mrfeh

I'll hopefully be buying a 996 very soon, and I'll want to replace the IMS bearing.

Is there more than one vendor/solution? Difference in cost and/or effectiveness?

Thanks.

dkraige

Oh man you have opened a can of worms. There is 20 years of information on this topic available online, and a near-infinite number of opinions. Get ready!

808Bill

Google it...The IMSB topic has been beaten to death over the years!

DBJoe996

OMG...start here and read everything https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...his-first.html

NuttyProfessor

There is only one "solution" and that's The IMS Solution manufactured by LN Engineering. Check out theimssolution.com This puts the Carreras on par with the Mezger engines. The bearing will last the lifetime of the engine and I've heard of people moving the IMS Solution bearing over to a newer engine.

The IMS Solution is not cheap, but worth every penny. It really boils down to your budget. LN Engineering has less expensive options, but the bearings will have a service interval.

dporto

"This puts the Carreras on par with the Mezger engines."

Nutty indeed! ^^^ Uh... Not really...it only put the IMSB on a par with the Mezger...the IMS(B) is only one of the many differences that make the Mezger engine (as in the GT3) far superior to the NA M96. One other major difference being the Nikasil coated cylinder bores. There are many others as well, that both create far more power and increase reliability/longevity of the Mezger design used in the GT3 and the Turbo's (as well as GT2). This is not to say "The Solution" is not a great upgrade for the M96 platform - it is...Just that it doesn't make a M96 on a par with a Mezger (except for the IMSB)

parris

As always... NuttyProffessor/Embassador of LN

It is good that you like the IMS Solution by LN, but please, don't give misinformation to people . There are more than one solution out there. DOF from TuneRS is another one, without going outside of US

mrfeh

So, after dong some reading, it seems like these are the options (please let me know if there are others):

1. Pelican Parts makes a replacement that doesn't seem to improve on the flawed design
2. LN Engineering makes the "Retrofit", which uses ceramic bearings and is much better than the original, but is still a sealed bearing
3. LN Engineering makes the "Solution", which uses roller bearing which are oiled w/ engine oil

Just looking for confirmation that I understand the situation.

I assume most people here, when they address their IMS, get the LNE Retrofit?

dporto

"There are more than one solution out there. DOF from TuneRS is another one, without going outside of US"

Actually there is only one "IMS Solution"... and it's patented (it's also a plain bearing - as used in the early air cooled cars as well as the Mezger designed water cooled turbos etc.). The DOF from Tune RS is just an oil feed for the existing ball or roller bearing. I won't go into all the intracies of this but suffice it to say there are many (both good and bad)...

DBJoe996

Yes, other options - Get a 98 or 99 model year. Original Dual Row IMSB. Change oil frequently and don't worry about it. Get the LN spin on oil filter adapter and magnetic drain plug.

cds72911

That's a start, but it is incomplete. The PO needs to read the FAQ thread and not expect it to be spoon fed. This is well documented stuff, not something esoteric or obscure.

parris

Well, thats a commercial name. If we are accurate, there are several manufacturer that claim to have a solution to the IMS "problem" (also outside US). Letting aside the old discussion about if the IMS is really a problem for all engines or only for those affected, LN claims to have a solution called "IMS Solution" and TuneRS claims to have another solution called "Direct Oil Feed".
Different technical approaches, for the same "problem" but both claim to be a definitive solution. We can discuss which technical approach each like more (I kind of prefer keeping the Porsche design bearing), but further than that I don't see why I we should give more credit to one solution than other (so far, the results are quite similar)

NuttyProfessor

Obviously, the topic of this thread is about IMS bearings and that's what I was referring to. Of course, I'm not that out-of-touch to think the performance of 31 failure mode M96/M97 engines are going to be on the performance level of the Mezger Turbo, GT2, or GT3. Gimme a little credit, pweeeese! I was speaking of the plain bearing design of the IMS Solution.

NuttyProfessor

Great! I always wanted to be royalty. My first appointment is to name you my personal protologist. Scratch n' sniff Doc Parris!

As in my post to Dporto, I meant the darn plain bearing in relation to the Mezgers! And no, Neither TunerRS DOF or the "EPS solution" are real solutions in my book. Just copy cats.

But if you want them, more power to you. Can you say, "BOOOM SHAKA LACCA BOOOM!!!"???

NuttyProfessor

Oh really? Please indulge us with your academic aptitude. Please give us the results. I love quantitative anaylsis.