EXHAUST PROBLEM

I have developed a problem with the offside exhaust on my 1999, 996 C2 Tiptronic. I was told the "baffle" on the exhaust was faulty and the silencer needed repalced at a cost of approx £500. What concerened me though that I had just purchased the car, 5 days earlier and had taken out the extended warranty. The car had covered a genuine 12,000 miles from new. I have been told that the exhaust was not covered under the terms of the warranty and having asked why it would need replaced after 12,000 miles was told by Porsche GB that due to its low mileage it suffered corrosion due to lack of use. Has anyone had a similar problem with their car and had a similar negative response trying to rectify the problem under warranty.

Had exactly the same problem and OPC told me to go away.... ended up at Tech9 and bought a pair of almost new rear boxes from an 18 month old car for £300 and another £120 to fit both. Warranty about as good as a chocolate fire-guard... wait until the knobs drop off the Becker radio or a relay fails. Comprehensive my ar$e as Mr. Royal would say!

Did you buy the car from an OPC? Most OPCs work on fairly wide margins, claiming that they are obliged to prepare their used cars to very high standards. Fair enough. But an exhaust failure after 5 days cannot be acceptable. It may not be covered under the Warranty, but it should be covered under the 'sale of goods' legislation. Whilst negotiating a resolution, see what contribution you might get towards the PSE - IMO the 'must have' opton on a 996.

I had my 36.000 mile 996 have the same problem, my opc told me that they do go after several years i had no come back as i had the car for over 8 months, if you bought it from OPC then they should change it, if you bought it from a trader go back to them as well they should give you some come back on this. I ended up putting on a PSE and have never looked back the sound is great and for the large cost it is worth it, i got a good discount from my OPC as the car is over 5 years old on parts and labour i also got them down on the parts by an extra 10% and labour by and Extra 5% it all adds up. I also think PSE is a major selling point when you want to sell the car. Phil

Oliver has it right.... I had a similar (sort of) issue i.e. purchased a Porsche warranty after buying a car from an independant, paying approx £1k for the priviledge. Two weeks later in for a full service and out comes this list as long as your arm. I let them fall into the trap of advising me that some of the items had 'been like that for some time' . I said that this was unacceptable as I had PAID for the 111 point check and then PAID for the warranty. Most of the faults were minor and should have been obvious. They backed down and paid for the lot.. Go into wherever you bought the car and ask them politely to rectify the exhaust. If they refuse tell them that this is unacceptable under the sale of goods act and that unless they do rectify it then they give you no choice but to pursue action under the sale of goods legislation.

Before I would do anything, I would reject the car under the sale of goods act first. This needs to be done in writing in a short, properly drafted letter. That way I'd know that in whatever subsequent discussions I'd have with the OPC, I'd be negotiating from a position of strength. I suspect that once the car has been rejected, the OPC might become more accomodating, at which point I could choose to entertain whatever proposal they make, so long as I make clear that any discussions I have with them about remedying the situation are without prejudice. Obviously, one can only do all this if one is fully prepared to walk away from the car. I know of someone who rejected two faulty 996 Turbos in succession earlier this year from an OPC. The OPC in question was not exactly happy about the situation, but to their credit, they behaved correctly throughout. I can't guarantee that things would go as smoothly in a situation such as yours, but that is what I would do.

TYPICAL!!!! Whenever there is a thread about something going wrong on a 996.....it happens to me. My BAFFLES have gone now. I told the mechanic at Reading that it's probably them baffles...he was very impressed with my diagnosis and knowledge and agreed. He said he'd get a price...i said they are about £500 fitted. He was even more impressed. Apparently you can still drive the car, but it's a bit throatey. Si 996 C4[:'(]

Simon, For a small consideration, I'll start a thread about a mysterious sudden increase in power that my 996 is exhibiting.

Or what about starting a thread advising that your car's value has appreciated by 25% since last year. That would keep a few folk happy [ ]

Thanks guys...glad you can joke about it.[ ] But i really think this site is jinxed for me. First, Scouser and that RMS issue (Mine starts leaking 2 days later). then the thread about the leaking expansion tank (Mine starts leaking 2 days later) then the Price crash thread (took my 996 in to have it valued 2 days later!!![ ][ ]) then the thread about exhaust baffles............(Mine starts banging 2 days later) Can you lot stop writing about problems with yer cars. Its costing me a fortune. Si[ ]

Oh no....wheel corrosion!!!???[ ] 2 days later

I thought 996's had stainless exhausts? OPC told me that they'd never had to change an exhaust system on a 993 - a concern I had before I bought the car. Same should apply to a 996?

The 996 sounds like a sewing machine on standard exhaust boxes, so for you guys this is a good excuse to upgrade to a nice sports exhaust & double your driving enjoyment. A 996 with sports system at 7,000rpm sounds better than a Ferrari. As the saying goes every cloud has a silver lining!

Hmmmm, school fees or stainless steel exhaust. Let me just check with the wife....... ........ Oooooouch[ ] Guess which one won??[ ]

get yourselves a new set here then for £90 http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/51558.htm

Hi Elliot, Nice to see you on here.[ ] Do they include the Baffles then? Simon

No idea Simon, im a BoxsterS owner remember [ ] just passing on my finds.................. although i thought the 996 had 2 cats and 2 exhaust boxes so id assume unless the cats have rattled to death the boxes contain the baffles, see pics at http://www.design911.co.uk/images/996SYS.jpg

SCHNELL BAFFLES!! Order ze baffles or you vil die[ ]

My baffles knock around every so often but havent got round to replacing them. A cheaper way to a sports exhaust is to get a stock exhaust and get a welder to open them up and take a baffle out. A guy on the forums does this and cost me £120. Sound is Brilliant and power is up! Win Win

Hi Nick, Who is this guy. Does the exhaust sound throatey? Have you got that new engine in yet? Si

Cars, baffles, sports exhausts, man and machine bonding, all VERY educational. It IS important that your sibblings grow up to recognise and appreciate the sound of a 911 at full throttle! On the other hand who ever uses algebra after they leave school?