Can I actually work on my Boxster without a lift?
 

All of the youtube videos I've seen show the maintenance/repairs for Boxsters being conducted with a hydraulic lift.

Just how realistic is it for me to try to do things myself (oil change, transaxle fluid changes, CV boot replacement, muffler replacement) from underneath using just a simple set of floor jacks and a creeper board?

Quite possible. So far I've done work on mine using jacks and jack stands. That being said it's faster and easier on a lift, but certainly doable.

I love my Quick Jack because it makes simple maintenance so easy, but no reason at all you couldn't do what you describe with a jack and stands. The Quick Jack raises the car high enough that I was able to drop the transmission and do the clutch. It paid for itself with that one job.

I built some ramps from 4 2x10s stacked on each other. Have 6" step on each rung with the top step being 18". You have to back onto them.

I also have 1 set of Jack Point jack stands. You put a plate on your jack, lift the car on the rear jack location. When you get it high enough, you slide the circular legs under the plate and let the jack down. That way you can use the provided jack location to lift AND stand it. You only need 1 set because if you lift the car from the rear jack location high enough, it will lift the front wheel off the ground and you can slide a regular jack stand under the front jack location.

My CSS has PASM, which lowers the car by 10mm, making it too low for my jack with the Jack Point plate to fit under the car. So I stopped at my local RV store and purchased a pair of RV leveler pads. They're made of plastic and stand the car up 1.5". I just drive the rear tires onto the levelers and then jack up the car.

So with a few inexpensive items you can do all the lifting you need w/o spending a lot of $$$.

You can do lots with no lift. Ive done spark plugs, oil changes and water pump with no lift. Clutch went to a pro but more because I am not up for the stress of such a job. I did R&R the motor of my truck last year. And the transmission, 3 times , no lift.

I finally bought a quick jack set. Makes it so easy! I bought the 5000 lb. set, about $1100, I paid with Paypal 6 mos. same as cash credit. Bought a big plastic shed at the same time, put me up to about 3 grand, paying $500 per month. (I have the cash in savings, btw.) The Quick Jacks, btw, come with rubber blocks. They are 5 star awesome!

When I replaced my engine, I used an air assist, bottle jack (Harbor Freight,)Rhino ramps, standard bottle jacks, jackstands, and a motorcycle lift. 2x8 square blocks help, use fairly new lumber, tends not to split. You can get rubber jack pads, do so. The minimize body damage. Everything on a Boxster can be done that way. It's just extra work.

Don't know if you can use them with your lowered car, but Rhino Ramps (the plastic ones) are still less than $50 and you can get them at Autozone. I've had mine for years, they've been well worth the money. I like them better than jackstands, they're a lot more stable.

I pulled the motor out of my Boxster without a lift, just good ole floor jack and jack stands! However, I will be buying one of those $1500 quick jack things soon!!! It is a pain in the ass to get the car up on all four.

Brian :)

Video on me pulling the motor out of my Boxster

You can I did everything for years with jacks and stands. Bit the bullet and bought a quick jack a couple years ago, first lift to change oil and I wondered why I ever waited so long.

Well worth the investment!

Bought the extensions, now I can work on the Panamera too.

I combined a driveway with a slant and ramps to work on mine. Tail up in the air made things easy with a creeper.

I like the scissor lift, great for both my Caman S and 914-6 Tribute.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1579780317.jpg

I R&Red this with Ebsco Jackstands from Pelicanhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1580074064.jpg

If you plan on having a Porsche forever or close, just get the mid size lift. A Full lift would be sweet. I don’t regret my purchase from almost 20 years ago. Yes same Porsche.

The real question is: how limber are you? I’ve been a boxster owner since 2006 and have done all that I have needed to with jack stands and a creeper. That includes replacing both rear brake lines after the OE lines rotted out (literally the ONLY corrosion related repair I have had in my 14 years and 140,000 miles of ownership). Yes, it was a pain in the butt job, but it would have been a pain in the butt job even with a lift.

A lift would be nice, but I have plenty of other things I can do with that money, so... oh, and I turn 61 in May...

i just finished the coolant assembly pipe. The bad part is getting back up. You end up doing crunches over and over so its a workout.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1581111763.jpg

Abs of steel! :-)

I’ve worked on my cars for over 30 years with only a jack and jack stands. I’ve done brake jobs, suspension work, clutch replacement and engine rebuilds. I’m replacing the clutch and flywheel on my Cayman this weekend. In my old age I’m more conservative with safety and use extra jack stands when I’m under a car.

With that said, the quick jack is on my future tool list.

I finally decided I was going to bite the bullet and buy a quick lift. I started shopping and trying to decide which size I w2anted etc... and slowly changed over to a mid lift scissor lift. I bought a model just like this one and have LOVED it. First the wheels roll on a metal pan that is part of the jack so no worries about the steel wheels rolling over cracks or spalling and degrading your concrete floor. the ramps are more than wide enough to drop the engine down and out of any Porsche. The quick jacks would not have lifted the car high enough, the mid lift raises it high enough to put the engine on a transmission jack and adjust height and angles etc... Another nice feature that I hadn't counted on is buffing cars out. Its a drive over ramp with rubber blocks so it's easy to roll it in, raise it up and you can do side and lower rockers with out bending over. It is awesome for polishing a car out. I got mine for just a little over $1,700 which was not much more than the 6,000 lb Quick lift. all said and done I think I paid maybe $200-$300 more than I was about to with the quick lift, but have a LOT more flexibility. We have changed an engine in a Boxster and about to do an engine swap in a 996 and honestly don't think the quick lift would have been as nice and helpful. I am not paid by anyone, no sponsership of any kind, just my 2 cents. you mileage may vary........

opps forgot the link..... NOT trying to help this seller, just showing the brand I bought and have been very happy with.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/6600-lb-Automotive-Mid-Rise-Scissor-Automotive-Auto-Car-Lift-220V/192756509007?hash=item2ce12ee94f:g:m2kAAOSwBzBcrnE Y

Hey Guys,
Take a look at these. I bought one 2 yrs ago and love it. If you have the room, much better for equivalent price. I paid extra $500 for professional installation but you have a helper, you can DIY. Be sure to check the concrete requirements and cieling height. I had to go with the baseplate but rather have the overhead if your ceiling is high enough.

https://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Atlas-9KBP-Baseplate-9-000-lbs.-Capacity-2-Post-Lift

Dang, forget the link originally :0