engine/transmission failures - action time

I own a 1999 C2 996 Manual (3.4 engine) which was originally bought from an Official Porsche Centre in the UK and all services have been carried out by OPCs since. It has had an engine and transmission replaced already due to internal component failures. It has had the usual leaking RMS problems. Recently the car went in for its annual service. The car was fine when it left me and but after the service had been carried out and during the final road test I was told that it developed a major engine problem which has subsequently been diagnosed as a big end bearing failure which requires another engine replacement. The car is now out of warranty and I have been informed by PCGB that because of this and the age and mileage of the car, they will not cover the costs. They have offered to make a contribution, but I'm still facing a very big bill. There is plenty of information around on forums about the RMS oil leaks and engine failures due to liners cracking and bearings breaking up in 996s and Boxsters. Transmissions also seem to be a problem. Some owners have received 'goodwill' FOC replacements and others have been left to pick up the bill. Is this just a case of who shouts loudest or complains the most gets the goodwill and rest are left to find more money to pour into a car which has already depreciated more than any almost any other Porsche model in history? I do not want to be a cause of further depreciation but isn't it about time something was done about this situation? If the number of failures occurring is a small percentage then it would be in Porsche's interest to simply replace them FOC and keep their customers happy. If it is such a big issue that they don't want to spend the money doing this, we all should be made aware. A few people in the past have tried to gather information, set up websites etc. to bring this out into the open but don't seem to have got very far. I would like to do something not just to sort out my own situation but also to help all 996 and Boxster owners, past and present, receive fair treatment from Porsche. To start with I'd like to hear your stories, good and bad. So if you've suffered an engine or transmission failure with your 996 or Boxster, please let me know the VIN/chassis number, year, model and mileage when it happened, description of fault/failure and what the result was (warranty replacement, goodwill replacement, contribution or no help given). Please post here or e-mail me privately: [email removed] All personal information will be treated in the strictest confidence. No names or e-mail addresses will be released to anyone without the consent of the contributor. Please feel free to copy or e-mail this post to anyone you know who has had engine or transmission failures and help get the truth out in the open.

I can only recount good experiences. - 1998 3.4 996 - no problems - nice car - 2002 3.6 996 - one RMS under warranty, otherwise no problems - terrific car

1998 C2 Cabriolet: engine failure in 2002 after 44,000 miles. Cranked crank casing. Porsche engineers in Germany, at Porsche GB and at the OPC said they had only ever seen two previous cases between them and no-one could give us any idea of the cause. After much argument over liability, OPC agreed to waive the £5,000 labour charge, leaving us with the cost of the new engine at £3,900 plus VAT, which technically is a goodwill replacement but was done with very little goodwill! 2002 C2 Cabriolet: no problems apart from a battery which drains flat if not used for 4 days. Lovely car.

They will reluctantly admit that liner and intermediate shaft failues occur, but the stock answer for any other failure is "we've never seen that before". The fact is that there are design-related issues with the early 996/Boxster engine. If you speak to an independant who knows their stuff and has worked on the engines (unlike OPCs) then you'll find out just why these failures happen.

May2003 - MY03 Boxster S 4 RMS replacements in under 20K miles and within the 2 yrs warranty period. One only lasted 4 weeks!!!! 1st replaced @ 7K miles, 2nd @ 12K, 3rd @ 13K. 4th @ 18K......according to the OPC, "we will just keep replacing them under warranty".

RE message on engine replacement.Am now in contact with Germany as Porsche GB being absolutely awful.No doubt this next question will cause some amusemnet but exactly what is OPC?

O nly P arsimonious C ontempt

O utrageous P rices C harged [ ][ ][ ]

All could be true[ ] but it's Official Porsche Centre really. i.e all the AFNs and other independant dealers who now have 'Porsche' on their frontage. Expect an update from me shortly on my situation and a couple of other stories which will make very interesting reading.[ ] All I can say is don't take the first offer and wait to hear what I've found out before paying any money for a replacement engine or transmission...

Definately don't take the first offer.....[ ] Porsche made $1billion profit in the last fiscal year and you guys all contributed to that. Although Higgy's case (above) is slightly different, it has happened before to someone else and they agreed to knock off £6k out of goodwill. Investing £100 in a solicitor's letter to Julian Hardy at Reading Official Porsche Centre and HQ referring Higgy's case maybe money well spent.[8|] Don't give up. As a last resort, i know someone who successfully claimed for a replacement porsche engine on his insurance after driving over a hump-back bridge too fast[ ][&:][ ] Richard, (Higgy) thanks for your input on this[ ] Simon 996 C4

O bfuscating P ost-sale C are [&:][&:][&:][&:]

If this happens to me I'll be looking at the cost to repair plus the cost of the divorce!! it took me 6 months to convince my wife what a sensible choice a 996 was, I can hear her reciting my words now "what with the low depreciation and the fantastic reliability........" Oh dear, Ant.[&:]

Does that mean you are half in the bad books already with the depreciation?

best thing to do Ant is convert your 996 to a 997 and tell her you've bought a new one[ ] We promise not to tell her.[ ]