Porsche Engine Failures MADE SIMPLE - Hartech Explain IMS, RMS, Bore Scoring for 911, 986 & 987

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Thinking of buying a 986, 987, 996 or 997 generation Porsche Boxster, Cayman or 911? Then you'll have heard of the sometimes catastrophic engine failures these cars can suffer. Today we explain what the issues are, which cars are affected and what can be done - all courtesy of specialists Hartech
www.hartech.org/
#Porsche #911 #Boxster
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[@thewaywardgrape3838]

Allowing Julien to talk on camera, was a very, very good idea. Engaging, comfortable and clearly confident in what he's saying!

[@ftboomer1]

I actually agree

[@nevermind2534]

@@ftboomer1 actually came here to comment similar actually

[@dimsoneill]

He was brilliant hey! I love listening to a real experienced expert in their field.

[@SafeBandicoot]

Here in Germany, quite a lot of these affected cars are on rebuilt engines now. The survivors with no rebuild & mega miles/km have a few things in common; They are daily driven, Have the 3.6 or non-S engine, driven quite vigorously on the autobahns and oil changes are done every 6 months when the car goes in for its winter wheel swap. The advise I got from the old engineer i bought my 997.1 from was: Drive it like the way you should make love to your spouse. Regular and vigorous 😂

[@chrisdavidson911]

Similar story with Ducati motorbikes, the ones that fall apart are frequently the ones which don't get used enough

[@mickvonbornemann3824]

@@chrisdavidson911 hence the “Italian tuneup”

[@leeprice386]

drive it like you stole it

[@robnelsonbayvillage]

My 2.7L 2004 Boxster provided 154,600 miles of fun, including many track days. It was a CPO at Penske Porsche in OH when I bought it with 22K on the clock.

[@AntoniusTyas]

The point being: Use your car as it always intended to be, know when it needs maintenance, and give it treatment it deserves. Leaving it as a garage queen is the exact opposite of what they need and want.

[@adrianbennett3761]

Can’t believe a company like Porsche made so many design mistakes on these engines

[@EvoraGT430]

Yet people still decry Toyota-engined Lotus cars.......

[@adrianbennett3761]

@@EvoraGT430 Toyota always carry out proper testing and produce some of the world’s most reliable engines. Evora GT is a future classic. BTW my favourite engine is the V10 in the LFA

[@IronicTonic8]

It wasn't design mistakes, it was severe lack of budget. The M series engines were designed in the mid-90's when porsche was near broke. They had to cut corners because they couldn't afford not to. The success of these cars allowed them to survive and then largely fix the problems of their earlier designs, which is why you don't see these issues in newer models.

[@Silentwitness1978]

They had Toyota come in at the time and help them to streamline their manufacturing processes and techniques. These items were those that fell through the net amongst massive change. They also spent all their money developing the 959.

[@strangerdanger8462]

Folks, it was bad design. Period. Stop making excuses for Porsche. Yes they've corrected it now, but they should be called out when they get it wrong.

[@MrCaterhamr500]

All of these design flaws yet Porsche has never admitted their mistakes (apart from the North America IMS case), to me that really stinks of disrespect to their customers.

[@jdtseventyfour]

@@MrCaterhamr500 vehicle manufacturers rarely admit fault as it will cost them a lot of money to fix the issue. Issues like these can be missed in the normal development program of a car as the tests to simulate vehicle life of 150k miles 10 years are completed in around 2 to 3 years. Modern cars are even worse due to more reliance on computer analysis rather than physical testing.

[@PatricioGarcia1973]

did toyota admit mistake for the sh* ty engine block on the new Tundras? there is no recall and only replace the block. Everything from your current engine gets transfered to the new block.

[@vikos78]

@@PatricioGarcia1973 How can your compare a basic Tundra and mythical cars like contemporary 911 that have been fooling people for years.

[@malcolmn.5222]

@@vikos78 because they are both cars, thats how you compare

[@EvoraGT430]

Hartech are simply the best at dealing with these (shonky) engines. Would love to see a 4.1 996 test.

[@dimsoneill]

Well that was fantastic! I'm a service engineer for high-end mass spectrometers so have a real appreciation for good (and bad) design and material choices. I love how the original issues were explained extremely well with accompanying video and still images, and then the reasons for the re-designed and improved parts are delivered with that important background. I leant a lot! Thanks JayEmm

[@romanparker6571]

It seems James' shirt has also been a victim of bore scoring

[@user-zc5gd8ki3u]

More like pie feasting

[@louisvanrijn3964]

This man is giving a college lecture on engine design for Porsche engineers ! Increadible! Brilliant!

