moondoggy

hopefully simple question. helping 996 owner on facebook 996 site. he asks if rear view mirror for 996 and 997 interchangeable.

JFP in PA, interim reply. Not sure who fickle finger is for but don't want to be sensitive like some porshephiles I've met in past decades. Also, your Feynman quote could be applicable to my concerns. More to come.

Thanks for the response, HILUX. If you research further in renntech, you'll find a high 996 mileage club with many of their odos at 6 figures plus. Then, if you talk to Rob, owner DCautomotive, he'll also vouch for 100k+ 996's. Yes, it'll last longer than you (I'm 73) without major work (other than IMS replacement engine and pinion bearing tranny). ALso, per renntech, easiest to DIY porsches other than in my history with the cars, 356, 912 and 914. Plus, depending on your summers, with water cooling, dissipates heat better, making AC more efficient than air cooled. If interested, with the VIN, dealer and/or porsche north america could tell you why engine replacement if under original factory warranty or result of class action suit. Mine isn't a garage queen other than snow and salted road surface conditions, leaving me with central VA weather, about 11 months of use, averaging 6k miles annually with cabrio and hardtop. Not tracked and yes, enjoy the cars off and on since 1967.

Thanks sburke for extensive response. And so where do I continue from. Been PCA member and porsche owner since late 1960's off and on until now, total 3 of them; last one the 2000 C2 cabrio since Jan 2011. With 74k miles, not a garage queen. Experience with PCA in 60's unfortunately similar to now. Back then, had parts availability problem and were told by porsche rep at PCA meet that simply had to live with the problem. You didn't mention the class action suit and I learned about it from a friend with Ferrari and 911 who referred to either Motor Week or Auto Week article criticizing porsche for hard headedness with the IMS problem. I replaced tranny with brand new one from DCautomotive because cheaper than removing pinion bearing problem tranny, shipping to rebuild and reinstalling. AT time had IMS replaced. (Had RMS replaced with new clutch). Your 5% stats don't match PCA stats that assume based on coordination with porsche. PCA technicians aware of these problems but, since volunteers, couldn't do much but offer replacement advice. The LN engineering replacement cost with labor when tranny replaced, $1k. Offers 30 day warranty only for their bearing. Would assume PCA and/or porsche interested in original bearings to confirm if were defective to begin with. Don't expect 996 value to match air cooled and post 996 but assumed PCA, supposedly advocate for owners, would try to be more influential to help alleviate negativity of IMS (and relatively unknown pinion bearing) controversies. This especially due to your ref to the number 996's produced. Assume non 996 owners see no negative impact on their car values due to 996 noteriety. Last for now, also have problem with wiring harnesses in light fixtures due to degradation of plastic coating on the wiring. Having mine rewired currently. Renntech.org suggests due to EU environmental regs that preclude making wiring that lasts longer. Appreciate that mine has been well taken care of and garaged all its life. Then what to do with PCA stats that 9 of 10 potential 996 buyers are understandably nervous about them. What to do to assauge these concerns especially when only 30 day warranty for LN bearing. Again, need PCA help and will address at next members meet I attend here in central VA. Good luck.

Forgot to add comments on the recommended Michelin tires. Appreciate can't rotate them and understand rear wears faster, but disappointed Michelin won't honor 20k warranty because don't/can't rotate them. So, switched to AS2's on rear (front getting no wear obviously due to no weight up there-also accept little noisier with AS2), with 40k warranty. We know can expect maybe 10k miles on P2's and 20k miles on AS2's before reach wear bar, but at least get little more use. NOte, don't track mine for reasons other than fact would accelerate wear, i.e., insurance and damage. FYI, have 2 P2's at wear bar for sale consider for track use. And, know that some thoughts on this include fact that extra tire wear comes with the car and if not like, buy a vette. Also, can consider other less expensive tire manufacturer in future.

Thanks sburke for extensive response. And so where do I continue from. Been PCA member and porsche owner since late 1960's off and on until now, total 3 of them; last one the 2000 C2 cabrio since Jan 2011. With 74k miles, not a garage queen. Experience with PCA in 60's unfortunately similar to now. Back then, had parts availability problem and were told by porsche rep at PCA meet that simply had to live with the problem. You didn't mention the class action suit and I learned about it from a friend with Ferrari and 911 who referred to either Motor Week or Auto Week article criticizing porsche for hard headedness with the IMS problem. I replaced tranny with brand new one from DCautomotive because cheaper than removing pinion bearing problem tranny, shipping to rebuild and reinstalling. AT time had IMS replaced. (Had RMS replaced with new clutch). Your 5% stats don't match PCA stats that assume based on coordination with porsche. PCA technicians aware of these problems but, since volunteers, couldn't do much but offer replacement advice. The LN engineering replacement cost with labor when tranny replaced, $1k. Offers 30 day warranty only for their bearing. Would assume PCA and/or porsche interested in original bearings to confirm if were defective to begin with. Don't expect 996 value to match air cooled and post 996 but assumed PCA, supposedly advocate for owners, would try to be more influential to help alleviate negativity of IMS (and relatively unknown pinion bearing) controversies. This especially due to your ref to the number 996's produced. Assume non 996 owners see no negative impact on their car values due to 996 noteriety. Last for now, also have problem with wiring harnesses in light fixtures due to degradation of plastic coating on the wiring. Having mine rewired currently. Renntech.org suggests due to EU environmental regs that preclude making wiring that lasts longer. Appreciate that mine has been well taken care of and garaged all its life. Then what to do with PCA stats that 9 of 10 potential 996 buyers are understandably nervous about them. What to do to assauge these concerns especially when only 30 day warranty for LN bearing. Again, need PCA help and will address at next members meet I attend here in central VA. Good luck.

