Hey folks, currently I drive an E46 M3 that I most entirely do all the maintenance and repairs for the car myself (I have written several DIYs for M3F). Anyhow, I've considered ownership of a 997 GT3RS (.2 preferably) as my next performance car sometime in the next decade. As someone who is very technical and **** about things being done proper and right the first time, I prefer to maintain my own vehicles. For me is it self-satisfaction knowing a repair is done to my standards and that it is indeed, taken care of.

So I ask for all you GT3/GT3RS owners, is the 997 a car that can be for the most part worked on self-sufficiently?

And if so, what does a typical service interval cost (filter changes, fluid changes, tune up, etc.). For the E46 M3 it's roughly $300-$800 for parts alone if done by oneself.

Sorry if this question has been asked before but I'm curious what the differences between a P-car and the M3 are in terms of cost of ownership and ease of use to maintain. I understand the cars are completely different animals and have different purposes that cater to entirely different crowds. Thanks for any and all responses.

 

If you're doing the work yourself I think the cost would be similar for services. For repairs if you're comfortable dropping an engine then you can do most everything yourself. For me I'll do most stuff but I shy away from doing stuff like replacing a clutch or dropping the engine to repair coolant hoses. Mostly because I don't have a lift

 

On the most part yes, something's are much easier with a lift on these cars.

 

Thanks for the response. Yes, anything mechanical is comfortable to me. I've done several valve adjustments on the S54 and will be dropping the bottom end next to replace rod bearings. The lift would be nice...that is on the garage master list in the not so distant future.

I would venture to say a lot of things are easier repaired on a lift. Beats lying on your back and squirming to get into tight places.

 

I've never worked on a Porsche but from an owner's perspective, are these cars seemingly engineered well to work on and maintain? i.e. able to hand tighten bolts and screws before being torqued, parts are easily accessible under the trunk lid, torque figures and numerical component values are obtained easily, very minimal rust to parts, etc.

 

must have been a front engine porsche you saw!! if you have octopus hands and arma of a small child you can work on the top of a rear engine porsche. from underneath some items are easy to get to and most will need wrenches made of rubber that can handle torque! its a handful but if your patient you can do the work. im doing mine as much as possible and to say its a learning experience is an understatement

 

Haha caught my mistake. So used to working under the actual hood for the M3. What is called when working on a porsche? Working under the boot lid? Rear trunk lid?

 

for sure with a lift you can do everything. Everything ive had to do so far has been fairly easy like changing plugs and the coolant tank its just everything is mashed together so tightly even small jobs sometimes become huge pains.

 

Curious. Is there a site or sites I should say that have excellent and plentiful DIYs for this car? I noticed this site does not have much in the DIY section for 997.

 

I've had multiple BMWs and I am a HUGE DIY guy. The Porsches I've owned have been infinately easier to work on. If you've tackled the bimmer yourself, you'll handle a Porsche with ease.

Full disclosure... I have two lifts and do a fair amount of fabrication and building of my own cars.

Mike

 

DIY is easier than the M3 in many ways, they are quite simple beasts with less electronics etc to get in the way.

Just get stuck in.

on ebay or through one of the guys on here you will find DVD workshop manuals for the 997.

Cheers
Jay

 

renntech or renntrack .com have many diy to get you started

 

Small hands and a lot of patience is all one needs. They are mostly easy to work on, but some things are engineered so tightly it can be a PITA to get something done. I find 90% of the time you are replacing parts as opposed to rebuilding something which makes it very easy.

 

As has already been stated you will be fine. These things are a little cramped but well designed to be pretty easy to work on. I'm a big DIY guy and also came from an M3 and had zero issues adapting

I've done everything from small projects to the full engine pull (without lift) to do both my coolant fittings as well as light wight flywheel and clutch. No problems with any of it. Actually one of the bigger pains in the rear is a simple plug change but it just takes some patience,universal joint and a few lengths of extensions and you will be fine.

 

I'm a BMW guy myself (330ci, 540, E39M5) and find the GT3 to be pretty straight forward. Haven't dropped the engine yet, but likely will this spring for doing the coolant fittings and new hoses as well as a general poke around...

You'll be fine, pretty much if you know how cars work and have some of the specialty tools (torx...) you're good to go...