[@markfetherston1822]

James, that was a very impressive job of explaining highly technical facts and figures that require talent and skill to communicate clearly. Far harder to get a video like that right than a standard video. Well done indeed. I’m a Porsche owner and that’s the best summary I’ve watched on these issues. Well done and Thankyou.👍

[@ronaldroberts9556]

I knew of Baz many years ago as an exceptionally gifted engineer at Caernarfon. His Suzuki engines were incredible. His achievements in solving Porsche engine problems has cemented his reputation in the auto world. A truly remarkable person indeed. Huge respect!

[@peejayarr2323]

@@ronaldroberts9556 you’re so right… re-engineering the existing platform creates a better powerplant that exceeds the original design. A V2.0 in effect

[@jmhofmeyr]

These small companies don't have buildings filled with marketing people or focus groups with their heads stuck in some text book going " we think more screens, more driver aids, more fake engine sounds". Its just a bunch of clever, proper petrol heads doing whatever they want, and you know what, AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY'RE TAKING THE BIG MANUFACTURERS TO SCHOOL......BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@cj09beira]

its at these small to medium sizes that companies at at their most efficient for sure

[@poolmonkey]

It goes against the anecdotes I grew up hearing about British engineering being substandard compared to German engineering. I guess in this case the tables are turned.

[@trevorlane]

Bore score and 7 years ago our Porsche forefathers brought upon us, oil consumption, sooty pipes, ticks, and misfires, and a dream that all 2000s Porsche sports cars are created equal.

[@MrCaterhamr500]

*poorly.

[@pdpauldelaney]

Haha nice

[@Jaq365]

Dang, you beat me to it!

[@robertsole9970]

And all intermediate shafts not equal

[@user-in4mq3fk6v]

I’ve been running a 996.1 self maintained for 7 years now. A few points: It’s a 20 yo car, I’ve had numerous issues to fix like worn engine mounts, exhaust brackets, steering pump hardline, ac hardline, heat exchanger, AOS. Things which were not broken were worn out like brakes, suspension, steering rack. Old rubber is old rubber, old plastics crack, old metal corrodes. Even though the chassis is galvanised, I’ve spent an entire summer cleaning and resealing a bit of surface corrosion. So it’s not as simple as “this car has an engine issue”. As for the engine, I’ve set aside £13.5k in case the engine goes pop. (AMS is cheaper than Hartech). But it’s not as simple as bore scoring, IMS, RMS. There are also bearings, chains, tensioners, etc. inside the engine. The important thing to note with any 911 is there is no top end / bottom end refresh- got a small issue? Got a big issue? If it’s engine related it’s the whole engine out, at which point a refresh is best given the cost. Usage is also key- the seller used his car sparingly and lightly. I use it every day and, when warm, driven it hard. Driven like that all the issues surfaced over the years. Context is key: go into it blind and it will be a nightmare, but understand what a 20 yo car involves, and you realise the active 911 community ensures these cars live.

[@bugattieb110ss]

They were badly designed in order to save money - it's that simple. I have a '94 Skyline GTR, I've owned it since '98 and it's bomb proof because it was well designed. I therefore do not need to set aside tens of thousands of pounds for when it goes bang!

[@Desertduleler_88]

Sound like expensive money pits to me, I prefer the earlier cars.

[@tompackage]

I had a BMW E39 540i manual for 21 years. I put 55,000 miles on it and no major issues. It's still running now with it's new owner. These Porsches sound ridiculous.

[@corychecketts]

I certainly enjoyed the 996 community when I owned my car. But after a while, you see through the Porsche mystique and see the 996 for what it really is: a giant money pit. I'll always cherish my ownership experience but I'm glad I got over the Porsche allure and went with much better Japanese cars from the early 2000s.

