987.1 Manual Cayman Full Hartech Rebuild & Warranty Genuine Unicorn Exemplary Immaculate FSH 76K

Porsche 987 Cayman S 6 Speed Manual 76K miles

FSH – Comprehensive No Expense Spared 6 Cylinder Engine Rebuild & Upgrade Just completed (Hartech Spec AMS Build) Warranty

Immaculate, beautiful, garaged 3.4S Manual FSH (18 stamps featuring a number of renowned leading UK Specialist & OPC) 2 working keys & Valet. Previous owner sourced this example from Porsche OPC. Rare opportunity to own an exceptional Cayman with extensive preventative maintenance and provenance to give peace of mind and pleasurable ownership. Just serviced and extensively prepared with Geo Setup at Porsche Specialist that also included fresh front and rear brake pads drop links and track rod ends.

Benefitting from recent all important comprehensive Hartech Specification Engine Rebuild and upgrade (6 x liners, 6 x pistons chains, tensioners, clutch kit etc), undertaken by renowned Porsche Specialist AMS Porsche using world renowned Hartech Specialist Components (AMS Porsche are one of Harlech’s largest UK customers and the heart of their business is Porsche engine rebuilds not just Porsche Servicing). This Cayman delivers exceptional performance.

Specialists who have worked on the vehicle throughout its maintenance history include some of the UK’s best: OPC’s, RPM Technik, Ninemeister, Motortune Schotts, Sports & Classic, Unit 11, Tech 9 and most recently AMS Porsche and Addison Autotech).

I am a Chartered Mechanical Engineer, I now have my own engineering business but I worked previously as a suspension design engineer in both the UK and Europe. I am also a Porsche GB club member and have previously prepared show cars to concours standard.

Exceptional example, 4 x Excellent Michelin Pilot Sport 4 Tyres. Impeccably well maintained, clean MOT history. Wheels are unmarked, the car also benefits from a Miltek exhaust system and 200 Cell Catalytic convertors which IMHO achieves a nice balance (I have had a number of different systems on the various Porsche models I have been fortunate to own over the years and this is great (delivers pleasing acoustics and performance, avoids the 3Krpm drone that some lower cost systems suffer from and is also MOT compliant)).

This is the third Cayman 3.4S I have owned and IMHO they are exceptionally good cars. I have been fortunate to own a few different models of Porsche over the years (987 Cayman S, 986 Boxster S, 986 Boxster 2.5, 987 Boxster S, 997 911) they are all “goldilocks” cars in my experience…. Get a good one and they are very good…. Get a bad example and deep pockets and frustration normally ensue.

Background:

This car took almost 2 years to find and build. I originally started out looking for a 987 Cayman 3.4S Manual that had already been rebuilt but I could not find what I wanted. In two years of searching, I could not find a single car that exactly met my requirements. I did consider the 2.7 (being much less prone to Bore Scoring) they are great cars but I thought I would eventually want another 3.4S. Given how I prepare and maintain my cars it was best to begin from the starting point with the model I wanted.

When looking for this Cayman and considering the other Porsches I have owned over the years I have become increasingly aware of non-catastrophic maintenance items to achieve a genuine full clean bill of health, this is nothing new I am sure for anyone reading this. Interestingly an advert I read recently for a 3.4S Cayman for sale that seemed a good example reasonable mileage good FSH included £13K work of work that was undertaken in a single visit by a reputable independent Porsche specialist (without an engine rebuild) that included: IMS bearing, rear main seal, front suspension refresh, coolant pipes, clutch and flywheel, brake lines, tyres and exhaust total cost £12,981.78.

Key for me when looking for any of my present and past Porsches has been the number and frequency of service intervals, particularly in the latter years as the mileage covered increases: Many cars this age and mileage have only 5/6 stamps which simply doesn't work for me personally, despite being labelled as “FSH”.

On all my Porsches I have the oil analysed by the Millers oil laboratory and they explained one of the biggest problems for Porsche engine oil (actually similar for BMW M Performance models) is fuel dilution of the oil which is related to specific type of usage not necessarily mileage hence frequency of oil change is key to engine health.

The fuel that's gets into the oil reduces its viscosity and ability to protect the engine so lots of starts and “hardly any use or miles” between years that elapse on the service history of some examples can lead to problems.

The millers oil scientists are great people with extensive knowledge hence why Hartech recommended and endorse their oils.

