So I have my car at the indy still getting the IMS Solution done (04 C4S with 72K miles). The guy told me that my cam deviations were 1.7 and 2.27.

How good of an indicator is that to the total health of the engine? Of course I am excluding things like AOS & water pump (both recently replaced) / IMS & RMS (getting replaced with this work) / etc.

T...

 

Less than 6 degrees is within spec.

 

Cam deviation readings can give insight as to when there may be significant wear to the variocam tensioner pads. A shop I had perform a PPI on a prospective purchase observed some tensioner pad debris in the oil filter and used readings for cam deviation to confirm a diagnosis of significant tensioner pad wear, which led to the seller to pull the car off the market to repair the issue. I am unaware of other *common* engine health issues that cam deviation can help detect. (NB I'm not a P-car mechanic, this is just my experience.)

 

I just had the IMS Solution installed last year and all of the certified installers are required to document that the car is 4 degrees of deviation or less between both banks or the car is disqualified for the procedure.

Jake Raby reiterates this at the 4 minute mark in his "ECU Interrogation" video on YouTube.