Buying a 2002 Boxster

[rjmcinnis]

I am a first time buyer of a Porsche. I have found a car that I like in California (I live in Arizona). I have inspected the vehicle and am happy with the cosmetics etc. What I am a little concerned with is the service record. The car has had 2 owners. The car was purchased in California and the current owner purchased it in 2005 with 18,000 miles from a Porsche dealer with a "Porsche Approved Certified Pre-Owned" designation. It now has 28,000 miles and no service records other than oil changes.

The car is used infrequently and can sit for months covered in the garage. My questions are as follows:

1. Can I assume that the dealership completed a complete inspection and major service before selling with this designation?

2. Should I assume a major is due?

3. Can anyone recommend a independent shop in the Pasadena area for a PPI?

rj

[1schoir]

I am a first time buyer of a Porsche. I have found a car that I like in California (I live in Arizona). I have inspected the vehicle and am happy with the cosmetics etc. What I am a little concerned with is the service record. The car has had 2 owners. The car was purchased in California and the current owner purchased it in 2005 with 18,000 miles from a Porsche dealer with a "Porsche Approved Certified Pre-Owned" designation. It now has 28,000 miles and no service records other than oil changes.

The car is used infrequently and can sit for months covered in the garage. My questions are as follows:

1. Can I assume that the dealership completed a complete inspection and major service before selling with this designation?

2. Should I assume a major is due?

3. Can anyone recommend a independent shop in the Pasadena area for a PPI?

rj

rj:

2. There is a "major" service due at 30K miles.

Take a look at the Owner's Manual in the DIY Menu at the top left of any page, so that you can get an idea of what items have to be inspected, serviced, and/or replaced.

I would not assume that ANY maintenance has been done on the car and always err on the side of safety and redo.

Regards, Maurice.

[whall]

rj,

There is little/no service required between the 15,000 and 30,000 mile posts.....except (if you are going the "Full Monte" prescribed maintenance route):

1. Annual Maintenance, including an oil and filter change -

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?a...aint_box_us_ann

2. Biennial brake flush and service -

3. Air bag system inspection at the 4 and 8 year marks -

Most of the prescribed service is "checking" and "inspecting" so almost anyone who is familiar with the Boxster (an independent shop, or an experienced fellow owner, with access to a PST2/PIWIS) can do/help do the maintenance. There are plenty of DIY threads here at RennTech that can help as well.

Obviously, if you haven't purchased the car yet, it would be in your best interest to insure everything is done prior to signing the line.

To quote Maurice: "I would not assume that ANY maintenance has been done on the car and always err on the side of safety and redo."

Bill

[rjmcinnis]

Thanks to Maurice & Bill. Good insight.

Bill, what does the acronym (PST2/PIWIS) represent and what does it/they do?

Lastly, can I get all service records from any Porsche dealership or do the previous owner(s) have to make the request through the dealership where the work was done?

Thanks again.

rj

[1schoir]

Thanks to Maurice & Bill. Good insight.

Bill, what does the acronym (PST2/PIWIS) represent and what does it/they do?

Lastly, can I get all service records from any Porsche dealership or do the previous owner(s) have to make the request through the dealership where the work was done?

Thanks again.

rj

rj:

PST2 stands for "Porsche Systems Tester 2" and is the earlier generation of diagnostic tester that Porsche developed and used for their dealerships.

PIWIS is the current version of the hardware/software used by the dealers.

I believe the previous owner(s) have to give authorization for you to get access to the records. Some dealers are not very cooperative with giving up the information, but it is available.

Since the PST2 is now a little difficult to source, and the PIWIS is astronomically expensive, most DIY'ers opt for the Durametric Tool. Go to Durametric.com for more information. One of the more valuable bits of information available from the Durametric (as well as the others) are the readings on the Range 1 and Range 2 Overrevs (for the earlier cars) and Range 1 through 6 overrevs for the later cars.

Regards, Maurice.