[@MrCaterhamr500]

@@corychecketts I totally agree, my years of Impreza (96 WRX RA) and Evo 6 RS were much better than my 996 C4S ownership, far more reliable. In fact I had a JDM Eunos Roadster with over 140k on the clock that I turbo converted and it was super reliable. There this saying that German engineering is great but every German thing I’ve had has broken ie various Bosch appliances and E-bike, and the Porsche is a pain in the arse and not even designed well (long gearing is just ridiculous to have on a sports car)

[@mikefuller1478]

Hartech rebuilt my 3.8 carrera S to a 4.1 and its fantastic,loads of torque.These guy's really know what there doing 100%

[@michaelschneider-]

IMS Failure: : .... It's the very best IMS failure video description - -bearing improvement I've ever encountered.

[@andycunns4269]

I have a fresh built 4.1 hartech 997.1 .. 389bhp and 353ftlb, and I can testify, it is absolutely PERFECT for our B roads .. absolutely sublime!!

[@velcingilles3756]

How much was the work? That's what I'd do to mine if I had the dreaded issue...

[@nickmoulton446]

They rebuilt my 997’s engine to sort bore scoring. It went on a pallet. Worth the money as i knew what was buying when I bought the car & all the cost back when i sold it.

[@IronicTonic8]

This is the reason I bought the 2.7 base cayman. I've owned a 911 and Cayman S, and the base 2.7 Cayman is just as much fun. Don't overlook it.

[@MrCaterhamr500]

They have long gearing though in the 5 speed, not bad if you get the optional 6 speed though. 2.7 is a sweet engine, needs a light flywheel though.

[@IronicTonic8]

@MrCaterhamr500 I've had both the S and the base, the gearing is looong in both and you won't really notice the marginal difference. It's the kind of thing that is easy to spot on paper, nearly impossible to perceived in the real world. The base is tons of fun and it makes you work a little more for the performance by revving it out (which is something I love as a former S2000 owner). Finding a 6-speed base is extremely rare and you'll pay a premium for it, and it's totally not worth it.

[@MrCaterhamr500]

@@IronicTonic8 I agree that the gearing is still long but the gap between ratios is better on a six speed, I’ve owned and tracked both, the six speed IS better when driven properly.

[@garagecedric]

A friend got bore score on his 2.7 Cayman, less risk of course but they arent safe sadly..

[@mikemagoomcgrady]

4.1 is a must, can’t leave the middle gen out. Great video!

[@A2KLAU]

Thank you James, a very enjoyable and educational watch!! Loved every bit of it because it spoke to the curious mechanical brain inside. Learnt so much and it’s great to know genuine knowledgeable engineers still exist who use their quality of work to speak for themselves.

[@chrisgoldsmith4397]

Really nice breakdown of IMS and RMS issues. IMS has been often overblown. By buying 06 onwards you should be ok. 05 tricky year as IMS could be either a bigger reliable bearing or the smaller single row. Jay's summary of bore scoring risk for all the models half way through the video is spot on.... lot's of reasons why, casting issues, oiling, pistons cast (better) than forged, bore size, v long service intervals, cold climate, idling without driving and much more. Porsche Club America have 4 hours of videos to scare you. We have to remember these engines are two decades old. Sooty tail pipe and tapping are late signs. Having engine scoped before is advised but you'll need to approach bores from below.....I'm not sure all sellers will agree to this. Lot's of other things from air oil separators, corroded cross over pipes, clutches. Own a 08 Boxter 2.7 and IMO they sound better than 911 Cabriolet. Whilst they're are a few around you can be picky. 6k miles in mine last year nd I love the car. I prefer the drive of 987.1, exhaust tone and front but 987.2 are less common and command a premium. These are wonderful cars and IMO the 911 987.1 was the prettiest 911.

[@artmoore3455]

Great video explaining in understandable terms the design faults on these 911 engines which I have studied previously from information provided by Hartech, but this video crystallised and completed that previous research. Thanks JayEmm and Hartech. Yes JayEmm get a 4.1 997.1 for yourself.

[@ant76og22]

Great video, my gen 1 3.4 is at Hartech now having a full rebuild & capacity increase, watching this just confirms my decision to spend the money is going to be well spent. I can't eait to get it back.

[@justinmckeown9029]

You’ll love it and it’s worth every penny. Slakker (Hartech’s US branch) built my 996.1’s 3.4 into a 3.7 and I have no regrets. It’ll take off in 3rd gear with no problem (learned that due to a failing slave cylinder).

