Hello from Norfolk.

[__djk]

Good evening,

 

Just joined as I am about to purchase a 987 gen1 cayman S. There is loads of useful information on here and I’ve already been reading through lots of posts. 
 

Any advice for what to look out for would be greatly appreciated. 
 

Thanks in advance,

 

Dan. 
 

 

[sevenfourate]

Hi Dan and Welcome to the COC 😎

 

I take it you’ve discovered the buyers guide here for the model / eta your looking for in the “Technical FAQ & How To” section ? All major points such as; Bore score, IMS bearing etc are covered right there....

 

Do you have any specific cars in mind right now; or just generally getting a feel for the model ?

 

Where abouts in Norfolk are you ? I’m not a million miles away I’m Sunny Lowestoft 😎

 

Good luck.

 

 

 

 

[__djk]

Morning,

 

Yes, I have one in mind in particular, an early model Cayman S in a dark navy blue. There’s a few little touch up jobs on the bodywork, but overall it seems to be a good price and all in order. 
 

I did have a flick through the buying guide. I’ll refer to it again when viewing the car properly. Do you have to take the engine covers off to view the key areas?

 

[sevenfourate]

1 hour ago, __djk said:

Morning,

 

Yes, I have one in mind in particular, an early model Cayman S in a dark navy blue. There’s a few little touch up jobs on the bodywork, but overall it seems to be a good price and all in order. 
 

I did have a flick through the buying guide. I’ll refer to it again when viewing the car properly. Do you have to take the engine covers off to view the key areas?

 

 

Hi Dan,

 

Do you have a link to the car for sale - is it on ebay, Autotrader etc ?

 

You won't see a lot with the engine cover off to be honest. IMS (Intermediate Shaft bearing) you'll hear if it's failed / failing, or it will have a tell-tell oil drip underneath in the centre (Which could also be RMS or Rear Main Seal) in the same area at the back of the engine.

 

Bore score [Which is a huge and extremely expensive job - like £6+ depending how you go about it ?] you'd only know about by having an endoscopic inspection done.....

 

Cheers.

[__djk]

Thanks for the swift response. Sorry forgot to mentoin I am Norwich based, so not very far at all!

 

Here is the link to the car: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202004018827165?postcode=nr11hl&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=Used&make=PORSCHE&advertising-location=at_cars&sort=price-asc&radius=1500&model=CAYMAN&page=2

 

I’ve looked online and found videos of the sounds the engine makes when it has bore scoring or ims issues. I’ve been reassured that it is mechanically sound, full service history, a example in good order and I believe it comes with a warranty too. However, I am not that up on my mechanics (I’m a quick learner so I can pick it up), I just don’t want to buy a turd and have to constantly pay 💰 to get it up to scratch. 

 

[sevenfourate]

8 hours ago, __djk said:

Thanks for the swift response. Sorry forgot to mentoin I am Norwich based, so not very far at all!

 

Here is the link to the car: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202004018827165?postcode=nr11hl&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=Used&make=PORSCHE&advertising-location=at_cars&sort=price-asc&radius=1500&model=CAYMAN&page=2

 

I’ve looked online and found videos of the sounds the engine makes when it has bore scoring or ims issues. I’ve been reassured that it is mechanically sound, full service history, a example in good order and I believe it comes with a warranty too. However, I am not that up on my mechanics (I’m a quick learner so I can pick it up), I just don’t want to buy a turd and have to constantly pay 💰 to get it up to scratch. 

 

 

 

Norwich. Cool ! Maybe we'll meet at a meet sometime........

 

Looks ok on paper 👍

 

If it were me i'd be focusing  on the "Service history" (Porsche, Porsche specialist / Independent, or ???) and i'd be looking at; or asking them to get an independent report done for the IMS and bore-score issues specifically - if not to cover ANY issues.

 

**Google this. You can get 'everything' checked for around £200 by a Porsche specialist i believe. Many are mobile and will travel to the cars location......

 

[__djk]

I’ll have a good look trough the service history and paperwork with it. Hopefully that’ll give some clues to any of the common issues. With a car at 80k miles, you’d think the IMS / bore scoring issues would already have shown up. So I guess there’s an element of that to factor in too. 
 

