Need quick advice on Boxster RMS?

I am looking at a meticulous 2001 Boxster w/40K miles as a Daily Driver/weekend toy. The car was serviced every year and has no known issues-pending a PPI.

Before I move forward on the PPI, I am wondering how serious this RMS/Intermediate Shaft failure is on the pre-'02 Boxsters. From what I am reading online, 20% of Boxsters and 996's suffer from this problem and a significant number of grenaded as a result.

However, I am metering these "online" figures against the assumption that only those with problems tend to post online...

Would this RMS/Intermediate shaft issue, by itself, prevent you from buying an '01 Boxster?

 

Didn't stop me!

2001 S - Bought at 62k, now at 76k.

 

It wouldn't stop me either, but def. do your homework/get a PPI before buying.

Someone (Excellence, perhaps) recently did a good tech article on the RMS issue.

 

Joe:

I had an 02 S for a while, it was a lot of fun, but I owned it in my too many (had 11 at the time) cars to really enjoy days, so I sold t. I had the piece over the back (you could not close the top when it was on) that made it look great.

 

I have a 98 I bought in '03 and still have it. No problems at all (except the air bag light on) during all that time. That being said, 20% weren't affected (way overstated), you only hear about the "bad ones" on line due to people looking for help or are upset. It will exceed your expectations, go for it. About the best bargain out there, they can be had for so cheap now.

 

RMS is $1,000 +/- to fix and is a non-issue......for the most part it is now considered to be a maintenance item and updated seals are available. The biggest problem is how fast and/or carefully the tech presses the seal on, and does he use the correct tool.

Intermediate shaft failure cannot be pre-diagnosed so when it goes, so does your wallet unless you immediately recognize the noise and shut the engine off. There are upgrades available from the aftermarket.

http://www.lnengineering.com/ims.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/boxster-cayman-forum/591359-question-boxster-intermediate-shaft-bearing.html

It would not prevent me from buying an early Boxster, I would just get a low mileage example, and make sure it was priced accordingly, so that I could perform the upgrade immediately upon taking delivery.

I personally know of 4 IMS failures in my Boxster client base.....it is not worth the risk reward ratio to let this one thing slide.

 

The 20% seems outrageous. No one knows the actual number, so maybe 20% is correct. But I can't imagine it is that high.

The RMS is more of a weep than a leak. If it starts to weep, monitor it and change when the clutch needs replacing

In the unfortunate instance your IMS bearing fails, you can get an engine from a breaker yard for $3 or $4K and then have it installed by your local independent. I know you are a self proclaimed OCD'er when it comes to your cars, so as someone suggested above, you might want to have LN Engineering do the retrofit kit for the bearing.

Don't fear the Boxster. It is an AWESOME car.

 

It's cheaper to do the bearing when you're doing the clutch. Also, advice from forum goers is to change the oil relatively frequently and use a slightly thicker weight as a preventative measure if you're still on the original.

 

Joe,

You will drive yourself crazy if you try to research all the RMS/IMS talk. I'm on Boxster S #4 and love the cars. I have had zero issues with them and think they are the best bang for the buck out there.

rennlist
986forum.com
pedrosboard.com
planet-9.com

The above are great places to learn about the car. Here is what I learned in my time....drive the car often, do not lug the engine and garage queens are not good.

I try not to let it bother me. 20% is insanely high and some say it's more like 0.5% then others say all will experience an IMS failure at some point in the engines life.

Are you looking at the black one at Ottos? I just had an 05 S shipped in from KY, 20,000 miles and only put 80 miles on it since January. Prices have come down on these cars and there are some great deals out there.

Forgot this link....it has a ton of info on Boxster cars and what to look for...

http://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/mikesporscheboxsterwebpages

 

Great cars. I have two currently, one with 100k miles 2.5L and never a engine issue, the other which got a new 2.7L engine at 50100 miles because of a secondary oil pump failure (I ate it).

I still get every dollar that I put into them both back in spades with use. The value is there for me as I drive them more then my GT3.

 

Thanks for all your input guys...

I really liked the car., it was in stunning condition. However, I saw a different model today and really liked it.

We'll see how the PPI goes this Friday. If all goes well, I will post pictures once I get it in my garage a few weeks from now.

Who wants to guess

 

OK, because I am nothing if not manic. I am back to considering the Boxster I saw. This particular car is extremely clean...and I have seen very few Boxsters in this kind of condition at this age.

What I think I am struggling with is that I am paying close to Boxster S money for this car and is it worth it.. Everyone is telling me the S is so much more car for the money, but for my purposes I can't imagine I will notice much of a difference.

if I do pull the trigger, I plan on taking it to my mechanic immediately to have the RMS/ LN IMS update, new waterpump, and probably a new clutch "while there at it". Then I figure I can probably put 30K miles on her with little worry about something catastrophic going wrong with the mechanicals.

I'll keep you guys posted.

 

I don't know if I would spend S money and not get the S. But that decision is yours. If you are going to do that much work to a clean car, I would see about getting an S. They ain't more expensive to work on and the brakes are AWESOME! The extra HP is nice too!

 

If you are going to spend S money, I would get an S. More power, 6spd vs. 5spd, better brakes, better wheels, nicer interior and most likely a better resale. There are enough of each model out there, that it shouldn't take long to find another nice clean example.

 

My first Boxster was a base and although it was fun my next 3 have been S. I'd never go back to a base version. Even if the deal was right I know myself well enough that I would always have S envy and regret not getting the S. I drive like a very old man and still like the S so much more. There are a lot of cars out there and the prices continue to drop.

Are you buying based on budget, 986 vs 987, specific mileage?

 

I'm on my third Boxster and each has been the base model. It's well balanced and has the right mix of power and performance to stir your soul. The S was about a $9,000 upgrade in 2001, and not worth it in my opinion for a daily driver.

If horsepower is really, really, important over everything else, however, then you might consider an S. Knowing you, though, if power was that important you'd be driving something faster than a Mondial.

Good luck, Joe.

 

Exactly. I am a huge proponent of "it is more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow".

I really couldn't care less about horsepower, but if the S handles infinitely better, that would peak my interest.

 

I had a 2001 boxster and at 32k miles and five years and 3 months the seal failed and there was no fix. PNA was no help and i ended eating a ton.

 

I would not waste your money having that all done to the car at your mechanic. You'll be fixing what ain't broke. If it's working now, don't replace the water pump and clutch. You are 'over' worrying about things. Hope you get the car, they are better and better the more you get to know them!

 

Thanks for your suggestion. Unfortunately, the Boxer is out anyway. It turns out its a PITA to get the passenger airbag disabled, so I can't take the car out with my daughter.

HOWEVER, i did almost buy a 1988 Porsche 911 3.2 w/whale tail today. Unfortunately, it failed the PPI. I was so pissed off you have no idea. The car was billed as in excellent condition. I took the day off to do the PPI. We get the car on a lift and the damn crank case has a hole in it that somebody had filled with JB Weld!!!!! It was leaking oil like a bastard.

I AM STILL FUMING!

 

Is your daughter car seat aged? Or just out of car seat and just too young to safely sit in front of an airbag.

There is an airbag bypass the dealer can install that works with one of the buckles used to stabilize a car seat. If you don't need the car seat, you would just need to put that buckle into the cutoff when your daughter is in the car.

Sorry to hear about the 3.2. I would be mighty upset about that as well.