[@dwarfyh32]

I drove those same 996 cars in Feb 23 and the 3.7 eco was the biggest surprise of the day. It pulled hard even from very low rpm, a great piece of engineering from the team. The 3.9 conversion definitely brought the 3.6 bang up to date with an impressive power delivery right up to the red line and bags of torque where you needed it for fast road driving. The 4.1L which was part of the line up on the day turned the heat up even more and i was lucky enough to become the owner soon after. The team at Hartech are exceptional at what they do and are leading the way in keeping these early water cooled cars on the road where they may otherwise have been uneconomical to repair.

[@MrCaterhamr500]

What are the Hp/trq figures for the 4.1?

[@dwarfyh32]

@@MrCaterhamr500 mine is 371 bhp and 450nm

[@MrCaterhamr500]

@@dwarfyh32 thank you, that’s not bad!

[@NightfallDrives]

Great video 👍 Imagine if Lotus had suffered similar design flaws 🤷‍♂️the British automotive media have a lot to answer for in how these two brands are perceived.

[@milestaylor7096]

Hear hear

[@PatricioGarcia1973]

they have a lot of design flaws. You never had a Lotus Sprit or Lotus Elan?

[@997GURU]

My 2005 997.1 Carerra S now passing 121000 miles, unopened engine, OCI at 5000 miles, oil analysis have been flawless and consistent in my 10 year ownership

[@mattdedasc]

Great video, right from the best in the industry. I have a very early (late 97) 3.4, which I bought 12 years ago. I did my research back in the day and Baz Hart was very informative. So I fitted an upgraded bearing, a lower temperature thermostat (From Hartech) and - touch wood - going strong at 123k miles.

[@tommybronze3451]

27:33 - yeah, higher compression will give better efficiency ALWAYS, the problem is that higher compression ratio increases combustion temp leading to higher NOX ... I'm not knocking it down, however I we need to understand why Stuttgart folk decided to go with lower compression ratio.

[@ryanrobinson2401]

Can’t wait for the 4.1 review! I get a 996.2 with the 3.6 bored to 3.9. It feels great!

[@Frank-1978]

Truly one of the best channels on Utube James. Great video. I'll be saving this for future reference 👌👍

[@dannsmcshane1233]

Big Lee is the man saved me from a botched effort my a cowboy from paisley Scotland thanks Lee

[@daggidding4478]

Great informative video. Thanks, James! And yes please to a more in depth video on a 4.1 😃

[@lostinbluespace5210]

I’ve nearly pulled the trigger on a 996 a few times, but never quite got there. This is a brilliant video, probably one of the best you’ve done!

[@greggmay959]

An informative and well balanced analysis, James. I bought my 3.4 996 C2 knowing all that could go wrong (and how to deal with it if it does), it had the IMS and RMS done along with a new clutch shortly before purchase, so far all is good. There is however a tiny little bit of me is still hoping for a cylinder bore issue to rear it's head, only so that I have a good enough excuse to visit Hartech for a set of 3.7 pistons and liners... Keep up the great content 👍

[@petersmith2650]

Spot on. I absolutely love my 996.2 C2. Without fail it makes me smile every time I drive it. If I need a lift I just take it for a spin, it’s super reliable in that sense and I can’t see myself ever selling it. If one day it were to go BANG I’d just take it to Hartech and make it even better🤷🏻‍♂️

[@billfrielingsdorf6501]

I love the styling. I grew up lusting after the Stratos and the Esprit, so I guess I am a sucker for a wedge. Keep up the good work. I really enjoy your videos.

[@NunoMiguelDelgado]

Those 996 C4S are gorgeous, at least among 996s. 😮

[@foragingadventures]

What an interesting video! Love the ultra anorak-y stuff, thanks for doing all this work. It's 100x the scope but I'd love to see a similar video on the VW TSI engines and all their issues. Which cars to avoid, how to prevent issues etc.

[@V70P3rules]

JayEmm, More of this type of content please. Very interesting indeed. I knew about borescore, but didn't know the cause, or whether to invest in such an equipped car. Great work👍

[@TexasRiverRat31254]

Thanks for showing us the truth. I spent many hours on the internet and all the info I found said the 987.1 wouldn't suffer from bore score because it was the "old" piston design/coating. Oh well, keep driving it, keep the oil extra fresh and hope for the best. Worst case it goes to a new owner that has funds for a different engine as a complete rebuild is too much. Note...I've owned a couple Corvettes,(C-6,C-7), and it seems high performance cars tend to have issues as everything is taken to the max to achieve those results. If you're concerned about reliability buy a car which has been proven to be exactly that.

