Hello all!

I suppose this can be my introduction while asking a question that hopefully won't come off dumb (I've searched I swear!).

My name is Brennan, I'm in the process of buying my first Porsche. It's a 2002 Carerra 4 cabriolet, manual with 110k miles. Owning a 911 has been a dream that I thought wouldn't be attainable until I was in my mid to late 30s. As of this date I'm 27, so definitely ahead of my given curve! So very much hoping this sale goes through smoothly.

Which leads me to my noob question.

The dreaded and very much spoken about IMS (bearing).

I lucked out and via the CarFax I was able to contact the garage that has serviced the car for the last 6 years. Surprisingly they actually provided me with records and costs for that entire period. On 6/26/2014 with 72k miles, the IMS was replaced with the ceramic bearing kit along with a clutch replacement. The clutch will likely need to be replaced soon as it is 40k miles old (which is a conversation for another day).

After this short drawn story, Will the IMS need to be replaced along with the clutch again? Or should I be fine with the current upgraded bearing kit? I will not be daily driving this car. It will maybe see 5k miles a year for the occasional sunny commute in Seattle and weekend drives along the mountain windy roads.

Any help that can be provided will be greatly appreciated, and hopefully I'll be able to safely purchase this 996 and join you all officially-officially on the forums!

-Brennan

 

Welcome. There is now a lifetime bearing from LN.

https://lnengineering.com/products/i...SAAEgIZ0vD_BwE

No offence meant, but you can't have searched very hard. There are hundreds of threads, and the company is also a paid vendor here.

 

Was the ceramic bearing upgrade the earlier one made by LN? If so, there may be no need to upgrade to the current version made by LN which will add at least another $849 to the tab. You should discuss the differences between the kits and the need (if any) to switch w/LN.

If the upgraded IMS kit in the car now was not made by LN, you'll have to decide if it's important enough to you dollar wise to make the switch or not. LN is considered the best currently available and if you want the peace of mind that provides, then you'll have to pay the price.

 

Be cautious of who you take advice from. Even the LN Retrofit (not the Solution) has a service life.

 

I would replace it with The IMS Solution and then you never have to worry about it again.
It will also help resale, if you ever decide to sell it.

 

Hiya Brennan - depending on the type of bearing installed, here's your shelf life: http://imsretrofit.com/service-intervals/

The question I have for you is - how big a deal is a blown engine to you?

Based on your answer - follow preventative maintenance advice on this forum accordingly.

 

I appreciate the responses!

I definitely want to make sure the motor lasts. Especially since a replacement would be near double what I'll be paying for the car.

Based on the price of the part used, $650, it was certainly not the "IMS solution". Though the part number indicates that it is.

I like to think I'll hit the lottery during the PPI and I'll see an oil line traveling into the IMS bearing! Hahah

This is very helpful though as it does appear I'll want to get a new bearing (if not the serviceable one) installed. Thank you all!!

 

It's easy enough to tell if it's "The Solution". Crawl under the car and see if the oil feed line is present. It should be coming from just above the oil filter (the part that the filter screws into) and it should feed through a hole in the crankcase just below the IMS bearing flange. The feed hose should be braided stainless steel and the fittings should be blue anodized aluminum. If these things aren't present, it's not "The Solution" (regardless of the part # on the invoice)...

 

If it's not the LN Engineering IMS Solution, then I'd definitely replace it with the clutch and flywheel. During the PPI, request they bore scope bank#2. Sounds like you're finally seeing your dream come true. Congrats! Just know, that these are great cars, but you must understand the risks involved with owning a premium sports car like the Porsche 911. The M96 based Carreras have many modes of failure, but if you make good preventive steps, then you'll avoid failure and see many more miles of smiles!

 

Always a good idea to confirm what and when it was installed.

 

There is TONS of information on this forum, but Jake Raby's Rennvision Youtube Channel is a great place to begin to understand the failures that plague these cars and how to look out for them.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvI...iWnpFFh9qy9ZvA

As you're just getting started it may feel a bit like drinking from a fire hose, but trust me when I say there is no better instructor than Jake at concisely and efficiently breaking down these technical discussions and feeding you the information you need. (My opinion, of course..)

The reason why you're going to need to know these things is because the M96 engine has a lot of specific quirks, and even the most well-meaning mechanics out there can make mistakes in diagnosis and repair. Porsche specialist or not. There are signs of engine wear that will be extremely helpful to learn when it comes to catching modes of failure early and diagnosing the appropriate steps to repair your car. That means, in a more positive light, understanding what seems like a big deal but is actually not, so long as you remedy the issue immediately.

These cars can be high-strung as they're aging girls. Next year the Mk1's will be old enough to drink. But damn, if they don't still turn heads!

Happy motoring and good luck.

 

I'm actually in a similar situation to the OP.

I just checked on the work done on the 2000 C4 Cab that I just bought and, based on the part # in the work order, it was LN Engineering's earlier dual row kit (Part #106.08.4) that was installed in my car. This kit is only warrantied for 2 yrs/24k miles (the 2 years has lapsed) and replacement is recommended every 75k miles/6 years. It only has 4k miles on it since installation but it was installed in Nov 2016 and replacement is recommended in just 3 years.

LN's current "Solutions" kit is supposedly designed for the "life of the engine" and is warrantied for 5yrs/unlimited miles. Does this mean that the Solutions kit is warrantied for an unlimited # of miles but ONLY w/in a 5 year period? If so, then the warranty really isn't good for the "life of the engine." In any event, I'm wondering the same thing that the OP in the thread above was wondering about.

Should I replace the earlier kit w/the Solutions kit when the time comes or just let it go and keep my fingers crossed?

I suppose that their track record isn't long enough to know what the actual useful life of the earlier (or later) kits is but do you any of you know if any of LN's earlier kits (like mine) that have reportedly failed yet?

Please advise, thank-you.

 

Change it ASAP!

 

For those who may be curious,

I did end up moving forward with the purchase of my, new to me, Carrera 4!

After a quick visit to my local Porsche dealer in Tacoma for a PPI, she got a clean bill of health. According to the tech and service writer this one one of the nicer 996s they had seen considering its age and miles (02', 110k miles).

Following the morning visit she got a full detail from my buddy and I. After some wet sanding, polishing, and a sealant this is the final result!

Because I have an issue all of my vehicles do get a name. She'll be known as Amelia. Named after Amelia Earhart because she really does fly. Cheesy yes, but I think it fits!

 

Congrats!

Although I'm 2nd guessing my own decision to buy a 2000 C4 Cab with "only" 90k miles on it, I do love the car as I am sure you do yours.

There's apparently nothing you can do to prevent certain problems w/the engine, so you should prepare yourself for such eventualities both financially and otherwise in event that they arise. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, just read the various threads on reported engine failures w/the 996 posted in this forum. I not trying to be a "downer." Just trying to give you "fair warning" of the "dark side" of 996 ownership that you may not (as I was not) aware of when you bought the car.

I hope that despite these reports that you (and I both) have many years of problem free ownership driving these cars. Enjoy!