Good morning I posted this in the Boxster forum but thought someone in this forum may be knowledgeable as well. I am looking at a 2006 Boxster base model for my sweetums as a daily driver in Irvine California (build date 11/15/2005/ M9625 engine) would it likely have the smaller serviceable IMS or the larger version. My understanding is the engine that would have been used would have been a M9625 which was a M97 case with m96 heads. In one of the PCA you tubes Jake Ray is sharing his knowledge on the different IMS bearing and different IM shafts used from 99 to 2007. He stated all 2006s have the larger non serviceable IMS. The car is a 2006 but the build date was late 2005 and the engine could have been assembled any time in 2005, right ? So, were the smaller IMS 2005’s engines likely assembled in late 2004 and early 2005. The car has 40k three owners and is being sold through a dealer. The dealer list a though inspection ,so, is a PPI still recommend and how does one go about setting up a PPI , recommendations. Any way thanks

 

The first thing I would do is contact the dealership and see if they will even allow you to have a PPI done by an independent shop. Many (Most?) dealerships are not amenable to private PPI's. Depending on their response, you can move forward with your decision. As for the IMS, I would think that the VIN should enable you to determine what's in that particular engine.

 

The transition for the serviceable, flakey IMS bearing is engine number M96/2662504095. After that number they are the larger, unserviceable but very robust bearing.



My S was made in June ‘05 and my engine number is about 3500 numbers higher than the transition. All of the later-build ‘05 engines are the same as the ‘06 and subsequent.

 

Well, that’s helpful. Thanks I will see if I can get the engine number, I am likely going to get a first hand answer as they are replacing the clutch the week as it didn’t pass inspection. Cheers

 

The IMS on my 2004 Anniversary Model Boxster S failed at 27K (back in 2009) and was replaced by Porsche with a new engine based on the 2006 specs. I remember the service manager saying that the IMS on the new engine was very "robust" and would not be a problem. Just thought I'd throw that bit of information into the mix.

 

So engine number 2561603713 would likely be of the flaky variant? Thanks and Cheers

 

Ok, let's break down the engine serial number based on a 2010 thread:

25 = base motor
6 = 6 cylinders
1 = version 1 of the motor
6 = made in 2006
03713= serial number

In your case, the only anomaly I see is the car was assembled in November 2005 and the engine was built in 2006. Either you have the wrong build date, or the car got a new motor at some point. Did you run the VIN through VIN Analytics to confirm build date?

 

Yep engine M96/2561603717 Vin WP0CA29886U711073

 

Looks like it has a replacement engine.

 

Vin Analytics says the car was built October 1, 2005, but was not sold until October 31, 2006.

It could be a replacement engine. But the engine serial number is missing the letters AT. If the engine was replaced, it was with a new motor, not a factory remanufactured unit. That is not unheard of and there are several reports to that effect.

From my 997 ownership days, the changeover from the serviceable IMS to the non-serviceable IMS was complete by mid-2005. My 997 was also an October, 2005 build date and had the non-serviceable IMS. Also from my 997 days, all 2006 997's had the non-serviceable IMS. If the 987 followed the same timeline, it probably had the non-serviceable IMS whether it was built in timeline with the car or was a replacement motor built in 2006.