Boxster Inquiry.....

[Sunroof]

Okay, I am a 911 owner and hang out up in the 911 BBS so I have to ask all you Boxster folks a question.

My son-in-law's deal on a Corvette fell through so he is asking me about where he can spend his 33K on a nice Porsche. I am pushing him more on the 993 side (1995-1998) which is the last of the air cooled engines. You know us air-cooled guys are nuts!!!!!!!!! But a Boxster is not out of the question. So he might do well on a Boxster or S. I

I cringe when I hear of seals failing and engines breaking on these cars leaving a new owner handing out a ton of dough for an engine replacement.

I did hear though that Porsche fixed the IMS issues starting with the 200? year Boxster. That's what I am seeking. Just what year model represents the BIG FIX? Yes, I know you can install the upgrade kit with a new clutch job, and you can add magnets for metal pick-up and other methods to get that "heads up" signal your about to shell out a lot of $$$$$$$.

If someone can chime in and advise on the year the Boxster seal issue was finally corrected by the factory, I would appreciate it.

thanks

Bob
1973.5T

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by Sunroof

Okay, I am a 911 owner and hang out up in the 911 BBS so I have to ask all you Boxster folks a question.

My son-in-law's deal on a Corvette fell through so he is asking me about where he can spend his 33K on a nice Porsche. I am pushing him more on the 993 side (1995-1998) which is the last of the air cooled engines. You know us air-cooled guys are nuts!!!!!!!!! But a Boxster is not out of the question. So he might do well on a Boxster or S. I

I cringe when I hear of seals failing and engines breaking on these cars leaving a new owner handing out a ton of dough for an engine replacement.

I did hear though that Porsche fixed the IMS issues starting with the 200? year Boxster. That's what I am seeking. Just what year model represents the BIG FIX? Yes, I know you can install the upgrade kit with a new clutch job, and you can add magnets for metal pick-up and other methods to get that "heads up" signal your about to shell out a lot of $$$$$$$.

If someone can chime in and advise on the year the Boxster seal issue was finally corrected by the factory, I would appreciate it.

thanks

Bob
1973.5T

None of the Boxster built between 1997 and 2009 are immune to the IMS failure issue; some years are better than others, but until they removed the IMS shaft in 2009, they all suffered failures. The seal failures were rear main seals, and that was fixed with the PTFE design that came out around 2003-2004; the new design seal can be retrofitted to any model year, and the seal cost about $20.

[Sunroof]

So what you are saying then is that if one had to buy a Boxster used, try and find one that is at least a 2009 and newer?

Bob

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by Sunroof

So what you are saying then is that if one had to buy a Boxster used, try and find one that is at least a 2009 and newer?

Bob

I would go 2004 and earlier, or 2009 and later; the ones in the middle cannot have the IMS upgraded without a total engine rebuild, which is very pricey.

[Sunroof]

Thanks....that very useful information.

Bob

[Cajundaddy]

Yep an IMS retrofit (1997-2004) runs around $2K which is the price of a set of tires at the dealership. Compare that to the cost of a top end refresh on a 993 will put things in their proper perspective. A 2009 PDK Boxster is also pretty sweet.