2001 Boxster

[harbor]

Guys - Adding a 2001 Boxster to my fleet and looking for your input. Has 44K miles, stick & complete service history.
Plan on getting IMS done by a shop and DIY the regular maintenance. Looks like M1 0W40 is the oil of choice and Pelican parts is a valuable source of parts and how-to instructions.
Thanks!

 

[BeerCan]

The little P-cars are a lot of fun, you will enjoy it. They are a little low on power but I think you can wake it up a little with a tune. Even if you don't tune it they are a blast to drive and sound great. Stick makes all that much more fun

 

[wings&wheels]

Congrats, great cars but I may be biased. Please post a pic.

Pelican is OK, but their parts data (MY variations, etc.) is not always completely accurate from personal experience. I use them, but tend to use Suncoast Porsche and FCP Euro more. Stick w/ OE/OEM for most things, Porsche builds very well made cars and supports them with well made parts.

I prefer Mobil1 5w-50 (Porsche A40), but blame a youth misspent around MG's & Triumph's for my thick oil obsession.

The Boxsters are relatively easy to DIY, for a mid engine car. Interior trim can be fragile especially some of the coatings, but new parts are available and the items that tend to wear are easy to replace (cubby doors, radios, etc.). If you have the original radio, it is probably weak. BeckerUSA (maybe Becker Autosound USA??), the OEM, has rebuilt units available on a swap basis.

The good news is these cars don't need much, they are very easy to own.

I also replaced our cars' IMS (986 & 996), and now have two upgraded IMS in the cars and two perfectly fine OE IMS on my shelf...but we have peace of mind.

PM for any help.

Here is our '01 S, also a very low mileage, time warp find:

 

[RooflessVW]

Porsche sells a 5W-50 oil specifically for the M96-engined cars.

My recommendation for oil would be M1 FS 0W-40 or (preferably) M1 FS X2 5w-50.

 

[harbor]

Appreciate the input gents. Car is in FL and I’m in MI, so pics will be forthcoming.
What are you using for the transaxle? RedLine? Mine is a base, so 5sp.

 

[RooflessVW]

Appreciate the input gents. Car is in FL and I’m in MI, so pics will be forthcoming.
What are you using for the transaxle? RedLine? Mine is a base, so 5sp.

I ran Delvac 1 in my 996.

 

[wings&wheels]

Appreciate the input gents. Car is in FL and I’m in MI, so pics will be forthcoming.
What are you using for the transaxle? RedLine? Mine is a base, so 5sp.

Unfortunately, I do not have ,much experience with the 5sp. which is, I believe, made by a different manufacturer then the 6sp Getrag. You may have good luck w/ Redline, but talk to others.

We have the 6sp, which are rumored to be finicky with fluids. I find that is true as I used Redline and was not happy with the feel; extremely notchy and balky when cold. I use Redline gear fluids in most of the fleet, but this is one application where I would not. I use the OE fluid, but know folks who have used Delvac and the Shell product to success.

 

[wings&wheels]

Harbor, nice fleet BTW

 

[harbor]

Harbor, nice fleet BTW

Thanks wings! Just trying to follow your footsteps (minus the aircraft…)

 

[BeerCan]

Appreciate the input gents. Car is in FL and I’m in MI, so pics will be forthcoming.
What are you using for the transaxle? RedLine? Mine is a base, so 5sp.

I use delvac in all of my transaxles as well.

 

[2EHA]

the boxster engines don’t randomly end themselves whenever they want. the 3.4s in the 911 are dropping like flies for non bearing related reasons

i think that year has the single row bearing so it’s probably a good idea to take care of it

 

[wings&wheels]

the boxster engines don’t randomly end themselves whenever they want. the 3.4s in the 911 are dropping like flies for non bearing related reasons

i think that year has the single row bearing so it’s probably a good idea to take care of it

The 2001's can have either design bearing, our mid year build S has the dual row.

How are you seeing the 3.4's dropping like flies??

 

[RooflessVW]

The 2001's can have either design bearing, our mid year build S has the dual row.

How are you seeing the 3.4's dropping like flies??

Cylinder scoring, d chunk, head gaskets, rod bearings, hydrolock from a failed AOS, thrust bearing failures...

The M96 isn't a great design.

 

[wings&wheels]

Cylinder scoring, d chunk, head gaskets, rod bearings, hydrolock from a failed AOS, thrust bearing failures...

The M96 isn't a great design.

Yeah, I've read a bunch about them, even borsescoped our cars out of paranoia (both perfect BTW), but just haven't come across too many personally, or via the P'car indy I use or local PCA folks.... Have heard of a few IMS's issues from the circle, but even then, much less than I'd expect given all the hoopla.

No, its not the strongest engine ever made, but certainly not the worse.

 

[RooflessVW]

Yeah, I've read a bunch about them, even borsescoped our cars out of paranoia (both perfect BTW), but just haven't come across too many personally, or via the P'car indy I use or local PCA folks.... Have heard of a few IMS's issues from the circle, but even then, much less than I'd expect given all the hoopla.

No, its not the strongest engine ever made, but certainly not the worse.

Unfortunately it is impossible to borescope the cylinders. The scoring starts at the bottom. By the time the scoring makes it far enough up that you can see it from the top, it has been too late.

Definitely not the best, but also not the worst. My next Porsche will be TDI or LS swapped.

 

[2EHA]

or just buy a turbo

 

[RooflessVW]

or just buy a turbo

Nah.

The way I see it, if a 2.7tt fits in a Boxster, then a 3.0 TDI will as well...

 

[wings&wheels]

Unfortunately it is impossible to borescope the cylinders. The scoring starts at the bottom. By the time the scoring makes it far enough up that you can see it from the top, it has been too late.

Definitely not the best, but also not the worst. My next Porsche will be TDI or LS swapped.

I was more concerned w/ the "D chunk" failure at the time...actually not too concerned I just had access to my friends shop and his nifty diagnostic tools

I just maintain them obsessively and drive them as they should, works so far (furiously knocking on wood trim while rubbing rabbits foot)!

 

[willbur]

Guys - Adding a 2001 Boxster to my fleet and looking for your input. Has 44K miles, stick & complete service history.
Plan on getting IMS done by a shop and DIY the regular maintenance. Looks like M1 0W40 is the oil of choice and Pelican parts is a valuable source of parts and how-to instructions.
Thanks!

In my opinion, IMS issue is mostly internet hysteria, promoted by a company that sells replacement IMS kits for outrageous prices. I replaced mine and it looked new. A Porsche specialist said in his 17 years working/modifying these cars, he had only seen 2 actual IMS failures. YMMV as they say. But first question everyone asks is was it replaced if you try to sell the car. Porsche shop manger said cause is moisture in seldom driven cars. BTW, a 2001 model has negligible IMS issues bc it has the two row ball bearing. Use Castrol Euro A3/B4 0-40. Quiets engine better than the Mobil. Check the clutch override switch- a common failure point. And the Oil-Air separator (AOS), another very common failure point. Both simple to repair. If you elect to do the IMS, replace the rear main seal too. In my experience, Suncoast is the best parts source.