Just sold my 997.1 4s X51, manual 50 000 km. Regret it into the bones and I need to get a replacement. Mandatory and happen all times I sell a car, thank god that has not happened many times Please dont go into why I sold it.
Now, with the gen1 engine its pretty straight forward. At certain km and with the right 3 letter combo You need to do/upgrade/prevent/fix things, its just the way it is. I try to figure out the gen 2 engine. First of all, its sounds lame. But its a better engine. So with the gen2 engine, is it that simple it is so bulletproof that as long as You buy a car well serviced (all the stamps in the book and even with 150 000 km on the ) at a OPC at the right time and intervall You are safe?
(Im a sceptic so I dont buy this) I don´t find any good threads. Now im just talking about the engine, we can leave cluthch, flywheel etc out of thee loop in this thread.

 

The 997.2 DFI engine may have its own inherent issues (search) but it does not have the M96/M97 IMS problems so you can sleep better at night for that.

 

2009 C2S 122K miles

I had two of the gen 1 engines blow in my 2000 Boxster S. The stories are more than legend... anywhoooo.... I wanted the new engine for obvious reasons. I purchased the '09 used with 26K miles... I did not have service records so I took a chance but I did get a PPI from a Porsche speed shop who could dump the computer. The engine has been fabulous but I do have minor issues. I have a tiny tiny leak in the power steering reservoir.... to much trouble to repair... there is a famous hesitation/drop out at around 26K RPM that some have, some don't.... some think it is related to one or a combination of things happening around the same time: Variocam activation, Plenum butterfly, and Plenum Sound valve (in S). Other issue is the various odd ticking noised that come from this engine which, for the most part, have been consistent for the entire time of my ownership (dropout has also been consistent). The engine ticks. Not the big metallic piston slap, but more like an electronic sparking... some say it has something to do with the injectors... there are other ticks that come an go ..... I dunno. One poster said his 2009 was noisy, then he purchased a 2011(?) and the engine was dead silent.

Exhaust is famously anemic, so I put on the Sharkwerks x pipe and am happy. For some, this is not enough. YMMV. Manual transmission is a bit chunky.... just is... gotta change the fluid every 30-40K (manual says 120K miles).

Item like pumps, ignition packs, etc don't seem to fail as much as the prior gen engines.

Other than these here, I have no issues with this engine and it feels great. Given my awful history with the other engine type, I am hyper-sensitive and look for 997.2 blowups and they are very very rare. I think Porsche did a good job with this engine. I feel they had to.

Peace
Bruce in Philly

 

Look at high consumption (>0,5l/100km). My engine had such a consumption and had blow at just 50.000 km. My Carrera S is a 2009, later ones have different piston rings.

 

2010 C4S PDK. Obtained stewardship at 35K 3.5 years ago. Just passed 109K miles.

Oil change every 5K miles. Always 7.5 quarts out and 7.5 quarts back in. Hasn't burned a drop that I can measure.

Changed plugs twice just as a matter of maintenance. Still on the original coils.

Changed the belt once, again per maintenance. The original belt could have gone another 60K miles.

MPG commuting (25 miles each way, 60 to 90 mph) ... 25 to 28. Long cruise nears 30. Spirited driving nets 15 to 20.

No odd noises. Not much else to say, other than engineers with some major skills designed this motor.

 

Not saying it hasn't happened but I don't recall reading about an engine failure of a 997.2 on this forum. If somebody has a link to such a thread I'd love to see it.

 

Thanks for confirming my thoughts. Im actually thinking in getting a car as my daily driver aside from our family cars.. A high km car or a bit faded paint is ok as long as Its healthy in the engine and transmission. i will go for a manual. Its going to have spikes in the winter and a roofbox anyway.

 

Do they even have high mileage/Kilometres Porsche in Sweden?
I was looking at them for a friend and there were none!

 

997.2 engines seem to be solid, while PDK on 997.2 have had issues (mostly electrical) leading to costly repairs. Now, 997.1 post 2007 engines with larger bearings are also pretty reliable, with very very few reports of issues. So, I'd get manual 997.2 or 2007+ 997.1, if you want long-term use.

 

There are a few high km in sweden. But, im thinking i will need to scout all europe as long as it is LHD.

Alexb. I thinking You are spot on. I would add the x51 generation 1, where i know of bore score on a few but they have had bad or No service at all....

 

I think bore scoring is a very serious issue and concern with post 2007 997.1 and no one really has any idea how many scored engine are really out there. I think that bore scoring may ultimately be a bigger issue long term than the IMS ever was on M97. Bore scoring is just a more latent, subtle and slowly evolving problem which some may not even realize they have.

 

The 997.2 motor has proven to be much better and there are some high mileage guys here with them, like Wayne & Bruce. There have been some reports of engine failures by both Raby and Hartech and they seem to be bore scoring related. For a DFI motor, it also does not seem prone to carbon buildup like most other DFI motors are, probably because they're using the injected fuel stream to clean the valves. This graphic is on the Cayenne 957, but is also in the 997 9A1 literature.

 

I will go for a car with full history and accident free. Im not afraid of a bit high milage on it.Its going to be used everyday with kids climbing in and out so it will not have to be a garage queen. The 964 takes up that place...
Thanks for all good and constructive input. Will tune in with an update how it ends... Always exciting this part of the journey.

 

I think You are right. IMS and things around it is not as bad the internet says. Bore score is and will be a bigger issue. Great number of cars produced and sold. Not all of the buyers/owners will treat them as the should be and that will be a great part of the bore score. Im pretty surprised cars have survived that many km as many has without proper service, oil change etc before they end up in a shop and get new stuff instead of the silicon...Just my own logic.