randerson22

I have a 2002 C4S, mint, silver/black, sport seats, bought 3 years ago with 56K, now has 63K. I have had the 60K service done, had analysis done by local mechanic (oil inspection, bore scope, cam differential readings) to ensure the motor is "good to go" for an IMS upgrade.

But my desire is now to have something more suitable for track thrashings, and I am considering a used Cayman S as a model that might be more suitable for said thrashing. Am I tripping? Would a stock '07/'08 Cayman S be any less prone to failure? I know the '09 has the upgraded motor, but these seem hard to find.

So, would you sell "as is", with a line into the mechanic who has assessed the car, or just go ahead and dump the $3 - 4K and have the IMS done? If so, the LN or other brands?

Thanks for opinions on this.

5CHN3LL

Unfortunately, the Internet does not have an easy answer to the existential crisis driving all 996 owners.

If the IMS bearing was the only...um...sensitive?...part of the motor, sure, upgrade the bearing and move on. However, the car still won't be ready for "track thrashing." You can dump some additional money into an accusump and other mods to help with oiling issues, but the motor is still too expensive to replace and too prone to occasional RUD to use for a dedicated "track thrasher."

There are plenty of people who will argue either way...I'd want a track car for which I can afford spare parts, including a spare engine. For me - with my risk/reward comfort levels - the M96 cars (including the first Boxsters and Caymans, as well as the 996s) are just too expensive to use for ragging out.

charlieaf92

My gut feeling is sell as-is. I don't think you'll get a positive return on the IMS upgrade, maybe at best it will be a wash so not much point financially.

When I was shopping I did weigh cars with the IMS addressed slightly higher - but just the cost of the part and install. The reality is, once you get into installing it there are bound to be other things that you end up replacing.

RSBro

The 2009 Caymans are still in the $40-45k price, depending on condition at least around here. Most likely because of the IMS issue, so depending on what you could get for your 02, maybe $32-35k for a mint example, you still are going to have to spend that difference to find a nice 09 Cayman. However if it's for 'fun' use only, you could find one with higher miles, but I never saw many when I was looking this past summer/fall. Most 09s were kept up quite well and their prices reflected it.
I'd keep the 911, myself having considered an 09 Cayman vs. 996 C4S.

gnat

My vote is as-is.

First, you simply won't get the cost of doing the upgrade back in your sale price, maybe half. So if you aren't going to be enjoying the fruits of your labor, I wouldn't bother.

Secondly, for some of a sale shortly after a bearing upgrade is a big red flag about the state of the motor. We've seen too many cases of people slapping a new bearing in a motor that was already failing so they can pass it off. General feeling seems to be that if doesn't have at least 3-5k on the "new" bearing, tread carefully.

Thirdly, because there is no way to verify anything in a PPI there are those of us that prefer the factory bearing as it means we get to make the decisions about the motor.

Unfortunately, however, those like me that would vote to leave it as-is likely already have a 996 and aren't in the market. Those that are in the market will know enough to freak out over it still having the factory bearing. So you're probably damned either way

AWDGuy

Install the IMS SOLUTION and race the 911.

strathconaman

By the time you:

1. Buy a Cayman
2. Prepare said Cayman for track thrashings

You could have:

1. Kept the 911
2. Prepared said 911 for track thrashings

FRUNKenstein

This. Leave it as is and sell it as is. That way the buyer can verify that the factory bearing was good when it was replaced (by him/her). There was a thread on this very topic last year. You might even want to look up that thread and print it out so that the potential buyer can see the logic of why a car with the original IMSB is more valuable than one with a replacement, and especially one with a recent replacement.

David993S

Here's my first hand experience: for the amount you'll need to put into a 996 to make it track reliable and track worthy, you can have a Cayman with some track upgrades for equal or less dollars invested.

manimal

I'm confused as to why the potential replacement is another car susceptible to IMS failure.

Slakker

Strange, I thought it was the other way around. But they are both very fun to track.

TonyTwoBags

Spend 10k on an IMS Solution & a dry sump system

Race 911

Win awards for awesomeness

mrjonger

Here's something from the Cayman forums that might be interesting. Takeaway is mod if you're fast, stock is fine if you're slow. If fast, looks like $8 - $10K to make your Cayman reliable for track. 09+ is recommended, but you'll still have to do some stuff to make it reliable.

https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...=705693&page=3

todcp

Hagerty's says no IMS replacement is a 15% deduct.

Andrewck

Not pushing one way or another, but if you decide to sell, I know somebody near you who would be interested in your 4S.