it was completed previously (have receipts). Autocheck shows one accident to rear (right) in 1999 but a check of Carfax shows two accidents, the 1999 accident and an additional in 2001 also to the rear (left). Owner has little to no knowledge of cause of accidents but stated damage was minimal. Car has been owned in Ohio, NJ, Michigan , and Alabama throughout its life. Car has been inspected and checks out no structural or frame damage . Only glaring fixes are, airbag light is on, window regulator going out for passenger window and a hairline crack on bottom of front bumper. Owner does not have a garage so car has been maintained outdoors (under parking shelter or car covered) for 4 years. Price $14.3k * Car is not local so add $700 for shipping / travel fees
99 C4 with 92k miles in Viola Metallic with grey full leather interior , has several options including heated seats , leather dash,, PCM, Nav, Bose speakers, power spoiler, contrasting purple stitching on interior leather, sport pedals, GT3 wheels, front bumper was changed to a turbo style front bumper at some point , as well as aero side skirts added and a small wing added to rear power spoiler . Car has clean Carfax and Autocheck with no accidents reported , New a/c compressor, alternator, recent oil/filter change. No IMS bearing change reported so seller was willing to discount price of new clutch , IMS bearing and RMS replacement. Car is local to me. $17k.
Would the two accidents on the C2 sway many of you all away or since they appeared minor and were repaired over 19 years ago not too big of deal for the price? While a beautiful color would the Viola Metallic be a tough sell in one or two years or add to its value since its a unique color? As much as I am buying one of these cars for the enjoyment I am also realistic that I typically don't keep cars too long (maybe a year or two at most) before I move on so looking for a purchase that I wouldn't lose too much on the back end or have a very difficult time selling.
Unless one of them checks all the boxes for you, keep shopping. Neither strike me as particularly desirable and the prices seem higher than I'd expect.
My 2 cents, carfax is out of control with what they report because of lawsuits. If you bump another car on a street and the only damage are some scuffs, but the police are called and write and incident carfax now reports that as an "accident". If the accident is reported to the insurance company and a claim is made carfax will put a $ range on the claim in the report. However everyone is fricken hell bent on a clean carfax that it is damaging the value of cars that do not actually have significant damage done to them. Furthermore the new scam is dealers selling a car will provide a carfax to you "free of charge" but it has been doctored to not include certain records. Then when you go to sell the car someone else runs a carfax and it show major damage. What was initially a nice tool to find the history of cars is becoming another tool of fraud and abuse.
If you want to know if it has been in an accident look at it and paint meter it. That is the only real way to tell. Anyone who has ever done any body work can spot it from a mile away. Run your fingers on seams and check for paint lines. Look down the side and look for poor mud work or orange peel that doesn't match the rest of the car. Look underneath and see if there is overspray on any parts that shouldn't have it. Cars with major damage are usually pretty easy to spot. Now I know judging a car that is not local is tough, but send the seller a paint meter (they are cheap on amazon) and have him take pictures of the readings all over the car. Or have him take it to a local body shop for a PPI on the body. My point is don't trust the Carfax 100%. It is a data point, but one that should be used in context of other relevant facts.
That being said both cars seem pretty reasonably priced. The violet car is a unique color, but will need clutch and IMS at some point. Other car will probably need some other maintenance, but it is cheaper at $14K. If you are not in love with either one of them then just walk away from both.
I will agree , while a decent tool , vehicle history reporting companies and applications are definitely not as refined or accurate as most would like. This example is case in point , Auto Check only showed one accident vs two for the black C2, luckily I checked both as Carfax then showed another accident. Even worse, I looked at a Lexus IS350 later part of last year and Carfax showed car had hail damage in its past as its only damage. Checked Autocheck and it stated car was salvaged at some point due to collision with another vehicle and title washed when it was taken to another state some years later. So its seems to be hit or miss sometimes on the accuracy of those type reports though generally they are pretty good.
I like both cars as both have certain aspects that I am looking for in my price range. Knowing I'll likely only hold onto either for a couple years I would prefer which would have the possibility of bringing more interest on the back end. I wouldn't be looking to make a huge profit or anything but when calculating in maintenance costs and upkeep I don't want to price my self into a point where I take a $5-6k hit in the next few years
In a perfect world I would love to have a 03+ C4S or a 996 Turbo but with my current budget those are out of my price range for the forseeable future.
