IMS Failure on my '04 C4S - with a silver lining in my black cloud
11-20-2009 | 09:46 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Western PA
IMS Failure on my '04 C4S - with a silver lining in my black cloud
Friday a week ago I suffered the dreaded IMS failure on my 40K mile vehicle.
While I was driving down the highway wanting to enjoy what I expected to be one the last really beautiful days in western PA I felt the engine "buck" and then a loud set of rattling in the back. Best description that I've heard and agree with is that there was a bucket of bolts rattling around in the engine compartment (I subsequently learned that those bolts were ball bearings.)
Pulled off on the side of the road and turned off the engine. Flipped open the boot and looked in - from top and bottom. Not sure what I was expecting to see but it all looked normal. Restarted the car and it sounded like normal. Continued to my office parking garage - parked - and went into the office for a few hours.
Planned to meet a client for lunch, pulled out and started to drive away. A very nice guy driving a pickup pulled up beside me and told me that I had a big puddle of something dark at the back of my car when I pulled out (didn't see it myself - I approached the car from the front.) I nicely thanked the guy and drove directly to my local dealer located along the lovely ohio river.
The service manager greeted me as usual with a smile and asked how my day was. “I suspect that you’re going to tell me, here’s what happened…” After my short story the manager said “oh, that’s not good.” I asked “how not good is it?” “Really not good. I suspect you have an IMS failure. If that is correct, you’ll nee a new engine. We’ll need to put it up on the lift to confirm.”
“What will this cost?” I asked. “Well, a new crate engine is 12K cost. Since your car is 18 months out of warranty Porsche would typically not cover all of the engine replacement cost. We’ll need to see what they will cover.” “You have been a really good customer, you’ve been diligent with services, we’ve done everything by the book, you’re here between every one of your track events for inspections, fluid changes, etc. – we’ll go to bat for you and see what we can make happen.”
I made 2 calls – one to cancel my lunch meeting and the 2nd to my wife asking that she come retrieve me and buy me lunch. Later that afternoon the service manager called to confirm – the engine was history.
The weekend came and went. Our track committee had our yearly wrap-up review on Saturday morning and our region had our yearly black-tie affair that Saturday evening. I told my story of woe and stated that I was starting to collect donations to my “engine replacement fund.”
Monday I received a call from the service manager. He asked me if I’d be interested in upgrading to the X51 package. I asked how much the additional engine cost would be – he said approx $2,500. I said, “Hell, if I’m already in for at least 12K what’s another 2.5K – Sure, let’s do it.” He completed the appropriate paperwork necessary for Porsche and we then began the waiting to hear back.
Tuesday morning came and went – no word. Tuesday afternoon as well. At one point in the afternoon I received a call from a buddy who just rebuilt his 1978 911 engine to the tune of 18K.
Wednesday morning I received a call from the service manager. “Really great news, Porsche will cover 100% of the engine cost. They agreed to that level if we agreed to provide the labor at cost which we will. You have been a good customer for a long time and we went to bat for you.”
Long story now short – I have an X51 engine on order – which will be installed over the next 2 weeks. The total cost to me (upgraded engine, labor, new clutch, fluids, etc.) is looking to land around $5K. An X51 option for $5K – I’m a happy camper!
Sometimes dark clouds do have silver linings!
While I was driving down the highway wanting to enjoy what I expected to be one the last really beautiful days in western PA I felt the engine "buck" and then a loud set of rattling in the back. Best description that I've heard and agree with is that there was a bucket of bolts rattling around in the engine compartment (I subsequently learned that those bolts were ball bearings.)
Pulled off on the side of the road and turned off the engine. Flipped open the boot and looked in - from top and bottom. Not sure what I was expecting to see but it all looked normal. Restarted the car and it sounded like normal. Continued to my office parking garage - parked - and went into the office for a few hours.
Planned to meet a client for lunch, pulled out and started to drive away. A very nice guy driving a pickup pulled up beside me and told me that I had a big puddle of something dark at the back of my car when I pulled out (didn't see it myself - I approached the car from the front.) I nicely thanked the guy and drove directly to my local dealer located along the lovely ohio river.
