Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Ok...Ok...I knew owning a Porsche was going to cost me a bit more than a boring BMW or the Mazda RX8 I had, but this is getting silly. My question revolves around the main oil seal. I have had to replace it on my 996 Targa at 23,000 miles, and now on my Boxster 986 at 24,300 miles. I know this is a weak spot, but seriously, at over £900 a time at my local Porsce main dealer, will I need to think about budgetting for this every 18 months or so..?? THAT didn't figure in my game plan...an oil seal every 20k...
What's the 'normal' life span of one of these? I'd much rather spend the money on upgrading the cars, not this sort of silly nonsense...
Others' experience?? (I've owned these cars for a year, and so far have really enoyed it...apart from this).

Hi Paul

You have been really unlucky to have this go on both cars.

Check with your OPC but I thought that all replacement parts carried a 2 year warranty and the new seals had been upgraded. I have heard of replacements failing in the early days so not sure if that is still the case.

Thanks for your response Sean. Both these cars are 03 registration - it's just a concern that I haven't exactly seen well publicised by Porsche, that this oil seal can go as often as this. Although the cars have a low mileage for their year, this will increase substantially in the next two years, (planning a drive around Europe as well as day to day use), so am I facing a bill for new oils seals every 20k or so??? I 'd welcome the views of anyone who has had similar experience. If this is the case, sad as it is, and though it's a long-held dream come true to own a 911, then the Porsches can go....I'm not into spending £1000 every year on a rubber ring. I know whore-houses and drinking saloons where this could be better spent. Seriously, I'd rather spend the money on improving the suspension, brakes, etc....as well as normal servicing. I'm not guilty of letting the seals dry out, or anything like that.. the cars have been regularly used...just not on long trips, and I always watch oil levels, etc. Even a 2 year warranty on such a vital (and expensive) part is totally insufficient these days.....Porsche should be offering consumers a better deal than that. 2 years at low/average miles is nothing.....leading straight back to me...at 20k a time, and £1000. I once built all sorts of Mini engines, and once the crank seal was replaced, they'd go on for years and years, so why is it such a weak spot on Porsche? OK...bitch over, I've taken my Prozac - but before both these cars go into the figurative skip, can someone reassure me??