Cars / Porsche Boxster/Cayman 986/987.1

Porsche Boxster/Cayman 986/987.1 (1997–2008)

986 / 987.1 · M96/M97 flat-six

Verdict: The cheapest way into a mid-engine Porsche, sharing the 996's IMS story. 2009+ (987.2) cars use a different engine without the IMS.

At a glance

Risk 4/5 Market: Cheapest Porsche entry

Must-have records:

IMS invoice
Clutch/RMS history
Bore scope results

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Buy-risk rundown

Issue	Symptom	How to check	Typical cost (as of Nov 2026)
IMS bearing	Metal in the oil filter; usually no warning	Filter cut; specialist PPI	Retrofit $3,200–$4,600 standalone; $1,300–$2,200 extra with a clutch [1]
MY2006–08 non-serviceable bearing	Bearing can't be changed without engine teardown	Confirm engine/year	Seal work at clutch time: a few hundred dollars [1]
Tiptronic labor premium	—	Check transmission type	Add ~4–8 hrs labor to IMS work [1]

Cost figures checked against the sources below in Nov 2026. Bracketed numbers refer to the source list.

Notes

Affected: 986 and 987.1 Boxster, 987.1 Cayman (1997–2008) [1].

Before you buy

Use our printable pre-purchase inspection checklist and get a PPI from a marque specialist.

Sources

Principe Repair & Performance, IMS failure & cost (accessed Nov 2026)
LN Engineering, IMS Definitive Guide & FAQ (accessed Nov 2026)

Last updated 2026-11-05. Costs vary by region and shop.

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