Engine Leak, repair or buy another car.

[cafournier]

Hi,

I love my Boxster. It's a 1997 model, got it second hand in 2010 and had to replace main rear seal in 2013.

Now there appear to be a oil leak in the engine not big at all but enough that Swiss road authority does not find it fit for the road. Went to the Porsche dealer and they told me I better look for another second hand model as the price of the repair will be quite high. Apparently it's the Cylinder Liner or Cylinder head cracks issue.

In any case I don't have a problem to either pay for the repair (quite expensive as I have some other minor things to fix as well) or get a slightly more recent boxster on the market for about same price of the repair + some. Since It's a fun car used only in nice weather and I do low mileage I don't want to spend more than 15k Chf total.

Now my reasoning went from "get another one" to actually make the repair on the engine. How I see it, is that if I make the repair, I know the engine will be in top condition, if I get a another car same issue may occur and may have such repair to make in the coming years.

Car is otherwise in excellent condition (body, interior etc..) and I am really sad to "throw it away".

So any draw back you could see in my reasoning ?

Note that for the price tag I am ready to pay, I may get, up to 2001 boxster with around 150k km, mine has 110k km

Some knowledgeable advice appreciated.

[jw8]

I'm surprised that the 986 has such a high price tag in Switzerland. You may be better off importing one from the US, $10k will get you a decent 2002 boxster s with under 100k miles. I recently purchased a 2004 550 Anniversary for $7k, 88k miles.

Have you visited an independent Mechanic to get a quote and compared it to the dealers price?

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[june82000]

I would get a second or third opinion from one or two more repair facilities and not the dealership. Worst case, you should be able to obtain a used engine for your '97 for much less money than $15k; more like $2500 or less.

Can you be more specific on the issue with your car?


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[cafournier]

Thanks for the reply.

First of all yes in Switzerland things are more expensive, and thats about the price of 2nd hand on the market right now.

Import is lot of trouble and not an option.

The question is more if its better to have a known refitted engine, than another one you dont know when and if similar issues may occurs ?

As for the problem it got explained in german to me, but what i understand its the Cylinder hear or Cylinder liner crack issue, and they need to replace the engine part. Refitting the part here may cost more than a new part.

[Don Z.]

Where in Switzerland are you? While I'm not always a fan of dealer service, I can promise you that the service department on Porschestraße will be happy to explain details, in english. There are also many independent shops in the area who charged far less than the dealer. Not sure if that's any help at all, just relaying my experience.

[BYprodriver]

A good engine is the soul of any sport car & you need to decide if you want more power from your future engine/car. If you desire more power get a "S" model if not repair your current Box. Start by contacting Hartech Engineering &/or Autofarm both engine specialists in the UK.

[cafournier]

Originally Posted by Don Z.

Where in Switzerland are you? While I'm not always a fan of dealer service, I can promise you that the service department on Porschestraße will be happy to explain details, in english. There are also many independent shops in the area who charged far less than the dealer. Not sure if that's any help at all, just relaying my experience.

I am near Zug / Zurich.

[mikefocke]

In the US a completely rebuilt engine with improved parts addressing all known issues can cost as much as 10 times the cost of a used engine. Or rebuilt engines can be somewhere in between but without the reputation of the more expensive ones and without as many issues addressed nor with as many improved parts.

A used engine costs about half the cost of a running car and that doesn't even include labor to remove and replace. So there is a wide variation.

What is the market there for the "roller" you have, with all its good parts that just doesn't have a workable engine? Selling to a mechanic who can invest his own labor to fix it might offset some of your costs for the replacement machine.

Supposing you get the used engine, then how many things are you going to want to do to improve the engine while it is out of the car? How many plastic parts will need to be replaced because they were brittle and cracked when they were separated from the engine? How about simple things like AOS, water pump, RMS/IMS etc.

A lot depends on local sources of both parts and the specialized labor to do any repair. Shop around.

By the way, do you completely understand why the mechanic made the diagnosis he did? (Yes '97s had those issues. Porsche had to replace a lot of engines but that program was probably ended 10 years ago.)

How much is sentiment worth? How much more are you willing to spend? I'm not sure anyone but you can answer those questions and you'll always have doubts if you should have or if you overspent or ....

[cafournier]

That is exactly my whole problem. The market over here is not that good for such car unfortunately, but prices remain high in any case. So yes the whole issue is trust. I could get a slightly more recent model (2000 / 2001) for about the cost of the repair. So repairing the current engine + suspension will get me a car I know will be in good conditions. While buying another second hand will be a gamble.

My doubts are in the decision, which is better, but I know no one but me can take it. Even repaired the engine could give more issues 2y down the line or give me another 10y of good service, same with a second hand, but by going the repair route I am "thinking" that I am giving myself a slight advantage against the odd.

[ghtaboma]

You are on the horns of a dilemma! Come on over to the U.S.A. There are hundreds of good, used Boxsters of every age, color, and description. Especially in the Pacific southwest. Dump your old one, cut your losses, and buy a good one and ship it back!

[ljowdy]

You have about 68,350 miles (110,000 kilometers) Once your engine is out, a lot of things need to be changed while it's in pieces. The clutch pressure plate, throw out bearing and disk, you may as well have the IMSB kit installed and while you're there you may as well have the coolant tank replaced because it's going to crack eventually. I'd look for a used low mileage engine, have a "leak down" test done before you purchase, while it's out, have the IMSB installed, clutch, coolant tank and since it's accessible, have the oil separator replaced as well as the water pump, front engine mount and I think you'll have a reliable engine.

[Turd]

I was recently in a similar dilemma. Engine lost power. I eventually found out it was a broken valve spring and could have been a lot worse. Regardless it was a $4,500 repair to a 2001 Boxster S with 91,000 km on it. The car is probably worth about $14,000 in Canada. I considered selling it as "roller", especially if the bill was going to head much closer to $10,000. In the end, the wallet hurts a bit but I'm glad I spent the $ and have the Boxster S back out on Sundays to get my wife and I on to coffee shop tours! It's a love/hate relationship with my Boxster S with love still dominating.. I'd lean 51% in favour of repairing your current boxster.

[cafournier]

Problem solved. The bill would have been too high, asked another garage (non Porsche dealer) and they came to same conclusion about what repair was needed and even being cheaper it would have cost me over 10k.

Sold it for export and spare parts, broke my piggy bank and got me a 2005 S 3.2 model. What an upgrade, going from a rough machine to luxurious one, power just fabulous, interior all leather, sport seats, Navigation system, bose sound system, very very well kept machine.... and a real rear windows.

Hope that one will not let me down.

Thanks everyone for the replies to my post.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by cafournier

... got me a 2005 S 3.2 model...

Hmmm, I thought the 2005 was a 987 with the 3.5 L engine for the 'S' version.

Totally different dash/interior.

[ljowdy]

997 is a 911 I think he's talking about a Boxster

[cafournier]

Definitely Boxster S 3.2 engine, and yes the dash/interior are far more superior in quality and look than the old 97 2.5 I had.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by ljowdy

997 is a 911 I think he's talking about a Boxster

Typo, fixed... meant 987.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by cafournier

Definitely Boxster S 3.2 engine, and yes the dash/interior are far more superior in quality and look than the old 97 2.5 I had.

So it's not a 2005, probably a 2004 S with the 3.2?

[cafournier]

When I said 2005, I mean first owner got it in june 2005 from Porsche dealer, i expect it to have been produced in 2005. Also could be that different setup are sold in different countries ?

Will the car identification number provide a clue to this ?.

[cafournier]

Found a VIN decoder. Its a 2005 production.