That was my thought as well between the two. Its always hard to judge but even once repaired an accident will never matter as much as it will until you go to sell. I know it would be tough enough with a car with one accident in its past but this car reportedly has two so wonder how that would affect resale down the road.
The car doesn't list the Aerokit or the carbon fiber trim as one if its option codes on the options sticker. Would you all say that takes away from the value of those parts or with them being OEM Porsche pieces and most likely dealer installed options they would still be sought after additions?
i drove the C4 as it is local. Drives solid , no rattles or noises while driving in interior . C2 was driven by my good friend who lives closer to where it is . He�s also the one that took it on for the PPI. Also drove solid , no noticeable defects driving wise
Didn't bother me. And yes, if installed properly. Some, myself included, would find those options desireable. Original owner of my car had Brumos porsche install PSE, oem Aero kit, X51 and full carbon interior. Not on build sticker, but plain as day when you see and touch it. I won't win any concourse competitions, but doesn't bother me.
I like the C4.....but you have to post pictures. The difference between the full leather interior and the plastic interior is very big to me. I skipped everything that I looked at that did not have the full leather interior. and the viola is such an awesome color.
Ran across a 04' C4S today for $22.5k. Car has 103k miles, grey with black interior. Decently optioned car. No IMS bearing change but does have a new clutch and flywheel . Clear accident history. Would be pushing my budget a little more than I wanted but for that car doesn't appear to be that bad of a deal. As mentioned my budget is roughly $18-19k.Would require the car to be shipped though so roughly an additional $1k on top of that price.
At 103k miles without IMS bearing being changed but otherwise well sorted at $22.5k does this appear to be a stellar deal within the current market or similar deal could be found very easily elsewhere?
I have a refundable deposit down currently on the C2 so not too concerned about it being sold too quickly, the C4 has been for sale locally for nearly a month which is largely why I am questioning its ability to be resold in a year or two. I am unsure if its just poor advertising by the seller or is it really little to no interest in the car a its price due to color, condition, mileage etc...
there is nothing like a C4S for sure....just love that rear end....if you don't go for the C4S, you should point others in its direction since it is a great deal. :-)
This is the key! Because there are so many available 996's, I think you may have a very tough time selling the one with the Carfax damage. Many will not even consider a car if it has this:
I was gonna step up for the C2 aero, but I just LOVE that viola paint, and the upgrades on the C4. I don't think you can go wrong with either one. The C2 price leaves some room for you to work off the small issues. The C4 sounds like a driver right out of the box. Also, no shipping, so that tips it to the C4 with the kill-me-now purple paint.
Offer $15.5 for the C4, and agree to whatever he comes back with. 99s don't have that much trouble with the IMS, but when you do the job then you will KNOW it's done right. If you don't buy the C4, publish on here so the rest of us(meaning me) have a shot at it.
Good luck.
I�d check that c4 out closer - the bumper looks like a turbo bumper knockoff (different lights on the carerra mki and turbo, and aftermarket stuff is notoriously crappy), the skirts look aftermarket (more mkii lines, not rounded like mki), and unless it is paint to sample, that looks like it could be a repaint.
The mki carerra 4 carries a bunch of extra weight and the same power as a c2. They drive and handle differently.
At least the C4S has the turbo body, bigger brakes and are usually better optioned. The mki c4 doesn�t appeal to me.
You are correct , during the Inspection they noted the front bumper , side skirts , and wing were aftermarket fiberglass parts . The rest of the paint was noted as original / unpainted .
At the moment leaning towards the C2 w/ Aero largely due to the price and the look obviously as I have been looking for a Aero Kit a car. Thinking if I purchased it , and had it shipped I'm in it for $15k.
If I tack on another $200-$300 for the known issues and another $200-300 for any small or misc issues when I actually get the car in person puts me at nearly $15.5k w/ no documented IMS bearing change.
