Help Please! Expensive Gearbox Nightmare 996 C4

Hello, I have owned my 996 c 4 for just a few months and I have just been told by JZ Machtech that I need to replace my entire gearbox. I bought the car four months ago and it now has 57k on the clock, i was driving it last sunday and without any noise or fuss it just stopped being able to get 3rd,4th,5th,6th or reverse gears. So i have now only got 1st and 2nd gear and a gear stick that loosely flops around and doesnt positively engage although the car drives fine in first and second gear. I paid 24 k for the car which maxed me out on finance, I am now looking at a huge bill for a new gearbox from porsche at 6 grand or so. I have been advised to get a second opinion although my understanding is that JZM are one of the best ? I just need some advice please, what would you do in this situation ? Thanks

Oh no! JZM certainly are one of the best at actually diagnosing problems and providing you with the options: based on my own experience, they will not recommend a replacement unless a replacement was genuinely needed or repairing the existing unit was uneconomical. An alternative to a new gearbox might be a used (but healthy) one from one of the breakers yards. Douglas Valleys etc. Good luck.

Id try a scrappers too if you have to get one. No comfort to you but youve just made me very glad I got the warranty in December. Nothing at all has gone wrong but for peace of mind alone! Good luck and I hope you get out of it as cheaply as possible.

Sorry to hear about that. Where are you located? JZM are good, yes....will be cheaper than an OPC certainly. JZM might have a reconditioned gearbox in, but if not, you could try Porsce-Apart or Douglas Valley breakers. However, it's worth considering what the difference is between 2nd hand and brand new, because clearly the latter will come with warranty. Certainly worth considering a warranty, either from OPC or from one of the Indy's....just for those big money breaks. Personally, I paid 700 quid for a warranty and I've had a few things go wrong (about 1k worth), all of which weren't covered.

PS If it's already at an OPC, you'll have to pay for the investigation, so factor that + the PCGB might give you some goodwill gesture, depending on when the car was serviced and the age...but I think this is a bit of a long shot, if I'm honest. Did you buy the car privately?

As a fellow victim of "National Break Your Porsche Week" I feel really sorry for you. Ditto what the others say about the breakers - there's a healthy flow of 996s going through them these days. Good luck.

Try this company: http://www.sportsandclassic.com The chap specialises in 996 gearbox rebuilds

Sorry to hear about your troubles. IMO a gearbox rebuild is a better option than getting a gearbox from a breakers as you will have no way of knowing its condition until it is fiited on the car and it may well itself later develop problems. A rebuild - by a reputable company - at least gives you a guarantee in respect of the work/cost. I went through a similar decision making process when a bearing was failing in my 944S2 - ended up going for a rebuild and had a warranty on the gearbox after it was done. Good luck

A nightmare - sorry to hear about this.

Hello, saw this on Ebay as a price guide for you maybe its a Porsche 993 6 SPEED G50 GEARBOX (911) with LSD. for under £2k . Put out a few wanted adverts on the 911 sites you never know. Good luck with every used car there is a risk all cars cost money in the end .You end up paying for your enjoyment . SEE YA

Hi, Whilst I was in a Porsche Independent this morning, dropping off my keys, I overheard the guy speaking to someone who seems to have a very similar gearbox issue as rjcarrera4gt3. I wasn't really listening, but I did hear him mention that gearbox faults are quite unusual and that it might be worth getting a 2nd opinion, before replacing the entire box. I think he was suggesting that it would be better to have a look inside the gearbox, before deciding what to do next (so similar to the advice above). I think he mentioned something like 4.5k for a reconditioned and 6k for a new gearbox + 3 hours labour...but don't quote me on that! Like I said, I really only heard this in passing, so might be worth giving Camtune a call to see what they can do. They're in Godalming and I'd highly recommend them. I've used them for ages, even though I have an OPC warranty (which appears to cover ***** all, although it would have covered this problem admittedly!!!) Cheers, GD