996 ownerswhip one year on

[Thunderace]

Well it's a bit more than a year on actually, 14 months to be precice. If you are considering buying a 996 please don't let the money I have spent put you off, I knew the car needed some bits, i bought relatively cheaply because of this and have done work that wasn't needed as well as that which was. In my last service I had a bit of a shock because i had catered for maybe 1 to 2K because I knew some bits that needed doing but a leaking RMS caused that figure to move skyward.

Original post

My experience:
Absolutely love the car, I really don't get the 996 haters, money aside this would be my choice, having had 2 aircooled 911s (911SC and 3.3 turbo) this is a far superior car in all respects, performance, handling, gearchange, interior and comfort. One thing I miss from the biking world is a lack of meets and rideouts, on my bike there are several big meets and rideouts every week ibut i can't find anything to do in the 996 (aside from the occasional drive to a cafe for tea and cakes or lunch which is definately not my thing).

Best mod:
Cheap quick shift kit expertly modified by an engineer on 911uk forums has transformed the gear shifting experience from pretty horrrible too an almost rifle bolt gated feeling.
Posted here on PCGB

Mileage:
73,000 at puirchase now 81,000 so driven 8,000 miles

Reliability:
No issues at all just a coolant leak due to the usual coolant tank cracking. Burns virtually no oil, about a litre and a half in 8000 miles.

Expenses (other than running costs like inurance, tax, petrol etc.):

July 2020

• Main service, engine oil and filters (MOBIL 1 FS 0W40) (Brookfield garage Stowmarket, Porsche, VAG specialists)
• RMS (dry) and other vehicle checks
• Top Gear Sound stainless exhaust
• Water pump, Porsche coolant and belt
• Service indicator reset
• Spark plugs and heat shields
• Porsche specialists (Reason porsche Suffolk) July/August
• Coolant tank and coolant
• Front discs (Sebro) and pads
• Self fitted engineered short shift kit (self lubricated solif bearings and phosphur Bronze bushes)
• Rennline CNC machined aluminium gear shift knob

Running total: £2763.06
-------------------------
4 x new Pirelli Pzero Rosso N4 (636)

Running total: £3399.06
-------------------------

09/07/2021 (Pie Performance)

• Annual service
• 4 x coffin arms
• Front suspension top mounts and bearing plates
• Front suspension bump stops
• Steering hydraulic pipe protection (breaking so had stainless jubilee clips applied)
• Wiper blade set and wiper system repair ( drivers side working off off spindle )
• Dual tone horn set
• AC pipes, condensors and regas
• Front tuning forks
• Tracking
• Brake pipe clean and Tectyl grease
• Unexpected work due to significant RMS leak
• Certificated IMS replacement and RMS (and surrounding work)
• Dual mass flywheel and clutch kit
• MOT

Running total: £9263.06
-------------------------

Known remaining issues:

• Hydraulic steering pipe failing (intend to rip out and replace with electric hydraulic cup conversion)
• Indicator broken (has to be manually held on to indicate right)
• Appears to run a bit hot, Cruising the needle is just over vertical but anything else it stays at about 3 mm before the mark between 80 and 120 so maybe 95(ish)

Wants:

• Rest of suspension not yet touched
• Koni dampers with H&R springs (Design911 kit)
• Respray (Yeah right, isn't happening)
• Refurbish BBS split rims

One question i would like to ask is the valuation service here, I thought I put in all of the relevant data but never seemed to receive anything, then I tried to updater the valuation and it stated that I could only submit once. Now I have a lot more money spent so again would like to update but haven't a clue how to do it.

 

[corneg1]

Great update! I have had my car a very similar amount of time as yourself and done almost identical amounts of work. I personally don't think it's so bad considering the age of the cars now and how fantastic they are to drive. Long may they continue to run and entertain us. I am not familiar with the valuation service unfortunately.

