First Boxster 3.2 S, first 72 miles where good! - Page 2 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Hi, after some time Researching and looking, I picked up my first boxster yesterday. A lovely all black 2004 3.2 S, with gt3 wheels, with 47k miles. Seemed to be a lovely car, so agreed to buy, set off for the 140 mile journey home, then after just 72 miles of driving at 60-70 on dual carriage way there was an almighty banging and crashing and the car lost drive and we coasted to a halt in the inside lane of the A14. The AA were great in recovering us off the A14 and dropping us at nearest services. Upon inspecting the car, it would appear that the ns drive shaft has come loose at the gearbox flange, and then the Shaft has flailed around, destroying the UJ, but hopefully only scuffing any thing else. AA then recovered us back to my local garage, who kindly opened up at 8.0pm on a sat evening to get the car inside. Now we wait for a detailed inspection to see what damage has been done. Not quite the welcome to Porsche ownership I had hoped for. I'm sure the wife will start talking to me again eventually!

Not the type of introduction to pork you really wanted. Hope you get it sorted out without too much drama.

Has someone changed the driveshaft rubber gaiters and then forgot to tighten the bolts?

Where did you buy it?

ianwayne said: Has someone changed the driveshaft rubber gaiters and then forgot to tighten renew the bolts? EFA Quite common on 944s, they don't like being reused.

ianwayne said: Has someone changed the driveshaft rubber gaiters and then forgot to tighten the bolts? Yes, think that's what's happened. Last owner changed the cv boots about 2000 miles previous.

andymc said: Where did you buy it? Bought privately from Newark-onTrent. So no legal come back, just hoping he's a good guy and helps with the repair cost.

Sometimes s t happens, just smile and get it fixed. I am sure I am not alone in thinking this was going to be MUCH worse! On those terms, chalk it up as a win!

Thought you were going to say the engine had let go! Sounds like you'll be back on the road again soon, luckily.

Well this isn't going to turn out well. The car was inspected properly today, and it's not good. The driveshaft has smashed the gearbox housing in 3 - 4 places. It has also broken off the boss that the exhaust bracket connects to. Plus the exhaust headers have been bent, and the exhaust is now slightly twisted. To repair will require replacement gearbox, driveshaft, possibly exhaust header, tray under gearbox. I will be looking to get a few quote from local Porsche specialists over the next few days. So if anyone can recommend one in the Essex area that would be good..

Neil - YVM said: Well this isn't going to turn out well. The car was inspected properly today, and it's not good. The driveshaft has smashed the gearbox housing in 3 - 4 places. It has also broken off the boss that the exhaust bracket connects to. Plus the exhaust headers have been bent, and the exhaust is now slightly twisted. To repair will require replacement gearbox, driveshaft, possibly exhaust header, tray under gearbox. I will be looking to get a few quote from local Porsche specialists over the next few days. So if anyone can recommend one in the Essex area that would be good.. I am sure that you realise that you are talking some serious costs there. You may want to go down the second hand parts route, maybe even a donor car. Good luck!

Thought there would be additional damage, with the damn shaft flailing around like that. Can personally recommend Autostrasse in Coggeshall if you are in Essex, but it does sound expensive for parts!!

Neil - YVM said: Well this isn't going to turn out well. The car was inspected properly today, and it's not good. The driveshaft has smashed the gearbox housing in 3 - 4 places. It has also broken off the boss that the exhaust bracket connects to. Plus the exhaust headers have been bent, and the exhaust is now slightly twisted. To repair will require replacement gearbox, driveshaft, possibly exhaust header, tray under gearbox. I will be looking to get a few quote from local Porsche specialists over the next few days. So if anyone can recommend one in the Essex area that would be good.. Bloody hell, what incredible bad luck Hope you get it sorted soon

Ok, for me there is a satisfactory conclusion to this, after some frank discussions with the previous owner, he has agreed to take the car back and refund my money in full. And today I have spent the day trailer it back up to him. I'm still disappointed, as I thought I has bought a great car. But for me it's the best possible outcome, yes I'm a few hundred quid out of pocket, but now I can look for something else.

Wow, that is an excellent result and not one you would have bet on. Good on the seller for being decent. Bert

Wow, a result! He did not need to do that!

The seller must be a top man. Better luck next time around.

Indeed the seller did not need to do this from a contract of sale point of view. I know in this respect I didn't have a leg to stand on. There where no threats on my part, just appealed to his better nature. The reason for the failure, was the bolts not being tightened correctly. Therefore his workmanship or lack of caused the problem. I had taken leagal advice, and although there was no recourse via the contract of sale, there was the possibility to pursue a claim for negligence on his part, especially as he repairs helicopters for a living. But it must be said, that after a long discussion going through the options, the seller called me, and offered to take it back. So although a pain for him, he is a top guy, with a good moral compass.

He left the bolts loose and he repairs helicopters for a living! Thats a bit concerning.

mollytherocker said: He left the bolts loose and he repairs helicopters for a living! Thats a bit concerning. Possibly not, they could have been torqued up but they are stretch bolts which should be replaced, not everyone knows that. At the very least they should be Loctited. Very good result though.

tr7v8 said: mollytherocker said: He left the bolts loose and he repairs helicopters for a living! Thats a bit concerning. Possibly not, they could have been torqued up but they are stretch bolts which should be replaced, not everyone knows that. At the very least they should be Loctited. Very good result though. Sorry, are we talking about the 991 GT3?

mollytherocker said: tr7v8 said: mollytherocker said: He left the bolts loose and he repairs helicopters for a living! Thats a bit concerning. Possibly not, they could have been torqued up but they are stretch bolts which should be replaced, not everyone knows that. At the very least they should be Loctited. Very good result though. Sorry, are we talking about the 991 GT3? Quite possibly, similar assembly skills by the look of it

Result Neil. Sorry initial Porsche ownership was a hassle, at least all sorted now. Back to the classifieds

mollytherocker said: He left the bolts loose and he repairs helicopters for a living! Thats a bit concerning. I hope he doesn't maintain the chopper that I fly - where does he work?

I'd be buying the fella a case of wine!! what would the bill have been? £4kish, would an inspection have highlighted this?

andymc said: I'd be buying the fella a case of wine!! what would the bill have been? £4kish, would an inspection have highlighted this? So would I. He as acted with honour and integrity, sadly lacking in our world today. Well done that man!

andymc said: I'd be buying the fella a case of wine!! what would the bill have been? £4kish, would an inspection have highlighted this? From first estimates the bill would have been £3-4k, plus I would have wanted the rms, ims and clutch changed whilst the gearbox was out. The car went through an mot approx 50 miles before I bought it, so unless the bolts where loose, rather than inadiquantly torqued, then I doubt an inspection would have found anything amiss. No inspection or MOT checks that all the nuts are correctly torqued. And yes a 'thank you' has been sent.

Potentially half the value of the car

mollytherocker said: andymc said: I'd be buying the fella a case of wine!! what would the bill have been? £4kish, would an inspection have highlighted this? So would I. He as acted with honour and integrity, sadly lacking in our world today. Well done that man! Indeed. Not a lot of it about these days. Restores a little bit of faith in humanity!