12 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHAdvice on a 2002 911 Carrera Convertible
Leading reported evidence
Replace claims brake pads
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
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Claims brake pads were replaced less than 6,000 miles ago and has the parts for proof.
Leading evidence: 'Replace claims brake pads' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Clean garage floors freaked out over it' (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 performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Can't do major engine work but have replaced water pumps, AC compressor (had to take it in for charging), alternators, spark plugs but nothing overly complicated.
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
The doctors who originally paid $80,000+ these cars and had them drip oil on their surgically clean garage floors freaked out over it.
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
Change the IMS Bearing next time you change the clutch.
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.
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Suggestion
Change the IMS Bearing next time you change the clutch.
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 · Original poster
Can't do major engine work but have replaced water pumps, AC compressor (had to take it in for charging), alternators, spark plugs but nothing overly complicated.
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
While the problem could be with sensors, which are not that much money to replace, it could be with the converters, which can be much more expensive to replace, or the problem could be even deeper in the engine like perhaps the Variorum solenoid/actuator which can run several thousand dollars to replace.
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.
12 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: 20261027T084359Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
I'm talking to a private seller for a 2002 911 Convertible with no service records. He's the third owner and has owned for a little more than a year and half. He's added about 6,000 miles and asking $15,000 for the car.
Here are the things I know about the car:
Rims are 21 inches and one is cracked, will need new rims and tires
Has an aftermarket fixed wing in the back. The mechanicals for the original wing are no longer in his possession.
Convertible top fluid tank has a leak, has to fill it up every 3-4 months.
Claims brake pads were replaced less than 6,000 miles ago and has the parts for proof.
No IMS or RMS replacement
Car is a 6 speed manual
No service history on the car.
The body has had touchups and some paint work, especially when they added the new wing
The VIN
WP0CA29912S651443
Have not pulled a Carfax or Autocheck and looking to see if any has access to the services.
It's located about 100 miles outside of Houston but with the cracked rim and the different size spare, I may not be able to drive it too far to get a good PPI.
The key question is whether it's worth a risk.
Any guidance and advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
CP
Wow, where do I start. 21" rims, seriously? No records are a huge waring to me. Lots of potentially expensive fixes unless you are a capable wrench. I'd personally pass as there are plenty of better 996 candidates for sale. GL
I'm an OK wrench on basic items as long as I can get to it. Can't do major engine work but have replaced water pumps, AC compressor (had to take it in for charging), alternators, spark plugs but nothing overly complicated. Don't know how to do brakes or suspensions work.
I think new (to me) rims and tires will set me back about $1,500. The rest is unknown.
Hydraulic leak on the cab will probably be $2000 - $3000; Michael Angelo's in galleria area can help with that.
Rim & tires sounds about right.
Car looks pretty sharp. Price sounds reasonable.
Get a PPI done to see what they can find out.
Good luck. Maybe we'll see you at a LoneStar get together.
As said in another thread, $15,000, 13 year old cars with 80,000 miles are not going to be perfect. They are going to have some issues.
Tires & wheels: get some 18" wheels. You definitely can find a decent used set of tires and wheels for $1,500, and maybe even a little cheaper. You might be able to sell the 21" wheels for few hundred dollars, so no big deal there - net cost may be under $1,000.
Paint: If you're gonna drive it (which you should), get over the fact that it's had some paintwork or touch ups.
IMSB: If you can't get a local PPI, then take it to a garage that will change the oil for you. But, just have them pull the filter out and let you look the oil filter over before they drain the rest of the oil. If the oil filter looks good (cut it open and look for only minimal shiny flakes in it) then go ahead and change the rest of the oil. Change the IMS Bearing next time you change the clutch.
RMS: Is this even a concern to anyone anymore? The doctors who originally paid $80,000+ these cars and had them drip oil on their surgically clean garage floors freaked out over it. No one else should.
No Service History: Set a good baseline by changing all of the fluids. Fix other stuff when it breaks.
Thank you all for the great advice. The current owner mentioned the CEL comes on due to a possible O2 sensor. Not sure what to make of it.
Babylonboots - would love to meet the LoneStar group. Do you have any contacts in the Beaumont area for a PPI?
It would be nice to know the error code(s). While the problem could be with sensors, which are not that much money to replace, it could be with the converters, which can be much more expensive to replace, or the problem could be even deeper in the engine like perhaps the Variorum solenoid/actuator which can run several thousand dollars to replace.
I'm not sure, it would really depend on the condition of the car and the price. All things told, if the rest of the car is sound, it could be a really good deal, or try to talk them down another few thousand and it could be a even better deal...
Also on the bright side you would get a non-oem 911 that, when sorted, would be a great canidate to put a lot of miles on and not have to worry about keeping it in a prestine condition - there is something to be said about that.
No records aren't a big deal for me. These cars are getting old and some are being passed through multiple owners and dealers. Mine, which turned out to be a pretty well sorted cab started it's life around the east coast NJ area, went down to FL for a few years, then up here to MN. Has around 6-8 owners listed on carfax. No big deal, no major issues with it, and it's a great car.
