16 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHLow Mileage 996 4S
Leading reported evidence
Replace ims among other things upon acquiring it
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
Still had a full PPI done including bore scoping, and immediately replaced the IMS among other things upon acquiring it.
Leading evidence: 'Replace ims among other things upon acquiring it' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'car sitting' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check oil level' (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 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
or if the low mileage is due to the car sitting for extended periods without being driven and properly stored.
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
How many new owners didn�t even bother to check oil level for thousands and thousands of miles?
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
And consider replacing the filters, replace the belt, clean the injectors, tires if over 6 years old, etc.
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
And consider replacing the filters, replace the belt, clean the injectors, tires if over 6 years old, etc.
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.
16 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: 20261027T075545Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Would you guys stay away from a 996 4S with around 16,000 miles? I've heard that there could be more concerns with a low mileage vs higher or normal mileage cars.
I wouldn't "stay away from it", but I'd go in with eyes wide open. There are potential problems with low mileage cars, but if you know what to look for and get a invasive PPI you should be able to identify most if not all of them.
The lower the mileage the better, all else equal. Want proof? Look at the premiums paid by winners on BAT for very low miles examples.
A well worded quote I recall from another rennlist user, Phiphe:
"low mileage doesn't make me pee my pants like some of you."
Hah!
OP you must be looking at the one on BAT? I was an original owner of an original imsb 04 c4s cab for 16 yrs, sold it with 50k miles on it this yr. I changed the oil, rebuilt the cab pistons and put an alternator in it in 15 yrs and I drove it hard.
I just bought from a friend my 4th 911, an 01 cab with 11k miles on it with original imsb and have no worries about it, looks and drives like it's new.
Of course like any vehicle it could fall apart on ur way home but imho these 996's are built like tanks and are extremely reliable.
Bought mine with 23k, with around 34k now 3.5 years later with no issues. If the car has documentation then I don't see any reason not to buy if it fits your budget.
Same story. Bought with 24k in 2014 (�02 C2). No records but cleanest car I�ve ever seen - and local. Now has close to 50. I did replace the imsb but that�s it. Runs great.
I think the main issue with low mileage cars is that people think everything on the car ages at the same rate from mileage, but not necessarily so. People assume that hard parts like bearings and cylinder walls, and brake disks will all be in better shape -- that is almost certainly correct. But other parts age simply from time and exposure -- like rubber parts, plastics, and fluids. So don't be surprised if rubber or plastics hoses fail like it was a higher mileage car. And as usual when you get the car replace all of the fluids -- all of them: oil, trans fluid, brake fluid, coolant, etc. And consider replacing the filters, replace the belt, clean the injectors, tires if over 6 years old, etc. -- all stuff that can age and degrade without the influence of higher mileage.
Bought my 03 4s with 21,700 in March 2019, will roll over 50,000 miles as soon as the snow stops here, most likely by next week. Routine maintenance since acquisition: window regulator (2x), motor mounts, starter, water pump, horn.
A risk of there being "more" issues with a low mileage car is generally if the prior owner(s) did maintenance by mileage and not time. If the car has 16k miles on it and the oil was still changed every 5-7k miles which translates to once every 5+ years, etc. that could be a problem. If the low mileage is accumulated by a lot of short drives that could also be problematic due to the car not warming up fully, fuel not burning off in the oil, etc. or if the low mileage is due to the car sitting for extended periods without being driven and properly stored.
The other question is if the premium for a low mileage car is worth it - as stated above, there are many things that will still wear with age and not mileage, but that's a value question versus low mileage being good or bad. All other things equal low mileage should be better so long as the car was maintained well.
For what it's worth I recently acquired a 2002 C4S with 35k miles, and had a service history with annual oil changes and other routine maintenance that was more time based than mileage based. Still had a full PPI done including bore scoping, and immediately replaced the IMS among other things upon acquiring it.
I�d stay away from it only because of the guilt factor adding miles. Been there done that. Won�t ever do it again. I don�t think anyone has truly enjoyed that car yet.
Add to that the original manufacturers recommendation of 15k mile oil changes
I personally know of a '99 with around 6500 miles that I know for a fact hasn't had more than 2 oil changes in 20 years... I'm sure there are many more ultra low mile cars out there just like this one... Caveat Emptor
yep. I wonder how many 911�s were ruined because of the 15k oil change recommendation. How many new owners didn�t even bother to check oil level for thousands and thousands of miles?
+1 on this
Assuming it passes inspection, and the price is right, go for it. Address issues as they arise. Get the IMS Solution at some point, and you�ll have a car that should bring top dollar when you decide to sell.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
