Nope, I have no interest in people buying the IMS Solution.
DOF with a roller bearing is just a bandaid.
Maybe it's the best bandaid, but it doesn't solve the problem.
The IMS Solution is the only solution where a roller bearing is not used.
It's the bearing type (similar to aircooled and Metzger) that should have been used in the first place.
The IMS Solution is not a bandaid, it solves the problem.

For me, a better advices is, enjoy your car, keep it well maintained, use good lubricants, respect warming times, etc and when you have to do the clutch, check the IMS and if is needed (or wanted), change it. [/quote]

The problem is knowing when the IMS will fail.
You have to catch it before it fails.
Waiting until it wobbles some is waiting too late.
If the IMS has started to wobble, then you've waited too late.

Porsche caused the problem.
They also didn't solve the problem either.
But it is an easy problem to avoid.

I don't wait until parts are completely shot to replace them on my car.
That's just not the correct way to treat any car, and especially not a 20 year old Porsche.
I believe in proper vehicle maintenance.
I replace my brake pads before they're completely gone, I replace my tires before they're bald, I replace my water hoses before they've started to leak, I replace my water pump before it has started to leak, I replace my brake fluid before it has absorbed 2% water, I replace my spark plugs and coils before they've died, and I recommend replacing your IMS with a new one (or the IMS Solution) before it fails.
All of the above are maintenance items.
Most people replace ALL of that before their car is 10 years old by buying a new car.
You can continue driving your 20 year old car without replacing anything, but it will come back to bite you.
If you want a reliable car that doesn't need a lot of maintenance, sell your 996 and get a brand new car.
It will be reliable with almost no maintenance for several years.

I guess I'm a bit sensitive about vehicle maintenance because I work on vehicles for low income people.
I mainly work on very old cars (all manufacturers) that have not been maintained and are no longer safe or capable of getting their owners to and from work.
I see LOTS of poorly maintained 15-25 year old vehicles.
Most of these people can't afford to repair their cars so they bring them to us to repair for free.
I also teach vehicle maintenance classes to help them learn how to maintain their car.
I tell them that a properly maintained car is much cheaper than buying a cheap car every few years because you can't afford to repair the one that's completely worn out.
These low income people require our help to get their cars back on the road, but many of them become better at taking care of their cars.
Some have become pretty good mechanics too and now work with us providing free labor to help others.

But someone who can afford a Porsche should be able to spend the money to maintain their car, or they should sell it and buy something cheaper to maintain.
If you can't afford an IMS replacement, sell the car and buy a Honda.

What's amazing is I know more people personally who have had IMS failures than a Porsche shop in Madrid.

 

You see? This is also your personal opinion, and although totally respectable, it is far away from been the only truth. I know a lot of people that will totally argue that argument. I can also show you tenths of links from workshops around the world claiming that they sell/install the best IMS solution ever... what we should do?

Maybe they only sent crappy IMS to the US ;p .... now talking seriously... what should we do? believe you or believe a Porsche workshop? (I am not meaning that I dont trust you, just highlighting the fact there is always different opinions around...)

I agree with all you say about maintenance (actually a lot of the cars that I see here running wouldn't be allowed to be driven in EU... in Florida there is not even a yearly technical inspection!!). Believe me... I would doubt that you maintain your cars better than I have done with all that I have owned. Old ones... and also new ones (by the way... I have had old cars much more reliable than brand new ones... ). I work for a well known OEM parts manufacturer by the way
Because I believe in correct maintenance is why I say that a 996 properly maintained is a really reliable car, IMS included. It is not because I say... They have proved it... But is better to keep saying that if you don't take them apart to inmediatly to change the IMS, you are less than crazy.

 

 

 

@parris The topic has been beaten to death...I trust the guy that did all the research and invented the fix after doing all the testing before anyone else (even the great Porsche engineers)
The bottom line is a new replacement (or proper rebuild) motor is unaffordable for most people that buy these old Porsche's, so an affordable "solution" is to replace the IMSB before it fails!

Nothing wrong with your opinion but one must do all his own research and make the best decision for their own piece of mind.

Anyone want to talk about "bore scoring"?

 

I hear bore scoring is the "new IMS" in the Porsche world that's affecting even the newer engine platforms. When they bore scoped my cylinders during the pre-qual for the IMS Solution, the cert tech said that my cylinders were showing early signs of scoring, but that I should get many more miles out of them. The scoring wasn't bad enough to disqualify my car for the IMS Solution. But he showed me pictures and explained the problem in great detail. Given the poll I ran a few months ago here on Rennlist, I think most people have made of their minds about the IMS problem and most are having something done about it as a preventive measure. Bore scoring on the other hand, is another "silent killer" that is often misdiagnosed until it's too late. Well at least I've been warned.

 

As mentioned in another thread, leaking injectors are known to cause some of the bore scoring. Maybe time for new ones to prolong the life of your motor?