987.1 base Cayman possible IMS or engine problem.
 

Hello, All

I did PPI for a used Cayman and the mechanic found the car has possible IMS or some engine problem.
PPI was done by PCA sponsor shop (shop owner had 20years Porsche Audi dealership technician career)

Here is more information about the car.

2007 (late 2006 build) Cayman base 987.1, 2.7 engine about 100k miles. MT.
Test drive went well, but after the engine warmed up I felt some rattle like sound in the cabin. It only happens after warmed up and throttle on condition. Throttle off makes no rattle. The clutch on or off do not matter (so I think the noise is not related to clutch or transmission at least).

I did PPI with Porsche specialist. They found that the noise is not normal (I did not ask about the noise before PPI, but they just found the same thing after a test drive themselves). The noise was more like knocking under the car. They removed both engine covers to check pully, pump etc. but confirmed that the noise is coming from Engine. Unfortunately, I forgot to record the noise. But it is almost the same with video in this thread (https://rennlist.com/forums/porsche-...ing-noise.html)

They think it is IMS failure start symptom for very early stage, but not sure until open the engine.

Asked over rev report and this is it.
Range 1: 53254
Range 2: 1696
Range 3: 9
Range 4: 0
Range 5: 0
Range 6: 0

I am not sure but feel like the engine rev up is much faster than another 07 Boxster I tested the same day. So maybe LWFW installed (cannot confirm this).
The car has Action cam mount in the cabin, and PCA member's car, so may be used on track (HPDE).

The reason I interested in this year (07~08) base model was that I heard 2.7 do not have bore scoring issue and the IMS failure is rare (I know it is not 0%). But somehow I may found a rare example.

So, I did not purchase the car, but really want to know if anyone had IMS failure with 2006-2008 987. And if it is not IMS issue what is another possibility about this rattle/knocking noise

As it's clearly been tracked lots, I'd be more concerned about damage from oil starvation and aeration. Any deep sump fitted?

Cylinder issues are almost a non-issue with the 2.7. IMS can be an issue, but highly unlikely.

Did they drop the sump and check the filter in the PPI?

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...057d37b7c.jpeg
Thanks for reply,

So, based on the Over rev information and condition of the car, may be it was tracked a lot?
I was also thinking that the noise was maybe rod knock (Starched rod bolts). As I know it has normal sump (picture above).

That means, this car had a lot of track driving around red line without any oiling upgrade...

The car dealer just have changed engine oil (so the car has new oil (0w40) and filter and only about 20 miles driven when I test drove) so I thought oil filter check would be not so effective, so... I did not asked it for ppi. They did not open sump and filter.

I would keep looking.

Thanks for your opinion. I will keep looking for a good condition car.