New Member - 01 S Or 05 Non-S?

[9mmkungfu]

Hello everyone,

I'm looking at a couple Boxsters. One is a 01 S model and the other is an 05 non-S. It seems as though the additional power output on the non-S models after 2005 closely matches the power output of the pre-05 S models. Would it be wiser to get the newer car, if the price is the same (the 05 has a few more miles)?

[infocusf8]

Hello everyone,

I'm looking at a couple Boxsters. One is a 01 S model and the other is an 05 non-S. It seems as though the additional power output on the non-S models after 2005 closely matches the power output of the pre-05 S models. Would it be wiser to get the newer car, if the price is the same (the 05 has a few more miles)?

You'll need to research this more but my understanding is the '05 motor was changed to do away with the IMS bearing failures that could occur in earlier motors such as the '01. There was also a new RMS seal that came out and it was a much better design than the prior seal. If this is indeed true the '05 would be a safer purchase from that standpoint.

[phillipj]

That is not correct. The double row bearing IMS design in the M96 engines was not changed until 2006 (when they went to a single row bearing.) The 2009 + engines eliminate the IMS altogether.

You have the same risk of IMS failure in an 05 as you would in an 01. Especially the 05 which was Porsches worst engine build year on record

My advice would be to get an 06 (if your budget allows.) Unless you could find a good CPO car from an earlier year.

Good luck. Lots of great cars out there. Take your time and find exactly what you want. And oh yeah.... Get a warranty....

[Wayne R. Dempsey]

Charles at LN Engineering has seen / heard of IMS bearing failures all the way up to the end of the line of the 997, so buying a car based upon that assumption would be unwise. PhillipJ is correct - I wouldn't let the IMS issue influence your decision.

That said, if the 01 is the same price as the 05, then it sounds like the 01 is overpriced and the 05 is underpriced. If you're going to be driving the car, get the 05. If you're going to be modifying it and wrenching on it, then find a cheaper 01.

Hope this helps,

Wayne

[phillipj]

Charles at LN Engineering has seen / heard of IMS bearing failures all the way up to the end of the line of the 997, so buying a car based upon that assumption would be unwise. PhillipJ is correct - I wouldn't let the IMS issue influence your decision.

That said, if the 01 is the same price as the 05, then it sounds like the 01 is overpriced and the 05 is underpriced. If you're going to be driving the car, get the 05. If you're going to be modifying it and wrenching on it, then find a cheaper 01.

Hope this helps,

Wayne

+1

[9mmkungfu]

Charles at LN Engineering has seen / heard of IMS bearing failures all the way up to the end of the line of the 997, so buying a car based upon that assumption would be unwise. PhillipJ is correct - I wouldn't let the IMS issue influence your decision.

That said, if the 01 is the same price as the 05, then it sounds like the 01 is overpriced and the 05 is underpriced. If you're going to be driving the car, get the 05. If you're going to be modifying it and wrenching on it, then find a cheaper 01.

Hope this helps,

Wayne

Wayne,

Well I guess I wasn't very clear with the first posting. The 01 has 39k miles vs 70k miles on the 05.. and the 01 also has the factory hard top option. The price is about 20k for either car. A little on the high side I think, but they're both mint. Hmmm.

A side note, I prefer the tail lights on the 05+ models. Is it possible to retrofit them on the 01?

[infocusf8]

That is not correct. The double row bearing IMS design in the M96 engines was not changed until 2006 (when they went to a single row bearing.) The 2009 + engines eliminate the IMS altogether.

You have the same risk of IMS failure in an 05 as you would in an 01. Especially the 05 which was Porsches worst engine build year on record

My advice would be to get an 06 (if your budget allows.) Unless you could find a good CPO car from an earlier year.

Good luck. Lots of great cars out there. Take your time and find exactly what you want. And oh yeah.... Get a warranty....

What made the '05 the worst engine?

[boxster..S]

That is not correct. The double row bearing IMS design in the M96 engines was not changed until 2006 (when they went to a single row bearing.) The 2009 + engines eliminate the IMS altogether.

