AnthonyGS

I’d have to disagree Bill. Boxman is the typical engineer that wears a t-shirt saying he knows everything and is always right. That may also be his best quality. Boxman go buy the winning lotto ticket while you know it all and buy a Mezger engine GT2 so we no longer have to be inundated with your ill informed rants.

This is the exact reason I feel bad for anyone working on and making M96/97 products for a living. You spend entirely too much time and effort on nonsense like this. No profit margin is worth this.

pdxmotorhead

I'm not an engineer,, I don't even play one on TV,, But from literally hundreds of broken race
engines I've worked on,, all different marques,, its amazing where shrapnel can end up..

I've found valve heads in the valve cover after a really big let-go.. NO idea how they got there..
they only have one path and they barely fit.. But when a sprint engine lets go at 10.5 K Rpm, it gets real.

Same with the metal from various failed bearings,, The passage right after the oil filter should
always be clean,, but lunch the mains at rpm and you'll find king size glitter .. <shrug>

sgt1372

Note: This msg is also cross-posted in the "Craigslist finds" thread.

I just purchased a 2000 C4 Cabriolet w/90 miles on from a dealer it for only $15k just a few days ago. Found it on Craigslist. It's the cheapest 996 that I've seen in comparable condition in 5 years of looking. I bought it on the spot after a brief test drive. Clear title and clean vin search.

NADA values the car at between $18-20k in my area. The lower than book price was a "red flag" but (as far as I can tell) it is in excellent condition both cosmetically and mechanically. According to the records, the clutch and IMS were replaced in Nov 2016. I will cut it loose quick if it starts to develop problems before it becomes a money pit. I really hope that doesn't happen because I took it on a 100 mile drive yesterday and just loved driving it.

The C4 is the 6th car in my garage.

On the sports car side, I also have a 2008 BMW 335i (which I bought 5 years ago) that people are wary of because of reported turbo/wastegate problems, just as people are wary of the 996 because of the reported IMS problems. Both cars are undervalued as a result. However, I have never had any mechanical problems w/my 335i and the only $ I've put into it (apart from ordinary service) was for cosmetic and mechanical mods that I wanted to spend $ on in order to make it look better to me and go faster. In addition to the 335i, I also have a 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder that has never caused me any problems whatsoever in the 15 years that I've owned it. The only $ that I've spent on it has been for oil/filter changes, a couple of batteries and a few misc parts.

The other cars in my garage include a 2017 Chevy Bolt EV, a 2012 MB ML350 SUV and a 2002 Ford F250 4x4 Longbed 7.3L Turbo Diesel. No significant problems w/any of these cars either.

Here's hoping that my ownership experience w/the C4 is the same as it has been w/all of the other cars.

808Bill

I was trying to be polite.

AnthonyGS

You are pretty polite Bill. Hope your car is running well. I haven’t heard or read much since your AoS problems. Work is insane right now.

Andy Ericksen

My new used engine arrived today from Pride Auto Wrecking in California. The donor car had 50k miles on the odometer. Here are some photos of the engine.











It's an AT (Austausch), so not the original engine. That means the engine has less miles than the car, but I don't think there's a way to know how many miles.

It does have the larger IMS Flange nut.




The flange is really greasy, I hope it's not leaking... Could the grease be from a RMS leak?




I'll pull the flange off and check/remove the outer grease seal from the bearing this weekend.

I'm also planning on bore scoping the cylinders.

If everything checks out, I'm going to:

• replace the spark plugs and coil packs
• replace the fuel injectors
• replace the AOS
• replace the water pump
• replace the thermostat with a 160°
• replace the serpentine belt
• new MAF sensor

Is there anything else that would be good to replace while the engine is out?

808Bill

I'd say yes. Also recommended to change those 3 inside case bolts.
Flywheel still good?

AnthonyGS

You have a nice trail from the RMS to pile of goop. Is the block leaking at that bolt?

I’d consider the IMS solution if the engine checks out. It’s easy now.

Andy Ericksen

808Bill, is your 'yes' in response to my question if the grease is from a RMS leak?

I have 2 good flywheels, 2 good pressure plates, and 2 good clutch disks, I'll use the set that has the least wear.

Andy Ericksen

It looks like the trail starts at the RMS itself, I may replace the case bolts anyway per 808Bill's suggestion.

I suspect (due to the larger flange nut) that this IMS is the M97 variety with the larger bearing that is not field replaceable. If it's the M96 variety I'll definitely replace the IMSB with an IMSS.

808Bill

Correct.
Just pull the grease seal on the bearing and call it a day. I have the same AT# with big bearing.
May I ask what the motor cost from these guys?
Do you have a Durametric?

AnthonyGS

Congrats on the larger more robust IMS bearing. I hope everything else checks out too.

Jason Mcclure

Do you still have the car? I am in need of a 2002-2004 C2 that has a clean title but bad engine. Let me know
thanks
jason

808Bill

Start a new thread. There's a couple out there and I've seen a few on the Face Book marketplace.

Bash Hat

What was the end result of this motor going in the car?

Oh, and good to know M96/7 owners are not alone...