Thank you all for the kind words! One question I am getting via DM that I think would be helpful for everyone to hear my thoughts: IMS Bearing: "Has the IMS been replaced, what has been done about the IMS, et al....": The 2005.5-2008 M97 era motors used Porsche's final version of the IMS bearing. The good news is that bearing has a lower failure rate than version 1 (96-99) and a MUCH lower failure rate than version 2 (2000-2005) however it is NOT zero. IF you need the 100% assurance that you will not have an IMS failure than one needs to NOT buy any M96/M97 era of motors. To me this versions failure rate falls into my level of acceptable risk however every person has different risk tolerance, so evaluate that for yourself. The BAD news is that this bearing is physically too large to be removed from the case (unlike the earlier versions which can be replaced) and as such in my opinion can't be replaced. (there is a company which has a method to physically enlarge the IMS flange housing bore but IMO that is not an acceptable method, you can form your own opinion). The only thing one can do is remove the grease seal on the IMS bearing to increase splash lubrication. Hope that helps!
I forgot the engine serial number for M97 engines from then on that had a much improved version of the IMS bearing that was installed .......... am I confused about this ? Pretty early in the 2007 model year the improved IMS bearing was being used in the M97 according to these 'later' serial number engines installed in these cars from what I read long ago - and their IMS failure rate is almost non-existent. Also these cars had a Porsche bulletin to change the single coil ignition to 6 individual coils around 2010 I think - many of these cars have not had this done. Has it been done on this car or am I wrong about that too? Thx.
Under the car - [ ] damage to front bumper - [ ] Damage to tub - [ ] Check that covers are present and has correct fasteners - [ ] Check brand of tire - [ ] Check tire wear - [ ] Check tire wear, is it even? - [ ] Check damage to rockers - [ ] Leak from CV joints - [ ] Check for leaks - [ ] valve covers - [ ] oil pan - [ ] Damage to rear bumper - [ ] Exhaust tips - [ ] check rear shielding present Exterior - [ ] Check impact damage front - [ ] check radiators, are they clean? - [ ] Look for door dings, from back of car to front - [ ] paint mismatch - [ ] check that the window drops when you grab door handle - [ ] check that the window goes up when you close the door - [ ] check that it completely closes - [ ] Check how much oil is used - [ ] Check for chips on edge of doors - [ ] Check that all lights illuminate when starting the car - [ ] Check oil level - [ ] Check that it doesn’t smell damp inside Engine - [ ] check that engine lid works - [ ] check that fasteners and stickers are present - [ ] does it look like any of the screws have been removed - [ ] Look for anything that catches your attention - [ ] coolant - [ ] frayed belt - [ ] see oil - [ ] droppings - [ ] Call attention to things to the seller Frunk - [ ] inspect frunk for rock damage - [ ] check hood struts are working - [ ] Pull out bottom cover - [ ] Check that the factory air pump is present - [ ] Factory toolkit is present - [ ] wheel lock key is present - [ ] Pull off battery cover - [ ] Check date to see when it was last replaced - [ ] Check if it has a battery tender - [ ] Check that the vent tube is hooked up - [ ] Check that the battery is properly tied down - [ ] Pull up side covers to check for animal droppings or leaves/debris - [ ] Check that the drains aren’t clogged up, this can result in water spilling into the interior - [ ] Get both keys and test that both keys work - [ ] Can lock and unlock the car, can start the car - [ ] If one of the keys doesn’t work, it could also be a failing alarm module because its been exposed to water Documentation - [ ] put the documentation in chronological order - [ ] Check for service recommendations that customer approved -> good sign - [ ] If you see ‘customer declined’ coming up -> bad sign Thanks for a fantastic video! Using this to find my next 997.1 hope its useful for someone else!
