Lets start with the basics, it's a 1999 3.4l Carrera (C2), manual, coupe, sunroof delete, M030 sports suspension, cargraphic silencers with "gundo" hack, 997 Carrera iii wheels (and 997 tyre sizes). The only options are heated and electric (with driver memory) seats with a very comprehensive service history.
I have fancied a 911 for years, not helped by PPBBthread on PH, and reinforced when I realised my next fun car would be my usual car, we have a Passat for family duties as well. My previous 205GTi and MR2 roadster as 3rd cars didn't get used much or the attention they needed.
This one came up relatively locally to me, advertised on PH. I wasn't in a position to proceed until we had confirmation of costs for some work on the house, but I messaged the seller to ask about his experience with local specialists. I had ideally been looking for a car with black leather, and the 3 spoke wheel but kept coming back to this car as many of the common 996 issues done, and preventative maintenance and the consumables are all in good shape. A week or so later the house costs were confirmed, so I went back to the seller.
A look around the car and the test drive was all very positive, until going back down the lane to where the car was stored which revealed a knock from the front of the car, and restarting it once back it was slightly slow to turn over. There was a ramp to hand so I had a good look underneath which revealed 2 slight oil leaks, a slightly crushed aircon pipe (only replaced a year or so prior) and leak from the adjacent joint, and an unidentified leak from between 2 of the undertrays around the front firewall, which I later found to be where the aircon drain is.
Oil leak 1 - this is the left hand (bank 1) cam chain tensioner)
Oil leak 2 (circled) - what I assumed (correctly) was the AOS (air oil separator), effectively the crank case breather.
Crushed and leaking aircon pipe
A price was agreed subject to an inspection, which I had done at Project Nine who were the nearest Porsche specialist, I'm still waiting on the report from that but have a screenshot of their job card, it highlighted:
- aftermarket gearbox mount causing vibration through car
- rear track control arms have excessive play
- front inner track rods have slight play
- front tuning forks
- coolant rad splitting and leaking
- oil air separator bellows [misting oil]
- bank 1 cam tensioner seal [weaping]
- bank 2 blank off plate sweating coolant
- bank 1 core plug needs further investigation (below AOS bellows)
- oil cooler seals sweating coolant
- bank 2 - 1no manifold bolt broken [not leaking]
- front to rear AC pipe crushed and leaking at join
- O/S headlight aim too high
- passenger vanity mirror cover missing
I was eager to complete things quickly as Project Nine charge a storage fee once work is complete, which I thought was my first encountered with a Porsche tax, but doesn't seem to be standard among marque specialists. I negotiated £750 off the agreed price, which covers the parts for the gearbox mount, radiators, front tuning forks and inner track rods, rear track rod arms, AOS bellows, and seals for the oil cooler and cam tensioner.
This was a mistake, as in my rush I had forgotten the coolant and distilled water (it takes 22L), various clips and seals for the AOS, and wasn't aware the cam tensioners require the oil to be dropped. Additionally I've bought a complete AOS, front top mounts, complete oil cooler (not just seals), and standard paper air filter to go back to standard. So all told I'm at £1400, plus the alignment, which puts me slightly over my original budget.
I'm 6 weeks and 1100miles in now, it's not using any oil or coolant, and has averaged about 26mpg. I was worried the "gundo" hack on the exhaust, which effectively is a small diameter link which shortcuts the silencer on each side was going to be too loud for everyday use, but it isn't boomy on the motorway so that's fine. The kids love it and my wife will drive it reluctantly, she's coming round to it as she was initially pretty unhappy that it "isn't a proper 4 seater". .
Perhaps due to greater use the aircon leak has dried up and is still blowing cold, which is a relief as a fair bit of the front of the car has to come apart to replace that long front-rear pipe. The slow hot starting has improved so suspect the battery is healthier now it's being used more.
Until a week or so ago all I'd done was re-sync the 2nd remote key, fit a TR7412UB-OR head unit with bluetooth, refit the standard air filter and pipework, and confirm which of the rear arms the PPI noted (rear lower, and only any play on the nearside).
Helmholtz resonator delete kit, now removed.
It's great to look forward to the more mundane journey again, and the steering and in particular the turn in are fabulous. I'm taking it over to Classics at Prescott next month, and am looking forward to the journey across the Cotswolds and taking it up the hill.
No particular plans for it other than to enjoy it, and when these tyres are worn out to replace with 996 tyre sizes.
I may change the wheels for 996 5 spokes as I have discovered the 997 runs slightly different offsets (7mm further in up front, and 7mm further out at the rear), or use a 15mm hub-centric spacer on the front so it is +7mm all round. I will remove the centre lower console to increase space for my left leg at some stage, but the part in the C50 Graphite Grey colour I need isn't currently available, Tonbridge Porsche and PCGB have confirmed that a new manufacturer is currently undergoing testing and more information will be available at the beginning of September.