Other cars I have viewed over the years may have had FSH but not been serviced or inspected very recently by specialist (people don’t always do this at the point they decide to sell the car for obvious reasons). Equally some examples although have FSH may have short MOT, be on original clutch etc. for which significant expense prior to sale may not be the approach they take (and hence the cars are for sale).

Given the bore scoring potential issue (which I have personal experience of on other Porsches I have both owned and viewed) I decided that for peace of mind I would want a Cayman with a rebuilt engine, of the few rebuilt examples that were available on the market, when I studied the rebuild sheets for most of them there would be things I personally would have done additionally but appreciate everyone’s circumstances and budgets are different and I also wanted a manual car, some great rebuilt tiptronic examples but I wanted a manual.

The closest I came were 2 cars that benefitted from Hartech rebuilds that were great but sadly tiptronic and not for me (and even these didn't have the X51 sump kit/ 3rd Radiator/ Uprated rod bolts and larger bearing shells etc.) I briefly looked into converting these to Manual but that was not straight fwd and I decided after specialist advice, the gearbox conversion would be more troublesome and costly than it was worth.

At that point I decided that if I could find a car with an engine that needed rebuilding I would have the chance to choose the exact spec for the rebuild, to date I have never seen a Cayman 3.4S for sale with a rebuild spec as comprehensive as this in terms of extent and preventative maintenance as this one has benefits from (not to say they don’t exist I have just never seen one for sale in the circa 40 Porsche 9x6 and 9x7 rebuild invoices I have studied over several years of Cayman, 911 and Boxster ownership over the years).

Reflecting on the 40+ engine rebuild/ repair invoices I have seen during my Porsche ownership over the years, I have become increasingly aware of the distinction between an engine “repair” (where the work is minimised and only the damaged components are changed) compared to a comprehensive full “rebuild” (where all components are replaced with new parts and in the case of my Cayman a number are upgraded) and many “grades” that sit in between these 2 approaches.

The Extensive Engine Upgrade and Rebuild on my Cayman delivers the best of all worlds: Robust reliable road use (arguably OTT) includes X51 Baffle, 3rd Radiator, uprated ARP Con Rod bolts Uprated wider Hartech crank bearing shells etc. together with coolant system overhaul. My plan was to prepare a car that I enjoy driving worry free with the pleasure of knowing that it has arguably the most reliable engine specification of any 3.4S Cayman on the road today, delivering likely north of 300 bhp all day every day :).

When I purchased this Cayman it was exactly what I had hoped for with low mileage, excellent condition and great provenance with actually one of the most comprehensive service histories and accompanying invoices of any Porsche I have seen to date. Starting with a car of such provenance gave me the confidence to undertake the extensive rebuild as the overall result works as a “system” (vs for example a tired ropey partial history example which at the end would still be a tired partial history example even with my new exemplary engine). Whilst searching I recall one chaps Cayman I was interested in that had had a partial Hartech rebuild (still a £13K invoice) and his view of “the service history doesn’t matter if it’s had a new engine” just didn’t align with my outlook but I appreciate much of this is personal opinion/ preference/ views. This again adds to the scarcity of this model and although a significant statement this example is likely to be one of the “best” 987 3.4 Cayman S examples in the UK in terms of overall provenance and condition including the extensive rebuild.

The next custodian can continue to enjoy with the peace of mind for many pleasurable and miles.

Full and Complete Engine Rebuild & Upgrade Details - Undertaken by Renowned Specialist AMS Porsche @74k miles Sept 24 run in complete Jan 24

● 6 x Hartech Nikasil Coated Closed Deck Liners

● 6 x Hartech Pistons

● 6 x Piston Rings

● ARP Uprated Con Rod Bolts

● Uprated Wider Hartech Big End Bearing Shells

● Crankshaft

● Thrust Washers

● X51 Baffled Sump

● Bearings, Timing Chains, Chain Guide Rails, Blades, Bolts, Tensioners

● Full Engine Gasket Set

● Cylinder Head Bolts

● Engineers Cylinder Head Overhaul

● Stretch Bolts

● Cylinder Head Valve Guides

● Fully Reconditioned Cylinder Heads

● Spark Plugs

● IMS Bearing

● Power Steering Fluid

● OPC Third Radiator Kit

● Low Temp Thermostat and Housing

● Water Pump

● Idler Pulley

● Tensioning Roller

● Deflection Roller

● Drive Belt

● Clutch Assembly (3 Piece Sachs)

● Rear Main Seal

● Air Oil Separator

● Oil Cooler

● Oil Pump

● 200 Cell Catalytic convertors

● 4 x Lambda sensors (pre and post cat for both banks)

● Lambda Sensor Extension

● Cam Shaft Adjuster Unit

OPC Porsche Short shift kit (as per GT models) recently fitted, I have this on my 997C2S great addition and with the new clutch kit makes the changes crisp, smooth and fresh and really enhances the driving experience.

