996 ims bearing failure of used Porsche 911, Cayman or Boxster

Thinking about buying a used Porsche 911, Cayman or Boxster?  Think again.
If selling price is under (way under) the Blue Book value it is simply too good to be true.

Many first-time Porsche buyer considering purchasing a vehicle with a M96 engine. Against popular belief  this includes all Boxster, Cayman and 911 models from model year 1997 through 2008, excluding Turbo, GT2 and GT3 models.
There are many concerns from intermix to rear main seals, and even intermediate main shaft failures.
Having a thorough  pre-purchase inspection (PPI) is absolutely crucial and could reduce your chances of having a failure.

Intermediate shaft bearings could have catastrophic failure; a sign of that can be metal in the oil

Engine repairs and engine replacement can be EXTREMELY COSTLY!
For starters, to properly rebuild an engine if you do have a failure, figure usually a 60 hours labor plus parts. A quality rebuild, addressing all the areas that need upgrading plus all other replacements and upgrades will start at about $15,000 and can easily exceed $20,000. A factory crate engine from Porsche is similarly priced, but they they charge a core shaft fee on top of about $17,000 that the customer will get back in case the failed engine is rebuildable.
Considering the high cost of replacement engines and/or engine rebuilds, you cannot buy a car with a blown engine cheap enough to make it cost effective to then purchase an engine for the car. By the same token, don't expect top dollar if you have a failed engine and decide not to fix it.

Pre-purchase inspection (PPI) and consulation before purchasing a used Porsche are available at Personalized Autohaus. Call (858) 586-7771 to set an appointment or email waynebaker@earthlink.net and go to our website at www.personalizedautohaus.com