[@iruletheworld12]

Absolutely love the Futurama reference! ❤

[@francescorochira773]

Another great video James. I've heard of Hartech and seen some videos of their amazing work. I have a 1999 Porsche 996 with a replacement engine that has the larger single row IMS bearing. It's a factory replacement that was done by the previous owner some 35k mikes ago. Great car, I've owned it now close to 4 years and it's a great all rounder. It's also ULEZ compliant, which is useful when visiting my brother in London. Get the hartech conversion 4.1, go on you know you want to.

[@awpimp]

Great content. I myself had my 997.1c2s full engine rebuilt so yes Hartech guys know their stuffs. 🎉

[@commendatore2516]

what I don't understand is, Porsche is known as a big brand, legendary proportions, top notch knowledge/technology etc etc, but if they actually were, then these mistakes should never have existed in the first place right? i mean they are Porsche, and not some upstart chinese brand or Lada, i would understand these issues coming from a C or D brand but not from a A++ brand, you guys follow me on this?

[@HIOP0]

You clearly have always misunderstood Lada. They were originally designed and built for the domestic market, many decades ago, to keep running reliably in the face of weather hardship, rutted tracks, rather than tarmacadam, minimal maintenance, etc, etc. Quite possibly many Lada fans would tell you that the objects of their affection are many more times reliable than a highly strung premium product.

[@ryansanchez2448]

I was first frightened to watch this video but, now I'm on cloud nine. Great video and great break down, Hartech is doing the Lord's work bringing new life to these modern classics. 996/986 is definitely my favorite era of Porsche.

[@dkjens0705]

I've taken many M96/97 engines apart. The IMS always had oil inside it and when changing the bearing you can see and smell how bad and acidic that oil has turned. I know some with the theory and I agree, that especially with all the garage queen cars with these engines, oil will seep into the IMS while the car is parked. This oil is cooked again and again and eventually turns acidic. As some of this acidic oil leaks through the IMS bearing, it washes the lubricant away and the bearing starts going to shit. I always advised owners to, if possible, park their rear engine cars nose high and mid engine cars nose low. This way the oil level is below the IMS bearing and oil won't seep into the shaft. I also agree that an open bearing, splash lubricated by engine oil, is a great solution. We would get many M96/97 blocks sleeved locally and us JE pistons, could go to a 102mm bore and those engines ran absolutely great. Increasing engine volume by 200cc didn't require extra tuning, increasing by 400cc we did send them out to be tuned. The Eco engines with 14:1 compression sounds wild, maybe they installed a methanol injection system. An early 996 with a 6-speed close ratio gearbox, stroked and bored to 4.2 liters would be a dream come true and only cost maximum US$25,000 if you found the right deal on a car with a blown engine. If you plan on tracking these cars, the extra 2 liter deep sump oil pan (US$800) is an absolute must investment or your rod bearing #5, followed by mains will take a shit. To keep bore scoring to a minimum use good quality fuel and keep those fuel injectors in perfect condition with perfect spray patterns to avoid cylinder washing and for Christ sake, use good oil and change it often. Great show, that Barry guy is smart.

[@dominicanwar363]

Nice that someone can fix what Porsche couldn't give toss about. As far as I am concerned Porsche stopped building cars after the last aircooled 6.

[@iancharlton678]

Great and informative chat 🙂 Sort of explained my own turmoil searching for my one last attempt to scratch that 911 itch……. and why I went safe/silly and bought a 2001 996 TT coupe……. without your beloved sunroof, with my choice of tiptronic, which I am very pleased with……. Anyhow, you can judge my taste on Sunday in the park 🙂🇬🇧

[@mesaboogieman4001]

Thought I knew all about the problems with these engines but have learnt so much from the detailed explanations, brilliant! Also glad to see my 986 Boxster S doesnt suffer from bore score

[@iainb9277]

That video deserves a lot more than 110k views.

[@gaccutler9526]

Best explanation of IMS and bore score, from someone who understands the engineering. A breath of fresh air, dare i say... 😊

[@michaelschneider-]

Agreed.. To the power of ten.

[@carlstow2076]

One of your best videos. Would love to see more Hartech Porsche content please 🙏

[@davidmason1919]

Great to see someone like Julian that actually knows what he’s talking about. Top video 👍

[@nigelsmith3144]

The first expert I've heard talk about these issues! Brilliant.

