Southern Man

PM sent! Thanks!

HandsomeRob

Ok, so now it has come to light what has been in the back of my head. My new to me '01 996 had an RMS leak in the maintenance history that was fixed by the dealer at 20k miles in 2006. When I purchased the car a few months ago it seemed that a small leak was a known gremlin and that by itself isn't that concerning... but the logic of the RMS/Flywheel seal alignment issue being a parallel issue to the IMS alignment makes some sense as to why some cars might be snakebit.

My question is this...

How many owners with IMSB failure ALSO had issues with RMS (Flywheel) leaking?

I am no machinist but I would imagine that production is done with certain tolerances that will need recalibration as production ensues. Maybe the acceptable tolerances were too wide and the engines fabricated outside of the ideal might have been doomed to fail?

JMLavoie

In order to properly measure these data points with your tool accurately, do you have to have the engine opened up?

I would call your input above as akin to a paradigm shift in thinking, in the ongoing IMSB failure saga.

Flat6 Innovations

I have one tool set that is used during an ins retrofit with the engine assembled. I have another that's used during engine measurement of an engine that's fully disassembled.

JMLavoie

Thank you, Jake!
I would assume then that the internal measurement would be more accurate than the external measurement by a few thousands (or mms) and as such used to confirm the latter.

Flat6 Innovations

Not really.. It just allows two more checks to be done. Honestly, these two dimensions are less critical.
The most important measurements are capable of being measured externally.

jld3601q

I was checking out a low mileage 2001 996. I asked about IMS replacement and dealer said that his mechanic inspected the clutch with a camera and there's no sign of leaking RMS, therefore the IMS is good. My BS meter pegged out, but wanted to check with more knowledgeable folks here--my understanding was there's no way to see the clutch or the IMS without dropping the transmission. Comments? Thanks!

polarporsche.com

ANYONE IN PHILA AREA HAVE IMS, IM OUT, AND SO IS SSF AND WORLD PAC........... WHAT IS GOING ON???? PRICE UP SUPPLY DOWN

Valkuri

An admittedly ignorant question, so I apologize in advance:

I bought an '03 C4S early this year, with just under 50,000 miles. Thanks to a friend/neighbor, who built a rather nice home on the money he's made over 20 years rebuilding Porsche mechanicals, I had at least a reasonably complete set of questions for the dealer.
Turns out, the engine was removed and repaired at Beverly Hills Porsche at 17,000 miles.

The questions:
1.Can I presume that the repair was for a failed IMS bearing? If so, I'm safe from that standpoint.
2.Any likelihood that an authorized Porsche dealership would retain the information---that is, how many IMS failures they'd identified and repaired, if only to report back to the Mother Ship in Germany?

I know: Near impossible to provide an actual answer.
I may just call Beverly Hills Porsche in California to answer #2.

mikefocke

No you can't presume. Could have just been a leaking RMS replaced with the new and improved seal and no connection to the IMS.

And if it was the IMS and Jake's "out of spec" findings are correct just plugging in a new bearing doesn't fix the alignment issue that may be part of the cause for the early failure. Manufacturing variations and installation variations. Do they add up or cancel each other out?

There are engines with known multiple failures.

Will the dealership give you that info? Generally they don't like to but you might get a wink and a nod depending on how well you are known to spend money there.

doctrepp

i have read just about everything on the boards here and have also talked with Jake about my car - but i wanted to get a few other opinions on this thread (no offense to you jake, im just checking my boxes)

i recently bought a 2004 C4S cab with 12k miles on it...it wasnt driven much (obviously), but they were diligent with their upkeep.

I am debating between doing nothing, doing LN retrofit, or shipping my car to Jake and having the IMS solution put in...

was hoping for any advice from y'all

dgjks6

With no history - meaning low miles - I would change it. But I was bit in the butt by the IMS so I am biased. Depends what your plans are with the car. If you plan to occ drive the car I would get the new IMS retrofit (single to double bearing thing). If it is going to be your daily driver and you plan on doing a lot of miles I would do the solution. I did a double row with a 70K mile service interval and I will have to do it again in a few years. The LN website has a list of certified installers if GA is not close to you.

Flat6 Innovations

No problem, just keep doing your homework.

You always have to consider the basis of "opinions" and the fact that the person who has them on these forums may know less about the topic than you do. Thats the problem so many times.

if people had as much life experience as they have opinions, we'd all be better off.

thebowl

Another victim of failure ('03; at around 38K miles). Put in the Solution; I don't know whether you intent to keep it indefinitely (my plan), or are thinking in terms of re-sale. I don't think it matters. Put it in and then forget about it.

Narsisco Lopez

Hi All,

This is my very first post (but I'm a long-time forum frequenter/contributor on many other technical/motorcycle forums). Just purchased an '03 996 C4S with 19,729 miles and it's on a delivery vehicle as I write this. Being the tech-geek I am, I have been devouring EVERYTHING 996 I can get my virtual hands on, including the RMS/IMS issues surrounding the M96/97 engines. After reading this entire thread, I figured I'd share this very interesting video...


This one actually shows a DOF install without actually replacing the bearing (obviously, the bearing is in nominal condition), but just removing the seal to allow direct oil injection...


I apologize if these vids have been posted elsewhere on this forum, but I thought this would be an excellent place for them as new members like me search for all the info they can get on the IMS issue and its options for dealing with it long term.