[M3-FAST]

Not content with having one new car this weekend, I decided to bid on a 996 911 during dinner with friends last night in the pub using my ebay iphone app!

I was 99% sure I would have been outbid BUT 2 minutes later I was the winning bid of a 911 Within minutes, the ebay alert had popped up on the ipad at home and the missus text back 'Plank!' ha ha

Anyway, reason for the post is to try and gain some advice - I know a lot of people on here have ran Porsche's in various guises and I am somewhat of a novice!

Some info of the car here.....


Porsche 911 2 Door coupe. 3.4 Ltr manual.

This car is being sold with the private plate P55HRC

Included in this car is:

• Long MOT
• A recent full service
• A top of the range £3500 Kenwood in car entertainment system with BOSE speakers, CD and DVD, Sat Nav, Bass Box in the boot
• Crystal clear Parrott Bluetooth for hands free calls
• Electric front seats
• A garage door opener
• Yellow Callipers under black 18" allow wheels (unbelievably head turning)
• Traction control,
• Alarm
• Immobiliser
• Height adjustable front seats
• Adustable sterring wheel
• Xenon Clear Lense Headlights
• Artic silver centre console, sports gear stick and Handbrake
• ABS
• PAS
• Airbags
• On-board computer
• Electric windows and mirrors
• 3 spoke sports steering wheel
• Colour coded GT3 body kit
• Racing exhaust
• Remote entry
• 4 brand new tyres
• All old MOT's and many receipts

This car was Formally owned by the Director of the Porsche Club this car has been extremely well looked after.

The car has 89,000 miles with full service history - last service done at a Porsche specialist 100 miles ago - it is MOT'd until Jan 2013, Tax'd until July and has 4 new tyres.

The seller has assured me there are no dents and scratches and minimal stone chips.

I have HPi'd and accident checked it, only the number plate swap has shown, but never been stolen/Cat D etc.. so all good there.

There is some stitching on the front seat gone so that will need fixing, hopefully a smart repairer can sort that at a decent price,

Now what should I be looking for when I collect it? Are there any specific 996 traits that are common faults. I know the 3.4 engine is one to watch out for, and ideally to buy one that has already been rebuilt, but I am buying on a budget and have struggled to find a car a the right price that wasn't a horrible colour comboor had done 130k+ miles or no history. All three things together (decent colour, history + reasonable miles normally equals high price!)

Any help and advice welcome - a few pics below - very poor and I will take some decent ones after I collect it on Sunday

[Gibbo]

Great story, in the pub drowning your sorrows from buying a dull Audi and buy a Porsche on ebay. Love it....

[rogerxp]

Plank

[M3-FAST]

That made me laugh mate

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by rogerxp

Plank

She is still talking to me tho' Rog which is a huge bonus!

[dxb335d]

Face lift headlights So must be an 02 onwards! Unless they have been fitted. Does look older than 02.

How much did you pay?!

Still got seberio?!

[JLR1969]

You are very brave, fair play though hope you enjoy it and don't get too many big bills.

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Face lift headlights So must be an 02 onwards! Unless they have been fitted. Does look older than 02.

How much did you pay?!

Still got seberio?!

Facelift headlights fitted with the GT kit mate - it's actually a pre-facelift but also got the tinted rear lights as well.

It's a 1999 model

Subaru is on ebay mate - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3208213056...84.m1555.l2649 trying so shift it! Got an offer of a 2004 MX5 in part ex so just trying to do the deal now as the MX5 should be an easy sale once spring is here! - this is the Scooby's replacement.

[F31-340i]

3.4 is pre-facelift, but the lights are facelift - which may suggest front end rebuild, not cheap, and the reason for doing it......

I recommend you have a good read of the Hartech buying guide if you haven't already.

Good luck with it!

GT3 badge on a non-GT3 ...

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by JLR1969

You are very brave, fair play though hope you enjoy it and don't get too many big bills.

I am hoping the same - it will do very few miles so not 'too' concerned.

Looking more for advice on what to look for so I don't buy a car with known faults.

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by ///ajd

3.4 is pre-facelift, but the lights are facelift - which may suggest front end rebuild, not cheap, and the reason for doing it......

I recommend you have a good read of the Hartech buying guide if you haven't already.

Good luck with it!

GT3 badge on a non-GT3 ...

I am hoping the front end was changed when the GT3 kit was added - I have seen quite a few done like this - they now offer 997 style front ends in the GT3 style for 996/997 models - there has been no insurance claims on the car so no recorded accident damage - I will look closely at this on sunday.

The GT3 badge will be coming off

[peterg1965]

Blimey! I have yet to buy a car on eBay, in the pub being egged on by friends! And, it's a Pork! Good luck!

