mrjonger

LA Dismantler is asking ~40 - 60% of brand new parts (if you pay in cash). But I'd be replacing parts that are 14 years old with parts that are 12 to 17 years old depending on the year of the donor. How much incremental life can you expect out of these used parts?

If a brand new part lasted 14 years, I think you can reasonably expect a new OEM part to last that long going forward. If you get a used part and it lasts 2 or 3 years every time, you're in the red after that 2nd or 3rd time.

Obviously, some bits are fine (trim pieces, body panels, lights, etc). I'm talking mechanical, electrical bits, or load bearing parts. If the brand new part is cheap enough, who cares about the %'s. But what if it's something like a rear window regulator for a cab? $450 used (cash) vs $800 new (after tax and shipping)?

kromdom

Specifically for a window regulator, I opted to go with brand new, OEM (too many cases of cheapo ebay units crapping out right away). For all other parts, best answer I can give is....IT DEPENDS. For example, I recently went with a reman Bosch alternator (vs new/OEM) primarily due difference in $$$

5CHN3LL

For parts that are know to go bad over time - like window regulators - I'd vote "no."

In addition to the chance that you'll be doing it again soon, there's also the perceived problem with "used" parts if you ever decide to sell your car. If you state that the window regulator was replaced, the buyer will assume "new;" if you state that it was replaced with a used part, buyer may wonder what other repairs were done on the cheap.

There are many examples of desirable used parts - like the Dana 44. A Corvette buyer is never going to complain about the previous owner replacing the D38 with a used D44. I don't know if there are any 996/M96 parts that fall under this heading.

gnat

I've seen used IMSBs for sale. I see nothing wrong with that...



It depends is probably the best answer.

Ck986

I only use new parts on my 996tt. I buy new parts on eBay when I see them going for good prices. I have found some great deals and usually pick up porsche parts in their respective packaging for 10-50% of online porsche discounter pricing.

WalterRohrl

One word of caution (in general) - there is nothing about Porsche packaging that is particularly difficult to replicate or forge. Sure, not for a one-off but for a run of several hundred with the kind of profits that can be generated over the course of a year's sales in various marketplaces it can happen. Especially in cases where the Porsche part is exactly the same as the supplier part for instance with the box being the only difference.

OKB

its a gamble, I have used motors myself. I get lot of complaints with LAD I like Oaklahoma Foreign

mrjonger

Thanks for the input everyone.

I tire of the running costs and constant tinkering, but I honestly don't know what I'd replace this car with. There's nothing quite like it. I'm thinking about long term ownership costs.

For your second point, Porsche seats with the crest. Seriously, what's up with this?

Thanks for the source!

Ck986

I can see replicating parts for mass produced cars, but not for a 996tt. I always check for the part stamps and so far so good. Maf sensors are a different story. Beware of these.

johnireland

I'm taking a gamble with a 60k ZF Tiptronic from LAD. I will post how well it goes.

jaetee

I have no problem with some used parts, especially when the new OEM part is WAY overpriced or when looking to swap out a rare failure item. When you buy used parts, you never really know for sure how old they are... Whats to say the PO of tha MY 2000 donor car didn't have had that part replaced in 2014? At this stage in the game, the more time that passes, the more chance there is that used part could have been a replacement. (I'm obviously an optimist! LOL)

My car needed two rear window regulators when I bought it, along with many other things... Costs add up quickly and with the going rate for new window regulators at just under $700 a pop, I felt the need to find a cheaper alternative. Since I speak German, I decided to go check out German ebay. I found a reputable seller with a phone number posted and called them up and made a deal and did the transaction via paypal invoice. The tough part was waiting three weeks for them to arrive, but the car was at the shop for a large part of that time anyway, so that was really a non issue. My all-in cost was just under $530. Worth the wait IMHO.

Its been my experience with window regulators that most failures tend to originate from aged lubricants, so I applied some white lithium grease in the areas where it made sense prior to installation. My "new" ones are silent and smooth and working perfectly. Even though I have high confidence they will last a good bit I am sending my mangled regulators to a company here in Central Florida who does nothing but refurbish window regulators. I'll either keep them as spares or sell them. Wish I'd known about that company before I bought the ones from overseas...

mharrison

Care to share the name of this company? It sounds like it could be a great resource for members.

jaetee

I goofed, they are in Texas, not Florida.... Charge is $150 to rebuild a rear window reg for a 996.

http://www.windowregulatorrebuild.com/

Call Ismael at 214-556-2604

mrjonger

Nice...lifetime warranty, wow. Thank you!

Chiamac

Agree, those rear ones are expensive new!

And agree with your second point.