2000 Boxster S motor gone bad - value?

JJK78-951 · 08-16-2014, 05:54 PM

Greetings everyone,

I recently picked up a 2000 Boxster S and unfortunately it looks like the motor has gone south. I knew when I bought it that it had problems but didn't know what so I drove it for a day and figured out oil was getting into the coolant. Only a little but of oil was in the coolant and the oil looked good so I was hoping at first an oil cooler would do the trick, I put a new one on and drained the fluids, oil and filter all looked OK! So I swapped it out and flushed it many many times and seemed ok, then ran the piss out of it! Unfortunately now it looks like there is still a oil/coolant party going on but worse also now there is a coolant/oil party as well so looks like it's done for!

I am debating on what to do with it... either going to get a used motor, pull this one apart and see if it is a head gasket or cracked cylinder head and rebuild it... or go ahead and do an LS1 V8 conversion

I am leaning towards option #3 BTW so I am wondering what this motor may be worth...

Car has 141,000 and assume original motor but not sure. Motor runs very well but mixing coolant/oil, problem unknown, no signs of IMS damage/issues verified by recent oil change - no shrapnel found. If I do the V8 swap I don't think i'll need much of anything from the motor itself so assume a complete motor with harness and probably ECU as well? What do you think it is worth?

Thanks!
J

rfuerst911sc · 08-17-2014, 03:10 AM

J in case you don't know Jake Raby is just up the road in Cleveland GA. he is a renowned Porsche M86 engine guru. He repaired the cracked head on my 02 S. I doubt there is an engine failure mode he hasn't seen. He is not cheap but expertise like his is a real value in my opinion. He would first " qualify " your engine, meaning he would determine if it is a candidate for rebuild. Sometimes the engine is too far gone to rebuild vs. the cost/effort. I have nothing to gain by recommending Jake I'm just a satisfied customer.
Buying another used engine is a bit of a gamble because you have no guarantee it is much better than what you have. How's the IMS ? Has it had a water pump failure ? This is generally what causes cracked heads. Good luck with whatever route you go.

rfuerst911sc · 08-17-2014, 03:12 AM

Jake might want to purchase your S motor.

afterburn 549 · 08-17-2014, 03:42 AM

price of 2000 Boxster minus engine rebuild would be the worst of it.
If you turn it into a mutt, ..Look at the 911 market. It has never retained value with a V8

JJK78-951 · 08-17-2014, 04:18 AM

Thanks y'all, I'll check in with Jake and see what he says. The used route is a gamble and probably won't go down it... But I've also had people try and tackle these before and seen them get out of hand pretty quick which is why I'm considering the V8 swap...

Perhaps one day we will all look back at the Boxsters like we now look at 56 Speedsters, but I'm not betting a lot on it so retaining the value of the vehicle is not a big deal, plus at this point I don't have that much in the car.

I may go through the motor and rebuild it anyway... but the thought of a 400hp LS motor in this little Boxster just seems like waaay to much fun.

Anyway if I do just sell the core motor what may a fair price for buyer/seller be - $2K?

Thanks!!
J