If I were you, I'd check for oil leaks before your warranty runs out. I noticed a few weeks back, after placing some cardboard on my garage floor to check for leaks, that a few spots had developed. Took it in (07, 31K miles, never tracked) was told that the seals on the transmission case were shot and the car needed a new transmission!!--$15K. Thankfully, covered under warranty. I did a google and 6speed search and apparently, this has been aproblem on the chicktronics since the 996 days. What amazes me is that Porsche hasn't figured out a solution to this. To make matters worse, that seal isn't sold as a part. If it was out of warranty, your best luck would be to find an independent transmission shop that would be willing to do some jerry-rigging to put a new seal on. The new transmission they placed has the same seals again. I don't know if this means in another 30k miles, I'll need a new one again. Unbelievable!

But I think it behooves all of you automatic owners to check for leaks before your CPO's run out. What's funny is that everyone talks about the tip being"bullet-proof"(even my service advisor!). I guess it's just like the Dragon Smog in The Hobbit--you're only as good as your weakest link and this seems to be a major one for Porsche tip's. It remains to be seen what issues the PDK's become known for 3-5 years down the line. Anyway, I'm thankful to my dealership, service advisor and even Porsche for the great warranty coverage. But it really makes you question the sanity of keeping these cars once they are out of warranty

 

First off, thank you for the forewarning to board members but there is a few issues here...

To doubt the tip transmissions out there in general, based on your one isolated experience is not very fair. It is unreasonable to assume that out of thousands of manufactured cars and transmissions in a product line, that none are going to fail or fail early in its life. There is not one product out there that is 100% successful 100% of the time.

3-5 years down the line, what mass common failure have these transmissions shown?

I realize you had a bad experience and I feel for you, but I had a $11,000 engine failure I paid out of pocket on my diesel '08 F350 this past November so I know exactly where your coming from.

A good majority of people on this forum mod their cars so sanity in keeping the car after warranty expires doesnt really relate either. A guy w a 2010 w 10k miles on his car with a tune, etc, will not have warranty either. Additionally, if someone made the decision to buy a Porsche Turbo out of warranty, they perhaps should do so if they have the means to fix it if something catastrophic were to occur?

Anyways that just how I disagree but thanks for the good intention in warning us.

Good luck with your car.

 

I understand where you're coming from and thanks for the alternative view point. Do yourself a favor and search this issue on tips, and you'll see, it's not isolated. I've owned expensive cars before and maintaining one isn't cheap, and I can certainly afford it. But an entire transmission failure and replacement because of a $10 seal is pretty bad--you have to admit! It's less about the money and more about the principle: that this issue exists, Porsche has known about it (my neighbor with a 996 turbo had the EXACT same issue 2 years ago) and there isn't really a fix beyond replacing the entire transmission. Given all the threads on here by members asking about things to watch out for in buying a used turbo, on top of my desire to help my fellow 6speeder, I posted this thread. Do with the advice as you please.

 

Porsche replaces the hole transmission but there are several companies that know the inside out of the (mercedes) tiptronic and they can fix any problem by just replacing the damage parts.

 

[QUOTE=MK23;3752592]If I were you, I'd check for oil leaks before your warranty runs out. I noticed a few weeks back, after placing some cardboard on my garage floor to check for leaks, that a few spots had developed. Took it in (07, 31K miles, never tracked) was told that the seals on the transmission case were shot and the car needed a new transmission!!--$15K. Thankfully, covered under warranty. I did a google and 6speed search and apparently, this has been aproblem on the chicktronics since the 996 days. What amazes me is that Porsche hasn't figured out a solution to this. To make matters worse, that seal isn't sold as a part. If it was out of warranty, your best luck would be to find an independent transmission shop that would be willing to do some jerry-rigging to put a new seal on. The new transmission they placed has the same seals again. I don't know if this means in another 30k miles, I'll need a new one again. Unbelievable!
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I totally agree with you. My Porsche tech told me 'not' to keep these expensive-to-fix Porsche turbos or any Porsche out of warranty. They willl come apart soon out of warranty. My '07 blew a coolant hose out of warranty but still within extended. Engine needed to be dropped, rubber hose not covered under extended but 'maybe tech said' if still under factory. Front axles replaced with boots shot (turbo has 50Kmiles) , clutch slave, starter, mass air sensor, air sensors in tires, heat exchanger, 2-oxygen sensors, cats, etc. Most repairs always required tow and a lot of wasted time back and forth from dealership.
I go along with my porsche tech, once out of warranty these porsche-turbos fail quickly. They told me that my EasyCare warranty was just like the factory one when I purchased it when the car was new, and that's a lie. Extended warranties cover nothing that is rubber-faillure; strange they did cover the front axle boots with axles. I got a manual trans because I have had experience with auto-tran failures and leaks. Most likely extended warranties do not cover autoo-trans leaks either, just don't know.