I’m not sure they’ll be any meets for a while yet 😬, but once everything calms down I could be interested for sure. 

Edited May 8, 2020 by __djk

[Craiglm68]

Looks a nice car for a great price if those items as mentioned above check out along with a full PPI/scope. And the head slights should tidy up ok with a little work, ....Syer is an oracle when it comes to maintenance/tidy up/modifying activities!

[sevenfourate]

23 minutes ago, Craiglm68 said:

....Syer is an oracle when it comes to maintenance/tidy up/modifying activities!

 

That’s because us carrot crunchers are so used to fixing agricultural machinery out in the field here in Norfolk / Suffolk....😀

[__djk]

A little update as such. Took the plunge and had the car independently checked over and delivered (adhering to all social distancing etc). So far I’m very pleased with her - minus a few initial teething issues. I bought it for a good price based on some of the tidying up work it needed and with the Mindset of it being a bit of a project to make it mint. However, it is perfectly presentable as it is so there is no rush to complete any of this. It is also more importantly mechanically sound and been relatively well looked after. 
 

I knew that it was always going to take a little work and money to get the car to where I wanted it to be, so here are a few things I’ve done or will be doing:

 

- air con refreshed ✅
- front tyres resealed to stop small leaks ✅
- rear wiper needs a new motor, but I’ve decided to delete it instead. Ordered a colour coded seal for that. Any one know of any guides on this? There’s no obvious way of getting the interior boot lid panel off for access?

- alloys needs a refurb. I’ve found a highly recommended company and just need to decide between Matt bronze or a 25%gloss black. Any opinions welcomed. 
- the tyres have about 3mm left on the back and 4/5 on the front. I’m thinking it makes sense to change these  when I get the alloys refurbed. Any recommendations on where to get the tyres from at a good price?
- there were no dust caps so I ordered some nice black Porsche crested ones from eBay. ✅

- the front bumper needs a respray and there are a few minor scuffs/scrapes that need attention. I’ve had quotes for the bumper of approx £250-£400. 
- headlights need a bit of restoration - I’ll diy this - any recommendations on kits?
- hubs could do with a repaint - anyone know of any guides out there for this? I’m assuming it’s pretty easy and just a case of masking off discs and callipers, sanding corrosion off of hubs and using a heatproof metal paint to retouch. 
 

the interior is really good for a 15 year old car. There are some signs of wear on some of the controls but that is to be expected. Everything else interior wise is very good. Once I’ve had the bumper resprayed I’m going to take it to a good detailer and get them to work their magic. I did consider a wrap instead of red-ray, but I really like the midnight blue colour and would rather spend money on getting that as good as possible. 
 

Further down the line I might improve the performance, I’m glad I went with the S as I think I’d have found the 2.7 disappointing performance wise. The car does feel like it needs to breathe a bit better, throttle response could do with being improved. So my thoughts are: plenum and gt3 throttle body, exhaust, intake / air filter and lightened flywheel. This will all be a fair way off yet though. Any advice would be welcomed. 
 

Apologies for the essay. 
 

Dan. 

[sevenfourate]

2 hours ago, __djk said:

A little update as such. Took the plunge and had the car independently checked over and delivered (adhering to all social distancing etc). So far I’m very pleased with her - minus a few initial teething issues. I bought it for a good price based on some of the tidying up work it needed and with the Mindset of it being a bit of a project to make it mint. However, it is perfectly presentable as it is so there is no rush to complete any of this. It is also more importantly mechanically sound and been relatively well looked after. 
 

I knew that it was always going to take a little work and money to get the car to where I wanted it to be, so here are a few things I’ve done or will be doing:

 

- air con refreshed ✅
- front tyres resealed to stop small leaks ✅
- rear wiper needs a new motor, but I’ve decided to delete it instead. Ordered a colour coded seal for that. Any one know of any guides on this? There’s no obvious way of getting the interior boot lid panel off for access?

