Joel Reiser of Panorama magazine says, "Ï believe every one of them will fail" Can we put together a survey of high milage Porches, with IMS engines, to prove him wrong?

 

what model years have the IMS?

 

987.1 cars 2005-2008 have M97 motors with IMS. 987.2 cars 2009-2012 have 9A1 motors with no IMS. the 3.4l have DFI, the 2.9l do not have DFI. Didn't see the Pano issue so don't know the context. One could say all engines will fail at some point but I wouldn't expect the cause to be IMS in all. There are lots of high milage M96 motors (996 non turbo/GT3 and 986 boxster) with various IMS designs that haven't failed. Was there some more explanation in the Pano article?

 

The Boxster guys put a survey together and estimated 4-7% failures, as I remember.
I think that the one sentence said it all.

 

if you ask question like this - ANY engine will eventually fail. only question is 'when'.
IMS does not fail, a submerged bearing may lose its internal grease and will eventually fall apart. from what most people say it is most likely to happen to any M96/M97 engine but yet a lot of cars still drive out there and do not fail.

technically it is what it is - a timebomb that will eventually detonate. in cars like mine where this IMS assembly cannot be accessed from outside it is a major PITA as to drop engine down and split it to access IMS for replacement costs pretty damn close to a price of a install of a used motor. which makes entire effort of IMS replacement pretty much pointless. but if you have old generation IMS that can be pulled out - by any means get LN engineering bearing installed and reinstall it every 30-40 K miles just as a precaution.

 

I could be wrong but wasn't the IMS failure due to oil starvation?

 

This is what i figured. Therfore if you stay away from the track you are fine.

 

the bearing is sealed inside the engine [great idea...not] the seals give way and the bearing lube is washed away then it fails

 

This is the official answer... m97 does not have an issue with IMS.
I get a flat tire once every 5 years, does that mean all tires will get a flat and have an issue?


Joel Reiser of Panorama magazine is pretty much a tool. Panorama magazine? Let alone have some editor give his belief on IMS failure.. *"Ï believe every one of them will fail"* please... I believe Joel is a tool..

 

Panorama magazine is the PCA monthly mag (that I never read), the car is a Panamera not a Panorama. Whether Joel is a tool or not.........? I will take your word for it.

 

I cant stand that car.