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If you can update the mileage when changing clusters, can you also change the VIN and operating hours? Maybe not being able to change the VIN is what is supposed to keep it honest.

 

You can't update the mileage via PIWIS after 62miles/100km, but aftermarket companies can. PaloAlto speedo corrected mine. I had to send a copy of my license and proof for them to do it.

The VIN can be updated anytime in the cluster via PIWIS, provided you have the individual programming code from Porsche. I personally updated the VIN in the manual cluster using my PIWIS 2 when I did my transmission swap.

Besides mileage, the only other thing I remember not being able to code out was Tiptronic to manual settings. I kept getting a Tiptronic emergency run error until I put the manual cluster in.

 

The interior of that car is a mess. Further evidence that BAT isn't an auction house and has no regard for veracity of information they're provided with beyond the cursory CYA (if that).

 

Honestly, I feel a LOT more comfortable buying on BaT than the big auctions houses. I've seen a LOT, and I mean a LOT, left out of high-end auction descriptions that create a false impression that is hugely important to the valuation of the car. Did I mention a LOT? While BaT listings may not be perfect, the banter between seller/buyer/observer helps sort out a lot. The BaT banter isn't perfect either -- many times the comments are wrong, but at least they get sorted out through a discussion. I would never buy from a high-end auction without being there in person to inspect the car, but I'd feel comfortable doing that on BaT (mostly because of the "banter" advantage).

 

The BaT commentariat has found the donor car for the DME so now I suppose it's just a matter of time for the seller to 'splain themselves. I agree the car looks like it has far more miles than the DME report. Sad such a low mile car got totaled in 2016.

 

It used to be that cars, EVEN AFTER EXCHANGE, were less expensive in the US and much greater selection. In going through this thread, I am surprised that my american cousins are not coming up to Canada to buy 996's.

Here is what appears to be a well sorted example (BTW, I don't know this car, just reading the ad).

2003 Porsche 996 coupe - Millbrook (autotrader.ca)

This car has been for sale for 6 months. 90 minutes outside of Toronto. That is $23000 US$ 100000 miles on that car

I see lots more examples like this....

 

996 Arbitrage

 

That is what I was wondering too about the BaT C4S. How that Tiptronic DME will behave in a manual car?

 

Seems like a less than ideal situation for bidders and the seller. The seller posted that he didn't know about DME/VIN issue, which was my guess from the start because it wouldn't have made any sense for him to include it in the listing if he knew there were issues. In a perfect world, it would be best to kill the auction, take the time to research to figure out the full story, and then relist it with the corrected information, but that's probably impossible (don't know BaT rules).

 

I'm confused. Is it a cluster replacement or a ECU replacement that changes all the stuff? Where is the mileage maintained? I was under the impression that the mileage on this car is in question due to the other mismatches on the DME report.

 

If so many questions are asked and unanswered without factual knowledge, they should pull it from BAT, and selling as a whole, if they're an honest seller. Get facts straight, then do a re-listing so buyers can have a little confidence.

Reminds me of the red Targa from BAT. Stood plenty pretty, but had many overlooked paperwork concerns. Look how that ended up.

 

My understanding was that the DME report info was stored in the cluster. The physical ECU is in the back by the engine. Another understanding is that the physical ECU can be changed without changing the report out.

 

Excuse me if I'm asking in the wrong price BUT I'm about to buy a 50k mile 2005 Slate Grey (over full leather) C4S for $49.75k. How does this sound in this market? Lovingly cared for.

 

More details please, options, etc. Manual or Tip? Service records/history.