New 996 Owner

[beershark]

Hi Guys,

I have a 964 C4 that I was looking to upgrade to a 993 and went to a well known specialist at the weekend and looked at some 993's which were all very nice but nothing I liked at my price - was going up to £30k with some finance.

Didnt feel that for twice the price of my 964 that there was twice the improvement. Granted much better in every way but wasnt sure it was worth 16k over mine.

Just before I left I noticed a 996 for the same price (milage a bit high @ 80k) but a completely different car and felt it was worth the difference and bought it.

Didnt feel as sharp/raw/purist as the 964 C4 on the test drive but I was still getting used to it.

Lovely spec inc Tiptronic, leather, climate, PCM etc.

Not getting the car for a couple of weeks as they are preparing it and curing an intermittant stalling issue.

Anything I should be aware of or concerned about on this age/spec of car?

Is there anything I should talk to the dealer about as they do their PDI?

Many thanks for all the info/advice and looking forward to joing da club!

Rob

 

[tim court]

Quiet isn't it???

Probably cos we are all waiting for you to tell us as no-one has done 80k in a 996 yet[:-]

 

[beershark]

[:-]

Fair point......

I have had a few other high milage and fully serviced cars in the past (911, 944, 968 and Audi A6 2.8q) and they have all be pretty much OK, especially if they have been fully serviced AND maintained well.

Should I be worried about this milage on a 996?

I know it was a brand new engine to the Porsche range so they would be some potential teething problems but is there anything I should look out for?

Thanks,

Rob

 

[grant_goulding]

Well my 996 has just done 132k now. All very long journeys (to and from Paris over a three year period by the second owner) and the engine uses no oil and runs as it should. That is not say that it is the original engine - the documentation doesn't say it has been changed so I assume it is still the same one. As far as expense it has only had new cams todate. this is not my first high mileage car - since i only do low mileage myself it has never worried me. You sometimes see Porsches with very high mileages (over 200k) and I often wonder if it was down to luck and the fact they probably accrued the miles from a very long journeys when the engine wears less than very short trips. I had an SC with only 90k on it and at rebuild the wear was far greater than I would expect to find in my engine. So my reply to you at 80k is that you probably have a far greater chance of a good engine that has managed to achieve those sorts of miles than a low underused example. Not forgetting of course that a car can do more engine hours in 40k than one that has travelled 100k and that perhaps that should be taken into account.

 

[mwadams]

I would agree with Grant.

My last 993 was high mileage for its age and I did a further 17K in a year without any problems.

My current 996 has 72K miles on it and I intend to use every day.

I think people get to hung up on mileage, the cars are there to be driven and not kept in a garage for a weekend drive (IMHO)

Have fun and drive it .......

Mark

 

[Guest]

I do agree with Mark.

In June 2003, I part exchanged my previous 996 (2001 Coupe Tiptronic) @ 45K miles.

Yes, I use my car (2003 996 Cab). Where's the point to keep it in the garage?

IMHO, wear is much worst when you use your car just for short trips. Even some parts last less when the car isn't used (ie: exhaust, climate control, ...).

Cheers,

Fab

 

[tim court]

Mine is a daily user.

The car has covered nearly 60k and has had new rear main seal - clutch was replaced at the same time.

New ball joints near and offsides. New discs are looming fast. Other minor bits and pieces...

Apart from the rms all have been wear and tear and from a fairly hard driven car I think this is very reasonable.

Think I had about 120k on the clock on my old 944S2. That was really starting to show signs and many heavy bills were looming (2nd Clutch, diff bearings, discs, starting to smoke a bit).

I was also unlucky (or lucky) to have lost a cam tooth and had to replace 2 cams, chain tensioner etc. On the 944 S2 this is the main high(ish) mileage item that needs to be watched, but this experience has been gained over the years at the expense of quite a large number of catastrophic failures.

The 996 is just reaching this area where if it has any high mileage foibles, then we are all about to find out about them. Let us all pray.

 

[Guest]

rob
1. who are you bying from?
2. what year is the car
3. we had an indentical stalling problem with our 996 at 85k miles, be interested to hear waht yours turned out to be.