EDIT: ditch the GT3 badge!

[dxb335d]

How do you know it's not had any insurance claims?!

Unlikey it was insurance anyhow. Not going to pay for anything but standard parts.

[KadeSdad]

So come on Paul, tell us how much was the winning bid, we are all curious to know?

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by KadeSdad

So come on Paul, tell us how much was the winning bid, we are all curious to know?

Gave 10k for it Marcus - It would be worth more in bits to be honest!

Originally Posted by dxb335d

How do you know it's not had any insurance claims?!


Unlikey it was insurance anyhow. Not going to pay for anything but standard parts.

Sorry, I mistyped what I meant Carl, it hasn't been an insurance loss

Originally Posted by peterg1965

Blimey! I have yet to buy a car on eBay, in the pub being egged on by friends! And, it's a Pork! Good luck!


EDIT: ditch the GT3 badge!

I have bought and sold a couple on there Peter - I got the missus Seat Leon FR off ebay and that was a great car - sold it on there a year later.

Also sold her Clio and MR2 roadster on there. Sold our works Grande Punto using it and the lately the father in laws Hyundai Getz. It's quite a good selling tool, and doesnt seem to attract quite as many canvassers as Autotrader?

[KadeSdad]

£10k, excellent! Hope its a 'good one' when you go on Sunday.



Can't say I'm not a little jealous!

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by M3-FAST

Gave 10k for it Marcus - It would be worth more in bits to be honest!

Looks in good nick for 10K Paul,hopefully it will turn out to be a lot of fun.

Good buy imo,your street cred has been restored after outing an M3 for a barge,I was beginning to think you favour pushing stuff the wrong way

[M3-FAST]

It looks OK Ian/Marcus, and if it is mis-described when I get there I will simply walk away

It will be a garage car that come out for a blast on a sunny afternoon, nothing more.

I am not expecting great things from it and do pray that nothing major will fail on it. As I said, if the engine went, I would just break the car - seeing how much interiors/wheerl/brakes/gearboxes/etc go for then it would almost pay for itself in parts. Those front xenons fetch about £600 and the tinted rear lenses about £3-400 - thats a 1/10th of the cars value just in the lights ha ha

As for pushing the wrong way.....no chance mate

[Bungle009]

The most common problem with the 996 is the RMS issue, (Rear main seal). A quick google search will reveal all.

[briers]

Its crazy to think but on the 996 model the bearing seal design is the main issue. Just a tiny piece of rubber can take out the entire engine.

The bearings support the intermediate shaft on the flywheel side and over time the rubber seals on the bearing housing can begin to degrade. As this happens oil and other contaminants can enter the bearing chamber and affect the lubrication and cause premature wear.

If the bearings fails it will affect the engine timing and of course you get a fked engine. The did try and modify later on in the design and the 3.6 did get an overhaul on the tooth chain design and a modified bearing and bolt design that connects it to the crank. Thats another problem as well, the bolt connecting the crank to the bearing can also fail but its a lot less common afaik.

The only other issue is the oil breather vents which could sometimes contaminate the coolant.

To check the bearing issue, you would most likely hear a rattle sound briefly when you start the car, possibly under hard acceleration too. Markedly different from the usual purr. And remember because the bearings wear prematurely, if the seals have gone, you might find very very small amounts of metal particles on the oil filter. However, short of taking it to a ramp with some latex gloves, a wrench and a filter socket your not going to be able to see that, not easily anyway as i'm pretty sure there will be a protective plate under the plug and filter housing.

The breather issue might manifest in a smokey exhaust. A very good friend of mine had a couple of 996's and never had a problem, he had more issues with his 997. Check for the rattling and change the oil ever 5k and inspect.

[M3-FAST]

Cheers fella's - will listen for the rattle

I have read lots about this seal issue, and know that it's failure results in a trashed engine, although it is widely written about it is still relatively rare in terms of number of failures vs units sold - many cars have clocked up lots more miles without any issues.

If it buys me a years fun with no issues, I will be happy

If something fails, I will address it then - I will make sure my AA cover is up to date ha ha and then dump it in the garage until I fix it!

The 3.6 engines are far more trouble free, but I need to really spend £5k more and thats not an option as I am up to my limit already. The car has been owned by the director of the Porsche Owners Club so there is every chance the seal has been done earlier in it's life as he of all people will be aware of it's failure rate and the outcome if it does fail.

He has also prob carried out the GT3 kit mods etc and the aluminium trinkets inside.

The oil was only done 100 miles ago so that wont give any signs

[Giff]

That looks like a std 996 front end?