996 maintenance and repair - difficult?

Hi guys, Like many older 911 owners, I'm tempted by the prices 996s are selling for currently. I've been eyeing up 99 and 00 cars, I quite like them, but I've read posts about how difficult they are to work on. Is this true? While the early 911s are simple cars to work on without all the electrics and accessories (no ac, no coolant system, etc.), I've worked on my own and helped out buddies with modern cars and find them easily accessible. Some things I actually prefer about them, such as being able to plug a laptop into a diagnosis port and having the car self-diagnose. Is there anything different about a 996 that makes it more difficult for the home mechanic then any other modern car? Thanks!

I quite enjoy working on my 996... A

Like all Porsches they have their +'s and -"s to work on. Overall though I like working on my 996 much better than some of the other Porsches I've worked on in the past (esp. 928's).

+1 maintenance is easier on my 996 than it was on my 911....or about the same. It's a car, left typically loosens the fastener, right will tighten it back up. Don't over-complicate things.

Good to hear, thanks guys. I figured it was still just a car, like any other modern car...some things are easier, some a bit more complex, but still do-able. Look forward to getting into one.

I have commented to a few people that the 996 has obviously been designed with ease of assembly in mind. The upside of this to the home mechanic is that service is equally easy. I have done several jobs on mine and find it extremely easy to work on. You may find several areas that aren't well documented yet but the knowledge is improving all the time as more and more people do different things and slowly fill in the blanks. My advice? Get one and contribute a few write-ups. I'm sure you'd be impressed.

I've done just about all of the maintenace on my 996 over the three years I've owned it. Oil changes are stupid-easy, and brake jobs - including changing rotors - are even easier. I WISH my '84 Carrera were as easy to work on as my 996. Really.

One really hard and PITA to do in a 996 is to change injectors in cyl 4-6. Everything else is easy.

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Those spark plugs get quite interesting too. Fortunately they are supposed to be 70k mile service items so you probaly won't be doing them very often.

Komenda Fan, I jope you don't mind I add several more similar questions. I have heard clutch need to be replaced every 30k miles or so. Engine will be gone at close to 100k miles if lucky. Is this true guys? I am not a 996 owner yet but thinking of getting either 99 or 2000 to replace my 87-89. The reason is I want to spend less time working on a car. What holds me back is if I can DIY, and if the maintenance/repair rate is lower compare to 87-89 911. Thanks in advance.

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I don't think what you heard was true, but it depends how you (ab)use it. Properly looked after the 996 won't be any worse than any other car. Now, about replacing an 87-89 with a 996. I bought my '87 from a very nice gentleman who was replacing it with a 996. Last time I spoke to him he still had the 996 but had to go out and buy another '87-'89 car because he missed it so much. I learned from his mistake and when I bought my 996 I kept my '87. I think you'll find these aren't isolated cases. 'Nuf said.

Thanks Aerkuld, I heard this all the time but can't imagine I am having both porsches just for myself. Can't afford that luxury now, not sure about future. Let me ask you this simple question. Considering all factors (comfort, performance, economy, daily, maintenant/repair bills, etc). If you can only keep one, no other choice, which one would you keep?

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That's a tough question and I know I am spoiled having the 996 as a daily driver and the '87 as a 'bit on the side'. To be perfectly frank, if forced to make a decision I'd get rid of the 996 and keep the '87. My justification for this would be that I love my '87 and put a lot of effort into finding it. I think I'd have a hard time finding one in as nice condition with everything I like for the money. The 996's are everywhere and it would be easy to pick another one up in the future. That said I'd have to replace the 996 with another daily driver but it doesn't have to be anything expensive. I was driving a 944 for about two years before getting the 996 and I wouldn't complain too much if I had to go back to that. That's just my opinion though. If you want a 996 then go for it.

Me personally - I'll keep my 996. That has a lot to do with the stage of my life though. Right now I need a good looking, fast at the track, easy to work on car because I'm busy with kids, career etc. When I'm older and have more time to work on my car and don't feel the need to be the fastest guy at the track/autoX then I'll go back to a 911. From where I sit the 911 is a cool vintage car. The 996 is a car for the present.

jasper, are you saying it's easier to work on 996 than 911? Do you mean simple stuff like oil, tranny fluid, brake, etc or include some lower level such as alternator, starter, electrical, suspension, etc?

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Oil changes are easier, brakes are easier, alternator...not sure, the 911 is particularly easy, tranny fluid - same, suspension - same. Engine drop - same or easier. Plugs look easy - although I hear #4 and #6 may be a bit of a bear, but at least you can see what you're doing rather than going at them blind like in the 911. I haven't done a starter motor...shouldn't have to because the car is pretty new you know. I'm doing the suspension soon. Not anticipating any problems..should be a straightforward remove the old springs and shocks and install the new coilovers. It looks like I can get the rear sway bar without even jacking the car up. When I did the 911 front suspension it had to come apart completely. The 996 has been a breeze to work on for me so far. OK the coolant expansion tank was a tight fit, but it got done in 2 hours. I haven't needed any engine diagnostic yet but if and when I do I'll simply pug it in and the computer figures out what the problem is. Bottom line is that ease of maintenance is *NO* reason to avoid a 996.

according to this, it seem like "easier" compare to the old 911. Thanks Jasper.

I agree with Jasper. Also, don't believe the stories you might hear about engine only lasting 100K miles. Mine has 88K on it now and still seems as strong today as it was the day I bought it three years ago when it had only 39K miles. It doesn't smoke at all. It's smooth as a turbine, it doesn't have any strange noises, etc. It should last at least another 88K miles, in my opinion, based on the way it runs now. Also, if you take a peek into the Rennlist 996 forum, you'll find plenty of guys there with 996's with well over 100K miles. WELL over. My clutch has never been replaced, btw (remember, it has 88K miles). Best of luck to you.

Scott, you clutch never been replaced? Oh mine. A reputable mechanic, I got from this site, told me 996 clutch need to be replaced 30k-40k miles. The first thought through my mind was "too high maintenance". Thanks all for these info.

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That's what you get for asking an air cooled guy for advice on liquid cooled cars. I learned a little lesson in my line of work "believe none of what you hear and only half of what you see". All kidding aside, I see the tide turning in my region. Where the people and cars turning out for club events in the past were once overwhelmingly air coolded (myself included), we're now seeing a majority of liquid cooled cars. Probably a good time to remind everyone that when the 911 was introduced it was dismissed by the 356 guys as not being a real Porsche. I've put 3000 miles on my 996 in the first month I've owned it. It's been a very good month.

996 is stupid easy to work on. Far more "service friendly" than my air-cooled 911. I just did the 996 60k maintenance myself, and was shocked at how simple it all was.