Nothing wrong with A customer declined,p statement, the dealers are constantly trying to make work for themselves on your dime; They tell me i NEED new tyres, discs and pads EVERY damn service even when they replaced the whole lot last service and they’re barely 1/10 worn 😤
20+ year Porsche owner and this car is almost identical to my 997.1 C4S. Purchased it 14 years ago with 6k miles. Today it has 96k miles. Best car I have ever owned. Still excites me to drive and I love how it looks rolling down the road. No issues or problems, just regular oil changes, tires, brakes, and other regular maintenance with the rare occasion, clutch, AOS or water pump changed due to wear and age. Great looking 997.1 C4S
Nathan is an absolute treasure for those of us here in the Pacific Northwest - and beyond. He clearly knows his stuff. Will, you are fortunate to have him on your channel as I’m sure you already know. Both of you do great content… Keep it coming!
Yup, Nathan is a great source of knowledge for the Porsche community. His work with the PCA community is really comprehensive and valuable for any prospective Porsche owner. Thanks for doing this "non air-cooled" segment Will!
Still have my Porsche Cayman 987 2.7 l / 2008 / 245 HP since 15 years no issues with this car whatsoever ca 200.000 km now this is the best design Porsche has ever made the last analog one !
To me this video was super helpful and informative. To the point that I decided I wanted to buy the car. Set up an appointment with the seller in Cary, NC and about 3 hours before, Nathan texted that the car was sold. Disappointed but 2 days later I received word that the Porsche dealer that serviced this car had just received a 2008 C4S with nearly identical mileage but hadn't listed it yet. Went over immediately, pretended I was Nathan running through my 997 inspection and bought the car. It has a Kenwood unit installed so I asked the dealer to put in the new PCCM Classic and will pick it up this week. Somewhat surprised that the dealer had the PCCM in stock. Thanks to Will for the video as it was enough to get me to go buy a C4S even if it wasn't the same car.
I could listen to Nathan for hours. He is knowledgeable and methodical in his approach when evaluating these cars and it does not seem to matter the year or model. He knows them all. Very impressed that you had him on your channel.
Great video with useful extensive info on the 997.1 I own a 997.1 C4S and bought it with 70.000 miles on the clock. I am the owner for 8 years now and it now has done 170.000 miles. At 160.000 miles the engine got overhauled. I always warm the engine up and after a spirited drive let it cool down. Also oil changes are done every 6000 miles, instead of every 20.000 miles like Porsche recommends. I don’t cut corners with maintenance, so if you treat it with respect (as you should) it is a fantastic trustworthy car. Of course, this is only my experience with the 997.1.
I know this sounds weird....but with Porsches it's not good to let them idle and warm up. Best to be driven to warm up the way the oil system is designed.
I don't believe that Porsche says every 20,000 miles on an oil change. Changes are once a year. And that is way too far between oil changes for anyone that drives their car as their main driver.
He is very knowledgeable. I bought my 2003 SL55 new. I do all repairs and maintenance myself, consequently I don't have 'documentation'. I do it myself because most shop mechanics don't meet my high expectations. I've never looked at the display indicating the oil level, because a transducer could never be as accurate as a shop dip-stick. Retired Chief Engineer
This is a very well produced video on the 997 era cars. I’m a long time Porsche owner-in my 50th year now. One of my cars is a 06 997S cabriolet which I picked up at Zuffenhausen. After driving so many Porsches over so many decades I can tell you that the 997 is a great era 911 to consider purchasing. Porsche learns off every generation of car they have produced and that is readily apparent because the cars are so reliable. Imagine a 182 mph car being reliable. As this guy said, every generation car has some sort of issue. Once upon a time the big achilles’ heel were the chain tensioners. As a late to the game water cooled car maker, I feel their water pumps could last longer, but they don’t. Fortunately, it’s not super hard or expensive to replace them. Oil usage is a problem for some 997s. We have concluded that it could be an issue with “tolerance stack” where a number of components in the assembled engine are at the edge of their spec range-and with enough of those, the tolerance is letting it use more oil. I use exactly 1 quart per thousand miles. It’s nuts of course but it is considered well within the Porsche factory acceptable limits. In a positive sense, I am regularly adding oil to the car, so my oil isn’t just getting old inside the engine! I may be burning it because it’s