 

Wow, this is News I have 07-Tip with 37K...... when is the Factory Warranty up?

 

As you can see, my 202.000 km turbo has no leak. But I take extrem care of her and rarely do short trips.

As woozy said, rebuilt of the mercedes transmission is easy to do for a lot less.
If you know what you do with it, this car is no brainer. The mezger engine associated with a tiptronic is the best reliability insurance you could get.

 

The undercarriage of your car is as clean as a brand new car and the parts don't show any wear. Amazing maintainance and care for a car with +200k kms. That is really EXTREME.

Even if porsche or mercedes don't sell that seal, you should find a seal that can work on it in a specialized hydraulic parts shop. They use to have all kind of rubbers, o-rings, seals...

As a last option, i would try first a proper silicone instead of buying a new gearbox.

 

Tip from Tiago sounds like a good idea. Flat custom gaskets are easy to make when you find the right people with the good knowledge (you want to make it only once...).

 

Depends if you still have your cpo warranty. If you bought the car brand new then your warranty ran out already unless you got an extended one. Based on some of the posts, and what I read when I researched this topic, you may get lucky if you find an independent shop that can figure something out. But don't panic yet . Doesn't happen to all the tips so just keep an eye on it. I was actually wondering if a leak does develop, why would u have to fix it? Couldn't yo just let it leak and just refill the transmission fluid once in a while?

 

I love how all of this is bad engineering. The tranny is used in more cars that you realize.
Then we have Johnww chiming in about his hose issue when DID YOU KNOW THAT THE PRO TEAMS DO NOTHING TO THEIR HOSES! Yup they use the same hose setup we all have and do you see them busting open on the track?

Dry rot is a *****, perhaps a car that is driven is a better buy than a 2k mile 07.

 

have you experienced any major issues during 200.000 km?

 

I would only toss in my 2 cents. I found the dealerships to be pretty zealous about replacing parts under warranty. And every time I went to the dealership, service was not that busy. How bad was the leak? Sometimes cars leak and then they STOP leaking. Strange, yes. However, I believe Porsche can justify repair IF a customer complains AND something leaks to the point of a drip. It is a great warranty and service eagerly performs repairs. However, if you were not under warranty, would you pay to replace the tranny if it dripped a couple of drops a week? Is it REALLY a sign that the WHOLE tranny is BAD? I really don't think so. If the thing is slipping, not shifting properly or having other issues that can't be rectified, then you replace the tranny. Unless of course, they are willing to do it for you! Still, I also wonder about resale if the car has a couple of drips or if it shows on the carfax that the tranny was replaced...

 

This is the Problem about Fourms I know that everyone is Entitled to their own Opinion. But when it comes down to somthing Serious like a $10-15 G's to replace a Transmission WE need FACTS are these it I find this hard to believe I would like to hear Feedback from the Pro's like ES Motor thoes guy's would know if this is True. I know this Thread was done with good Intention's but you got me Thinking!!!

 

Hey I was running my car for 25k HARD miles on a 700 kit with my stock tip. Eventually when it started to leak, I sent it to the guys at RENNTECH who rebuilt the trans for just under 4k! Now the car is running stronger and more boost on a built trans and im upto 30k miles and no leaks-bone dry. Depends on how you drive the car, or launch it.