[@johnshanklin6633]

Great one stop explanations of shortcomings of our fav flat sixes from an expert. Wonderful idea. And yes you should do in depth review of one of their conversions. I look forward to it.

[@flat6croc]

Interesting that the Hartech explanation for why bank 2 scores first has changed. They used to say it was due to the cooling balance. Bank 2 ran hotter and cylinder 4, then 5, then 6 progressively hotter. Idea was that the oil film broke down at hotter temps, preventing the Lokasil particles from being suspended in the oil, and so they could contact the piston coating and bore surface etc. That made sense re cylinder 6 being the most prone to scoring. I don't understand how the newer explanation in this video accounts for cylinder 6 and then 5 being far more prone to scoring. Surely if it was loack of oil on start up, then cylinder 4 would be just as prone, but it definitely isn't. It's rarely the first cylinder to go, as Hartech will know...

[@man-mq9rk]

Should I get another ae86 or a 996?

[@johnrayner3940]

Yeah. I remember talk from Baz, on PH, about waiting at traffic lights, idling for a few minutes, and then labouring the engine hard from low revs being the cause. They didn't seem to say much about that in this video.

[@johnwh1039]

@@johnrayner3940 I thought the same. dont idle when cold, dont drive hard when cold, dont do teh traffic light grands prix after being stationary, keep the revs up, dont use the torque and labour the engines

[@warrenblacking]

From our "not a lot of people know that department" - the 2006 Boxster S does not have IMS or bore score problems as it has an improved bearing AND cast pistons so is essentially immune. This nice sweet spot does NOT extend to the 2006 Cayman.

[@porscheg50]

@@warrenblacking , exactly what I found out. I then bought a 2006 Boxster S with the large IMS bearing. Now this bearing has gone wrong and I have a lot of metal particles in the filter. The engine has to be rebuilt! So never be to sure. 67000 miles and complete service history….

[@busstophere]

You have a really good show, you get into the details. I really like your show.

[@andrewbuckley2892]

As a Porsche owner of several Porsche cars over decades , it is not acceptable that they disowned these issues. Feel they are not the Porsche company of old ! For that reason I would never have another !! I am sure I am not the only one .

[@MrCaterhamr500]

You are absolutely right, they do not care about the customer, my Porsche ownership experience over x2 cars has been terrible, I’d never ever have another, I’d rather have a Maserati and I bet they are on par reliability wise!

[@guysoceanharmonics]

That explanation shows a very detailed depth of knowledge, certainly provides confidence in anyone looking for work to be conducted on their vehicle

[@tombabington9652]

Excellent video great info thanks Jay

[@tinman917]

According to Google, quote: For the record, 14:1 cr is SCCA territory, and would likely require 116 octane leaded race fuel and frequent replacement of rod bearings. I’m sure everything is just fine and I may be misinformed but some clarification I think would be welcomed.

[@davidlowe4093]

brilliant annalist on the main problems explained, even I understood! Go ahead and get one Jay.

[@petesmitt]

analyst; annalist is a list of anna's..

[@brightenupcc]

I never thought you’d ever mention M96 motor ailments again but here we are. I’m excited!

[@paulm2518]

What a cool video. Now I want my 997.2S converted to 4.2 with more torque! Time to go send an email.

[@hawkinsjd11]

This was a brilliant video. Thank you for taking the time and energy to make such an in-depth walk through.

[@timprice5]

What a great video. Very informative. I own a 2006 987.1 S (3.2) and bought it over a later car for exactly the reasons in your table (interestingly the table doesn't mention 3.2 litre cars with the larger IMS circa 2005/55 and 2006/06). Cast pistons, flexible RMS, larger IMS and no bore score (and 360 quid road tax pre-April 06), known as the 'goldilocks 987'. It's been an amazing car for the past 3 years or so. Yes I'd love a 911 but given the aforementioned issues won't be getting rid anytime soon given the Boxster has cost me under £15k in total and done almost 20k miles with very little trouble.

[@MrRoyck10]

Driving a Porsche without the triple evil of bore scoring, RMS and IMS bearing is extremely expensive, I bypassed the 987 because of those well publicised issues be it real or perceived. I am on my second Cayman model, I went from 987.2 to 981,I don’t have bottomless pot of cash to risk a 987 or 997 Porsche. Money saved should be banked for bore scoring as an engine rebuild is financially catastrophic.