 

[Paul Fraser]

Problems with older cars? Well, mine is fairly low mileage (43,000) but this '97 model has needed:
(1) New rear main seal (got a new clutch at the same time).
(2) New discs (probably on it's third set by now, they seem to corrode really easily).
(3) New horns (failed a recent MOT on this).
(4) New door membrane due to leak (my boxster also has this problem -- apparently if any work is done on the doors this should be replaced but to save the £30 + labour usually isn't).
My OPC said all the above were fairly common age related problems.
I've also had the alarm control box replaced in a new location due to corrosion problems.
On the boxster (a '96 with 52,000) the mass airflow sensor needed changed (which is probably what your stalling problem is at the moment).
Good luck with the car, but either get a warranty from them or put aside some cash would be my advice.

 

[grant_goulding]

My 996 has been through new discs/Pads every year with the previous owner so it seems they get through them every pretty quickly.
Also at five to six years old corrosion can make things less reliable. I notice the poor design of the area under the bonnet (front luggage lid) where the battery sits is prone to holding the water - this should be checked regulary. Also the RMS is another worrysome point for many 996's - i assume that if they get to 80k then the engine is probably ok.
Oil leaks are another area - The cam covers often weep oil as do other parts - so at five + years you are going to see gaskets etc harden so that a little oil will be present.
As far as high mileage goes on mine, I would expect wheel bearings to need some attention but otherwise I am hoping things should last a long time. Oh yes _ It has also had the Ariflow sensor as well (This again seems to need replacing at 5+ years) and yes - a good point put some money aside for repairs just in case.
Somehow though when I drive the car i just forget how much it costs to run.

 

[OGiii]

You can fiund some of them here John

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?autocom=options&code=carrera

I think there's an automatic look up somewhere, I'm sure somebody will post.

Welcome to 996 ownership - I'm still smiling every day after ~18 months[]

e.g.
M220 LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL 40 %
M222 TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
M224 AUTOMATIC LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL

 

[Steve777]

Hi John,

I too have just purchsed a 996 and loving it. I have all of the codes on a Word document. E mail me and I'll send it to you. I was just the same when I stared at the VIN numbers, but the mystery soon unravels itself

Steve

 

[watlina]

Isn't headlight washers 288?

I've seen 408 listed as both 18" TECHNO WHEEL and 18" TURBO LOOK WHEEL

I've no idea on 234

As for 850 and 882 I can't find any reference to codes in the 800's could these have been mis-read 600's as the sunroof is 650 or perhaps the other was 382 (manual right hand seat)

Did you read them from the sticker under the luggage compartment lid or the sticker in the Guarantee & Maintenance booklet ? (can you cross check)

 

[Johndstratford]

Thanks for all the help. Most of the codes identified.

I have cross checked the numbers on the service record and under the hood and they look like 850 and 852 to me but it does have a sunroof so who knows, that maybe it 650?

Definitley code 234 any ideas???

Anyway what a fantastic car, I can't believe the driving experience so much more engaging than my Boxster (which I did love) I fear the poor old 924S may end up un-used in the garage beside the 996. But I can't face selling the 924S after all these years together.

regards

John Stratford
924S
996

 

[Guest]

Try this:

http://www.kindel.com/Porsche/options.asp

 

[Johndstratford]

Gary

Thanks but when I tried the link but it didn't work for me Just got "page cannot be displayed"?

Any ideas?

regards

John

 

[Johndstratford]

Ok sorted all option codes except 234 (radio??) which doesn't appear to be on any list?

Any ideas

regards

John Stratford
996
924S

 

[THX911]

ORIGINAL: Johndstratford

Ok sorted all option codes except 234 (radio??) which doesn't appear to be on any list?

Any ideas

regards

John Stratford
996
924S

Unlikely, CD radios seems to be in the 686 to 699 range...

I'm looking for 239 and 502 if anyone can help...

 

[Dylan1]

welcome colin
enjoy your car

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

Hi Colin! Welcome to "the Dark Side".