a tight engine-zero leaks, but certainly no evidence of burning. I now have 132,000 miles on my 06. I drive it. They should be driven. If you don’t, get a trickle charger. (We have eight cars so we have to stay on top of that). Otherwise, you will need to buy batteries at a more frequent rate. Serpentine belts must be monitored, along with the tensioning pulley and the other two come-along wheels. Cheap and easy. In the early 997 cars we have a known issue with the alternators. Particularly the cable between the alternator and the starter. I have replaced my alternator and my starter. I have replaced two water pumps. (Lucky for me Porsche had to pay for one-warrantee item at the time). There are many things that can go wrong on such a capable car but surprisingly the little does. Porsche erred considerably in the interior material choices when they designed these cars, by using too much of tho ‘slush’ finish on surfaces. You can avoid the premature paint wear by choosing a car with a lot of factory leather, like the center console, and door finishers. Otherwise, that slush finish wears off and makes a car look older than it is. The radio knobs always show wear-somewhat rubberized, you can pick them up for little and do them easily. Be proactive with maintenance. There are few things to do with preventative maintenance on the 997s. Regular driving helps to keep them running properly. Again, all the tips from this review are spot on. He’s an excellent source of info on the 911 but be sure to have someone familiar with your era of interest give a look. I consider myself only truly qualified on the G models and the 997s. I am lost on the 991 and 2 cars! Keep in mind that finding such experts is not difficult. I would start with the Porsche Club. And gravitate toward the older guys. I bought my first Porsche at 19. Anyone who waits too long misses out!
I am 19 and i am looking at purchasing a 2006 911 4s it has 98k miles on it it’s a private seller i’m going to go see the car on tuesday the 997 is my favorite generation and if it possible i hope i can do it
I have never heard anyone more knowledgeable on Porsches than Nathan!! He is a walking encyclopedia! And he brings it in a very entertaining way as well. Top video!🤩
Thanks NM for helping buyers hear you say a "tracked Porsche is ok", or may not be an abused car. On the contrary, a responsibly tracked car will have fluids and brakes replaced early or prematurely so that it can preform as designed through the whole event. I'd take a tracked car spun into the grass a couple of times any day over a car with curb rash and daily city driving jumping over RR tracks etc. My general experience is that most German cars driven responsibly hard will run better. They like it.
19:15 Would love to have a new Porsche but realistically a used one will be how I enter into the space. Grateful I came across this channel, educating myself before purchasing.
Wow...what a MUST see video. Will, your videos keep getting better and better. I watched your car on Bring A Trailer and your videos about the 'process', but I didn't see one about 'now it's sold and gone'. Did I miss that one? Finally, thanks for taking the time to produce excellent and informative Porsche videos.
Great content Will, thanks for putting this together. I’m sure many of us have Merz season tickets, awesome to see the 997 added to the knowledge base. Must watch.
This guy is phenomenal . . .and he's common sense understandable. I am, by no means a Porsche Geek but even i could clearly understand everything he educated me about
Not sure I buy the consistentcy theory. I have a sloppy house, but my car is manicured and meticulously maintained. I am a car guy, but not much of a housekeeper.
I really like your philosophy on cleanliness. I agree that if a person takes care of their things it will reflect in all aspects of their life. I believe there are two types of people. Maintainers and Users. I would prefer to purchase a car from a maintainer. Thanks for the video. I am considering buying a 997 and found this very helpful.
Wow , I’ve learnt more from listening to Nathan in this video than any other video so far, he is so knowledgeable and informative I’ve really learnt so valuable insight and lessons to apply not only useful to the Porsche 997 but to others as well, I’m really glad I clicked on this video. Watching from Australia 🇦🇺
I believe that the lug nut rusting is due to galvanic corrosion. When two dissimilar metals contact one another for a long period of time, one metal will give up ions to its neighbor and rust. Chances are good that the wheels and the lug nuts are different materials here.
I purchased my 996 by using some of Nathan’s inspection procedures and unfortunately first Porsche emotional attraction. Fortunately I made a good purchase and enjoyed the car for several years. However, the next one will be inspected by Nathan or by a PCA shop that follows Nathan’s process.