[@filipejoaoleonardo]

JAY, once again, great video, congrats. but now its time to buy a 986.2 S 3.2 and go to hartech for the 3.7 conversion. everyone wants to see an old boxster and what they capable of doing. there are so many boxsters on the road in europe.

[@5alm0n]

Really enjoyed learning and seeing more about IMS problems. It’s something I’ve always heard about. But never really seen/explained

[@gamingvibrations5320]

This is an absolutely brilliant video. Can't believe I wasn't subscribed to this channel earlier.

[@west167]

Thank you very much!!!! You did a fantastic job of explaining the problem and having the solution of fixing it!!! Really appreciated

[@cobar5342]

This is really an advertisement

[@stevenr2463]

Very well explained. I had a 986 about 24 years ago for a couple of years and was lucky.

[@chrisbuck7923]

Interesting. I once had a 987 and was afraid of IMS failure, thankfully it didn't happen.

[@2605155]

As usual, your deep dives are very entertaining and supremely informational. Now I understand.

[@warrenlucier5796]

Great video explaining the situation within a half hour, that depicts what and why this happens, with the M96 & M97 engine series. The ferrous piston skirt coating being banned was the largest reason for the bore scoring happening and in the MA1/9A1 engine design they went back to what they knew from the air cooled and Mezger engine series. Only 5 since 2009 that they have seen with cold seizing and these may be from the change in thermal management that came in the 981/991, as I've not heard about it in the 987.2 & 997.2 engines. The 9A2, which came from the 9A1 engine design went to an Arc Plasma Bore (iron) and I've not heard of these engines having bore problems; but maybe they could have and I'm just not aware of it.

[@mattabell3657]

I had a 2007 997.1 C4, which I adored. It was my first Porsche and I planned on keeping it a long time. However, after its first oil change under my ownership the shop found tons of metal flakes in the filter and recommended offloading it. I then got a 992 C2S…which was pretty boring to be honest. Sold it and I’m picking up my C8 Z06 later this week. Never thought a Chevy would be an upgrade from Porsche, time will tell.

[@dasstig5274]

Protecting cylinders with a PLASTIC based compound? German engineering is both brilliant and baffling.

[@thebikerepairshopformby]

Very interesting, thanks for posting. This is a proper engineering company, I could listen to this engineer all day, very clever 👊🏻

[@therealjamesmarchant]

Thank you for producing such a fine video. The descriptions of the problems cuts through all the Internet bluster.

[@olio_benzina]

Excellent video, thanks. Never seen so much detailed information on Porsche engine problems in one place. The engineer's explanation on what causes and cures these problems was also excellent. My first Porsche was a 981 Cayman 2.7 manual. Current Porsche is a 718 GTS 4.0 manual. No problems with the 981 and none so far with the 718 GTS 4.0 after 3 years from new. I love Porsches but what a sad indictment of poor engineering on those earlier liquid cooled engines. This from a car maker that prides and promotes itself on its engineering prowess. I realize that the later engine types are much improved but I'm definitely going to pay for the extended Porsche Factory Warranty for as long as possible.

[@dalerollinson]

Talk about the star treatment for James; they even put a sign on the door

[@chrishood5079]

Really enjoyed this video!

[@andrewdearnley1642]

Great video. These garage modification insights are really unique and helpful. Boiling down years of forum chat into digestible videos.

[@karlreilly2128]

Brilliant. Fantastic detail. And my new pub quiz fact for Silver Dream Machine.

[@jr-hr2mw]

Been torn between a late GT86/BRZ or a 987.2 Boxster for a while. Didn't know the DFI engines were having trouble too. GT86 it is. For the price of a potential 12k engine rebuild I could buy an entire GT86...

[@BenB91]

Very educational, thank you. I previously owned a 997.2. It was around £8k more than a 997.1 but worth every penny for the improved engine and other updates, plus it was 3 years newer.

[@davidgoliath5901]

Dear Julian, I suspect you may have done the exhaust on my 2012 Jaguar XK150 5lt (?). Just letting you know it's so very much appreciated!!.... it sounds incredible. A work of art.