The service manager greeted me as usual with a smile and asked how my day was. “I suspect that you’re going to tell me, here’s what happened…” After my short story the manager said “oh, that’s not good.” I asked “how not good is it?” “Really not good. I suspect you have an IMS failure. If that is correct, you’ll nee a new engine. We’ll need to put it up on the lift to confirm.”
“What will this cost?” I asked. “Well, a new crate engine is 12K cost. Since your car is 18 months out of warranty Porsche would typically not cover all of the engine replacement cost. We’ll need to see what they will cover.” “You have been a really good customer, you’ve been diligent with services, we’ve done everything by the book, you’re here between every one of your track events for inspections, fluid changes, etc. – we’ll go to bat for you and see what we can make happen.”
I made 2 calls – one to cancel my lunch meeting and the 2nd to my wife asking that she come retrieve me and buy me lunch. Later that afternoon the service manager called to confirm – the engine was history.
The weekend came and went. Our track committee had our yearly wrap-up review on Saturday morning and our region had our yearly black-tie affair that Saturday evening. I told my story of woe and stated that I was starting to collect donations to my “engine replacement fund.”
Monday I received a call from the service manager. He asked me if I’d be interested in upgrading to the X51 package. I asked how much the additional engine cost would be – he said approx $2,500. I said, “Hell, if I’m already in for at least 12K what’s another 2.5K – Sure, let’s do it.” He completed the appropriate paperwork necessary for Porsche and we then began the waiting to hear back.
Tuesday morning came and went – no word. Tuesday afternoon as well. At one point in the afternoon I received a call from a buddy who just rebuilt his 1978 911 engine to the tune of 18K.
Wednesday morning I received a call from the service manager. “Really great news, Porsche will cover 100% of the engine cost. They agreed to that level if we agreed to provide the labor at cost which we will. You have been a good customer for a long time and we went to bat for you.”
Long story now short – I have an X51 engine on order – which will be installed over the next 2 weeks. The total cost to me (upgraded engine, labor, new clutch, fluids, etc.) is looking to land around $5K. An X51 option for $5K – I’m a happy camper!
Sometimes dark clouds do have silver linings!
11-20-2009 | 11:14 PM
#7
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,288
Likes: 12
From: Jacksonville, FL
Here we have a wonderful contra-tail to the numerous ones of woe and devil-driven dealerships. I love a fairy-tale-come-true story now and then. Keeps my hopes up against the tide.
If my time comes, I will test the 20 years and 7 new cars relationship I have with my local dealer twixt the St. Johns River and the Atlantic Ocean. I hope they offer me that same X51 package at the same final price.
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11-21-2009 | 12:23 AM
#11
Parts Specialist
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Joined: Aug 2008
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11-21-2009 | 03:32 AM
#12
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
From: Grand Rapids
Just goes to show that sometimes paying the little extra a dealer charges for service can pay off big.
We've had similar experiences with our Toyota minivan. We use one dealer to fix and maintain everything on it. Ironically we bought it from a rival dealer.
But the dealer on the maint. side gets just about anything I want fixed, fixed. He always finds a way so that I don't have to pay a dime. He must charge the hell out of Toyota when he bills them.
Good story and good to see Porsche do the right thing as motors should last more than 40K freaking miles.
Oh yeah
on the X51 upgrade.
We've had similar experiences with our Toyota minivan. We use one dealer to fix and maintain everything on it. Ironically we bought it from a rival dealer.
But the dealer on the maint. side gets just about anything I want fixed, fixed. He always finds a way so that I don't have to pay a dime. He must charge the hell out of Toyota when he bills them.
Good story and good to see Porsche do the right thing as motors should last more than 40K freaking miles.
Oh yeah
on the X51 upgrade.
11-21-2009 | 09:21 AM
#14
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,942
Likes: 5
From: Northern NJ
Nice! I never saw an IMS failing story where the car was out of warranty, and the dealer actually convinced Porsche to foot the bill.
My car only has 21k miles, so I have another 20k before I have to worry - right!
My car only has 21k miles, so I have another 20k before I have to worry - right!