Thanks sburke for extensive response. And so where do I continue from. Been PCA member and porsche owner since late 1960's off and on until now, total 3 of them; last one the 2000 C2 cabrio since Jan 2011. With 74k miles, not a garage queen. Experience with PCA in 60's unfortunately similar to now. Back then, had parts availability problem and were told by porsche rep at PCA meet that simply had to live with the problem. You didn't mention the class action suit and I learned about it from a friend with Ferrari and 911 who referred to either Motor Week or Auto Week article criticizing porsche for hard headedness with the IMS problem. I replaced tranny with brand new one from DCautomotive because cheaper than removing pinion bearing problem tranny, shipping to rebuild and reinstalling. AT time had IMS replaced. (Had RMS replaced with new clutch). Your 5% stats don't match PCA stats that assume based on coordination with porsche. PCA technicians aware of these problems but, since volunteers, couldn't do much but offer replacement advice. The LN engineering replacement cost with labor when tranny replaced, $1k. Offers 30 day warranty only for their bearing. Would assume PCA and/or porsche interested in original bearings to confirm if were defective to begin with. Don't expect 996 value to match air cooled and post 996 but assumed PCA, supposedly advocate for owners, would try to be more influential to help alleviate negativity of IMS (and relatively unknown pinion bearing) controversies. This especially due to your ref to the number 996's produced. Assume non 996 owners see no negative impact on their car values due to 996 noteriety. Last for now, also have problem with wiring harnesses in light fixtures due to degradation of plastic coating on the wiring. Having mine rewired currently. Renntech.org suggests due to EU environmental regs that preclude making wiring that lasts longer. Appreciate that mine has been well taken care of and garaged all its life. Then what to do with PCA stats that 9 of 10 potential 996 buyers are understandably nervous about them. What to do to assauge these concerns especially when only 30 day warranty for LN bearing. Again, need PCA help and will address at next members meet I attend here in central VA. Good luck.

Recently PCA posted attempt to accommodate 996 owners who may be frustrated with value and IMS controversy. We're aware of the class action suit won against Porsche regarding the original IMS. Also, it's recommended that we replace the original IMS anyway and don't know how to determine if it was defective to begin with. There's a company publishing on Facebook, believe called Gearheads, that put the 996's as one of 8 sports cars that, if bought, should be done with extreme caution. Some of PCA comments included that maybe 1 of 10 996's may experience IMS failure (local dealer told me maybe 1 of 100 and part of problem due to lack of mileage accumulation) and 9 of10 potential buyers have issues with IMS controversy. Not very helpful from my perspective. Another engineering problem is with pinion gear in 2d gear of manual tranny. I've replaced IMS and installed new tranny. Assume there were at least 50k of this model sold and, if so, a lot of potentially frustrated owners. Acknowledge that some non 996 owners response might be we had a choice. MY car's been for sale and can only tell prospective buyer the replacement IMS warranty was only for 30 days. I'm preparing to discuss this at future PCA meets and seeking comments.

Rebuilt pistons installed and top works again without leaks. All is well.

Good. Another reason for renntech existence as a filter for the dealers' input. Thanks and will update when pistons installed and top working.

Anybody out there have experience with calibration vs not after install the rebuilt pistons?

Update: FLA company will swap out my pistons or rebuild mine with 3 day turn around. Even though Porsche dealers here say installation requires computer calibration, FLA company adamant in experience that not necessary plus gives 3 year warranty on them.

New info. Can't find a DIY but an after market garage told me that to replace the pistons requires a computer calibration for Carreras. Can assume that even if the pistons are done DIY that car would then have to be taken to a dealer for the calibration? Found new pistons for $600 to $800 each and used pair for $600. Thanks again.

Confirmed the cabrio top hydraulic pistons leaking, moreso on right side, slight on left. Assume options: have mine remanned, assuming they can; buy them remanned; buy them used; buy new OEM; and, buy after market. Assume in renntech there's a DIY. I have friend who's ex Porsche mechanic. What do you think? Thanks again.

Ill look at AC also. Thanks.