REDLINE ALLEYPorsche 911 996 Carrera buying guide
1997 to 2005. A 996 Carrera suits a buyer who wants the cheapest way into a water cooled 911 and will pay for an IMS upgrade or proof of one.
Big jobs
- IMS bearing. The intermediate shaft bearing on Carrera and Carrera 4 engines can lose its grease and break up, jamming the shaft and letting the cam chain destroy the engine. Turbo and GT3 models use a different engine.
- Bore scoring. Bore scoring is reported, especially in cylinder 6. Signs are smoke, a sooty tailpipe and higher oil use.
- Over revving record. Over revs recorded by the engine management, often from missed downshifts, point to possible damage.
- Tiptronic gearbox. The Tiptronic rarely has issues, but its fluid is often never changed and a failure usually means replacement.
Workshop jobs
- Rear main seal leaks. Rear main seal leaks are common. The seal is cheap but the labour is not.
- Air oil separator. A failing air oil separator draws oil into the intake, giving exhaust smoke and rough running.
- Cooling, radiators and air conditioning condensers. Ageing plastics in the cooling system can cause overheating, and the front air conditioning condensers are a common failure.
- Rust in arches and brake pipes. Rust is reported in the wheel arches and underside where galvanising has worn, and brake pipes corrode; one pipe may need the engine out to replace.
Questions for the seller
- Has the IMS bearing been upgraded, by whom, and is there an invoice?
- Has a borescope inspection been done?
- Can a specialist read the over rev log before I buy?
- Has the rear main seal been replaced?
- Is it the 3.4 or the 3.6, and manual or Tiptronic?
Sources
Researched 2026-11-01. General guidance from owner and specialist sources. Check the specific car with an independent inspection.