Recent further works Jan 2025

● New Starter Motor

● New Front Brake Pads

● New Rear Brake Pads

● New fresh climate control switches

● New Track rod end

● New Drop links

● Full geometry alignment by Porsche Specialist

● Zunsport Stainless Steel Protective Radiator Grill (1 x Centre 2 x Side Grills)

● Under body and wheel area areas deep cleaned, sealed and treated with Lanocare

Previous works (invoices in history file)

● Replacement Key including new reprogrammed key head (Genuine OPC Porsche)

● 2 x Rear Coil Springs

● Rear Handbrake Shoes

● 2 x Inner Steering Rack Arms

● Front Brake Pads, Wear Sensors & Damping Plates

● Door Check Strap and Membrane

● Brake Pipes (Centre NSF, NSR, OSF, OSR)

● Brake Hoses

● Front Coffin Arms

● Aircon condensers x 2

● Air Oil Separator

● Window Regulator

● O/S Window Switch

● Timing Chain tensioner Washer

● Brake Fluid

● Coil Packs

● Coolant Cross Over Pipes, brackets and connections including hoses and distribution supply tube

Service History (18 Stamps in Fully stamped original service book & supporting Invoices)

Specialists who have worked on the vehicle throughout its maintenance history include: OPC’s, RPM Technik, Ninemeister, Motortune Schotts, Sports & Classic, Unit 11, Tech 9 and most recently AMS Porsche and Addison Autotech.

SERVICE MAINTENANCE RECORD (12 Stamps)

Oct 07 - 20k miles - OPC

Mar 10 - 30k miles - Specialist

Feb 12 - 40k miles – Specialist

Mar 14 - 44k miles – Specialist

Feb 15 – 46k miles – Specialist

May 16 – 52k miles – Specialist

Jul 17 – 55k miles – Independent Garage

Jun 18 - 58k miles – Specialist

Nov 19 – 66k miles – Specialist

Mar 21 – 69k miles – Specialist

Apr 22 – 70k miles – Specialist

Sept 24 – 75k miles – Specialist (Including full engine rebuild and upgrade)

Dec 24 – 76K miles – Specialist new engine running in service

BRAKE FLUID (5 Stamps)

Feb 15 – 46k miles – Specialist

Jun 18 - 58k miles – Specialist

Mar 21 – 69k miles – Specialist

May 22 - 70k miles - Specialist

Feb 23 – 74k miles - OPC

SUMMARY

● Unique opportunity to own a very rare specification Cayman with extensive preventative maintenance and provenance to give peace of mind and pleasurable ownership.

● Worry free with the pleasure of knowing that it has arguably the most reliable engine specifications of any 3.4S Cayman on the road today.

● Just had full clean bill of health from renowned UK Porsche specialist following comprehensive engine rebuild & upgrade, inspection, road test and preparation.

● Clean MOT history.

● Upgraded Comprehensive 6 Cylinder Hartech Engine Rebuilt by Renowned Porsche Specialist AMS Porsche.

● Extensive and comprehensive preparation to ensure low ownership costs and enjoyment.

● Complete refresh and upgrade of coolant system to ensure optimum performance & longevity

● Freshly serviced.

● 4 excellent Matching Michelin Pilot Sport Tyres with unmarked wheels.

● No pending large expenditure.

● Peace of mind Porsche Ownership for many years to come.

● Garaged and connected to CTEK Trickle Charger.

The new engine is under warranty with AMS which is transferable to the new owner subject to a few conditions (which are genuine and very reasonable not “wriggle out” small print terms like sadly a number of Warranty companies revert to). I have a very good relationship with AMS Porsche which I would like to maintain and hence why I am seeking to find the right “fit” of a new custodian for this Cayman in terms of a like-minded mechanically sympathetic enthusiast. Please note this is a private sale of my own personal car only the engine is under AMS warranty.

Detailed discussions with genuine interested buyers would be my pleasure.

Thank you for reading my advert…. congratulations if you are still awake and got this far through the ad my wife would say! :)

Regards

Robert