You have the same risk of IMS failure in an 05 as you would in an 01. Especially the 05 which was Porsches worst engine build year on record

My advice would be to get an 06 (if your budget allows.) Unless you could find a good CPO car from an earlier year.

Good luck. Lots of great cars out there. Take your time and find exactly what you want. And oh yeah.... Get a warranty....

What made the '05 the worst engine?

Hi, I have a late 01S just replace the IMS bearing, it was a single and add PSS9 shocks. Just a thought, buy a low millage early S do the IMS bearing, suspension and drive it for ever.

[9mmkungfu]

That is not correct. The double row bearing IMS design in the M96 engines was not changed until 2006 (when they went to a single row bearing.) The 2009 + engines eliminate the IMS altogether.

You have the same risk of IMS failure in an 05 as you would in an 01. Especially the 05 which was Porsches worst engine build year on record

My advice would be to get an 06 (if your budget allows.) Unless you could find a good CPO car from an earlier year.

Good luck. Lots of great cars out there. Take your time and find exactly what you want. And oh yeah.... Get a warranty....

What made the '05 the worst engine?

Hi, I have a late 01S just replace the IMS bearing, it was a single and add PSS9 shocks. Just a thought, buy a low millage early S do the IMS bearing, suspension and drive it for ever.

How can I tell if the 01 I am looking at has had the IMS bearing replaced? Where can I find out more info on replacement/cost? And could you tell me more about the PSS9 shocks? Thanks.

[jthailer]

For the same price you can get an '03 S which has the glass window. Also, remember that depending on how the car is driven you may need a clutch every 30,000 miles or so if driven hard. Ask if the clutch has been replaced recently in either the 01 or the 05 or any car you are looking at. Clutch job is around $1,500.

If the clutch pedal is hard that means the pressure plate may be starting to wear out. Also, the engagement point should be about half way between fully depressed and fully released. I drove a number of different cars before ourchasing my '03 S. The engagement point on some of the cars was very close to the floor. I assume that meant the clutch was wearing out.

[RFM]

@ jthailer, " The engagement point on some of the cars was very close to the floor. I assume that meant the clutch was wearing out. " Is it not rather the opposite way ? I can, of course, be wrong.

[jthailer]

@ jthailer, " The engagement point on some of the cars was very close to the floor. I assume that meant the clutch was wearing out. " Is it not rather the opposite way ? I can, of course, be wrong.

I am not a mechanic, so you may be correct. Some adjustment was definitely needed on that particular car. My point is that you have to look at what maintenance needs to be done, not just the price. The 2001 S that I looked at, I could have bought for $17,500 but it needed $4,000 worth of work, RMS, clutch, CV boots, etc.

[boxster..S]

That is not correct. The double row bearing IMS design in the M96 engines was not changed until 2006 (when they went to a single row bearing.) The 2009 + engines eliminate the IMS altogether.

You have the same risk of IMS failure in an 05 as you would in an 01. Especially the 05 which was Porsches worst engine build year on record

My advice would be to get an 06 (if your budget allows.) Unless you could find a good CPO car from an earlier year.

Good luck. Lots of great cars out there. Take your time and find exactly what you want. And oh yeah.... Get a warranty....

What made the '05 the worst engine?

Hi, I have a late 01S just replace the IMS bearing, it was a single and add PSS9 shocks. Just a thought, buy a low millage early S do the IMS bearing, suspension and drive it for ever.

How can I tell if the 01 I am looking at has had the IMS bearing replaced? Where can I find out more info on replacement/cost? And could you tell me more about the PSS9 shocks? Thanks.

You cant tell untill you remove the transmision. LN Engineering and Flat six, there sites will explane everything about the IMS bearing. It cost me 8 hrs labor $100 hr to replace bearing plus parts ($600) , Rear main seal and check out clutch. There are server ways to improve handling and lower the car, I chose the Bilstein PSS9 because I could adjust ride height and damping, it feels like a GT3 and for the street they are the best.