- alloys needs a refurb. I’ve found a highly recommended company and just need to decide between Matt bronze or a 25%gloss black. Any opinions welcomed. 
- the tyres have about 3mm left on the back and 4/5 on the front. I’m thinking it makes sense to change these  when I get the alloys refurbed. Any recommendations on where to get the tyres from at a good price?
- there were no dust caps so I ordered some nice black Porsche crested ones from eBay. ✅

- the front bumper needs a respray and there are a few minor scuffs/scrapes that need attention. I’ve had quotes for the bumper of approx £250-£400. 
- headlights need a bit of restoration - I’ll diy this - any recommendations on kits?
- hubs could do with a repaint - anyone know of any guides out there for this? I’m assuming it’s pretty easy and just a case of masking off discs and callipers, sanding corrosion off of hubs and using a heatproof metal paint to retouch. 
 

the interior is really good for a 15 year old car. There are some signs of wear on some of the controls but that is to be expected. Everything else interior wise is very good. Once I’ve had the bumper resprayed I’m going to take it to a good detailer and get them to work their magic. I did consider a wrap instead of red-ray, but I really like the midnight blue colour and would rather spend money on getting that as good as possible. 
 

Further down the line I might improve the performance, I’m glad I went with the S as I think I’d have found the 2.7 disappointing performance wise. The car does feel like it needs to breathe a bit better, throttle response could do with being improved. So my thoughts are: plenum and gt3 throttle body, exhaust, intake / air filter and lightened flywheel. This will all be a fair way off yet though. Any advice would be welcomed. 
 

Apologies for the essay. 
 

Dan. 

 

CONGRATS !

 

What better way to make a car "yours" Dan. Mechanically sound and just requires some cosmetic fettling. Sounds perfect ! What colour is the new lady in your life ?

 

Some thoughts:

 

Gloss Black [or any part of] wheels look scratched / tarnished quickly unless meticulous about washing from my experience. Depends how anal you are. Matt Bronze look amazing IMO. Have that on one of our cars - brake dust doesn't show up too badly. And easy to look after.  ***Where have you found for the wheels BTW ? Aerocote in St Olaves are award-winning and completely superb for reference.I 

 

^^^I had my wheels re-powder-coated and fitted new rubber at the same time: for the same reasons as you. More to the point; you need to decide WHAT rubber first ! Road use only ? Spirited driving mostly ? Or the daily commute in all weathers etc etc ?

 

Hubs: Stock - many P-cars come with a 'Battleship" Grey / Primer look finish. I always do hubs that need coating in Hammerite. The finish will outlast the discs, and out of a spray can the finish especially on their Satin options is exceptional. I've never had any issues with heat etc in all the cars i've ever done this on.

 

I recently had a go at the headlights on one of our cars. Bought a kit; but to be honest i then used quite a few bits i had here anyway too. Such as fine grade wet / dry, other polishes/ cutting compounds etc for the best results.

      ****Many machine polish themselves, there are many places / Detailers that will come to you for £50 a pair or less - and the most important thing is to always then protect them with a good quality UV resistant wax afterwards to prevent yellowing appearing or dulling in the future......

 

Careful those Alloy dust caps don't corrode / stick onto your metal valves due to the different metals. Seen it too many times. Apply a little vaseline, copper-slip etc. And don't wind on too tight........loosen / re-tighten regularly.

 

ENJOY !

Edited June 6, 2020 by sevenfourate

[__djk]

I believe the colour is midnight blue it’s a very dark navy. It’s grown on me since having it. Really like the colour now so I’m verging away from a wrap and just getting key areas resprayed / a good detailing. 
 

I think Matt bronze with dark blue would work very well, it’s the option I’m leaning towards. SW alloys in Norwich have come highly recommended by several sources, so thinking I’ll go with them as they’re close by and reasonably competitive with pricing. The alloys I have are the lobster claw 19” ones, they’ve grown on me too, think they really suit the car - I was contemplating just getting  new wheels (bola b17) and tyre package as price wise wouldn’t be that much more expensive, but the more classic look of the lobster claws are starting to win me over. 
 

With tyres I’ll be road driving only tbh, I’d probably buy separate wheels if I ever tracked it. I do drive quite spiritedly, but have another car to use in poor weather conditions. They would need to be good for the odd wet day though (much like the weather we’re having now). 
 

I’ll have a go at the hubs myself, will just need to find a space where I can do it (I don’t have a drive). 
 

Thank you for your help thus far. 
 

Dan. 

 

Edited June 6, 2020 by __djk