 

[mr pg]

Well it's a bit more than a year on actually, 14 months to be precice. If you are considering buying a 996 please don't let the money I have spent put you off, I knew the car needed some bits, i bought relatively cheaply because of this and have done work that wasn't needed as well as that which was. In my last service I had a bit of a shock because i had catered for maybe 1 to 2K because I knew some bits that needed doing but a leaking RMS caused that figure to move skyward.

Original post

My experience:
Absolutely love the car, I really don't get the 996 haters, money aside this would be my choice, having had 2 aircooled 911s (911SC and 3.3 turbo) this is a far superior car in all respects, performance, handling, gearchange, interior and comfort. One thing I miss from the biking world is a lack of meets and rideouts, on my bike there are several big meets and rideouts every week ibut i can't find anything to do in the 996 (aside from the occasional drive to a cafe for tea and cakes or lunch which is definately not my thing).

Best mod:
Cheap quick shift kit expertly modified by an engineer on 911uk forums has transformed the gear shifting experience from pretty horrrible too an almost rifle bolt gated feeling.
Posted here on PCGB

Mileage:
73,000 at puirchase now 81,000 so driven 8,000 miles

Reliability:
No issues at all just a coolant leak due to the usual coolant tank cracking. Burns virtually no oil, about a litre and a half in 8000 miles.

Expenses (other than running costs like inurance, tax, petrol etc.):

July 2020

• Main service, engine oil and filters (MOBIL 1 FS 0W40) (Brookfield garage Stowmarket, Porsche, VAG specialists)
• RMS (dry) and other vehicle checks
• Top Gear Sound stainless exhaust
• Water pump, Porsche coolant and belt
• Service indicator reset
• Spark plugs and heat shields
• Porsche specialists (Reason porsche Suffolk) July/August
• Coolant tank and coolant
• Front discs (Sebro) and pads
• Self fitted engineered short shift kit (self lubricated solif bearings and phosphur Bronze bushes)
• Rennline CNC machined aluminium gear shift knob

Running total: £2763.06
-------------------------
4 x new Pirelli Pzero Rosso N4 (636)

Running total: £3399.06
-------------------------

09/07/2021 (Pie Performance)

• Annual service
• 4 x coffin arms
• Front suspension top mounts and bearing plates
• Front suspension bump stops
• Steering hydraulic pipe protection (breaking so had stainless jubilee clips applied)
• Wiper blade set and wiper system repair ( drivers side working off off spindle )
• Dual tone horn set
• AC pipes, condensors and regas
• Front tuning forks
• Tracking
• Brake pipe clean and Tectyl grease
• Unexpected work due to significant RMS leak
• Certificated IMS replacement and RMS (and surrounding work)
• Dual mass flywheel and clutch kit
• MOT

Running total: £9263.06
-------------------------

Known remaining issues:

• Hydraulic steering pipe failing (intend to rip out and replace with electric hydraulic cup conversion)
• Indicator broken (has to be manually held on to indicate right)
• Appears to run a bit hot, Cruising the needle is just over vertical but anything else it stays at about 3 mm before the mark between 80 and 120 so maybe 95(ish)

Wants:

• Rest of suspension not yet touched
• Koni dampers with H&R springs (Design911 kit)
• Respray (Yeah right, isn't happening)
• Refurbish BBS split rims

One question i would like to ask is the valuation service here, I thought I put in all of the relevant data but never seemed to receive anything, then I tried to updater the valuation and it stated that I could only submit once. Now I have a lot more money spent so again would like to update but haven't a clue how to do it.

You're appear to live in the Bury area and we move there at the end of the month. I've bought a 996 which is having some mods done at William Francis specialist cars. Once I've collected the car it may be a chance to meet up? There is a PCGB meet at Long Melford in Sept.
Paul.

 

[Thunderace]

You're appear to live in the Bury area and we move there at the end of the month. I've bought a 996 which is having some mods done at William Francis specialist cars. Once I've collected the car it may be a chance to meet up? There is a PCGB meet at Long Melford in Sept.
Paul.