Another photo from a run out for the sake of it one evening a couple of days after I got it. Number plate screw caps have been sorted!
I have fancied a 911 for years, not helped by PPBBthread on PH, and reinforced when I realised my next fun car would be my usual car, we have a Passat for family duties as well. My previous 205GTi and MR2 roadster as 3rd cars didn't get used much or the attention they needed.
This one came up relatively locally to me, advertised on PH. I wasn't in a position to proceed until we had confirmation of costs for some work on the house, but I messaged the seller to ask about his experience with local specialists. I had ideally been looking for a car with black leather, and the 3 spoke wheel but kept coming back to this car as many of the common 996 issues done, and preventative maintenance and the consumables are all in good shape. A week or so later the house costs were confirmed, so I went back to the seller.
A look around the car and the test drive was all very positive, until going back down the lane to where the car was stored which revealed a knock from the front of the car, and restarting it once back it was slightly slow to turn over. There was a ramp to hand so I had a good look underneath which revealed 2 slight oil leaks, a slightly crushed aircon pipe (only replaced a year or so prior) and leak from the adjacent joint, and an unidentified leak from between 2 of the undertrays around the front firewall, which I later found to be where the aircon drain is.
Oil leak 1 - this is the left hand (bank 1) cam chain tensioner)
Oil leak 2 (circled) - what I assumed (correctly) was the AOS (air oil separator), effectively the crank case breather.
Crushed and leaking aircon pipe
A price was agreed subject to an inspection, which I had done at Project Nine who were the nearest Porsche specialist, I'm still waiting on the report from that but have a screenshot of their job card, it highlighted:
- aftermarket gearbox mount causing vibration through car
- rear track control arms have excessive play
- front inner track rods have slight play
- front tuning forks
- coolant rad splitting and leaking
- oil air separator bellows [misting oil]
- bank 1 cam tensioner seal [weaping]
- bank 2 blank off plate sweating coolant
- bank 1 core plug needs further investigation (below AOS bellows)
- oil cooler seals sweating coolant
- bank 2 - 1no manifold bolt broken [not leaking]
- front to rear AC pipe crushed and leaking at join
- O/S headlight aim too high
- passenger vanity mirror cover missing
I was eager to complete things quickly as Project Nine charge a storage fee once work is complete, which I thought was my first encountered with a Porsche tax, but doesn't seem to be standard among marque specialists. I negotiated £750 off the agreed price, which covers the parts for the gearbox mount, radiators, front tuning forks and inner track rods, rear track rod arms, AOS bellows, and seals for the oil cooler and cam tensioner.
This was a mistake, as in my rush I had forgotten the coolant and distilled water (it takes 22L), various clips and seals for the AOS, and wasn't aware the cam tensioners require the oil to be dropped. Additionally I've bought a complete AOS, front top mounts, complete oil cooler (not just seals), and standard paper air filter to go back to standard. So all told I'm at £1400, plus the alignment, which puts me slightly over my original budget.
I'm 6 weeks and 1100miles in now, it's not using any oil or coolant, and has averaged about 26mpg. I was worried the "gundo" hack on the exhaust, which effectively is a small diameter link which shortcuts the silencer on each side was going to be too loud for everyday use, but it isn't boomy on the motorway so that's fine. The kids love it and my wife will drive it reluctantly, she's coming round to it as she was initially pretty unhappy that it "isn't a proper 4 seater". .
Perhaps due to greater use the aircon leak has dried up and is still blowing cold, which is a relief as a fair bit of the front of the car has to come apart to replace that long front-rear pipe. The slow hot starting has improved so suspect the battery is healthier now it's being used more.
Until a week or so ago all I'd done was re-sync the 2nd remote key, fit a TR7412UB-OR head unit with bluetooth, refit the standard air filter and pipework, and confirm which of the rear arms the PPI noted (rear lower, and only any play on the nearside).
Helmholtz resonator delete kit, now removed.
It's great to look forward to the more mundane journey again, and the steering and in particular the turn in are fabulous. I'm taking it over to Classics at Prescott next month, and am looking forward to the journey across the Cotswolds and taking it up the hill.
No particular plans for it other than to enjoy it, and when these tyres are worn out to replace with 996 tyre sizes.
I may change the wheels for 996 5 spokes as I have discovered the 997 runs slightly different offsets (7mm further in up front, and 7mm further out at the rear), or use a 15mm hub-centric spacer on the front so it is +7mm all round. I will remove the centre lower console to increase space for my left leg at some stage, but the part in the C50 Graphite Grey colour I need isn't currently available, Tonbridge Porsche and PCGB have confirmed that a new manufacturer is currently undergoing testing and more information will be available at the beginning of September.
Another photo from a run out for the sake of it one evening a couple of days after I got it. Number plate screw caps have been sorted!
.