Hard to judge the market but I'm thinking even w/ the accident history I should be able to squeeze possibly $15k out of it in two years or so when I go to sell but I'm not overly concerned with the monetary aspect in regards to the cars value and more concerned with the accidents swaying a lot of potential buyers away and thus causing a lack of interest to even sale the car without taking a really lowball number.
Hate to be a debbie downer, but I�d recommend not going into it pinching pennies.
Plan on another $5k after the purchase whatever you buy unless you have proof that it is up to date with service, suspension, brakes, tires. Nothing is cheap on these cars.
With any luck you won�t spend it (or all of it), but it is a more realistic point of view.
I�d also recommend against going into it thinking about breaking even later or selling it. You�re probably going to end up spending more than you get out of any non GT 996.
In my opinion, the low end of the market is not the right place to be looking for a car with awesome resale in the future. I think it is unlikely that any $15k car is going to be pristine. I suspect you should be looking at the high end, low mileage, proven accident free examples if that is your concern.
If you go into it thinking this is a hell of a deal on a great sportscar and worth the small price you pay to enjoy it, you�ll get a lot more out of the experience.
Again, in my opinion, not stated as fact.
You are definitely correct in a lot of your statement. Only reason I am estimating that low of a number is because I'm more so talking about up-front expenses vs whole time of ownership. The PPI I had completed gave the car a solid bill of health for the most part with items such as brakes, tires, and suspension components appearing either new or in good shape. Definitely realize these are items that may have to be addressed down the road though as they deteriorate over time.
Ultimately I'm looking for a car I can enjoy, upkeep during the time I own it and when it comes time sell it am able to do so in some what of a timely manner without having to take a huge ($5k-$6k) hit to move it. So not necessarily looking for a car with awesome resale value and more of one that I wont be (for lack for a better word) stuck with if I want to upgrade or try something new later. Granite complications with selling could be with any car, but especially when you are talking a specific niche type vehicle as the used sports car market and even more so the 996 market.
I truly appreciate all you guys incite though as this would be my first 996 purchase and after just having gotten out of the Mazda RX-7 FD world I understand how particular ppl can be who are interested in and potentially looking for a niche type car. Very small details about a car can make or break it in the eyes of some.
For anyone that is interested the C4 is listed on OKC, OK Craigslist.
The C2 I found on Autotrader but the seller removed the ad shortly after I placed a deposit on it. Unsure if they are going to relist it (pending my decision/ other potential buyers)
Just a point....if you are considering the reworked IMS on the C2 a benefit...don't. Since you have no idea when it was done (and they are maintenance items that should be changed again in x miles and y years....as in the LN retrofit bearing), the next buyer would probably want to change it out, even if you don't want to during your ownership. You say you have receipts showing the IMS work but no date or did I read that wrong???
very good points.
When I mentioned �have receipts� was referring to the owner . Owner of C2 has no proof of IMS being changed as it supposedly happened at an unknown date prior to their taking ownership but they do have a receipt of a clutch and flywheel change and mechanic noted checked IMS bearing at time of clutch install.
^^^ Whut he saided. Very well put on all factors. If you go the aero route with ~$15k spent, I suggest at least plan for $3k on maint items. And as for resale, I may be one of the very few that has made money on a 996 sale. Do not plan to get out of it what you put in.
Should still be listed on Craigslist unless seller has taken it down within the last 3hours or so. I�ll check and post the link .
It should be under Oklahoma City
You have nailed it.
I have just finished with all preventive maintenance on the first year of ownership: All fluids (brakes, engine, trans and diff), all filters (cabin, air, oil), ignition (plugs and coils), refrigeration (pump, thermostat, coolant, belt and tensioners), alignment, struts mounts, and some other minor things, and I have expend around 6K
I'd jump on it but it's black. No, not a racist, just can't stand black cars. Funny it doesn't have 220, 222, 224 options. Usually seen with M030 and sport seats.
I opted not to take the plunge on the 99 C2. Overall seemed to be a solid vehicle for the price especially with Factory Aero and Carbon Fiber interior but the two "known" / reported accidents on the car's history is what made me hesitant from the start and didn't sit well with me even after giving it loads of thought. I figured if I was giving it this much thought due to the accidents even at this price then its probably best to keep looking. Definitely a fair share of 996s out there so I'll continue the search.