Framlingham actually so not far yes, would be great to meet up, Long Melford sounds good.

 

[Thunderace]

As I made this post I may as well use it to update on latest updates and rolling total.

The standard CDR22 was working intermitently and any way was, well old. I know a lot of people feel you "just have to" have the Porsche classic system but I just don't care about the Porsche logo on loading and wasn't prepared to pay the premium. Premium is fine for me on car parts but stereos? not so much. So I contacted a mobile audio installer of some repute and had installed the following:

Pioneer Apple Car Play system SPH-DA250DAB

This system looks fantastic in-situ and only varies a shade from the standard colour, also you can choose the colour of the display buttons so matched the standard display in orange.

The trouble was although it worked initially it worked intermittently then stopped working altogether, looked like it was the amplifier that was the problem, got some second hand amps from a breaker but none worked so i got the audio installer back in, he fitted this:

Pioneer GM-A3702 500w amplifier

All six speakers now work and the sound is fantastic, far too loud on just 13 out of 100 volume, very pleased with the final result.

To date:
£9263.06

Stereo install:
£599.00
Amp install:
£240.00

New running total:
£10102.06

 

[Thunderace]

Just a month after the stereo was installed it was a Thursday, the weather was looking nice for the first time in ages and the outlook for the weekend was sun,

Thought I'd take the car out with the top down, roof got half way down when I heard BANG! the drivers side window regulator had gone and the window was stuck half up, there goes my weekend, managed to book it into Pie Performance on the Tuesday.

I have got a long term plan to change out the suspension and the car was feeling a little vague at the back so I decided to get some RSS engine mounts at the same time.

Window done and a sunny drive home on the great roads out of Sudbury area towards Ipswich. The car does feel more stable at the back but I don't notice any benefit in the gear shift like some say (although mine is like a rifle bolt action after the Alex mod anyway). Also unlike many posts there has been no detrimental effect on vibration at all altogether very pleased with the RSS semi solid engine mounts.

To date:
£10102.06

Regulator and RSS mounts:

£889.59

Running total:

£10,991.65

 

[andywill]

Hi Robert
Nice write ups, The Pioneer unit looks good, I know what you mean with regards the Porsche PCCM+ it does give you a more factory look, but it's rather expensive and unfortunately the cost don’t stop once installed, if you count the typical prices Porsche charge for their map upgrades. I personally fitted an Alpine unit (pre Apple car play) which looks good and works well.
Please keep us informed on how things are going with any future upgrades.
Andy.

 

[Thunderace]

Been a while but I'll try to catch up with my Porsche 996 cab saga.

Previous total:
£10,991.65 (excludes car purchase)

X74 geo-setup by Charlie of William Francis including H&R lowering springs and Koni special adaptive dampers.

• H&R lowering springs x 4
• Koni Special adaptive damopers x 4
• X74 geo setup
• Braided brake hoses x 4
• Front/rear hard pipes to flexi x 4
• Annual minor service and sundry other minor fixes

Running total:

£13670.30

Review:

This was entirely transformational (have done about 3000 miles since), the car handles superbly, there really is no comparison and the old shocks weren't that tired. Especially excellent is the front end which feels very planted, I find no crashiness which some had warned of and while I have to be a little carefull of particularly bad road "holes" I only ground occasionally, it's not an issue and the country roads around me in framlingham are truly aweful.

It is not [erfect however, I do feel that because these are full legmth shocks (unlike e,g, B8s) with lowered springs that they struugle sometimes with the rebound. The front could still be more responsive off centre so i may ask Charlie to add a little more toe out, I don't want it to ridiculous tramline though. The rear I'm not so happy with ,I find it hard to explain but it takes a while to settle almost like it settles once then there is a second settling, as i said hard to explain ,I do get the feeling that I should have addded the H&R abti-roll bars which may help and will probably do that.

