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Sorry I meant cars that had done over 100k, I just figured some owners with high mileage cars may try to stir things up.
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From experience of people i know, if the car is properly serviced there is no reason why it won't do 200K without any fuss.
Of course, it could fail...but so could a new one.
Mileage would be less of an issue for me, as long as the provenance and history was correct.
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Looks like you turned it in to the sweeping generalisation, perhaps you should have added all to the front of my post.
I did not mean they would all suffer from it but when you are buying second hand you never know which one you have.
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Indeed you don't...
But buying new is no way of ensuring no failure.
Engines fail...but I have never met, or even heard of anyone (other than on web boards) that have had this kind of failure.
So it makes you wonder as to the severity of the problem.
It exists sure...and it shouldn't...but how often?
And would it put you off buying an early 996/Boxster?
I don't think so...
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unfortunately RMS failure is probably not an if failure but a when failure.
Porsche have redesigned the seal a few times now.
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I believe about 6 times.
The problem does not appear to be the seal soley...but a missalignment of the crank case halves (surely a more serious issue)
There is evidence to suggest the RMS is not at fault at all in many cases...but the seal above.
997s allegedly still leak...although the Techs at my OPC (mates of mine) have never seen a leaking 997...nor as amny 996s as the rumour mill would suggest.
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A slight oil leak from behind the flywheel is no big deal
The problem is if it gets on to the clutch
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True...
In all fairness, a weeping RMS is very unlikely to cause clutch contamination judging by the amount of oil 'normally' found weeping.
However...
I have not had this problem on my M96 engine in 18 months...
Two good friends with Boxsters (one very high mileage) have not had this problem.
Approx 6-8 other people I know through PCGB with M96 engined cars have never had this problem...
Which makes me think it's perhaps not as widespread as some would suggest.
Of course, if I find a few drops of oil on the garage floor today, I'll revise my opinion.
Oddly, the only Porsche I know of with a known RMS leak, is a 993 C4. And according to the masses they are bulletproof and oil-tight.
Obviously not.