Yeah, so this guy would be good as a judge on the Concours, but for everyone else please drive your cars!!! My grass is not green but yellow. We are in a drought in the North Pacific. But my garage and cars are immaculate, thank you but don’t judge me. Most important, my cars are NOT garage queens are are driven and scuffed.
That comment kind of hit me too. I’m not a super organized compulsive dude like the guy in this video. He sounds like a pain to his wife and kids: “you can’t have any pudding”…. Kind of guy My cars are driven hard and well taken care of. I get upset when my kids are not careful around them and I’m protective, but I’m using them as the builder wanted them to be used. What’s the purpose of having a 911 and be obsessed with the thought that something’s gonna happen to it?
Yeah but he's talking about a DETAILED PPI. Most have to save for YEARS to be able to touch one of these cars. It's not a honda civic that you can repair for a grand if its in real bad shape. This is the kind of particular individual I'd want to buy a porsche from.
Lots of great info, but not really much about the 997 specifically. What I really wanted was 5 mins of the top 997 things to look for, more than 40 mins of how to spot the perfect car
What a great video! Coincidentally your videos and the ones Nathan does for PCA happen to be my top two favorites on RU-vid for Porsche content. So this little collaboration was an unexpected surprise today
Very interesting vdo. It’s also very important to get a full engine history including engine speeds with possible engine over speeds. Agreed Porsche dealers do it by plugging the engine on their electronic case and they know exactly at which overspend and which exact mileage the engine run in any case.
Would be nice to do this kind of PPI explanation on cars with actual problems to point out. Every time I see something like this its always with a pristine or near pristine example
@Aircooled I would LOVE to do that type of video, the challenge I run into is that most people are unwilling to have their car featured if we are showing real issues as that of course would cause issues if they were ever to sell the car. I inspect LOTS of cars that don't pass my inspection, but I have never had one of those owners willing to let me publicly show the issues.... If anyone is willing, let me know!
@@nathanmerz I hear you. It’s definitely a delicate subject with owners. I would gladly offer up my ‘77 coupe but like many in your videos it’s pristine. You might have to do it guerilla style with eye glass cameras at random dealerships 😂. Appreciate you sharing your wealth of knowledge on these cars. It’s a true asset to the pcar community.
Every generation of every manufacturer has some issues. Every part on every car will fail eventually. And fixing any car at the dealership is expensive. A new Key. fob for my 2017 Macan was $410, and they programmed it free - even though I didn't buy it from that dealership. A new Key fob for a 2017 Dodge Charger was $386 plus two hours labor. I could go on and on, but my experience is that a Porsche properly maintained and daily driven isn't meaningfully worse. If you want to keep your 911 Turbo in like new condition while you track it on weekends, you have gotten yourself a VERY expensive hobby, but try it with a Mustang GT or a Honda Civic or a Toyota Supra. Maintaining a track car to dealer spec will hurt a lot.
been watching a lot of 911 videos including yours, bought a 997 a month ago (could've used this video, but purchase went great anyway), and... only now subscribed because you finally did a non air cooled video, hint hint hint.
I had a 997 series 1 2007, Carrara S 6 speed manual, Cabrio. Black with tan leather. Beautiful car. It is one of the cars I wish I hadn’t sold. They rarely have problems. I spent no money on it in 2 years.
Major miss while under the car: A simple rotation of the tire, looking for impacts to the alloy rims. The outside can look perfect but on a lift you'll often find a bent rim from pot holes. While turning the tire also look for bulging damaged sidewalls. Again it might look perfect from the outside but surprise you looking at the inner tire and rim.
what a fantastic lesson this video is. There really is no better teacher than experience. My Porsche 911 days were air-cooled, needed head studs, and all kinds of gaskets. These were 5-8 thousand 20 years ago. Today the same car in the same condition is 68,000. I wasted money buying a 1987 944. This car sounded like a helicopter from the torque tube when downshifting around corners. What a way to ruin your Porsche experience. Every time I drove that car I reminded myself, this is my poor man's Porsche.
