Boxster's Metal-Laden Oil Points to Failing Camshaft

I had nearly identical issues with my 2019 Porsche Cayman last month. The symptoms matched yours exactly, rough running, power loss, excessive fuel consumption, and that telltale valve noise. Took it to my specialist, and it turned out to be a failed camshaft adjuster solenoid. The metal particles in the oil were a clear indicator that the camshaft adjuster was wearing incorrectly. This is actually a known issue on these engines that needs immediate attention to prevent further damage to the timing components. In my case, they had to replace the solenoid and flush the system. It was a serious repair that took about 2 days to complete. Left untreated, it could have led to complete engine failure. For reference, I now exclusively use certified Porsche specialists. With these engines, you really need someone who knows the specific quirks of the brand.

Thanks a lot for sharing this, it's really helpful to hear someone had the same problem! I got my 2016 Boxster fixed just last week with similar issues. Do you remember roughly how much the repair set you back? Also curious if you've had any other problems pop up since the fix? My car's running smooth now, but you know how these things go... Always good to be prepared!

Hey again! Glad I could help, and even happier to hear you got your Boxster sorted out! Yeah, for my Cayman, I ended up paying around 250€ to fix the camshaft adjustment issue, specifically it was one of those pesky neck shaft solenoid valves that was acting up. The mechanic spotted it right away and got it sorted. Since the fix, my car's been running like a dream, no more jerking, weird noises, or fuel consumption issues. It's been about a month now, and honestly, it feels like I'm driving a different car! I totally get your concern about future problems, these Porsches can be a bit temperamental sometimes! But in my experience, once you get these camshaft issues properly sorted by a good mechanic, they tend to stay fixed. Just keep an eye on your oil levels and listen out for any unusual sounds, but I reckon you should be good to go now. Have you noticed any improvement in your fuel consumption since the fix? Mine definitely got way better!

Thanks for all that info! Yeah, I finally got everything sorted out at the mechanic's last week. What a relief! Let me tell you what happened. I took it to this new specialist shop that really knows their Porsches. They diagnosed it right away, it was exactly what you had, a faulty camshaft adjuster solenoid. The whole repair took about 3 days because they were super thorough, checking everything while they had it open. Cost me around 300€, which wasn't as bad as I was expecting, honestly. The best part? The car's running like new now! No more jerking, the power's back, and I'm not bleeding money on fuel anymore. Such a difference from before! Funny how we both had the same issue, but I'm just glad I asked here and got pointed in the right direction. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it really helped me make the decision to get it fixed before it turned into something worse!