[@Jean-Paul_1984]

The engine issues of the M96 are incredibly exaggerated. Cars driven in cold and wet climate are indeed more likely to have bore scoring, however if you do the following, these engines are incredibly reliable: - heat-up the engine properly before revving it over 4K rpm - use proper oil. Preferably 5w50 or 10w60. Best brands only - every 5k kilometer oil change - if you go on track, install baffled oil pan like x51 or proper after market - install GT3 water pump and low temp thermostat in warm climates - install manual cooling fan switch - keep the oil level in the middle of dip stick indicator, don’t fill it to the max level to avoid smoke on startups Last but not least, the early 1998 and 1999 models are most reliable due to double row IMS. These rarely fail. Do as the above and you can enjoy your M96 almost forever

[@JayEmmOnCars]

The problem is almost none of them were treated like this from new

[@Cos27O]

Few can afford to roll the dice, no matter how “exaggerated” the problem is when the solution is a $20k engine bill.

[@MrCaterhamr500]

@@Cos27O absolutely this.

[@energymc22]

Correct, also - use good quality fuel to keep the injector nozzles clean. Also keep on top of any potential misfires - namely coil packs and spark plugs. Misfires and bad injectors will do the oil no favours and this will expedite bore scoring.

[@GeneGatech]

Ive never seen proof that the x51 engine has a changed oilpan.

[@engared]

Will send my engine into them soon. Make it a lovely 4.1. :)

[@misterbarrows1]

Great video which properly explains the issues which even I understand. Before buying a 986S I spent ages trying to find 'realistic' info on their problems. Turns out the internet will have you believe these cars will blow up as soon as you turn the key. It's not true, and statistically the percentages are very low of there being any issues. I sold my Boxster last year. No mechanical issues whatsoever, but I realised rust was starting to appear somewhere unexpected and I wanted something else by then.

[@neilturner6749]

I bought a 2004 986S (facelift with the improved engine) in 2017 with 90k on the clock and spoke to 2 well-known independent specialists as well as 2 OPCs, and none of them had seen a single case of IMS failure in the last 10 years. They all strongly advised not to waste £3k on an IMS change (40% of my cars value) on old models like the 986 and 996 as, if your car was affected, the original bearing would’ve long gone by now and you’ve now far more expensive things to potentially worry about, such as gearbox failure.

[@joeschiavi282]

What a knowledgeable guy. He certainly didn’t skip on his education.

[@nickacelvn]

The guy narrating did a great job.

[@wamgoc]

Looking at an older Boxster for a few European trips! This has given me a few more tips! Thanks!😊

[@johncranston4051]

Very good explanation of these engines Most don’t have problems

[@the_canyon_carver]

I recently just got rid of my 996.1. I couldn’t stand the thought that I was going to have to go through this eventually. The math just doesn’t make sense. I recently got a S2 Elise with a 2ZZ and a C5 Z06 and haven’t looked back. Happy to ditch the ticking time bomb. Drove in a 4L built 996 and really wasn’t that impressed with how much it cost.

[@gairnmclennan5876]

I love the engine details in the show and tell section.

[@Terence-mk9jh]

I certainly learned quite a bit. Have been tempted by them for years but always scared away by the horror stories and the potentially big bills. Thanks to your very informative video I now understand the issues and the solutions. Please do the 4.1 review.

[@112hounddog]

Coming from BMW land, Porsche owners are wild. Porsches have just as many catastrophic failures, but the Porsche owners are more than happy to pay $$$$ to fix them and yet still call the brand super reliable. It's all about the owners at the end of the day, because BMW owners just neglect the car and then throw it away when it breaks

[@TenchiFreak5]

I wasn't afraid of IMS or RMS, because mine had had both tended to before I even bought it. But the bore scoring issue, which read to me like no matter how much you take care of the car it's something that is going to happen because there's no guaranteed known direct cause for any of the 3.6/3.8 liter 911 engines, was something that honestly concerned me enough in the two years that I had my 996.2 that I ultimately ended up selling it. I liked the car but the thought that I would start it one day and it would start belching white smoke was always stressful.

[@MrCaterhamr500]

In a similar position, I know exactly how you feel.

[@niall3973]

I think white smoke is common for most 997 and 996 and 987s. I had a 997.2 C4S and if I didnt drive it for a few days I get quite a bit of it. There are a few videos on yt about it. Something about the AOC or something. I never bothered to find out more when I heard it was common

[@grande_007]

I did exactly the same with my 987S. Simply removed any enjoyment from the ownership process…