So I'm looking at getting back into the world of 911s. I've read/watched a number of 996 Buyer Guides however any advice or comments would be appreciated.

Vehicle is at a dealership. Apparently was traded in for a BMW 335. There isn't too much info available as I'm relying on the dealer to communicate info to me from the previous owner.
CarProof shows it as an Alberta original vehicle and has never left the province. I'll be looking at it tomorrow as well as a few other C4Ss in that range.
I'm thinking low $30Ks pending PPI. It does seem like most 996 C4S vehicles are advertised high $30K - low $40K in Alberta.

$38,000
130,000 km
Two accidents less than $5,000 each. No IMSB Retrofit.

2004 Porsche 911 4S
Price:$148,080.00
Exterior:Black
Interior:Black Full Leather
342 - Heated Front Seats
446 - Wheel Caps with Colored Crest
680 - Bose High End Sound Package
692 - Remote CD Changer (6 Disc)
E77 - Carbon Package - Small
M6A - Black Mats - Porsche lettering
P11 - Self-Dim Mirrors & Rain Sensor
P16 - Porsche Communication Mgt. II
P74 - Xenon Headlamp Package
P78 - Sport Seats w/Full Leather Int
P83 - Advanced Technic Package
XLF - Sport Exhaust System
XPD - 3-Spoke Str Whl-Carbon/Leather
XRC - 18" Sport Techno Wheel
XSC - Porsche Crest in Headrest
Y29 - Aluminum/Chrome X71,X70,X54


Thanks!

 

As you solicit here's a B.C. opinion.
Your join date at 2007 reflects your experience so high/low mileage your call.
More than average options on this car.
The PSE can be expensive when it tires.
High miles but if regular oil changes try not to concern with the IMSB.
XRC, P78,Y29 all good.

A dealership in Vancouver had a high mile Blk/Blk convertible for 38 that didn't last long.
Low mile C4S's commanding more.
A contributor here HyperMike from Calgary purchased a Victoria car. Perhaps he can advise?
Consider expanding the search to the West coast where the Porsches are plentiful and the weather forgiving.
My 996 search took two years after I had the 87 Carrera with numerous Calgary/Edmonton test drives.

The prairies are hard on cars...plain and simple.
My winter mountain car in the Selkirks of B.C. is on it's third windshield since 2007.
Never would I buy a Canadian prairie winter driven Porsche though to each their own.

Consider your time well spent seeking the "right one" as the 996 C4S is.
Good advice/repair/ support at Riegel or Alpine, PCA Wildrose/Polar.
Pursue responsible owners thru these clubs who drive summers and winter
store in garages with fresh oil in the sump.

Enjoy.

 

I would want an independent PPI with borescope, code and cam deviation check, manometer, etc. Check the tailpipe for oily soot.
Short of an oil change and sump inspection maybe an oil filter check and oil analysis.

A '04 has the more problematic single row IMS, the cost of new bearing should be factored in. I've done a couple single row bearings this year and though both were OK when I popped the bearing almost half liter of skanky oil poured out of the shaft.

 

BC opinion here as well. I'm with Balu on this one.

Seems like a nicely sorted C4S. With that kind of mileage, and regular oil changes, I would say the ISMB has lasted this long, I cannot imagine it exploding anytime soon. Having said that, I am of a different train of thought than the majority of current and prospective buyers. Are you looking to keep the 996 C4S for a while? My previous 996 C2 was also a 2004 model year and it had 53,000KMs when I bought it, and the ISMB was replaced, along with a huge laundry list of things mentioned above. Was it absolutely necessary? My opinion is no, and that some shops needed to pay their bills, but I am no mechanic, so take what I say with a grain of salt. I have seen a handful of owners own their Boxsters and 996s with over 130,000KM on the original IMS, so that may say something if you want to make something of it.

I picked up a 2001 Boxster S yesterday and it's got 135,000KMs on the clock with original IMS, but with history and proof of annual oil changes. For the price I got it for, I'd be okay with the IMS going the next day.

 

IMS is a crap shoot, I've got a few bad ones in my showcase. They range from bad damage to total engine carnage. What I'm seeing a lot more of is scored bores, especially on winter driven cars. Within the last two weeks I've had several calls all sounding like scored bores. Out of those I only (so far) have one rebuild job. When I tell peeps the price they often bail, even with using the cheaper factory short block. I have three 996 engine builds on the go right now.

 

Absolutely agree with mark on scored bores. Many of these cars get traded in to non porsche dealers in the hope they are unaware of the issue. A thorough borescope would be top of my list

 

After hearing about the one member who bought a car doing things right, by getting a borescope PPI, but still ending up with scored bores I've decided I'm going to take screenshots of each bore.
Obviously this is part CYA for me, but it will also be for proof that the work was performed.
The thing with a borescope to do it right you need to take the mufflers off, cylinders #1 and 4 are near impossible to scope with them on and #2 and 5 it's difficult to do a good job. Since #4-6 is usually the bad side I suspect many lazy wrenches only check #5 and 6.
BTW I know this because I do #5 and 6 first and if they pass I do the rest of the job.