Found another 99 that peaked my interest . My only question is does the wing appear to be OEM Aero Wing? Maybe its just the carbon fiber wrap going down th middle but it looks slighty different then others I've seen in realtion to the size of the car. The options sticker does state XAA but then it doesn't appear to have an aero front bumper.
https://sanantonio.craigslist.org/ct...817357279.html
Yeah the factory XAA bumper is missing for some reason. It wouldn�t have the XAA code if it wasn�t originally equipped with one. The wing might be factory, but the only way to be sure is to get better pics of the underside of the rear lid. There should be embossing in it that shows it was a PD Turnwald piece. Some say Made in France but not all of them do.
If I�m not mistaken, I believe I�ve read that Porsche stipulates that you should never run the Aerokit wing WITHOUT the front bumper. Vice versa is ok though.
Inquired about this one but seemed to be a day or so late. Seller stated someone already sent money for a PPI to be done on Monday and barring anything they didn't discuss coming up during the inspection sounds to be pretty much sold already. Told seller I was interested though if the sale fell through.
Did a few more checks on this one and AutoCheck shows it was involved in a minor to moderate accident to the front end at some point. May be the story of where the original front aero bumper went. .
That one was really a good deal...
Dont hesitate. Another one will come. My recommendation would be taking your time and buy only that one which trigger your internal switch. If you have doubts... better pass and wait for the correct one.
If these two are your only options, I would take the C2 with the factory aero kit, it even looks like it was an early build which is more desirable, less problems with these.. The C4 looks like a dolphin with that bumper. I dont like neither of those interiors
After a lot of discussion with the owner of the C2 w/Aero , we were able to come to an agreement that worked for the both of us pricing-wise given the history and current condition of the car. Barring anything unforeseen I should have the car in my possession in the next 5-7 days (vehicle is being shipped) and will take a few updated pictures of the car once I get it home.
Thanks to all for the input in regards to my 996 search.
Congrats. Hope it all go well. I would take the purple one, but my wife put me on a Porsche diet. I gotta clear out the inventory before loading up again.
You are so correct. I have a great little car with a rebuilt title due to insurance and an out of production plastic part and some very minor body damage. I saved the car from the scrap heap and fixed it. It�s gorgeous and practically flawless but now all I get is grief about it from anyone interested. I may just give it to my son as his first hobby car.
And to the OP purple C4 or bust. That C2 is easy to duplicate, the purple is stunning and rare and the grey interior is perfect with it.
The C4 was definitely beautiful , but ultimately came down to while I loved the exterior color I preferred a black interior vs the grey . The deal the seller and I of the C2 came to was a deal , even with the history of the car , I couldn�t pass up .
99� C2 finally arrived about a week ago but with the rain and cold weather we�ve had here haven�t had time to wash it none the less truly enjoy it . The two times i have driven it have been great. I�ve spent the bulk of the time it�s been sitting in the garage having the window regulator fixed and trying to clean the, let�s say, �neglected� interior . That Carbon Fiber trim around dash and vent area does not age well at all if not cared for properly so pulling those pieces to get sorted has been a task. I�ll post more pics including some interior shots once cleaned , detailed and sorted.
beautiful car!
just curious - how do you "care" for carbon fiber trim? mine was so poor it was cracked and distorted enough to start curling up from the dash
My interior has/had some similar areas you mentioned . From my understanding many of the carbon fiber interior 996s have this problem over time but the issue can be accelerated or worse if the car is left in hot temps long periods of time , sunshades or form of UV protection not used etc ..
For those areas in my interior that weren�t that bad I was able to remove them, heat to bend back into place , and reglue the corners that had started to peel (a/c vents for example) . They look much better now but still may eventually switch to OEM black ones.The defroster trim however was completely curled, cracked and unusable so replaced with new one ( OEM black). The remainder of the carbon fiber in the interior ( shy of the steering wheel, which I�m trying to source a 3-spoke replacement) I was able to clean , polish , and treated with 303 Aero protectant so hopefully it maintains its current condition w/ proper upkeep.