 

[Thunderace]

Current mileage: 91,800 (73000 when bought)

Continous running total (spend since bought):

£13670.30 (excludes purchase)


4 Wheel caps 23.48


2 x Pirelli PZero Rosso 93Y N4 Size: 265/35YR18 plus precision balancing
£420.68

Throttle pedal repaired, Rennline billet throttle pedal hinge, and alloy pedals/footrest fitted.
£423.84

New total: £14538.30

 

[Thunderace]

<removed>

 

[Thunderace]

I'm sure you all did this ages ago and i'm just slow off of the mark but just registered my car with Porsche and they gave me the original build/options which is nice: -


CD-Radio "Porsche CDR-32"
Front Floor Mats surrounded in Leather with Porsche Logo
Heated Seats left/right
Automatically dimming interior and exterior mirrors with integrated rain sensor
Leather front seats
Leather interior (dashboard and door panels w/o seats)
Leather rear seats
Preparation for CD changer
Rear seats
Stricter emission-control concept
Board computer
Power assisted steering
Electric windows
Electronic accelerator (drive by wire)
Raised stop lamp
Front centre console
Fully Automatic Air Conditioning
Activated charcoal filter (interior)
Tinted windscreen with dark green upper edge
Front fog lights, white
Side airbags
Airbag for Driver and Passenger
Wind deflector
Hardtop
Mechanical seat-height adjustment, right
Mechanical seat-height adjustment, left
Alarm siren and tilt sensor
Alarm system with interior surveillance
Headlamps for left-hand traffic
Sound Package with Amplifier
6-speed manual transmission
Porsche Stability Management (PSM)
Rear fog light, right
Cruise control
Wheel caps dished with coloured Porsche crest
Radio preparation
Electrically operated hood
3-spoke steering wheel
CD compartment
Turbo Look I Wheels, front 7.5 J x 18 with 225/40 ZR 18 tyres, rear 10 J x 18 with 285/30 ZR 18 tyres
2-way electrical basic seat, right
2-way electrical basic seat, left
Heated Seat, right, with adjustable temperature
Rear wheel drive
3-point automatic seat belts, rear
Illuminated vanity mirror
Side mirror, electrically adjustable and heatable
Driver side mirror, aspherical
Automatically dimming exterior mirrors
Automatically dimming interior mirror and rainsensor
Regular differential (without limited slip)
Licence plate bracket version III
Stronger battery
Heated Seat, left, with adjustable temperature
Control and indications in English
European Union country version
Version for Great Britain
Standard suspension

 

[Thunderace]

brake pad light on which was the rear pads also requiring discs, I had the front disks/pads replaced 3 years ago but decided to have the front pads done too along with the driver side sill end/rear muflap which had been ripped for a while.

Not a very interesting one this so no pics.

Current total (excluding purchase)
£14538.30

£1,118.29

Mileage: 92697
Mileage at purchase: 73000

New total £15,656.5

 

[Thunderace]

Current mileage: 95000 (73000 when bought)

Continous running total (spend since bought):

£15,656.5 (excludes purchase)

Major annual service (William Francis - Woolpit Suffolk):
Plus: -
2 x Bosch Wiper blades
Mahle Air Filter
Fuel cap
Genuine drive belt
6 x Bosch Spark Plug
3 x Spark plug tube inc o-rings (bank 1)
Bosch airflow meter
Strip out airbox, renew filter and AFM, clean throttle body

Total £987.80

Running total: £16,644

 

[Thunderace]

Current mileage: 95800 (73000 when bought May 2020)

Continous running total (spend since bought):

£16,644 (excludes purchase)

Garage repairs Williams Crawford (Saltash Cornwall)

Diagnosis into fuse C1 constant failure.
Variable valve solenoid replacement
Drilled out broken studs all (Bank 2 manifold removal)

£1606.26

Running total: £18,250.26

Note: This car had always had a lumpy tickover, never bothered me much but this told me the variable valve solenoid had always been broken so i had driven 22000 miles with it broken, purrs like a kitten on tickover now, not sure I like it, felt more "race cam" before.