"what to watch out for".... well... before even looking at the car itself, may I suggest watching out for your financial situation first to make sure that you can reasonable afford to cover the repair costs and other stuff? :) (those were the words of my friend who has been my CPA for the last 35 years)
I keep immaculate cars. But I moved from a 6 car garage to a three car garage. So that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. My garage is a disaster. But my gt3 is perfect
very well done. If you do your own window regulator, which is easy, it is a lot less than $600. One other random comment. Plugged frunk drains can affect the main negative battery ground on the firewall. Porsche in their infinite wisdom has a non-threaded stud which accepts a fine "haired" female fitting on the negative cable. The "hairs" on that fitting fail and you end up with a poor connection. It would have been EASY for Porsche to have the male threaded and then put a traditional battery cable end fitting and a nut. Anyway, on my Cayman S I ended up jamming loose copper wire in the female fitting and squeezing that onto the male stud. Symptom was that the car would start sporadically and sometimes get no juice at all. Once had to pour water down the windshield to force an electrical connection so I could unlock the car.
This inspection also tells a lot about the dealership…you have seasoned technicians (or the means) to repair those leaks but you choose to pass it on to the customer. This isn’t your run of the mill used car dealership…at the very least, fix all the leaks. Reputation is everything, especially when you’re dealing with higher clientele.
Poorly fixed crash damage, as I experienced, even though the seller bought the car second hand through an official Porsche Center… Porsche actually reimbursed me a significant chunk (10%) of the buying price on the 2010 C2 manual i bought a couple of yrs ago, even though they sold it to another guy 3 yrs prior to me buying it from him. It had had a substantial hit to the left wing, but aside from some panel gap discrepancies, one needed to tear down the front to reveal the damage repairs. After settling with Porsche I managed to sell it cheap at a no-loss to another buyer with all its history disclosed. The dealer was originally screwed buy the guy selling it to them. Buyers be aware!
I recall the 9x6 cars had the alarm module under the driver seat. The 9x7 cars should have the rear module under the driver seat and I believe the Bose amplifier under the passenger seat (if equipped). Water can get in thru the heater core cover too. The 9x7 cars can also get power distribution box pin corrosion.
Hi these cars or slightly different have a bearing at the back of the engine which must be changed. Engine out job. They also have a problem with over heating at the back of the engine because the cooling water can’t reach , I think , cylinder 6. Porsche do know about it . Certainly in Ireland it has caused engine failure I note reference to piston slap and oiled exhaust pipes , maybe these are early warning signs Great video none the less
Fantastic review and recommendations. The only comment I have- guys, you are buying a car, not an art piece! If you are looking for a car in this condition- how are you going to drive it??? It's just a car! It's not supposed to look like this one unless you are buying it to resell and make money in 10 years.
Thanks! The entire car is PPF’d, which is the best of both worlds. Gorgeous condition and protected from rock chips for backroads driving with friends.
Even fewer people know that tbe early 98-99 996 Carrera 3.4, is the lightest road legal 300hp 911 ever. Even lighter than the 996 GT3, is slightly faster than the GT3 0 to 60 at 4.5 dead Even 0 to 100mph at 10.9. Haggerty and Autocar have tested and wrote about it. Even better is that same early 996 is powered by your foot and a throttle cable not a computer. It was also available without traction control. Making it the lightest 300hp 911 throttle cable no tc road legal car produced. Also a dual row IMS with a failure rate of less than 1% not a single IMS like the later 996s and 997. And the aerokit is actually the opposite of its name, produced drag and is just extra weight. The GT3 is much faster with out it. They tested and wrote about that too. I find it humorous that the " least desirable 911 in the least desired 996 generation is the least expensive to buy is really the one you want. I had to buy a 997 S and 991 4S before I realized my modified 996 was the one for me.
Love this guy and how particular he is. But man for such an expensive car, its a shame how many potential issues there are with it. I'm trying to save for one and I'm having second thoughts. For such an expensive car, I'd expect more reliability.
