Considering purchasing an '03 C4S with 18k miles. How common is failure of the intermediate shaft? I have read that there is a design flaw in the intermediate shaft bolt/bearing. Can that part be replaced thus avoiding any chance of engine failue? Also read that if the motor is based on the GT1 block, it is much less likely to fail. Thanks for any info.

 

Please do a search. You will find days worth of reading and we wont have to re-hash this for the umpteenth time. Welcome to the board

 

You are not kidding. Plenty of info. found when I searched. Some entertaining exchanges! Still have some questions. Sounds like low mileage garage queens are more of a concern. The '03 C4S I want to purchase has 18k miles. I would say it is a garage queen. Also, based on my reasearch, some say there is nothing that can be done to prevent IMS failure but, others say you can be proactive and replace the IMS bearing/bolt with the new and improved one. Which is correct? Is the '03 C4S motor based on the GT1 block which is about twice as expensive to replace? I understand that Porsche ownership comes with a price. I used to own a 928GT which I never should have sold! Thanks again.

 

Preface: All of this is speculation, but consistent speculation, and purely anecdotal as no one has any hard data to support any substantive argument (i.e. no one here would bet their life on it)

I'm not a fan of low mileage M96s. No, the M96 is not based on the GT1 block. Yes, the GT1 block is less susceptible to IMS failures and the like, but it has its own set of failures as well.

Let's do some really complex math here: 18K / 5 yrs = 3,600 miles per year or 300 miles a month seasonality not included (likely to sit through Fall/Winter so quite possibly garaged for months at a time).

I'm also assuming that the original owner(s) were fanatics about properly garaging a car.

I'm not going to say this one's going to blow-up, but based on my non-expert research and 1 year under by belt of actively investing time into the 996 forums, I'd make sure that the car you are interested in has CPO or that you purchase an aftermarket warranty or you're prepared to set aside a ~$13K for a future engine replacement as your own insurance for yourself.

Otherwise, wonderful car, last year I bought an '02 with 29K miles on the clock that received a remanufactured engine at 13K miles. 0 issues to date. Knock on Microsoft keyboard.

 

It's just so hard to tell. Kinda like taking your lottery ticket to the store asking "what are the chances this one is a winner". Hell, who knows.
Like Ben says, I think Porsches were made to be driven. I work in a production facility. If we run the equiptment 24/7, we have a lot less breakdowns. Go down for a week, and start-ups a pain! I think that's true with any motor.

 

Actually, anyone who is mathematically inclined can tell you exactly what your chances of winning are.

Porsche engines, not so much. I'm about to pick up a '99 with 36K miles on the clock and I am TORTURED over the aftermarket warranty thing becuase of the doom and gloom everyone spouts around here.

 

Thanks for the reply. I know the owner and it is driven throughout the year here in ATL. Typically sits for two to three weeks at a time and then is taken out on a nice day. Aftermarket warranty is probably a great idea. The car is immaculate and a joy to drive. Thanks again for the replies and I will post pics if she ends up in my garage.

 

v1vr,
Bring your new C4S to the Peachstate PCA autocross May 4.

 

Have not bought the car just yet. Sorting through some issues and will attend events in the future if I make the purchase. Noone has answered a question that I need answered. If there is a new and improved IMS bearing/bolt that has solved the problem, can an owner be proactive and make the replacement thus reducing the chances of failure? Maybe it is so labor intensive that it is better to roll the dice? Thanks again for the replies!

 

V: the GT1 block is used in the turbo and GT3. Have never heard of any internal issue. Closes thing is RMS leak from time to time. The best source would be to ask your dealer's service department if there is a TSB addressing the issue. Of the few that went in Seattle they just replaced the engine (warranty). Find a car you like and get a CPO then go drive the sh*t our of it. The chance of the problem is very small and the ones that do have it seam to do so early.

 

I think nobody has answered because nobody knows. But that in itself is an answer. You can be sure that if there was a preventative fix that was proven and made any sense, this crew would have heard of it and just about everybody would have done it. I've seen the bandwagon fill up pretty quick for much less interesting mods than that would be...

So I'd proceed as if the answer was no. There might be someone out there doing it, and it might become more economical to open these motors up and mess with them as time goes by and Porsche loses interest in selling replacement motors. But it hasn't happened yet, not credibly enough to get the attention of forums like this.

 

Someone claims to know:
http://www.autofarm.co.uk/pdf/Total911_July06.pdf

 

I wouldn't lose any sleep over it

 

I'm well aware of that article, of course. But I'm not aware of anyone on this board whose had that work done.

 

Thanks again for all the replies. Sounds like one of those chances you just have to take when owning a car that is actually worth owning!